What is it with Indian serials? Whenever I see an Indian serial, I've always thought that there was something weird. But now, after seeing American and British serials(I even watched a French serial once), the differences are mind blowing. These are some of the differences I found(Readers! You are welcome to add to the list. :)):
1) Why is it that the characters in each serial are fully made up even when its night and all they do in the scene is to retire in the night?
2) Why is the humor so crass or worse still they do abject twisting of lines to get some "so called" humor? (couldn't stop comparing with SouthPark which made up a humor genre of its own)
3) Why is there a main protagonist and all the problems, ever made in the world, affect her/him? (Here, the directors are very feminist. All the protagonists are women. Eg: Abhi from Kolangal, the K serials, etc. Or do they send out a message that women always land in soup however good they are? Or is it done for a higher TRP rating? If so, aren't people interested when a man suffers? What sort of a message are we sending to the future generation?)
4) Why is it that there is always one unnecessary twist at the end of every episode? (Eg. A person gets down from the auto, walks to the gate(mind you, all this is shown in slow motion so as to kill the last five minutes of that episode), opens the gate and knocks on the door. Then, surprise of surprise, he has a surprised look on his face(As if he expected a human being to open the door and an alien did, or worse, the opposite.) and the episode ends. Couldn't stop commenting: Edhukku ivangalukku ivlo scene?)
5) Why is it that all the serials follow the same storyline? (if the protagonist in one serial goes to jail, the protagonist in another serial HAS to go to jail too... even if the storyline doesn't warrant it... Is this called springing surprises on the viewers? I would call it just plain confusing. My maid put it succinctly. She could no longer make much difference between the two serials. Eg: Abhirami from Anandham and Abhi from Kolangal went to jail in less than a week's time. Lol!)
6) Why is it that even in abject poverty(according to the storyline), the characters come dressed in the latest of fashions? (the one thankful grace was Metti Oli, where I could finally saw some characters dressed in the manner of normal people).
7) Why is it that when you think that a serial is different and interesting, it goes back to the normal formulae? (Eg. Kadhalikka Neramillai. I thought that serial was different and was interested to know how it went. But now, its so crap that sometimes I seriously wonder if it is being directed by the same person.)
8) Why is it that I can stop watching a serial for a year and watch it again only to pick up the story in a matter of minutes? Has the story not moved at all in that year?
9) Why is it that even "thriller" serials have black magic(there is no dearth of them in India) of some form? Can't the directors give something that thrills by the story and not by Mantras and Tantras?
10) Why is it that illegal issues are shown as commonplace on serials? (Eg. it is illegal to have two wives by the Indian law. But every serial has a character who has two wives and it is taken for granted. Also, come the scenes where people drink and drive, where hitting women is commonplace(there is a law that whenever a person is hit in a public place, anyone can give a complaint, more severe is the punishment if it is a woman being hit), where lewd comments and double entendre dialogues are rampant when even talking risque in public places can land you in trouble, etc.)
11) Why is it that women are shown to be either too patient or too sassy? In real life, none of the women are like that. (Eg. In MettiOli, there is one character who puts up with all the crap(mind you, its the worst crap possible) just so that her dad would be pleased(Lady, if you suffer, your dad would still be hurt. Its better to not suffer so much and make your dad feel sad than suffering for his sake. Would any dad want that?). Then when her dad dies, she walks away from it all. Does it mean she was waiting for her dad to die so that she can escape from the tortuous prison? Come on!!) Too much exaggeration seems to have become the norm nowadays. And that is not good, considering how far reaching the effects of TV are.
12) Why is it that violence of ridiculous levels be shown on TV? Why is it that scenes like murder, rape, etc are shown in graphic detail? And mothers happily let kids watch them. What sort of life is it coming to? I fondly remember the K.Balachandar serials like "adutha veetu jannal", "Premi", "Kadhal Pagadai", etc that were kid-safe(meaning, my parents can let us watch it without their supervision). Where did such serials go? There were also others like "Ragasiyathukul Ragasiyam", "Marma Desam", etc. when my mom was always nearby keeping an eye on what we saw. When we were kids, we had to get up and walk to our rooms(my mother would find 'instant' errands for us to do) when overage stuff was shown on TV. Now, we protect our parents like that :D We watch something first(movies, especially), then deem it parent-safe or not and then let our parents watch it. Else, they'll watch it and crib about it for days as to how the society has turned out. My parents are happy with this arrangement and my sister and I get to watch latest stuff too. A win-win situation :)
Nowadays, lots of Indian families say that they spend time with their kids in front of the television, their definition of "family time" or "quality time with kids". Accepted, we can't dictate as to how every parent should spend time with their kids. But what is disheartening is that kids get exposed to the adult world too fast, too soon. They lose their innocence and ask over-age questions. It might sound funny at that time, but its not so. Is robbing kids of their innocence our goal? Let the kids grow over time. The home is supposed to be the safest haven in the world. And, if the TV serials can intrude that haven and cause havoc watched by helpless parents, it becomes an issue of concern. I'm only reminded of a tamil proverb "Pinjilae pazhuthathu rusikaathu" (that which ripens when too young, will not be tasty). This applies not only to fruits and vegetables but also to people. The beauty of growing up is in knowing things at the right time, not in knowing things before hand. The kids have work cut out for them, in protecting their innocence from the attacks of the big, bad, mean world. Or as my roommate says, "there is no innocence in the world, only ignorance". If you take that approach, sure, let your kids know all that is there to know. But make sure the information comes from authentic sources and not cheap books, movies, etc. And certainly not TV serials.
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
A black day
There are some things that are experienced by you and some that you have no relation to. And then there are some things where you feel the pain even when you have not been directly affected. One of them is the memorial service in my university held today where 32 innocent people paid with their lives for one person's foolishness and mental illness.
The university, faculty and students, the alumni and the families, all of us are mourning deeply for this act. No need to know the victims in person, it is enough that the lives were sacrificed when there was no need. There was so much passion, so much love, so much enthusiasm associated with each of the persons that you can feel it permeating through to you. The Norris Hall would forever be haunted and they would be forever remembered by one and all here. All of us have emerged, stronger and more ready to face the realities of life and to appreciate life and all its varied flavors better.
Though I was not at this campus when this sad incident happened, I can very easily relate to it as I see dear friends, faculty, lab mates, classmates and sundry who were here on that fateful day and could very well have been one of the victims. It sends a shudder through me when I think of it and what could have happened. How lives could have got changed in a moment's notice. This goes on to show how little time we all have(does anyone know when exactly they will die?) and how much time out of it we spend bickering and quarreling over silly issues. I'm sure all the loved ones of the victims would gladly give anything to be with them one more time, feel their arms around them one more time, feel those lips say their names one more time, have the opportunity to say how much they love them and how much they mean to them, have the opportunity to say how their lives brightened because of them, how many dreams each of the victims were a part of and how much more life can be.
I stay in a different place from my family and now I make it a point to talk to my parents and sister and family everyday. I especially take every possible opportunity to tell my mom how much I love her. For all that is possible, who knows if I would ever get a chance to tell her that again? I certainly don't want to leave this world with the regret that I haven't told her how special she is in my life. It doesn't reduce the potency of those words how many ever times you say it. In the Indian society, somehow, expressing one's feelings for another even if they were close relatives or friends, is considered a taboo or at the least an awkward thing. I, for one, would have told my parents that I loved them a dozen times in all my years of existence in India. Even though they know it and I know that they know it, we never said it out. But after coming here and knowing how life could change forever, I feel there is no time like the present to let your loved ones know how special they are in your life.
Even with friends, its better to tell things before you wait forever for the right moment. One of my friends is a friend of one of the victims. He is laden with grief and is guilty that he never told his friend how much love was there, untold, between them. Well, that has made me call long distance to a few of my close friends and speak to them about this and that for hours. Mind you, had I been in India and not had such an experience, I would've limited it to the times when both of us are free and when I see them online and calling them on special occasions. But now, I've called them time and again, sometimes even when they were sleeping at 2 am(R, I know I disturbed your sweet dreams with Ty that night... But I simply had to call!) And I've made some impromptu calls to my friends here. Just to tell them that I appreciate them being in my life and that I'm concerned for them. I used to be a person who was very controlled about her emotions and let it out only when she felt it was appropriate. Even now, I still have shades of that but I have realized that sometimes life is too short and its the present moment that matters the most. So if you get a call from me 'just like that', accept that it is my way of appreciating your presence in my life and be happy for the beautiful friendship that we share.
I heard one of my friends(a mom of two Hokies and a Hokie herself) say her experiences during that fateful day. She was at office and suddenly her son called saying that he was in lockdown and didn't know what was happening in the campus. She immediately saw the news and called him back to stay where he was. Her other son was also locked down in the dorm. She was thanking God that day because her son was supposed to be in the Norris Hall one hour later for one of his classes and had, on a whim, gone to the library to pick up a book and was locked down. She shudders to think of what otherwise could've happened. That is like making a trip to the gates of hell and back and then having heaven restored to you. And the saddest of it all was that when the paramedics were taking the victims out of the Hall, their cellphones were ringing and each of them had "Mom" or "Dad" on it calling to confirm they were safe. Some parents broke down saying that they had plans of coming for the graduation ceremony to see their daughter or son "walk the walk" and instead made the trip to get their lifeless bodies. It was a revelation and shows how much we all take for granted some of the things in our lives. Lets make sure that we spend more time with our loved ones, tell them how much we love them, hug them once more, hear them say our names once more, do everything with them once more. For time spent like this is never a waste and you will not regret it for lifetimes to come!
The university, faculty and students, the alumni and the families, all of us are mourning deeply for this act. No need to know the victims in person, it is enough that the lives were sacrificed when there was no need. There was so much passion, so much love, so much enthusiasm associated with each of the persons that you can feel it permeating through to you. The Norris Hall would forever be haunted and they would be forever remembered by one and all here. All of us have emerged, stronger and more ready to face the realities of life and to appreciate life and all its varied flavors better.
Though I was not at this campus when this sad incident happened, I can very easily relate to it as I see dear friends, faculty, lab mates, classmates and sundry who were here on that fateful day and could very well have been one of the victims. It sends a shudder through me when I think of it and what could have happened. How lives could have got changed in a moment's notice. This goes on to show how little time we all have(does anyone know when exactly they will die?) and how much time out of it we spend bickering and quarreling over silly issues. I'm sure all the loved ones of the victims would gladly give anything to be with them one more time, feel their arms around them one more time, feel those lips say their names one more time, have the opportunity to say how much they love them and how much they mean to them, have the opportunity to say how their lives brightened because of them, how many dreams each of the victims were a part of and how much more life can be.
I stay in a different place from my family and now I make it a point to talk to my parents and sister and family everyday. I especially take every possible opportunity to tell my mom how much I love her. For all that is possible, who knows if I would ever get a chance to tell her that again? I certainly don't want to leave this world with the regret that I haven't told her how special she is in my life. It doesn't reduce the potency of those words how many ever times you say it. In the Indian society, somehow, expressing one's feelings for another even if they were close relatives or friends, is considered a taboo or at the least an awkward thing. I, for one, would have told my parents that I loved them a dozen times in all my years of existence in India. Even though they know it and I know that they know it, we never said it out. But after coming here and knowing how life could change forever, I feel there is no time like the present to let your loved ones know how special they are in your life.
Even with friends, its better to tell things before you wait forever for the right moment. One of my friends is a friend of one of the victims. He is laden with grief and is guilty that he never told his friend how much love was there, untold, between them. Well, that has made me call long distance to a few of my close friends and speak to them about this and that for hours. Mind you, had I been in India and not had such an experience, I would've limited it to the times when both of us are free and when I see them online and calling them on special occasions. But now, I've called them time and again, sometimes even when they were sleeping at 2 am(R, I know I disturbed your sweet dreams with Ty that night... But I simply had to call!) And I've made some impromptu calls to my friends here. Just to tell them that I appreciate them being in my life and that I'm concerned for them. I used to be a person who was very controlled about her emotions and let it out only when she felt it was appropriate. Even now, I still have shades of that but I have realized that sometimes life is too short and its the present moment that matters the most. So if you get a call from me 'just like that', accept that it is my way of appreciating your presence in my life and be happy for the beautiful friendship that we share.
I heard one of my friends(a mom of two Hokies and a Hokie herself) say her experiences during that fateful day. She was at office and suddenly her son called saying that he was in lockdown and didn't know what was happening in the campus. She immediately saw the news and called him back to stay where he was. Her other son was also locked down in the dorm. She was thanking God that day because her son was supposed to be in the Norris Hall one hour later for one of his classes and had, on a whim, gone to the library to pick up a book and was locked down. She shudders to think of what otherwise could've happened. That is like making a trip to the gates of hell and back and then having heaven restored to you. And the saddest of it all was that when the paramedics were taking the victims out of the Hall, their cellphones were ringing and each of them had "Mom" or "Dad" on it calling to confirm they were safe. Some parents broke down saying that they had plans of coming for the graduation ceremony to see their daughter or son "walk the walk" and instead made the trip to get their lifeless bodies. It was a revelation and shows how much we all take for granted some of the things in our lives. Lets make sure that we spend more time with our loved ones, tell them how much we love them, hug them once more, hear them say our names once more, do everything with them once more. For time spent like this is never a waste and you will not regret it for lifetimes to come!
Tuesday, April 01, 2008
Vazhkaye porkalam!
This is a poem from a friend's status message(thanks, varsh!) It was succinct yet conveyed the message! All kudos for the original author
vazhkaye porkalam,
vazhndudaan parkanum,
porkalam maaralam,
porgal daan marumo
[English translation:
Life is a battlefield
We have to live and see the end
The battlefield can change
But do the battles ever change?]
vazhkaye porkalam,
vazhndudaan parkanum,
porkalam maaralam,
porgal daan marumo
[English translation:
Life is a battlefield
We have to live and see the end
The battlefield can change
But do the battles ever change?]
Monday, March 31, 2008
Mars and Venus!!
Another interesting forward! This is from JM. Couldn't resist sharing :)
One evening last week, my girlfriend and I were getting into bed. Well, the passion starts to heat up, and she eventually says, "I don't feel like it, I just want you to hold me." I said, "WHAT??!! What was that?!" So she says the words that every boyfriend on the planet dreads to hear...
"You're just not in touch with my emotional needs as a woman enough for me to satisfy your physical needs as a man." She responded to my puzzled look by saying, "Can't you just love me for who I am and not what I do for you in the bedroom?" Realizing that nothing was going to happen that night, I went to sleep.
The very next day I opted to take the day off of work to spend time with her. We went out to a nice lunch and then went shopping at a big, big unnamed department store. I walked around with her while she tried on several different very expensive outfits. She couldn't decide which one to take, so I told her we'd just buy them all. She wanted new shoes to compliment her new clothes, so I said, "Lets get a pair for each outfit." We went on to the jewellery department where she picked out a pair of diamond earrings. Let me tell you... she was so excited. She must have thought I was one wave short of a shipwreck. I started to think she was testing me because she asked for a tennis bracelet when she doesn't even know how to play tennis. I think I threw her for a loop when I said, "That's fine, honey."
She was almost nearing sexual satisfaction from all of the excitement. Smiling with excited anticipation, she finally said, "I think this is all dear, let's go to the cashier." I could hardly contain myself when I blurted out, "No honey, I don't feel like it." Her face just went completely blank as her jaw dropped with a baffled, "WHAT?" I then said, "Honey! I just want you to HOLD this stuff for a while. You're just not in touch with my financial needs as a man enough for me to satisfy your shopping needs as a woman. Why can't you just love me for who I am and not for the the bank balance I have?"
Though the boyfriend and girlfriend in this story are in the extremes, there is always a part of every couples' life where there is a question of how much and what to give and take. If only we could give more and expect less, Ah! that is a recipe for ideal life. Do share your views!
One evening last week, my girlfriend and I were getting into bed. Well, the passion starts to heat up, and she eventually says, "I don't feel like it, I just want you to hold me." I said, "WHAT??!! What was that?!" So she says the words that every boyfriend on the planet dreads to hear...
"You're just not in touch with my emotional needs as a woman enough for me to satisfy your physical needs as a man." She responded to my puzzled look by saying, "Can't you just love me for who I am and not what I do for you in the bedroom?" Realizing that nothing was going to happen that night, I went to sleep.
The very next day I opted to take the day off of work to spend time with her. We went out to a nice lunch and then went shopping at a big, big unnamed department store. I walked around with her while she tried on several different very expensive outfits. She couldn't decide which one to take, so I told her we'd just buy them all. She wanted new shoes to compliment her new clothes, so I said, "Lets get a pair for each outfit." We went on to the jewellery department where she picked out a pair of diamond earrings. Let me tell you... she was so excited. She must have thought I was one wave short of a shipwreck. I started to think she was testing me because she asked for a tennis bracelet when she doesn't even know how to play tennis. I think I threw her for a loop when I said, "That's fine, honey."
She was almost nearing sexual satisfaction from all of the excitement. Smiling with excited anticipation, she finally said, "I think this is all dear, let's go to the cashier." I could hardly contain myself when I blurted out, "No honey, I don't feel like it." Her face just went completely blank as her jaw dropped with a baffled, "WHAT?" I then said, "Honey! I just want you to HOLD this stuff for a while. You're just not in touch with my financial needs as a man enough for me to satisfy your shopping needs as a woman. Why can't you just love me for who I am and not for the the bank balance I have?"
Though the boyfriend and girlfriend in this story are in the extremes, there is always a part of every couples' life where there is a question of how much and what to give and take. If only we could give more and expect less, Ah! that is a recipe for ideal life. Do share your views!
Friday, March 28, 2008
Unchartered territory!
She opened her eyes
She was in a different place
A place that she had not known
A place that hadn't existed so far
She squinted her eyes
She was afraid of the landscape
A landscape that was unfamiliar
A landscape that had dangers within
She had to get up
She had to look around
Around to familiarize herself
Around to learn the rules of the land
She checked her person
She checked her belongings
Belongings that still held her
Belongings that had strings attached
Should she give away those belongings?
Should she cut off the strings?
Don't they act as an armor too?
Don't they protect her vulnerabilities?
The Voice saw her indecision
The Voice understood her concern
Concern of being naked
Concern of being attacked
The Voice saw the inventory
The Voice chuckled with delight
The Voice then made the suggestion
In a light voice that heralded new life
Take the intelligence and courage
Take the lessons learned,
Take the memories of pain and pleasure
And the compassion to all humans
Leave the anger, the cowardice
Leave the dependence, the coercions
Leave your curiosity of others
And the fear of future for it weighs you down
This land is different, more so than last
It holds good and bad, beauty and ugliness
It has its own rules, rules to learn
Rules to survive, play and conquer
You can never return to the old plane
Move on, move away,
Explore this land for its given to you
Find out, find life!
Hold the strings if you want
But never tie them to you
Coz it should be in your power
Power to hold them and leave them
Forget the old plane,
the sooner the better
For you have no time to lose,
And the past is gone for good
This is a time of change, look deep within
Keep the strings close to your heart,
Toss the rest around, for
The space inside is limited
And worthless junk is better tossed out
She was confused
But understood all the same
Sat to remove the strings
The strings that were junk
Hard work, I can tell you
But hard work always pays
She understood that well
And checked each string of life
Some were diamonds, some were junk
She put each through the acid test
Some disintegrated, some stood
But some glowed after the test
She now knew which ones to hold
And which ones to throw
Since she can't have it all
And use it all through her life.
She was too precious
Precious to hold onto junk
She understood the Voice's concern
And thanked God for the Voice
She moved on, moved on in the land
The land that held promises for her
The land whose rules she will learn
The land that she'll survive, play and conquer!
She was in a different place
A place that she had not known
A place that hadn't existed so far
She squinted her eyes
She was afraid of the landscape
A landscape that was unfamiliar
A landscape that had dangers within
She had to get up
She had to look around
Around to familiarize herself
Around to learn the rules of the land
She checked her person
She checked her belongings
Belongings that still held her
Belongings that had strings attached
Should she give away those belongings?
Should she cut off the strings?
Don't they act as an armor too?
Don't they protect her vulnerabilities?
The Voice saw her indecision
The Voice understood her concern
Concern of being naked
Concern of being attacked
The Voice saw the inventory
The Voice chuckled with delight
The Voice then made the suggestion
In a light voice that heralded new life
Take the intelligence and courage
Take the lessons learned,
Take the memories of pain and pleasure
And the compassion to all humans
Leave the anger, the cowardice
Leave the dependence, the coercions
Leave your curiosity of others
And the fear of future for it weighs you down
This land is different, more so than last
It holds good and bad, beauty and ugliness
It has its own rules, rules to learn
Rules to survive, play and conquer
You can never return to the old plane
Move on, move away,
Explore this land for its given to you
Find out, find life!
Hold the strings if you want
But never tie them to you
Coz it should be in your power
Power to hold them and leave them
Forget the old plane,
the sooner the better
For you have no time to lose,
And the past is gone for good
This is a time of change, look deep within
Keep the strings close to your heart,
Toss the rest around, for
The space inside is limited
And worthless junk is better tossed out
She was confused
But understood all the same
Sat to remove the strings
The strings that were junk
Hard work, I can tell you
But hard work always pays
She understood that well
And checked each string of life
Some were diamonds, some were junk
She put each through the acid test
Some disintegrated, some stood
But some glowed after the test
She now knew which ones to hold
And which ones to throw
Since she can't have it all
And use it all through her life.
She was too precious
Precious to hold onto junk
She understood the Voice's concern
And thanked God for the Voice
She moved on, moved on in the land
The land that held promises for her
The land whose rules she will learn
The land that she'll survive, play and conquer!
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Two souls... A eulogy!
I was recently shocked by the deaths of two artists, Sujatha and Raghuvaran. My 101st post is a tribute to them, in my own special way.
For those who don't know who they are, Sujatha is a very talented, multifaceted person who gave contemporary tamil writing a fresh view. Some of his stories like En Iniya Iyandira, Ganesh Vasanth(my favorite characters.... none to beat them in tamil detective genre), Sreerangathu thevathaigal and so on. His Katrathum Petrathum in Anandha Vikatan was one I never missed. His writings had a certain charm that were unique to themselves. He was also a noted writer for films. His Vikram charmed me and Roja brought out so much! Any movie with him penning the dialogue and giving the story would be a sure hit with the audience as he could always strike a chord with them.
The next person was Raghuvaran. He was a very versatile actor and can easily express any type of expression. Right from Samsaaram adhu Minsaaram to Anjali to Bheema, I've seen him don various roles with ease. He seemed to be one of the few people who was comfortable under his own skin, all said and done. And given the problems that he went through, his journey to where he was at the end of his life is amazing!
Tamil tinseldom has lost two great artists, artists who can hold their forte any time of the day, any day of the year. If Sujatha's works have made me think objectively and soar into imagination, Raghuvaran's acting has showed how even a minor role can be done such a way that it elicits praise from everyone. Though I know I can't make justice to their talents by my eulogy, I can confidently say that they will be remembered forever. May their souls rest in peace!
For those who don't know who they are, Sujatha is a very talented, multifaceted person who gave contemporary tamil writing a fresh view. Some of his stories like En Iniya Iyandira, Ganesh Vasanth(my favorite characters.... none to beat them in tamil detective genre), Sreerangathu thevathaigal and so on. His Katrathum Petrathum in Anandha Vikatan was one I never missed. His writings had a certain charm that were unique to themselves. He was also a noted writer for films. His Vikram charmed me and Roja brought out so much! Any movie with him penning the dialogue and giving the story would be a sure hit with the audience as he could always strike a chord with them.
The next person was Raghuvaran. He was a very versatile actor and can easily express any type of expression. Right from Samsaaram adhu Minsaaram to Anjali to Bheema, I've seen him don various roles with ease. He seemed to be one of the few people who was comfortable under his own skin, all said and done. And given the problems that he went through, his journey to where he was at the end of his life is amazing!
Tamil tinseldom has lost two great artists, artists who can hold their forte any time of the day, any day of the year. If Sujatha's works have made me think objectively and soar into imagination, Raghuvaran's acting has showed how even a minor role can be done such a way that it elicits praise from everyone. Though I know I can't make justice to their talents by my eulogy, I can confidently say that they will be remembered forever. May their souls rest in peace!
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Some random thoughts!!
First:
We say we are fine in our comfort zone. If the comfort zone is so comfortable, why is it that we are so restless?
Second:
We are always on our guard because the world is out to get us. But what if the world couldn't care less?
Then(my own):
If things don't go your way, does it mean that they don't go anyone's way? There is always someone who is happy out of some situation. The only thing that you can do is to make sure that that someone is you.
And finally, Life is a melody! Take time to listen to it! Even if it sometimes sounds like Hard Rock, its worth listening to.
[these four thoughts kept me pondering over them for a long time. Lots of truth and all power packed! Think about it!]
We say we are fine in our comfort zone. If the comfort zone is so comfortable, why is it that we are so restless?
Second:
We are always on our guard because the world is out to get us. But what if the world couldn't care less?
Then(my own):
If things don't go your way, does it mean that they don't go anyone's way? There is always someone who is happy out of some situation. The only thing that you can do is to make sure that that someone is you.
And finally, Life is a melody! Take time to listen to it! Even if it sometimes sounds like Hard Rock, its worth listening to.
[these four thoughts kept me pondering over them for a long time. Lots of truth and all power packed! Think about it!]
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Bill Gates.... and the Richest Person position!
Check this out! Warren Buffet is the richest person in the world!
Bill Gates was the world's richest man for thirteen straight years! A position that 99.9% of the world dreams of achieving, a single man has held it for 13 years! 13 years ago, I was in primary school still grappling with Math 1 and Math 2(from simple Math), Geography and History(from the simple social studies) changes. Now, when I'm all set to making a mark for myself(ok! a teeny weeny mark, but a mark nonetheless) in the world, here comes a change. I won't say it is mind blowing or something, but I've always taken for granted that he will be the richest man in the world(like the time I took for granted that DRC would get the first rank as long as she was in our class and she did! One of my mom's favorite stories to embarrass me is to say this: Once when she asked why I always got the second or third rank but never the first, I was quoted as saying "DRC is there to get it!". It seems I was so sure about the fact and didn't think anything contradictory would happen... And this was in 8th standard!!) Similarly, it got firmly imprinted in my mind that Gates is the richest person and its still hard to believe that it is not so. But, as my friend put it, this comes only after he took a voluntary step down from Microsoft's CEO post. Had he been going on in the industry with all guns blasting, he would have still held that position. I guess, beyond a point, all this seems meaningless. Ahem to that!
Bill Gates was the world's richest man for thirteen straight years! A position that 99.9% of the world dreams of achieving, a single man has held it for 13 years! 13 years ago, I was in primary school still grappling with Math 1 and Math 2(from simple Math), Geography and History(from the simple social studies) changes. Now, when I'm all set to making a mark for myself(ok! a teeny weeny mark, but a mark nonetheless) in the world, here comes a change. I won't say it is mind blowing or something, but I've always taken for granted that he will be the richest man in the world(like the time I took for granted that DRC would get the first rank as long as she was in our class and she did! One of my mom's favorite stories to embarrass me is to say this: Once when she asked why I always got the second or third rank but never the first, I was quoted as saying "DRC is there to get it!". It seems I was so sure about the fact and didn't think anything contradictory would happen... And this was in 8th standard!!) Similarly, it got firmly imprinted in my mind that Gates is the richest person and its still hard to believe that it is not so. But, as my friend put it, this comes only after he took a voluntary step down from Microsoft's CEO post. Had he been going on in the industry with all guns blasting, he would have still held that position. I guess, beyond a point, all this seems meaningless. Ahem to that!
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Clinton's troubles!
More trouble headed towards the Clinton camp? She already has her plate full.
Check it out!
And does this mean that Obama would have a clear lead from now on? Ah! The US politics becomes more and more interesting as the days go by!
Check it out!
And does this mean that Obama would have a clear lead from now on? Ah! The US politics becomes more and more interesting as the days go by!
Saturday, March 08, 2008
Life and all its pleasures!!
She was bored
She was tired
With life and all its pleasures
She was dissipated
She was too happy
Happy without a goal defined
She didn't realize
Realize the gravity
The gravity of losing a goal
She lost track
Track of the journey's end
As the journey was too pleasant
She loved pleasant life
Life without any worries
Coz her rewards came, and sweet were they!
The Voice thought
The Voice decided
To make her get a goal
The Voice pushed
The Voice prodded
Schemed to make pleasures harder to get
The Voice argued with her
To leave petty differences
To forget things that sucked time
The Voice enlightened her
Her journey's end came in mind
A mind now filled with the end and end only
The Voice made her see reason
Reason that fueled her
Fueled to get the promised rewards, and work began!
She was tired
With life and all its pleasures
She was dissipated
She was too happy
Happy without a goal defined
She didn't realize
Realize the gravity
The gravity of losing a goal
She lost track
Track of the journey's end
As the journey was too pleasant
She loved pleasant life
Life without any worries
Coz her rewards came, and sweet were they!
The Voice thought
The Voice decided
To make her get a goal
The Voice pushed
The Voice prodded
Schemed to make pleasures harder to get
The Voice argued with her
To leave petty differences
To forget things that sucked time
The Voice enlightened her
Her journey's end came in mind
A mind now filled with the end and end only
The Voice made her see reason
Reason that fueled her
Fueled to get the promised rewards, and work began!
A proud taxpayer
Well, Folks! I've paid my first taxes :)
Though I've earned stipends and salary before, it was always as a student and always less than what comes into the tax bracket. Even now, I'm a student and within the taxless salary tax bracket(R, help me with the tax lingo here!). But, the only difference between earlier years and now is that, I had to file tax forms and legally go the whole nine yards. One more step in blending with the adult world and I'm happy! A proud taxpayer, finally!
Though I've earned stipends and salary before, it was always as a student and always less than what comes into the tax bracket. Even now, I'm a student and within the taxless salary tax bracket(R, help me with the tax lingo here!). But, the only difference between earlier years and now is that, I had to file tax forms and legally go the whole nine yards. One more step in blending with the adult world and I'm happy! A proud taxpayer, finally!
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Confused!!
Warning:: This is a slightly heavy post(see how confused I am. I can't even make out if this is a heavy post or not!). So, readers beware, and get a cup of coffee before you even start.
Let me tell you the reasons for my confusion.
Basically every person has some balance in life, in their physical life, mental life, emotional life, spiritual life and all other lives that you want to categorize normal life into. I too had the same normal "balanced" life at the beginning of last before week. Little did I know that I would be changed forever in these three weeks(come to think of it, all of us change irrevocibly all the time, but these three weeks made me realize them more so). Last monday, my mental life did a take off because I fed it information... no, its knowledge that I fed it(a rare thing.. because, a human usually feeds in information and by continual thinking, it becomes knowledge). Knowledge, by itself, is very potent and taken without careful consideration, is dangerous to handle. There has been only a few other times when I've fed knowledge directly to my brain and in lesser quantities. But last before monday, I fed it a large dose and it was reeling with that effect for a few days. So much for the mental balance being affected!
Then came my emotional balance. I am, usually, a stable person(amen!). I try to analyze things a bit before flying off the handle. But there were quite a few incidents that made me fume and my roommate bore the brunt of it(thanks P! for being there :)). She toned it down and was my sounding board for a few days(a thankless job! but these cases are rare and I don't let someone do it for me unless 1)they are clear about things 2) I know that they can handle and process complex scenarios and emotions 3) I find a certain sense of bonding with them). Also there were a few cases where I was ecstatic and happy. To confound the issue, all this happened in the past two weeks.
Onto my spiritual balance. I had some soul searching talks with a kindred spirit and got a totally new perspective about life. I also read a few books that changed my way of thinking about life in general and my future, in particular. The main gain from it all was that I could easily remove the wheat from the chaff, the good from the useless and the needed info against the trash. But my spiritual contour took a brow beating and now its in a completely different shape.
Finally my physical balance. I had two weeks of assignments and projects and work that I had to do everyday lacking sleep. Thanks to all my friends(esp, SG! I've lost count of the times I've pinged you with my doubts! The explanation about threads, processes and processors was amazing!!), I somehow managed to move away from it all. But my body didn't take kindly to it at all. I was in a daze through these two weeks and this weekend helped me start my recovery journey.
Now, onto this weekend. I had an amazing time after a really long time. Though it didn't go as I had planned earlier, it was fun all the same. I had really good time, felt very independent and got time and money to spend with my friends without feeling guilty. And I got to drive a really stylish car!! The Pontiac G6 GT Coupe!! I just loved it! This weekend was my gift to myself for going through one of the most difficult times of this semester. I've heard one of my married friends say that the best vacations are the ones taken where your mind can completely relax and you can have most fun, not the ones where you need a vacation to recoup from the after effects of this one. I had such a break this weekend. All my balances seem to have been restored after this break :) More on that in the next post!
However, there are a few questions that I have after these three weeks:
1) Why are people not clear as to what they want? I understand that not knowing one's needs is possible, but not knowing one's wants stumps me.
2) N,D,P were there and I was so confused because of them. Though I thank life and God for giving me the choice, I was scared to take the decision because I know that the decision that I take now would affect my life in a much bigger way compared to all other decisions that I have taken so far. Why was I scared when I knew I had the knowledge and intelligence to use that knowledge wisely? Was it because of uncertain future? Or is it because I'm still not a fully grown up person? I've seen people take life changing decisions effortlessly, but I've never been able to do so. This is one thing that I have to work on.
3) Does my indecision stem from the fact that I have not been worldly wise, didn't have a mentor(all my mentors that were there so far have diverged and I'm left standing on a lonely path that I have to cut with my sickle, I can't see a mentor for miles around me and that is scary! or am I of the stage where mentors are no more possible? Now that is another question!), was too playful and forgot to consider all the choices seriously as a grown up person should?
4) Does not my education and the qualities that I developed so far count to anything or is it this that finally pushed me to make a decision?
5) The world seems to have lots of people with contrasting behaviors. I know I have to answer some of the serious issues of life soon. But till then, I have time to mold myself to be better equipped to face the questions. Where do I start and what do I do?
6) How come jealousy cuts through all, even love, friendship and life?
7) Why is unrequited desire so dangerous? yet people covet it? Can't they see that they can't handle it and would do a bad job of it, hurting everyone, especially themselves? Is the desire for power, position and money that strong?
I know, all these questions are difficult to answer. But I'd love to know the opinions of you all, my dear readers! Because, sometimes, a single word or a single comment can throw light on a totally different perspective, the perspective that I'm searching for and have truly missed so far!
PS: This post might sound like an account of my life in the past few weeks for some of you. If that is so, I'm sorry you didn't enjoy it more. But if you found the connection behind them all and the questions that I have raised, then welcome! You have lots to say on this post then! I'm certainly looking forward to your comments. And regarding the information that I have said in the post, if you already know of it, that's good... you can make a better analysis of the post! But if you don't, then please don't ask as it is on a strictly need-to-know basis and if I have not told you already, then you don't need to know of it. And I hope this explains my disappearance from the blogosphere for the past three weeks, V! :)
Let me tell you the reasons for my confusion.
Basically every person has some balance in life, in their physical life, mental life, emotional life, spiritual life and all other lives that you want to categorize normal life into. I too had the same normal "balanced" life at the beginning of last before week. Little did I know that I would be changed forever in these three weeks(come to think of it, all of us change irrevocibly all the time, but these three weeks made me realize them more so). Last monday, my mental life did a take off because I fed it information... no, its knowledge that I fed it(a rare thing.. because, a human usually feeds in information and by continual thinking, it becomes knowledge). Knowledge, by itself, is very potent and taken without careful consideration, is dangerous to handle. There has been only a few other times when I've fed knowledge directly to my brain and in lesser quantities. But last before monday, I fed it a large dose and it was reeling with that effect for a few days. So much for the mental balance being affected!
Then came my emotional balance. I am, usually, a stable person(amen!). I try to analyze things a bit before flying off the handle. But there were quite a few incidents that made me fume and my roommate bore the brunt of it(thanks P! for being there :)). She toned it down and was my sounding board for a few days(a thankless job! but these cases are rare and I don't let someone do it for me unless 1)they are clear about things 2) I know that they can handle and process complex scenarios and emotions 3) I find a certain sense of bonding with them). Also there were a few cases where I was ecstatic and happy. To confound the issue, all this happened in the past two weeks.
Onto my spiritual balance. I had some soul searching talks with a kindred spirit and got a totally new perspective about life. I also read a few books that changed my way of thinking about life in general and my future, in particular. The main gain from it all was that I could easily remove the wheat from the chaff, the good from the useless and the needed info against the trash. But my spiritual contour took a brow beating and now its in a completely different shape.
Finally my physical balance. I had two weeks of assignments and projects and work that I had to do everyday lacking sleep. Thanks to all my friends(esp, SG! I've lost count of the times I've pinged you with my doubts! The explanation about threads, processes and processors was amazing!!), I somehow managed to move away from it all. But my body didn't take kindly to it at all. I was in a daze through these two weeks and this weekend helped me start my recovery journey.
Now, onto this weekend. I had an amazing time after a really long time. Though it didn't go as I had planned earlier, it was fun all the same. I had really good time, felt very independent and got time and money to spend with my friends without feeling guilty. And I got to drive a really stylish car!! The Pontiac G6 GT Coupe!! I just loved it! This weekend was my gift to myself for going through one of the most difficult times of this semester. I've heard one of my married friends say that the best vacations are the ones taken where your mind can completely relax and you can have most fun, not the ones where you need a vacation to recoup from the after effects of this one. I had such a break this weekend. All my balances seem to have been restored after this break :) More on that in the next post!
However, there are a few questions that I have after these three weeks:
1) Why are people not clear as to what they want? I understand that not knowing one's needs is possible, but not knowing one's wants stumps me.
2) N,D,P were there and I was so confused because of them. Though I thank life and God for giving me the choice, I was scared to take the decision because I know that the decision that I take now would affect my life in a much bigger way compared to all other decisions that I have taken so far. Why was I scared when I knew I had the knowledge and intelligence to use that knowledge wisely? Was it because of uncertain future? Or is it because I'm still not a fully grown up person? I've seen people take life changing decisions effortlessly, but I've never been able to do so. This is one thing that I have to work on.
3) Does my indecision stem from the fact that I have not been worldly wise, didn't have a mentor(all my mentors that were there so far have diverged and I'm left standing on a lonely path that I have to cut with my sickle, I can't see a mentor for miles around me and that is scary! or am I of the stage where mentors are no more possible? Now that is another question!), was too playful and forgot to consider all the choices seriously as a grown up person should?
4) Does not my education and the qualities that I developed so far count to anything or is it this that finally pushed me to make a decision?
5) The world seems to have lots of people with contrasting behaviors. I know I have to answer some of the serious issues of life soon. But till then, I have time to mold myself to be better equipped to face the questions. Where do I start and what do I do?
6) How come jealousy cuts through all, even love, friendship and life?
7) Why is unrequited desire so dangerous? yet people covet it? Can't they see that they can't handle it and would do a bad job of it, hurting everyone, especially themselves? Is the desire for power, position and money that strong?
I know, all these questions are difficult to answer. But I'd love to know the opinions of you all, my dear readers! Because, sometimes, a single word or a single comment can throw light on a totally different perspective, the perspective that I'm searching for and have truly missed so far!
PS: This post might sound like an account of my life in the past few weeks for some of you. If that is so, I'm sorry you didn't enjoy it more. But if you found the connection behind them all and the questions that I have raised, then welcome! You have lots to say on this post then! I'm certainly looking forward to your comments. And regarding the information that I have said in the post, if you already know of it, that's good... you can make a better analysis of the post! But if you don't, then please don't ask as it is on a strictly need-to-know basis and if I have not told you already, then you don't need to know of it. And I hope this explains my disappearance from the blogosphere for the past three weeks, V! :)
Friday, February 08, 2008
Oh! What is it to
What is it to
1) meet the person whom you've always wanted to meet but never got to? (I've always wanted to meet my great granny, Anne Shirley and Alan Turing)
2) see your favorite movie being screened and you have time to enjoy it with a big gang of friends and popcorn?
3) get a hot cup of chocolate made just for you when its raining outside?
4) get a milaga bhajji(a hot snack) when it is a cold evening?
5) go for a movie expecting it to be "just so" and it turns out to be great?
6) get a call from a friend with whom you have not been in touch for a long time?
7) get to eat all your favorite flavors of icecream?
8) get to win in the exhibition games at the first go?
9) be woken up from bed with your favorite song and drink?
10) be woken up from bed by your favorite person?
11) get dressed warmly and go out in biting cold and feel as warm as a toast?
12) try out different cuisines in the same day?
13) the book that you came in search of is the first book in the pile that you have to search through?
14) wish for a day of perfect sunshine the previous night and it is as you wished the next day?
15) the weather happens to be the same as in your hometown?(one evening, weather at B was just like that in C and I dragged my friend through half the drillfield just to enjoy the weather :) I felt as if the entire C came to visit me!)
16) get a mysterious parcel and it turns out to come from a relative with all the goodies in it?
17) expect a book to end in one way and it has a totally unexpected and better ending?
18) dance all night and yet go to school/work the next day without any fatigue?
19) walk slowly to the bus stop and still the bus waits for you?
20) lose something in a big city only to come back home and see it returned by a considerate stranger?
21) struggle with a load of work/things and someone unexpectedly comes to help you?
22) turn the radio on and your favorite song is on the air?
23) go to the shop and find the perfect top at the perfect price?
24) open your birthday gift and receive the gift that you most wanted?
25) sleep in the night with so many worries and get up in the morning to find that all your worries have got solved in the meantime?
26) go to an exam expecting a hard paper but it turns out to be very easy?
27) do a not-so-perfect work and still it saves the day?
28) be sick and friends come home with a big pot of soup for you?
29) step out of your room only to see the cutest of plants kept for you?
30) get up one icy day and find that someone has cleaned your car and that its all ready for you to drive?
31) go on a long drive right into the sunset?
32) go on a long drive with perfect company?
33) go on a long drive with perfect company right into the sunset?
34) play all day with your kid and he/she puts their arms around you and say "I love you, Mom!"?
35) make something nice for someone and they appreciate its worth?
36) give up something for your friend only to see that your friend has given it up for you?
37) see your great grand-daughter say "I do"?
38) walk in the rain without worries of getting a flu?
39) go around the campus and have everyone you meet say a hi?
40) cuddle your favorite teddy bear all you want?
41) think about a candle-lit dinner and go home and find one just for you?
42) get back home after a tiring day and have a bubble bath?
43) plan a week and everything follows your plan?
44) wake up monday morning to find that you got an extra day off?(this is definitely not for the workaholics :))
45) come to office and find a dozen red roses delivered by a mysterious friend?
46) talk to your favorite cousins for some time and it ends up being a night out?(trust me, it is loads of fun!)
47) get up one day to find a world devoid of insects(flies and mosquitos) and your least favorite animal.
48) eat all you want and still not put on weight?
49) lose all hope in life only to find that you've achieved your most cherished dream?
50) meet the person of your dreams in the place of your dreams and live a life of your dreams?
This post is a counter measure to my other post Well, when life has got its downs and we crib about it, we certainly have to appreciate all the ups of life, right? Ok! Here comes the Libra alive and kicking in me. Never mind! Do check out the little pleasures of life. They make life beautiful. Its my opinion that great ideas and work make life worth living but its only the little pleasures that pull us through periods of darkness.
Come folks, lets live life king-size! What are you waiting for?
1) meet the person whom you've always wanted to meet but never got to? (I've always wanted to meet my great granny, Anne Shirley and Alan Turing)
2) see your favorite movie being screened and you have time to enjoy it with a big gang of friends and popcorn?
3) get a hot cup of chocolate made just for you when its raining outside?
4) get a milaga bhajji(a hot snack) when it is a cold evening?
5) go for a movie expecting it to be "just so" and it turns out to be great?
6) get a call from a friend with whom you have not been in touch for a long time?
7) get to eat all your favorite flavors of icecream?
8) get to win in the exhibition games at the first go?
9) be woken up from bed with your favorite song and drink?
10) be woken up from bed by your favorite person?
11) get dressed warmly and go out in biting cold and feel as warm as a toast?
12) try out different cuisines in the same day?
13) the book that you came in search of is the first book in the pile that you have to search through?
14) wish for a day of perfect sunshine the previous night and it is as you wished the next day?
15) the weather happens to be the same as in your hometown?(one evening, weather at B was just like that in C and I dragged my friend through half the drillfield just to enjoy the weather :) I felt as if the entire C came to visit me!)
16) get a mysterious parcel and it turns out to come from a relative with all the goodies in it?
17) expect a book to end in one way and it has a totally unexpected and better ending?
18) dance all night and yet go to school/work the next day without any fatigue?
19) walk slowly to the bus stop and still the bus waits for you?
20) lose something in a big city only to come back home and see it returned by a considerate stranger?
21) struggle with a load of work/things and someone unexpectedly comes to help you?
22) turn the radio on and your favorite song is on the air?
23) go to the shop and find the perfect top at the perfect price?
24) open your birthday gift and receive the gift that you most wanted?
25) sleep in the night with so many worries and get up in the morning to find that all your worries have got solved in the meantime?
26) go to an exam expecting a hard paper but it turns out to be very easy?
27) do a not-so-perfect work and still it saves the day?
28) be sick and friends come home with a big pot of soup for you?
29) step out of your room only to see the cutest of plants kept for you?
30) get up one icy day and find that someone has cleaned your car and that its all ready for you to drive?
31) go on a long drive right into the sunset?
32) go on a long drive with perfect company?
33) go on a long drive with perfect company right into the sunset?
34) play all day with your kid and he/she puts their arms around you and say "I love you, Mom!"?
35) make something nice for someone and they appreciate its worth?
36) give up something for your friend only to see that your friend has given it up for you?
37) see your great grand-daughter say "I do"?
38) walk in the rain without worries of getting a flu?
39) go around the campus and have everyone you meet say a hi?
40) cuddle your favorite teddy bear all you want?
41) think about a candle-lit dinner and go home and find one just for you?
42) get back home after a tiring day and have a bubble bath?
43) plan a week and everything follows your plan?
44) wake up monday morning to find that you got an extra day off?(this is definitely not for the workaholics :))
45) come to office and find a dozen red roses delivered by a mysterious friend?
46) talk to your favorite cousins for some time and it ends up being a night out?(trust me, it is loads of fun!)
47) get up one day to find a world devoid of insects(flies and mosquitos) and your least favorite animal.
48) eat all you want and still not put on weight?
49) lose all hope in life only to find that you've achieved your most cherished dream?
50) meet the person of your dreams in the place of your dreams and live a life of your dreams?
This post is a counter measure to my other post Well, when life has got its downs and we crib about it, we certainly have to appreciate all the ups of life, right? Ok! Here comes the Libra alive and kicking in me. Never mind! Do check out the little pleasures of life. They make life beautiful. Its my opinion that great ideas and work make life worth living but its only the little pleasures that pull us through periods of darkness.
Come folks, lets live life king-size! What are you waiting for?
Sunday, February 03, 2008
Cauliflower curry.... Yum!!
I got up this morning and had an inexplicable craving for cauliflower curry. Mind you, not the cauliflower manchurian(the reddish looking cauliflowers which the Indians all over the world are acquainted with and love) or the cauliflower sambhar(my mom did this! She just put a whole bunch of seasoned cauliflowers in a special kind of sambhar and hey presto! Here came the cauliflower sambhar) but the cauliflower curry. I have not eaten cauliflower curry before(or if I had, atleast not by that name). So, here I got up, all fresh and ready to have fun on a normal sunday and sit in front of the computer when I suddenly wanted to have cauliflower curry. I have no idea whis this thought popped up but once it did, I had no other go but to figure out how to satisfy this craving.
So, I went to the two tried and tested methods: the cookbook(my roomie brought a bunch of these from India, bless her!) and the Internet. After searching for nearly half an hour, I found a simple, easy-to-do recipe(some parts of which I concocted because I didn't have the required ingredients). Here is the recipe:
oil/ghee - 2 tbsp
ginger paste - as needed
garlic paste - as needed(I used chopped garlic that is sold at Krogers)
cauliflower - mid-size
garam masala, turmeric powder, chilli powder, salt - to taste
[some more ingredients which I didn't have and so didn't bother to put in]
1) Cut the cauliflowers and take only the florets.
2) Heat the oil/ghee in a kadai, put the pastes and stir for a minute
3) Put all the powders and stir for another minute
[some more steps using ingredients I didn't have... so I didn't even bother to read them]
4) Put the cauliflower florets and stir them in low flames until they turn pink or light brown.
5) Garnish and eat!
This was the recipe given. But for people like me who can't stand for more than five minutes at the cooking range, this was a challenge as I had to keep stirring the contents until they turned pink/light brown. So, here was my procedure.
1) Boil the cauliflowers in the microwave(10 minutes would be fine) (whoever found Microwave gets my heartfelt thanks! I do most of my cooking with it. No waiting at the cooking range, no cleaning up the mess if it boils over and most importantly, no worry of it charring off!! The last one is especially helpful if you are a person who wants to read 'just one more page' when the cooking got done :D Half my cooking would be done with Michael Crichtons and Robin Cooks :D)
2) Put the oil in and put the ginger paste and chopped garlic(thanks P & GC for doing awesome shopping this week! Our fridge is well stocked now :))
3) Now, take all the flavoring powders in the kitchen shelf and put them in(this was where I was a bit concerned. I was worried about underdoing or overdoing it! I put everything in except rasam powder, vaangi baath powder and dhaniya powder. And the final result tasted so yummy!! Now I know all the powders I need to put this special kind of flavor!! Yay! I'm patenting this flavor!)
4) Put the microwaved cauliflowers and stir them for a minute(so that all the florets get properly coated)
5) Now, put them in high for a minute or two more(as long as you need to reply to two mails and attend a call).
6) Then switch the range off and cover it up with a lid. (we have an electric range. So, the cauliflowers got cooked for some more time in the heat of the range itself).
7) Eat the curry!
Here is a picture of the yummy curry:
Doesn't it look the right shade of golden brown as given in the hotels? And its so yummy! Look at all the florets at the right color all going well with one another and completing the entire picture. Ok! I'll stop here or I'll keep on going!
Do share your favorite recipes and secret tips in cooking. Its loads of fun. I do accept, the fun that you get when a program of yours works after days of work is different from the kick that you get when you eat the food that you made with the recipe that you made up on the fly and it turns out real yummy. But I'm thankful to God for giving so many different kinds of pleasures to mankind in day-to-day life.
Now, I've got more confidence in my own cooking. Earlier, I used to follow the recipes given by my mom, aunts, sisters and friends. This was the first time I came up with a recipe of my own(ok! more a mix and match) and it turned out really good. Yay! Now everyone is invited to my place. A new cook is born!
So, I went to the two tried and tested methods: the cookbook(my roomie brought a bunch of these from India, bless her!) and the Internet. After searching for nearly half an hour, I found a simple, easy-to-do recipe(some parts of which I concocted because I didn't have the required ingredients). Here is the recipe:
oil/ghee - 2 tbsp
ginger paste - as needed
garlic paste - as needed(I used chopped garlic that is sold at Krogers)
cauliflower - mid-size
garam masala, turmeric powder, chilli powder, salt - to taste
[some more ingredients which I didn't have and so didn't bother to put in]
1) Cut the cauliflowers and take only the florets.
2) Heat the oil/ghee in a kadai, put the pastes and stir for a minute
3) Put all the powders and stir for another minute
[some more steps using ingredients I didn't have... so I didn't even bother to read them]
4) Put the cauliflower florets and stir them in low flames until they turn pink or light brown.
5) Garnish and eat!
This was the recipe given. But for people like me who can't stand for more than five minutes at the cooking range, this was a challenge as I had to keep stirring the contents until they turned pink/light brown. So, here was my procedure.
1) Boil the cauliflowers in the microwave(10 minutes would be fine) (whoever found Microwave gets my heartfelt thanks! I do most of my cooking with it. No waiting at the cooking range, no cleaning up the mess if it boils over and most importantly, no worry of it charring off!! The last one is especially helpful if you are a person who wants to read 'just one more page' when the cooking got done :D Half my cooking would be done with Michael Crichtons and Robin Cooks :D)
2) Put the oil in and put the ginger paste and chopped garlic(thanks P & GC for doing awesome shopping this week! Our fridge is well stocked now :))
3) Now, take all the flavoring powders in the kitchen shelf and put them in(this was where I was a bit concerned. I was worried about underdoing or overdoing it! I put everything in except rasam powder, vaangi baath powder and dhaniya powder. And the final result tasted so yummy!! Now I know all the powders I need to put this special kind of flavor!! Yay! I'm patenting this flavor!)
4) Put the microwaved cauliflowers and stir them for a minute(so that all the florets get properly coated)
5) Now, put them in high for a minute or two more(as long as you need to reply to two mails and attend a call).
6) Then switch the range off and cover it up with a lid. (we have an electric range. So, the cauliflowers got cooked for some more time in the heat of the range itself).
7) Eat the curry!
Here is a picture of the yummy curry:
Doesn't it look the right shade of golden brown as given in the hotels? And its so yummy! Look at all the florets at the right color all going well with one another and completing the entire picture. Ok! I'll stop here or I'll keep on going!
Do share your favorite recipes and secret tips in cooking. Its loads of fun. I do accept, the fun that you get when a program of yours works after days of work is different from the kick that you get when you eat the food that you made with the recipe that you made up on the fly and it turns out real yummy. But I'm thankful to God for giving so many different kinds of pleasures to mankind in day-to-day life.
Now, I've got more confidence in my own cooking. Earlier, I used to follow the recipes given by my mom, aunts, sisters and friends. This was the first time I came up with a recipe of my own(ok! more a mix and match) and it turned out really good. Yay! Now everyone is invited to my place. A new cook is born!
Monday, January 28, 2008
Enchanted!!
There she sat,
On a mound,
With the snow blanket around her
The moonlight streamed,
Beating a path,
Through the snow blanket around her
Her pink cheeks gave a soft glow,
From the falling rays,
Reflected from the whitish snow around her
She sat and waited
Waited for the miracle to happen
The enchantment that was part of the snowy cold moonlit night.
There hovered the voice
In between the tree branches
Along the mist from the snowy ground
The moonlight streamed,
Passing through it,
Slicing through the mist in the air
The voice gave a gasp
From the mixture of the mist
Surrounding it from all directions
The voice hovered and waited
Waited for her to see the miracle
The enchantment that was part of the misty cold moonlit night
And then she saw it
And then the voice showed it
Now she was content and knew herself
Now the voice was happy that it did its job
She went back to ordinary life determined
The voice moved back into the mists calmed
All that was left was the moonlight
All that was left was the snow
All that was left was the night stars
Enchanted!!!
On a mound,
With the snow blanket around her
The moonlight streamed,
Beating a path,
Through the snow blanket around her
Her pink cheeks gave a soft glow,
From the falling rays,
Reflected from the whitish snow around her
She sat and waited
Waited for the miracle to happen
The enchantment that was part of the snowy cold moonlit night.
There hovered the voice
In between the tree branches
Along the mist from the snowy ground
The moonlight streamed,
Passing through it,
Slicing through the mist in the air
The voice gave a gasp
From the mixture of the mist
Surrounding it from all directions
The voice hovered and waited
Waited for her to see the miracle
The enchantment that was part of the misty cold moonlit night
And then she saw it
And then the voice showed it
Now she was content and knew herself
Now the voice was happy that it did its job
She went back to ordinary life determined
The voice moved back into the mists calmed
All that was left was the moonlight
All that was left was the snow
All that was left was the night stars
Enchanted!!!
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Republic Day... a new song!
Every Republic Day has been different from the previous ones for me. This year, too, I had a different one. First, I was celebrating it for the first time on a foreign soil surrounded by people who were related to me in only that they were co-patriots. Second, I had to sing a song which I hadn't heard of till that day(though the song was popular, I hadn't heard of it before), listened to once or twice and sung before the entire crowd. Third, it was the day when I fell, my coat and all, into mud due to some (mis)adventures in the snow. And fourth, it was the day when I missed my favorite vada paav. Since I don't want to expand on my feelings about the republic day(the song says it well) and since I have no intention of talking of my slide and fall and missed vada paav, I'm going to stick to the song. Here are the lyrics(they struck a chord somewhere):
Chhodo kal ki baatein, kal ki baat puraani
Naye daur mein likhenge milkar nayi kahaani
Hum hindustani, hum hindustani - 2
Aaj puraani zanjeeron ko tod chuke hain
Kya dekhe us manzil ko jo chhod chuke hain
Chaand ke dar pe jaa pahuncha hai aaj zamaana
Naye jagat se hum bhi naata jod chuke hain
Naya khoon hai, nayi umangein, ab hai nayi jawaani
Hum hindustani -4
Chhodo kal ki baatein, kal ki baat puraani
Naye daur mein likhenge milkar nayi kahaani
Hum hindustani, hum hindustani -2
Aao mehnat ko apna imaan banaaye
Apne haathon ko apna bhagwaan banaaye
Ram ki is dharti ko gautam ki bhoomi ko
Sapnon se bhi pyaara hindustan banaaye
Naya khoon hai, nayi umangein, ab hai nayi jawaani
Hum hindustani - 4
Chhodo kal ki baatein, kal ki baat puraani
Naye daur mein likhenge milkar nayi kahaani
Hum hindustani, hum hindustani-2
Har zarra hai moti, aankh uthaakar dekho
Maati mein sona hai, haath badhaakar dekho
Sone ki yeh ganga hai, chaandi ki yamuna
Chaaho to patthar pe dhaan ugaakar dekho
Naya khoon hai, nayi umangein, ab hai nayi jawaani
Hum hindustani, hum hindustani-2
Chhodo kal ki baatein, kal ki baat puraani
Naye daur mein likhenge milkar nayi kahaani
Hum hindustani, hum hindustani - 2
And the video on youtube that I used to practice once
There is one thing to be said about the Republic day! It shows us, that despite all the problems in India, there exists a democracy of such magnitude and power that it gives all Indians pride and a sense of belonging and the world a hope, the hope that non-violence and democracy are the way to go if peace is to be achieved in the world.
Happy Republic Day!!
Chhodo kal ki baatein, kal ki baat puraani
Naye daur mein likhenge milkar nayi kahaani
Hum hindustani, hum hindustani - 2
Aaj puraani zanjeeron ko tod chuke hain
Kya dekhe us manzil ko jo chhod chuke hain
Chaand ke dar pe jaa pahuncha hai aaj zamaana
Naye jagat se hum bhi naata jod chuke hain
Naya khoon hai, nayi umangein, ab hai nayi jawaani
Hum hindustani -4
Chhodo kal ki baatein, kal ki baat puraani
Naye daur mein likhenge milkar nayi kahaani
Hum hindustani, hum hindustani -2
Aao mehnat ko apna imaan banaaye
Apne haathon ko apna bhagwaan banaaye
Ram ki is dharti ko gautam ki bhoomi ko
Sapnon se bhi pyaara hindustan banaaye
Naya khoon hai, nayi umangein, ab hai nayi jawaani
Hum hindustani - 4
Chhodo kal ki baatein, kal ki baat puraani
Naye daur mein likhenge milkar nayi kahaani
Hum hindustani, hum hindustani-2
Har zarra hai moti, aankh uthaakar dekho
Maati mein sona hai, haath badhaakar dekho
Sone ki yeh ganga hai, chaandi ki yamuna
Chaaho to patthar pe dhaan ugaakar dekho
Naya khoon hai, nayi umangein, ab hai nayi jawaani
Hum hindustani, hum hindustani-2
Chhodo kal ki baatein, kal ki baat puraani
Naye daur mein likhenge milkar nayi kahaani
Hum hindustani, hum hindustani - 2
And the video on youtube that I used to practice once
There is one thing to be said about the Republic day! It shows us, that despite all the problems in India, there exists a democracy of such magnitude and power that it gives all Indians pride and a sense of belonging and the world a hope, the hope that non-violence and democracy are the way to go if peace is to be achieved in the world.
Happy Republic Day!!
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Every girl's dream in an arranged marriage
Another good forward that I couldn't resist sharing! Nowadays, I've started seeing some decently good forwards too, among all the Bill Gates sharing fortune forwards and the Help me, pass it on forwards. Kudos to the original author!
Some of my thoughts on the story before you read it. In India, from where I come, there are three kinds of wedding. The first is where you pick the groom(or bride) by yourself without help or support from family(the "love" marriage, though other marriages also have love in them, here love is the basis for the wedding and so the name), the second is where you pick the groom(or bride) by yourself and then get the family's approval(the "love cum arranged" marriage) and finally the one where the family(mostly the parents) search for a suitable groom or bride based on different criteria and you get to pick one among the selected list(the "arranged" marriage. This is more common in India but people are slowly moving over to the "love cum arranged" marriage type atleast in the cities). But there are loads of girls, me included, who think that searching for the perfect partner is a hard thing to do(too much responsibility!) and prefer to leave it to the parents and enjoy singledom happily. But most of the girls do have loads of doubts about their futures and some don't even think of their futures beyond the marriage as it would depend a lot on the person to whom they are getting married to. I'm not sure if the guys feel the same too but I've never heard anything of that sort from my guy friends. They are not bothered so much about the changes in career or life after marriage. Instead, they are more worried about the financial side(will I be able to support both of us? and questions of that sort) and the emotional/physical side of it(will I be able to satisfy her? will we hit it off together?). But this is strictly my opinion.
Especially when the wedding happens in a short span of time or when the bride-to-be and groom-to-be do not have a lot of time to interact with each other before the wedding, I'm sure there are going to be lots of doubts on either side on various issues. And it becomes all the more difficult when you just can't rationalize about what is happening. Come on! won't everyone get atleast a bit flustered when the society says that we have to live our whole lives with a person whom we barely know? That person might be good, bad, ok... His/her tastes, lifestyle, opinions, values, view of life, etc may be the same or different. He/She might be adjusting/demanding, nagging(I've seen some nagging husbands too,G :P), short-tempered/calm, quick with the tongue, etc. And one blindfold with the arranged marriage type of weddings is that you really don't know if things will work out. The parents make the best possible match and you start off with the wedding hoping things will be good. If they turn out good, everyone is happy. If not, the couple pay the maximum price. But usually, this type of marriage works very well, even better than the other two methods(this might be because of the close-knit familial ties in the Indian society or because everyone has a hand in the wedding, everyone helps to keep the marriage from breaking!). Still the uncertainty exists unless proved one way or the other. And this story is about a girl and her uncertainties. Here it is:
The woods were lovely dark and deep. Walking slowly beside her, in the damp mud road, was her husband whom she barely knew. He was very relaxed, happily watching a group of kids playing at a distance. Her "mehandi" was still dark and smelling fresh, reminding of the excitements and tension 2 days back. "It can't work this way mom...please stop this", she kept telling her mother till the last moment, who wouldn't listen but carry on with beautifying her. She had been crying all night and her make-up had to be patched up twice or thrice to hide her awkwardly swollen face.
It was too late now. She had to get married "NOW" to the guy...The guy whom she had seen once and talked thrice. The guy about whom she knew nothing at all but for his name and work. Everything happened in a hurry and everything was over before she could breathe again... here was she with this guy, all alone in this hill station... how can anybody send their daughter such a long distance with a stranger???
"Hey look at that....!!!" he shouted in excitement... she shrugged and looked where his finger pointed... Bright colored balloons dotted the sky. Children were jumping in joy and he seemed to be completely absorbed into it... colors are always exciting...but not now. She was not with her friends, not with her team mates, not even with her parents. This was not a 3 day tour or team building trip. This was her life and she has been forced to start off with this person. Loneliness and discomfort with this stranger was sickening...She looked at him in wonder... does he even realize that he has married me? Does he understand that he has to love me, protect me, care for me, a new girl, a stranger, all his life?
The marriage morning started like a daylight nightmare for her. The first time in life she felt she should have fallen in love and then married somebody. some man who she would have felt more comfortable with, someone whom she could call by name and introduce to friends, someone whom she could trust. But marriage morning was obviously not the time to think all these. Her parents would never have said "no" if she had declared that she was in love. But she was not emotionally attached to anybody she met, especially guys. She was very friendly, playing, teasing, but never had second thought for any man around her. That brought the entire responsibility of looking for a groom on her parents' shoulders. Her parents had had a very bad time with this entire process. They started their groom search with unending "&" operation. The concatenation of "Horoscope matching" & "Decent family" & "Good looking" & "Good pay" & "same cast" & so on... that always gave 0 output. Now after all that 8 months hunt, they were not ready to hear her "ifs" and "buts" for this 'good guy'. She had explained to her father. She does not feel anything for this person. He is nothing more to me than any other software professional. Like list of names she sees in the chat rooms. Distant and usual...Her father asked her to talk to him and even meet him and discuss their likes and dislikes. That meeting started like the induction program self introduction and ended like a 3 hour seminar.She was waiting to get away from that place. "So did you talk with him?". "yes". "was he polite and decent". "yes". "Oh he got that special flavoured tri-color icecream...!!!".OK. All her family and relatives discussed...She was given the chance to "understand her life partner" and that they have understood each other "well" and she is ready for the marriage now.
All arrangements geared up and it was 24 days after her first meeting that she was getting married to her man... perfect match as everybody else described. Marriage hall was full with excited people, kids got the chance to play, ladies got the chance to wear the silk saree. The smell of rose and jasmine filled the hall. Different poses for the photographer and artificial smiles for the videos. The moment he had
tied the sacred thread was unexplainable vacuum in the head. It was over.She was his wife. Accepted by the society and law. Her proud parents were relaxed. This was their duty they had been planning to fulfill since she was born. All this crowd will fade away, leaving her to explore her new world...
He pulled her hand gently to sit on the stone bench. The bench was wet and the chillness was indeed enjoyable. "So what are you thinking about?"... that was an unexpected ball. should she reply? should she be silent? She remembered the two hour presentation she had taken last month. Bold and confident, she kept answering all the queries with a broad smile. Now she remained silent. "Do you know honey... I was not
for this marriage too..." Oh my God... what did I hear??? did HE tell that or did I think aloud? what does he mean? didn't he like me? was he forced into this?" He must have noticed the quizzical look on her face...with a gentle smile he continued..."I wanted to look for a girl myself, buy her everything, care for her, argue with her, laugh and cry with her, then get married to her... Anything otherwise would be a drama. Traditional drama and I was not for it anytime. But my love for my work and also my stress would not give me time and mind to search that girl...When your parents talked to me 2 weeks before our marriage, about your fear of getting married, to a stranger, I could completely understand your mind. I could see myself in you and that was the moment I decided I will marry you. There was no time to prove myself to you, make you trust me, everything happened in a hurry. But there was the entire life before me, to please you, to love you, to make you trust me. This is no less than what I had dreamt, the girl I was waiting for, is you. Now tell me... will you love me???" Tears came down her cheek. Her parents had done more than their duty. They had found her the perfect guy. "Thank you Mom!!! Thank you Dad!!!" She sent up a silent prayer. His question remained unanswered yet both knew the answer....
Some of my thoughts on the story before you read it. In India, from where I come, there are three kinds of wedding. The first is where you pick the groom(or bride) by yourself without help or support from family(the "love" marriage, though other marriages also have love in them, here love is the basis for the wedding and so the name), the second is where you pick the groom(or bride) by yourself and then get the family's approval(the "love cum arranged" marriage) and finally the one where the family(mostly the parents) search for a suitable groom or bride based on different criteria and you get to pick one among the selected list(the "arranged" marriage. This is more common in India but people are slowly moving over to the "love cum arranged" marriage type atleast in the cities). But there are loads of girls, me included, who think that searching for the perfect partner is a hard thing to do(too much responsibility!) and prefer to leave it to the parents and enjoy singledom happily. But most of the girls do have loads of doubts about their futures and some don't even think of their futures beyond the marriage as it would depend a lot on the person to whom they are getting married to. I'm not sure if the guys feel the same too but I've never heard anything of that sort from my guy friends. They are not bothered so much about the changes in career or life after marriage. Instead, they are more worried about the financial side(will I be able to support both of us? and questions of that sort) and the emotional/physical side of it(will I be able to satisfy her? will we hit it off together?). But this is strictly my opinion.
Especially when the wedding happens in a short span of time or when the bride-to-be and groom-to-be do not have a lot of time to interact with each other before the wedding, I'm sure there are going to be lots of doubts on either side on various issues. And it becomes all the more difficult when you just can't rationalize about what is happening. Come on! won't everyone get atleast a bit flustered when the society says that we have to live our whole lives with a person whom we barely know? That person might be good, bad, ok... His/her tastes, lifestyle, opinions, values, view of life, etc may be the same or different. He/She might be adjusting/demanding, nagging(I've seen some nagging husbands too,G :P), short-tempered/calm, quick with the tongue, etc. And one blindfold with the arranged marriage type of weddings is that you really don't know if things will work out. The parents make the best possible match and you start off with the wedding hoping things will be good. If they turn out good, everyone is happy. If not, the couple pay the maximum price. But usually, this type of marriage works very well, even better than the other two methods(this might be because of the close-knit familial ties in the Indian society or because everyone has a hand in the wedding, everyone helps to keep the marriage from breaking!). Still the uncertainty exists unless proved one way or the other. And this story is about a girl and her uncertainties. Here it is:
The woods were lovely dark and deep. Walking slowly beside her, in the damp mud road, was her husband whom she barely knew. He was very relaxed, happily watching a group of kids playing at a distance. Her "mehandi" was still dark and smelling fresh, reminding of the excitements and tension 2 days back. "It can't work this way mom...please stop this", she kept telling her mother till the last moment, who wouldn't listen but carry on with beautifying her. She had been crying all night and her make-up had to be patched up twice or thrice to hide her awkwardly swollen face.
It was too late now. She had to get married "NOW" to the guy...The guy whom she had seen once and talked thrice. The guy about whom she knew nothing at all but for his name and work. Everything happened in a hurry and everything was over before she could breathe again... here was she with this guy, all alone in this hill station... how can anybody send their daughter such a long distance with a stranger???
"Hey look at that....!!!" he shouted in excitement... she shrugged and looked where his finger pointed... Bright colored balloons dotted the sky. Children were jumping in joy and he seemed to be completely absorbed into it... colors are always exciting...but not now. She was not with her friends, not with her team mates, not even with her parents. This was not a 3 day tour or team building trip. This was her life and she has been forced to start off with this person. Loneliness and discomfort with this stranger was sickening...She looked at him in wonder... does he even realize that he has married me? Does he understand that he has to love me, protect me, care for me, a new girl, a stranger, all his life?
The marriage morning started like a daylight nightmare for her. The first time in life she felt she should have fallen in love and then married somebody. some man who she would have felt more comfortable with, someone whom she could call by name and introduce to friends, someone whom she could trust. But marriage morning was obviously not the time to think all these. Her parents would never have said "no" if she had declared that she was in love. But she was not emotionally attached to anybody she met, especially guys. She was very friendly, playing, teasing, but never had second thought for any man around her. That brought the entire responsibility of looking for a groom on her parents' shoulders. Her parents had had a very bad time with this entire process. They started their groom search with unending "&" operation. The concatenation of "Horoscope matching" & "Decent family" & "Good looking" & "Good pay" & "same cast" & so on... that always gave 0 output. Now after all that 8 months hunt, they were not ready to hear her "ifs" and "buts" for this 'good guy'. She had explained to her father. She does not feel anything for this person. He is nothing more to me than any other software professional. Like list of names she sees in the chat rooms. Distant and usual...Her father asked her to talk to him and even meet him and discuss their likes and dislikes. That meeting started like the induction program self introduction and ended like a 3 hour seminar.She was waiting to get away from that place. "So did you talk with him?". "yes". "was he polite and decent". "yes". "Oh he got that special flavoured tri-color icecream...!!!".OK. All her family and relatives discussed...She was given the chance to "understand her life partner" and that they have understood each other "well" and she is ready for the marriage now.
All arrangements geared up and it was 24 days after her first meeting that she was getting married to her man... perfect match as everybody else described. Marriage hall was full with excited people, kids got the chance to play, ladies got the chance to wear the silk saree. The smell of rose and jasmine filled the hall. Different poses for the photographer and artificial smiles for the videos. The moment he had
tied the sacred thread was unexplainable vacuum in the head. It was over.She was his wife. Accepted by the society and law. Her proud parents were relaxed. This was their duty they had been planning to fulfill since she was born. All this crowd will fade away, leaving her to explore her new world...
He pulled her hand gently to sit on the stone bench. The bench was wet and the chillness was indeed enjoyable. "So what are you thinking about?"... that was an unexpected ball. should she reply? should she be silent? She remembered the two hour presentation she had taken last month. Bold and confident, she kept answering all the queries with a broad smile. Now she remained silent. "Do you know honey... I was not
for this marriage too..." Oh my God... what did I hear??? did HE tell that or did I think aloud? what does he mean? didn't he like me? was he forced into this?" He must have noticed the quizzical look on her face...with a gentle smile he continued..."I wanted to look for a girl myself, buy her everything, care for her, argue with her, laugh and cry with her, then get married to her... Anything otherwise would be a drama. Traditional drama and I was not for it anytime. But my love for my work and also my stress would not give me time and mind to search that girl...When your parents talked to me 2 weeks before our marriage, about your fear of getting married, to a stranger, I could completely understand your mind. I could see myself in you and that was the moment I decided I will marry you. There was no time to prove myself to you, make you trust me, everything happened in a hurry. But there was the entire life before me, to please you, to love you, to make you trust me. This is no less than what I had dreamt, the girl I was waiting for, is you. Now tell me... will you love me???" Tears came down her cheek. Her parents had done more than their duty. They had found her the perfect guy. "Thank you Mom!!! Thank you Dad!!!" She sent up a silent prayer. His question remained unanswered yet both knew the answer....
Sunday, January 13, 2008
A mother at heart!
This is a beautiful story that one of my professors forwarded. Though I've read many like it back in India, the ending is different. I hope you like it too and all kudos go to the original author of the story, wherever he/she is.
"Are you sure, you don't have any problem with this" Selvi asked him once again, probably for the tenth time.
Suresh smiled at her."No ma. I am in fact happy that you made this decision". She leaned on his shoulders and closed her eyes. They are heading towards Anbagam (House of Love). It's a home for homeless children. Only last night, she asked Suresh about this. "Shall we adopt a child?" Her lovely eyes were wet. "I need a child, A Child of my own." Suresh didn't utter a word. He knows the pain that she undergoes all these ten years of their life together.
Theirs is a Love Marriage. Its not a Love at first sight kinds. They have been friends since the age of 10 and God only knows when exactly the friendship turned to Love. No proposals, No Cards, No 'I love yous'. When Selvi's parents fixed her alliance with a bottle-faced Richie, She realized that there can't be a life for her without Suresh. They didn't need many words to be exchanged between them as he also had the same thing in him. After failing to convince their parents, they decided to elope. It took two full years for their parents to accept them, that too, not whole-heartedly. But they neither bother them much nor ignore them. They live such an intimate life they need none else.
She has a great love for children. At every journey, she will manage to attract a child and soon it will be seen on her Lap. "See how those tiny fingers look... See how she smiles... so cute with lovely dimple... See how he looks. sooooo sweet. He is almost a doll..... Like this She has hundreds of 'See hows' to be excited about a kid. Once a Mom astonished after 6 hours of train journey with us,"My Son does not go to anyone other than me. I wonder how he got attached to your wife".
As destiny has its own way of dictating things, they don't have a child. Though She is yearning for one, she found ways to cope up with it. Every day, one could find a minimum of 10 children at her home. She would feed them, play with them and go to temples with them. She had her own world with them unperturbed by the comments of others.
One day she over-heard his mother talking to a neighbour, "When you don't look at the horoscopes, this is how things will be. These young people don’t listen to elders. Marriage is not a joke. Why we insist on horoscopes and auspicious days and all. They simply went and married without giving ears to our advices. See now, its we who suffer. I am worried if there won't be any heir to us at all. But what to do. I can only pray to God"
That night she cried for the first time after they got married. It was very hard for Suresh to console her.
"Have I spoiled your life" She asked in between her cries.
"Stupid girl, Stop all these non-sense. There is nothing to worry about these comments. I am here for you always.
Believe me. Soon, we will have a beautiful child. As beautiful as my kuttimmaa. Now please stop crying. I don't like to see my dear like this"
"Shall we go to Doctor" She asked with all the seriousness in the world.
Suresh didn't know what to tell.
"Why ma, lets wait"
"No Suresh, Please take me to a Doctor".
They went to Doctor. Not one. For next three years, they went to many a Doctor. Lots of scans, tests, specialists.....
All of them showed the same result......They are medically fit and there is not a single problem with either of them.
But still, the result they wanted never happened. God keeps answers to few puzzles to himself. They are beyond Medical science, In fact beyond any science. May be He is of the opinion that 'if the man-kind can find answers to all puzzles of the world, His existence will be ignored'.
As years went, they had to cope and tolerate more and more comments. And some of them were made on the face and many behind. They got used to it. None of these comments came between them. Their love for each other grew with them, undeterred.
Last evening that happened. He came back from office to see selvi waiting for him anxiously at the gate. "Suresh, manju is not well it seems. She is hospitalized. Let's go now pls."
Manju is a two years old girl of their neighbour who is one of the darlings of his wife. He drove to the Hospital. All along, selvi was telling me how manju was active playing with her till that afternoon. By afternoon, her mom came to take her, telling that her Granny has come village. As he reached the hospital, she didn't wait for him to park the car and ran to the reception. He parked the car and checked at the reception. The Child was in Room number 202 and when he approached the room, he saw selvi at the door.
She looked transfixed.
Then he heard that conversation too.
It was the granny of the child shouting at the mother. "Its all your carelessness that brought this to us, You neither use your head, nor listen to us."
"What did I do, Aunt"
"Haven't I told you 100 times not to leave the child to that ill-fated woman?"
"No Aunt, there is nothing wrong with her. She takes care of Manju very well"
"Even now, after experiencing this, you don't understand, is it?,
Have you ever watched at that selvi's eyes when she looks at our kid. Its all filled with jealousy and inability. That's what struck our child now. Otherwise, will a child who was active till 3, start vomiting continuously like this"
"Aunty. Please don't blame selvi akka (sister).
She is too good at heart to think so mean"
"Oho! So Your Selvie akka is not mean. Its me who is mean , is it"
"Oh Aunty, Please don't play with words. I meant to tell you that she is good at heart, that's all"
"hmmm, Good at heart….As if you saw her heart to comment on it"
"Yes. It's visible by her deeds. I have never seen her putting a foot wrong. She is kind and helpful. You can see every kid of the street in her house, all the time. Though she does not have a child on her own, You have seen how well she takes care of all kids. That's why I call her good"
"You can't judge a person that easily. She has a crooked mind behind all her deeds. More than me, More than you...
God judges everyone so well. Tell me why she is not blessed with a child. Tell me. God knows what to give to whom.
Stop arguing with me. And listen to me. Our Child is not going to her home anymore. That's it."
Selvi could not stand there even for a second after hearing this. She ran from there. The door was open and Suresh knew they were out there seeing them. But he didn't have time or courtesy to smile at them. Suresh had to rush back to his car where he saw Selvi in a totally collapsed state. He let her cry for sometime and that's when she asked him if they could adapt a child.
They reached that home by the prayer time. They joined the Prayer. They are singing a song praising the God for creating the world. Its thanks God for creating all beautiful things, Falls, mountains, landscapes, greens, creatures, man-kind.......and Love..... It ended saying that everything is His and everyone is His children. Its so touching to see all the innocent faces with pure hearts singing the song.
Selvi looked at all the kids. Her eyes are searching and he could see her eyes smile on seeing each face. Suresh knows that its going to be tough for her to single-out a child. The home is called 'House of Love' is run by the Jesuits and Father Ignaci Muthu is the Director of the Home. Prayers are over and now they are in Father's room. Suresh knows Fr. Ignaci very much as he got graduated from a Jesuits college. Suresh sees some tension creeping on selvi's face.
Actually they went with some sweets and we decide to distribute the sweets to all children. The Plan is to have a look at all children while giving the sweets. Selvi is given a list with all names of the children. They looked at all the children.
Children of different ages....
Fair, dark, lean, stout, special needs........
some are smiling...
some didn't bother to.....
A few thanked immediately.....
a few did after insistence by the Sister who accompanied them.....
one started feeling Selvi's saree with wide open eyes.....
one got curious about the Suresh's spectacles .....
but.....
All of them have many things in common.
they all have no mask on their faces...
they belong to same religion, religion of Love...
they have same parent.. The Almighty...
they have same character... Innocence...
they are all punished for a fault which is not theirs,
Yet, they are not aware of it and they don't hate the world or they don’t know how to....
By another hour, the sweet distribution is done and they are back in Father's room. Father asked Suresh "So My Son, Have you chosen a child, or do you both need to discuss" "We don't need any discussion father. It's going to be selvi's choice" Saying this Suresh looked at his wife. Selvi is biting her lips with a lowered head.Then she told, "No. I don't want to adopt a child"
Suresh is shocked.
And Father looked confused.
"Selvi, what are you saying?"
"No, Suresh. I don't want a child. Leave me like this. I don't want to adopt a child. I don't want. I don't want." With that, she started crying.
Father looked at Suresh without losing his calmness.
"Son, don't force her. Leave her. I guess you should have talked to her little more, before taking her here."
"No father, it's her decision to adopt"
"Yes, I did take the decision. And I am stupid. Now, I don't want to adopt. Please take me out"
She fell on the chair and she could not be controlled.
"I am sorry Father. Will meet you later"
Suresh took her out and didn't want to look at her.
She slept off on the way after weeping for sometime. They reached home and Suresh saw the paper with all names of the children in her hand. He is surprised that no child impressed her. He slowly tugged the paper and looked at it.
She has marked a tick on.......All names.
Till night they didn't speak much to each other. She came and asked if she could keep her head on his lap. He nodded and she did. "Are you Mad on me" she asked. "Yeah, Initially I was."
"So you are not, now"
"hmmmmm, but I am still confused"
She remained silent.
"I know you like all those children. But why did you say, you don't want to adopt a kid"
She asked him back, " If I asked you to select, whom you would have gone for"
Suresh thought for few seconds and told "That Amudha, 3 yrs old girl"
"Then don't you like that little Aruna who cannot walk".
Suresh didn't know what to tell.
"We can adopt both if you want".
She spoke after few minutes of silence.
"Suresh."I like all those children. It was not easy to choose one of them. Even if I choose one, that child will get a Mom and Dad in us. Don't you think it is an injustice done to all other children? If I have not seen all of them then it's a different thing. I saw them, each one of them. I can't say one is better than the other. Or I can't find out which one needs me more. All I can say now is I love them all and we can't adopt them all. Can we?"
Suresh looked at her face and didn't even try to reply.
She continued, "I know. We can’t. I don't want to disappoint other children by choosing one of them. They all are equal They all are good. They all are beautiful. Better than me. Better than you. They cannot be discriminated on any basis. They all are blessed and children of God. Can we make better parents than God? Let's not adopt a single child and try to give it a king's or queen's life. Let's adopt the home. Let's give all our money for them. Let's visit the home whenever possible. Please allow me to join them as a teacher. I don't care the world. Let me be, an issue-less woman who cannot be a mother forever. But let’s not adopt a child".
Suresh nodded his head in silence.
He understood that though selvi is not blessed with a child, she is already mother in heart.
A true Mother indeed.
"Are you sure, you don't have any problem with this" Selvi asked him once again, probably for the tenth time.
Suresh smiled at her."No ma. I am in fact happy that you made this decision". She leaned on his shoulders and closed her eyes. They are heading towards Anbagam (House of Love). It's a home for homeless children. Only last night, she asked Suresh about this. "Shall we adopt a child?" Her lovely eyes were wet. "I need a child, A Child of my own." Suresh didn't utter a word. He knows the pain that she undergoes all these ten years of their life together.
Theirs is a Love Marriage. Its not a Love at first sight kinds. They have been friends since the age of 10 and God only knows when exactly the friendship turned to Love. No proposals, No Cards, No 'I love yous'. When Selvi's parents fixed her alliance with a bottle-faced Richie, She realized that there can't be a life for her without Suresh. They didn't need many words to be exchanged between them as he also had the same thing in him. After failing to convince their parents, they decided to elope. It took two full years for their parents to accept them, that too, not whole-heartedly. But they neither bother them much nor ignore them. They live such an intimate life they need none else.
She has a great love for children. At every journey, she will manage to attract a child and soon it will be seen on her Lap. "See how those tiny fingers look... See how she smiles... so cute with lovely dimple... See how he looks. sooooo sweet. He is almost a doll..... Like this She has hundreds of 'See hows' to be excited about a kid. Once a Mom astonished after 6 hours of train journey with us,"My Son does not go to anyone other than me. I wonder how he got attached to your wife".
As destiny has its own way of dictating things, they don't have a child. Though She is yearning for one, she found ways to cope up with it. Every day, one could find a minimum of 10 children at her home. She would feed them, play with them and go to temples with them. She had her own world with them unperturbed by the comments of others.
One day she over-heard his mother talking to a neighbour, "When you don't look at the horoscopes, this is how things will be. These young people don’t listen to elders. Marriage is not a joke. Why we insist on horoscopes and auspicious days and all. They simply went and married without giving ears to our advices. See now, its we who suffer. I am worried if there won't be any heir to us at all. But what to do. I can only pray to God"
That night she cried for the first time after they got married. It was very hard for Suresh to console her.
"Have I spoiled your life" She asked in between her cries.
"Stupid girl, Stop all these non-sense. There is nothing to worry about these comments. I am here for you always.
Believe me. Soon, we will have a beautiful child. As beautiful as my kuttimmaa. Now please stop crying. I don't like to see my dear like this"
"Shall we go to Doctor" She asked with all the seriousness in the world.
Suresh didn't know what to tell.
"Why ma, lets wait"
"No Suresh, Please take me to a Doctor".
They went to Doctor. Not one. For next three years, they went to many a Doctor. Lots of scans, tests, specialists.....
All of them showed the same result......They are medically fit and there is not a single problem with either of them.
But still, the result they wanted never happened. God keeps answers to few puzzles to himself. They are beyond Medical science, In fact beyond any science. May be He is of the opinion that 'if the man-kind can find answers to all puzzles of the world, His existence will be ignored'.
As years went, they had to cope and tolerate more and more comments. And some of them were made on the face and many behind. They got used to it. None of these comments came between them. Their love for each other grew with them, undeterred.
Last evening that happened. He came back from office to see selvi waiting for him anxiously at the gate. "Suresh, manju is not well it seems. She is hospitalized. Let's go now pls."
Manju is a two years old girl of their neighbour who is one of the darlings of his wife. He drove to the Hospital. All along, selvi was telling me how manju was active playing with her till that afternoon. By afternoon, her mom came to take her, telling that her Granny has come village. As he reached the hospital, she didn't wait for him to park the car and ran to the reception. He parked the car and checked at the reception. The Child was in Room number 202 and when he approached the room, he saw selvi at the door.
She looked transfixed.
Then he heard that conversation too.
It was the granny of the child shouting at the mother. "Its all your carelessness that brought this to us, You neither use your head, nor listen to us."
"What did I do, Aunt"
"Haven't I told you 100 times not to leave the child to that ill-fated woman?"
"No Aunt, there is nothing wrong with her. She takes care of Manju very well"
"Even now, after experiencing this, you don't understand, is it?,
Have you ever watched at that selvi's eyes when she looks at our kid. Its all filled with jealousy and inability. That's what struck our child now. Otherwise, will a child who was active till 3, start vomiting continuously like this"
"Aunty. Please don't blame selvi akka (sister).
She is too good at heart to think so mean"
"Oho! So Your Selvie akka is not mean. Its me who is mean , is it"
"Oh Aunty, Please don't play with words. I meant to tell you that she is good at heart, that's all"
"hmmm, Good at heart….As if you saw her heart to comment on it"
"Yes. It's visible by her deeds. I have never seen her putting a foot wrong. She is kind and helpful. You can see every kid of the street in her house, all the time. Though she does not have a child on her own, You have seen how well she takes care of all kids. That's why I call her good"
"You can't judge a person that easily. She has a crooked mind behind all her deeds. More than me, More than you...
God judges everyone so well. Tell me why she is not blessed with a child. Tell me. God knows what to give to whom.
Stop arguing with me. And listen to me. Our Child is not going to her home anymore. That's it."
Selvi could not stand there even for a second after hearing this. She ran from there. The door was open and Suresh knew they were out there seeing them. But he didn't have time or courtesy to smile at them. Suresh had to rush back to his car where he saw Selvi in a totally collapsed state. He let her cry for sometime and that's when she asked him if they could adapt a child.
They reached that home by the prayer time. They joined the Prayer. They are singing a song praising the God for creating the world. Its thanks God for creating all beautiful things, Falls, mountains, landscapes, greens, creatures, man-kind.......and Love..... It ended saying that everything is His and everyone is His children. Its so touching to see all the innocent faces with pure hearts singing the song.
Selvi looked at all the kids. Her eyes are searching and he could see her eyes smile on seeing each face. Suresh knows that its going to be tough for her to single-out a child. The home is called 'House of Love' is run by the Jesuits and Father Ignaci Muthu is the Director of the Home. Prayers are over and now they are in Father's room. Suresh knows Fr. Ignaci very much as he got graduated from a Jesuits college. Suresh sees some tension creeping on selvi's face.
Actually they went with some sweets and we decide to distribute the sweets to all children. The Plan is to have a look at all children while giving the sweets. Selvi is given a list with all names of the children. They looked at all the children.
Children of different ages....
Fair, dark, lean, stout, special needs........
some are smiling...
some didn't bother to.....
A few thanked immediately.....
a few did after insistence by the Sister who accompanied them.....
one started feeling Selvi's saree with wide open eyes.....
one got curious about the Suresh's spectacles .....
but.....
All of them have many things in common.
they all have no mask on their faces...
they belong to same religion, religion of Love...
they have same parent.. The Almighty...
they have same character... Innocence...
they are all punished for a fault which is not theirs,
Yet, they are not aware of it and they don't hate the world or they don’t know how to....
By another hour, the sweet distribution is done and they are back in Father's room. Father asked Suresh "So My Son, Have you chosen a child, or do you both need to discuss" "We don't need any discussion father. It's going to be selvi's choice" Saying this Suresh looked at his wife. Selvi is biting her lips with a lowered head.Then she told, "No. I don't want to adopt a child"
Suresh is shocked.
And Father looked confused.
"Selvi, what are you saying?"
"No, Suresh. I don't want a child. Leave me like this. I don't want to adopt a child. I don't want. I don't want." With that, she started crying.
Father looked at Suresh without losing his calmness.
"Son, don't force her. Leave her. I guess you should have talked to her little more, before taking her here."
"No father, it's her decision to adopt"
"Yes, I did take the decision. And I am stupid. Now, I don't want to adopt. Please take me out"
She fell on the chair and she could not be controlled.
"I am sorry Father. Will meet you later"
Suresh took her out and didn't want to look at her.
She slept off on the way after weeping for sometime. They reached home and Suresh saw the paper with all names of the children in her hand. He is surprised that no child impressed her. He slowly tugged the paper and looked at it.
She has marked a tick on.......All names.
Till night they didn't speak much to each other. She came and asked if she could keep her head on his lap. He nodded and she did. "Are you Mad on me" she asked. "Yeah, Initially I was."
"So you are not, now"
"hmmmmm, but I am still confused"
She remained silent.
"I know you like all those children. But why did you say, you don't want to adopt a kid"
She asked him back, " If I asked you to select, whom you would have gone for"
Suresh thought for few seconds and told "That Amudha, 3 yrs old girl"
"Then don't you like that little Aruna who cannot walk".
Suresh didn't know what to tell.
"We can adopt both if you want".
She spoke after few minutes of silence.
"Suresh."I like all those children. It was not easy to choose one of them. Even if I choose one, that child will get a Mom and Dad in us. Don't you think it is an injustice done to all other children? If I have not seen all of them then it's a different thing. I saw them, each one of them. I can't say one is better than the other. Or I can't find out which one needs me more. All I can say now is I love them all and we can't adopt them all. Can we?"
Suresh looked at her face and didn't even try to reply.
She continued, "I know. We can’t. I don't want to disappoint other children by choosing one of them. They all are equal They all are good. They all are beautiful. Better than me. Better than you. They cannot be discriminated on any basis. They all are blessed and children of God. Can we make better parents than God? Let's not adopt a single child and try to give it a king's or queen's life. Let's adopt the home. Let's give all our money for them. Let's visit the home whenever possible. Please allow me to join them as a teacher. I don't care the world. Let me be, an issue-less woman who cannot be a mother forever. But let’s not adopt a child".
Suresh nodded his head in silence.
He understood that though selvi is not blessed with a child, she is already mother in heart.
A true Mother indeed.
Saturday, January 05, 2008
A great new year and... some reminiscences
Wish you all a great new year!
The past year has been good, in that I got to take a step towards my dreams and aspirations, learnt to know the good and bad in people(I earlier put people under the category of good people and bad people. Though I still do the same, I've come to accept that the good people are not entirely good and bad people are not entirely bad. A scary but truthful realization!), moved from one country to another, did most of the things for the first time by myself, traveled a lot(I mean, A LOT! 2007 was when I traveled to and fro from C to B, C to C and finally to the US, and loads of places here too!), met loads of people who think that learning something and being good at it is not something to be ashamed of and got to find a world that existed beyond the comfy confines of my home, home city and home country.
For the new year, I know that it has loads of surprises in store for me and I welcome it with my arms open, ready to gather the experience coming out of the situations thrown my way, to learn more about this interesting world, to make friendships and relationships that would mold me as a person and have fun along the way. I wish to gain more strength from all my endeavors this year, gain the elusive wisdom(I know its hard but still....) that is needed to win in life, achieve some personal goals I've set for myself(sshhhh! That is a secret! I'll tell you as they are fulfilled... if not, they will never be known to the outside world. I only hope that it doesn't come to that because each of the goals are very good and I've chosen them only after careful consideration from all viewpoints. Still, lets see!) and finally move myself to a point where I can take another step towards my dream. I know that to get to the next step towards my dream, I have to give up a few bad habits(like sleeping late, for instance) and pick up some good ones(like remembering to eat fruits everyday)(ok! these are trivial! But just to give an idea...). My wishlist for this year seems daunting now, but with time and in chunks, I'm sure they are doable.
Intrigued???
Me too! I can't wait to fast-forward to the January of 2009 to find out how I fared this year. But since I don't possess a time-machine, we'll have to settle to the normal, blatant way of knowing the results. Lets wait and watch how this new year turns out to be!
Do tell about your new year wishlist too. It'll be loads of fun to draw up one :)
The past year has been good, in that I got to take a step towards my dreams and aspirations, learnt to know the good and bad in people(I earlier put people under the category of good people and bad people. Though I still do the same, I've come to accept that the good people are not entirely good and bad people are not entirely bad. A scary but truthful realization!), moved from one country to another, did most of the things for the first time by myself, traveled a lot(I mean, A LOT! 2007 was when I traveled to and fro from C to B, C to C and finally to the US, and loads of places here too!), met loads of people who think that learning something and being good at it is not something to be ashamed of and got to find a world that existed beyond the comfy confines of my home, home city and home country.
For the new year, I know that it has loads of surprises in store for me and I welcome it with my arms open, ready to gather the experience coming out of the situations thrown my way, to learn more about this interesting world, to make friendships and relationships that would mold me as a person and have fun along the way. I wish to gain more strength from all my endeavors this year, gain the elusive wisdom(I know its hard but still....) that is needed to win in life, achieve some personal goals I've set for myself(sshhhh! That is a secret! I'll tell you as they are fulfilled... if not, they will never be known to the outside world. I only hope that it doesn't come to that because each of the goals are very good and I've chosen them only after careful consideration from all viewpoints. Still, lets see!) and finally move myself to a point where I can take another step towards my dream. I know that to get to the next step towards my dream, I have to give up a few bad habits(like sleeping late, for instance) and pick up some good ones(like remembering to eat fruits everyday)(ok! these are trivial! But just to give an idea...). My wishlist for this year seems daunting now, but with time and in chunks, I'm sure they are doable.
Intrigued???
Me too! I can't wait to fast-forward to the January of 2009 to find out how I fared this year. But since I don't possess a time-machine, we'll have to settle to the normal, blatant way of knowing the results. Lets wait and watch how this new year turns out to be!
Do tell about your new year wishlist too. It'll be loads of fun to draw up one :)
Saturday, December 29, 2007
New year wishes!!
This is a forward sent by one of my friends. She has captured it well in a few words. Here it is:
2007.....a year to cherish.....
2007 was when........
we wrote our last B.E. paper.........
we passed out of college....
we made new amazing friends.....
some of us moved to a new city.....
some of us celebrated our 22nd birthdays.....
we waved good bye to our buddies leaving to the states for higher studies...
some of us fell in love........
some of us got married......
some of us fell out of love....
some of us got hurt...
2007 was when....
we would have made mistakes...
we made life decisions.......
these decisions turned out to be a tragedy...
some of us felt lonely ....
some of us made an amazing friends in a new city...
some of us would have learned to be stronger.....
some of us would have realized that everything happens for a reason.....
some of us let out our anger.....
some of us never opened up to our friends about how we felt....
some of us felt so glad and happy to be the way they are.....
we go out everyday and meet up with our friends...
we had serious talks with our dad about our future.....
we missed each other when we were at hometown....
we missed our mom here...
we cried for each other...
we celebrated our first Christmas with our friends...
we were jobless all the time in office...
we walked around the streets late in the night....
we put budget for the next month (but strictly not following it)
Last year has taken us through all our ups and downs we faced in our life...
2008.......one more year .....a year to....
To find our life partner (might be)... :)
to smile........
to let people know how much u care...
to learn from our mistakes.......
to cry when we are feeling down.....
to follow our dreams.......
to fight against everything for our dreams to come true.....
to be more confident.........
to be more strong at heart and mind.....
to enrich our knowledge.........
to make others happy....
Lets take each day as it comes........
Forget about the downs we came across in the past year........
And remember every lesson we learned through them........
Lets Enjoy Life to The Fullest............
Lets Be thankful for every day.....
All the Very Best For The Year to Come.....
NEW YEAR WISHES!!
2007.....a year to cherish.....
2007 was when........
we wrote our last B.E. paper.........
we passed out of college....
we made new amazing friends.....
some of us moved to a new city.....
some of us celebrated our 22nd birthdays.....
we waved good bye to our buddies leaving to the states for higher studies...
some of us fell in love........
some of us got married......
some of us fell out of love....
some of us got hurt...
2007 was when....
we would have made mistakes...
we made life decisions.......
these decisions turned out to be a tragedy...
some of us felt lonely ....
some of us made an amazing friends in a new city...
some of us would have learned to be stronger.....
some of us would have realized that everything happens for a reason.....
some of us let out our anger.....
some of us never opened up to our friends about how we felt....
some of us felt so glad and happy to be the way they are.....
we go out everyday and meet up with our friends...
we had serious talks with our dad about our future.....
we missed each other when we were at hometown....
we missed our mom here...
we cried for each other...
we celebrated our first Christmas with our friends...
we were jobless all the time in office...
we walked around the streets late in the night....
we put budget for the next month (but strictly not following it)
Last year has taken us through all our ups and downs we faced in our life...
2008.......one more year .....a year to....
To find our life partner (might be)... :)
to smile........
to let people know how much u care...
to learn from our mistakes.......
to cry when we are feeling down.....
to follow our dreams.......
to fight against everything for our dreams to come true.....
to be more confident.........
to be more strong at heart and mind.....
to enrich our knowledge.........
to make others happy....
Lets take each day as it comes........
Forget about the downs we came across in the past year........
And remember every lesson we learned through them........
Lets Enjoy Life to The Fullest............
Lets Be thankful for every day.....
All the Very Best For The Year to Come.....
NEW YEAR WISHES!!
Newyork Nagaram, Pittsburgh Payanam
[For english translation, check the post below]
Enna makkalae, nalla irukeengala? Ennada tamizhla elutharaalaenu paakareengala? Ennatha solrathu, ellam en neram! Nunalum than vaayaal kedum apdingara pazhamozhiku naan thaan best example. Oru friend kitta tamil pathiyum tamil blogging pathiyum pesitu irundhen. Appo, he said, sorry sorry... avan sonnan, tamil blogging kashtamnu. Namma thaan oruthar oru vishayatha sonna, totally opposite vishayathukku support(ithukellam enakku tamil vaartha theriyaathu... Article 178 padi, indha vaartha ellam tamil colloquial languagela mix aayiduchu… athanaala, nadu naduvula English vaartha vandha kandukka koodaathu.. naan enna Kamban parambarainna sonnen… sutha tamil blogging(paarunga paarunga! Ithu kooda English vaartha thaan! Aama, bloggingku aptaana tamil vaartha ennanga?? Yaaruchum therinja sollunga) panrathukku? Etho enakku therinja tamilla eluthi irukken... tamil periyavanga periya manasu panni mannikanum!!) panni pesuvomla! Adhula vandha venai... ungalukku micha story sollanumaa? Avan enna oru tamil blog elutha solli challenge panna, naanum atha othukka, adhula vandhadhu thaan indha post(indha thabaal???? Indha postum andha postum vera thaan.. aana, post na thabaal thaana?? Ippadikku Kelvinayagam :D (ellam namma maruthanaayagam effect :) ) En naakula Saturn sutharaar!! Adhula vandha venai idhu!
Ok! Topic ku povom! Aruthathu pothum alpine nu neenga katharathu en kaathula ketkuthu.. Indha vaaram, naan enga oorla irundhu, Newyork pona kathaiyum, anga irundhu pittsburg pona kathaiyum solren. Newyork pora idea rendu maasamaavae irundhadhu... Aana ticket thaan vaangala(yaaravathu kooda car ride pogalaam, illa train/bus try pannalaamnu oru idea... inga vandhu flightla poi poi aluthu pochu.. seri, seri... scene ellam podaratha niruthikaren... aana, adhukku serthu pattuten.. next time, olunga naanga ticket edupomla!)... winter break pakkathula vara vara veetla ore pressure.. epdi newyork pogarenu... naan enna newyork mayoraa? Ellathayum muthalayae plan panni security ellam tharathukku? So, kadaisi naal varaikkum enakku enna date, enna timela poga porennu theriyala. Yaar kooda poga porennum theriyala. Finally, oru friend kooda car ride panni Washington vandhu, anga S kooda oru car chase panni, train(Amtrak) pudichu, ticketa vaangi(adhuvum anga vandhu walk-in ticket thaan vaanginen! Naanga gethulla!!) vandhu trainla utkaandhaa.... Oru seat number kooda ticketla illa! Aana, trainla ellamae seat number padi thaan irundhadhu. Train kelamba innum pathu nimisham thaan irukku! Already car chasela naan oru trainna vittuten.. indha train poi seravae 12.30 am(aamanga, nadu raathri 12.30 thaan!) aagum. Adutha train, 3 am ku thaan poi serum. En uncle enna washingtonlayae kuppa kotta solliduvaar, kaduppula! Enna da ithu vambaa pochunu paatha, en oru carry on bag(adhu plastic bag!) vera piyyara nelama! Aprom, oru vazhiyaa kettu seatla utkaandha, phone mela phone! Ellam namma friends and cousins thaan! NY poitenna illayaanu paaka!! Ovvoru callum return panni konjam kadalai pottu, seri erangalaamnu paartha train half an hour late! Paavam en uncle! Andha kulirla arai mani neram wait pannar. Aprom, veetukku poi, three days, nalla saaptu thoongi games aadi kalichutten(rest edukattumnu auntyum uncleum oru velaiyum panna vidala! Naan onnum vetti murikalanu enakku thaana theriyum!! Aanaalum, nalla thoonga chance kedaichathaala naanum vittuten(oru vaarama, exams, partyingnu daily two three hours thaan thoonginen! So, caught up on sleep))
Aprom, rendu friendsoda, I went to NY city(S & S). Anga, first shopping thaan panninen! Macy’s, H & M’s, Tiffany’s, Saks.... onnum vittu vaikala! Koodavae, Times square, Madison Square, Rockfeller centre, anga summa irukkaama ice skating oru mani neram, Christmas decorations, konjam photos ellam pannen! Aprom, next day, NY pass vaangittu, we went to downtown NY, Greenwich village, SoHo, Little Italy, Chinatown, NY College of Arts, Statue of Liberty(Oru awe-inspiring vishayam adhu.. vera postla atha pathi solren), Ellis Island, Ground Zero(namma World Trade Centre irundhadhae, adhu thaan), Wall Street, sila pala church gal, ellam... aprom, anga oru caricature vaanginen(ennoda caricature thaan). Adhula thaan naanum NY ponenrathukku oru indelible mark nadanthadhu.. perusa onnum illa... en wallet tholanju pochu!! Enga pochu epdi pochu onnum theriyala! Aprom, avasara avasaramaa ella cardum cancel panninen(Wachovia kaaran uyira vaangitaan! Naanae card tholainja tensionla irundha, appo thaan oru vandi promotional message tharaan! Eriyara neruppula ennaiya vitta maathiri!! Avanukku irukku, naan oorukku ponathum!). Aana, en ID cards, en drivers’ licenses(indha oor, andha oor ellam thaan), en pendrive, konjam kaasu, sila pala nyaabakaarthamaana vishayangal, etc etc ellam pochu.. Oru pakkam varutham, innoru pakkam “seri, puthu varushathulla ellam puthusaa aarambikka thaan pola irukku” apdinu oru nenaippu(talk of the eternal optimist!!), innoru pakkam veetla enna solvaangalonnu oru chinna bayam(enna en kitta 10 paisa, sorry sorry, 10 cent kooda illa, oru id card kooda illa… aprom, bayapadaama, ‘vaama Jansi Rani’na solvaanga ?) Nalla vela, en kooda friends irundhaanga ! vandhu train ethi vittu konjam kaasum kuduthu, anuppi vachanga. Enga plan, anaikku, brooklyn porathu... aana, indha kalaebarathula, naan mood out aagi, veetukku pona pothumnu decide panniten! So, second day nalla kolandhaiyaa I came home at 7 pm.
Third day, aunty kita oru puthu walletum uncle kita kaasum vaangitu, again NY ponen (namma, Gajini Mohammedu fan illa! Thirumba thirumba padai yeduppomla!) That day, Madame Tussauds(namma Gandhi thaathaavoda, Lincoln maamaavoda ellam photo eduthen), Ripley’s Believe it or Not!(ellarum poga vendiya edam ithu), American Natural History Museum(sakkaiyaa irukku! Ore oru periya balla vachuttu, oru universayae kann munnadi kondu vandhutaanga! KD, nee paarka vendiya edam ithu!), Central Park, Empire State building(ithu thaan highlight of the NY trip!), ella broadway theatres, avenues, broadway, main streets, ellam paarthen. Ithula, S ku night time NYa empire state buildingla irundhu paarkanum oru aasai! Seri, athayum pannuvomaenu wait panni, paarthuttu vandhom. Weekendkarathaala, train frequency kammi. Ithula oru train vera miss panniten. Veetukku poga 11.30 pm aayiduchu. En uncleum auntyum thaan konjam tension aayitaanga(ennada iva! Oru naal, 12.30ku varaa, innoru naal seekiram vara, aana oru vandi shopping panni irukka, innoru naalum seekiram varaa, aana pursayae tholachutta, seri kadaisi naal endha prachainaiyum illama varuvaanu paartha(en kitta thaan neraya selavu panna kaaso credit cardo illayae!), ivlo lateaa varaa nu nenaichirupaanga!) Aana, romba nallavanga! Onnumae sollala! Romba cool aunty and uncle!! En cousins thaan kindal adichu gaali pannitaanga! :)
Aprom, rendu naal rest eduthuttu, we went to a Christmas party! Anga, night ellam enjoy pannittu(ada, veetla ellarum thaan), morning Pittsburg ponom! Naan vanla thoongitae ponen! Epdi thaan auntyum uncleum thoongaamayae vandhaangalo, theriyala! Naanum, D(ava, Ms.Cornell :) )yum thoongarathula pottiyae potom. Finally, we reached Pittsburg, went to the temples, downtown Pittsburg, incline trip, some sightseeing through the view points, etc. Then there were some dances, introductions, etc.(en uncleoda friends ellarum vandhurundhaanga). We slept at 1 am. Marubadiyum morningla, Phipps observatory (super glass pieces and plants!!), Cathedral of learning, CMU, University of Pittsburg, River Cruise, Heinz stadium, shopping(anga poiyum vittu vaikala!), Celebration of Lights(adha paaka kodi kann venum! Avlo cuteaa irundhadhu), some more dancing, introductions ellam panninom. Next day, one more temple visit, aprom dosa fest(aha! Dosai smell innum kannlaiyae... sorry, sorry, mokklayae irukku) ellam mudichuttu back to NY. Adhuvum thoongiyae thaandinen. Aprom veetukku vandhu, avasara avasaramaa, pack panni, next day flight pidichu, ippo Chicago airportla utkaandhu indha posta thattitu irukken! Ippo, akka veetukku poga poren! Adhu innoru periya kathaiyaa irukkum! Vera postla solren. Adhu varaikkum, ellarum nalla New yeara celebrate panni enjoy pannunga! Puthu varushathula paapom! Vartaaa?????
Enna makkalae, nalla irukeengala? Ennada tamizhla elutharaalaenu paakareengala? Ennatha solrathu, ellam en neram! Nunalum than vaayaal kedum apdingara pazhamozhiku naan thaan best example. Oru friend kitta tamil pathiyum tamil blogging pathiyum pesitu irundhen. Appo, he said, sorry sorry... avan sonnan, tamil blogging kashtamnu. Namma thaan oruthar oru vishayatha sonna, totally opposite vishayathukku support(ithukellam enakku tamil vaartha theriyaathu... Article 178 padi, indha vaartha ellam tamil colloquial languagela mix aayiduchu… athanaala, nadu naduvula English vaartha vandha kandukka koodaathu.. naan enna Kamban parambarainna sonnen… sutha tamil blogging(paarunga paarunga! Ithu kooda English vaartha thaan! Aama, bloggingku aptaana tamil vaartha ennanga?? Yaaruchum therinja sollunga) panrathukku? Etho enakku therinja tamilla eluthi irukken... tamil periyavanga periya manasu panni mannikanum!!) panni pesuvomla! Adhula vandha venai... ungalukku micha story sollanumaa? Avan enna oru tamil blog elutha solli challenge panna, naanum atha othukka, adhula vandhadhu thaan indha post(indha thabaal???? Indha postum andha postum vera thaan.. aana, post na thabaal thaana?? Ippadikku Kelvinayagam :D (ellam namma maruthanaayagam effect :) ) En naakula Saturn sutharaar!! Adhula vandha venai idhu!
Ok! Topic ku povom! Aruthathu pothum alpine nu neenga katharathu en kaathula ketkuthu.. Indha vaaram, naan enga oorla irundhu, Newyork pona kathaiyum, anga irundhu pittsburg pona kathaiyum solren. Newyork pora idea rendu maasamaavae irundhadhu... Aana ticket thaan vaangala(yaaravathu kooda car ride pogalaam, illa train/bus try pannalaamnu oru idea... inga vandhu flightla poi poi aluthu pochu.. seri, seri... scene ellam podaratha niruthikaren... aana, adhukku serthu pattuten.. next time, olunga naanga ticket edupomla!)... winter break pakkathula vara vara veetla ore pressure.. epdi newyork pogarenu... naan enna newyork mayoraa? Ellathayum muthalayae plan panni security ellam tharathukku? So, kadaisi naal varaikkum enakku enna date, enna timela poga porennu theriyala. Yaar kooda poga porennum theriyala. Finally, oru friend kooda car ride panni Washington vandhu, anga S kooda oru car chase panni, train(Amtrak) pudichu, ticketa vaangi(adhuvum anga vandhu walk-in ticket thaan vaanginen! Naanga gethulla!!) vandhu trainla utkaandhaa.... Oru seat number kooda ticketla illa! Aana, trainla ellamae seat number padi thaan irundhadhu. Train kelamba innum pathu nimisham thaan irukku! Already car chasela naan oru trainna vittuten.. indha train poi seravae 12.30 am(aamanga, nadu raathri 12.30 thaan!) aagum. Adutha train, 3 am ku thaan poi serum. En uncle enna washingtonlayae kuppa kotta solliduvaar, kaduppula! Enna da ithu vambaa pochunu paatha, en oru carry on bag(adhu plastic bag!) vera piyyara nelama! Aprom, oru vazhiyaa kettu seatla utkaandha, phone mela phone! Ellam namma friends and cousins thaan! NY poitenna illayaanu paaka!! Ovvoru callum return panni konjam kadalai pottu, seri erangalaamnu paartha train half an hour late! Paavam en uncle! Andha kulirla arai mani neram wait pannar. Aprom, veetukku poi, three days, nalla saaptu thoongi games aadi kalichutten(rest edukattumnu auntyum uncleum oru velaiyum panna vidala! Naan onnum vetti murikalanu enakku thaana theriyum!! Aanaalum, nalla thoonga chance kedaichathaala naanum vittuten(oru vaarama, exams, partyingnu daily two three hours thaan thoonginen! So, caught up on sleep))
Aprom, rendu friendsoda, I went to NY city(S & S). Anga, first shopping thaan panninen! Macy’s, H & M’s, Tiffany’s, Saks.... onnum vittu vaikala! Koodavae, Times square, Madison Square, Rockfeller centre, anga summa irukkaama ice skating oru mani neram, Christmas decorations, konjam photos ellam pannen! Aprom, next day, NY pass vaangittu, we went to downtown NY, Greenwich village, SoHo, Little Italy, Chinatown, NY College of Arts, Statue of Liberty(Oru awe-inspiring vishayam adhu.. vera postla atha pathi solren), Ellis Island, Ground Zero(namma World Trade Centre irundhadhae, adhu thaan), Wall Street, sila pala church gal, ellam... aprom, anga oru caricature vaanginen(ennoda caricature thaan). Adhula thaan naanum NY ponenrathukku oru indelible mark nadanthadhu.. perusa onnum illa... en wallet tholanju pochu!! Enga pochu epdi pochu onnum theriyala! Aprom, avasara avasaramaa ella cardum cancel panninen(Wachovia kaaran uyira vaangitaan! Naanae card tholainja tensionla irundha, appo thaan oru vandi promotional message tharaan! Eriyara neruppula ennaiya vitta maathiri!! Avanukku irukku, naan oorukku ponathum!). Aana, en ID cards, en drivers’ licenses(indha oor, andha oor ellam thaan), en pendrive, konjam kaasu, sila pala nyaabakaarthamaana vishayangal, etc etc ellam pochu.. Oru pakkam varutham, innoru pakkam “seri, puthu varushathulla ellam puthusaa aarambikka thaan pola irukku” apdinu oru nenaippu(talk of the eternal optimist!!), innoru pakkam veetla enna solvaangalonnu oru chinna bayam(enna en kitta 10 paisa, sorry sorry, 10 cent kooda illa, oru id card kooda illa… aprom, bayapadaama, ‘vaama Jansi Rani’na solvaanga ?) Nalla vela, en kooda friends irundhaanga ! vandhu train ethi vittu konjam kaasum kuduthu, anuppi vachanga. Enga plan, anaikku, brooklyn porathu... aana, indha kalaebarathula, naan mood out aagi, veetukku pona pothumnu decide panniten! So, second day nalla kolandhaiyaa I came home at 7 pm.
Third day, aunty kita oru puthu walletum uncle kita kaasum vaangitu, again NY ponen (namma, Gajini Mohammedu fan illa! Thirumba thirumba padai yeduppomla!) That day, Madame Tussauds(namma Gandhi thaathaavoda, Lincoln maamaavoda ellam photo eduthen), Ripley’s Believe it or Not!(ellarum poga vendiya edam ithu), American Natural History Museum(sakkaiyaa irukku! Ore oru periya balla vachuttu, oru universayae kann munnadi kondu vandhutaanga! KD, nee paarka vendiya edam ithu!), Central Park, Empire State building(ithu thaan highlight of the NY trip!), ella broadway theatres, avenues, broadway, main streets, ellam paarthen. Ithula, S ku night time NYa empire state buildingla irundhu paarkanum oru aasai! Seri, athayum pannuvomaenu wait panni, paarthuttu vandhom. Weekendkarathaala, train frequency kammi. Ithula oru train vera miss panniten. Veetukku poga 11.30 pm aayiduchu. En uncleum auntyum thaan konjam tension aayitaanga(ennada iva! Oru naal, 12.30ku varaa, innoru naal seekiram vara, aana oru vandi shopping panni irukka, innoru naalum seekiram varaa, aana pursayae tholachutta, seri kadaisi naal endha prachainaiyum illama varuvaanu paartha(en kitta thaan neraya selavu panna kaaso credit cardo illayae!), ivlo lateaa varaa nu nenaichirupaanga!) Aana, romba nallavanga! Onnumae sollala! Romba cool aunty and uncle!! En cousins thaan kindal adichu gaali pannitaanga! :)
Aprom, rendu naal rest eduthuttu, we went to a Christmas party! Anga, night ellam enjoy pannittu(ada, veetla ellarum thaan), morning Pittsburg ponom! Naan vanla thoongitae ponen! Epdi thaan auntyum uncleum thoongaamayae vandhaangalo, theriyala! Naanum, D(ava, Ms.Cornell :) )yum thoongarathula pottiyae potom. Finally, we reached Pittsburg, went to the temples, downtown Pittsburg, incline trip, some sightseeing through the view points, etc. Then there were some dances, introductions, etc.(en uncleoda friends ellarum vandhurundhaanga). We slept at 1 am. Marubadiyum morningla, Phipps observatory (super glass pieces and plants!!), Cathedral of learning, CMU, University of Pittsburg, River Cruise, Heinz stadium, shopping(anga poiyum vittu vaikala!), Celebration of Lights(adha paaka kodi kann venum! Avlo cuteaa irundhadhu), some more dancing, introductions ellam panninom. Next day, one more temple visit, aprom dosa fest(aha! Dosai smell innum kannlaiyae... sorry, sorry, mokklayae irukku) ellam mudichuttu back to NY. Adhuvum thoongiyae thaandinen. Aprom veetukku vandhu, avasara avasaramaa, pack panni, next day flight pidichu, ippo Chicago airportla utkaandhu indha posta thattitu irukken! Ippo, akka veetukku poga poren! Adhu innoru periya kathaiyaa irukkum! Vera postla solren. Adhu varaikkum, ellarum nalla New yeara celebrate panni enjoy pannunga! Puthu varushathula paapom! Vartaaa?????
Newyork Nagaram, Pittsburgh Payanam( Newyork City and Pittsburgh Journey)
[Tanglish version, look up]
Hi, how is everyone? I know most of you would be surprised when you see a post in Tanglish(a mix of Tamil and English). All this is a result of a challenge that I had with a friend of mine who said that blogging in tamil is very difficult. Since I belong to the category of people who is constantly looking for debates and hence always talking for or against a topic, I said that it wasn’t difficult and that loads of people did it anyways. He immediately challenged me to write a tamil post and hence the above experiment. I used to write tamil stories and poems when in school. However, since I took French in high school, I lost touch with tamil and college was no better. So, this came as a refreshing change where I could revive my tamil writing skills. However, I had to mix some English words in my post. Goes to show how much English has permeated other languages’ use. Heck! I’ve used tamil for nearly all my life and still I can’t write a post purely in tamil. Though I could try, I would surely not be able to write one telling about contemporary life. I could try writing a pure-tamil post about some abstract topic. Yeah! Come to think of it, I can. Lets just hope that I do that(among other numerous topics) in the coming year.
Ok! Coming to the topic, this post is mostly about my sojourns in New York and travel to Pittsburg. I’ve been thinking of going to NY for Christmas for the past two months. However, I was thinking of going along with a friend in a car or try out the train/bus options. I was basically too tired of flying(as my trips in US so far have been by flight, simply because I don’t own a car and all the places that I’ve gone to make more sense and save more time if I go by flight. I’m sure I’m going to be totally tired of airports and airplanes when I get back to my home country). As December came closer, my parents were worried about my travel plans(my dad is usually meticulous about his travel plans, both abroad and otherwise. He sometimes even has a Plan B if something goes awry with Plan A. My mom also prefers knowing when things are going to happen. But I wanted to try something different(G, your suggestion!!)) and here I was, without a ticket or any idea as to when and how I’ll reach NY. Finally, I reached Washington with a friend, did a car chase along with S and caught the Amtrak train. But, to my dismay, I couldn’t figure out the seat number from the train ticket(bought through walk-in at the counter!). And I had just 10 minutes to go for the train to start! Already, I had missed a train because of the tomfoolery I did with my friend. And this train that I was about to take would reach by 12.30 am. If I let this one go and take the next one, I would surely reach only by 3 am and my uncle would be damn mad at me. To add to my distress(what a lovely, tragic word!! Distress!! Don’t you imagine a young girl, all dressed up in white with flowing curls, staring pensively at the fire with clasped hands daintily placed on her lap? Gosh!! If I keep dishing out such stuff, I can very well go on to write 18th century romance novels. I guess it’s the effect of “The Lion’s Lady”. Its pure trash but makes for enjoyable reading if you want to read trash :D), the plastic bag in which I was carrying gifts tore out and I had to do alternate arrangements. In the meantime, I got calls from almost all my friends and cousins asking if I’m making the trip to NY(shows how big a chatterbox I’ve been and how concerned everyone is about me! Should I be sad or happy? Ah! That is the question!) The train was half an hour late and my poor uncle had to stand in the cold waiting for the train(and me!). Then, I went home and ate and slept for three full days(rejuvenating myself from all the work I did, according to my aunt and uncle! Catching up with sleep, according to me! It was the effect of all the exams and end-of-semester parties :P )
After that, I explored NY with two of my friends(S & S). The first day, I did shopping. Went to Macy’s, H & M’s, Tiffany’s, Saks, Times square, Madison Square, Rockfeller centre, etc. There I went ice skating for the first time in my life. It was an awesome experience. The next day, we went to downtown NY, Greenwich village, SoHo, Little Italy, Chinatown, NY College of Arts, Statue of Liberty(it was an awe-inspiring experience. I’ll recount it in another post), Ellis Island, Ground Zero(World Trade Centre site), Wall Street, some churches, etc. I also got a caricature of mine done(I’ve always wanted one of mine ever since I saw one of my cousin’s). There came an indelible mark of me having been in NY.... yeah! I lost my wallet. After half an hour of frantic searching and canceling all the cards, I decided to call it a day and go home. But I lost all my ID cards, some money, my pendrive, some memorabilia collected over my college days and so on. Though I was sad on one side, I also consoled myself saying that it was for the best and that fate gave me a clean slate to begin the new year on (talk of the eternal optimist!!). I was also a bit scared of the choicest words that my mother would say when she hears this news(understandable because I was stranded in the big bad city without a cent or an ID card. The NY police could’ve arrested me had they taken that notion into their heads! Thank God they didn’t and with the help of friends, I reached home sound and safe at 7 pm)
Third day, I got a new purse from my aunt and some money from my uncle and went back to NY( I know, Guts with a big G. Still, it was an awesome experience). That day, we went to Madame Tussauds(I took a photo with all the celebrities I wanted to, my favorites being Mahatma Gandhi and Lincoln), Ripley’s Believe it or Not!(A place where the fact is stranger than fiction. A must-see for anyone going to NY), American Natural History Museum(great place. They use one sphere and use the relativity concept to explain the entire universe. KD, you’d fall in love with this place!), Central Park, Empire State building(highlight of the NY trip!), all broadway theatres, avenues, broadway, main streets, etc. S wanted to see the night time NY from Empire state building. So, we waited for that and saw that awesome sight too. It was a satisfying trip in all. However, since it was a weekend, the trains were less frequent and I missed a train( I know, its becoming a habit! :( ). So, by the time I reached home it was 11.30 pm. My uncle and aunt were very concerned about me. However, they knew that I had had loads of fun and hence were very cool about it. But my cousins teased me to the core :D
The next two days, I went into resting mode and then went to a Christmas party with my uncle’s family. It was party time all night and we went to Pittsburgh the next morning. I slept through the whole journey(I just can’t understand how my uncle and aunt didn’t nod off! Guess its because they are adults... Makes the task of being an adult very daunting! When it comes to sleep, I’m still a kid). Finally, we reached Pittsburgh, went to the temples, downtown Pittsburgh, incline trip, some sightseeing through the view points, etc. Then there were some dances, introductions, etc.(met all my uncle’s friends). We slept at 1 am. The next morning, we went to the Phipps observatory (super glass pieces and plants!!), Cathedral of learning, CMU, University of Pittsburgh, River Cruise, Heinz stadium, shopping, Celebration of Lights(one of the simplest yet most elegant sights I’ve seen) and did some more dancing and introductions. Next day, we went to the temple again followed by a dosa(this is a south Indian delicacy! I miss you, Dosa!) fest. Then, we left to NY again. Once I came back home, I started packing and took a flight the next day to my sister’s place. Now, here I am, typing(penning down??) this post sitting at the Chicago airport. My connecting flight is 3 hours late and I have nothing better to do :) I’m sure that the story would unfold more at my sister’s place because of my two lovely nieces who make every second with them enjoyable. I’ll recount them in the next post. Till then, have a safe and happy journey(if you are traveling like me) and a very happy New Year(try celebrating it in a different manner from the past ones! I’m sure you’ll enjoy it). See you in the new year! Ciao!
Hi, how is everyone? I know most of you would be surprised when you see a post in Tanglish(a mix of Tamil and English). All this is a result of a challenge that I had with a friend of mine who said that blogging in tamil is very difficult. Since I belong to the category of people who is constantly looking for debates and hence always talking for or against a topic, I said that it wasn’t difficult and that loads of people did it anyways. He immediately challenged me to write a tamil post and hence the above experiment. I used to write tamil stories and poems when in school. However, since I took French in high school, I lost touch with tamil and college was no better. So, this came as a refreshing change where I could revive my tamil writing skills. However, I had to mix some English words in my post. Goes to show how much English has permeated other languages’ use. Heck! I’ve used tamil for nearly all my life and still I can’t write a post purely in tamil. Though I could try, I would surely not be able to write one telling about contemporary life. I could try writing a pure-tamil post about some abstract topic. Yeah! Come to think of it, I can. Lets just hope that I do that(among other numerous topics) in the coming year.
Ok! Coming to the topic, this post is mostly about my sojourns in New York and travel to Pittsburg. I’ve been thinking of going to NY for Christmas for the past two months. However, I was thinking of going along with a friend in a car or try out the train/bus options. I was basically too tired of flying(as my trips in US so far have been by flight, simply because I don’t own a car and all the places that I’ve gone to make more sense and save more time if I go by flight. I’m sure I’m going to be totally tired of airports and airplanes when I get back to my home country). As December came closer, my parents were worried about my travel plans(my dad is usually meticulous about his travel plans, both abroad and otherwise. He sometimes even has a Plan B if something goes awry with Plan A. My mom also prefers knowing when things are going to happen. But I wanted to try something different(G, your suggestion!!)) and here I was, without a ticket or any idea as to when and how I’ll reach NY. Finally, I reached Washington with a friend, did a car chase along with S and caught the Amtrak train. But, to my dismay, I couldn’t figure out the seat number from the train ticket(bought through walk-in at the counter!). And I had just 10 minutes to go for the train to start! Already, I had missed a train because of the tomfoolery I did with my friend. And this train that I was about to take would reach by 12.30 am. If I let this one go and take the next one, I would surely reach only by 3 am and my uncle would be damn mad at me. To add to my distress(what a lovely, tragic word!! Distress!! Don’t you imagine a young girl, all dressed up in white with flowing curls, staring pensively at the fire with clasped hands daintily placed on her lap? Gosh!! If I keep dishing out such stuff, I can very well go on to write 18th century romance novels. I guess it’s the effect of “The Lion’s Lady”. Its pure trash but makes for enjoyable reading if you want to read trash :D), the plastic bag in which I was carrying gifts tore out and I had to do alternate arrangements. In the meantime, I got calls from almost all my friends and cousins asking if I’m making the trip to NY(shows how big a chatterbox I’ve been and how concerned everyone is about me! Should I be sad or happy? Ah! That is the question!) The train was half an hour late and my poor uncle had to stand in the cold waiting for the train(and me!). Then, I went home and ate and slept for three full days(rejuvenating myself from all the work I did, according to my aunt and uncle! Catching up with sleep, according to me! It was the effect of all the exams and end-of-semester parties :P )
After that, I explored NY with two of my friends(S & S). The first day, I did shopping. Went to Macy’s, H & M’s, Tiffany’s, Saks, Times square, Madison Square, Rockfeller centre, etc. There I went ice skating for the first time in my life. It was an awesome experience. The next day, we went to downtown NY, Greenwich village, SoHo, Little Italy, Chinatown, NY College of Arts, Statue of Liberty(it was an awe-inspiring experience. I’ll recount it in another post), Ellis Island, Ground Zero(World Trade Centre site), Wall Street, some churches, etc. I also got a caricature of mine done(I’ve always wanted one of mine ever since I saw one of my cousin’s). There came an indelible mark of me having been in NY.... yeah! I lost my wallet. After half an hour of frantic searching and canceling all the cards, I decided to call it a day and go home. But I lost all my ID cards, some money, my pendrive, some memorabilia collected over my college days and so on. Though I was sad on one side, I also consoled myself saying that it was for the best and that fate gave me a clean slate to begin the new year on (talk of the eternal optimist!!). I was also a bit scared of the choicest words that my mother would say when she hears this news(understandable because I was stranded in the big bad city without a cent or an ID card. The NY police could’ve arrested me had they taken that notion into their heads! Thank God they didn’t and with the help of friends, I reached home sound and safe at 7 pm)
Third day, I got a new purse from my aunt and some money from my uncle and went back to NY( I know, Guts with a big G. Still, it was an awesome experience). That day, we went to Madame Tussauds(I took a photo with all the celebrities I wanted to, my favorites being Mahatma Gandhi and Lincoln), Ripley’s Believe it or Not!(A place where the fact is stranger than fiction. A must-see for anyone going to NY), American Natural History Museum(great place. They use one sphere and use the relativity concept to explain the entire universe. KD, you’d fall in love with this place!), Central Park, Empire State building(highlight of the NY trip!), all broadway theatres, avenues, broadway, main streets, etc. S wanted to see the night time NY from Empire state building. So, we waited for that and saw that awesome sight too. It was a satisfying trip in all. However, since it was a weekend, the trains were less frequent and I missed a train( I know, its becoming a habit! :( ). So, by the time I reached home it was 11.30 pm. My uncle and aunt were very concerned about me. However, they knew that I had had loads of fun and hence were very cool about it. But my cousins teased me to the core :D
The next two days, I went into resting mode and then went to a Christmas party with my uncle’s family. It was party time all night and we went to Pittsburgh the next morning. I slept through the whole journey(I just can’t understand how my uncle and aunt didn’t nod off! Guess its because they are adults... Makes the task of being an adult very daunting! When it comes to sleep, I’m still a kid). Finally, we reached Pittsburgh, went to the temples, downtown Pittsburgh, incline trip, some sightseeing through the view points, etc. Then there were some dances, introductions, etc.(met all my uncle’s friends). We slept at 1 am. The next morning, we went to the Phipps observatory (super glass pieces and plants!!), Cathedral of learning, CMU, University of Pittsburgh, River Cruise, Heinz stadium, shopping, Celebration of Lights(one of the simplest yet most elegant sights I’ve seen) and did some more dancing and introductions. Next day, we went to the temple again followed by a dosa(this is a south Indian delicacy! I miss you, Dosa!) fest. Then, we left to NY again. Once I came back home, I started packing and took a flight the next day to my sister’s place. Now, here I am, typing(penning down??) this post sitting at the Chicago airport. My connecting flight is 3 hours late and I have nothing better to do :) I’m sure that the story would unfold more at my sister’s place because of my two lovely nieces who make every second with them enjoyable. I’ll recount them in the next post. Till then, have a safe and happy journey(if you are traveling like me) and a very happy New Year(try celebrating it in a different manner from the past ones! I’m sure you’ll enjoy it). See you in the new year! Ciao!
Monday, December 24, 2007
Update on Ennama Thozhi!!
I got a comment on the earlier post saying that it was part of a new movie called “Kaalai Pani “. I was immediately eager to check out the full song and I checked the net to listen to it. Though I like the full song too, the shorter version had more punch and soul in it compared to the longer one. This might be because of the music from other instruments accompanying the voice or because of the lyrics that weren’t as sweet as the first verse but I really don’t know. But it is not satisfying enough once you’ve heard the original shorter version. Here are the links to both.
Shorter Version
Longer Version(only the audio)
Do hear them and give me your comments.
Shorter Version
Longer Version(only the audio)
Do hear them and give me your comments.
Sunday, December 23, 2007
Home and away!!
She was moving
She was traveling
A wandering soul to say the least
She was tired
She was weary
A wretched life to say the least
The voice worried
The voice counseled
A thoughtful thought to say the least
She saw the SOL
She saw the island
A place with meaning to say the least
She understood the greatness
She understood the wonder
A magnificent monument to say the least
The voice waited
The voice wondered
A curious position to say the least
She paid homage
She paid tribute
An awe inspiring experience to say the least
She was anchored
She was safe
A homecoming of sorts to say the least
The voice was assured
The voice was at peace
A happy interlude to say the least
She was traveling
A wandering soul to say the least
She was tired
She was weary
A wretched life to say the least
The voice worried
The voice counseled
A thoughtful thought to say the least
She saw the SOL
She saw the island
A place with meaning to say the least
She understood the greatness
She understood the wonder
A magnificent monument to say the least
The voice waited
The voice wondered
A curious position to say the least
She paid homage
She paid tribute
An awe inspiring experience to say the least
She was anchored
She was safe
A homecoming of sorts to say the least
The voice was assured
The voice was at peace
A happy interlude to say the least
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Threes and twos
It’s strange what sleeplessness can do to a person. I was caught in a challenge when I was at my sleepiest. This post forms the crux of the challenge. I’m supposed to write about three people I like most and two people I hate most. Since I have a general rule of never giving out names of people, I take the liberty of changing the challenge into the writing about three types of people I like most and two types of people I hate most. G, this change is allowed under the Rule of Challenges, Article 9A. :)
Ok, here goes the list of people I like, sorry, types of people I like(since I’m more familiar with the world of novels, I base the types on various characters in different novels. If there is a formal way of classifying people, do let me know):
1)“Vandhiya Thevan” type: I like this type of people most. For those who have read Ponniyin selvan, the great novel by Kalki, please move on to the next point. For others, dig in. Vandhiya Thevan was a character in the novel and he was street-smart, humorous, righteous and knew where his loyalty lay. Some of my friends are like this character and with them around, time just flies :) However it is becoming rarer to find such people.
2)“John Galt” type: This is the second type of people I like. John Galt was a character in the novel “Atlas Shrugged” by Ayn Rand. He is the pinnacle of objectivism and gave me a true taste of work ethics. I’ve seen glimpses of that character in some people I’ve met. But living like John Galt is impossible and is not advisable for the Indian society. Now that I’m in the US of A, I get to see more glimpses of John Galtish behavior.
3)“Michael Scofield” type: This, my friends, is from “Prison Break”(to which I’m currently addicted, as AR put it :)). This is the main character in the series. He comes out as a person who can plan things, execute them under stress and pull out at the right time to give a classy finish. I’m sure everyone would’ve encountered such type of people at some point in life or atleast read about them in the novels. A world favorite example is James Bond. But my favorites are Lord Mountbatten(courtesy “Freedom at Midnight”) and the Greek Heroes.
Now, onto the type of people I hate:
1)Hypocrites: I hate these people to the core. The main reason is, they make me laugh by their ways. I just laugh in their face and have a really hard time explaining what I meant by that laugh. Believe me, that is a hard thing to do with anyone and with hypocrites, it is harder still( K, do you remember the restaurant stuff and how hard I tried(and failed!!) to explain why I laughed? God!! That was a nightmare!). There are a few more reasons to why I hate them. For all of that, look up ‘hypocrites’ in any dictionary. To all the hypocrites out there, get a life!!
2)Liars: Back to class two when we learnt “truth alone triumphs”. I’ve seen that most people don’t give out the truth when asked a direct question. Even worse, they dish out lies easily. Dude, the truth is the truth, no matter where you stand (for or against). So, no one can give a partial truth and a partial lie. Though you may be doing good by telling a white lie now, it would surely come back to hurt in the long run. And in the heart of hearts, people do know when others lie to them. Understandably, there are a few situations when you do not want to tell the truth but are asked about it. In such cases, it is always better to say that you don’t want to say it rather than dish out some untruth. I don’t say that I’m a saint and don’t tell lies at all. I’ve said my share of lies too. But eventually, I’ve come to realize that we are way off better telling the truth rather than covering up something with lies. Believe me, the world has more respect on people who say that they cannot give some information due to some reason rather than the people who readily dish out crap to cover their asses. So, stop lying! Or atleast reduce the frequency!!
Ok! It was easier to write the second list than the first. I guess that is because anyone can easily say what they don’t like than they can say what they like. For example, say we go to a restaurant. We can easily say what dish we DON’T want to eat compared to what dish we WANT to eat. The same goes for shopping too. Come to think of it, it goes for anything at all in life where we have a choice. But it was loads of fun compiling that list. Try it if you would like to. You’ll surprise yourselves with the list that turns up.
PS: The last paragraph was not a part of the original post... just a small observation on my part.
Disclaimer: Though I’ve quoted male characters, I’ve seen the aforementioned traits in both men and women equally, actually more so in women than men. So, it is not a way to glorify men and demean women. It just goes to show that the authors are not doing enough to tell more about the women of the world. Again, my observation strictly!
Ok, here goes the list of people I like, sorry, types of people I like(since I’m more familiar with the world of novels, I base the types on various characters in different novels. If there is a formal way of classifying people, do let me know):
1)“Vandhiya Thevan” type: I like this type of people most. For those who have read Ponniyin selvan, the great novel by Kalki, please move on to the next point. For others, dig in. Vandhiya Thevan was a character in the novel and he was street-smart, humorous, righteous and knew where his loyalty lay. Some of my friends are like this character and with them around, time just flies :) However it is becoming rarer to find such people.
2)“John Galt” type: This is the second type of people I like. John Galt was a character in the novel “Atlas Shrugged” by Ayn Rand. He is the pinnacle of objectivism and gave me a true taste of work ethics. I’ve seen glimpses of that character in some people I’ve met. But living like John Galt is impossible and is not advisable for the Indian society. Now that I’m in the US of A, I get to see more glimpses of John Galtish behavior.
3)“Michael Scofield” type: This, my friends, is from “Prison Break”(to which I’m currently addicted, as AR put it :)). This is the main character in the series. He comes out as a person who can plan things, execute them under stress and pull out at the right time to give a classy finish. I’m sure everyone would’ve encountered such type of people at some point in life or atleast read about them in the novels. A world favorite example is James Bond. But my favorites are Lord Mountbatten(courtesy “Freedom at Midnight”) and the Greek Heroes.
Now, onto the type of people I hate:
1)Hypocrites: I hate these people to the core. The main reason is, they make me laugh by their ways. I just laugh in their face and have a really hard time explaining what I meant by that laugh. Believe me, that is a hard thing to do with anyone and with hypocrites, it is harder still( K, do you remember the restaurant stuff and how hard I tried(and failed!!) to explain why I laughed? God!! That was a nightmare!). There are a few more reasons to why I hate them. For all of that, look up ‘hypocrites’ in any dictionary. To all the hypocrites out there, get a life!!
2)Liars: Back to class two when we learnt “truth alone triumphs”. I’ve seen that most people don’t give out the truth when asked a direct question. Even worse, they dish out lies easily. Dude, the truth is the truth, no matter where you stand (for or against). So, no one can give a partial truth and a partial lie. Though you may be doing good by telling a white lie now, it would surely come back to hurt in the long run. And in the heart of hearts, people do know when others lie to them. Understandably, there are a few situations when you do not want to tell the truth but are asked about it. In such cases, it is always better to say that you don’t want to say it rather than dish out some untruth. I don’t say that I’m a saint and don’t tell lies at all. I’ve said my share of lies too. But eventually, I’ve come to realize that we are way off better telling the truth rather than covering up something with lies. Believe me, the world has more respect on people who say that they cannot give some information due to some reason rather than the people who readily dish out crap to cover their asses. So, stop lying! Or atleast reduce the frequency!!
Ok! It was easier to write the second list than the first. I guess that is because anyone can easily say what they don’t like than they can say what they like. For example, say we go to a restaurant. We can easily say what dish we DON’T want to eat compared to what dish we WANT to eat. The same goes for shopping too. Come to think of it, it goes for anything at all in life where we have a choice. But it was loads of fun compiling that list. Try it if you would like to. You’ll surprise yourselves with the list that turns up.
PS: The last paragraph was not a part of the original post... just a small observation on my part.
Disclaimer: Though I’ve quoted male characters, I’ve seen the aforementioned traits in both men and women equally, actually more so in women than men. So, it is not a way to glorify men and demean women. It just goes to show that the authors are not doing enough to tell more about the women of the world. Again, my observation strictly!
Monday, November 19, 2007
Ennama Thozhi!
This is a song I came across in my recent travails over the net. It was so good that I kept on singing this song for about two days and drove everyone mad. Some of my friends even learnt the song(courtesy, my constant singing!).
This is a folk song by Vedanth. Though I don't know anything else about the song or the artist, I can easily say that this is a really good one. The lyrics are simple without being simplistic and that's rare in the present world. They capture the innocence of bygone times and I only wish that the song was longer and didn't finish so abruptly. Here are the lyrics:
Ennama Thozhi, Bommaiya Kaanom!
Naan enna seiyya poren?
Ennama Thozhi, Bommaiya Kaanom!
Naan enna seiyya poren?
Thala vaari pinni Pookal vaithu
Pudu chattai potu vitten
Ippasi maasam Kaaveri snaanam
Bommaiya vaangi vandhen
Ennama Thozhi, Bommaiya Kaanom!
Naan enna seiyya poren?
{english translation:
My dear friend, I can't find my doll!
What am I going to do?
My dear friend, I can't find my doll!
What am I going to do?
I tied its hair, decked it with flowers,
And gave it new clothes.
In the month of Ippasi(a tamil month), a bath in Cauvery(a well known river),
I got the doll!
My dear friend, I can't find my doll!
What am I going to do?)
This is a folk song by Vedanth. Though I don't know anything else about the song or the artist, I can easily say that this is a really good one. The lyrics are simple without being simplistic and that's rare in the present world. They capture the innocence of bygone times and I only wish that the song was longer and didn't finish so abruptly. Here are the lyrics:
Ennama Thozhi, Bommaiya Kaanom!
Naan enna seiyya poren?
Ennama Thozhi, Bommaiya Kaanom!
Naan enna seiyya poren?
Thala vaari pinni Pookal vaithu
Pudu chattai potu vitten
Ippasi maasam Kaaveri snaanam
Bommaiya vaangi vandhen
Ennama Thozhi, Bommaiya Kaanom!
Naan enna seiyya poren?
{english translation:
My dear friend, I can't find my doll!
What am I going to do?
My dear friend, I can't find my doll!
What am I going to do?
I tied its hair, decked it with flowers,
And gave it new clothes.
In the month of Ippasi(a tamil month), a bath in Cauvery(a well known river),
I got the doll!
My dear friend, I can't find my doll!
What am I going to do?)
Thursday, November 15, 2007
Why oh why
These are some of the questions I have in mind but either have no answer(either I'm too lazy to find them or there is no way I can get them or there is no answer from nature itself) or cannot be asked(cultural niceties, lack of courage, keep any reason).
Why is it that
1) it snows when I'm asleep or sitting inside a boring lecture?
2) I return home anticipating a hot meal but all I see are a sink full of dishes?
3) I get up early morning at a friend's place and rush to the bus stop to go home only to realize that the first bus is not due for another hour and I could very well have curled up for some more time?
4) the bus leaves exactly a minute before I reach the bus stop?
5) the presentation I so wanted to hear turns up to be all crap?
6) the presentation I thought was all crap was actually enjoyable(RR your presentation comes in this category)?
7) the first of leaves that turn brown/red/yellow are the ones still on the tree while all others are falling down, down and down?
8) A certain friend of mine has killing dress sense but not much dollars to spare for decking up?
9) A certain non-friend of mine has killing dress sense AND much dollars to spare for decking up? (Okay! I made this up because none of the Indians are dumb enough to spend money to deck up here :D )
10) whenever I think I'm too tired and hungry, the smell from Au Bon Pain drafts over to increase my hunger pangs?
11) there are two events happening at the same time in the university offering FREE great FOOD?
12) those events never happen when I'm at my hungriest?
13) those events occur in a hall that I can reach only by crossing half the university?
14) my lab does not have a microwave?
15) I am tempted to the soup section every time I go buy a meal?
16) I buy a bowl of soup for $5 and feel full after half a bowl?
17) I get to see cute chicks with not-so-hot guys and hot guys with not-so-cute chicks? (none of this fits Indians here)
18) none of the graduate Indians are as cool as the undergrads?
19) none of the PhD students seem to have fun?
20) so many of my friends into PhD are quitting after Masters?
21) my day becomes a series of hi's and bye's with a big bunch of people, conversations with a handful and meaningful conversations with only one or two?
22) I spend about an hour talking to my parents every day and not feel the time go by but sit in a class and look at the watch every few minutes?
23) the cold wind always targets my poor nose and ears while my cheeks are fine?
24) I've lost touch with so many people with whom I shared four full years of my life? Now I don't even know what some of them are doing :(
25) some of my closest friends are close no more?
26) some people whom I didn't care much in the past permeate every nook of my life now?
27) I'm watching more movies than when I was back in home?
28) I think life is a drudgery and suddenly someone makes it easy to bear by some action of theirs?
29) though I've bought loads of clothing for winter, I still feel I'm not prepared for it?
30) I pick up a product with a great discount only to find that discount ended the day before?
31) I get up early when I don't have classes or meetings to attend but invariably end up sleeping late when I have something important coming up?
32) one of my exams is scheduled at 7.30 AM and my first bus from home is at 7.15 AM (put in 10 minutes for traveling time and you'll get the picture).
33) whenever I think life is a bed of roses, there is a rude shock waiting just around the corner.
34) every shock that comes effectively takes me out of stupor.
35) the day I want to eat ice cream, there is none at home.
36) I get up just when a dream turns really interesting and I'm not able to get back the dream even if I try my hardest?
37) I can't get my mom or dad to scold me nowadays? (I actually miss my mom's scoldings!!)
38) some of my friends are going places from where there is no return to original state and I don't have the courage to do so?
39) I can't sit down to blog anymore and go into hiatus more often?
40) life shows the presence or absence of something only when we least expect it?
Why is it that
1) it snows when I'm asleep or sitting inside a boring lecture?
2) I return home anticipating a hot meal but all I see are a sink full of dishes?
3) I get up early morning at a friend's place and rush to the bus stop to go home only to realize that the first bus is not due for another hour and I could very well have curled up for some more time?
4) the bus leaves exactly a minute before I reach the bus stop?
5) the presentation I so wanted to hear turns up to be all crap?
6) the presentation I thought was all crap was actually enjoyable(RR your presentation comes in this category)?
7) the first of leaves that turn brown/red/yellow are the ones still on the tree while all others are falling down, down and down?
8) A certain friend of mine has killing dress sense but not much dollars to spare for decking up?
9) A certain non-friend of mine has killing dress sense AND much dollars to spare for decking up? (Okay! I made this up because none of the Indians are dumb enough to spend money to deck up here :D )
10) whenever I think I'm too tired and hungry, the smell from Au Bon Pain drafts over to increase my hunger pangs?
11) there are two events happening at the same time in the university offering FREE great FOOD?
12) those events never happen when I'm at my hungriest?
13) those events occur in a hall that I can reach only by crossing half the university?
14) my lab does not have a microwave?
15) I am tempted to the soup section every time I go buy a meal?
16) I buy a bowl of soup for $5 and feel full after half a bowl?
17) I get to see cute chicks with not-so-hot guys and hot guys with not-so-cute chicks? (none of this fits Indians here)
18) none of the graduate Indians are as cool as the undergrads?
19) none of the PhD students seem to have fun?
20) so many of my friends into PhD are quitting after Masters?
21) my day becomes a series of hi's and bye's with a big bunch of people, conversations with a handful and meaningful conversations with only one or two?
22) I spend about an hour talking to my parents every day and not feel the time go by but sit in a class and look at the watch every few minutes?
23) the cold wind always targets my poor nose and ears while my cheeks are fine?
24) I've lost touch with so many people with whom I shared four full years of my life? Now I don't even know what some of them are doing :(
25) some of my closest friends are close no more?
26) some people whom I didn't care much in the past permeate every nook of my life now?
27) I'm watching more movies than when I was back in home?
28) I think life is a drudgery and suddenly someone makes it easy to bear by some action of theirs?
29) though I've bought loads of clothing for winter, I still feel I'm not prepared for it?
30) I pick up a product with a great discount only to find that discount ended the day before?
31) I get up early when I don't have classes or meetings to attend but invariably end up sleeping late when I have something important coming up?
32) one of my exams is scheduled at 7.30 AM and my first bus from home is at 7.15 AM (put in 10 minutes for traveling time and you'll get the picture).
33) whenever I think life is a bed of roses, there is a rude shock waiting just around the corner.
34) every shock that comes effectively takes me out of stupor.
35) the day I want to eat ice cream, there is none at home.
36) I get up just when a dream turns really interesting and I'm not able to get back the dream even if I try my hardest?
37) I can't get my mom or dad to scold me nowadays? (I actually miss my mom's scoldings!!)
38) some of my friends are going places from where there is no return to original state and I don't have the courage to do so?
39) I can't sit down to blog anymore and go into hiatus more often?
40) life shows the presence or absence of something only when we least expect it?
Sunday, November 04, 2007
The End of Something
She was enjoying
She was having fun
She was living life to the fullest
Suddenly,
She understood something
Or the lack of something
She stood still
The reality hit her
A pain seared through her heart
A tear rolled down her cheek
The voice was content
The voice was calm
The voice was at peace with itself
Suddenly,
The voice sensed something
Or the lack of something
It was time
Time to show her the reality
A reality that would pain her
A reality that would make her cry
The voice consoled her
She was unconsoled
The voice reasoned with her
She said that this was beyond reason
The voice argued with her
She was too tired to argue
Because this something sapped her energy
Her love for life,
Her interest in life,
Her peace with the world.
The voice didn't give up
The voice persisted
The voice dinned sense into her
And let the pain dull and tear dry
She was battered
She was bruised
She didn't want anymore of it
But still she went on in life
Because Life doesn't end with something
Life dulls the pain
Life dries the tear
And life goes on.
The voice showed her strength
The voice stood rock-solid
The voice guided her by hand
She followed the voice
She followed its reason
She followed it by hand
The Voice and She
Emerged stronger in this contest
More understanding of each other
More clear of each other's goal
And more trusting on each other.
All that was left
Left of the something
A few words and actions
A dull pain in her heart
And an infinite wisdom for the voice.
She was having fun
She was living life to the fullest
Suddenly,
She understood something
Or the lack of something
She stood still
The reality hit her
A pain seared through her heart
A tear rolled down her cheek
The voice was content
The voice was calm
The voice was at peace with itself
Suddenly,
The voice sensed something
Or the lack of something
It was time
Time to show her the reality
A reality that would pain her
A reality that would make her cry
The voice consoled her
She was unconsoled
The voice reasoned with her
She said that this was beyond reason
The voice argued with her
She was too tired to argue
Because this something sapped her energy
Her love for life,
Her interest in life,
Her peace with the world.
The voice didn't give up
The voice persisted
The voice dinned sense into her
And let the pain dull and tear dry
She was battered
She was bruised
She didn't want anymore of it
But still she went on in life
Because Life doesn't end with something
Life dulls the pain
Life dries the tear
And life goes on.
The voice showed her strength
The voice stood rock-solid
The voice guided her by hand
She followed the voice
She followed its reason
She followed it by hand
The Voice and She
Emerged stronger in this contest
More understanding of each other
More clear of each other's goal
And more trusting on each other.
All that was left
Left of the something
A few words and actions
A dull pain in her heart
And an infinite wisdom for the voice.
Thursday, November 01, 2007
A talk about earth
Check this out. Its a lyrical view of life on Earth by Frans Lanting. To know more about the author, check here
It sure did stir something within me. How about you? And, is this power that encompassed and transformed all these creations called God, the SuperPower? Do share your ideas and comments.
It sure did stir something within me. How about you? And, is this power that encompassed and transformed all these creations called God, the SuperPower? Do share your ideas and comments.
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