Happy Holi...

Holi is absolutely my favorite festival. I like the way it adds color to life. The enthusiasm, attitude and the effusiveness of this festival add new dimensions to every day living.

I remember the holis of our childhood when the brother and me would be out in the streets, early in the day, armed with pichkaris and pocket full of hues. How we used to get drenched in various shades, going absolutely crazy with happiness celebrating this amazing festival with our friends and family. The late afternoon lazy baths after the ecstatic revelry, followed by a huge spread of yummy non-veg food was something we really looked forward to.

As we grew, from school to college, and then higher education and job postings in different cities, I am fortunate enough to have a close set of friends with whom I have shared fond memories of this festival through out the growing up years. From the week long revelry in the school hostel during my high school days, when each evening for an entire week began with throwing buckets of water on each other to late night mopping off the mess with heavy curtains to avoid punishment, to going out with dholaks and color with an absolutely crazy set of friends in delhi, I have enjoyed it all.

Holi is indeed a festival which aims to wipe off all sorrows and give immense joy to those who celebrate it. It adds the needed zest, spark and color to life. Wish a Happy Holi to all. May the spirit of the festival touch each of your lives and fill it with the colours of happiness.

Happy Holi...where friends become even closer and enemies become friends!

Thanks

Thanks to each of you who have sent me a mail/comment after the post. Your kind words and inspiration will be a source of strength always.

The luxury of wallowing in sadness is definitely not for me and thanks to friends like you I am back in action. As you have all said, 'keeping the faith' is important and my faith in the basic goodness of life thrives as always.

Thanks again and cheers.

What I did in the last few months...

Those of you who read my blog might be wondering about this extended silence...well, a lot has happened in the last few months and i had to stop and pause for a while. Breaking out of the mould and going public with your woes is not a very done thing, but i have decided to be honest and faithful to my blog..so here it goes. I was pregnant and absolutely ecstatic about it. Life suddenly turned a color which was new and exhilarating. However, happiness was not too last for long. About to begin my second trimester, i miscarried and the world came collapsing. I was devastated and went into a shell and it took me a while to get out of it. Life is not always the way you want it to be and I am finally reconcilled to it. We cannot always get what we want. There are others who have far lesser than us. Therefore, to be content with what we have is the real meaning of life and the way to contenment. Thank god for the wonderful family and friends who stood strong the entire length. Another big change in life is that i have also quit my job during this upheavel. So, i am no longer gainfully employed. The rush of going through the rut of an overworked daily life is no longer there. This gives me a lot of time to do things that i always wanted to do. I have caught up on my reading..classics (D H lawrence, Thomas Hardy) to childhood favorites (P G Wodehouse, Agatha Christie) to New Age reads (Michael Crichton)-- i am dabbling in one and all. Also, i have done some travelling during this time. Went on nature trails and explored the thrills of rapelling, rafting, valley crossing, para-sailling, et all. Had some fun with good food, good company and the sand and the sea in goa (will upload the pictures on facebook for those who are interested). Also, went to this quaint location called murud janjira. The beaches are relatively quite and much cleaner and the air is fresh and pure. If you want to take a relaxing, no frills holiday, highly recommend this place for a short trip. Watching movies, reading, catching up with a few friends...this is how my world goes these days. When the hubby leaves for work, i am in my own make believe world for the greater part of the day. However, i am going to be soon back in circulatiion and hope that an interesting opportunity comes by. Till then, i am going to make the most of this quietude. In an ending note, life throws up its woes, but the virtue of goodness always succeeds. Having miscarried twice, i might not have the joy of giving birth..but i have the world's best parents, a devoted husband and a doting brother to take joy in. I have some wonderful friends and a thrilling life to be happy with. Acceptance is half the battle won and the willingness to make the most of what you have is the other half. Wish the same for all.

Sach ka Saamna

What has happened to civilization? Is money overshadowing all other considerations in life? How can someone sell their OWN dark secrets for materialistic gains, hurting self pride and emotional welfare of family and loved ones.

Society has become very "ME" centric. In the good old days, people earned to keep family and friends happy. Today, we can go all the way and hurt anyone in our path to earn money & keep ourselves materialistically rich. Sadly, such is the world that we live in.

Hurray...this is number 50

I have nothing to share at this moment...life is kind of standard and boring. However, I really wanted to touch 50 today....hurray, i have reached the first milestone on my blog.. :):)

Under the Tuscan Sun

I am getting into this habit of enjoying some beautiful World Cinema. The husband was surprised to see me so engrossed in a 'genre' that I claim not to enjoy. The movie had its share of wonderful moments, but there was one scene that really stood out. Sharing it on the blog hoping that it positively inspires at least one more person the way it touched me. The below quote is not verbatim but the essence remains the same: 'There is a section of the Alps called the Semmering, which is very steep and rugged. They built a train track over these Alps to connect Vienna and Venice. They built these tracks even before there was a train in existence that could make the trip. They built it because they knew some day, the train would come..' Isn't it a wonderful thought...a hope in the time of nothingness, a lust for life, a desire, a longing to make the world a better place to live in.

Andy Roddick

Last time when Federer was playing the French open, I was rooting for him and really wanted him to take home the trophy. This time at Wimbledon, he wasn't anywhere close to his usual standards. Andy Roddick stole the heart and the show. If only fate hadn't conspired otherwise, the trophy should have been his. Federer won and created history, but for all the valor, gamesmanship and a spot on performance, the day belonged to Roddick. History will record Federer as the winner, but for tennis fans all over the world, Andy Roddick was the true champion on a classic Wimbledon day.

And if the last post has motivated you to write 10 things that you hate about me, please feel free to litter my blog... :)

10 Things That I hate about you

I am not a big fan of hollywood movies, actually, I have this aversion for most 'angrezi' cinema. The routine song and dance sequences of our very own bollywood movies, with generous doses of romance, high octate drama and theatrical performances are more up my alley. Therefore, unlike most people of my generation who rejoice and celebrate world cinema, I am very boring, ancient and simple. It is not often that you would hear me sharing childlike enthusiasm about english movies. However, yesterday I watched a very pleasent movie called '10 things that i hate about you'. Starring Heath Ledger, this is a cool watch for all ages. I hear this was the movie that rocketed Heath Ledger's career to new heights. Ledger is such a fantastic performer with a charm that is so infectious. Be it the handsome charmer in this movie or the scheming Joker in the Dark Knight, he is brilliant. What a great loss his death is to the World Cinema. For people who believe in doing the unexpected, who don't like conforming to set expectations, who love being their own masters and leading lives on their own terms, this movie is bound to catch their fancy. A sweet romantic drama set in the lives of people who are 'very next door', '1o things that i hate about you' is a celebration of love, simplicity and youth.

Monsoon Arrived

Monsoon has just about begun...few lazy, scattered showers and the city is already in chaos. It took 3 hours to travel to office today, the distance usually covered in a little over 45 mins. Dreading what the next few days are going to be. Otherwise, its fun watching the rains pour down. Time for some spicy pakoras with a cup of hot piping tea.....

Hot and Sweaty...

No electricity for a while now. The husband believes in frugal living, so no power back-up at home. I think the time has come to chew his brains and get an inverter installed, especially if i were to plan an extended stay at home. All this stay at home is making me nostalgic. It's taking me back to those childhood summer holidays -- unlike the children of today, summer for us meant sweat dripping, skin scorching fun-filled outdoor activities under the hot sun. It meant mock fights under a cool shower, 'mom-made' summer delicacies, visits from friends and family, lazy afternoons, and pleasant evenings on the terrace over long discussions and story-telling sessions. The best part were the lazy summer afternoons, with an overfed stomach and nothing else to do, when we stared at the ceilings and weaved endless dreams, not knowing when sleep took over only to be greeted with the cool evening breeze and a glass of refreshing mango drink...oh those days!!! Back to the present. I am reading Shankar's 'Chowringhee' in English. I am afraid a lot of the nuances seem to be lost in the translation and probably it would be a better idea to have read it in the original form. So much for our anglicized upbringing. I have promised myself that I will make the effort to read more vernacular literature from now on. The prospect of another lazy day looming ahead is exciting. I might catch up with a friend for a girls' time-out today. Feel like pampering myself with a little bit of shopping. Oh, by the way, the cook didn't turn up yesterday...she is doing the disappearing act quite regularly now; need to find an alternative. However, that gave us the excuse to have some yummy Arabic food for dinner...the barbecue chicken with the smooth garlic sauce was delicious. The shabarmas were also quite good. The husband wants me to join him for lunch today. But I don't feel like doing the hour long drive to town, especially with my mad driver who is quite crazy on the roads. Getting good domestic help is a challenge in Mumbai. I am so enjoying it at home that thinking about freelancing seriously now. The initial response and feedback has been encouraging. There are also a couple of projects that are there for the taking. But 'entrepreneurship' is a big decision and I don't know whether I have it in me. So will sleep over it a few more days before taking the final plunge (either ways). Any advice on this bit will be welcome and genuinely appreciated. What else?? Like a typical girl, I couldn't have stuck to one topic and meandered over a lot of things. That is typical me, the pig head with bag full of silly ideas. Enough for now. See you again soon.

Another Oldie

Recovering some of my past work:

Brazen and dark in a wondrous glow of light-- 
Dichotomy in its origin and every visible side, 
Loud and melodramatic, with generous splashes of grey 
Memories beckon and keep me prey.

Times that I have enjoyed, 
Times that were fun,

Times that have robbed me of sanity- 
Times that forced me to quit and run! 

The world is, as seen in its light- 
The merge of colors—some dark, some very bright; 
I close my eyes to block the glare— 
But am I not the one who also stand and stare! 

We all fall prey to habits and past— 
It’s easy for us to grumble and not adjust 
Fingers point at the drop of a hat 
But how do we react to fingers directed at us? 

Life is short and fragile at large, 
Lets not grumble and each other grudge
Paths of struggle will cross us for sure- 
Let us all learn to happily endure.

If there is a Supreme Power to dictate— 
He will ensure life’s objectives are met— 
Believe in 'what' controls your heart 
In life and in joy, you will get a head-start.

A Differnt blog, a different time

This is what I wrote long back when I maintained a different blog:  

In the midst of a colored world 
Mosaic of patterns- different all 
Reflections of beauty, satirical and grey 
All the brethren scattered lay 

Hopes of tomorrow rule all thought 
Past and present- chaotic melting pot 
Racism & culture, broken yet ripe 
Mismatched convictions adulterated die

Human prowess closing gaps 
Worldliness broadening distance and maps 
Bridge divergence yet diversities lay 
Darker the nights, brighter the day

 Deep forests, attractions wide 
Avenues open, glittering bright 
Pecuniary motives, worldly wise 
Humanity at its best disguise.

Randomness again

I am back and it is a sunny morning today. The day is bright and gorgeous and as promised my mood is northward bend. I am extremely pleased with all the effort at home yesterday. Got the house ready to welcome the parents. My wardrobe which was in need of serious attention has been sorted out. It was difficult parting with those old clothes, which i hadn't worn for over a year, but still felt attached to. However, the inevitable had to be done to get some semblance of order. Neetu, the maid, was super happy with the takeaways. She sauntered in today in one of my 'bunty-babli' dresses. Had the spunk to ask if I had some sarees that I wanted to give away; it seems her mom was so thrilled with the dresses yesterday, that now she wanted me to hand down some sarees for herself. Good lord, the cheekiness of people around :( Talking about sarees, three years after the wedding, for the first time yesterday, I took out my wedding trousseau and the other sarees that were neatly washed, folded and tucked away in heavy suitcases, soon after the marriage rituals got over. It was a pleasure to lay the hands on those silky, satiny, georgety nine yards of beauties. Though it was quite a task to get them all aired and neatly folded back to the suitcases again, it relieved some of the tension that I had been having about their safe-keeping for a while now. For dinner, supervised the cook who made some delicious rajma and yummy stuffed chillies with green peas and onions. The recipe for stuffed chillies was my innovation and I was quite pleased with the end results. The husband also seemed to enjoy it. This has motivated me to try out a few more tricks in the kitchen over the next few days. Unless, there is serious food poisoning, my enthusiasm might be difficult to curb, irrespective of the monstrous torture that I may heave on the unsuspected victims of my culinary experiments. Don't I sound domesticated...well, I feel like one. I am enjoying the days off. Today, will be pure laziness, surfing through the net, chatting with old friends, catching up on my reading, hogging and then lying around like an over fed buffalo.. Have fun!

The Joker

In my view, one of the most impressionable cinematic characters by far is that of 'the Joker.' I think the personality and the darkness is so strong that it completely overshadows the goodness of 'the Dark Knight'. Even though positive forces triumph in the end, the memory that you walk back with is the sheer theatrical force and piercingly alarming stronghold of the buffoon. Don't mistake me..i am not on a cinematic journey nor i am trying to act a critic. I am just giving vent to some pent up emotions. For in real life, don't we encounter such characters in the veil of normalcy once in a while? Someone who will fool around, be the 'agony aunt/uncle' to all and sundry, bitch with you and about you, leave no one unscathed, form a group of followers to feed off and feed with, act the benign uncle until emotions conflict and paths cross and then silently stab you at the back, all the while smiling and showing that he/she still is your greatest benefactor. Such a person who bitches with you and seem to stand by you obviously becomes the 'poster boy.' How then do you bare the fact when you see through the antics, when it is appallingly clear that he/she is instigating your juniors, subtly flaming jealousy and unhealthy relationship among peers, clawing at you and pulling you down smartly at every opportunity. The antics are so sublime and smart that only the wronged can feel the pinch.

Don't get me wrong, you are not the only one on the target list. There are several others that the joker bitches about and then befriends them and bitches with. That is the modus operandi.

I have written all of these without a pause and as I read back, I think it is too strong, but I won't delete for I feel strongly about it. I am in a conflict right now, and the practical and the egoistical sides of me are in a raging war with each other. I will give it a few more days but I have strong inclination that the ego/self esteem in me will win the battle. It seems I am again in the path of shedding the past and moving on to something new. While the old will do its best to retain me, not to let me go, it is for me to move ahead in life. Change is difficult but essential. Thank God at least the parents and the husband understand and the finances will not let me down. For all the small mercies in life :). Next time, when I visit the blog, hope to be in a better mood.

Until then, take care.

Why have the young voted for the Congress?

This is why I think the young voted for the Congress: - We have not been exposed to the brand of politics that came with the late 70s and 80s-- the reason for the conception of the janata dal or the bharatiya janata party is not very familiar to us. - We are not very keen or religion, cast or regionalism; so hatred and bigotry don't sell with us - We have all been brought up with history books highlighting the role of Indian National Congress in India's struggle for Independence. In the absence of a strong motive to switch sides, we idolize the past - We have seen alternatives before and none of them seem to have performed significantly better. Given that scenario, we would rather stick to a party with a good history - Known recognizable faces, who are not extremists, and are identified as educated, intelligent middle class exist within the congress and we aspire to be like them - It helps to have young turks in the ranks of Congress and Rahul Gandhi draws a fair amount of female adulation I am apolitical and have zero affiliation to any political party in the country. This post is to be treated as an unbiased opinion of a political novice and a complete outsider in the fragmented world of politics.

If dreams are tough and words are few,
If the moments lived are nothing new
If 'everydayness' is the world you live,
And you think 'life' is a sunk ship;
It's then that you need to get up and fight
Break the monotony of a rugged life;
It's then that your strength should show,
Laying the foundation of a better morrow.
Diamond is coal, crystal and gem
It's the 'effort' that defines the name-!!

Adult with a capital A

Ok..this is a bit controversial but I have been thinking about it for sometime now and I would rather jot it down. We say men and women are equal and the "good Lord" doesn't really discriminate between the genders...if that's so, then why is it so different during the procreation process....if a man is capable of procreating 30 days in a month, then why is it different for a woman??? Even if it takes two to tango, the twosome should enjoy equal rights and benefits all the way in an equal world, what say???

Why do people visit but not leave a comment????

A Letter

Hi,

I know, i know...yes, i haven't really visited this blog for a while now; all of you have been complaining about my inertia. And you are absolutely justified; blame it on my attention span. A lot of things happened in the meantime--some personal, some about the world at large. Visited Siliguri after a gap of 6 months. We had a lovely family reunion. Something about this town is enough to rejuvenate my spirits. From the serenity of the tea gardens as you drive out of the airport, to the small town buzz, to the home cooked food to the slow paced, easy life—there is magic in the air. And not to forget the pampering and filial love—can anything ever match up to it?? Life in Siliguri is such a far cry from the ‘everydayness’ of Mumbai

A short trip to Kolkata was also on the cards. The city at this time of the year is hot and sultry. It will scorch your skin and leave you dehydrated and sick. However, if you love food and if you are a shopaholic like me, you wouldn’t mind the two day stop. Bought some lovely cotton kurtas, absolutely Bengali, slick and smart; at least that’s what I think. I am now loaded with a lot of new clothes—what with the gifts that mom bought me and the purchases that I made in Kolkata (yayayyy..isn’t that fun)

A close friend at work has put in her papers. Office would be dull without her…we had some lovely time together. It’s been more than a year and a half for me in the same role. Wish I could add some new dimensions to my profile. The learning curve seems to have flattened out a bit. Thinking of giving writing a serious thought (if you know of anyone interested in a freelance writer, do let me know)

The husband is on a food binge. He has thrown caution to the winds and feasting on all kinds of non-veg—how he loves his turkey and chicken. He has now got his partner in crime to booze (since it is MY friend’s husband, he feels that I am not entitled to complain). So life is one big party for him.

Have you guys watched anything interesting recently? Sat through DevD and Luck by chance over the weekend. Luck by chance is quite boring and if it were not for Farhan Akhtar, I would have deserted the movie midway. The man has some charisma and even his drain pipe voice sounds interesting. However, Konkana was a big let down—wish she was presented better.

DevD is delicious. It is steeped with modern emotions and an identity which is so familiar. A friend mentioned, “DevD is raw.” I think it is that unfazed rawness, the sharpened edges that make it refreshing. However, if ever betrayed in love, I would rather stand straight and move ahead in life. The luxury of drowning oneself in betrayed love is so ‘uncool’.

I think this is ‘it’ for now. I have bored you all enough with the small talk. Oh, by the way, if you have time, do read Saeed Mirza’s “Ammi—Letter to a democratic mother.” The book is eclectic and layered with some hard driven truths.

Enough for now. I wanted to share some thoughts on the world around us. But this piece has become very personal. I would leave that for some other time.

Take care.

jayatri