Of a friend and an airport

As a I write about this (after a long time), there is happiness in my heart…for meeting a very very very very dear old friend of mine at the immigrations counter at the Newark Airport. Funny places these airports are…of chance meetings with old friends...

Newark International Airport

 

Navratri

Navratri starts from today :-). Makes me nostalgic. I am a Gujarati at heart. Born and brought up in Ahmedabad. So Garba - Raas is something which I have been acquainted since childhood. Love the Dandiya nights. The entire night of continuous dancing and revelry. First Garba, then Hinch and then Raas. Raas being the easiest. 

After my 12th Standard, I never really lived in Ahmedabad again. Been in Engineering Hostel and MBA hostel and then in Mumbai. Mumbai has a strong Gujarati community but its just not the same. Don't consider them true blue gujaratis. Some of my friends will kick me for writing this but there is a stark and a huge difference. I cannot really point it down. I was pretty disappointed the way this festival is celebrated here. There's just no zing and almost everyone turns up in a fusion of traditional and western, more so towards western dressing. Very few people are traditionally dressed and some that are, are way over the top and pretty loud. And I miss LAW GARDEN. The place for shopping for and during navratri. Sigh!!!! Its just not the same. This festival makes me nostalgic. Miss my gang :-(

My school gang at a garba night at St. Xaviers, Ahmedabad, 1998

Happy Engineer's Day

Source: picturesof.net

Happy Engineer's Day to one and all - especially engineers. I especially congratulate myself for being one!!! I think all engineers are proud to be one even if they are jobless / mindless or plain dumb or for that matter successful / smart / building bridges or chips or bulbs or generating power. Well - engineers are a proud breed. Proud  not because of the education or the degree or the job, proud because they went through the process of completing their engineering studies and finally getting a degree.

Well, there are 2 types of engineers. Now you would think - only 2??? Now - its not what you are thinking. I am not talking about the computers / electronics / mechanical / civil / instrumentation or even the environmental engineer. To be clear, once again, there are 2 types of engineers - first - those who went to an engineering college and lived at their homes with their mummyji and papaji and siblings!!!! And second - there are those engineers who went to an engineering college and lived in a hostel!!!! Aahhhh!!!! Now thats the breed that I am talking about. And truely, those are the engineers we are really proud of being.

Source: www.geocnc.com

Well, the hostel life in an engineering college is starkly different. I for one, did not have 5 star hostels. I remember, in our first year, we had a tin roof. Scarcity of water. Horrible food. Slow moving fans. Queues outside the washroom. We addressed our seniors as mam / sir. Till this day, if I happen to meet one of my long lost seniors, the mam / sir part remains. Its become a part of their name. I remember the first semester especially when the freshers HAD to wear salwaar kameez ONLY with dupatta and oil their hair and make a braid or tie it up. I remember the engineering drawing sessions and how I had mastered the Glass Tracing technique and submitted sheets and sheets of submissions. I also remember burning my mattress in this process (GT was forbidden !!!). I remember compering the engineer's day in college and being the food coordinator and ahem!!! going for tasting too. At the end of it all, my feet had hurt like hell. We had watched 6 AM  movies in nondescript movie halls where tickets were cheap and to save money we would walk it up. The new year celebrations were fantastic. Oh, how we used to hog on food. We would have put anybody to shame. Maggie was a blessing in disguise. It was a saviour on many a night especially when you had discovered cockroaches in your mess ka khana. The freshers party and the farewell party - how all the year students would be busy in atleast one of them. And the exams!!!! We could finish books in one day. 37 was the magical figure for us ( 3 marks grace!!!). 

Had mastered the art of scanning. The Xerox wala being a revered and reliable friend for notes and books. No - many times we did not buy books, we just got them photocopied. It was easy to distribute chapters among 2-3 people and study them. Its difficult to tear up books - chapter wise!!!!! Engineers per say, study only during the prep leave and the best of them study only during the exams. And once the exams are over, a movie it is - to unwind and prepare for the next exam day after tomorrow :-). Engineers are an odd lot. There are thousands and thousands of things which are coming to my mind right now. In this case, seriously, the journey is the destination.

Source: http://www.wittysparks.com

And so, I believe Chetan Bhagat did not write something sacred when he wrote 5 POINT SOMEONE!!! Apart from the story line - student falling for the prof's daughter - everything is known and accepted - amongst the engineers. And that is also why, I don't think, that 3 IDIOTS is great movie. Its an okay movie with almost no novelty thrown in. And then again, I don't quite get the 'shor' surrounding the Chetan Bhagat - 3 IDIOTS movie saga. Sure the book and the movie must be a great read and watch for a lot of people, but again, there is no point fighting over the copywrite infridgements because that is common to almost all the engineering colleges which have a hostel facility.

Anyways, I had been in a fix since quite sometime about the topics to blog about. Checked in on twitter and found my topic there :-). Did not waste time and got down to blogging!!!!

Birthday Blues

Am not a much of a "Happy Birthday" person. Hmmmm..... yeah... I always find it embarrassing to celebrate birthdays. Its not a recent phenomena but right since school / college. I am embarrassed especially when I have to blow the candles, cut the cake, smile politely and take in all the hullabaloo over turning a year older. Ah, well, this aspect of my life has not changed over the years (about which you can read HERE)

I had my birthday just last friday. Munish prepared a special midnight spread along with the cake et al. Had loads of wishes over phone, facebook, twitter from family, friends, acquaintances, colleagues, fellow bloggers - Phew!!! I felt special and good. Loved all the gifts which kept pouring in. Birthday gift from hubby is yet to be received (booked already), but I received little tids bits from special friends too. Like the latest header of my blog...thanks to my dearest friend Namit Bhatia...and Oh, he even wrote a poem for me (in return for THE ONE I wrote for him ;-) it was a deal) hehehe.... c'mon, don't you all giggle or laugh...this is his first attempt, and I must say, a pretty good one. Here it goes..........

The Maggitoes Rhapsody

I know a fine girl named Maggitoes,

Who has a penchant for writing prose.

She loves to travel far and wide,

A valiant voyager bona fide.

Photography is her leisure pursuit,

Be it nature or a random shoot.

A self proclaimed Bollywood movie buff,

One lousy flick and she goes, “I’ve had enough”.

Always at odds with the firewall at work,

Once granted access, tweet frenzy ensues as she goes berserk.

Recently bitten by the cooking bug,

Her hubby knows best and he dare not say “Ugh!” :P

Chirpy, bubbly and immensely adorable,

“Oh look! That’s the poem for you, now am I out of trouble?”

~ Namitoes (circa 2011 AD)

yay!!!! *clap clap*....his twitter handle is www.twitter.com/namit93 for all you interested in following his perky, quirky, funny tweets and yes - especially writing tailor made poems on oneself!!!!   

Memory Revisited

The article has been published as my first attempt on http://www.theviewspaper.net/ over HERE!!!. This entirely is a work of fiction and should not be understood in any other mannar.

"

Totally love the music of Indian Ocean. Famous for “Kandisa” and “Arre ruk ja re Bande” from the movie Black Friday being one of my personal favourites. Took some out and left early to attend their show at Bandra Times Festival. Komal and I got a place to stand just towards the end of the ground...we moved and swayed along happily...and were mightily euphoric listening to the group...

The strains of music beat down my ear drums... the strumming of the guitar and the synchronised drum beats and the tabla....the throbbing speakers... the loud, melodious voice....the cheer of the crowds... I was thoroughly enjoying the music....the presentation...my foot tapping incessantly...

I was transported....some 8 years back.... to the hostel days in my Engineering College. I had just discovered “Kandisa”. I had listened to it day and night. Didn't understand an alphabet of the song but I guess that was not required... Mayna and me were crazy about this music. We were in her room...listening to the cassette on her tape recorder....the local electrician made speakers thumping loudly....both of us lost in the strains...sort of in a trance....staring at the ceiling....at the slow revolutions of the ceiling fan...when she says, I hope we remain friends forever. And I say, Of course! Where else would I find a friend like you!!!

A loud cheer broke out...hands were applauding wildly....the bodies swaying in rhythm...the crowd was singing along ....I fail to remember the name of the lead singer...My friend Komal looks at me happily...unaware of the time I had just visited...the friend I had just met....She turned towards the stage again...cheering with the crowd....and where all in a sudden moment, I feel the void, an emptiness, a blank moment...of just missing my friend...of us choosing not to be together to enjoy the Ocean...together ..Or partly perhaps...

A loud cheer broke out again! The show concluded. The crowd cheered. There was a huge applause for the performers. The crowd starts to dissipate. I turn my back and start walking towards the parking lot...the feeling of the memory stays!!!

"

Hyderabad

The long weekend of Good Friday had been planned well in advance. The gang decided to meet (the gang about which I spoke in detail in one of my earlier posts). And well, it all materialised :-). Its been 5 years since we all passed out. 5 years since we all have been through the various phases of life. 5 years since we've become more wise, sensible and intelligent (well - hopefully) and 5 years since all of us met TOGETHER. Well, we have met in bits and pieces but not all of us together :-). 

Ekta (Chennai), Munish, me and Megha (Mumbai) coordinated our flights to almost land at the same at the Hyderabad airport. Must say, its an awesome new international airport. One can easily spend time over here. After landing, we went on a treasure hunt. A Treasure hunt to reach Shobha's place with popular landmarks like Karur Vyasa Bank branch and a tree plus a random shop :-P. Finally, we managed to find each other after the driver pointed gleefully at the "laadies" standing on the sidelines ;-) (hehehehe). And yes - she is THE ONE. At whose place we would be crashing for 2 nights and 3 days. Free lodging, free boarding and free food. Plus a cute little girl called Aaradhya to hang out with (<3 :-) ).

So - all of us were eating at once, talking at once and me - trying to sleep for once. Dont blame me. I slept at 12 and woke up at 3 to catch a flight at 5. All the timings are in A.M. The rest can but I really cant do without my beauty sleep :-P. sigh!!!! I tried in vain to sleep for an hour but the little devil - oops ANGEL....<3 wouldn't let me plus all the loud laughter of the ADULTS was really it. Yeah - I am a lazy person plus I can sleep on demand :-).

Soumya came in later with her little 6 months old bundle by the name of Medhya. Sweet little darling (thats because she stays put, does not walk, talk or run) untill she grows up. I can imagine both the mommies, Shobha and Soumya, exchanging notes on the little developments of their champs.

Was meeting Ekta after 3 years. In the meantime, she has married and is settled in Chennai. Also working in a rival general insurance company. Well - we were also exchanging notes as to whose company is worser.

Our husbands exchanged notes on work and wives :-P.

There was a lot of coochie cooing all the time over the kids. I guess they were the centre of attention and attraction. Bouncing off like in game of passing the parcel, I am sure they must be enjoying every bit of attention.

We roamed the streets of Hyderabad in a traditional sense. Shobha and Rajneesh took us to Golconda Fort and treated us to some awesome medu vadas at a local shop nearby. Wish I had a picture. (Ya ya - I try not to be one of those who clicks a pic of everything eaten and updates it on facebook - I know quite a few who do :-) - In case you are one of those are reading this, no offence :-) ). Well - we had the vadas again.

There was a visit to Shilparaman, a permanent handicrafts exhibition, Charminar and Laad Bazaar. We shopped a lot. And hence by the time we got home, we were just about ready to eat anything.

Shobha and Rajneesh treated us to a Dominos pizzas. A treat for their new home. We wiped that one out in a matter of minutes.

Gaurav had got the game of Pictionary. Was playing it for the first time. :-P (Ya - go ahead - giggle or laugh out loud). We were yelling and fighting within 10 minutes of it already. And yes - we did get emotional while playing it :-P. Hence, for the sake of mankind and friendship we stopped :-D.

On our last day of our visit, Soumya treated us to a home cooked lunch at her place. Yes - she cooked. We ate. She served us snacks. We ate. She served us soft drinks. We drank. The desert - wiped out. WOW!!!!

It was time to leave. There was a flight to catch back home. Back to the regular rigamarole of life :-). It was a good and a welcome break. We actually enjoyed meeting the old and the new persons at the same time. It was interesting to note the growth of each one of us and note how all of us have turned out. And I must say, we pretty much did a decent job.

Looking forward to more of such heartwarming and lovely get-togethers.



P.S. For more details on sight seeing check this link out

Office Comparisons

Ekta and me were comparing notes on our work places when we met in Hyderabad. She works in a rival general insurance company. Rival??? - I am not too sure about the "rival" bit but anyways.....

Ekta        : If there is a function in my family in Chennai, my boss asks me to leave early :-P

Me          : Well mine too. Atleast he has never said no.

Ekta        : We can use GTalk.

Me          : Me too :-P

Ekta        : :-P

Ekta        : We have had no offsites.

Me          : Me too :-P
Ekta        : :-P

Ekta        : No increment.

Me          : Me too :-P

Ekta        : :-X

Ekta       : I get leaves without much hassle.

Me         : Yeah!!! This one I am winning - I can take "SICK LEAVES" in ADVANCE  and well  accumulate them too :-O

Ekta       : You WIN *clap clap*

Me         : *Taking a bow*

P.S. I had to win this one ;-)

Excuse - for one *Lazy* blogger

Came across the link while surfing...decided it would be a good fit for my lazy blogger buddy Aditya. Had a random bet...that we post this and connect to each other :-P

Well, here it goes...and no i didnt cheat!!!! And in my defense, I am not as lazy as he is ;-)

"

OMG! I just woke up to the fact I have not updated this since you last visited... You would not believe that my hands were chopped off and I was waiting for bionic ones. Apologies to my regular readers! Even the little blue ones!.

I am going ahead with only your readership as life preserver, hoping you haven't found other blogs, just generally being asleep, dreaming and chancing to my husband, my day pisses me off from the first cockadoodledoo from the rooster to midnight. I am avoiding recapture. life is good.

I swear on the bones of my ancestors I will write something that makes sense soon. You wanna test me? This is for my ever faithful, devoted public..

"

With lots of luv

Epitaph for my friend Namit Bhatia

Here lies Namit Bhatia
He died of blabbermania
As he spake too much of the spoken word
Of thoughts and ideas in his head
There was no dearth!

Here lies Namit Bhatia
Was very fond of trivia
Movies, music, comics and scrabble
And a lot of online babble
Anything and everything he liked to dabble

Here lies Namit Bhatia
Spending wisely was his criteria
Movies, music, comics and clothes
And of things about which he could gloat
No- he did not suffer from dementia

Here lies Namit Bhatia
He died of Gamophobia
As he tried time after time
Marry and make the two rhyme
But I guess it was not worth his dime!

Here lies Namit Bhatia
Was from Andulasia
As he travelled a bit too much
Across the green and the sand
Wherever his feet and the plane could land

Here lies Namit Bhatia
Under the dunes of Bahrain
Lays with all his energies drained
Under the basking sun
What next - his unending conundrum!!!

2006: The year when Munish and me decided to spend our lives together

Strange are the ways of destiny... sometimes things happen when you least expect them to happen... :-) Munish and me had been good friends during college...Well-we were never the best of friends...never ever thought that we'd end up spending our lives together...

But I guess what will be ...will be....

Like they say, 'The heart has its reasons... which reason does not know!!!! "

We, in our own little important ways, were moving towards another life...but I guess Destiny had other plans....

However, after all the hankering, running around, discussions - wise and otherwise, what did materialize was my life with Munish ....:-)

[Thank God - well literally :-)]

Now before I get all mushy, on a day post Valentine's day, I wish I could understand the patterns or paths our lives take ..... the twists and the turns... and of course, the everlasting, never ending....HAPPY ENDING!!!!

Our wedding invite :-)

P.S. Happy Valentines Day !!!!!

A Musical Note

The light breeze, the stars above

The cheer of the crowd,

The music so sweet...

Touched a note...
A memory long lost...
In the rigamarole of life...

Of someone...A vision appears....

Standing right next to me...

Cheering with the crowd...

Of someone...

A friend she was...

A soul sister

Of a fellow co-traveller...

Lost...




Image: www.corbis.com

Silver

I remember, in the november of 2005, 2nd year of my MBA course at Symbiosis, we had gone on a camping trip to Rajmachhi Fort. We reached the foot hills by around 9:00 PM and had to walk quite a distance to get into the village.... to the ground where we could camp. The walk was around 2-3 kilometers... crossing the plain, a plateau and river beneath. It was a full moon. We started walking and I could not contain my wonder.... every thing was so silent, so quite, so peaceful and so beautiful. A gentle breeze was flowing.... except for the stomping of tired feet there was no sound, no noise, nothing....
sometimes "nothing" sounds so wonderful....At that point of time, I vividly remember, that these very lines had popped in my head....

I had not been able to save the memory .....either in a video or a photagraph.... I have decided to quote the poem over here....just so that I remember what it was like..... :)

Hope to revisit the memory in some other form in the near future....


Silver by Walter De La Mare

Slowly, silently, now the moon

Walks the night in her silver shoon;
This way, and that, she peers, and sees
Silver fruit upon silver trees;
One by one the casements catch
Her beams beneath the silvery thatch;
Couched in his kennel, like a log,
With paws of silver sleeps the dog;
From their shadowy cote the white breasts peep
Of doves in silver feathered sleep
A harvest mouse goes scampering by,
With silver claws, and silver eye;
And moveless fish in the water gleam,
By silver reeds in a silver stream.

Holi with the Toli

Was in Hyderabad this Holi, 1st March, 2010. Since it was a long weekend we decided to go to Hyderabad and catch up with a few friends. One of our friends, Shobha had had a baby girl.... so that was the main incentive..... All of us crashed at Shobha's place.... so it was good 3 days of fun.... just like our college days... catching up on the latest events and happenings in everyone's lives.... whats hot whats not.... deciding where to go.... for sight seeing.... but I guess, when a group like that gathers... there's not much of something called a 'common opionion'. Managed to see Hussein Sagar Lake....  which is a very nice and a calm place.... went to chutneys, ate some local biryani...missed on the Karachi bakery cookies....(all of us were just too lazy to stand in a queue early morning and hence lacked the motivation).... went to Soumya's place.... caught up more stuff.... However, one common thread which bound us all ... was FOOD.... the one thing that our stay revolved around was FOOD.... the one thing we discussed with fervour was FOOD.... the one thing which we all relished and waited for was FOOD.... and the one thing which had a "common" support was FOOD....hmmmmm ............

P.S. Anyways,  my internet at home has not been working since the last two weeks. Hence have not been able to photographs. Will do so as soon as the issue gets sorted out.

A poem from a friend

I am Willing.
© Margaret Dubay Mikus


I am willing to change what doesn’t work for me in my life.
I am willing to listen with an open heart, without judging.
I am willing to plant seeds that take a long time, if ever, to grow.
I am willing to feel and let go.
I am willing to make mistakes and learn from them.
I am willing to live in the present.
I am willing to forgive and forget in my heart.
I am willing to love as much as my endless spirit will allow.
I am willing to be seen in all my radiance.
I am willing to be fearless.
I am willing to be powerful.
I am willing to be peaceful.
I am willing to stand tall. and walk gracefully.
I am willing to sing with my stunning, full voice.
I am willing to allow. I am willing to let go.
I am willing to change.
I am willing to see and be seen.
I am willing to hear and be heard.
I am willing to feel and be felt.
I am willing to heal and be healed.
I am willing to love and be loved.
I am willing to change what doesn’t work for me in my life.
I am willing to listen with an open heart, without judging.
I am willing to plant seeds that take a long time, if ever, to grow.
I am willing to feel and let go.
I am willing to make mistakes and learn from them.
I am willing to live in the present.
I am willing to forgive and forget in my heart.
I am willing to love as much as my endless spirit will allow.
I am willing to be seen in all my radiance.
I am willing to allow. I am willing to let go..
I am willing to be fully human.


found at Panta Rhei blog