peekaboo

Haze of a Dream

2011-12-14T10:35:00.004+05:30

All good things come to an end.
All awesome things come to end sooner.
And all dreams end as soon as you wake up.

That doesn't in anyway take away the dreamlike quality of the dream. Instead, it makes you hold it close to your heart, because you know the dream is now only a sweet remembrance.

At last, there is nothing to more say, unlike before.
There is a wish though... to never wake up or to never dream again...

2441139 transliterated

2011-05-23T01:11:00.000+05:30

For all those who wondered what is the fuss about, here's an attempt at simplifying things and bring you closer to the feelings / meaning of the song. Hope the transliteration helps!

Click here for the song

Chakrita ami pey gechi bela shuncho, (naukri mujhe mil gayi hain, sunti ho bela)
akhon ar keu atkate parbe na(ab koi nahi rok sakta)
Shombondho ta ei-bar tumi bheshte dite paro, (ab tum shadi ke rishte se inkar kar sakti ho)
maa ke bole dao biye tumi korcho na (2)(mummy ko bol do.. tum shadi nahi karogi)

Chakri ta ami pey gechi bela shotti, (naukri mujhe mil gayi hain, sach me bela)
ar matro koyekta maash bas(ab bas kuch aur mahine)
Starting-ei ora egaro sho debe, teen mash pore confirm, (1100 se starting salary... teen mahine baad confirm)
chup kore kano bela kichu bolcho na(chup kyun ho bela, kuch bolti kyun nahi?)

Eta ki 2 44 11 39, (yeh kya 2441139 hain?)
bela bosh tumi paarcho ki shunte(bela bosh, tum sun sakti ho kya?)
10-12 bar wrong number peri ye tomaake peychi, (10-12 baar wrong number ke baad tum mili ho...)
debo naa kichu tei aar harate(ab kisi bhi kimat pe khone nahi wala tumhe)

Halo, 2 44 11 39,
din na deke bela-ke ekti bar(ek bar bela ko bula do)
Meter jacche bere ei public telephone-e, (meter pe bill badh raha hain public telephone ka)
jaruri, khub jaruri dorkar(zaroori bahut zaroori kaam hain)

Shwapno ebar hoye jabe bela shatyi, (ab sapna sach ho jaega)
etodin dhore eto opekha(itne din se itna wait)
Rasta-r kato shasta-hotele, badhho-cabin-e bandi-dujone,(raste ka kitna sasta hotel mein suffocating cabin me band hum log)
rudhwashwash kot-to pratikha(2)(excited breath... kitna wait)

Ar kichudin tarpor bela mukti, (bas ab thode hi din)
Kashba’r oi neel dewaal-er ghar(kashba me woh neel wall wala ghar)
Shada-kalo ei jonjal-e-bhora mitthe-kothar shohore, (safed kala is clutter mein bhara is jhooth ke sheher me)
tomar amar lal-neel shangshar(tumhara mera laal neel sansaar)

(chorus)
chakrita ami peye gechi shatyi(naukri mujhe mil gayi hain, sach me bela)
Kanna katir jhagra jhatir shomoy gache periye, (rone dhone ka, jhagarne ka samay paar ho gaya hain)
Halo, tumi shunte pachho ki(hello, tum sun sakti ho kya?)

Chup kore kano, eki, bela tumi kancho, (chup kyun ho? Kya tum ro rahi ho?)
chakrita ami peye gechi shatyi(mujhe sach me naukri mil gayi hain)
Kanna katir holla hatir shomoy gache periye, (rone dhone ka shor sharabe ka time chala gaya)
Halo!! tumi shunte pachho ki(2)(hello tum sun sakti ho kya?

Eta ki 2 44 11 39, (yeh kya 2441139 hain?)
bela bosh tumi paarcho ki shunte(bela bosh, tum sun sakti ho kya?)
10-12 bar wrong number peri ye tomaake peychi, (10-12 baar wrong number ke baad tum mili ho...)
debo naa kichu tei aar harate(ab kisi bhi kimat pe khone nahi wala tumhe)

Halo, 2 44 11 39,
din na deke bela-ke ekti bar(ek bar bela ko bula do)
Meter jacche bere ei public telephone-e, (meter pe bill badh raha hain public telephone ka)
jaruri, khub jaruri dorkar(bahut zaroori kaam hain)

Halo2 44 11 39, 2 44 11 39
Dhur chai (dhyat!, pareshani ka expression)
2 44 11 39
Hello2 44 11 39

Traffic and Philosophy

2011-05-17T11:49:00.001+05:30

Okay! So like they say in all the philosophy and self help books, I left with a positive note and my head held high for a new day at work, brimming with the possibilities that lay in my hands! I was ready much before time so that I could catch the office bus that conveniently allowed many people just to sit back, sleep, listen to music or just socialise on the phone. I had something similar in mind. I had to read up on a book which had got me quite engrossed and I wanted to find out what happened to the two characters who were thrown into Space!

(Shouts in the background: Weren't you talking about the traffic??)

Well, okay! If that’s what you want to hear about! Bloody Traffic! So it so happened that I reached well in advance to catch this goddamn bus, at a designated place. Now only if catching a bus were so easy! (btw, to master the art of catching a bus, click here) I looked, waited, wondered. All I could see were hordes of people coming out of the station (while people in Bengal throng to the sweet shop, people in Mumbai throng to the station, yes!) and auto rickshaws trying to find their way through them. Add to this the humidity of the famous Mumbai monsoon! Among this madness, as beads of sweat trickled down my forehead, I finally gave up on all hopes of finding that bus or any other bus that would take me wherever I wanted to go. (At this point though, all I wanted was to go to a coffee shop and have a cup of cold coffee.)

Anyway! After many tries, I managed to get an auto that would take me to where my office was – a place where you’d think twice before coming, a place where even my husband would have been reluctant to drop me. Now this autowallah could have taken a longer route which would have ensured that I reach quickly, but the b****** that he is, decided to go through the god forsaken road.

And that is when I realized, whatever happens, happens for the best. Just a day ago, we were almost finalizing on shifting there. Thank God, I witnessed the horror of the road, before we moved our bags! Wonder how traffic can make you do things, prevent you from doing things and at the same time, teach the lessons of life! Bloody Traffic!

Dhobi Ghat

2011-02-01T12:32:00.000+05:30

A little too hyped. A lot lacking.

If this is a film about Mumbai and the characters' relationship with the city, the portrayal seemed lacking in something. The Mumbai in the film could have been more developed. For example the Dhobi Ghat in itself cud have been given a little more prominence / character. To do the name some justification, Munna could have been shown a little more in the ghat itself, returning to it often - maybe to share his dreams, exasperation, despair, whatever! That would have more sense! The characters sharing their feelings with Mumbai while the city just listens, absorbing everything, like the sea.

The second big letdown was the performance of the cast. Apart from Prateik, nobody seemed convincing enough. Aamir was a little too matter of fact about everything - about his one night stand, that he doesn’t do usually! His reclusiveness absolutely doesn’t go with his misdeed! I believe that he should have been a little more regretful about it. Monica's accent kept on distracting me from concentrating on the emotions that she was going through, if any! And I have to ask, was the accent necessary? Did it add to something that I am missing? Or may be she too like Aamir was matter of fact about everything! Kriti was plain irritating! Being an important character, she should have been more engaging! Even before committing suicide, she seemed to be just informing her brother / viewer. I guess a little more emotion would have been more convincing and real! After all, it prompts her to end her life! Looking at her expressionless face for that long a duration is asking for too much!

The nice things about the movie are few, yes they are there! It is the way the lives of the characters are intertwined and the way the story unfolds. I guess more focus could have been on this. Another moment I liked was when Agnes brought tea for Munna and Shai in different cups – which so clearly brought out the mental makeup and Indianness of the character. Shai’s taking the cup intended for Munna brought out her un-Indianness! What I definitely liked were the shots at Dhobi Ghat – very potent, very realistic. And yes, the Arun’s paiting was definitely, definitely awesome! The way he brings out Yasmin’s emotions and little things he associates with her – like her fish trinket, is really worth noticing!

Being a Mumbaikar (I guess I can call myself that!), it didn’t touch my heart at all, which I believe every good film should do to the viewer.

Lastly, thank god it was a 90 minute film. Anymore, and I would have walked out.

PS. Last night I watched The Last Lear and I couldn’t help but how much more engaging it was comapred to DG (i know the comparison is unfair, but still!), with shots of Calcutta and its character brought out through the people on the road, Harry Baba’s powerful performance, the tight casting and even tighter storyline.

The walk

2011-01-30T13:57:00.000+05:30

While walking back from school, (which I used to do when my rickshaw wouldn’t show up), I would usually sing to myself to keep myself occupied. I used to look forward to such occasions. But then, after that day, it was different....

As I was walking back, humming to myself, a huge black beast of a car went past me. As I saw it receding, I realised it was not close to anything I had ever seen before. For a few seconds I stood awed at the size and style that the car packed. It was a car out of Hollywood. I wondered if some rich kid had gone bonkers watching Star-Wars and Batman and who by chance had an equally crazy dad who would fulfill every wild dream that his son had.

Just then the car turned around. And it was coming back. Conscious of standing in the middle of the road ogling at the car, I resumed my walk. It swirled around me and screeched to a halt. A door in the middle opened and a hand came out. Before I could realise anything, I felt a jerk in my hand and found myself being pulled inside the car. What was happening to me? Why was a stranger in a strange black car pulling me inside? Frightened and scared, I put all my might and squeezed my hand away from the grasp and ran away from the car, never looking back, never till i was far far away from the car.

A rainbow of good health

2010-03-19T00:04:00.002+05:30

A variety of colors on your platter can work wonders for you.

What’s life without a bit of color? Colors are the key to a healthier and happier life. For instance, a colorful platter is an indicator of the variety of nutrients you are giving your body to fight off the age and illnesses. A well-balanced diet, therefore, is one which includes variety, not just in terms of food types, but also color.

Did you know: Every color in the food relates to a different phytonutrient. Phytonutrients are simply the nutrients derived from plants. Different phytonutrients have different health and anti-aging benefits.

Green:

Green foods are full of chlorophyll and magnesium which is vital for the nerves, muscles and for balancing hormones. They are great for reducing the risk of heart disease, stroke, and macular degeneration.

Found in: Spinach, Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Collard Greens, and Bok Choy

Yellow:

Yellow foods are rich in Carotenoids, Lutein and Quercitin – powerful antioxidants that protect you from damaging free radicals, help improve vision and reduce inflammation. Yellow foods can help you looking younger for longer.

Found in: Corn, Yellow Bell Pepper, Pineapple, Squash

Orange:

Orange foods contain carotenes which are converted into Vitamin A in the body which protects skin, eye sight and also support enzyme production in the liver and sex organs.

Found: Mango, Pumpkin, Oranges, Peach, Pumpkin, Carrots

Red:

Red foods are full of beta carotene, beta-cyanine, flavanoids and lycopene which helps fights various kinds of cancer, keeps heart disease risks to a minimum and immune function to the maximum.

Found in: Pink Grapefruit, Red Bell Peppers, Tomatoes, Watermelon, Beetroot, Red Grapes, Berries

Purple:

Purple foods get their color from anthocyanidins - the most powerful of flavanoids. They ward off heart diseases, lower the risk of cancer, and improve blood circulation.

Found in: Blueberries, Blackberries, Blackcurrants, Acai Berries, Concord Grapes, Blueberries, Prunes

White:

White foods are are stocked with Anthoxanthins and Allicin to help lower blood pressure and protect against stomach cancer.

Found in: Cauliflower, Mushrooms, Banana, Onions

Next time you're out shopping for fruits and vegetables, select as many available colors of food that you can find. After all, we all love to add a dash of color to our life, don’t we? And who knows, the festival of colors might just be the start of a healthier lifestyle and give you a new lease of life!

[this is an article i wrote for a client. so copyrights reserved]

Precious thoughts

2010-02-24T20:55:00.000+05:30

Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great.

– Mark Twain

From a long, long time ago...

2010-02-24T17:37:00.004+05:30

I was a pretty quiet kid. If you told me to sit in a place and disappeared for an hour, you could assuredly return to find me sitting like that. You say dull? I say, “you don’t know me yet!”

Here’s why. I was a pretty observant kid, and I am still the same. (Only that, I am not a kid anymore.) For example, if I could look through the computer and see your reaction right now, I would definitely make a mental note of it, and would invariable be able to recall it sometime later, exactly as I saw it.

So as I sat there waiting for you, don’t for a moment think that I was doing nothing. In fact, I was grasping everything I was seeing around me.

The hooligan guy on a cycle racing with his equally obnoxious brother… an old woman with an eye covered like a pirate sitting near the gate… (at that time, I didn’t know what a cataract operation meant. I could only relate her to the villains in Hindi movies)… the neighbourhood babe (who was very nice to me) playing with a Barbie (later allowed me to play with the doll, which rightly was the ‘My first Barbie’) and her weird bro playing kancha with his friends. My friend was nowhere to be seen. Maybe she was at her dad’s shop (from where she shoplifted without any guilt and got me things.) * Sigh.

I cannot continue this post any more. I am being flooded by memories, visuals, photographic reminders of all that I have collected over so many years. Maybe I will share them with you, but for now, let me go back to them and bask in their innocence.

* (Those who know me from that time, perhaps will be able to guess the characters.)

Aahun aahun aahun!

2009-07-23T16:37:00.004+05:30

Gawd!! Saif has done it again! With every movie, the guy justgets better! The lovable rake of Bollyland, is back in news (was he ever out of it?, well, this time) as a producer-cum-actor with Love Aaj Kal, replete with high voltage punjabi numbers that will make you jump out of your cosy seat and take to the dance floor with a vengeance, armed with your air guitar!

So while all the Saify eyed girls can drool over him, the loyal fans of rockstar Saif can strum along and sing out loud and match your steps to the beat of Aahun aahun aahun. Sing along...

gaddi te has bol ve

na jind saddi ron ve

gaddi te has bol ve

na jind saddi ron ve

tu aaja dil janiya

de kar meherbaniyan

tu aaja dil janiya

de kar meherbaniyan

aa sanu teri rod ve

na jind sadddi ron ve

mohabbat muskil bhari

badi hi mast bemaari

you wana let it goin on

mohabbaat lami yari

bina permit ke jaari

but getch u ride it on yeah ,com'on

o o ho o

dil ne dil manga manga

ishq mein rang na rang na

jete ji iss ne rab nu milana

ankh lad jana

mar muhk jana

koiye kahani bad badle zamana

aahun aahun aahun

aahun aahun aahun aahun aahun aahun aahun

aahun aahun aahun

aahun aahun aahun aahun aahun aahun aahun

mohabbat dislan bazi

purani hokar tazi

you never see it going old

mohabbat se rab razi

dilon ki saude baazi

before you know it ur heart is sold

naino ne ladna ladna

panga bhi bhadna bhadna

jhadge mein naino ke yeh

dil lut jana

ankh lad jana

mar muhk jana

koiye kahani bad badle zamana

aahun aahun aahun

aahun aahun aahun aahun aahun aahun aahun

gaddi te....

gaddi te has bol ve

na jind saddi ron ve

gaddi te has bol ve

na jind saddi ron ve

nishaniyan na khoni hain

soni hai saanson mein

pinori hai baatein teri

hairaaniyan halaton ki

raaaton ki teri mulakaton ki baaton ki

baaton ne chalna chalna

raaton ne jalna jalna

jal ke mohabbaton mein phir jut jana

ankh lad jana

mar muhk jana

koiye kahani bad badle zamana

aahun aahun aahun

aahun aahun aahun aahun aahun aahun aahun

aahun aahun aahun

aahun aahun aahun aahun aahun aahun aahun

gaddi te has bol ve

na jind saddi ron ve

gaddi te has bol ve

na jind saddi ron ve

gaddi te has bol ve

na jind saddi ron ve

I'm loving it

2009-07-18T22:24:00.001+05:30

fantasizing about this right now. can see myself biting into it. yummy soft chicken hotdog.

In this life...

2009-07-18T22:13:00.002+05:30

i want to:

hear people clap for me
go bungee jumping
dabble in arts
become a creative director
have an aquarium
be pampered silly
always be come on TV
do tango with my hubby
play the guitar to an audience
go to italy for my anniversary

My Clandestine Affair

2009-06-01T21:58:00.006+05:30

It is only by luck that i am married to Mr RC. Because, if i hadnt been married to him, i certainly would have been married to Mr Weekend! (Yes, he exists :D )

It has been a long, long affair with Mr Weekend. From the days i used to see Ramayana on Sunday mornings or used to go to Victoria Memorial to spend precious evening time with ma and pa, i realised those were the times with Mr Weekend, i'll never forget. Now, the days of Ramayana and Victoria are over, taken over by the whimsical surge of just living life to the fullest! Now Mr Weekend and I do random unplanned things, crazy new things that haven't been done before, or just do the same things that i have always enjoyed doing. But whatever it is, it is never a dull moment spent!

Ahh! The most charismatic Mr Weekend! He is never at a loss to entertain me. And i just love the way he refuses to leave me and go away, the way he still lingers on in my mind and makes me long for him, for the moments of bliss, of just knowing that Mr Weekend is still with me.

As long as the wait is there, adieu is far away...

Once there was a ...

2009-06-01T16:22:00.003+05:30

There was once a Tamil girl in our class.

She was trying to study phonetics

Was asked to say "chinese" (now, say it aloud)

The teach said "say it with a ZZZZ and nt SSSS

And what does she say? "Zineeeeze!"

And the whole class laughed out aloud!

In the mood for love

2009-05-26T14:40:00.005+05:30

I just love the feel of love. I love feeling it and sharing it. I love to love and being loved. I love to feel love all around me. I love to listen to songs that make me feel 'that' way. People call me a 'hopeless romantic' but am I? I guess I'm am just another girl who never ever wants to outgrow this feeling!

And when I am in the mood, these are the ones that give me company keep me happy... a few of my fav 'in the mood' songs

1. "If you like Pina Coladas"

I was tired of my lady

We'd been together too long

Like a worn-out recording

Of a favorite song

So while she lay there sleeping

I read the paper in bed

And in the personal columns

There was this letter I read

"If you like Pina Coladas

And getting caught in the rain

If you're not into yoga

If you have half a brain

If you'd like making love at midnight

In the dunes on the Cape

Then I'm the love that you've looked for

Write to me and escape."

I didn't think about my lady

I know that sounds kind of mean

But me and my old lady

Have fallen into the same old dull routine

So I wrote to the paper

Took out a personal ad

And though I'm nobody's poet

I thought it wasn't half bad

"Yes I like Pina Coladas

And getting caught in the rain

I'm not much into health food

I am into champagne

I've got to meet you by tomorrow noon

And cut through all this red-tape

At a bar called O'Malley's

Where we'll plan our escape."

So I waited with high hopes

And she walked in the place

I knew her smile in an instant

I knew the curve of her face

It was my own lovely lady

And she said, "Oh it's you."

Then we laughed for a moment

And I said, "I never knew."

That you like Pina Coladas

Getting caught in the rain

And the feel of the ocean

And the taste of champagne

If you'd like making love at midnight

In the dunes of the Cape

You're the lady I've looked for

Come with me and escape

The Bang of Bhaang!

2009-03-12T10:16:00.006+05:30

Holi Shit!!!!!! Whats happening? Where am i? Where am i going? there's this white space shuttle, round cartoonish types with a dome and that too a single seater! i am nicely sitting there and moving across planets, avoiding asteroids and jet setting at super-duper sonic speed (and i can hear the buzzing too!) i know i am not making any sense and i am somehow quite aware of it. but i cant stop whats happening to me. i cant stop blabbering this nonsense either!

ok ok! i know i shouldn't have had 3 glasses of bhaang alongwith bhaang goli, that too with sweets for extra effect! but i just had to try. my adventurous streak took over my mind for a while. but the experience was unlike any other. its not like getting tipsy and high, its weird! its strange and its very very strong! when it first hits you, there's a loud bang! a 'jhor ka jhatka'! u realise you have been hit and for a while, you feel like you're gonna faint! the room starts rotating and you start rotating with the room. The people sitting around try to make me feel normal but then, are they talking to me? am i there with them? somehow, the line between illusion and reality gets blurred... time loses its sense of urgency and things take unusually long to happen. "whhhhaaaat issss happeniiiing!!!!!"

enough of rambling!!! i know i am not making any sense. so lemme keep my last remaining threads of sanity intact and keep my mouth shut. for those who know bhaang, will know what the bang is all about. for those who haven't, u've gotta try this once at least. after all, space travel was never this simple!

My beloved 4 bungalows....

2009-03-06T13:08:00.005+05:30

My darling...

Though i will be gone very soon, i will never be far gone away from you... You are a part of me, much as i am part of myself. My husband's companion for three years and mine for a year, my first home in mumbai, our home after marriage, the place that took care of us and provided us with everything that we could possibly need.

So long, manish market, so long the temple (and the bengali pujos there), so long pvr (love the hotdog), fame (chicken sandwich was awesome), cinemax, subway (and the subs were my dinner), lokhandwala ccd (garlic chicken sandwich and frappe), barista (swiss mocha frappe), landmark, infinity, inorbit, hypercity, shoppers juhu, croma (wii will meet again), stomach (chicken hakka noodles), hangla's (egg chicken roll with kasundi), blue park (masala chhaas), shaan e punjab (tandoori chicken), raju's (chicken lollypops), banana leaf (masala dosa), mainland china (dimsums, manthao bread with bbq chicken), oh calcutta (fish fry, aam panna), red box (fish finger, chicken and prawns, corn chat) .... and all the beautiful moments i had there... i have to stop now... lest i start crying.

i will miss you, but i promise, someday, we'll meet again...soon.

Confessions of a confused mind

2009-01-08T11:45:00.007+05:30

I cant believe just nurturing strong urges can throw up so many confusions and confrontations with the self. Since childhood, I had wanted to do a lot of things... some were suppressed and others were discouraged. Advertising happens to be one of the things, which I was mesmerized by. Thankfully, by stroke of luck, I am in the same profession and by the same stroke of luck that’s not the end of it. Wants just don’t end like that. They feed on your mind and find out new ways to make your life more complicated. There is no end to how much you can want but you surely have certain priority wants that you want to accomplish and enjoy in the time that you are here. Now, there is nothing like you can’t have multiple wants at the same and that is where the confusion begins. How do you make the best use of your time to finish your chores and also divide the remaining time for various things that you want to do. Mind you this isn’t bad yet. The real trouble starts when with every passing day, you realize how you could have utilized time better, how you could have done a lot more than you cared to do, wasted time and talent, looked at things from a borrowed perspective and messed up everything beyond repair.

Beyond repair maybe, but certainly not beyond hope. Maybe everything will not be as perfect as I hoped it would be, but I can at least try to.... naaah... am I kidding myself? What have I been trying to do all this while? Maybe it is all to late... but what the heck! There is time to set certain things in order if not all. But then, how do I choose? I want to do all of those things... to miss even one wouldn’t complete the satisfaction. Hey! Wasnt i talking about priority and certain things, which can be taken care of while others, I will just have to give up? The first thing I’ll have to give up is my want for more. As our teacher in school told us, and as I realize now, we should keep our wants in check to save ourselves from being checkmated by them. But what about all those great people who did so many things in life? Isn’t life about breaking rules and setting your own? I have a strong feeling it is and that is how it shall be. It is never to late to begin and it is better to be late than never do it all.

So I will shake off this confusion and get into action. If it is not now, it never will be.

Be nice to Pigs

2008-09-29T18:03:00.008+05:30

What's common between Priyanka, Bryan Adams, Woody Allen, Julie Andrews, Lucille Ball, Humphrey Bogart, Ernest Hemingway, Alfred Hitchcock, Elton John, ,Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Steven Spielberg?

They belong to the Chinese zodiac sign of Pig, are honest, hardworking, stubborn, and are a hit among friends.

The most generous and honorable of all the Chinese zodiac signs, Pigs are nice to a fault, possess impeccable manners and are perfectionists.

Pigs are social and love to help others. They work hard to keep everyone in their life happy. There is no greater joy for Pigs than making others happy.

Pigs love finery and riches in surroundings, food, and lovemaking. They believe in the best of qualities and work hard to achieve those qualities.

Pigs are highly intelligent and curious creatures, always in a quest for greater knowledge. They love in reveling in the good stuff and could happily spend hours making love, napping, taking a long bubble bath or dallying over an incredible spread of delicacies.

Pigs are so magnanimous they can appear almost saintly. This can lead some less-than-well-intentioned souls to stomp all over them, and the bad news is, the Pig will take the blows!

Pigs make great companions in part because of their refusal to see the more negative or base qualities in a partner. Contrary to their seemingly benign dispositions, however, Pigs can be quite venomous in response to being crossed by a lover, friend or business partner.

Pigs tend to make wonderful life partners due to their hearts of gold and their love of family. Pigs can be rather exclusive, choosing to spend time with those who will appreciate them most and ignore the rest, who don't understand their value.

Pigs always need appreciation for all that they are. For being such lovable creatures, let us not be mean, be honest and accept that they are the best. So, tell it to the first Pig you come across. Do a good deed and have a great day.

That time of the year

2008-09-24T16:35:00.005+05:30

It is that time of the year again when we wait in anticipation. When we hope against hope. When we think our tomorrow is about to change. When we do not regret for the times gone by. When we become more busy deliberately. When we are on our best behaviour. When we think we add value by our hardwork.

Its that time of the year when we wait for an improvement in you know what.

life's like that!! 2

2008-09-24T11:44:00.005+05:30

(while filling up forms for BA - English, Part I)

Guardian's Name:_________________

The instructor : "If your father is late, write Late before your fathers name"

Nishan : "My father is always late"

The class in chorus : hahahahaha

"I want Mr.Darcy for a husband"

2008-09-11T10:28:00.013+05:30

I had a long discussion with a friend about what kind of a husband would she like (girls do engage in serious discussion of this kind, so dont raise your brows!), to which she replied that the man of her dreams would be someone like Mr Darcy, the most eligible bachelour, (of the Pride and Prejudice fame) or would have to be the heroes you see in Mills & Boon and Victorian romances. They would to have the qualities of all the heroes combined in terms of manners, education, honesty, charm and so on... she was certain that her dream man would step out of the pages and enter her life.

I tried to reason out that she would be better of with a 'real' man and not with a copy of a fictional character. But I had to bow under her absolute confidence in her being able to find the man of her dreams and thought it better not to spoil her dream. But the thought remained at the back of my mind. There is just a fear, that Mr Darcy or any of those heroes wouldn't be as charming if they were real. They would have acquired a lot of other qualities (read:vices), just being in the present real world.

Then, there is another angle to it. In the book, what draws us to Mr. Darcy is the way he is curious about Lizzy, and finds her to be very different from all the other girls he has met. She is shockingly original and speaks her mind. She is confident, sensible, daring and doesn't feel the need to behave as is expected of her. She is surprisingly in tune with reality and unlike her elder sister, Jane, she is very practical too. In short, she is quite different from other girls of her time. In this context, if a girl had to be daring or different today, what would she have done to earn the title (since girls are upto anything these days). Being confident and sensible are qualities that are not necessarily extraordinary or noticeable but ought to be there for a person to survive. I wonder what would have caught a modern Mr. Darcy's interest.

I do not have any answer to these questions and unlike my friend, I am not waiting for a Darcy to come and explain all this. All I am wondering about is: Will Mr Darcy be the same Mr Darcy as we have seen him? Will he be wanting the same things from life and his partner to be? And most importantly, after how many tries will Darcy and Lizzy find each other.

Comments are invited.

Here's comes Bertie: An Introduction

2008-09-04T10:14:00.010+05:30

Bertie, (Bertram Da Silva, HOD, English, St Xavier's College) used to teach us poetry in Graduation. He didn't exactly teach, he made us fall in love with poetry, the poet, the poet's way of thinking, everything. Since a lot of love was flowing around, naturally, the entire class would be Bertoxicated. After the bell rang and Bertie left the class, it would take sometime for the spell to break. And then we would look around at each other in silent admiration and acknowledge the aura the man would exude. It is said that you can love Bertie or you can be jealous of Bertie, but you can never be like Bertie.

Circa 1970

Be it spring, summer, or winter, Arun-da's (St. Xavier's College) Canteen would be clouded in smoke. It wasn’t your usual hangout zone. It was a place for lovers: of music and food. If you happened to be out of love with either, you would most obviously head for the room above – the library. If, however, you were one with the 'culture of the place', you would be most welcome to the lair of Bertie, who in the times to come would become God, for his students, and the friends of students.

More on Bertie and his music later. I have to rush to work now but you can enjoy uncensored Bertiespeak via me. Before you venture forth, let me say… though he spoke with the dead seriousness of an undertaker, he meant no harm… :)

You can lie as much as you want to other people, but don't ever bullshit yourself.

The word posture is very important. Later on you'll figure out why.

Never submit. It may be momentarily satisfying, but you may endanger yourself later. (grins)

All erect.

You know the handsome great voices can be dangerous.

I loved being nasty in the good old days but you're so pathetically young, it's just not fair.

Happily innocent of grammar.

Logic bad for health.

I am the Boss. I am telling you a story, you shut up and listen.

When I say horse, see horse.

Being normal's not nice, makes you mediocre.

The pleasure you get when you read Pope is like the pleasure you get when you are fingering someone.

Don't use fancy words in my class, just use sex.

Am I hassling you ? Or am I stimulating you? Coz if I am not, then better pretend as if I am.

Okay, moustache! Break over.

Love...What do you want ? A good poem or a bad poem? Coz a good poem would have nasty things to say about life.

Either one of you don't have books or both of you don't have minds.

Women in comedies have no mothers...mothers are wicked. They have plenty of fathers...but no mothers...and fathers anyways do not make good parents..

Poverty stricken romantic lovers put us off, therefore they must be upperclass.

Hey, don't turn your back on me when I'm making faces at you. What's the point of being nasty if you don't even look at me?

Roll no.18? Do you want to relax? Go all the way...put your feet up. Sleep.

[Sir may we come in. *mumble* Sir?] What? You want me to roll out the red carpet?

Im God For the Nxt 45 mins and you are my slaves.

Im a little fella right here but I can destroy you devastate you demolish you and not give you attendance

I am the boss, I am telling you a story, you shut up and listen.

As far as I know, you are a lazy bum.

Next time, try chewing the gum in a more ladylike fashion in my class.

Why are you scared of me??

Can you fix my glasses?

One sec, I'm hassling a certain gentleman here,please...

Marriage is not a pillar of society.Marriage is a tragedy.

Marriage is not a tragedy but it is that inferior subspecies of tragedy called melodrama.

There's something about a pulpit that does things to a man's mind.

No one in the audience had a problem with a ghost descending with the help of ropes.

Ekta cha ....

There are two things that freak me out-stupidity and pretentiousness. Better mask it up.

Why do you do this to me? You are all horrible horrible people.

Gentleman in the tiny tight t-shirt does not have the arms to wear it...look at me, I wear these...loose ones...."

You don't have to think, I've already thought for you.

I don’t like your face...GET OUT! While you are at it take a short cut through the window.

Look at that wall there??? Go bang your head against it!!!"

…and a certain gentleman called Bob Dylan. (Bertie Da silva and Bob Dylan have uncanny similarities)

Cranky Young Woman

2008-08-19T11:31:00.009+05:30

Cant really understand why am I being so cranky these days. But fact is, I have lost all control on my anger. It dangerously lurks in my mind and stares out ferociously every time it sees something that doesn't match upto my ideals / expectations / emotions / common sense.

I mean, I totally understand and support the philosophy behind looking at something from someone else' shoes or sandals but why doesn't anybody look from my perspective? And I am not being boastful now, but over the years, I have sensed that I have slightly enhanced sensitivity than others. This particular trait has done me more bad than good; lead to more heartburns than happy moments, and made me more aware of things that would be a bliss to ignore!

Coming back to being cranky; if I have shouted at you, snapped at you, have thrown my hands up in disgust, told you "you are impossible", "lack common sense" and asked you if "you ever use your senses?", mentally called you an "asshole"; please forgive me. I am sorry.

BUT, had you behaved differently (read: sensibly), maybe, I wouldn't be cranky at all. Or cranky enough to write about it.

life's like that!! 1

2008-08-14T16:22:00.007+05:30

I have yet to hear a man ask for advice on how to combine marriage and a career.

-Gloria Steinem

Back with a smile :)

2008-08-11T16:53:00.009+05:30

It has been a long time since I have smiled. Smile, as I usually do, smile that makes me feel like myself. What prevented me from smiling? Well, if I haven't told you that as yet... you probably are from Mars.

Anyway, I am just happy all that is over now. I have put the traumatising experience behind me and moved on. I have listened to my doc, lost two teeth, and gained an awesome lot of relief! I couldn't believe I was actually happy naah very, very happy after losing my second tooth (my third wisdom tooth!). At least I didn't have to go through that half an hour of torture of seeing the doc put all his might just to pull out my innocent wisdom tooth stuck in the jaw. It was even worse to see my blood staining his gloves.

UGGHHHHH! Don't want to think about all those again.

Right now, I am shutting out those thoughts out of my mind. Right now, I am happy I don't have an appointment with my dentist lurking in days ahead. Right now, I am making up for not being able to give my tummy the food it craved for. Right now, I can joyfully look at the mirror and find myself again. Right now, I am happy, not complaining and making up for all the smiles that I lost.

The King is ready to strike

2008-08-07T09:54:00.003+05:30

Last night I had a pretty weird dream. I saw a black King Cobra ready to strike. The moment I looked at it, its eyes produced a flash of a silver light, blinding me temporarily. The cobra went to the bedroom and hid behind the door. For a long time we kept a watch on the snake just to make sure that we know where it is. Suddenly it moved towards the bed and lay there. What I saw next was very confusing. The King Cobra was writhing in pain and was giving birth! I know snakes don't give birth to babies and for some reason I believed it was the male of the species. What I saw coming out of it was a large pinkish-earthwormish thing.

Can anybody explain this? What does it mean? Couldn't sleep last night :(

Think again!

2008-07-15T17:10:00.002+05:30

Acting on an anonymous phone call, the police raid a house to arrest a suspected murderer. They don't know what he looks like but they know his name is John and that he is inside the house. The police bust in on a carpenter, a lorry driver, a mechanic and a fireman all playing poker. Without hesitation or communication of any kind, they immediately arrest the fireman. How do they know they've got their man?

All For Feelings

2008-05-30T10:28:00.005+05:30

It takes a lot of sensitivity feel, to understand, appreciate and to react to emotions. A person who is not sensitive can hardly ever know what it is like to feel. For feeling is such that thing that can only be felt and cant be conveyed. It is good to FEEL rather than be apathetic, otherwise, there will not be much to differentiate between happiness, sadness, love, hate and the list is endless.

If you know what i am talking about, you will surely like this song by Akon.

the lyrics are here:

As life goes on I'm starting to learn more and more about responsibility

I realize everything I do is affecting the people around me

So I want to take this time out and apologize for things I have done

And things that have not occurred yet

And the things they don't want to take responsibility for

I'm sorry for the times I left you home

I was on the road and you were alone

I'm sorry for the times that I had to go

I'm sorry for the fact that I did not know

That you were sitting home just wishing we

Could go back to when it was just you and me

I'm sorry for the times I would neglect

I'm sorry for the times I disrespect

I'm sorry for the wrong things that I've done

I'm sorry I'm not always there for my son

I'm sorry for the fact that I am not aware

That you can't sleep at night when I am not there

Because I am in the streets like everyday

Sorry for the things that I did not say

Like how you are the best thing in my world

And how I am so proud to call you my girl

[Bridge]

I understand that there are some problems

And I am not too blind to know

All the pain you kept inside you

Even though you might not show

If I can apologize for being wrong

Then it's just a shame on me

I'll be the reason for your pain and you can put the blame on me

[Chorus]

You can put the blame on me [4x]

Said you can put the blame on me [3x]

You can put the blame on me

Sorry for the things that he put you through

And all the times you didn't know what to do

Sorry that you had to go and sell those packs

Just trying to stay busy till you heard from Dad

And you would rather be home with all your kids

As one big family with love and bliss

And even though Pops treated us like kings

He got a second wife and you didn't agree

He got up and left you there all alone

I'm sorry that you had to do it on your own

I'm sorry that I went and added to your grief

I'm sorry that your son was once a thief

I'm sorry that I grew up way too fast

I wish I would've listened and not be so bad

I'm sorry your life turned out this way

I'm sorry the FEDS came and took me away

[Bridge]

I'm sorry that it took so long to see

They were dead wrong trying to put it on me

I'm sorry that it took so long to speak

But I was on tour with Gwen Stefani

I'm sorry for the hand that she was dealt

For the embarrassment that she felt

Just a little young girl trying to have fun

Her daddy should never let her out that young

I'm sorry for Club Zen getting shut down

I hope they manage better next time around

How was I to know she was underage

Enter 21 you know the club they say

Why doesn't anybody wanna take blame

For rising back out disgracing my name

I'm just a singer trying to entertain

Because I love my fans I'll take that blame

Even though the blame's on you [3x]

I'll take that blame from you

And you can put that blame on me [2x]

You can put that blame on me

And you can put that blame on me

I did this myself

2008-05-29T16:28:00.004+05:30

wish you would have done this one ??? heheheh ;)

(i am just a copywriter in love with art)

For Rim

2008-05-27T23:55:00.005+05:30

My sistah who is a helluva 'stylo'

Thanks for being there for me always :)

Love you sweets

Muah

My Hobner

2008-05-25T21:44:00.012+05:30

childhood - 2005 : Ever since ma made me learn bharatnatyam or my grandma tried to coax ma to enroll me for singing classes, I wanted to do something else. Like playing the tabla, synthesizer or as I grew older playing the guitar. But obviously that was a far cry because (1.) I had no clue how to play it (2.) I did not know anybody who could (3.) I did not have a guitar. But I had hope and I believed all that would change someday.

2005 : Got this beauty from my maths tutor who played it at numerous events. He was quite attached to the guitar considering that it was actually tailormade with rosewood back and pinewood top. A sleek and slim body also contributed to its beauty. The detachable neck meant it could fit anywhere. Pretty cool stuff. I was so proud to have it.

2008 : The guitar sits pretty in my living room. Though I have it with me, I really cant make any music with it. Disappointing. I sit with it at times though, trying to play it without much success. It doesn't play what I want to hear. I can't hear Hotel California when I strum it nor the guitar bit of race saason ki ( in saif style ).

But hope still prevails and I believe all that will definitely change someday. Amen.

On the tattoo wishlist

2008-05-13T22:23:00.006+05:30

I have been toying with the idea of getting a tattoo made for a long time now. Only if it hadn't looked painful. Damn. Anyway, had a long discussion with my tattoo artist and flooded him with the things I want on me; like:

an ambigram tattoo (pref in in goth font)
a chinese luck symbol for a water pig ( that's what I am I figured out after an incredibly detailed calculation)
shiva in brilliant colors
and finally, a mirror-image tattoo that will read right only to me when I admire myself in the mirror

He promised me it wont be painful BUT me...

*shudders at the thought of needle pricking me*

2008-05-13T17:26:00.002+05:30

created when pissed. 9 may 08