Nothing succeeds like success and nothing fails like failure. I wish I could meet the genius who came up with that. Truer words were never spoken.
Battling with self loathing, depression and sheer frustration for the past two days, I decided to delve into why it's different this time. It's not that we haven't lost as a team before. Last year was brutal too. But somehow, this goes even beyond that. And only one person can be held accountable - that dratted one letter 'I'. When everyone around you is putting in their best, winning matches; and you remain the sole loser who keeps failing them, when you realize that you are the reason your teammates are crying and you aren't holding the coveted trophy that could've been so easily yours, you suddenly see the wisdom behind the words "Jaake chullu bhar paani me dub maro". A half freakin point. Arghhhhhhhhhhhhh!!
We were the best team. Our home fest proved that. We had two amazing ECA players. We were all set to win this time too. What went wrong? Everything. Last minute uncertainties, ringing mobiles, no shuffling scope and the biggest - A big fat moron who kept proving them wrong. "You think I can't do worse? Watch me!"
This was our last chance. For three of us at least. And I royally screwed it up for them. Life sucks!!
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Sunday, November 01, 2009
Happy Budday!!
Bumblebee bumblebee
Bloggie turns three
Dearest Crap 4 Free
A very happy birthday to thee
It's been quite a journey!! :D
Bloggie turns three
Dearest Crap 4 Free
A very happy birthday to thee
It's been quite a journey!! :D
Wednesday, October 07, 2009
Howdy Ma(i)te!
Who has the best parents in the world? Who just had the most amazing, brilliant, fantabulous birthday EVER? Who was pampered silly for a week? Who is the luckiest girl on planet Earth??? Don’t even bother answering. They were all rhetorical!!! :D
A tentative conversation with my mom some weeks ago introduced a very novel idea to me. Me mum wished to travel to Australia with me Mausi. While this was obviously awesome news, she didn’t look too happy. On being asked why, her revelation was that the said trip would be on my birthday – and not just any, but my 21st (quoting her people, not me) – and therefore, the reluctance. All my reasoning and persuasions were in vain. She wouldn’t budge. Then the light bulb clicked, “Why don’t you come with me?” Trying to rein in the tap-dance of my suddenly very erratic heart, I kept a clear head. The very thought was completely ludicrous. It would be way too expensive. So my response was a vehement no. And it was a no again and again and again. But when someone persists to coax and cajole you with nonsensical arguments and keeps Australia as bait, you tend to cave. And very happily for me now, I’m no saint.
A little prelude before I launch into my detailed chronicle. Three days before this El Dorado excursion, there was a chess tournament in MAMC where yours truly had dutifully gone. Wins, losses and some sheer dumb luck somehow saved me a place in the girls quarterfinals (to be held a day before D-Day). By then, the whole program had been more or less shelved. Visa issues et al. Two very looong games later, I was miraculously one of the finalists. And the phone call came. Not wishing to come across as a total psycho in a college which felt like one, I excused myself from the room, went mad for over fifteen minutes, then came back and informed the other finalist, to her absolute delight, that she was getting a walkover the next day.
Next day (12th Sept) – Morning flight. Exhaustion of the previous night hadn’t allowed me to pack my bag. Therefore, morning was a fiasco. I barely had enough time to ring up two friends. Some wild accusations were hurled (“You can’t just spring this on me”) and I was off to kangaroo land. Being a good four and a half hours ahead of us and God knows how many miles, it was only the next morning that we reached.
13th – Ladies and Gentlemen! Welcome aboard! You are now in Australia…. :D :D
I yelled and did the tango when we reached our hotel room. Mausi and Momma went to have their breakfast. I stayed. I was too busy yelling and doing the tango. We reconnoitered along Sydney in a cab driven by who I presume was a stiff-upper lipped Brit decked in a very Barney Stinsonish suit. An almost museum and a beautiful church later, we set out for the zoo and aquarium, also managing to catch a glimpse of the Sydney cricket stadium from the outside. Sadly, it wasn’t open. We saw koala bears, kangaroos, huge venomous snakes and some of the nastiest looking sharks. The fishes were so exotic, that my limited knowledge aside, I could barely name any. An awesome cruise ensued where I spent more than half my time on the deck bathing in the heavenly weather and taking in the most breathtaking sight of the city I could hope for. I also spotted an old man who had come there with his wife to celebrate her birthday. There was a cake with a phuljhari on top and he sang out as she cut the cake. It was very very sweet. Dinner was an Indian affair with biryani, dal makhni, kebab – all watered down by shining hot gulabjamuns. Burp!
14th – Hot air ballooning was on the cards. At six in the morning, shivering with anticipation (and the chill of the morning air) we helped fill the balloon. Through the ride, I was too mesmerized to form a rational thought. I happily ignored the discomfort in my ears and was instead overawed by another leap in technology – a digital camera suspended perfectly in mid-air, busily clicking away pictures. This was followed by a mouth watering English Breakfast in a complete Australian countryside ambience. There was a video shoot and a visit to the beautiful Incredible India office. We saw the whole of Darling harbour; for the first time, I saw the inside of a submarine, which was very aptly named Vampire and peeped through a periscope. A fabulous road show in the evening, a hilarious episode of Boston Legal and we called it a day.
15th – The day of the beautiful Blue Mountains and the three sisters. A very interesting story and a very majestic view – Her Highness herself agreed.
We rode on the steepest train in the world, walked through a mine and a pseudo-jungle, even lost our way – for miles it was just the three of us – found our way again and finally came back through a cable car. There was a skywalk with a transparent glass floor. It was both eerie and slightly dizzying. Later that day, we visited the famous Opera House premises. Dil Chahta Hai scenes kept flashing through my mind. We went on a showboat for dinner where the magician stole my lemonade. They later made me come on stage for my supposedly 'pre-birthday' celebrations. Promising to give me a glass of champagne, I got apple juice instead. What a rip-off! The show was fabulous though, going an extra mile with the whole ‘Jai ho’ routine. I came back to bed perfectly content with life.
16th – Birthday, Sweet Birthday!! I was adamant that I would only go by the Indian time. And thus for the first time in 9 years, I was sound asleep at 12:00 a.m. IST on a 16 September – though Dodo’s very sweet crooning of Happy Birthday at exact 4.30 in the morning on Mamma’s cell did wake me up. Yashi and Bhaiya were next. Love you guys. :) We were to leave for Brisbane that day. While waiting at the airport, our incredibly sweet team from the tourism office gifted me the adorable Mrs. Roo (a stuffed Kangaroo for the uninitiated) and a bag full of chocolates. Another birthday concession was a business class seat (thanks a ton Mausi!). Now, having never traveled in one before and not being the most sophisticated of people, I was very scared. Therefore, not only did I refuse every single goody or chocolates that were offered, I didn’t even look up when the seat next to me was taken. I instead stared fixedly at some random episode of Two and a half men. An air hostess nudged me and I mechanically said no. But when she continued to stay, I finally removed my speakers. There she stood with a bottle of white wine, terming it my “birthday present”. Thanking her effusively, I managed to catch (just in time) my name being announced by the pilot who wished me a very happy 21st.
This was followed by a very sweet flight attendant coming personally to wish me and the entire row in front turning back simultaneously to smile. Apart from the acute embarrassment, I was absolutely delirious with joy. Then, the person next to me also wished me. I turned around to stare into the face of one of most good looking guys I’ve seen in real life. Not only was he a total hunk with blue eyes and everything, he was also completely unaware of his good looks. He turned out to be a brilliant conversationalist, who gave me an aerial guided tour of Brisbane. He showed me the beautiful Gabba stadium, the very famous Gold Coast and what he assumed looked a bit like his own house. We talked of the cricket team we’d just seen which though international wasn’t famous at all, of how he was this hot-shot rich pilot (same airlines) who owned a holiday home in Sydney (swoon!) and how, on learning that I was from India, mentioned that he had an *sob* elaborate *sob* Indian wedding!! Sigh! There went my Bollywood story.
Taken! Every single one of them. Why???
He then pointed out that he’d met his wife when she was 22. I had no reaction for that.
After a very enjoyable one and a half hours, we landed in Gabba land, where we were greeted by a cabbie whose first words were “I’m not Australian, I’m Irish”. Here, let me take you back to the era when I still believed in Santa Claus and in fairies being responsible for babies. This was exactly how I had pictured the Jingle Bell Man – ruddy cheeks, big round tummy, an open, happy face and an overall good kind benevolent grandfather countenance. Add some ho ho ho and a Red costume, well Santa stood before me in flesh and blood. As it turned out, he was familiar with ‘Singh is King’ and had driven around Katrina Kaif and Kiron Kher (not so subtly referred to as young lady and old lady resp.) in the very same car. On my increasing excitement, I was also shown the hotels where they’d stayed.
For lunch, it was Indian food again (some Australian experiments weren’t too successful) and just when I thought that we were done, came the cake on a four foot platter shining brightly with candles, and a breakout of different octaves of the birthday song. The lump in my throat did not let me form the words.
Later that evening was another road show where they had hired a professional caricaturist, who revealed was also an actor. He was greatly entertained by my impatience and commented that while my friends would love his work, I would go into depression. It couldn’t be farther from the truth. The end result made me laugh so hard that my ribs hurt and my friends couldn’t recognize me from the picture. Wish I could rub it in.
My mom did something which only one as caring and thoughtful as her could have. Only, I was the moron who got it a day late.
All in all a HAPPY HAPPY Birthday!! :)
17th – Amon, my personal Santa Claus, turned out to be really warm, witty and talkative. Awfully kind too. On the previous day, I’d learnt that he was a major Man U fan, who bought seasons tickets for every game. I had to then mention my own brother’s love for the Red Devils. The next day therefore, he came with the official United magazine bought at a live game by his brother and given to him as a gift. He shrugged it off with a “I’ve read it already. Plus, it’s going to a good cause.” Told you he was Santa. He then told me how he wouldn't open the car door for either of the KKs for they refused to walk one block. Saying this, he turned and with the proverbial twinkle in his eyes, came and opened the door for me. I felt like Royalty. It was awesome.
We went to visit Universal Studios' younger brother next – Warner Bros. And what did I see just as I walked in? Surprise! Surprise! A twilight store full of Rob merchandize. Sigh! If only they weren't freakishly expensive. Two blocks down the road was a Harry Potter shop. If you’d left me there for days on end, I wouldn’t have complained. I was going berserk. It actually felt like Diagon Alley.
We saw a superb car show, a 3D movie, went on a tad-ruffling ride and then waved goodbye to a place I vowed I’d visit again… someday. We proceeded to the Gold Coast and Surfer’s Paradise and saw exactly why it was a favourite tourist spot. Luxuriously walking around the beach area, I popped into a department store, where to my dismay, I saw Robert Pattinson gracing the covers of seven magazines in a row. The reaction might come off as weird to some, but it’s just than when you look around you and see people with their washboard abs, then look back at the magazines and realize that you don’t stand a one in a billion chance, it hurts. A friend politely pointed out that it was a lost cause either way.
We had to rush back to catch our flight to Sydney. Where we stayed was a wharf turned into a hotel but retaining that authentic look. It was very cool. Russell Crowe’s house was right behind it and though I’m no fan, I plead guilty of running twenty strides to catch a glimpse.
We had a club sandwich and an unknown sweet dish for dinner , and it was time for the carriage to turn back into a pumpkin.
18th – Bye Bye Australia! It was lovely knowing you.
No feeling can however compare to coming back to a family reunion, falling back on your bed, calling up all and sundry and realizing that you are home SWEET home!!
P.S - I Love You, Mom
P.P.S - The almost Prince Charming’s name was Shane.
- The next day’s match was cancelled. We were declared joint winners. Hallelujah!
- I still hate the Australian Cricket team. (Guess nothing in the world can change THAT!)
A tentative conversation with my mom some weeks ago introduced a very novel idea to me. Me mum wished to travel to Australia with me Mausi. While this was obviously awesome news, she didn’t look too happy. On being asked why, her revelation was that the said trip would be on my birthday – and not just any, but my 21st (quoting her people, not me) – and therefore, the reluctance. All my reasoning and persuasions were in vain. She wouldn’t budge. Then the light bulb clicked, “Why don’t you come with me?” Trying to rein in the tap-dance of my suddenly very erratic heart, I kept a clear head. The very thought was completely ludicrous. It would be way too expensive. So my response was a vehement no. And it was a no again and again and again. But when someone persists to coax and cajole you with nonsensical arguments and keeps Australia as bait, you tend to cave. And very happily for me now, I’m no saint.
A little prelude before I launch into my detailed chronicle. Three days before this El Dorado excursion, there was a chess tournament in MAMC where yours truly had dutifully gone. Wins, losses and some sheer dumb luck somehow saved me a place in the girls quarterfinals (to be held a day before D-Day). By then, the whole program had been more or less shelved. Visa issues et al. Two very looong games later, I was miraculously one of the finalists. And the phone call came. Not wishing to come across as a total psycho in a college which felt like one, I excused myself from the room, went mad for over fifteen minutes, then came back and informed the other finalist, to her absolute delight, that she was getting a walkover the next day.
Next day (12th Sept) – Morning flight. Exhaustion of the previous night hadn’t allowed me to pack my bag. Therefore, morning was a fiasco. I barely had enough time to ring up two friends. Some wild accusations were hurled (“You can’t just spring this on me”) and I was off to kangaroo land. Being a good four and a half hours ahead of us and God knows how many miles, it was only the next morning that we reached.
13th – Ladies and Gentlemen! Welcome aboard! You are now in Australia…. :D :D
I yelled and did the tango when we reached our hotel room. Mausi and Momma went to have their breakfast. I stayed. I was too busy yelling and doing the tango. We reconnoitered along Sydney in a cab driven by who I presume was a stiff-upper lipped Brit decked in a very Barney Stinsonish suit. An almost museum and a beautiful church later, we set out for the zoo and aquarium, also managing to catch a glimpse of the Sydney cricket stadium from the outside. Sadly, it wasn’t open. We saw koala bears, kangaroos, huge venomous snakes and some of the nastiest looking sharks. The fishes were so exotic, that my limited knowledge aside, I could barely name any. An awesome cruise ensued where I spent more than half my time on the deck bathing in the heavenly weather and taking in the most breathtaking sight of the city I could hope for. I also spotted an old man who had come there with his wife to celebrate her birthday. There was a cake with a phuljhari on top and he sang out as she cut the cake. It was very very sweet. Dinner was an Indian affair with biryani, dal makhni, kebab – all watered down by shining hot gulabjamuns. Burp!
14th – Hot air ballooning was on the cards. At six in the morning, shivering with anticipation (and the chill of the morning air) we helped fill the balloon. Through the ride, I was too mesmerized to form a rational thought. I happily ignored the discomfort in my ears and was instead overawed by another leap in technology – a digital camera suspended perfectly in mid-air, busily clicking away pictures. This was followed by a mouth watering English Breakfast in a complete Australian countryside ambience. There was a video shoot and a visit to the beautiful Incredible India office. We saw the whole of Darling harbour; for the first time, I saw the inside of a submarine, which was very aptly named Vampire and peeped through a periscope. A fabulous road show in the evening, a hilarious episode of Boston Legal and we called it a day.
15th – The day of the beautiful Blue Mountains and the three sisters. A very interesting story and a very majestic view – Her Highness herself agreed.
We rode on the steepest train in the world, walked through a mine and a pseudo-jungle, even lost our way – for miles it was just the three of us – found our way again and finally came back through a cable car. There was a skywalk with a transparent glass floor. It was both eerie and slightly dizzying. Later that day, we visited the famous Opera House premises. Dil Chahta Hai scenes kept flashing through my mind. We went on a showboat for dinner where the magician stole my lemonade. They later made me come on stage for my supposedly 'pre-birthday' celebrations. Promising to give me a glass of champagne, I got apple juice instead. What a rip-off! The show was fabulous though, going an extra mile with the whole ‘Jai ho’ routine. I came back to bed perfectly content with life.
16th – Birthday, Sweet Birthday!! I was adamant that I would only go by the Indian time. And thus for the first time in 9 years, I was sound asleep at 12:00 a.m. IST on a 16 September – though Dodo’s very sweet crooning of Happy Birthday at exact 4.30 in the morning on Mamma’s cell did wake me up. Yashi and Bhaiya were next. Love you guys. :) We were to leave for Brisbane that day. While waiting at the airport, our incredibly sweet team from the tourism office gifted me the adorable Mrs. Roo (a stuffed Kangaroo for the uninitiated) and a bag full of chocolates. Another birthday concession was a business class seat (thanks a ton Mausi!). Now, having never traveled in one before and not being the most sophisticated of people, I was very scared. Therefore, not only did I refuse every single goody or chocolates that were offered, I didn’t even look up when the seat next to me was taken. I instead stared fixedly at some random episode of Two and a half men. An air hostess nudged me and I mechanically said no. But when she continued to stay, I finally removed my speakers. There she stood with a bottle of white wine, terming it my “birthday present”. Thanking her effusively, I managed to catch (just in time) my name being announced by the pilot who wished me a very happy 21st.
This was followed by a very sweet flight attendant coming personally to wish me and the entire row in front turning back simultaneously to smile. Apart from the acute embarrassment, I was absolutely delirious with joy. Then, the person next to me also wished me. I turned around to stare into the face of one of most good looking guys I’ve seen in real life. Not only was he a total hunk with blue eyes and everything, he was also completely unaware of his good looks. He turned out to be a brilliant conversationalist, who gave me an aerial guided tour of Brisbane. He showed me the beautiful Gabba stadium, the very famous Gold Coast and what he assumed looked a bit like his own house. We talked of the cricket team we’d just seen which though international wasn’t famous at all, of how he was this hot-shot rich pilot (same airlines) who owned a holiday home in Sydney (swoon!) and how, on learning that I was from India, mentioned that he had an *sob* elaborate *sob* Indian wedding!! Sigh! There went my Bollywood story.
Taken! Every single one of them. Why???
He then pointed out that he’d met his wife when she was 22. I had no reaction for that.
After a very enjoyable one and a half hours, we landed in Gabba land, where we were greeted by a cabbie whose first words were “I’m not Australian, I’m Irish”. Here, let me take you back to the era when I still believed in Santa Claus and in fairies being responsible for babies. This was exactly how I had pictured the Jingle Bell Man – ruddy cheeks, big round tummy, an open, happy face and an overall good kind benevolent grandfather countenance. Add some ho ho ho and a Red costume, well Santa stood before me in flesh and blood. As it turned out, he was familiar with ‘Singh is King’ and had driven around Katrina Kaif and Kiron Kher (not so subtly referred to as young lady and old lady resp.) in the very same car. On my increasing excitement, I was also shown the hotels where they’d stayed.
For lunch, it was Indian food again (some Australian experiments weren’t too successful) and just when I thought that we were done, came the cake on a four foot platter shining brightly with candles, and a breakout of different octaves of the birthday song. The lump in my throat did not let me form the words.
Later that evening was another road show where they had hired a professional caricaturist, who revealed was also an actor. He was greatly entertained by my impatience and commented that while my friends would love his work, I would go into depression. It couldn’t be farther from the truth. The end result made me laugh so hard that my ribs hurt and my friends couldn’t recognize me from the picture. Wish I could rub it in.
My mom did something which only one as caring and thoughtful as her could have. Only, I was the moron who got it a day late.
All in all a HAPPY HAPPY Birthday!! :)
17th – Amon, my personal Santa Claus, turned out to be really warm, witty and talkative. Awfully kind too. On the previous day, I’d learnt that he was a major Man U fan, who bought seasons tickets for every game. I had to then mention my own brother’s love for the Red Devils. The next day therefore, he came with the official United magazine bought at a live game by his brother and given to him as a gift. He shrugged it off with a “I’ve read it already. Plus, it’s going to a good cause.” Told you he was Santa. He then told me how he wouldn't open the car door for either of the KKs for they refused to walk one block. Saying this, he turned and with the proverbial twinkle in his eyes, came and opened the door for me. I felt like Royalty. It was awesome.
We went to visit Universal Studios' younger brother next – Warner Bros. And what did I see just as I walked in? Surprise! Surprise! A twilight store full of Rob merchandize. Sigh! If only they weren't freakishly expensive. Two blocks down the road was a Harry Potter shop. If you’d left me there for days on end, I wouldn’t have complained. I was going berserk. It actually felt like Diagon Alley.
We saw a superb car show, a 3D movie, went on a tad-ruffling ride and then waved goodbye to a place I vowed I’d visit again… someday. We proceeded to the Gold Coast and Surfer’s Paradise and saw exactly why it was a favourite tourist spot. Luxuriously walking around the beach area, I popped into a department store, where to my dismay, I saw Robert Pattinson gracing the covers of seven magazines in a row. The reaction might come off as weird to some, but it’s just than when you look around you and see people with their washboard abs, then look back at the magazines and realize that you don’t stand a one in a billion chance, it hurts. A friend politely pointed out that it was a lost cause either way.
We had to rush back to catch our flight to Sydney. Where we stayed was a wharf turned into a hotel but retaining that authentic look. It was very cool. Russell Crowe’s house was right behind it and though I’m no fan, I plead guilty of running twenty strides to catch a glimpse.
We had a club sandwich and an unknown sweet dish for dinner , and it was time for the carriage to turn back into a pumpkin.
18th – Bye Bye Australia! It was lovely knowing you.
No feeling can however compare to coming back to a family reunion, falling back on your bed, calling up all and sundry and realizing that you are home SWEET home!!
P.S - I Love You, Mom
P.P.S - The almost Prince Charming’s name was Shane.
- The next day’s match was cancelled. We were declared joint winners. Hallelujah!
- I still hate the Australian Cricket team. (Guess nothing in the world can change THAT!)
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
The Landlady
I concede - I'm a laggard. AND I'm the laziest bum on the planet. AND I'm under constant pressure to update my blog. I'm supposed to complete my 18th post by the start of November. In the wise words of Phoebe Buffay, "Holy Crap"!!
Also, if someone dissents here, arguing that on account of being as jobless as yours truly, I should forfeit my rights to any lame excuse, all I can say is, I've been discovering a new passion in life. Ladies and Gentlemen, introducing Fan-Fiction.... Tadaaa! *Drum roll*!!! Yep, it's every bit as awesome. Plus, more than 3 people read my posts there!! :D AND they review. It's getting addictive...
What more... My love-hate relationship with my college continues... Love English, hate class, love friends, hate time-table, love chess, hate campus(or the lack of it!?!)... I've decided to stop mulling over this as it only gets me woolly-headed, which trust me, isn't very pleasant.
Catting - the ingenious term which Shri Shrimaan evum Dukaandaar claims to have coined (doubtful authenticity??!) - is turning out to be a real pain in all the uncomfortable regions. I think I might just end up doing an MA, which I really don't want to, just so you know, but then again... *sigh!*... maths ain't my cup of tea. The exam's now less than three months away and I'm still at sea. Spending 9 straight hours in college takes a hell lot out of me and barely leaves any time to come home and crash, let alone study... Facebook of course, won't be counted here. :)
My blogs are getting shorter and my titles unoriginal. I'm sooo running out of ideas.
Till next time then!!
Also, if someone dissents here, arguing that on account of being as jobless as yours truly, I should forfeit my rights to any lame excuse, all I can say is, I've been discovering a new passion in life. Ladies and Gentlemen, introducing Fan-Fiction.... Tadaaa! *Drum roll*!!! Yep, it's every bit as awesome. Plus, more than 3 people read my posts there!! :D AND they review. It's getting addictive...
What more... My love-hate relationship with my college continues... Love English, hate class, love friends, hate time-table, love chess, hate campus(or the lack of it!?!)... I've decided to stop mulling over this as it only gets me woolly-headed, which trust me, isn't very pleasant.
Catting - the ingenious term which Shri Shrimaan evum Dukaandaar claims to have coined (doubtful authenticity??!) - is turning out to be a real pain in all the uncomfortable regions. I think I might just end up doing an MA, which I really don't want to, just so you know, but then again... *sigh!*... maths ain't my cup of tea. The exam's now less than three months away and I'm still at sea. Spending 9 straight hours in college takes a hell lot out of me and barely leaves any time to come home and crash, let alone study... Facebook of course, won't be counted here. :)
My blogs are getting shorter and my titles unoriginal. I'm sooo running out of ideas.
Till next time then!!
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Dah-rum-pal-sof-chung
Nostalgia is such a haunting and beautiful word. It can stir up emotions you didn’t know existed and make the most commonplace things sublime. A walk on the road, silly banter with friends, two cups of coffee, a surreptitious call at 4 in the morning… the weather – anything the mind has seen or experienced, even things it might have hated eons ago.
But the human tendency to embrace the familiar comes into its fullest force when fate threatens to seize all one has learnt to love, it dares one to take that final terrifying leap into unchartered territory.
It’s not fitting for someone like me to muse about things that I technically shouldn’t be concerned with, at least not for another year. That’s exactly why it concerns me though. Having gone through some absolutely brilli-aunt and heart tugging posts, I cannot but confront this question – will I feel the same a year hence? Or even remotely close? Sadly, I already know my answer. I won’t.
Yes, I’ll miss my friends, but then again, I always know that the best ones will stay with me. I wonder now whether these garbled ruminations are a product of my overworked, sleep deprived brain, trying vainly to procure some semblance of sense at six in the morning. Whatever be the case, the feelings tugging at the corner of my brain aren’t happy ones. They carry an imperceptible tinge of despair. Life’s weird… and my blog’s updated. Toodles. :)
But the human tendency to embrace the familiar comes into its fullest force when fate threatens to seize all one has learnt to love, it dares one to take that final terrifying leap into unchartered territory.
It’s not fitting for someone like me to muse about things that I technically shouldn’t be concerned with, at least not for another year. That’s exactly why it concerns me though. Having gone through some absolutely brilli-aunt and heart tugging posts, I cannot but confront this question – will I feel the same a year hence? Or even remotely close? Sadly, I already know my answer. I won’t.
Yes, I’ll miss my friends, but then again, I always know that the best ones will stay with me. I wonder now whether these garbled ruminations are a product of my overworked, sleep deprived brain, trying vainly to procure some semblance of sense at six in the morning. Whatever be the case, the feelings tugging at the corner of my brain aren’t happy ones. They carry an imperceptible tinge of despair. Life’s weird… and my blog’s updated. Toodles. :)
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
The Ode
Nitwit Blubber Oddment Tweak
Make this stupid fat rat squeak
Tired of all blues and yellows
Potty Weasel riding fat buffaloes
Cedric got reincarnated
A vampire saga was created
Dumby's pet's a bumblebee
Fred, where art thou, missing thee
Severus was Good Guy all along
Everybody sing this song
Never trust a nostrils freak
A requirement's door doesn't creak
Luna's gone loony Neville's prof
Hermione's no more Ms. Show Off
Ginny + Deathly Hallows, eh?
Gimme Draco Granger anyday
Rubeus Minerva Gryffindor
Hogwarts Twins Horcruxes War
Will miss 'em all, this part o' me
Thus ends my jabberwocky.
Make this stupid fat rat squeak
Tired of all blues and yellows
Potty Weasel riding fat buffaloes
Cedric got reincarnated
A vampire saga was created
Dumby's pet's a bumblebee
Fred, where art thou, missing thee
Severus was Good Guy all along
Everybody sing this song
Never trust a nostrils freak
A requirement's door doesn't creak
Luna's gone loony Neville's prof
Hermione's no more Ms. Show Off
Ginny + Deathly Hallows, eh?
Gimme Draco Granger anyday
Rubeus Minerva Gryffindor
Hogwarts Twins Horcruxes War
Will miss 'em all, this part o' me
Thus ends my jabberwocky.
Thursday, January 01, 2009
Hakuna Matata
First things first, a very happy new year to one and all. This was going to be my first December post in two years, now it's my '1st January' post. Lol. Guess my laziness will never desert me. I really did not think I'd be enthusiastic about this time of the year. I rarely am, unless you are talking food ;). It usually leaves me melancholy, moody, a tad confused and one year older; yes, it's worse than my birthday that way.
My trip to Shimla should account for the mood shift then. I'd gone with my khandaan: mum, dad, bhai, aunt, uncle, cousins et al. It was loads of fun. We stayed in one of those really pretty picture-postcard cottages, complete with an attic. The upper room was so adorable that I wanted to start Chipko Movement right there. It was Christmas and the decorations were beautiful, even minus the snow. Santa was a bit sad though, skinny with a pillow tummy who came and whispered 'Merry Christmas' to everyone, afraid they'd jump on him. The food was De-Li-Cious, a gastronomic heaven for a glutton like me. They even had a heated swimming pool (I knoooow), a pool table, a TT table, a Carrom set and a corner strewn with soft toys. Yes people, it was custom made for me :). I saw me mum and her sis play TT and it was so much fun just watching them. My TT skills, on the other hand told a different story. I gleefully, and a bit surprisingly beat my bro who I thought knew his game well, only to have him sheepishly admit that he was playing with his right hand. Oh well, so much for smugness!! Anyway, we all felt so christmassy, totally in the mood, the holiday spirit engulfing us.
Come Christmas eve, and all guests were requested to assemble in the lobby. Many games had been arranged for us: Musical Chairs, Passing the Parcel and some really funny couple games that had both my mom-dad and mausi-mausaji participating. We were crazy-cheering for them and clutching our stomachs at the same time. I regret not clicking any photographs. It was so worth it. I have to admit here that the elders of my family are the best sports I've come across. Evidence - My mum was the runner-up in musical chairs. :)
There was also a game called 'sabzi-mandi'. Other than the unusual name, it interested me because, for one, I could play (it no longer being a couple game) and two, because I'm pretty good at memory games and it looked like this was going to be one. Two rows of chairs were set diametrically opposite each other and we were supposed to pair up and randomly shout the names of vegetables and their respective prices, most being as bizarre as sarson ka saag or 37 rupees 59 paise. There was a prescribed time limit, within which one team member had to dictate the items on his or her list to the other who was to pen it down. You could convey the info any which way, even using your mobile if you so pleased, but you had to sit across the room from your partner. Mayhem and commotion ensued only making the game more entertaining. I paired up with bro. He patiently enunciated each word while gesticulating for their respective prices. I quickly took it all down being the first to complete the list and also the only one who was 100% accurate. We won the 1st prize. I couldn't believe it. They gave us chocolates, two gift wrapped tokens and a gift voucher for 4 people to visit the same cottage for a four-days, three-nights trip. Ah, my midas touch was working.
At night, I was made to rush outside to see the most breathtaking constellation in the night sky. It was so majestic that I felt completely insignificant. I gawked at it for quite a while before the biting cold and my own chattering teeth got to me.
In the morning, I lay back on a hammock, surrounded by nature, in the remote wilderness of a serene hill station, humming 'morning's here'. Bliss!
We also visited the famous mall-road and flats of Shimla and the old yellow Church that adorns it. It was the first Protestant Church I'd seen, quite different from the Catholic one in my old school, where my entire gang would be found before an exam.
During our return journey, we conspired against a poor unsuspecting soul named Rajesh, to make him trade seats with one of us. Sadly, he never turned up.
Once back, I was introduced to two cousins whom I'd never met. I'm fond of using the hyperbole 'Meeting new relatives at every party', which appropriately indicates the size of my family. Not that I ever thought it held true for cousins as well. Both of them were second cousins and both really nice. One, as it happened had been my senior in college, same course, and I'd never known. And the other turned out to be a good friend of my best friend.
All in all, the past two weeks have been very pleasant.
And now, what with my exams over (discounting here how very bad they were) and my college closed for some time, life cannot get any better.
2009, I welcome you with open arms!!
My trip to Shimla should account for the mood shift then. I'd gone with my khandaan: mum, dad, bhai, aunt, uncle, cousins et al. It was loads of fun. We stayed in one of those really pretty picture-postcard cottages, complete with an attic. The upper room was so adorable that I wanted to start Chipko Movement right there. It was Christmas and the decorations were beautiful, even minus the snow. Santa was a bit sad though, skinny with a pillow tummy who came and whispered 'Merry Christmas' to everyone, afraid they'd jump on him. The food was De-Li-Cious, a gastronomic heaven for a glutton like me. They even had a heated swimming pool (I knoooow), a pool table, a TT table, a Carrom set and a corner strewn with soft toys. Yes people, it was custom made for me :). I saw me mum and her sis play TT and it was so much fun just watching them. My TT skills, on the other hand told a different story. I gleefully, and a bit surprisingly beat my bro who I thought knew his game well, only to have him sheepishly admit that he was playing with his right hand. Oh well, so much for smugness!! Anyway, we all felt so christmassy, totally in the mood, the holiday spirit engulfing us.
Come Christmas eve, and all guests were requested to assemble in the lobby. Many games had been arranged for us: Musical Chairs, Passing the Parcel and some really funny couple games that had both my mom-dad and mausi-mausaji participating. We were crazy-cheering for them and clutching our stomachs at the same time. I regret not clicking any photographs. It was so worth it. I have to admit here that the elders of my family are the best sports I've come across. Evidence - My mum was the runner-up in musical chairs. :)
There was also a game called 'sabzi-mandi'. Other than the unusual name, it interested me because, for one, I could play (it no longer being a couple game) and two, because I'm pretty good at memory games and it looked like this was going to be one. Two rows of chairs were set diametrically opposite each other and we were supposed to pair up and randomly shout the names of vegetables and their respective prices, most being as bizarre as sarson ka saag or 37 rupees 59 paise. There was a prescribed time limit, within which one team member had to dictate the items on his or her list to the other who was to pen it down. You could convey the info any which way, even using your mobile if you so pleased, but you had to sit across the room from your partner. Mayhem and commotion ensued only making the game more entertaining. I paired up with bro. He patiently enunciated each word while gesticulating for their respective prices. I quickly took it all down being the first to complete the list and also the only one who was 100% accurate. We won the 1st prize. I couldn't believe it. They gave us chocolates, two gift wrapped tokens and a gift voucher for 4 people to visit the same cottage for a four-days, three-nights trip. Ah, my midas touch was working.
At night, I was made to rush outside to see the most breathtaking constellation in the night sky. It was so majestic that I felt completely insignificant. I gawked at it for quite a while before the biting cold and my own chattering teeth got to me.
In the morning, I lay back on a hammock, surrounded by nature, in the remote wilderness of a serene hill station, humming 'morning's here'. Bliss!
We also visited the famous mall-road and flats of Shimla and the old yellow Church that adorns it. It was the first Protestant Church I'd seen, quite different from the Catholic one in my old school, where my entire gang would be found before an exam.
During our return journey, we conspired against a poor unsuspecting soul named Rajesh, to make him trade seats with one of us. Sadly, he never turned up.
Once back, I was introduced to two cousins whom I'd never met. I'm fond of using the hyperbole 'Meeting new relatives at every party', which appropriately indicates the size of my family. Not that I ever thought it held true for cousins as well. Both of them were second cousins and both really nice. One, as it happened had been my senior in college, same course, and I'd never known. And the other turned out to be a good friend of my best friend.
All in all, the past two weeks have been very pleasant.
And now, what with my exams over (discounting here how very bad they were) and my college closed for some time, life cannot get any better.
2009, I welcome you with open arms!!
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