Attribution

The mystery or misery?

2011-07-05T18:40:00.002+05:30

We were the best buddies, we were classmates, partners in crime,shareholders in misery and most importantly we took important decisions like the ones to bunk classes, pass comments about a random person and still keep it a secret.

Well this was true for the better part of the last two years, until she decided that it was time to part ways. Why? I still have no clue. To this day I remain clueless I kept making forced attempts to get back and try the old trick of saying a sorry and trying to patch up. It has not worked.

The everyday conversations in person shortened, they became SMSes, and then they stopped completely. Today morning I forced myself to send her a long and detailed SMS, I thought that was the only mode of communication left. Prompt came the reply- "Busy today. How about 2mrw?"

I replied in positive.

After a tiring day at the library, I dragged myself to the shopping complex, firmly tucked in my ears were headsets;my hands clasping a paper bag that was about to give up, I glanced around looking for a familiar face.

I see my dear friend at a distance,I attempt a wave of my hand and also trying to balance the things at hand. She took two steps forward, not towards me but towards her vehicle parked beside her. She left. And I was left alone.

I wait to see if the meeting that she promised happens tomorrow or not. But the show must go on, I should not be bothered by people who refuse to see or hear others.

When words fail.

2011-06-28T14:54:00.005+05:30

There is hardly any time other than when you are feeling really hurt or really excited that you cannot express yourself in words.

For a person who lives by their gift of words, it must be a daunting task to speak and harder to converse. The relation between the reason and the ability of expressing it in words are inversely related. In my personal experience, I have hardly managed to land myself in these situations. Courtesy my not so happening "life". But trying look back, I do see a phase in life where I refused to speak and refused to be spoken to.

The event was hardly a matter of concern, but this time the only difference was that I could not help myself. And I think there is nothing as bad as feeling of being in the dumps and not trying to seek help as well.

But the golden rule as always applies- This too shall pass.
And thankfully it did.

For people who stood by me, I hope they did not know. For people who knew me well, I made sure they did not know...

The experiment has paid off, and to an extent helped me as a person to realize that giving advice is easy and taking one close to impossible.

2011-01-12T10:52:00.000+05:30

My laziness had ensured that I would not post on this blog for the past 6 months.

The year ended and a new one started with me trying to grapple with things at hand and the things that would be coming my way this year.

All these make me more worried, and to start a new year on a sick note was not the greatest thing to happen.

But I shall post very soon and that is a promise I intend to keep.

I like to fight it out.

2010-07-28T18:54:00.001+05:30

The past few days have been hectic, the chaos of admission procedures, long queues,unending formalities and not to forget the panicky and at times hysterical friends. All this kept me busy the past few days, while i was also actively trying to brush off many unhappy events.

It all started with my plans to go in for a late registration going for a toss, the resultant change in travel plans and hurried goodbyes to friends and relatives. At the airport I fought back tears to say bye to my folks and also tried to reassure myself that I wasnt travelling very far. I tugged my luggage and said bye to my mom and dad who kept looking at me from a distance separated by the huge glass doors. I love travelling, but prefer to have friends or someone i know to enjoy the ride. But now, i was travelling alone.

Travel by the air was considered safe if you are travelling alone, so there i was, travelling by air. The ride to my destination took an eternity, delayed, disturbed and painful journey it was.

An unwelcome co-passenger made my journey a not so safe and pleasant episode to remember. Mid air I was being disturbed,pushed and shoved at. I refused to remain a mute spectator, I pushed him away, and at a later stage gave him one tight punch on his nose. Good riddance.

I refused to "ignore" and put on the "please adjust" attitude. I made displeasure known to the crew, sought their help and also helped myself rather than take it silently.

I thank my brother for telling me long ago that, no man likes to be insulted and that you must react quickly. And that I, being his sister should not take these things mutely. I thank my parents for letting me learn martial arts, they came in handy.

I wish to thank my friend and journo Chandu, who has lent both his ears to even smallest of my complaints for past 10 years (without competition), he wrote this same account on his blog too. Thanks buddy for being there. And you shall have the privilege of getting to hear more of my complaints.

This time I make no promises...

2010-01-07T00:05:00.008+05:30

Every time I write on this blog I promise myself and to the followers of this blog that I shall write regularly, But rarely do I keep up the promise, So this time around I give no promises and no hopes to anybody.

Since I wrote the last post,things have changed. I have become a proud owner of a postgraduate degree, hard earned. Went through the process of applying every goddamn place for further studies and sitting through numerous Entrance exams and next round of Interviews and also the process of attending these interviews in different parts of the country with a whole entourage of my parents and at times my distant relatives. After all this pain I finally settled down in Delhi. Back to the place which I had left in hurry a couple of years ago.

All this while it never occurred to me that I had quietly missed delhi for some reasons though I hate it for some very personal reasons too. Apart from that there is nothing in Delhi that has changed, the roads are getting wider, there are more cars and less civic sense and less of road sense too.

My friends in Delhi have changed a wee bit, a dear friend got married, she is happy settling in and I wish her all the happiness in the world. One friend is still as naughty as she was almost 5 years ago.

Though the area of study and the place of study are poles apart from the last time I was in Delhi. Now it is a very different situation lots of activity on the academic front, intellectual activity and a very politically charged campus.

I am liking it and have started to adapt to it, good signs I guess.

On the other front, I have lost some close friends, well I would blame no one else but myself for not keeping in touch with them, and I would not blame them for what has changed and it has changed forever. I believe in the principle that a broken mirror is impossible to join though it still acts as a mirror in a number of pieces. I was never in the place that they were in a group, so i always was out of bounds. I attended a meet up after passing out from school after 7 long years ,that explains quite a lot.

Its been a rocking year, lots of happenings good and bad but then its my life i would not like to subtract anything from this. I would thank all those who stood by in spirit and in person. Thank you people I owe all this to you!

Ohhh I forgot I wish my dearest buddy a speedy recovery. And I hope he has a great time at home though he would not be enjoying it this time. Get well soon buddy!

So why do I look the way I do...

2009-04-26T20:39:00.003+05:30

A season of questions, this looks like the second question that needs to be addressed.

So why do I look like the way I do? Well, my genes, my denim jeans too. My conscious effort to avoid attention and photography has made me realize that I am not too photogenic. So that means I make every possible effort to be behind the camera, standing behind a group of people and the co incidence that I always happen to be wearing denims and my shoes. Last week I turned out in my favorite denims and a kurta and my beloved "Puma" and lo behold we have a photo session. Poor me, I stood there making a tough face.

The last time I posed for a photo was during the wedding of my cousin brother, which fortunately turned out to be one in which I look backwards to my mother to whom I was talking.

I have always hated myself in photos. I always look like a zombie, a frightful one at that; one in which I either stare or I am exercising my motor mouth.

So whats changing ?

2009-04-18T12:37:00.004+05:30

An animated conversation with one of friends last day ended with a line saying "Times are changing".

Yeah times sure, they are changing, the methods, the means, the people and the equations are changing.

People value their possessions more their relations. Relatives are in a mad rush to outstrip each other in attaining possessions. Guests look around your house valuing each item in your house. People are more concerned about being in touch with their 'environment' by subscription to clubs and institutions.

Cousins are competing to gain that elusive "well employed and well settled" status. Parents compare their wards with those of others keeping the number of degrees as the instrument for comparison.

Falling in love is no different. Now it matters to be educated, employable, good looking, owning a fat purse and having a portfolio that is worth a fortune. Love used to be blind.

So I need to know what does' not change?

I personally can attest to the fact that somethings that I have followed for last several years have not changed and I do not wish to change them.

To do or not to do....

2009-04-15T12:29:00.003+05:30

Iam thinking about whether I should vote or not. This time all my paperwork seems to be in place to allow me to caste my vote.

The voters ID card is meant to help identify the voter to the official present on Election duty,but one look at my I card they would surely search for more clues to identify me. The photo barely visible is a dark shadow of the person.

My vote has to be cast a school which it self is in trouble over its management and ownership and it currently looks like a fortress.

My brother has failed to find a place in the voters list, making him ineligible to vote.

My parents have to cast their in two different places. Almost all parties have "promised" to bring vehicles to take my parents to their voting booths. (How sweet).

In trivandrum it needs to be seen if "charismatic" "young" and "worldly WISE" SHASHI THAROOR wins or not.

Keeping all options open I am still thinking if I SHOULD VOTE OR NOT.

I saw something

2009-04-09T20:17:00.002+05:30

This image was captured some time last month.

I just liked the view from my window.

Might not be a great shot,but I thought I would upload it just for the fun of it.

Thanks Miser!

2009-03-21T20:32:00.002+05:30

What is the best form of revenge ?

Silence or Violence ?

I asked for an advice from a dear friend and He replied -Silence.

I wish to let him know that his advice has worked wonders.

Thanks again.

Games people play

2009-02-28T00:25:00.004+05:30

Badminton or Shuttle as it is known locally, was and is still a favorite pastime.

During my school days, I was allowed to play with my friends near our house, which was on the tarred roads between two flats, where pieces of bricks were used as markers for marking the boundary of the court. Those lines never seemed straight from any angle what soever. They always meandered to all possible directions. All those were hardly a problem, the real problem lay in who brought the shuttlecock as it is called. The person who brought the shuttlecock had the rights to serve first, to ask others to get the shuttlecock if it went out of reach.

After getting to High school the frequency of games dwindled and the the playmates changed. But after passing out of school it became a rarity. till a few weeks ago when I just felt the need to get back to the games, and I have been enjoying it enormously. Playing with friends at hostel has motivated others to join me. Now we have a full fledged team with substitutes too.

I am in love with the game all over again.

A friend in need...

2009-01-30T09:41:00.006+05:30

Almost two weeks and a Birthday later, I am still trying figure out how certain things work out.

This is post is to rue about a "friend", who incidentally shares my name as well. She was an average kid on wall (yeah like the kayalla purathe thenga), until she decided I could help her to achieve her "dreams".
She was a regular at my room; made it a point to bring all her queries jotted down on a bit of paper, clear them and leave with no fuss. All was fine till she decided, that she needed greener pastures and decided to pursue her further studies away from my place, now her doubts were limited to her phone calls which she made regularly, not to mention once in a while a visit to ask few more questions.

Finally all her effort and my patience and help paid off, she secured an admission, she was all happy and duly forgot to return what was originally mine, my books, my notes and certain important papers. All this while I had been trying to get it from her in vain, she had something that I wanted with her, I had everything she wanted, but the difference between us was that she just took it away, I asked her, but she refused to part with what I wanted.

These kinds of instances make me think "This is the last time, this will happen to me. Never again." But I keep jumping in to help people and this is what I end up in, ruing about something I shouldn't have done.

What was I doing all this time?

2009-01-16T20:14:00.004+05:30

The first thing that comes to my mind while I read other popular blogs is "What was I doing all this time" ?

Apart from from writing some mundane exams, attending rather boring lectures and some more stupid seminars.

I wish (in)numerable readers of this blog a Happy New Year, Happy Sankranti, Pongal, Lohri and all other happy occasions.

So coming to the next aim of this post, I wish to proclaim that I will continue to write more till I perfect the perfect recipe for a bestseller!

I also wish to congratulate all people with whom I have come into contact through this small and nondescript blog of mine, on their achievements and successes.

NC is expecting a new family member, Congrats !
Chandu is busy with his job, may he continue to remain so !
Amooma too is busy. Wishing her the best in all her adventures!

2008-08-15T14:40:00.005+05:30

Got tagged a few months ago by granny. I just couldnt find time or the energy to type it out. I thought it would be easy untill I started thinking about it.

So the five character types I dislike are :

Cheaters : All kinds of cheaters, those who cannot get things done through the proper channel, people who cannot be trusted with secrets. All those morons who think that they can get away with their antics.

Elites : People who think they are part of the ultra rich bracket but lack commonsense, manners and above all "class" the single attribute that makes all the difference. Don't ask me what class is because I would need a fresh post explaining the very complex and strategic concept known as class. It could manifest itself in many ways, including the way you dress.

Fakes : I hate people who put on fake mannerisms, fake accents, and behave as if stricken by MPD.

The advisors : Dont you try giving me some free advice. If I need it; I would surely turn up to ask, don't you guys bother unless I asked for help. I am patient all the while you are trying to sort out issues in my life, you are welcome to have a look but advises are strictly are on demand vonly please.

The loudspeakers and those who think that they are just sweet at talking. I hate the souls who speak at incredibly high volumes and that they are just right and perfect at everything that they do.

The last category but not the least : The flirts. I header says 5 but I had to mention the category, I strongly dislike people who flirt, with girls and also the the girls who talk coyly,with that added sense of sugariness. I loathe them. I just cannot stand the company of such people and luckily or unluckily I always find someone of the above categories in my class or the social situations around me.

I pass this tag to Chandu who has been stuck with a single post for a long time now. This has to be done.

Tagged

2008-05-26T20:21:00.004+05:30

1. LAST MOVIE YOU SAW IN A THEATER: I dont watch movies in Theatres. I know that sounds strange but its true.

2. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING: Yuganta by Iravati Karve

3. FAVORITE BOARD GAME: Snakes and Ladder, I don't play CHESS

4. FAVORITE MAGAZINE: Readers Digest and India today.

5. FAVORITE SMELLS: I like the smell of First Rain drops falling on earth, smell of Mangoes, new books and new clothes.

6. FAVORITE SOUND: That of Veena and Violin.(Musical Instruments)

7. WORST FEELING IN THE WORLD: Um ahhh. well I don't know.

8. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU THINK OF WHEN YOU WAKE: What day is it today?

9. FAVORITE FAST FOOD PLACE. I am not very particular about it. Kuch bhi chalega, as long as I am hungry and the place is clean.

10. FUTURE CHILD'S NAME. Iam still thinking... (Inky pinky ponky....)

11. FINISH THIS STATEMENT."IF I HAD A LOT OF MONEY I’D...? Use it responsibly!

12. DO YOU DRIVE FAST? I used to. Not any more.

13. DO YOU SLEEP WITH A STUFFED ANIMAL? Sheesh Noooooooo Never.

14. STORMS-COOL OR SCARY? Certainly scary.

15. WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST CAR? I don't own one. :)

16. FAVORITE DRINK : Mango juice.

17. FINISH THIS STATEMENT, "IF I HAD THE TIME I WOULD..." lend it to someone who always complained of lack of time.

18. DO YOU EAT THE STEMS ON BROCCOLI?: Why not?

19. IF YOU COULD DYE YOUR HAIR ANY COLOR, WHAT WOULD BE YOUR CHOICE? : Turquoise.

20. NAME ALL THE DIFFERENT CITIES/TOWNS YOU HAVE LIVED IN. Delhi, Chennai, B'lore, TVM, Sulthan bathery, Kottayam, Jaipur and Agra.

21. FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH.I 'hate' sports nowadays.

22. ONE NICE THING ABOUT THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS TO YOU. He writes such beautifully.Uff (BTW NC You can pay me back either in cash or kind for writing "ONE NICE THING" about you )

23. WHAT'S UNDER YOUR BED. My slippers and certain other long lost items!

24. WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE BORN AS YOURSELF AGAIN? Yes. Do I have an option?

25. MORNING PERSON, OR NIGHT OWL? Definitely a NIGHT OWL.

26. OVER EASY, OR SUNNY SIDE UP? Whats the difference?

27. FAVORITE PLACE TO RELAX? Home. Nowhere else.

28. FAVORITE PIE? Is a desi variety of the pie available?

29. FAVORITE ICE CREAM FLAVOR? Chocolate.

30. Of all The People You Tagged This To, Who’s Most Likely To Respond First? Penakathi and Chandu.

Ah well...

2008-04-26T16:06:00.002+05:30

So where was I?

I was busy studying, I was busy attending seminars and a whole load of things.

Its been 4 long months and no post.

Well, I now promise to update it as much as possible.

This is just a beginning, shaking the dust off that had gathered and trying to start anew.

Lets see what happens.

Help save the British Library

2007-12-21T16:50:00.000+05:30

Please spread the word!

Campaign against the closure of the British Library at Thiruvananthapuram.

http://www.petitiononline.com/bcl64lib/petition.html

The trip!

2007-11-23T17:44:00.000+05:30

Well its not over yet.

Exams and conference kept me busy all these days. A paper presentation and appraisal later, Iam loving it.

A three day conference at Kottayam preceded by some mid semester exams made sure that I had no time to blog.

The conference was very well organized and managed. For a change almost everything went on schedule, and even the paper presentation went smoothly; without a hitch. My paper was based on secondary data and a bit of primary data. The preparation for which meant reading a lot into the subject going through various cycles of liking the abstact and still continuing to rewrite it umpteen number of times. All this with no kind of external support.

It was just great! The host college had gained a lot of prominence of late due to reason that one of the most successful movies of recent times based on college life was fully shot in this campus. Such wonderful buildings, humongous wooden benches and art works. WOW !

Well some people from my Educational institution went with the sole aim of advertising their singular status, most of them roaming around in the park and canteens giggling and looking around if somebody was watching. I had a hard time trying to locate some them when it was time to pack up.

In end the boat trip at Kumarakom was awesome!

One great opprtunity to make new friends who think along the same frequency. (Yay I know that sounds cliched)

Winding up.

2007-10-21T01:13:00.000+05:30

This blog has not been updated due to various reasons.

Yes, mine is a mundane life, where I engage in everyday activities which aren't worth a post or simply lack the surprise or the zing element. So which means no post and no updates.

Academics has started eating up much of my reading time, which I used to enjoy doing. But these days, I hardly get any time to get online or to read a book.

Hostel is fun at times but a nuisance most of the times for me. So with so much of time being wasted trying to avoid some useless talk and standing clear of gossips. I end up being totally engaged in being disengaged.

With my mid semester exams and paper presentations coming up I guess this blog will gather more dust and less clicks, and slowly cease to exist. Which I hope isn't a faraway thing.

Someday sometime I will press delete this blog button, for good I guess.

Some day this blog might cease to exist and try to start afresh. At this point I do admit of having a blogger's block and not finding anything interesting to write about.

Grrrrrr.

Doh!

2007-09-30T02:12:00.000+05:30

One week in a dingy room, which I have to share with two others. I already hate it.

I keep looking at the calender for those red letter dates marking Holidays.

One week in new a hostel room has been eventful. The most hardest part being perpetually hungry, because you are served dinner at 7 and by the time its 10 Pm you see half hungry souls digging out packets of chips and crisps. And you join them for the loot.
Then the usual stuff, nasty roomies, people who have superb overhearing ability, bitching, stupid discussions, commenting on guys and generally talking pure bullshit.

It feels disgusting to be surrounded by dimwits. They give you such honestly nonsensical advice on every problem you have or you might have to face in the coming days and months. They are adept at matchmaking that they keep spreading nonsensical ideas and rumors which keeps coming back for more updates. I do not believe in speed dating or the like.

What I hate most is people I hardly recognize or just people I don't know; sifting through my bag and its contents looking for clues and other small details. They are such dumb people that they forgot to replace some of the contents in a hurry to cover up their act.

To top it all is the total absence of very uncommon common sense and manners. Why on earth would you want to read through my notes and scribbling pad notes or even those sms's? And some other rather lovelorn people sitting on the stairs with no light on while talking on the phone, one gets to see only a silhouette in total darkness and very low but audible sounds. It managed to scare me once while trotting back from a friend's room across the C shaped corridor, making me squeak.

The food is manageable, but the process of getting it is bad. You wait like jail inmates with your plate while they serve or rather throw the food into your plate, it depends on your athletic ability and kinetic senses to position your plates at the correct place at the correct time. While making sure not to drop other contents. I never knew that you could apportion a small sardine into 8 pieces ensuring that nobody knew what fish was it until you tasted it.

I know Iam cribbing, but I just cant help it but hate, or rather dislike it.

They hardly know me for the last 2 weeks which does'nt automatically authorize them to sift through my bag, my books and other belongings "just for fun".

I need to educate them about things like personal space and basic privacy at least while I am talking.......... on the phone to my parents (who else) ?? :|

While the hardest part is being asked umpteen number of times, the same question "What are you doing ?" while you are trying to concentrate to read something after the last intruder had just left after her round of questions and uninvited gyan.

Ahh I love being left alone to read and write and listen to my fav music on my part of the room . I do not enjoy chorus singing while somebody else in the room is trying hard to read or write. I pay for space of room allow me to use it.

Memories.

2007-09-12T09:25:00.000+05:30

Memory described scientifically is an organism's ability to store, retain, and subsequently retrieve information. It could be the memory of an event, activity, a particular situation or even a whole period of time.

My memories have a close relation with the songs that were popular of the time when my memories were encoded. For a better part of childhood it was Brown girl in the ring and the like of osibisa, courtesy; my dad's collection of cassettes.

Primary school it was one Ek do teen sond from a Madhuri Dixit movie, then some other from other languages, which were introduced to me by way of group dance performances. Being a member of the Dance group was a such great thing to do, practicing during class hours, forcing my mom to write notes for me. Mom was forced to stitch similar costumes for me and my friends, the matching accessories, including hunting for feathers to look like an tribal. Which included rubber LPG stove gas pipes being used as necklaces and bangles.

All this ensured that my mom was hassled enough to announce that I shouldnt be participating in any of these silly things when exams were near, that effectively meant the end of my co-curricular activities. Exceptions were when I would have to stand in for some other person at the last moment, sending my mom into a tizzy again searching for the costumes and trying to alter it.

Secondary school was uneventful other than some dance programs where I decided not to participate. But I was supposed to click photos for one of the participant, where I managed to click all the photos except that of the owner of the cam.

College was uneventful. College fests meant time for library hours, taking offs and general lazing around. I never attended those cultural fest organized during the second week of December in Delhi, the cold winter weather was one reason, the other being the urgency to reach home for the Christmas vacations, where 6 valuable days were lost traveling.

Now when I am helping my cousin to stitch up her dance dress all these memories come rushing back. The dress has to look exactly the same as the others just that the crown and other accessories look a little different. She happens to be the Queen !

You are great!

2007-09-01T21:58:00.000+05:30

Dear MNC cousin,
I am very happy to know that you have successfully completed 5 years of loyal service, at your very great MNC which has offices across the world; with cubicles as big as a football court in your words. Where people are smart and very tech savvy as you are, who work so hard that they forget they have been working too long and too hard, which meant banishing regular conversation skills to be replaced with lavish usage of technical lingo which sound French to your parents.

I am so happy to know that the management decided against giving you a better cubicle because of your very "decent behavior". Which is currently strategically placed between a row of newly hired bimbos, which gives you the advantage of bragging and cracking silly jokes without moving from your "revolving chair", which can even be used to recline. The same one that has been supporting you for the past 5 years.

I am surprised to know that you couldn't finish riding some of those rides on Disneyland the last time you went there, because too much of those ogling from above made you throw up the idly and sambhar which you had packed from home, special mom made ones which were perfectly round and soft.

I am delighted to know that a complete wall of your apartment of 10x10 wall is filled with mementos from Office which proclaim that you are an awesome employee who never misses the free booze parties and free for all lunches/dinners.

I understand you have worked too hard for the Organization which has decided to honour you with the exceptional last man standing memento last March and also deciding to name a new wing of the Company's car sheds after you.

I am pleased to know that you have changed your "set" (mobile) almost 16 times every time making sure that you got the latest model and at festive offers. I know you took great pains to obtain that Special ring tone for you new set. Yes the new Partner(The movie) one too.

I am pleased to know that you are dropped at your apartment every night in a nice cab which runs on the profits you have been earning for your company. I also know that the cabbie ensures that you always get to listen the radio station of your choice. After all you are a person with maximum experience of having worked with the company's length and breadth.

I hope you understand the dangers of taking your cell while attending nature's call and in remote areas when you are visiting your hometown which happens to be in a remote village in a not so big city where connectivity is an issue, which forces you to scream "shit" every now and then.

Iam so sad to know that you are being forced to stay back because your interaction with foreign clients was so great that the Organization decided against pursuing any business interest in the near future in neighboring areas.

I wish you had bothered to remove the price tag from the fake Gucci watch you have presented to my dad. i think you assumed that we would never turn over and read the "Made as USA" written on the back of the watch. Thank you for the card board box in which you presented it, serves well as as paperweight.

I am so thankful to you for the perfect entertainment you provide when all our cousins meet up, narrating your day to day activities and heroics and near filmy situations with your immediate boss.

Good luck. Hope you stick around.

Hope the company is not plotting to ship you one fine Monday morning to Uganda, where they plan to start a new office and you have been appointed the BOSS!

Regards,
Attributions.

Forgettable

2007-08-08T15:10:00.000+05:30

Nice little town, which is catching up with other cities in urbanization, is what you can label my hometown.

Small, nice and constantly growing. High rises, malls and the those city things.

Every time you step out, you meet someone you know from school, or your old neighbor. Last day I just met this person from school who was in a different section in school but was the friend of my close friend from 10th.
She looked so nice, I have always known her as my best friend's friend or rather bench mate. She was the same, no changes, just an addition of few kilos and a degree. She proudly mentioned that she was selected in campus recruitment and was waiting to go to Bangalore. I looked forward to meeting her in an hour, after I had finished doing some important business. She waited patiently for me at All spice. We talked about things that had changed about the school from our last visit. Things that will change in the near future.

All the while we were talking I noticed this young couple sitting opposite to us. Maybe college kids, out for a friendly meeting. The girl looked terribly tensed and kept looking at her watch and around the eatery we were in.
And then there was this over zealous kid who kept running around with his ice cream cone. He came to our table ran between the tables was found hiding beneath the table. He sure was on boost.

I kept looking at the kids mom who was busy talking to her hubby and sorting out some issues. She was unmindful of her kid and his antics. The kid kept popping from the corner of the table and from those counters.

Suddenly my nose was bombarded with a strong scent of perfume, I looked around to find yet another couple coming towards us, and later shared the table with us as there were no seats left.

So my friend and myself sat sandwiched between those two, and I swear it was so annoying.
That damn fellow would ask my friend some stupid question and then start a conversation with her annoying his girlfriend or whoever she was to him. The girl looked all puffed up and maybe her face looked a little green with envy.

I suggested that we move out fast, we waited for the the next tale to empty and we jumped. Now this time we were to be surrounded by some very strange characters, a person picking his nose ewww, another who kept burping. The lady who kept talking sense and nonsense, the kid who finally managed to spill juice on my friends dress, and dropping some ice cream on my dress. The person on the table close who kept looking what we were doing.

Being adult and eligible of suffrage obviously means that you ought to have some sense of politeness and manners. You are not supposed to look at others plate and salivate. Or pick your teeth while others sitting with you or around you are eating.

I couldn't stand more of it, I walked to the lady clutching her kid by his hand, asked the her to take care of her kid, and to the person sitting close to us as what he wanted to know. By the time I had finished talking my parents had come to pick me up and it was time to part. She promised to let me know her place of posting as soon as she could. I just heard from her, She is off to some foreign place for a six month assignment.

How do you feel when you meet the above mentioned characters another day under very different circumstances?
Well I met all them just today.

Yesterday...

2007-07-31T23:27:00.000+05:30

I have hated this habit of mine. I tried to stop it, mop it and move on. But that feeling of hurt keeps coming up again and again.

Once upon a time not long ago I was sentimental and teary eyed when faced with tough situations, when subjected to some sort of ridicule or even when test paper marks were announced. But that habit faded by the time I was in high school, but it has crept up once in a while, but people who know me would still say that I was a bit too silly to be crying at most stupidest of reasons.

But graduation changed it all, it faded further, till I stopped feeling guilty and sobbing at simplest of reasons.

But last day was different, I went in to a file stacked office, behind dusty files and tables was a lady in an gaudy Kajeevaram Saree, who looked bored, and a little too made up at that time of the day. She nodded a straight "NO" to my request. She looked around gestured to some body on the other end of the corridor to come over. As the Section clerk came over, She demanded that the file that had taken me a whole of 6 months to prepare, be dumped, in a corner meant for Blocked cases.

Never have I felt so let down, and humiliated. With one gesture she had admonished a whole lot of hope, emotions and the energy seemed to seep out. I tried hard but the tears had already rolled down, I made frantic efforts to mop it up and wanted to walk off, but I dont know why I kept standing there, looking at the Section officer lady with a blurred vision, she was laughing. She turned to the other side on her revolving chair, facing away from me.

Not knowing what to say, I said "please". She turned around and kept looking at me from above her specs which were placed lower on her nose. That stare said it all.

I submitted the papers and trotted off to the long corridor which was dark.

While it rained outside, I stood by the corridor, waiting to go home. While on the bus back home I kept thinking of the the reason she had given me for refusing my demands.

I keep my fingers crossed, may her seniors who open the papers, be kind hearted souls who acknowledge and nurture humane instincts.

Playlist - Currently listening to Subcity by Tracy Chapman.

2007-07-25T16:13:00.000+05:30

Ever wondered how you could have avoided doing something? Not given in to temptation? Not ventured to do the wrong thing?

While sitting with my cousin sister and her little kid, memories of a similar visit were rekindled. She had dragged me along for a session of beauty treatments, because she was to officiate as the sister in law for a marriage in the family.

I was a quite surprised to find a good number of teenagers waiting for their turn. Back in our times, you weren't supposed to sport trendy hairstyles and nail enamels on your fingers, fearing that squeeze on the nail from the prefect or to be very embarrassingly pulled up on the stage and be announced as one with very less regard for school rules.

Are schools very lenient these days or they just don't care anymore. For the 2 hours that I was at the salon, I saw a steady stream of teenagers running up to the main lady and asking for some treatment which was supposed to be some technique to look good.

The only time time I went and asked for something, was when, I wanted to cut my long hair, I was finding it difficult to manage without my mom and also as a precautionary measure lest I look like a zombie after my arduous journey on the U spl.

So off I went to the hair dresser and asked her to cut it short but of manageable length. The next thing she did was to put a bib kind of thing around my neck and spray some water and khachak khachakk... But all the while she was doing this, she kept me engaged in a conversation, and was pulling at my hair.

After while she said khatam beta, ho gaya...., relieved I shook my hair to get rid of of the cut hair if any that remained clinging to my uncut mane. And slowly I have a feeling that something was wrong, yes it was, she had cut my hair really short and there it was rubbing against my ears.

I felt like i was looking at someone else because, I couldn't do such a thing if I were back home. My grand mom would have blasted me for such an act. My cousins... they all had such great thick manes. In a flash, faces of all those people who would disapprove of such an ghastly act came rushing into my mind. I turned to look at the floor and there it lay in a nice bundle,she had cut off more than what i had asked her for.

I had told the hair dresser of the exact length that I need her to chop off. I gave her a rude look gave her the money, and came back home sobbing. My bro was so shocked that he called up home and told my mom that i was looking weird and got a hair cut which was a little too short.

I decided not to do such a thing ever again, unless it is extremely necessary. So this time as my cousin sister sat with the Mallu hair dresser, she asked if I wanted to cut or colour my hair, I said "no" even before she could finish the question. Once bitten twice shy.

I still vividly remember the look on my grandmothers face when she saw me at the station, disapprovingly she said don't even dream of such a thing in the future. I had to promise her that I wont cut it too short.

So what is it with these kids? Manicure, pedicure, something being rubbed on to their faces and being steamed and then being shown under a light. How do you turn up at school? Like mini starlets?

Iam dazed.

Tube celebs.

2007-07-20T10:59:00.000+05:30

Reading NC's post about DD made me think about the difference the TV that we have today and the TV during the early 90's.

I can appreciate a good rendition of a song, enjoy it, and some of those songs make it to my Mp3 player, and some into my mental loop.

So with so many good songs around and so many singers and to be singers around Iam a little dazed. My distant relatives, people you have known or been introduced to during a family function or still some friend of some relative of some close friend turn up on the telly.
So now we have have a whole new set of people who would introduce themselves as relatives of the tube celebrity.

Mallu TV channels are having a gala time, its reality show time. You jump channels to see some new hopeful crooning some song. Some youngsters with hopes, some vague person to dish out some comment, a handful of studio audience, cakes of make up, glittery costumes and some camera antics and ahoy we have a talent hunt.

Some presenters are such gems that they can neither speak english nor malayalm properly.Some attempts at speaking english are disastrous. I have had the bad fortune to be listening to one of them on telly waxing eloquent about his tryst with fame and anchoring, "I have confident, to host the show and to entertain everybodys". Some are so hilarious that I have forgotten those valuable lines spouted by the great anchor.

How in the first place did you make the cut and start doing those shows? Either you follow a written format or just speak in the language you are most comfortable in. Rather than giving the viewers a hard time figuring out which one is correct and challenging their mental capabilities and senses.

At the end of the show, you are left out to think which part of your brain was supposed to be entertained by these shows and which part of your brain has been overloaded with visual and audio inputs.

2007-07-07T16:33:00.000+05:30

Tagged again by NC.

Well, this time it is the "DID YOU KNOW" tag. Given below are 9 important facts about Attribution as a person.

Rules of the activity
* Each player starts with eight random facts/habits about themselves.
* People who are tagged need to write posts in their own blog about their eight things and post these rules.
* Well I dint cut& paste the rest of the rules. Any body who is not getting married on 7/7/07 or has not voted for Taj to be the New 7 wonders list can take up the tag.
* To make up for violating the strict (ahem!) rules I will add another point about my self to the tag.

So the what are the eight random facts about me/ habits that I have?

1) I make friends very slowly, which means it might take weeks, months, or even years before I talk to someone who shares the same class or even the same bench. I take care to keep in touch with most of them, but sometimes it just never happens.

2) I hate people who refuse to listen to sane advice and those who assume self helplessness, I also hate those who have hurt my loved ones. Sadly avenging revenge is not my usual behaviour.

3) I cannot manage to keep my Mp3 player's headphones in my ear, they keep popping out every other minute. It happens most of the time. Usually when somebody is looking at me as to what Iam doing and pop they go. :(

4) I usually don't forget names, faces, birthdays and other important dates and events. Now that doesn't include Flower day, Rose day or any of those numerous days celebrated now a days. I also make it a point to send mails or a belated wish atleast. ;) (Taking a cue from Nariyal Chutney)

5) I have a habit of keeping/ storing even small bits of paper which includes chits, notes and answer sheets. But I do not look into them often.

6) I have planned more than a dozen times to watch a movie with my friends and family, every time to be aborted at the last moment. Movies aren't a weakness either so thats fine.

7) I love books, not textbooks and recommended texts. But one exception were my texts for graduation were really nice with lots of case studies. My love for books started early because I have always been surrounded by them, Dad had a nice collection of Fiction, non fiction, Encyclopedias, tell me how and whys and other interesting books.

8) Iam an ambivert, who hates parties, ostensible displays of wealth and affection. I hate fake people, people with put on attitudes, behaviors and fake identities totally alien to the real self. I cant stand chatterboxes and lethal PJ's.

9) Introspection is a habit.

Thats it. Show is over.

Posting this post on the most auspicious day of the millennium according to most of the TV news channels and astrologers. I had saved the draft earlier but decided to give it some cosmetic changes and polishing off some sentences.

Posted 7/7/07 at 23:59PM

2007-05-30T07:51:00.000+05:30

Tagged by Nariyal Chutney almost 2 months ago. Just making cosmetic changes to the tag hope NC does'nt mind and wont grind me to chutney.

The rules:

1. Name the person (of course with the link) who tagged you.

2. Describe what you are asked to do, in this case publish 5th paragraph of page 123 of the book you are currently reading. (if the page does not have 5th paragraph, take the last paragraph. And if the book doesn’t have page no. 123, take the last page.)

3.Tag five people. (sadly I don't have wide readership, so I can tag only 3 bloggers)

Iam currently reading this book- "The Chessmaster and his moves by Raja rao". I started reading it just yesterday so have'nt reached page 123.

As such the 123rd page has no fifth paragraph, so here I go to the last paragraph which is quite lengthy.

It reads:
"England always gave him a sense of 'coming back home in a way. His ancestors, for two generations at least, had been loyalto the British crown. The Raja Sahib, a Lieutenant Colonel (honorary) in the Garhwali rifles, had fought in the Middle east during Hitler War. . . "

I picked up this book from the British library. I had eyed this book long ago, but I decided to take a look at other books before I could take this and whoosh it was gone in under minute. But this time I was able to trace it and get it issued. It needs to be seen whether I can go past the 17th page, which Iam currently reading.

Now most important part tagging 5 people.

1. Chandu- You ought to be reading something other than those papers.
2. Ammoma- I know you are reading fiction , so this is easy for you.
3. Anyone who is bored and chanced upon this poor blog, while blog hopping.
4. Ajith- Since you are latest to comment on my last post!
5. Somebody please volunteer.

2007-05-25T12:57:00.000+05:30

Thou shall ~ be forgiven
Thou shall ~ be forgotten either
Thou shall ~ be a role model
Thou shall ~ escape blame
Thou shall ~ be addressed formally anymore.

You chose to ignore and argue.
You put up lame excuses.
It was all YOU.

2007-05-14T14:41:00.000+05:30

Loss

Saddened by the loss of A great teacher and an kind soul. To the nice person who made OB my favorite subject.

On an unrelated note: Dispirited by loss of trust. You know it.

2007-05-03T12:01:00.000+05:30

The event called Marriage!

I had to keep a promise; a promise to write or rather blog about the two marriages that happened in the recent past. The most recent being that of a cousin.

It all started with..hmm the bride hunt-an aunt playing the broker for the time being.
"I have some body who would fit your choice cant we talk to them ??" All the other details were looked into by the family elders and decided to go and see her and okay her.

I also happened to be part of the group that went to see for the second time, she came across as a very nice person, "domesticated" if you were to describe her in local parlance. A very through professional; of course she had to be so, as she was a doctor!

The marriage was fixed for the the last week of March. The getting ready part of it started well before January, painting the house, misc chores, shopping and the inviting relatives and neighbours.
I think shopping for marriages to be one big issue taxing my brains and patience considering the amount of choices to be made keeping in mind the tastes and preferences of others, the amount of impact on the pockets that your selection could make, colour combination, and many other features.
This time it was one big Saree showroom in Kochi that was targeted, 8 hours in a shop, where, the ladies standing there would like you to stand and make you hold the saree for all other relatives to see was exhausting. Not to mention the amount of time spent on deciding which one was good for a particular occasion. All done and set, it was time for the return journey with a promise that I would help my cousin sister with the arrangements and other paraphernalia.

A traditional hindu wedding here in my part of the kerala is a simple affair The priest doing some part of the chanting of Hymns and asking for some to be repeated by the groom and the bride, some by the bride's father and later asking for the blessings to the newly married couple from all those present at the occasion.(The finer details are not given here for that it would need a lot more to be written)

The wedding day was a very bright and sunny day. And summers are kerala are supposed to be very humid and sweaty. A very typical wedding day, with lots of photographers, videographers making it nearly impossible for those present to witness even a single ritual being performed on a raised dais.

If any one of those numerous photographer's present could not capture the exact moment he would ask it to be done again so that he could capture that in an appropriate angle. Which meant the bride would have to look down and accepting the varmala or the garland and the gold necklace which would from now on be a indicative of her married status.

The event was fully documented in still and video to be viewed for the rest of their lives.
The next important event being the feast. the moment the gates to the dining hall were opened, in this case barely minutes after the wedding there was a huge rush to eat and leave the scene as soon as possible. Which meant only close relatives and those unable to make it to the first trip viewing the rest of the rituals.

Sitting right next to people who I think were starving for this feast for last couple days was a tiring job. I had barely finished eating the first round of dal and rice that the person sitting to my left demanded the third round of curries, while serving that person the overzealous volunteer served me a good amount of sambhar which landed right into my small apportionment of dal and rice mix, forcing me to eat dal and sambhar mixed rice, quite to the amusement of my cousins.
So the next time the glutton sitting beside me asked for something I kept an eye out and making it a point to covering my banana leaf with both my hands signaling no to the new item. So far so good. I was eating in peace till the volunteer came fetching some new item on the menu.

Alas, I was tricked again, this time the vermicelli sweet dish diving right into my jagerry sweet dish. And forcing me to pick out pieces of ada from the mixture and eating them.

A nice day out barring these small inconveniences.

(Another take on this can be found here.Nariyalchutney)

2007-04-03T13:59:00.000+05:30

The road to recovery from an illness caused by jealousy and hatred in bumpy. Having recovered from it very recently myself.

Vacation times are here. Since I dont have any school going cousins anymore it doesnt make much of a difference these days. Till last year I looked forward to the Summer hols and the related activities.

Staying over at grandma's place, mom's sister's place meant a whole lot of fun. Quarrelling with cousins usually ending up crying and grabbing and throwing whatever was in my reach. I was a very stubborn fighter which made most of my cousins more fiercer in hitting me. Though I throughly enjoyed every part of it.

It was during this time that i learnt malayalam from my cousin sis and in return I taught her hindi. (no wonder she topped in school for Hindi), traveled in a boat, took part in a temple procession, ate lots of mango, tried a hand at learning paper craft and so on...
I have always loved the summer season for various reasons, the 50 days school holidays, getting to spend more time at playing shuttle badminton, "crocodile which colour do you want", skipping ropes, and the mangoes, yummy slrrruuppp...

All that was past, now its maddening to be in your native place, mad hum of the floor polishing machine of the neighbors who are constantly rebuilding their house with changing trends, stupid cricket shows and still dumber presenters, never ending tele serials or mega serials whatever they are called with all the womenfolk glue to the idiot boxes, dharna and bandh and pannimudakku every alternate day.

Most of the educated youth if you could call them so or middle aged unclejis squat in front of the Secretariat if they arent provided jobs, when they are appointed after much pull and push and certain "necessary transactions" they squat at their respective seats doing nothing.
If they dont have a job they squat if they do have a job then too they squat. One new generation of squatters and oglers of the first order.

What has gone wrong and where?

Most of my educated cousins are in Bangalore, making it a mallu township outside kerala. Every one involved in a mad rush to make money and buy apartments at the 110 floor. Rushing in to buy and sport that new I pod and the new mobile available in the market.

Have you guys forgotten where you came from? Dont you talk to me in that stupid accent, I do understand malayalam and Inglish.
Come on get real!
Humph!
Aaarghhh!
You !@#$#@! (please substitute it with choicest of your words but- Be nice and polite)

I rest my case!

2007-03-11T15:56:00.000+05:30

Avenge revenge!

I had known her as being being very studious, hardworking, working late at nights, who always did her assignments on time, didnt copy from others always has her answer sheets signed by her parents and very fair and yes she was pretty and considered herself quite a beauty one who always had a loyal fan following. (Courtesy: Her mom)

This was "S" for me. I had known her for close to 2 years. She was my fellow passenger in the rickety old school bus.

Flashback

Everybody wishing to board the school bus assembled at a particular place the bus driver chettan would wait for the pretty bee "S" to arrive, the killi looking toward the direction from which "S" would come. She was always late. Making it impossible for the other children to reach school on time. To top it the bus was an old refurbished KSRTC bus with wooden planks instead of cushion seats. Sitting on it was a pain. So everybody avoided doing that. After winding our way through the dusty and narrow roads to pick up other unfortunate children destined to travel in the rickety bus.

The bus would arrive punctually late by 10 minutes, making a horrible noise while coming to a stop. The students would get down and stand at the fringes of the assembly line and making it a point not to stand directly in view of the Principal lest we would be asked to run 2 rounds of the ground or "come and see in my office". Which meant the idea of sneaking into the first class going up in smokes.

It was a usual affair, coming late, standing out of the queue, saying the prayer standing near the cycle stand, office room, primary section or the near the gate. One fine morning my friend and myself asked Little miss Pretty to come in time or else find some other mode of transport for herself. Two days of warning and not letting her come on the bus as she was late did the trick.

All this was done when I was in the 12th Std. and she("S") was in 10th. As the months passed and exams neared, I had mellowed down and and my interactions with her and her sis had reduced to a quiet Hi and Bye. On crucial day she gave me the shock of my life, I had missed the school bus and I had my AISSCE exam that day, I had told "S" that I had forgotten my Hall ticket and would be going back to get it. And asked her say the same to the Driver uncle.
Revengeful "S" dint mention it and I was left to take private bus to school and then an auto for a very important exam. That was the last time I talked to her.

That was flash back

2007-
I notice some face very familiar at a departmental store. Very fair lots of make up clad in glittery salawar, hair cut to ear length sporting a very fashionable pouch (or is that called something else you fashion pundits out there chip in) and a basket in tow.
This fashionista spouted a loud hi to which I replied Hi..

Conversation went like this-

Me : umm Do I know you??
"S" : I Am "S", your co passenger. Ormaunndo??
Me : Scratching my forehead(2-4 Secs) Ohh yes Ariyaam(I know) Eeyaal ippo enthu cheyynnu?? (Basic mistake)
"S" : Njann Self financing collegill MBBS cheyynnu.
Me : Ohh great ippol eythu year??
"S" : First
Me : Eyaal 200(x) il 10 th cheythille??
"S" : athe , (Moving to english) I finished 10 in 200(x) and moved to that prestigious coaching centre in Thrissur.
Me : Werent you involved in the coaching that school provided for good students? Alle?.

"S" : Yes I was. Pakshe oru advantagennu vendi I moved to Thrissur.
Me : Great. So what are you doing now?
"S" : First year MBBS self financing collegil. Chechi, what are you doing?
Me : Ingenne pokunnu. Blah blah...
"S" : So you were doing degree??
Me : Yes
"S" : So you werent doing professional course alle?
Me : Nope.
"S" : Why did you opt for that?
Me : I liked it I took it in the"first chance itself"
"S" : Pakshe ippol Btech and MBBS pole vere onnumiuum vila illa.
Me: Atheyo? Njan arinjilla. Oho. (those said under my breath(umb)-You austrolopithicus amaranthus @#$%$#@)
"S" : Athe.
Me : Aunty used to tell me that you were quite a good student. Then what happened.
"S" : Athu onuum illa just like that.
Me : Atheyo. (umb-Think you are the only learned one? Check the rolls again)
"S" : appol pinne kanaam chechi pokette.
Me : Appol sherri pinney kanaam.
"S" : Chow
Me : ((umb)mein) Bye

Before I bump into her again I will brush up my general knowledge (read gossip) so that when she doles out her share i can safely rely on my stock make her face feel more pale that what FEM could help her attain.

I attribute this mood of mine to the chance meeting of my long lost enemy.

Here I come....

Disclaimer : This might have happened to you. It has happened to me. All the characters portrayed are not ficticious and are alive. You may or may not relate to this post.

2007-02-26T07:56:00.000+05:30

Its festival time!

Its Chendamelam and Bhagvata parayanam time in Kerala, yes its the temple festival. Since I have shifted to Kerala, which was 9 years ago, I have always been so excited to witness the procession and the annual 7-10 day temple festivals (utsavam).

It is all about big and majestic looking elephants, chendamelam, rituals, procession, devotion, devotees and bangles, ribbons, cutex and popcorn.... :)
Being surrounded by close to 5 temples from various sides you will never miss a single announcement made over the speaker hanging from the tallest coconut tree in the vicinity.

So It all started during the end of January, the first temple was celebrating its annual festival and the next one close by had just raised the flag for its annual festival.

So I had two sets of speakers directed towards ME blaring chart busters of the first order, one was Tamil and the next Malayalam. During the weeny gap one gets between the songs one has to make sense of what you were doing just before the music started.

8 AM to 11.45 - Bhagvata parayanam
12.00 pm - 2PM - Cinema paatu
2Pm - 5PM - Bhagvatam again
5Pm-7Pm - Devotional songs
7Pm to late in to the night it was cinematic dance, dance ballet, drama, Dance drama, ganamela and the sorts.

At bedtime one has the luxury of listening to Tamil songs mixed with mythological drama where the asuras laughed very loud really loud.

Yesterday was a similar night, I could hear Kuchela in conversation with Krishna. Asuras intimidating meek junta and another of those swapna sounds speakers blared out some in comprehensible song.

The poovalans had a field day with great beauties arriving at temple, the samskarika paripadikal made sure they had lot of entertainment and passing comments and having a good look at the beauties was a good pastime. The booze and card made sure they were'nt bored.

At the end of the day it was fun, devotion and festival time.

Rama rama rama mukunda rama pahimam....

2007-02-25T15:46:00.000+05:30

Welcome to the New, Updated, Ultra modern,..... Colorful, Attribution Blog now that so many changes have been done post will follow soon.

Hopefully.

Comments are welcome. Hope the colours and the fonts are'nt garish and eye popping material!

Foot ball fever

2006-07-10T22:27:00.000+05:30

It ended yesterday... All this while it provided entertainment to some 3000-4000 people. Some came early and left late. Some brought along mats and eatables. Some sporting new hairstyles and of course the jersey's.

People clutching mats, books, popcorn and dressed in bright and sporty jerseys would start booking seats as early as 7 in the evening for a prime spot, they were of all age groups young old and the middle aged. Some complained of their wives fixation with 6-10 soaps, others wanted to enjoy the game with their friends, after having downed a few milli's or pint.

It was football fever all this while and a big screen tv put up at the nearby temple ground was a boon for many die - hard fans. The Electronics shop guy made good use of the chance; he erected a big screen tv arranged an ACV connection and some plastic chairs for those who wouldnt mind paying up for a prime spot.

So every night for the match you could notice steady stream of people walking to the ground to watch the game. It increased day by day and yesterday nite it was a big crowd, cheering, shouting and bursting crackers. The crowd was noisy too.

The police station being nearby was a blessing, no untoward incidents reported..

Petty thatu kada's sprang up, parotta-chicken curry ready boards were put up.

For me Football brings back memories of jersey no 10, that of Maradonna. I dont remember any other player from the late 80's and early 90's other than Maradonna.

So the last few weeks have been great for every body; the Electronics shop owner(TV sales doubled), spectators(thrilling games), the thatu kada owner (stale food was tolerated too)

Fwd:This is Impt.

2006-06-16T21:12:00.000+05:30

Long time no see...
Where are you??
Are you ok?

This is what I find when I open my inbox after a long time. Some 50- 60 mails from friends to my now redundant sify id was quickly read and still it showed 98 unread. The rest were those customary forwards.

How do you guys manage so many frwds? Some of my friends dont mail at all just forwards nothing else... Where in the world do u find all this stuff?

There was a time when I used to read through every stupid forward and forward it religiously to others in my contact list lest bad things happen to me..

You will have a bad dream tommorow nite warned some while some others promised good luck and luck with my love. While nothing of that sort ever happened..(Sigh) No luck no reading frwds.

So the next time you decide send my way some stupid chain main thats the end of the chain it ends there.

Pls read this...
You are the lucky one...
You are my sweet friend...
This week in seattle..
Pls go through this mail and pass it on...
Cute baby... cute face...

Select all hit DELETE...

Arrgh...

Campaign...

2006-04-29T14:37:00.000+05:30

Phat phat doom dooom...and a bigger one Dhoom..

Some absurd sounds and bursting of crackers were things that woke me up on the day of the elections. Some very artistic soul had plastered the compound wall of my neighbour with posters and graffitti.

Smiling ear to ear the candidates picture was seen all over the place, the tree decorated with garlands and posters, and make shift shack had cme up on the road which acted as the podium where the candidates addressed the public not more than 10 at any time.

As the candidate went through the campaigning he made it a point to include the loud noisy announcers too.."Itha ee vazhi kadannu varunu, niglude swantham sthanarthi_____ "

Parody songs, poll dramas and skits all were on display, election rallies were held at the make shift podiums set up overnight for election purposes.

Election goodies? Dint hear about anything being given other than "expenses" and "food and drinks".

The campainging nonsense peaked a day before the poll.

This post is...

2006-04-13T00:30:00.000+05:30

This post is for some of my friends, some are searching for jobs some for summer internships and for others braving exams.

TT- All the Best for your exams and good luck with your job search.
Chandu- Vijayi hoo. How is work huh??
MM- All the best for your exams.
Debu- Exams?? Hope u dint forget all about them.

Dare not..

2006-03-29T10:34:00.000+05:30

Why do you have to stand so close Huh?

I acknowledge its crowded but that is not an excuse for being so unpolite is it? Move... Arrey cant you understand hindi?
Travelling is such a pain. Nudgeing and trying to stand straight in a crowded one. The bus was empty when I had boarded it, but through the journey, it got crowded, I tried to ask the very sweaty and smeely to move and not to be so troublesome, but he wouldnt budge, so as a final shot I gave him a nice strong stomp on his foot and that was end of it, he wasnt in sight, he had walked a a safe 2 metres from me and gave a scorn.

This was the Nth time I have had to do this.

While in delhi, I have had to this with regular frequency, moving around in DTC was such a pain, U spl were a relief, but at times when it did admit some commoners, everybody has had trouble, they tend to stick very close to the ladies standing there.

As I travelled in a group, we always had the those toughies in for a nice treatment for their misdeeds.

Why do these uncleji's have so much trouble with girls travelling in buses huh?
The most troublesome lot are the oldies and the khaini chewing, guys with long hair, (agreed growing hair was a style long ago, the salman style, it isnt anymore) and very crooked looking ones.

I have a personal space and trying to invade it is dangerous, anybody mustering enough courage to do so is up for something really bad.

I have stopped cribbing about how bad the world is; and realized that it isnt going to change atleast in the near future.

TV star!

2006-03-26T17:17:00.000+05:30

On my rather sober journeys in the bus or the local passenger trains I keep meeting so many "want to become a known model who is paid handsomely" gals. The other day I was the second last person in a queue wanting to pay library dues, I happened to meet the latest in the my list.

She was tall (or rather taller than me), looked pale and a lot anorexic. She was getting impatient to get over with the rituals and she kept saying in low tones "shit" I looked around and noticed that many of them were here with their parents waiting to get over with the task and tow their kids home. So 20 mins in to the queue the attendent comes walking and hands us coupons with numbers written on it, mine reads 114.

The scene didnt look very encouraging, I called up home to ask if I should stay back or come some other day to do the rituals...
To which I am told "get over with the thing and then come home".

The girl standing there wasnt very pleased with her number she said "Iam going lot of peoples" (Eh peoples??)

I started thinking wow that would mean I can move one more position.. yipee. But later she said she is having none of it.. i will go ask.. I said well go ahead..

What followed was one very funny english conversation.

Which started some what like this- "Saar, we standing here from morning 9 o clock, please do fast. we have lot of study exams next week. we want atleast distinction. Saar please.."

I dont remember hearing the rest, she had walked back to her place contented that she had done her bit.

Sensing this queue would take hours to end I started a quick chat with the girl standing in front of me, she tells me she is a TV star, (oh !) anchor, singer and a dancer. That was quite a list..

Parents both doctors, one sister kala-thilakam and one doggy! As the queue progresses, the sunlight gets harder and stronger, thats when I notice the "star's" face.

As her coats of paint started to wear, her face looked more pale and with dark circles around her eyes, but when she had joined the queue, she was all decked up ready to finish this thing in a jiffy and dash off to the studio car waiting to pick her up. But the cashier would have none of it..she had blasted outrightly, "koche poyi lineil nillkuu hmm vegam.."

A college student in her early twenties, with a fake british accent, being paid for being talkitive, and good looking that is all I could find in her. But, after her thick cake of cosmetics wore off she was a regular girl. Who was interested only in fake jewellry, accessories, her dress and the latest trends.

She was an MA student, but her college bag looked impoverished, no books inside it, 2 pens, and a comb thats all.

When her turn finally arrived to pay the dues, she fumbled with her papers, couldnt find the exact change and when queried about her main subject, she looked straight into the eyes of the cashier for a whole
2 secs before she could say something.

I guess she had been too busy to think about her real life. Finally, when we had said the byes, she said she would mail me, and yes she did true to her word. But the mail wasnt very interesting, her raves and rants...

Fortunately, the work was over by 3 and I ran like mad to catch my bus back home. Phew.

On the way back I humm "Video killed the radio star"

Work done!

Miss you...

2006-03-23T07:38:00.000+05:30

Memories what are they made of? By the very scientific or psychological definition it would mean "the very special ability of the brain to store, retain and subsequently recall whenever needed". All this introduction was made to my memory of one very important person, whom I had met 1991, she was the one who had taken me to school, kept be busy so that I dont cry. She was very special teacher, as she lived in the house just besides ours. She was fondly called KKP. She had taught all subjects in the classes 1-5. But when I reached 3rd, she stopped teching Science and Maths and started concentrating on teaching SST( Social Studies), Hindi and Sanskrit.

After school hours she used to conduct Sanskrit classes and Gita classes, she taught Bhagwad gita to some 25 students, these students were selected after a test and interview process. I was one of them, after the classes, I used to come home with her. My lunch time was shared with her, I ate my lunch from my lunch box in her special room, as she was the Headmistress of the Primary dept.

Some time later in 1996, she had stopped the gita classes and she revealed that she was going to her native place and would be while before she came back.

3 weeks later she called up from her native place and I had heard her having a long chat with my mother, then I had no idea what she was taking about, but only when my mom had put down the receiver I got to know what was wrong with her, She had been diagnosed with cancer and was undergoing treatment.

When she had came back she looked very frail and very gloomy; very differnt from her usual self she used so busy and very active..
She slowly distanced herself from all the activities she used to enjoy earlier, one more trip back home she was back to her old self and I was happy to be back with her.

But as I had to shift school in the the academic year of 1998-1999, It was a tough decision, I was gloomy for weeks and was very unhappy, I missed her more than my friends, classmates and batchmates.

Later I came to know from my friends that she too had applied for a transfer had shifted to Kochi.

But before I could track her down, friends told me of her meeting with one very freak accident , she had injured herself in a stove burst accident, first I came to know that she was injured and was recovering, but that was not to be, she had succumbed to her burns.

I never got to speak to her for the last time, this is one thing I will repent foreveri n my life.

When we were packing up she was on a long leave.

Miss you...ma'm

She is one of my favorite teachers and will always remain so. The teachers who teach us in our early years are the ones who make a lasting impact on you. She was one for so many people.

I had been praying so badly to know something about her family, My prayers had been answered (partly), maybe thats why her husband called up last month to tell us that he is in station.

Some time soon I would meet him and get one photograph of my favorite teacher.

Uninvited

2006-03-21T10:25:00.000+05:30

I did not notice him coming in. He had been doing this for a long time now.
Every night after my reading sessions which usually strech into late hours of the night, I hadnt noticed him sneeking in and lying on the soft mat beside my comp. Some time in late january I had seen some thing moving, but he escaped; when he had sensed somebody coming into the room he had jumped away.
But not yesterday, as he lay curled sleeping soundly. He wouldnt have had any idea what he had just invited.

But yesterday, I saw him; I rubbed my eyes so see what it was and I saw him lying on the mat sleeping. Did I hear him snoring? I guess yes.

How dare he come into my room. Now that I had caught him red handed, I would make sure that he never came in again.

I am talking about a cat, who had managed to sneek in through my window the last day, and found comfort in my doormat.

I dint like him, so had do something so that he wouldnt come again.

I gave him a stare, he ran as if he had seen demons, bumping and hitting things kept nearby but finally managing to climb out of the window.

Mission accomplished !

Meaowwwww....

Budget allocation.

2006-03-19T23:43:00.000+05:30

Last week end after much discussion and delibrations, I(we) decided to upgrade my(our) PC. It had become awfully slow. So that meant an memory upgrade.. Hmm.. 1Gb
Decided to ditch Firefox for Opera browser and that meant downloads.. Ahem all done I was left with some money, now what do I do?

As I havent spent much on beautification processes and the related, I decided to buy myself a shoe, so that meant something which was decent and wearable, finally decision made I bought a reebok shoe. Gleee... All was well untill my aunty met me at the store. The meeting was disastrous, she was "surprised" to see me buy shoes and not girly sandals. The ones with diamonds and stickers and glitter and what not.

I tried explaining but no use.

I surrender, no arguements; she was shooting a dozen questions at a time. I remember answering not more 2 of her "questions".

After I reached home, I tried making a oocalc (Linux equivalent of Ms ofice)[well, thats what I think it is] file of the money that I had saved all these years, bro you must be proud of me- I dint burn a hole in your pocket for my beauty treatments and the related or unrelated par-a-pher-na-lia.

Phew !

Next time I decide to go shopping I will definitely look around and make sure nobody familiar is around spying on me.

2006-03-16T11:52:00.000+05:30

Mid February to April festival time !

This is the season for marriages and temple festivals , so as my parents decided to attend one such wedding today. I said ''me not coming... avoid me''. So they were planning to go and I decided to stay back.
Just before they were to start my motor mouth cousin calls up to announce that she has decided to come visiting, aunt and uncle included.

Uncle and aunty decided to go visit a temple for the festivities nearby. As they start their journey in their car, I wave them a bye. Leaving behind their daughter here.

I am busy cleaning the cups and saucers and tidying up the place.. Thats when the pesky teenager comes running from upstairs and I run up to see what it was.. She shows me something which looks very familiar and lo behold she is turning pages of my diary. We have a tug of war at the end of which, I get my diary back.

I felt bad, offended, angry and I hated the teenager for infiltrating my private space. Not that my old dusty diary contains secrets but becuase that are thoughts best kept to my self nothing for public amusement but my moments of despair and happiness and little acheivements and complaints.

My diary: the contents of which are general, was my way of letting off steam. I dont mind anybody reading it with my permission but without it you are up for a blasting.

After much talk I gave her a nice Little book to read and amuse herself, and ask her sit reading the book I had given her. As I type this I can see her busy reading an old Enid Blyton...

Move over Cricket

2006-03-10T00:06:00.000+05:30

Cricket matches come and go, and you can afford to miss them but this, is something greater and bigger. The elections. As a first time voter I am new to all this. The rallies, the meetings held every other evening occupying most of the space available of the already congested roads.

Last day one of the leaders of a local party was coming over for some inauguration funtion. Everything was well untill one lean and mean fellow climbs up the coconut tree next to my east facing window and decided to tie up a speaker there. The tree being just 30 mts away from my window. All done and connections given he went his way.

After a tiring day of work and data collection I come to my room, and fixing up my worldspace radio decided to finally turn it on. before I could switch the ON button Iam shocked and literally jolted of my half sleepy senses, I stuck my head outside the window to know what the heck it was. Thats when I see the speakers mounted on to the coconut tree facing me. It was marked "DEVI SOUNDS" bah Devil sounds. I cursed the fellow who had done this.

The function was to start at 6 but started well past 8. his speech went some thing like " Priyamulla naatukare Njan evide nilkunna elavareyum bhaavi voter maar aayi kaaruthnu."

20 mins into it we have an power failure and I heave sigh of relief, when the power comes back the connection to the speaker seems to be lost. I thank god and say well that is an end to it.

But more was to come, after the inauguration was the cultural fest. I cursed the technician yet again, as the speakers had been repaired and were working just fine. So it started blaring out Brayan Adam's songs then changing tracks to Tamil, {manmada rasa, anniyan and dont know or remember the rest). I had dinner with background music playing (Manmada rasa). So after 3 in the night I was awake trying to sleep and also listening to some song from ghajini or was it something else. (Poor knowledge of Films pls excuse) Grrrrrr....

It was a maniac Wednesday.

Listen Mr. Politician, even if I had a slight leaning towards your side; forget it, u just made me sit up and think otherwise.

Tuning up

2006-03-01T00:14:00.000+05:30

Brrr.... Grrrr fine tuning... VH+ or Vh-. I was trying to tune into Sahara..Channel for the England v India test series starting tommorow. Somehow I dint like the channel very much...
This is the usual routine that I follow ahead of every cricketing event involving India.

Cricket is sure one game that has interested even the grand old lady of Mr T's family, who is very keen to know the scores but not very interested in watching.

The scene is very different at our neighbour's ground floor TV room. The whole family assembles with Mrs S's decides to take a compensatory off and Mr G is leading his retired, junior G is a college student bunks his classes.

The whole family has their lunch with their eyes glued to the Tv. Their conversations revolve around the batsmen and the field placements.

I am not much interested in tests but yes One days are a great watch anyday, but I feel the game has lost much of its earlier charm, now its just personal milestones and records that matter.

One moment everybody broke out laughing last game at Lahore was Sreesanth's celebration after taking a wicket. It was funny.

So till next post its tuning..... Vh+ or was it Vh- ??........ Drrrr.......

Work work and more work...

2006-02-12T00:21:00.000+05:30

Attribution has planned a short hiatus to its blogging activity. I attribute this decision to serious pressure of academics and work load.

Nearing.... its coming.....

2006-02-10T17:04:00.000+05:30

Its coming closer and its on its track and arriving on time, Iam not looking forward to it.. IAm looking at the calender it was to come in exactly 4 days time, its 10th already, Its not a train or a post nor anything that I was looking forward to; but fail to understand the hype...

But thousands of love-lorn youngsters its the d day for it could make or break a relationship.

Its the VALENTIN(M)E"S DAY.

In mallu day for the poovalans and thus called poo-valenti(m)nes day.

Every day is special as it will be some day, not the regular week days but Kiss day, slap day, chocolate day and well still scratching my head... thinking... what day was yesterday? I have lost count of the days and new ones added every year hmm... well everyday maybe?

So what day is it today? Chocolate day? Kiss day? Makeup or break up day?
Well for me it was a bland Friday...

Its "the" day for guys and gals in "deep" love, for the love lorn and philosiphically oriented to make some confessions, Dear _______ I am in love with you for the past ___ years/months/days/weeks/days(Multiple choice). Do you love me???

A boom day for the flower stockists, coffee shops, ice cream parlours, Cell operators, cholotate shops and gold showroom too have joined the fray with Diamond/gold pendents and what not. Oh not to forget the mushy mushy songs on the tv channels.

Well Valentine' day thoughts..... Dont forget to add that bit of philosophy into ur card; mite be helpful and also try not to buy more than 2 cards of the same type u never know...thats for those who have numerous friends...

Ahem..

2006-02-07T18:07:00.000+05:30

Yeah Iam an ambivert, I am glad not to be an introvert, iam sort of no nonsense person but yes I do come acroos as very non friendly person at fist meeting but my friend circle is a good testimonial to my friend gaining and mainting ability, so the other day I tried to make some some new friends and aquintances at my cousins marriage. She is my close/distant relative. Dont know much about her, just restricted to hi and bye's but this time when i was forced to join my other cousins I half heartedly said hmmm yes i will come... Not a bad decision afterall..

So I wasnt disappointed, my cousins turned up in good number, What a relief i wont have to tag behind my aunt or the only familiar face in the crowd.
the wedding was at Sivagiri Mutt, great place, wonderful place to sit think or even introspect. No I dint do any of those, but was greatly bowled over by the simplicity of the marriage functions and the related jing bangs.

A visit to the Janardhana Swamy temple, at Varkala and a stopover at the Papanasam beach was just too good treat to the eyes. Well I meant the beach and not the half clothed phirangs..
A very old and a devasom temple which I guess had a divinity touch to it. its ambience was great, an old couple sat at the Siva temple thinking of something and later walking out with their eyes moist, I wonder what they would have been thinking about...

Stone steps lead up to the temple nd is the temple looks great with its preseiding deity being Mahavishnu..

Ladies queued up to get prasadam, stood there for a little over 10 mins and out I came with the prasadam in my right hand palm. Yum

One day when I thought, well there are temples that are well preserved than the ones at Tamilnadu like Suchindreeum and other temples.

Weekend...

2006-02-04T00:29:00.000+05:30

How bad can a day be?
The day started with a angry mail from a friend and to top it a reminder of an assignment and deadlines.

I try to look around for my BL library card, cant seem to find it. So drop the idea to visit BL in TVM. Fine.. try moving on with other things, just as i was trying to do something Iam called downstairs, some electrical repair work. All done and finished I run upstairs and lo behold we have a power cut. I run downstairs.... and come back the process goes on for 2 hrs,
Finally its sorted out. Some wrong decisions and assignment troubles all dot the day.

In the evening Iam running around helping for my cousin's wedding, all tired and angry at one of my friends (if u are reading this, remember u better sort out ur timetables and look properly at ur watch.)

I sit up late to finish some work....at the same time talking to an old school friend. Who seems excited about his trip to some places in TN. To be precise to Pondy with his friends.
A very funny chat with my friend and iam back to my basic energy levels.

Wish him a safe and happy journey!!!!
Have a nice time...

Retired hurt...

2006-02-01T00:18:00.001+05:30

Home - Travel- return journey- mishap- hospital - home.
I ususally try to avoid being seated in the middle seat but that fortunate day , I was, in the process being saved from grave injuries. Thaank my angels.
I tried looking the other way just to avoid the sight of the injured mother and child bleeding from their heads.
As I stood speechless at the sight of the a huge metal box called bus which looked out of shape due to the impact of the collision it had.
As I stood waiting to be given medical attention all I could see was people moaning in pain, the sad faces,smell of antiseptics and people crying out in pain. I stood there twisting my fingers as the pain grew, it came and went and I kept standing, not knowing where to go, I took up my mobile called up home and informed my mom who by the time was anxious and was worried. People tried to help and as some pointed their fingers to all directions pointing to the X-ray dept, the Dental dept and the OP registration counter, after a frantic search I finally managed to get some help for my wound and the resultant bloodloss.

After 2 hours of gruelling pain and questioning I wait for my friend to turn up .
She comes running and is anxious about my wound and the my general condition. She is such a sweetie. I just knew she would come and it was a relief to see a familiar face. Everything done and the wound stitched up and dressed I walked to our vehicle and zip past the accident site in under a second, a passing glance at the bus, a sight I will never forget. Exactly 90 mins of travel and I am home.
So what did I learn from my experience? Well a number of things, You need to be really lucky to survive an accident, you need to carry some extra money which I had, Keep your cool and try not to start crying at the sight of blood of serious injury.
Back home friends started calling up and asking what had happened.... as always my closest friends made it a point to call. Thank you guys.... I know Iam lucky to have some great friends.
No matter how tough you are you end to shed some tears after a while. I had hit the point where I did breakdown for a few mins. but was early to stop doing that.

I asked myself Why me Why me but everything has reason. Made some new acquaintances, learned to deal with panicky people and injured victims......emotionally deficient policemen and above all the helping mentality of a passerby. He helped us reach the hosp in his car, dont know who he is... Wish I could thank him.
Phew...

And I havent hurt my head or most importantly my brain I am perfectly sane and normal (thats what I think). That was great news...

In bollywood movies a head or any injury above neck meant amnesia and the victims woulsd sit up and ask - aap kaun scenes. Iam Miss. ABCD and not MRS. XYZA. (I know that aint funny but..... )

Introvert??

2006-01-16T18:12:00.000+05:30

Introvert?? Extrovert??

I consider myself an ambivert. Those who know me think iam an ambivert.
So what now if iam an intovert or an extrovert??
Oh it does matter, so that u dont stand out in a crowd like a sore thumb.

I tried hard not to be one and succeded in pulling it off with great effort and acting....
Hmmm...

posted 24/1/2006

The New year statistics

2006-01-02T23:31:00.000+05:30

Wine is good for health, hmm........ agreed but what about the local brews? Today, I was forced to listen to the news broadcast on the the telly tube, was forced to it by my grandmother. I agreed and sat down to listen, nothing special regular political gimmicks and odd news. And then suddenly I notice my grandmother, who was lying down, on the old couch sits up and she leans forward to listen to the a particular report. I lean forward too, to listen, to find out what was so important for my ammamma, it turns out to be report about the total liquor sales, I sat up to listen and was disturbed (why ??) to learn that a total of Rs 12 crore and some odd number was the total revenue earned from liquor sales just on New year eve. That was just one day sales total but it doesnt include booze supplied from resorts, small joints and other watering points. It also doesnt include the amount of liquor bought much before the new year or its eve. No wonder there was a traffic jam at a nearby town all because it has a Bevco stall..

Why do you have to end up on four legs, drunk and speaking incoherently on the New year nite? Every year I have thought about it; this year it was no different, Iam thinking and still thinking.

I wanted to write this post on Jan 1 st but Chandu beat me to it, he was a witness to the New year bash at his place.

First day of the New year wasnt any different than any day of last year, what changed was my calender, just that.......

Sympathy? Empathy??

2005-12-26T23:55:00.000+05:30

What difference role does money play in the formation and maintenance of sibling relationships?
How different and shocking is life of a gulf returnee? (Without his dinars and riyals? Eh?? )

A warm and windy day, no different from the previous day, after morning chores I decided to do some writing work, I was walking to my room to fetch my books and paper, tring tring there goes our phone, I was supposed to pick it up as nobody else was near the phone, I jumped down a flight of steps, picked up the phone, tried to mutter a faint hello as I was gasping for air and was feeling short of breath. On the other side was one person whom i didnt recognize. As he demanded to speak to my dad, I passed the phone to my dad and walked away as he sat there talking to the person. I dint stay to ask who it was. Later it turned out be one of dad's acquintance's son (uncle). He was to visit us in the evening.

I asked my mother about him who he was and where had he been all these years. He was normal guy, born into a family with 4 sisters (Elder) and a brother (younger). Because of financial difficulties he couldnt study. He had passed his Tenth (SSLC) and studied no further. He learnt some basic skills, and was sent off to Dubai (a.k.a gulf) where he was engaged to do odd menial jobs and was paid handsomely, considering the exchange rates, also he made it a point to send a large amount at he end of three months to his family. He was their sole bread winner for a while and all the matters rested on his shoulders and I guess he did a nice job of it. All his sisters were married off and "settled" but he waited till they were independent.

All the while he took care of his aged parents and their needs. He came visiting only once in every 5 years.

Then came his chance , he too got married but unfortunately it ended in an accident with his wife dying in a freak accident. After much contemplation he married again and was just about to start his life afresh, he was struck down with Diabetes ( Sugar in local parlance), and High BP and some Heart ailments too.

His condition was soo bad that he had to stop working and planned to pack his bags and return after staying in Dubai, for more than 25 years where he spent his youthful years to make a living and to fulfill the needs of those back home.

As news spread that he was planning to comeback and get homself traeted for his ailments, his sisters and others distanced themselves and are not in talking terms anymore.

As he visited us he mentioned that he is getting admitted this week to get himself operated and hopes to eke out a living by putting up a small shop.

He is on some 13 types of medicines and has a weekly dose of scans and tests.

Well... he has been admitted for a 4 days now and he is trying for loans and other local finances ("chitties").

Hope he gets better.

Wishing u all a HAPPY NEW YEAR

The year that was ...

2005-12-19T23:15:00.000+05:30

It could be expessed in 4 events...

Graduation
Shifting back
Leaving friends
Some bad experiences

Suddenly in January I am in trouble with some health problems, its was damn cold on Jan 18th, I wont forget that day ever in my whole life, then a week later I was thinking about the weather getting better and a lil bit sunny but no the big one was yet to come Jan 23-27 were the coldest days in my memory and the rains, it would rain in the afternoon making m y bus journey a messy affair. And Brrr... the chilly winds. February wasnt great either was running around with assignments and record and practicals, the month was about to end and I still had'nt finished my practicals, tensed up and constantly calling up (or rather giving her missed calls and she would promptly call me back, thats my sweet buddy TT) my best buddy TT to enquire abt her progress with the practicals.

By the second week of March I managed to finish it somehow. I used to stay up till 4 in the morning trying to finish those and missed calls at exact intervals used to keep me awake. And not to forget the radio, the chattering of Rj's helped me drive away my sleep . Got all of them corrected and got them signed, ufff... was a hard job..
We had our Farewell party in March was nice and memorable event.

April was spent giving stupid exams and cramming, cramming and more cramming, and sleep was subsituted almost effectively by small naps thanks to my habit of having coffee. Mom's presence helped a lot to ease tensions and food probs.

May was too hot and unbearable, we neither had an AC or a cooler which meant the days were too hot and nights sweaty. Boohoo...
June was ok ok minus the heat sweat and the dust storms in Delhi. All was fine till the third week of June, I was down with a common cold which got worse and 2 days into the cold I was sufering from a rather bad bout of sinusitis... and some more complex problems with my eyes and nose. 2 days of tests and 17 days of medication gave me some respite and was feeling better.

We decided to call it quits at the big and inhospitable metro city of delhi, left for Kerala in the last week of June. I had graduated and was thinking on what next...
I had to leave my some close friends who had helped and stood by me at the most needful moments during my short stay at Delhi, (u -TT, MMM, debu, Dhshka and others)

July was not so event ful. July was spent in thinking planning, introspection, calculations and some decision making.
August was time for packing up, was back in delhi packed up and sent stuff home down south and couried things, and met up with TT at the Nirulas at DU had a nice long conversaton and parted promising each other meet at the station and yes she did come to see me off...
Sept , Oct, Nov was busy reading up and going to some Library's and spent visiting relatives...
and most importantly catching up wih old friends.

December... Iam still thinking.... oh yes busy with assignments......

Happy Christmas !

Updates !

2005-12-04T23:00:00.000+05:30

The marriage function was great.

So was my friend.

Something which caught my attention on a recent visit to Trivandrum was the felling of huge (really huge trees) which must atleast couple of years old. All this in the name of development and to eliminate traffic jams.

And another thing that I saw was the Thampanoor bus station. It was one sight I will not forget for a long time. The place is not maintained at all no sewage/road separation, potholed and in dire need of attention.

I was tagging along a rather old lady.Suddenly she turned around, and asked me where the Alapuzha buses were I pointed my finger to the direction where a couple of buses were parked, thanking me she asked me another question, "Koche samayam ethere aayi?" ( What is the time?) I looked at my watch and said "oru mani"( 1 O'clock).

Later I lost sight of the lady. I looked around and found my bus and waited for it to stop. The passesngers from the earlier trip were alighting and I waited rather patiently.

I boarded the bus, got my tickets and was looking around for a seat, fortunately found a window seat. As I settled down with my bags in my lap, I saw a group of people running towards a bus which had just come in, and then I saw the old lady being pushed and shoved around. I kept looking at her and suddenly thump she went.She was lying flat on the ground, she had collapsed. All the bags and their contents were lying strewn around her. She was carrying some rice and some spices.

People were trying to get on to the bus. People around her tried to help, she was given first aid and she was being asked numerous questions .

The lady in a black saree in a rather rude voice asked "Ammachide naadu evide aa??"
Another by stander with a his huge baritone asked another one " Phone number orma undo?"
The help that came through was a result of by stander intervention so to speak in psycho lingo.

I dont know what happened to her, wanted to get out of the bus I was sitting in but cudnt because of the weekend rush. The bus was jam packed.
Hope she is okay...
The bus stand is in a pathetic condition. Serious repairs are needed to make it safe enough for elderly and the not so agile others.

I hate colds. I have one. A real bad one at that. Running nose, mild fever and a sore throat.
Sniff sniff...

Home Alone

2005-12-01T00:10:00.000+05:30

Yesterday my folks decided to visit a family friend.
Well, I had been asked to stay put at my place, nevermind, I called in 3 of my cousins and another one was supposed to be visiting me.
All was well till the time it started to rain and it was raining badly. I was supposed to go and fetch one of my cousins. She called me up 12 times to say where exactly she was and by the time I could find her I was dripping wet and shivering.

And we finally meet up and walk back home (Not an nice thing to do when its raining), gossips and other important news items were being reeled out through out the walk. While approaching the gates I notice a man standing there as if he was waiting for something or someone, as we come closer to the man near our gate, he declares himself as the man from the electricity dept waiting to take the meter reading, I ask him to wait so that I can lock my pets (not one but 2 of them) and let the guy come in. He explains to me things written on the small pinkish paper and I nod to express that I have understood all that he had just said.

He leaves and I breathe a sigh of relief, but no another comes around, this time its the local councillor he wants all us to register and get our I -cards.
All out door activities done, I decided to make some tea and snacks, for them(cousins) as well as myself.
After tea and snacks it was time for some for some friendly gossip. All that done it was noon time and had cook up something to eat. Thankfully mom had made some, and some were in their final stages waiting to be cooked.
The end result turned out to be lip smacking dishes. Ummm.. I know Iam able to cook for survival, not an expert though.. need refinement...

My room badly needed a change and was thinking seriously about it. I was planning on changing the settings and giving a new look to my room, and it was made possible thanks to my 2 cousins aged 11 and 13 who managed to dislocate everything that I was planning to move. Half the work done, I decided to do the rest of it the very next day.
Iam happy that I managed to do it myself the next day, it looks new and good a few weeks later it might change again.. I am thinking if I should call for out my cousins and help me do it...

All done and settled my folks came back in the evening.

Out shopping!

2005-11-26T14:22:00.000+05:30

I have been wondering about my knowledge of the various cosmetic knick knacks in wide use. Last week I agreed to one of my friends to go shopping with her. It was her elder sis's wedding and she was supposed to be all dressed up for the occassion.
We went around the mall had good look at the things on offer and thought gosh so much for this thing and so on......

Exactly 60 mins later we are at the same spot still nothing "good enuff" .
We keep walking and lo behold my friend just saw what she had wanted ! I asked her dint u notice this the first time we were here.. She tells me she was just thinking...

20 mins later Iam sitting at one of the coffee shops waiting patiently for my friend , I see her .. she is looking at that hair serum. I called out to her and prompt came the reply "DA WAIT"

As sat there waiting I saw my friend going around the mannequinn as if she was inspecting it for cracks looking here and then... grin and then she goes inside the shop. I assume she just had the deal she wanted and i get up pay for my coffee and walkover to her but alas that was not to be it. She just had discovered someting...
I told her I will be waiting for her at the Coffee shop (where else)??
I thought what am I going to do?

Just then there comes the Sales rep. She wanted me give her company products a try!
I thought what the heck! I tell her Iam not interested but no she doesnt budge an inch ..
I was thinking for excuses and there comes my friend( pray to god) And she just falls for the catch and walks away to the salon.
I sat beside her through her procedure of pedi/manicure and then some mettalic face wash and creams and steaming.
Everytime she(The sales rep, by the time it was all finished she was grining at me) mentioned some treatment I was like cud u repeat that what??
Entho??
Gold what??
Hair what pressing ? ironing?
Ayyo Enikku venda..no thanks...

Phew...
At the end of it I am rich by a few new and totally greek words to me!
Ouch that hurts on the pocket too.....
pretty damn expensive...
Did I mention my friend accrding to sane standards was good looking and after the mettalic coat and varnish she was .........
Any guesses?

Tommorow is the function I hope my friend still looks the same...
Keeping my fingers crossed.....

My Radio...

2005-11-24T15:10:00.000+05:30

I think I have always liked a radio...
I grew up listening to some nice songs on my faithful Hitachi 2 in 1. There used to be times when system would blare out Mallu melodies to Osibissa and many more...
The big system used to a big thing for me and I would stand and look with awe and then would pester my folks to put on that particular number which went like "Brown girl in the ring la lala lah . . ." that one was my all time favourite. Thats because I had a dance programme in my school in which I had danced to this song, I was so excited because I was the only one with a brown gown and all others had a pale white gowns. I also had brown shoes, with matching ribbons, earrings, bangles and all other jing bangs....

The song faded away in a few years time and then came those songs from the movies at that time like "Ramlakhan" and "Jo jeeta wohi sikander "and others. Then the craze for the Radio gave way to TV. But still the radio hadn't faded to the oblivion, just that it was cast away for a small time. TV was interesting, there used to be Chitrahaar's on a week day I guess. Then came the Cable era. The first few channels that we used to get from our Dish TV were a chinnese Channel and some other nondescipt channels.

Years went on and the programmes and the format underwent some drastic changes. I gradually lost interest in TV, and gained interst in radio again after a long time.

During my graduation years, the FM radio in Delhi was just fabulous. Still the scene wasnt all that perfect there would always pop up some stupid and motor mouth female/male RJ just trying to be mod!And guys cracking old sardar jokes. The waves werent all that clutterd with ad'swhen it started broadcast but now a its more of marketing than pure music...

Back here in Kerala the MW is still stuck in the iceage and the Vanijya Prakshepanam FM (Commercial Broadcast) was a lil better off but now its all ads and no songs situation.
And the FM has been rechristened as Ananthapuri FM. Hmm old wine in new bottle...
So last month I ditched my old Hitachi for a new Satellite radio.
We have a Worldspace radio!!!
I dont regret ditching my long time radio for this one .
Phew, its digital quality sound and most importantly no advertisements. Just some loud and blaring ones from the Mallu channel called the RM radio which blares out " You are listening to RM Radio on Worldspace..."
And its a true Paisa vasool !!!

Everything else is just fine....

This Month...

2005-11-23T12:55:00.000+05:30

Last Wednesday was the first day of the Malayalam Month of Vrishchikam and is considered as one of the holiest months, when devotees throng the hill temple of Sabarimala.

This also happens to be my favorite month because of the climatic conditions in here in Kerala, its sunny and then there are strong breezes. I like this climate because Iam reminded of the first time I was in Kerala during this month back in 1999, the school backround with lush green rice fields was a great backdrop for the time I used to spend just talking to my new formed friends .
These conversations helped learn the language, and most importantly helped me to find that truly special friend of mine. She still makes it a point to call me up whenever she comes home from her hostel. And I do call her once in a while.. last time I called her was in last week of October..

My memories are also particulary sweet because of those tasty Aravana payasam tins that used to circulate in the class rooms during the classes and mainly during the lunch break. Classmates who had visited the Temple would bring them, and there would always be a huge crowd surrounding the can.

While I write this I can hear some Bhajans being sung in our neighbourhood, some of them are leaving for the temple tommorow.

Winters down south are more enjoyable and considerably warm considering the harsh winters of the north where the sun is just not there and there is the fog.
Thinking of winters bring back warm memories of cups of Adrak chai (Ginger tea) and soups with friends from college around and later would end up late in the class and say "Ma'm its cold so.... "
Winters are nice time to curl up, read something sip hot tea or coffee and and most importantly for sleeping. Winters in the North are particulary dark with no or little sunshine and the fog, which makes venturing out a real dangerous activity.

Wordie Wonders

2005-11-12T00:26:00.001+05:30

Recently on a trip to Kanyakumari I had a hard time controlling my laughter after reading some of the Billboards, menu cards and boards atop Buses.

Some of them which I can recollect are:
Restaurrent (Rest-aur-rent ??)
Power Break ( No hand signal )
Barotha (This was seen on a menu card, to be read as Parotha )
Bagan (No no not the Mythical figure Bagan but it was supposed to be Baingan (Eggplant)
Manjurian ( That was supposed to be a Chinese receipe)
No overtaking and horning ( Seen beside a small culvert built on a small river)
'Weak Bridge' Drive fast ( I kept my fingers crossed till we crossed the Bridge, I looked back and thankfully it was still there)
We deel in all kinds of Engin oils (Beside a spareparts shop)
Paultry farm (Poultry farm)
Keep your tail lights fit (???)
Give XXXX brand fish food to make your fish butifull and and fast. (Found on a fish food wrapper)

Some that were found in Delhi

Videshi sharab ki sarkari dukaan (Hic !)
Black forrest Pestry (Found in a DU canteen)
We service all types of 'Computars' (Seen in Nehru place)

Will add the rest when I recollect them..

Also people reading this are welcome to add new and hillaroius ones.

2005-11-08T00:21:00.000+05:30

Attribution is the explantion a person has for his or her actions or behaviour.

First post

2005-11-07T16:18:00.001+05:30

Hmmmm