Here's wishing

my darling sister a very Happy 15th Birthday! :D

My nomadic mind

You know sometimes when you're sitting in a corner with a book to read and something to drink, your mind wanders somewhere else or rather to something else. Mine has done a lot of introspection and retrospection over these 20 years. Recently while reading, I was thinking of a bad patch that I was going through (still going) and I stopped for a moment thinking of a 'what if' situation that happened in between that seemed to provide some relief. What if I had taken on that situation. Life surely would've been different- independence, new people, new city and a new life. Maybe I would've liked it. But that's not how it turned out to be, life indeed takes a different turn at varied junctures. Right now it's at a standstill. And my train of thoughts halted, just like that. I returned to my book, waiting for my mind to wander yet again.

Not your average guy :)

This post is dedicated to my friend, Arun Srinivasan. Not only did he make me feel really special, but also gave me hope that there is true love still left :) Seriously, this guy is a million bucks. Talk to him about true love, he'll come up with the most romantic definition and yet the most workable. Talking to him on a normal day is good, but talk to him when you're down and out, that's when you'll be damn thankful you talked to him! A very talented musician, he's pretty shy around compliments. He's a total romantic all over and is not afraid to show his emotions! I mean which other guy is like that? Sample this. "Each girl deserves to be treated like a queen, no matter what. I think you girls more than define us. Seriously."  I have not heard words like this before from any other guy. As I went on about guys having inflatable egos that grow by the second, all he told me was this, "Wont deny that I don't have an ego. but there's nothing that can melt it than a sweet girl." His girl is indeed special :)

Thanks for all the hopeful, encouraging words, you truly are a great friend :D

So I'm going to aptly sum up in his words:

"Just wait for that love part of your life to happen. Things'will change. Don't rush into it. Don't calculate, don't predict. Just go with it :)"

Spiritual Quickie

Nine people, nine stories. That’s what William Dalrymple’s ‘Nine Lives’ is all about. While on the surface it might seem like a ‘short stories for children’ kind of a book, but it actually has something more. Being a travel writer is certainly not easy but Dalrymple handles it with ease, making every story as interesting as the previous one.

The book opens with the story of Prasannamataji, a Jain nun from a monastery that is unkempt and grotesque in Sravanabelagola. Her story unfolds with an introduction to Jainism which underlines moksha as the highest form of liberation one can attain. It ends with the nun fasting to death. The second story from Kerala is about a Dalit prison warden who for two months of the year, is transformed into a theyyam dancer and is worshipped as a deity from December to February. Following these two starters, the next story is about Rani Bai, the Devadasi who at the outset resisted her own initiation into sex work, but later pushes her own daughters into the trade.
Sufism comes alive as Dalrymple explains to the readers how the religion brings together people and for once does not separate them. Sufism differs from orthodox Islam as it absorbs Hindu ideas and practices. The chilling tale of a monk who took up arms to oppose the Chinese invasion of Tibet and later spends the rest of his life trying to atone for the violence by hand printing the best prayer flags in India is one of the beautiful stories in the book.

This book explores the lives of nine different people Dalrymple comes across while traveling through the length and the breadth of religious, spiritual yet mysterious country that is India. His style is simple but erudite, compelling the reader to get lost in the book. A beautiful read, Dalrymple goes into the depths of spiritual and ancient India to get in touch with the modern one.

Pepsi's new ad for Football World Cup

Don't miss Messi at the end! He's adorable :)

Just wondering

How long do I have to use Dove shampoo before I can get beautiful hair like the 'Real Women' models in the ads?

Bliss

is drinking lemon flavoured green tea on a windy evening in my terrace
:)

Epic fail

Battered and bruised after a 5 minute marathon waxing of both hands at the SAME time
:O

Currently reading

The Mahabharata - a modern rendering by Ramesh Menon; Vol 1
:D

The perfect love story?

A tall, dark and handsome guy meets a fair, beautiful lass and falls for her dazzling smile. Their first meeting begins with cold stares and ego fights but that leaves the guy wanting for more. Enraptured by her beauty and personality, he slowly begins to fall in love with her. After a series of run-ins that end in arguments, they cool things off later. She discovers that he is a wealthy, philanthropist without a family and craves for all the love he can get. He finds out that behind her steely and serious image, she is a romantic at heart. They then take their 'relationship' to the next level and find out that they are indeed right for each other (which includes a night of hot lovemaking and endless talking). Then comes the drama. A misunderstanding about his past (might include his ex) or a comment he made against her before he fell in love with her, comes up. Brief separation prevails and the two of them long for each other. A chance meeting later, they reunite. And so they live happily ever after. Sigh if only all our lives ended like a Mills and Boons story!

Currently reading

The Rainmaker - John Grisham and a guide on Organic Chemistry!
Also shuffling between comics and the quintessential newspaper!
:D

Mellu madness!

Now that Vinnaithandi Varuvaaya is out, people have once again become besotted with the phenomenon that is mallu. Yup yours truly is ranting and raving bout it too, as her dad has been always obsessed with it to add to the matter. While I haven't seen the film (and probably won't) I'm totally fixed on one song Omana Penne :) So everyone likes it, what's the big deal you may ask. Granted that I'm not like everyone else, my true-blue carnatic soul has become attached to it! Not that you have to learn carnatic music to like the song, but it does help in appreciating it. Omana penne is composed in Bilahari ragam, one of my personal favourites! Never before have I appreciated a Nadaswaram in all its glory, the closest is in a wedding. The nadaswaram bit in the ending is one of the many reasons and the first that I'm completely hooked onto this song and play it in a loop, again and again and again. It somehow reminds me of joyous times and pleasant beginnings, lifts my mood in an instant! I can replay it in my head any time I want.
Aaromale is another song from the same film to capture my interest. Ranking second in my list this is also based on ragam, which I'm yet to find out (I'm sure Google will help me in my quest) The way it starts, with the guitar strumming, has a very grungy feel to it. And it slowly moves into carnatic. The chorus has a distinct feel to it, and the song is unusually unstructured unlike the pallavi-charanam formation found in almost all songs.
Listening to these songs is a must for me everyday, helps me cheer up (and also reminds my mum to resume music classes for me!) and refresh. Waiting to tell my dad about these advancements, I'm sure it will please him as it involves Malayalam.

Turning point

My last post was published on November 9 2009, so it has been quite a while! I think I've actually forgotten how to write after I joined journalism. as there are only 30 odd days for college to get over, I'm pondering over what to do next amidst pressure from parents, peers and of course relatives (who find a perfect moment to ruin happiness by asking what kids are going to do next!). I hate planning, I absolutely hate it, but obviously this is an answer I cannot use, so instead I have to come up with something soon. Everyone wants everything to happen so fast, but it's just not possible. I can only do things at my own pace and asking me to slow it down or speed it up is just not fair, it's just not me! At the same time, I still have my own fears - like being unemployed while the rest are doing something that fetches them money!
Moving on, this year (or rather the two months) has seen me attend quite a number of quizzes :) Met some people there which have added to my contacts list. "Life's chugging along" - this has become my paraphrase when people ask me about life.
Life has gotten rather boring, too monotonous. Hope something fun comes along! :D

What's on my mind.......

A lot of things have happened in the last 2-3 months. Most of it, I didn't think it would happen and didn't think a harmless quiz competition would be the cause. But that's life I guess. Most unexpected things catch up with you only to shock you and of course make you change for the better. I have a different perspective towards life right now and its kind of sudden. The future does seem scary and so near and I almost have no clue what to do. Everything is changing at lightning speed and so are everyone. Sometimes I wish I could escape to a foreign country or go into hiding. I want a change in life. Something that makes life more interesting, more worthwhile, more fun!! And I've learnt one thing that is really important - people come and go in your life, nobody is permanent, rather nothing is. Except of course for change.

Inter-nay-shunal Re-lay-shuns :)

She can put Webster's dictionary to shame. Shakespeare you may now officially turn in your grave. English professors can remedy THEIR english. Fancy that! Introducing *drum roll* our very own in-house english expert - Rats!
You may think I am exaggerating (well I do at times) but not this time! We wait for her classes like a parched throat waiting to quench its thirst. Err okay anyway. She enters. And starts.
"German is angry with France so it declares waaar with France."
"Eerup was divided into 2 during the waeld waar"
"Yu Yes and Yu Yes Yes Aar are the two countries that faced the COLD (with stress) waar"
"Kanada"
"Maascow"
"Eerak"
"Arj" (urge for the uninitiated :P)
"Thalaai Lama" (Oh come one!!)
"Ungay-rey"
"Hostria"
"Apoorva, it's no loaf-ing may-ter!" (No she was not talking about a baker!)
"Etaalee" (def not Bruce Lee's place of birth!)
"Anjana I think you will hey-ve to may-ree and orpun!" (poor Anjana! while we all laughed our lungs out!)
"Re-yally ma"
"Disintegra-shun of Soveyet Yuniyun"

Research courtesy: Poofy, Snapple, Adefal and yours truly :)
Will meet you next time with Rats Dictionary!

Funny sunny!

Summer's here! No need to look surprised though. I've always loved summer, even though it makes me sweat like a pig. Rainy days are a total bore, they're okay once in a while. Summer is like my season (though it is the only season in Chennai!) the reason being I've felt really comfortable with summer than with monsoon. Indeed summer does make you sweat, sticky and forces you to stay in the confines of your house till about 4 pm, monsoon has never been this fun. Sure you can make paper boats and let them float in the stray water or snack on something hot but the no. of holidays in summer are more. Ha! Beaches, water theme parks, part-time jobs and vacations are always more fun in the summer. Fashion trends are more popular in the summer too. Be it shorts or 'gouchos' or half-trousers, it is most comfortable and of course fashionable in the summer, not to mention practical too!! The pleasure of sipping juice while reading comics or watching tv can never be bought or beat by summer. I vote for summer being declared as the national season of the country. (if such a thing exists!) No other season has probably excited me as much as summer does. Summer in Chennai, as the joke goes, is year-round; maybe thats why its hated so much by enlarge. So I'm not gonna waste more time and I'm off to celebrate the splendour and joy of summer!!

Green Tea <3

Whats the one drink I love right now? It's not beer, it's not vodka and it's def. not apple juice! (sorry apple juice! :[) It's Green Tea!! :) Aaaand it's awesome!! I know it tastes bitter and all that, but once you get used to it, it tastes just fine. I got introduced to thanks to my neighbour, who randomly pressed two teabags into my hand and said, "Drink this, it's green tea. And it's good," which I did. And right now I'm like addicted to it! It's such an easy process, even a child can make it :P It's supposed to make you lose weight, but I'm not sure if that happened, but would be ecstatic if it did!!!! It's like a great way to end meals, the Japanese do it that way!! Green tea is like SO amazing, it's the way to go. It's so awesome and I fricking love it!! I dunno if it has replaced coffee. I love green tea. I'm going on the record to say it. I love it. Did I mention I love it?
Green Tea rules. Period.

P.S. Sorry coffee!! :(

Ho-Hum!

Currently reading 'News of a kidnapping' by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. It's a translation of 'Noticia de un secuestro'. It basically deals with the kidnapping of several Colombian notables by Pablo Escobar and his aides. Supposed to be a very famous book, or thats what it is acc. to my dad! It is kinda interesting at times, and does get boring here and there!! But let me just finish reading it and post its review!!

Cheers :)

Tracking Terror

It's been a month and 6 days since I last blogged, but it seems like a year to me! Recent developments: Rain in Chennai gave us a respite from college and its monotony, providing us 4 days of holidays (filled with boredom and incessant facebooking, orkutting and the like; of course!) At the same the Mumbai terror attacks took place on the 26th of November 2008. Rallies, candlelight vigils and walks, protests all came to the forefront. Discussions on politicians and their behaviour was more pronounced (like always!!) Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan, ATS chief Hemant Karkare and other police officers who laid down their lives fighting for the people trapped inside Taj, Oberoi-Trident, CST station and Nariman House committed themselves for fighting against terrorism. On this issue I'm sure most of us would've got forwards and mails saying "We have to fight terror and this can be done staying together OR pray for the souls of the brave men who fought terror....." And atleast some of us would've forwarded it. The point is "What exactly are we going to establish by forwarding such messages?" Of course, it does condemn the attack and so on, but what do we do to actually combat terror? Sure we cannot go out there and fight ourselves. The least we can do is to contribute in our own way. Firstly I think all of us should exercise our right to vote in the right way. Wasting votes only paves way to illegal voting or 'kalla vote-u' in tamil. Joining the armed forces or the police forces or politics (I know it sounds dramatic!) would also be a really good way to serve the nation! (No kidding :P) Joining the various media is also a super cool way to serve the country and combat terror. Investigative and crime journalism is the best suited. Apart from all these career choices, people/residents can form groups among their flat associations etc. to inform the local police and security. By enlarge if all of us are alert and see or hear anything suspicious, it is best to report to the security services or police personnel to ensure the best! Educating people on basics of terrorism and the like would help in the long run, as terrorists cannot do anything without local support, its just not possible. Basically each and everyone us of have to learn how to react in an emergency situation. Panic will be the first thing that comes to our mind when we encounter the above. Panicking is okay, its a natural reaction, after those few seconds one has to act accordingly because safety is the primary measure. Terrorism may take a really long time to get eradicated, but it can surely be prevented!!

Back to college!

College has re-opened and IV semester - eeyuck!! Ok for that matter any semester makes me go that! Once again we were bored to death! HOD came in this eccentrically dyed hair (she dyed it black, lol) it looked really unnatural, like a black crow!! We obvioulsy made fun of that :D
Then came the group sortings and stuff... We thought the "even semester jinx "would once again come into play (Nandita and me, that is) but thanks to a few really nice people it went reallllly well, no awesome!! Thanks Anjana, Susan and Vidya! We really owe you guys!! <3>
Aaaaand the rest of the day moved slowly, with us bunking sanskrit and getting out at 1!!