Christmas is all around me

You know it’s Christmas time when:

1. You start feeling chill in otherwise sunny mornings

2. Suddenly all the shops in the marketplace is full of glitters and Christmas stuffs

3. Churches start looking more beautiful with all lightings and decorations

4. You see small kids selling Santa caps in traffic signals

5. Shopping malls offer special Christmas promotions and are decorated in Christmas themes.

6. Restaurants have special Christmas menu

7. You don’t get tickets for your favorite movie even when you try booking the show few days in advance

8. Christmas songs are played frequently on radio

9. Colleagues suddenly start missing from office after wishing you Merry Christmas

10. Friends start asking your plans for Christmas weekend and you start wondering
what to reply :(

11. And last but not the least, your boss gives you Wine and cake… yummmmm

Christmas is all around me , and so the feeling grows........
Merry Christmas!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My Twilight Saga

This twilight Saga started when I was picking books from my regular roadside bookstall (I am sorry for encouraging piracy). The bookstall wallah knows me very well now.Firstly,since I am a regular shopper there and secondly, since I am a good bargainer ;). He was cross selling me Twilight saying “Madam, is book pe movie bana hai, acchha book hai le lo” . I saw the cover page and recognized Robert Pattison( By that time I never knew his name , Just know him as Cedric Diggory from Harry potter and the Goblet of fire ,who sadly die in the end).I picked up the book and in another two days finished reading it. In next one week I finished the entire Twilight Series i.e. Three books (New moon, Eclipse and Breaking Dawn). But it’s not here where my Twilight saga ends. In fact, it begins from here.

My PG friend Gargee (Whom we fondly call zoo zoo ) also started with twilight after she got bored by continuously listening the excerpts from me. She was so engrossed in it the book that she finished the entire series in flat 4 days (much to my amazement since she is not such an avid book reader). After there the twilight flu caught the entire PG, with me and Gargee arguing every time over whom Edward belongs to. So much so that the frog (soft toy) which Gargee owned (Who was nameless till then) was named Edward (The logic being that the frog will turn to prince charming once kissed ;) and the prince charming was none other than Edward).We both were going gaga over Twilight with Gargee downloading everything right from wallpapers to songs to “new moon” trailers from net. We went crazy over Jacob after the trailer of New moon was on air. Finally, I watched new moon yesterday (As for Gargee she couldn’t wait that long and have already watched it, I think 3 times by now).So as soon as I reached home she asked me “ so whom are you going to take now? Edward or Jacob?” I replied in typical Bella style “I love both, please don’t ask me to choose”.

As for my reviews on Twilight series books and movies (Which again nobody has asked me LOLs), it’s a must read and must watch. If you have read Harry potter and have grown out of the world of wizardry then welcome to the world of Vampires and werewolves. You are surly going to like Twilight Series and of course Edward and Jacob too muaaahhhh!!!!!!!!

Salute to single mothers

Saw “Paa” last week and was crying throughout the movie much to the embarrassment of my sister , who was wondering what is there to cry about(and yes she is used to it now as I almost cry in every other movie ;)) . My heart moved for Vidhya and her flight as a single mom (I know it’s fictitious but then too). It’s difficult to be a single mom that too single mom by choice in a country like India. I was amazed by Arundhati Nag’s (Who played her mother in movie) support to her daughter’s decision especially when Vidhya herself was apprehensive whether she should have baby or not considering society’ s reactions and hardships of raising a child alone. Her mother’s answer (who was also a single mother though not by choice) was simple “If I can raise you alone without anybody’s supports then you have at least me”.

That reminds me of somebody who is considered as an icon of strength in my family. Her name is also Vidhya. Her father was a officer in British rule and she lost her mother when she was a child. She got married to an Officer with roadways at a very young age (16 I suppose) and was blessed with 3 sons. Tragedy struck when her eldest son was diagnosed with polio (polio elimination was not such a widespread campaign that time). Her husband expired when she was not even thirty and soon after that her youngest son was diagnosed with kidney failure. There she was , someone who was not as educated as girls are today at the time when working for women was still a taboo(compared to today’s scenario when we have so many privileges right from our education to working not just different cities but countries and choosing a life partner of our choice) without any financial or emotional support . She, who till now was living a lavish life shifted to a leased house with husband’s pension as only support. But she neither cried nor cribbed simply because she cannot afford to do so with three children to take care of. Her children are well settled now and she has grown old. Now when we, her grandchildren ask her the question that how she managed it all she simply replies” You get the strength by seeing your child and I have three. I had three times the strength”.

So, that was a story of a single mom (without choice) in a world with fewer resources but now when an increasing number of women are opting for being a single mother by choice (Thanks to the career Vs. Biological clock) I think we should respect their decision for the same. They are strong enough to raise a child alone without a husband’s support with grace so lets them give the applause they deserve.

Infidelity :The Forbidden Fruit

I haven’t read newspapers or watched news from a very long time (Thanks to my extended office hours). So, today when I picked up the newspaper I got to know about the infidelity episode of Mr. Woods. I never followed golf but like most of people knows about Woods since he is “The star" of Golf .His infidelity didn’t came as a surprise to me since now a days you read about some or the other celebrity cheating on their wives or girlfriends . It would be the headlines for some days with paparazzi covering every details of your betrayal and then it would all end up suddenly with a “Sorry” speech and teary eyes. Everybody will speculate a divorce which won’t ever happen and then like the celebrity’s wife everybody will forgive it after some time. You will only remember it when there would be any news about that celebrity after this episode which will focus more on this “one” event of his life rather than his achievements (Remember Clinton).

As for my opinion on this (which nobody has asked me LOLs!! ) I think it really hurts when you are betrayed by somebody who is so close to you and even though you are ready to forgive him for all his deeds (Most of the times because of your family esp. children) the damage is irreparable. Your relationship undergoes massive change. Even though you are ready to invest in your relationship and start afresh your feeling changes. The feeling of trust that you have cultivated after so many years of being together is suddenly devastated by a single incident like a storm.

So, what should you do? The answer is simple. And no, it’s not “Leave that %^&*$# and start afresh”. It is to follow your heart without a tinge of compromise and sacrifice. If it asks you to forgive then remember “To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover the prisoner were you” and if it ask to set yourself free then remember “You are moving onto bigger and better things”. As for Woods, let him work on his relationship now. May the best follows!

Toast to three lovely ladies

This month was the month of I do with two of my close friends and my first cousin getting married and guess what? I went to none. I won’t tell the reason since I still feel guilty for not attending any. S , my friend from MBA and my roomie for two years in Pune got married on 19th of this month . I am still very sorry for breaking the promise which six of us (all roomies in Pune) made: “We all will attend the wedding of whosoever will get married first from B-17 (That was our flat number ;)), Irrespective of any reasons”. After MBA it was a coincidence that we all got placed in 3 cities in a group of two!. Me and S in Bangalore, P and NS in Pune and E and SD in Mumbai. S and I couldn’t share a flat as our offices were in two ends of the city but we always made a point to meet on weekends. I still can’t forget her shopping spree before marriage, whereby we almost shopped from morning till night every weekend. She got married to A and i have seen her transition from being a friend to A to his girlfriend to fiancée and now to wife. I wish them all the happiness for their new life together.

M also got married on the same date this month. She was my friend from std 5th to 8th , after that I just met her twice and then no contacts for years. I met her recently (all thanks go to blogging) in a rather unexpected and purely coincidental way. She married H this 19th. My congratulations to her and I wish her all the happiness she always dreamt of.

Now comes my cousin G. She got married this 22nd. I couldn’t attend her wedding also (adding much to my mom’s disappointment and please don’t ask me why?) but I think I make up for it by calling her almost every day and taking firsthand account of wedding from the bride herself ;) . Again called her up this morning and she was leaving for Phuket for her honeymoon ;). So I think I should say ENJOY (apart from my congratulations) now!

I wish all the three ladies a very happy married life .Enjoy!!!!

Yipeee i am tagged !!!!!

Thanks a ton to Wishesgalore for tagging me. I really wanted to get tagged ;)


1. What is your current obsession?
    I am not so consumed by anything but for hobby I will say blogging


2.What are you wearing today?
    Salwar Suit


3. What's for dinner?
    Stale chapatti, yellow watery dal and some unidentified sabji(no I don’t live in a jail , it’s my P.G food)


4. What's the last thing you bought?
     My breakfast


5. What are you listening to right now?
     Keyboard noise from my collegue's desktop


6. What do you think of the person who have tagged you?
    She is my long lost friend , am lucky to find her again.


7. If you could have a house totally paid for , fully furnished anywhere in the world , where would you like it   to be?
    I think here in Bangalore because I really want to shift and this city is damn costly



8. What are your must-have pieces for summer?
    A long staying deo ;)


9. If you could go anywhere in the world for the next hour, where would you go?
    My hometown


10. Which language do you want to learn?
   French. Though I learnt it for full two semesters but still can’t speak it :(


11. What’s your favorite quote?
     “Go with the flow”


12. Who do you want to meet right now?
     My mom


13. What is your favorite color?
      Blue. I think it represent boundlessness like sky and calmness like sea(Too philosophical isn't it ;))

 14. What is your favorite piece of clothing in your own closet?
      Nothing ,I think I got to go for some shopping


15. What is your dream job?
     LOLs does it exists??


16. What’s your favourite magazine?

     All girly ones ;)


17. If you had $100 now, what would you spend it on?
      I think I would add some more and buy a nice camera


18. What do you consider a fashion faux pas?
      Matching it all


19. Piercing or Tatooing?
     A big no for both. Not meant for me.

 20. What kind of haircut do you prefer?
      Long hairs with side fringes

 21. What are you going to do after this?
      Lunch break ;)


22. Ever wanted to change anything?
      A lot. First being my name

 23. What are three cosmetic/makeup/perfume products that you can't live without?
      Shampoo , soaps and toothpaste. I think You ought to have it before going for a makeup. LOLs


24. What inspires you ?
      People with a genuine smile on their face despite all the hardships.


25. Give us three styling tips that always work for you:
      Wear your hair loose, put little kohl and gloss up your lips with a nice shade


26. What do you do when you “have nothing to wear” (even though your closet’s packed)?
      Do some mix and match and accessorize it to make me feel that am wearing something new.


27. Coffee or tea?
      Tea anytime


28. What do you do when you are feeling low or terribly depressed?
      I know it’s too girly but I cry my heart out :( and it really helps.

 29. What is the meaning of your name?
       It has two meaning , love and rain


30. Which other blogs do you love visiting?
     My friend’s , their friend’s and their friend’s friend and I won’t leave this habit as I found my lost friend this way only


31. Favorite Dessert/Sweet?
    Gajar ka Halwa

 32. Favorite Season ?
     Monsoon


33. If I come to your house now, what would u cook for me?
     Nothing, cooking is not allowed at my place :(


34. What is the right way to avoid people who purposefully hurt you?
     Make them realize that they don’t mean anything to you.


35. What are you afraid of the most?
      Losing whatever is dear to me.


36. Is it possible to be in love with two persons simultaneously?
      Is it? I don’t think so but you can have many crushes at the same time ;)




Respond and rework – answer these questions on your blog, replace one question that you dislike with a question of your own, and add one more question to the list.

Girls will be girls

One of my friend A in Pune had a migraine problem which becomes worse every time after exams. Once,her headache worsened and we took her to doctor who asked to get an MRI done (just to be on a safer side) .We went home and decided to go to the hospital next day. The day was very long and with each passing second she was getting more anxious. Next day we went to hospital and doctor referred us to MRI room to meet Dr. J . We were horrified to look that room from outside and I can see some moisture in A’s eye .I took her hand and we went inside and there he was, Dr. J. My mind said “He can’t be doctor he is so damn young and uhmmm smart” .I asked for Dr. J and much to my surprise he said “yes”. My mind said “ok he is THE doctor but why is he in company of this horrifying machine “. Suddenly A said that she is referred for MRI. My mind shifted to A and so does my heart. He asked us to wait. A was afraid and so was I. I asked her not to worry and keep it cool though I know how difficult it is at that time. Then Dr. J came and asked her to be ready and lie down in that machine. I can see tears in A’s eye by now and I took her hand. Dr. J. gave an assuring smile and I left A’s hand. When she was going inside that terrible machine tears start welling up my eyes and finally I broke off. He said “don’t worry; it’s going to be all fine”. My mind said “I know, but you go away and stop distracting me “.After the scan I went to him and asked if it’s all fine and he just smiled (oh that contagious smile!!) .My friend’s report was normal .We were happily returning home when I told her that she was worrying unnecessary to which she agreed and said “Really but I couldn’t help it, by the way did you notice that doctor? Wasn’t he damn too smart? I am sure he must be an intern and his smile was just so charming. His name was J right? “ . I said ”Excuse me, when did you notice all that?” She replied “Do you have to work hard to notice it”. We just laughed our heart out. Girl’s mind sometime works so alike isn’t it?

pic courtesy: http://www.freephotosbank.com

Little sugar in lemonade

Just came across some lovable things(some are comic though)so captured them in my camera . Here it goes:

Right from my office's Lunch Menu :

 Does ice cream has any other taste?               Never thought we can eat jaljeera also;)

My Dear Edward (BTW it was named after Edward Cullen from Twilight ;) )

    Edward in Bath tub                                          Edward taking sun Bath

Rang Shankara on Diwali:

And few last ones:

             Joy of my life                                         Business expansion ;)

REVIEW : 2 States Story of My Marriage

Ok so here goes my first review(ya, i know i promised that i won’t write any reviews but really can’t help it as i am writing about so many stuff which i thought i would never write like poems;))

2 states : the story of my marriage revolves around Krish and Ananya who meet , fall in love and want to get married. The only hurdle being their parents who belongs to two different parts of India i.e North and South . Following the deeply rooted Indian culture in their soul ,they in a typical filmy ishtiyle decides to get married only after their parents approval and its here were the entire fun part begins.

The book captures the essence of difference beween two states right from Delhi to Madras(Oops,sorry i mean Chennai), tea to coffee, Batra’s to Bala’s, paranthas to curd rice, lahengas to kanjeevrams, desi ghee to coconut oil, butter chicken to rasam rice,panner to idlis, Pammi’s and Sweety’s to Manjunathan and Balasubramanian’s , Bhangars to Carnatic music , Petrol pumps to IIMs, baraat to morning weddings and sherwani to vesthi.

The protagonists tries everything to resolve the differences just to ensure that their love story doesn’t end up like “ Ek Duje Ke Liye” (where both girls and boy end up their life). Chetan not just tickles your funny bone but also focusses on serious issues like dowry and importance of girl education.All the witty line doesn’t seems from book but just out of real life.And yes,( as he has metioned ) he has really taken the liberty to make fun of both the cultures. So please don’t feel offended.

I have read all CB’s book and felt that the soul of 5 point someone was missing in every novel which came after that but i think he has compensated it all with his new novel. The best part is the kind of language he use which is not at all difficult to understand and correlate and ofcourse the price(Please buy an original book it just cost 95 bucks).I just wish if he would have worked a bit more on the cover page.
The book is a must read and total value for your money and time.Enjoy!!


P.S: BTW i really want to know how aloo gobhi cooked in coconut oil tastes? Any idea anybody?

Welcome to Commonwealth , India

The recent one I read in TOI is about grooming classes in Delhi for policemen, bus/taxi drivers, conductors, tourism officials and bureaucrats for a nice display of good behavior and etiquettes ahead of commonwealth games.


I was just wondering if the grooming schools also teach:


• No spitting on sidewalks, walls, roads and any other public places.


• Not relieving them anywhere and everywhere.


• Not to use abusive language publically.


• To follow the principle of queuing.


• Stop littering at public places.


• Stop honking unnecessarily.


BTW is there any crash course also ;)

The Weekend with lot of Firsts

This weekend was quite exciting as I did my few firsts , like:


1. For the first time I accompanied somebody for shopping and didn’t bought anything for myself, that too, with lot of Diwali distractions around (I think I should call it an achievement)


1. For the first time I went for a movie in a cinema hall and not a multiplex in Bangalore. I went to Rex with a friend of mine. I was apprehensive to go there because of its shady appearance .My apprehension strengthened further when at the ticket counter the guy said “no card only cash”. But all apprehensions vanished when we went inside. It was a nice place with a very good crowd (student crowd mostly) only if you are ready to pay almost equal to multiplex and can adjust yourself soon in excessive uncomfortable chairs(anyways I think that’s easy to do unless you are going to see a 4 hours saga like “What’s your rashee” )



1. For the first time I actually bought some books from “Blossoms”. I have visited the place often but rarely bought anything. Thanks to the few affordable books (like Chetan Bhagat’s latest) and good discounts at Blossoms I picked up few books.



1. For the first time I had food at “Queens” a place hided by all giant restaurants on Church Street. It had been referred by lot of my friends so I finally visited there. Nice food and ambience but I think it’s slightly overrated.



1. For the first time I had black coffee (actually I didn’t had it but sipped a little from my friend’s mug at a nice coffee shop) and it was awful.



1. And last but not the least for the first time I had crab (which is also my zodiac BTW) and beef. Though, I really wanted to have crab from a long time but beef was purly by chance or rather I should say by confusion as I thought it to be some mutton dish (but it tasted good actually!). Sorry mom, I promise that this first would always remain my first and last.

Kahaani Karvachauth Ki

I think every working person just rejoice October. Month starts with October 2(Though people are still tweeting whether it should be holiday or not). Then comes Dusheera and after that Diwali. But there is one festival (I am actually not sure whether to call it a festival or event. Unfortunately, we don’t have holiday on this day so it must be an event I think!)which create more buzz then all these festivals and that is “Karvachauth” .Now don’t tell me that you haven’t heard of it (irrespective of your marital status).There are so many things that reminds you of this event:


1. Love Aaj Kal:
Love kal was when fasting was observed by married women for the long life of their husband. Love Aaj is not limited till marriage (and husband of course). if you are engaged/involved/committed/married/going around (or whatever your courtship status is) , you will eagerly await this event not just for the well being/long life of your husband/boyfriend/ to be boyfriend /fiancée/ to be fiancée but to make him realize strongly that he is formally yours (and thus he can’t escape).This theory/bond would be strengthened(or should I say stamped)further if he is also fasting for you (no matter if you are “coaxed” or “ emotionally blackmailed” to observe it)


2. Saas Bahu saga on idiot box:
All the saas bahu serials on the T.V will show a “Karvachauth special” episode. Where the protagonist will be showing her “pativrata” status by fasting, performing all the ceremonies (many of them even your grandma won’t know about) and touching their husband's feet. The background music for the scene will change according to the situation: happy melody if their married life is going smoothly and sad if there is a turbulence (or rather I should say a “third” is there between them).


3. Kab Tak:
Then there would be news channel like “Kab tak” which will be telling you every microscopic details about the event, right from how the position of Mercury, Venus, Earth (oops! sorry not this) Mars is effecting your husband’s wellbeing. Then there would be special advices from astrologers on what you should do for your husband’s wellbeing. Special coverage of celebrities’ fasting (of course the focus would be on newlyweds like Rakhi (BTW she isn’t married yet)).At which time you can see the moon and if moon won’t appear at their forecasted time, they will go to the extent of showing a lady looking up to the sky for the moon in the similar fashion as a farmer would look for the clouds during drought.


4. Advertisements:
There would be constant advertisements showing how important is the life of your husband so better to insure it or, how lovingly your wife is fasting for your well being so why not gift her with some diamonds.


5. Gossips and Grapevines :
There would be gossips all around the place confirming your relationship status. “Do you know she is fasting” means she is no more single now. “ Do you know she is not fasting” means she just broke off. “Let’s see if she fasts” means response to proposal is awaited.


6. Reincarnation of Parvati and Tulsi:
And if all the above events still didn’t remind you of this occasion, then just wait to see women in your neighborhood or office .They would be showing their full devotion towards their husband through their heavy makeup , jewellery and clothing.

Wake Up Girls

“I don’t think I can fall for somebody like you”. So what kind of guy you want? ”I want somebody who is mature and responsible; I want a man not a boy”.

So, how many times have you used this line or heard it from somebody (Not just in “Wake up Sid” of course).How many times have you emphasized on these two simple (yet so complex to define) words: mature and responsible? These are the top two words in my list of must have also (though I myself never knew what that mean seriously)


So, what happens when you meet your Prince Charming the so called Mr. Mature and Responsible? You blindly follow what he likes. You will start following Jazz though you never understand it. You start listening to the band he likes though you don’t like it at all. You start adopting the kind of food he likes though you just can’t stand the smell of it and what not. Simply, because you want to make them feel that you are in their league too. That you are also mature (whether its music, food or liking) like them. Though you yourself are a girl by heart and not a woman. So what if you want to go to some nice movie instead of a Jazz show or you want to listen to your favorite songs instead of his favorite band or you want to eat paanipuri at some road side stall instead of some Italian stuff at a nice sophisticated restaurant or wants to get drenched in rain instead of waiting in a cofeeshop to get it stopped. Sounds quite immature right or sounds like a true you? If you are lucky you realize “it’s just so not you” on time and follow your heart and if you are not so lucky, you keep on struggling to find a definition for these two complicated words.


Hmm... I don’t think I have to write an entire post to realize you this. So, Wake up girls and follow your heart or should I say go and watch Wake up Sid!!!
Anyways, there are few things which I put on my “must do” list after watching this movie:


1. To seriously start thinking about enrolling in a photography course (Thanks to Sid!! But somebody plzzzz gift me a slr, I really can’t afford it)


2. To shift in a flat( Thanks to Aisha)

3. To pronounce Mumbai as Mumbai and not Bombay( BTW whom should I thank for this ? Karan or Raj Thackeray ;) )

Little Angel

This poem is dedicated to all my friends who , right from my very first poem were teasing me " that you write what you experience" .I always thought that i will put a disclaimer before any poems i write explaining that this is not experienced by me or related to my life in any way.But i found the best way out ;).
 So , here goes my next poem which i am dedicating to my college friend N who has been blessed with a baby boy recently




You came,

When they put you on my lap
And that instant I know,
You have filled that gap.
The void existing in my life,
Feeling called motherhood,
I always strive.
I was so afraid, to put you in my arms
You were so fragile; I hope I won’t do any harm.
Then I saw your face If it resembles mine,
It was like an angel’s, so pure, so divine.
You who once was a piece of me,
Here lie in my lap; I can feel I can see.
I can feel your heartbeat, I can feel your breath,
Your half open eyes and your silk smooth skin.
Your little hand clutch my fingers so hard,
As if realizing me, you are my part.
Even though you have come out of my womb,
The bond which was there, Is still so strong.
Your tiny body warming against mine,
Makes my eyes misty, I see you every time.
When I hold you, touch you,
And feel you little dove.
I know I have lost my heart again,
And this time it’s you, my Love.

Iktaara....

Love this song. Gonna watch this movie this weekend. What can be a better way to start the month and moreover what can be a better way to start the quota of posts for this month ;)


Here's the lyrics:


O re manwa tu to bawra hai
Tu hi jaane tu kya sochta hai
Tu hi jaane tu kya sochta hai
Baware


Kyun dikhaye sapne tu sote jaagte
Jo barsein sapne boond boond
Nainon ko moond moond
Nainon ko moond moond
Jo barsein sapne boond boond
Nainon ko moond moond


Kaise main chaloon
Dekh na sakoon
Anjaane raaste


Goonja sa hai koi ektara iktara
Goonja sa hai koi ektara
Goonja sa hai koi ektara iktara
Goonja sa hai koi ektara
Dheeme bole koi ektara iktara
Dheeme bole koi ektara iktara
Goonja sa hai koi ektara iktara
Goonja sa hai koi ektara


Sun rahi hoon sudhbudh kho ke
Koi main kahani
Puri kahani hai kya kisi hai pata
Main to kisiki ho ke yeh bhi na jaani
Ruth hai yeh do pal ki ya rahegi sada


Kise hai pata
kise hai pata..


Jo barsein sapne boond boond
Nainon ko moond moond
Nainon ko moond moond..
Jo barsein sapne boond boond
Nainon ko moond moond


Kaise main chaloon
Dekh na sakoon
Anjaane raaste


Goonja sa hai koi ektara iktara
Goonja sa hai koi ektara
Goonja sa hai koi ektara iktara
Goonja sa hai koi ektara
Dheeme bole koi ektara iktara
Dheeme bole koi ektara iktara
Goonja sa hai koi ektara iktara
Goonja sa hai koi ektara

The Six yards Story

My six yards story started some 3 years back when I got admission in a B school in Pune. My college brochure mentioned that there would be an induction for 7 days whereby we have to wear Saree, the six yards cloth. What more, we have uniform as saree (though you don’t have to wear it every day).So, my mom started giving me lessons on how to drape a saree (which I as usual keep on avoiding till the day I have to leave for Pune). I stayed up at my aunt’s place during induction and really, I am proud of my decision as my other roommates have to get up at some 5 in the morning so that they have one full hour to drape that six yard cloth(as we had induction starting from early morning 7). Thankfully for me my aunt would drape it in few minutes and I could catch some last minutes sleep ;). After I shifted with my friends, it really becomes troublesome for me to drape it myself. Thanks to all my roomies, they would help me in this cumbersome task but still our draping time didn’t reduce from 1 hr.(Thanks to my college which have a “ special way “ of draping saree which was no different than air hostesses. Full pleated, perfectly pallued and too much pinned).The worst part was walking in a saree. Guys would think that we are walking in full poise and elegance when the reality was that we would feel like an Egyptian mummy fully draped, toiling hard to move. The day we used to wear saree, we used to swear that after finishing college we won’t ever touch this six yard cloth. In the meantime I also learned to wear saree( thanks again to my college , we all roomies shifted to different sections with different class timings and I couldn’t ask my maid to help me in draping it every day). Then Came the summer internship time, whereby companies will visit everyday meaning that you have to wear it every day. Our draping time reduced drastically to half (since we have to wear it every day , I think we become accustomed to drape it) and we become more skillful in wearing and managing it(yeah, finally we were able to walk with poise and elegance in it, though by now guys stopped finding it elegant) . Then came placement time whereby we used to almost eat sleep and wake up in that , draping time of course reduced to 10 mins and we used to joke that if someone will ask us to take part in relay wearing this we will surly win.


The saree survived for complete two years with us and by the time we finished college we were so accustomed to it that we really miss not wearing it now. After placements when I went home, I helped my mom in draping her saree once. My mother was both surprised and happy that I can actually drape it so nicely. That six yard of Navy blue silk with copper border has actually taught me so many things apart from draping. I have actually become acquainted to so many cultures through it. You can easily recognize a Maharastrian, Guajarati, Bengali, Keralite, Tamilian and Coorgi simply by looking at the saree. This garment is the most adaptable one. It is suitable for any occasion and the best part is it never goes out of fashion. So, better to include at least one in your wardrobe and take my words, you will never regret it.

The 4 P's of Cooking

My mom is a great cook .She always pampered us with sumptuous meal so, my dad and other relatives always had this big misconception that i will also inherit the same quality from her (much to my grandma’s disappointment, who considers that I have not inherited anything from my mother (neither her looks nor her culinary skills). She always says that my parents has pampered me a way too much. But I don’t think that is their fault, like any other parents they always asked me to just focus on my studies .Though my mother do taught me some basic things before I left for Pune, like making chapatti, dal and rice (which obviously don’t require much of effort).I must confess that making chapatti was most difficult (especially to come out with proper shapes).For the first few days my dad just keep on asking me “which country’s map is this” (He is a PhD in Geography BTW). After days of practice and under my mother’s strict supervision i learnt to make “Phulka” (which actually made my mom so happy that she didn’t gave me any cooking lessons after that for a very long time)
My sessions for cooking formally started when I was at home and waiting for my joining date. My mother thought that I have learnt enough of 4 P’s of marketing and it’s high time for me to learn some ABC of cooking now. She had already prepared a mini (I should say it rigorous) training plan, which includes:


1.Training day (whereby she will teach me cooking, precisely I have to just look at how she cooks)
2.Practice day (Whereby I will cook under her supervision)
3.D- Day (Whereby I will cook for the family without her supervision and they will
judge)


So after thumbs up from my dad, “I know you can do it” expression from my grandma and “mom I am out for dinner” from my brother I entered into kkkkkkkkk--- kitchen


Day 1: Training day: “Cooking is an art” my mother said (Researchers are still confused management being an art or science, how can she say this about kitchen so confidently? hmm thing to ponder about).So,today we will start with simple dal,take out yellow one from the container she said. I took yellow dal but it was a wrong one.So, here it goes: “By your age I was married and taking care of such a big family. Look at you, can’t even distinguish between pulses” (It’s not my fault if there are two pulses with same color ).Anyways, after “do it like this”, “mix it like that” and lot of fights I finished my training day.


Day 2: Practice Day: So I had to cook that day under my mother’s presence. She asked me to fry onions till they turn golden brown and then add tomatoes and spices, after saying this she left. I put onion for frying and started waiting for them to turn Golden brown. But before I could see them turning golden brown , I saw my mom’s red face and” what is this smell, I asked you to fry them not to burn them”. I looked at my golden brown onions (damn when did they turn black) and here it goes: “What are you going to do once you are married. Even if you will put a cook, how long will your husband eat a cook’s food, someday he will ask you to cook then what will you do” (Is it a mission or vision statement?).Thank god she didn’t say the melodramic line ”Way to a man’s heart is through his stomach”. I don't know how much of cooking i learnt that day but i surly learnt the difference between different shades of brown.


Day 3: D- Day: That day my mother didn’t entered the kitchen at all and announced that today I am going to prepare food. With wishes from my father, skeptical expression from my grandma and “ I am out for dinner” from my brother again I entered for my agnipariksha . I cooked, served and waited for their expressions. It was good (edible I should say), my mom smile showed triumph of a good teacher. I thanked God that at least today I didn’t get any thrash from her. But then after dinner she entered into kitchen and here it goes: “What is this? Who is going to clean this mess? Were you cooking food or playing with all the items here? Any Tom, Dick and Harry can cook (Damn, them why did I take all this pain) but you should know how to cook with elegance”. I just wished that she is not going prepare another training schedule for the same. Thank God she didn’t but yes I realized that 4 P’s exists in cooking also, which every trainee should keep into account:


Patience
Persistence
Proportion
Pain

JOY OF MY LIFE

He is the love of my life. I won’t say that I love him more than anyone else in this world, but still, I adore him. He came into my life just like that and really it was love at first sight (though I don’t believe in it). His smile is more gracious than Tom Cruise and his walk can put any ramp walker to shame. He is the JOY of my life really. So, if by now you are thinking that I am talking about a guy than you are wrong. That someone special is the dog that I met one day in the park, and fall in love with. His name is joy (and he is a saint bernard) .He is not more than few months old but still he is very huge and fluffy. I met him twice and after that we never met (perhaps he changed his morning walk timings  ). I missed him very much, so my friends gave me an exact copy of him (nahh it is a soft toy) on my birthday and I instantly named him Joy.
My family had a dog when I was some 2 year old (I still have a pic of his sitting next to me).After his death my parents never kept a dog and never allowed us to have one. But I will surely have it one day (a golden retriever I think!! And my face book quiz about “which dog shall I have” also say the same)

These are few things (Damn, I think I should just stop using this line now) about dogs, which make them the cutest pet :

1. They are the loyalist (much better than guys I must say!!!), their love is unconditional.

2. They will miss you the most if you are not around ;)

3. They are great stress buster, just play with them for a while and you will forget all your troubles

4. You can talk to them whenever you are feeling lonesome and the best part is that he will understand it that you are feeling blue but will never try to find out why?

5. For them you are the best person on earth (though however bad you are!!)

6. If you think dogs can't count, try putting three dog biscuits in your pocket and then giving them only two of them. ~Phil Pastoret
7. The great pleasure of a dog is that you may make a fool of yourself with him and not only will he not scold you, but he will make a fool of himself too. ~Samuel Butler

8. Don’t leave your socks in your shoes else you will find only its shreds

9. Scratch a dog and you'll find a permanent job. ~Franklin P. Jones

10. Amount of time it takes for a dog to "do its business" is directly proportional to outside temperature + suitability of owner's outerwear. ~Betsy Cañas Garmon

About Betty(s), Veronica(s) and Archie(s)

I know it’s too late for me to write about “Archie marrying Veronica” but really can’t help it. I had already given my side of opinion about this topic a long time back (that time I had not started blogging). But with so many marriages, marriage talks, marriage proposals, marriage announcements happening around ,it just reminded me of that .So, I thought to put my opinion along with few of my friend’s here.

My best friend is a great Betty fan, like the one who will cry when she will cry (which Betty does almost every time anywez), so she was all heartbroken. She gave her side of opinion of why Archie should choose Betty over spoilt, fickle and shrewd Veronica (Ok, don’t take these adjective into accounts, I have my list ready ;)), her comments follows:

How can he?????? Betty is so sweet. She is Archie’s real friend, she has done so much for him (Yeah, knitting, cooking and mending his car, I understand dear). She waited for him for so long and see what happened she got ditched (It’s a common story sweety, TRUTH OF LIFE).He chose Veronica because she is rich and famous right (but by now you should know this fact about guys) She always go back to Reggie. Even his best friend Jughead never liked her (but he never liked anything more than his hamburgers).Betty is so caring and affectionate. I am sure even if Archie marry Veronica, Betty will always be in his heart (Chooooo Chweetttt) and anywez they can’t remain together for long, they will surly split. I read it somewhere in the net how their zodiacs are incompatible, He is a Sagittarius so he is more compatible with Betty (OMG, I never knew this!!)

Ok I think that was enough on her part(and a bit superstitious too) to support Betty, as for me I had always loved Veronica. I always found her more natural and closer to real life than Betty. Girls love shopping like Veronica; they love dressing up, want attention and do get zealous (and obviously love making other zealous too ;)) .You can’t really find a goody goody girl like Betty. A girl won’t ever like (forget being a best friend) a girl who is trying on her love interest. Veronica is full of surprises and oomph. She is herself whether it’s good or bad.

To all the conversation going on, my friend (I will call him Archie) replied:
“Lucky guy Archie, with two girls drooling over him. But from where this marriage thing came? Why he want to mess up? Why doesn’t he just go around with both of them? “

To this statement me and my best friend realized that boys will always remain boys and so would Archie, the ultimate playboy of Riverdale High School. Good luck to both Betty and Veronica, Beware girls!!

Lost Love

This poem is dedicated to few of my friends who are still clutching their past and afraid to move on.

You are still there
In that weathered rose,
Lying in my old book ,
Don’t know why
I still hold that close .

You are still there
In pictures in my album.
In that chocolate wrapper,
Which even after years
Still lying in my drawer.


You are still there
In that song on radio,
Which reminds me of you
Making my feelings,
Melancholy blue .

You are still there
In those gifted cards,
Which remind me every time,
How my heart has been scarred .

You are still there
In my phone’s contact list,
Though no number is there,
But your name exists.

You are still there
Though not in my sight,
But on my friend’s list,
On some social networking site .

You are still there
In that day of the year,
Which like a normal day ,
Comes every year.
But still I remember ,
Your birth day
After so many years .

You are still there
In that favorite seat of yours
Of that coffee house ,
The couples we used to see there,
Now comes as spouse.

You are still there
In the color you like,
How hard may I try to hate it,
I can’t still dislike.

You are still there
On the benches we sat,
In the places we met,
Dates which are special,
Dates which are sad.

You are still there, here
And scattered everywhere.
Though not in my life,
But in memories somewhere.
Your presence so strong,
Will not be there lifelong ,
And with the sand of time,
You will fade out of my mind.

Beside The Ganges, Touching Himalaya

While on my trip back home i went for a short trip(actually 10 hrs only) to my granny's place.The place is only 4 hr drive from my home so we just went there, touched the place and come back :( . I clicked lot of pics on my way , so i thought what place can i find better than here to show the world my photographic skill ;)


NOTE: These pics were clicked with my poor 3 MP camera phone and after " i will throw all these cell phones out" from my uncle(poor he !! its crazy driving with three girls on board with all " wait we wanna click pic here" sound)


So here i go:

gue

Strength

I was fighting my feelings,
I was striving my thoughts.
Though I was with friends,
I was so lost.
Why it’s me every time,
What’s my crime?
My life should also be
A fun filled rhyme.
Then I saw you
In between the crowd,
Like a ray of sunshine amongst cloud.
You were enjoying,
Like rest of them around.
Even with the crutches,
Your happiness so profound.
Tell me what and where it’s wrong
Why am I so weak?
And you are so strong.

Shopping with guys:Few things to remember

The DNA composition of guys just doesn’t support the element called “shopping”. So if by any chance you have ever gone on a shopping spree with a guy, you can easily tell how lazy they are about it.
The entire shopping process clearly shows the Mars and Venus difference right from the point of “what to shop for”. While we, the Venus species would be drooling over all the clothes and accessories outlets, the only outlet that would interest the mars species is gizmos. So, no surprise that while your cupboard is full of your shopping testimonials they may not be using cupboards at all or while you would be going outside with a (or may be more) huge suitcase with one dress for every occasion they would be just taking one bag pack(as small as your handbag) with them .
Difference Two: They won’t search an entire Mall or shopping street just for a best deal. So forget it if you are shopping with a guy and still wish to “window shop” all shops, probability is that his face will drop with every “one last shop” you visit and by the time you are through with your entire window shopping, you may not even find him by your side. They are one shop one stop people. So don’t be surprised if their one shirt cost more than your three dresses.
Difference Three: Bargaining is a big NO-NO; don’t even dare to bargain in front of them. Chances of his supporting the salesperson are more than supporting you.
Difference Four: Don’t ask for their opinion (esp. after u have window-shopped and tried lot of things and still not purchased anything), it would be highly biased towards pulling you out of that outlet if not a big outburst of their suppressed emotions.
Difference Five: They share the same passion for the word “SALE” only difference being that the feelings for the same are pole apart, you may be hooked to it but they just loathe it.

I have never shopped with guys except for some rare occasions, recent being when I have to leave for home and badly needed a trolley bag , I asked one of my friend to accompany me for the same , He agreed and we went to just two outlet( I still believe it’s too small a number for me). In the first outlet I liked one (which was just a single piece) but my friend didn’t agreed for the color while we were discussing the same one person took it off adding much to my chagrin. So I asked my friend that I will decide the next outlet which ( much to his disappointment ) was a hyper mart with a sale going on its luggage section( can’t help it ;) ) . My friend took a deep breath before entering and said “10 minutes and we would be out “. I picked the bag after “I hate coming here”,” I feel suffocated here”, “why don’t they just bill faster”, and “How much grocery do these people buy”. So I reminded him that he is also going to be one of those people after some years to which he just gave me the “I will kill you” look and we went out.

Second, recent occasion being when I visited Delhi, me and one of my friends decided to meet up at CP so after some chat and few coffees we were just strolling around the place when I saw Jan path. He asked me to shop anywhere except this place since he had sworn that he won’t visit this place again. After much persuasion and “why don’t you girls just shop at all these big glass structure “he agreed, we went inside and he start chatting on his phone (he need distraction he said). Following conversation followed:
Me: How much for this bhaiyya (ok this is common addressal for whomsoever u don’t know and yeah exceptions are always there;) )
Salesman: 400 bucks
Me : 180
Friend: Are you crazy ??? its less then even half!
Salesman: no madam
Me :Ok ( and I dropped the piece)
Salesman: Ok madam 220 final
Me: Nop just 180
Friend: Common buy it he has come down to 220
Salesman: Ok 210
Me:ok 200 Final
I got the stuff and my friend again swore that day that he won't visit the place again atleast not with a girl.