Tuesday, September 29

Maybe...

Hows it goin, friends?!!

A lovely mail today, very thoughtful and touching... Something similar to what I said last time about acceptance...

Enjoy.

Maybe ...
We were supposed to meet all the wrong people
Before meeting the right one so that,
When we finally meet the right person,
We will know how to be grateful for that gift.

Maybe ...
It is true that we don't know what we have,
Until we lose it,
But it is also true that we don't know what we have been missing,
Until it arrives.

Maybe ...
The brightest future will always be based on a forgotten past;
After all, you can't go on successfully in life,
Until you let go of your past mistakes, failures and heartaches.

Maybe ...
You should hope for enough happiness to make you sweet,
Enough trials to make you strong,
Enough sorrow to keep you human,
And enough hope to make you happy.

Maybe ...
The happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything;
They just make the most of everything that comes along their way.

Maybe ...
The best kind of friend is the kind you can sit on a porch with,
Never say a word,
And then walk away feeling
It was the best conversation you've ever had.

Maybe ...
Happiness waits for all those who cry,
All those who hurt,
All those who have searched,
And all those who have tried,
For only they can appreciate the importance
Of all the people who have touched their lives.

Maybe ...
You should do something nice for someone every single day,
Even if it is simply to leave them alone.

Maybe ...
There are moments in life when you miss someone --
A parent, a spouse, a friend, a child --
So much...
That you just want to pick them from your dreams
And hug them for real,
So that once they are around,
You appreciate them more.

Maybe …
Giving someone all your loveIs never an assurance that they will love you back.
Don't expect love in return;
Just wait for it to grow in their heart;
But, if it doesn't, Be content that it grew in yours.

Maybe ...
You should dream what you want to dream;
Go where you want to go,
Be what you want to be,
Because you have only one life
And one chance to do all the things you dream of.

Life is only travelled ONCE; Today’s MOMENT becomes Tomorrow’s MEMORY.
Live every moment, good or bad, because the GIFT of LIFE is LIFE itself….

Love,
Princess

Saturday, September 26

Venkatesh Prabhu Govinda!!

Mum is planning to visit Tirupati next month. One of her relatives organizes Pravachans (religious dicsourses) every year at holy places, and this time the shrine in focus was Balaji's wealthy and popular abode. I hate it when she's away traveling. Makes me feel very lonely and stressed at home...

By the way, read this titbit of info in Mirror a while ago - the fantastic Tirupati laddoos (the prasadam that they distribute to all devotees who visit Lord Balaji) now have their own patent! Too good, na?

I love watching F.R.I.E.N.D.S or simply, Friends – the American sitcom that has been going on forever on Star World. (Did you know it was initially titled Insomnia CafĂ©? Or that it has 10 seasons and was nominated for 63 Primetime Emmy Awards? Here are
all the details)

So well, I turned on the television yesterday after I got home from work, and this scene was going on between Jennifer Aniston (Rachel) and David Schwimmer (Ross)… Rach is pregnant and she says that she doesn’t want to be with Ross herself but she doesn’t want him to date anyone else either. She knows its unreasonable, but that is what she wants… And Ross says yes…!!

Now ain’t that sweet?!! Love is an insane thing, indeed! Makes you ask for, expect and agree to the weirdest of things… I love Love man!

The scene between Rachel and Ross reinforces my belief that I am my best critic… and my best friend… I know myself in and out, and I’m honest enough to accept what my conclusions and feelings convey, both about myself and about others. I know I am immensely unreasonable, and that I expect the world from those I love, or those who say they love me. I need to be TOLD loud and clear that I am appreciated, needed, liked and loved. Hints are not enough.

And this doesn’t hold true just for my friends or family. It’s true for any person I feel close to. I chanced upon this insight when I realized that I was restless when another trainer was teaching my batch. I was constantly anxious about whether my students were finding her more interesting and effective than they found me. My turmoil was blazing until the trainer left the class and I entered. I saw the students pleading to me to continue training for the rest of the day, saying that the other trainer was not sufficiently helpful, cool and motivating...

You guessed it. I was all smiles. My peace and joy was restored. The other trainer continued guiding the students, but I did not mind anymore… I knew their loyalties lay with me… I’m so damned possessive, insecure and demanding that I appreciate all those who try to live with me and make me happy! I know I am good when I care for someone (and I am indeed very caring and protective), but life with me is not easy, fellas! Of course I am fair and logical, but my upfrontness could be fatal...

Hey, I forgot to tell ya that I visited a fun place with my students (the bunch of monkeys that comprise my Wipro Academy batch) the weekend before last. The hangout is called “The Garage” and while I had seen the hoarding several times, I’d never visited it before last Saturday. It’s located on the first floor of the complex bang opposite Fergusson College. The area is teeny, but it’s done up well. There are pictures of trucks on the walls, and even two mock-rickshaws where you can sit (if you’re going to bill 500 and above).

What’s special about this place, you say? Well, the crowd obviously is good given the cool locality, and the music is upbeat and modern, but they also serve hookah in various interesting flavors! Whooppee… So, now we needn’t go all the way to Mocha in Koregaon Park if we want to enjoy the sheesha…

I am not certain whether they serve any liquor, but I caught a fleeting glance at a gang that seemed to be swigging tequilas. (Well, you can always head down to Apache if they don’t!) There are some snacks on the menu (that we didn’t eat, so can’t give you any hint there) but the prices looked decent. The next time you want to unwind, go to The Garage and relax your anjar-panjar, naye-purane purze :-D

Diwali’s almost here, it’s Dassera on Monday. (Was just reading
my poem from last Diwali) Mum’s worrying about the spring cleaning coz there’s nobody to help her in her gigantic task of scrubbing the entire house; the rest of us in the family are all working full-time, besides we don’t have either her passion or energy to engage in this kind of work. Plus, the rains are unpredictable, so one can’t risk keeping stuff on the terrace…

So many worries, so li'l joy...
Oy hoy oy hoy hoy...


:-D

Happy Weekend!
Anuja

Thursday, September 24

Hale and Heart(y)

As they say, the best man won. Yet, I can’t truthfully state that I’m happy. I would have preferred Javed to win. That man really is a whiz at biking and stunting. However, uska upar ka maalaa thoda khaali hai, so Handa scored.

The verdict – Handa is the baap of stunting, the winner of MTV Pulsar Stunt Mania and the proud owner of a brand new Pulsar Chrome. Javed is the first runner up and the winner of a Pulsar 220.

Akshay Kumar came for the final stunt which was obviously the most outrageous of all till date – chasing a trailer that’s traveling 100kph, riding onto it, sliding under the trailer and retrieving a key from its belly, climbing up again and unlocking the Chrome Pulsar atop the trailer, and finally riding it off the vehicle… Whew!

I’ve not been well for the past few days. The change in the weather has got to me. Don’t know what’s happening to Pune; the place used to have a climate that was above reproach. And now, it pours in November, winter hardly stays, and the sun doesn’t take a breather before August.
Pata nahi kiski nazar lag gayi hamare sheher ko…

Back to my unwell condition. I had a temperature of 101.6 on Monday (not a very happy Id for me), and I could barely stand or speak. Even gulping food and water was a difficult, and the worst thing was that I could not even sleep due to my anguish. It was only when I went to my family doc (my darling Bugs Bunny), that I felt at ease. He gave me an injection (as usual) and a pep talk about health and resistance-building (as usual), but his efforts paid off for sure and I was ok the next day. I hate being ill, unlike those who enjoy the attention and care. To me, it’s a sign that I’m burdening others and disturbing their lives.

(By the way, I feel sorry for doctors. The poor folks have to look down so many gullets and glance at so many bums… Of course, it’s another story if they enjoy such sights…)

Hey, got this wonder link from a friend... Check out this interesting clock -
http://www.poodwaddle.com/worldclock.swf

By the way, my reading of the Sherlock Holmes mysteries is going quite well. Nevertheless, my desire for some tadakta-phadakta mush in life has provoked me to re-read Stephenie Myers' Twilight series. (Ya, my actual love life sucks! So need to get those goosebumps from novels... Sad, I know...) Edward still manages to make me feel divine, and the my romantic fascination and passionate zeal have me aching to continue reading even when my eyes and body beg for a night's sleep...

My next Wipro Academy batch doesn't begin until next month, and I'm hoping I can wrap up my application essays during this period. I miss exercising, swimming especially, coz I'm so busy with my essays and training tasks, and then I'm too pooped to engage in any physical activity. However, I've bought a skipping rope, so I'm crossing my fingers and praying that I become more fitness-conscious soon. Need to get tid of all the tummy fat... High time...

Stay healthy!
Princess

Monday, September 21

Wassup Doc?

Id Mubarak!

(And a very warm hug to my new followers... Thanks for the interest, buddies!)

Why can't the week begin on Tuesdays? I work full days 6 days a week, so one Sunday is hardly enough to offload all my stress, complete personal and pending chores and rejuvenate myself. Bother bother!

Hey, despite the swine flu fatalities, people seem to be calm and social again. The devi temples are bustling with people for Navratri, and folks have thrown caution to the winds. The first weekend after the outbreak was nothing short of phenomenal. Chalo accha hai, logon ke mann se darr hutt raha hai… But I hope the virus comes under control now. New stocks of Tamiflu have been known to reach the market, and hopefully the vaccine will be ready and available before the virus disappears by itself.

There have been some very disturbing news lately. One was the death of Andhra CM YSR Reddy. What was more disconcerting was the mass suicide that took place bcoz of Rajasekhar’s sudden demise. What a fanatic population the South has! Of course, I know Westerners also do the same when their idols pass away… Either way, I don’t approve of it. A person lives his/her life, and departs when his/her time is over. That is no reason for another individual to cut short his/her life. If God had wanted it that way, He would have made sure they died at the same time…

And I don’t just mean physically. There are also cases when someone near and dear dies, and another person finds it hard to go on without that person. I understand it’s not easy to start afresh and live life as if everything is normal, but one has to try. Just think about it this way – would the dead individual (who I presume loves and cares for you), want you to suffer and lead each day sorrowfully? Would he/she up there be happy to see you crying and upset? My guess is no… Yet one could also argue that the dead person would be glad to know that the living person still remembers and misses him/her. All a matter of perspective.

My neighbor (whose hubby expired a few months ago, told you about that) is an lively and enthusiastic lady. Not once have I seen her morose and miserable save for the first week after she entered widowhood. We admire her strength and practicality, and I so wish that we were all as gifted as her… Another person I know - Abba’s friend and a doc by profession – has made it amply clear that no one is supposed to cry at his funeral. He wants everybody to just meet up, have a few drinks, remember him with joy and love, and have a good time. That’s the way to be, man!!

(I am not sure I want my loved ones to move on immediately after I die… I don’t want them to weep all day either, but I would surely like it if they miss me in their happy and busy times… I’m being honest, and that’s good, right?!)

By the way, I finally caught Final Destination 4 yesterday. Saw it in 3D at E-square. Watta gross movie! I mean it's done fabulously, but the picturization and imagination of the creators sure gives me the creeps. How can people cook up something so ominous and foreboding? The movie shows bloody intestines and cracked eyeballs and what not... I haven't seen the first 3 parts, and I don't want to either... Why watch a film that only has a series of dirty deaths for 90 minutes straight? (That didn't affect my popcorn consumption though... Caramel popcorn could make me rise from the dead.)

Anyways, too much said about death and grief. Leme share some cheerful news about Sachin Tendulkar, Leander Paes and Kim Clijsters. Although I am not an avid sports fan, I was jubilant when I read about the stupendous achievements of this threesome. Little Master hit his 44th ODI century in the India-Sri Lanka match on Monday and Indians went wild hailing and praising him across FB, Twitter, in person and everywhere else. I mean seriously, people REALLY love him. The most amazing quote I’ve ever come across in my life, the biggest appreciation ever, is when Matthew Hayden said, "I HAVE SEEN GOD, HE BATS AT NO. 4 FOR INDIA"

Leander Paes is no less in tennis. His 10th Grand Slam win came with Czech partner Lukas Dlouhy, incidentally against another stalwart pair Mahesh Bhupathi and Mark Knowles. Way to go, man! And cheers to the woman… Supermom, as TOI aptly titled her... Kim Clijsters became the first woman since 1980 to win the Grand Slam singles title after childbirth. Hats off to these sportspersons and their tenacity!

TV shows are not far behind when it comes to testing strength. The persistence of a few women celebrities is being tested in the TV show Khatron Ke Khiladi (season 2). Akshay Kumar is the host again and the location remains the same as last time, South Africa. The tasks are weird – right from putting your head in the same pot as 4 octopuses to walking atop a racing truck on the highway. The contestants are not excellent, though, which disappoints both the viewer as well as Akki “Sir”.

The other show that will test couples is called Pati, Patni and Wo where the husband-wife will have to take care of a toddler. Drama queen Rakhi Sawant (who has the b*lls to call herself “Lady Amitabh Bacchan”) is part of the cast as is her Swayamvar-partner Elesh Parujanwala (no, they haven’t tied the knot yet, and I doubt if they ever shall).

As if that wasn’t distressing enough, there came the news about the stone-pelting at Rahul Gandhi. I am shocked by the teenage boys who are believed to have done this. What is to be gained by this immature behavior? Did the boys think they were imitating Amir Khan in Rang De Basanti when they planned to carry out this stupid act? I don’t know much about politics and politicians, but I sure am against any kind of violence. Be it the attacks by China or Pakistan on India, or this domestic terrorism. Aggression and bloodshed is not the solution, folks!! We aren’t born humans for nothing…

By the way, the awesomest news is that all of the candidates of my Wipro Academy got selected! My boss, manager, colleagues, students and the Wipro executive were all ecstatic and full of appreciation. This is a record, dudes and dudettes!! I'm super pleased... Touch wood!!

Have a good week :-)
(Lucky you if you gotta holiday for Eid...)

Love Luck Laughter,
Princess

Thursday, September 17

So-li-dude

Yippeee… I’m so lucky! My mamma loves me SOOOO much…

Nope, I didn’t realize this now, I’ve always known it. And I know Mother’s Day is a long time away. It’s just that there are these times when you really feel blessed and happy, and want to shout it out loud... My mum’s a sweetheart, fellas. (As I’ve told you a zillion times before.) Whatta bundle of energy and affection! I really admire her… And I pray she always stays happy and cheerful. She certainly deserves to…

Guess what, I saw God in my dreams today. Live. I held him and it was the most magnificent thing I’ve ever experienced. For some reason I thought he was Krishna; he was resting in the basement of the Balaji temple at Tirupati as quite a few of us devotees landed there to take his darshana. He saw us and got up, and like a celebrity came up close to the crowd so that we could touch and worship him. Greedy baby that I am, I just held his face and refused to let go for almost 3 minutes! And he stood… waiting for me to let go… So sweet!!

Oh, and wonder of wonders, Jesus Christ was also resting with his followers in an adjoining room. This is what is called secularism in the true sense of the word. Just like an Italian lady relinquishes the Prime Minister’s seat to a Sikh who is sworn in by a Muslim President. That’s India for you…

I wish I could spare more time to write to you. You must be kinda bored or maybe disappointed with the fact that I post forwarded mails on my blog so often these days. I can’t help it, ya. I don’t have a comp/lappie at home, and when I’m at work I hardly have time to use the desktop to type in my US MBA application essays, let alone an entire blog article. The training is going well, but I’m very stressed because the students didn’t perform too well on a mock interview that we conducted last week. The target is to get 80% of the 11 candidates hired on Saturday; no piece of cake sirree!

I’m quite worried about this aim, and I sometimes find it difficult to sleep at night. The staying awake wouldn’t have bothered me much if I did not have to wake up early the next day. Unfortunately, I have to get up before 7 am everyday in order to be at work by 8.30, and believe me it’s such a bother. Compound that with erratic students who don’t seem to be putting in enough effort, and it’s enough to drive one insane…

(My current Wipro Academy batch is good, if not excellent... And what further endears them to me is that most of them are either cute or have a terrific sense of humor, or they get lip-smacking chicken for me... Chicken Biryani the day before, Chicken Chilly again today... Yumm!)

True, I get off work by 5.30, but I’d rather work till sunset than begin at sunrise. Nothing do I miss as much in my daily routine as I do sleeping till late. I’ve always been a night owl; you can keep me awake all night, but dare you make the slightest noise that could wake me up before 10 am! The worst thing about me (or maybe the best, depending on what circumstances demand), is that I'm a very light sleeper. I tend to wake up at the drop of a pin, and then I have trouble going back to sleep. Matters are further complicated by my family, the majority of whom are early risers and tremendous noise makers. Repeated requests to shut the door and lower the volume are ineffective, and I find myself cribbing and snapping at everybody around me. Life!!!

The mossssst maddening aspect is that any trivial thing is enough to drive my sleep away. In my modeling days, I couldn't sleep well before an important photo shoot, and the more I worried about dark circles the next morning, the farther Nindiya-Rani went... Even today, when a crush buzzes, or when I'm awaiting some news, I stay awake all night, and end up cranky and irritated. An afternoon siesta is no option since the time I started working, so I just have to wait for 18 hours before I can say hullo to my pillow again...

“So much ado about sleep?” you must be wondering… But people, trust me, there’s nothing like good sleep in this world… Especially when it’s raining hard outside and everything’s dark at midday(like it was 3 days ago in Pune), the cold wind’s howling, and you’re warm and cozily sprawled between the sheets. Bliss…

And then you wake up at leisure and have a steaming hot cuppa ginger tea served to you in bed… Nothing less than an orgasm!

But for now, work’s calling… Take care, lads and lasses… Hope to see you soon!

-Princess

Monday, September 14

Relationships and Accounts

After the previous post on Boy-o-logy, this comes as a perfect sequel...

A forwarded mail I received quite a few months ago. I had saved it for posting at some such appropriate time, and lo! The opportunity presents... I'm sure you're gona love this!!

Enjoy!

In the world of romance, one single rule applies to men: Make the woman happy.
Do something she likes, and you get points. Do something she dislikes and points are subtracted.
You don't get any points for doing something she expects!! But obviously, you lose points if you don't do what she thinks you should/would do! ROFL.

Sorry, that's the way the game is played.

Here is a guide to the point system:

SIMPLE DUTIES
You make the bed (+1)
You make the bed, but forget the decorative pillow (0)
You throw the bedspread over rumpled sheets (-1)
You leave your towel on the sheets (-5)

You go out to buy her what she wants (+5)
In the rain (+8)
But return with a Beer (-5)

You check out a suspicious noise at night (0)
You check out a suspicious noise, and it is nothing (0)
You check out a suspicious noise and it is something (+5)
You pummel it with iron rod (+10)
It's her pet (-10)

SOCIAL ENGAGEMENTS
You stay by her side the entire party (0)
You stay by her side for a while, then leave to chat with a college buddy (-2)
Named Rita (-4)
Rita is a dancer (-6)
Rita is single and is really beautiful (-80)

HER BIRTHDAY
You forget her birthday (-50000)
You take her out to dinner (0)
You take her out to dinner and it's not a sports bar (+1)
Okay, it's a sports bar (-2)
And it's all-you-can-eat night (-3)
It's a sports bar, it's all-you-can- eat night, and your face is painted the colours of your favourite team (-10)

A NIGHT OUT
You take her to a movie (+2)
You take her to a movie she likes (+4)
You take her to a movie you hate (+6)
You take her to a movie you like (-2)
It's called 'DeathCop' (-3)
You lied and said it was a romantic film starring her favorite actor (-15)

ENJOY THE 'BIG' QUESTION
She asks, "Do I look fat?" (-5)
[Yes, you LOSE points no matter WHAT]
You hesitate in responding (-10)
You reply, "Where?" (-35)
Any other response (-20)

COMMUNICATION
When she wants to talk about a problem , you listen, displaying what looks like a concerned expression (0)
You listen, for over 30 minutes (+50)
You listen for more than 30 minutes without looking at the TV (+500)
She realizes this is because you have fallen asleep (-10000)

Now what chance do you have???
Add up, guys, and leme know your scores ;-)

Hope all you poor men gained some info & all you pretty gals had a good laugh!

Keep smiling!
Princess

Friday, September 11

Wanna visit a new Hangout??

What if you wake up one day and recognize nobody around you?

What if the moment you open your eyes in the morning, you realise that everything is unfamiliar and strange?

Meri toh phatt jayegi boss... I'll run through town screaming like a madwoman... Trying to search for at least one known face... Pleading to God to to help me make sense of the chaotic world around me...

I remember the time when I banged my head during a bike accident last new year's. I suffered a concussion and could not recall anything that happened... Thankfully just for a couple of minutes. T'was the craziest thing that ever happened to me...

So, why this sudden discussion? It happened like this. Mommy darling was eagerly watching Baharon Ki Manzil on SAB TV the other day. Usually, our choices match, (I watched Basera on her reco and loved the film) so I sat with her through the first 20 minutes of BkM. When the same dialogues and scenes were repeated more than 10 times, my fuse went kapoot, and I'd had enough of the dragging drama. (Gosh, old movies were SO slow!)

The movie was about this woman (Meena Kumari) who wakes up with an identity that is completely different from the one that people know her as. People think she’s gone bananas and she tries in vain to convince them of her true persona. Finally, with Dharam paaji's help and a lot of courage, she is proved right and her villanous husband is punished.

So, how you people doing? I'm doing fine, work's going well. I enjoy training
(though sometimes the stupidity and oversmartness of a few pupils makes me want to pull THEIR hair in frustration).

It struck me a few days ago that I did not tell you about a few new (for me) places that I visited recently. And the moment I think it, it’s as good as written here for you to read… Enjoy!

The first on the list is Aquaa. I shared with you that I wanted to go there coz it looked inviting... So I finally went there. The place was not half as fantabulous as I'd expected. There were hardly any people (the place is not too well-known I think), and the ambience is also not terrific. Of course, I loved the huge aquarium that acts as the parting wall between the lounge and the Zafran restaurant, but the seating capacity is barely enough to accommodate about 40 people. The service, music and starters were strictly OK. The drinks were good although the range of options was limited. The prices were not unusual, and as luck would have it, there were free Tuborgs being handed out.

I was having a decent time until this foursome walked in. They were two couples, one newly married (white chuudas and all), the other probably dating. From their mannerisms, it was evident that they were not regular visitors to pubs and discotheques; the men were obviously working in the developing/testing dept of some MNC, with little contact with the outside world. (Don't ask me how I know that, they just gave me those vibes!! Blame the psychology and mind-reading keeda inside me!!)

What might these "mannerisms" be, you ask? Well, first of all, they ordered only one round of drinks, which means their bill would not exceed what they'd paid as entrance-cum-cover charge. Then, they were taking snaps from the moment they walked in, for the better part of the next half hour... Three, they suddenly got up from their seats and started dancing clumsily!

I lost my mind when I saw them prancing around in fronta me, as perky as newborn fawns, jigging as ridiculously as if they'd lost their minds!! One of the bimbos obviously thought she was the next Indian dancing idol in the making, and it was all I could do not to get up and show them who's the boss... I mean whoever dances in a lounge?!! Just like a friend said, they were trying to make the most of their visit...
Disco ka paisa bachao, lounge mein hi nacho-gao!

Prior to that episode, I happened to go to a place called Time-Out : Lounge Sports Bar, which is a part of the Seasons Apartment hotel in Aundh. The other restaurants in the complex include Cinnamon Spice (for lovers of Indian khana), Flavors (world cuisine), and Galaxy Grill
(a Greek themed rooftop restaurant with live band that I checked out with Abba-Ammi once a few years ago and found “not too great”.)

The Sports Bar doesn’t have enough seating space upstairs where the sports lovers can watch their favorite games and sip a drink. But they have a cool offer where for Rs 650+Taxes you can enjoy a liquor buffet that comprises house spirits + unlimited Beer. Good for those who can drink all afternoon… The chakna is fine and you need to head downstairs for the main course; either a buffet or a-la-carte.

The third on the list is Mezza 9, a landmark in Hinjewadi. (Mezzanine is actually pronounced mez-uh-neen, but this restaurant clearly wants to be known as Mezza Nine.) It's a pretty interesting place, located opposite KPIT Cummins in Phase 1 of the Infotech Park. I mean, at least I liked the ambience, the prices and the food, though the reviews on the web may not be too attractive. The service could have been better, but the humongous crowd consisting of families, work-groups and college-folks at the hangout sure did not mind.

A must try here is the Lychee Cocktail (if you like it hard) or a Peach Fizz would suit the softies. Most cocktails cost about 150-300, the shooters are for 300, a beer is 140 or so, and large vodka is fine at 80 for Romanov. The starters were good (we ordered Makai Tikki and Paneer Chilly - my all time favorites) and we asked for a simple Triple Schezwan coz we were not too hungry. The portion was decent as was the flavor... The bill, food and drinks combined was an awesome 1115/- bucks only (which is invitation enough for me to return to the joint).

I sneaked a peak at Fast and Furious 4 at a friend's place on her movie theatre and while the sound of the system was stunning, the movie was equally amazing. Wish I could watch it... What daredevil stunts these people do!! Some direction and creativity Hollywoodies got, man!! Also, Wanted starring Angelina Jolie that I caught on HBO. Super movie. Watch if you can.

And hey, if you're still thinking about other places to visit over the weekend, I've heard Foodlink that's newly opened in ICC on S. B. Road is very nice. I don't think I'm going there soon, but if you do, let me know!!

Cheerio!
Princess

Wednesday, September 9

Paddhna - Paddhaana

Hi!

I’m having a brilliant time with my Wipro Academy batch.

Oops, I haven’t told you about that…

When I joined Yellowbox, they primarily wanted me to train candidates for getting selected in BPOs like Mphasis. However, Wipro has begun recruiting large numbers, so we’re training folks that got rejected in the English grammar/pronunciation round. In the course of an intensive 2 week period, I am supposed to get the candidates to a hirable level of English communication skills.

A very challenging and stressful aim. Training for 2 hours needs incredible preparation and energy, so you can imagine what it must be like to train 12 college-going students and freshers for a solid 6+ hours a day…

But you know what I’m liking it. It’s fun when we all learn and laugh together. I have had several opportunities to criticize them and bring them to order, but finally what matters is that the batch is going well. I can see the students improving and a daunting target of 80% conversion could probably be a reality.

Amen.

The gang consists of 10 men and 2 women. Each has some peculiarity that is very endearing to me. I anyway get very attached and friendly with my students. So, when a bunch of us all of the same age get together, we’re like a house on fire.

There’s this one guy who is marvelous at acting, and he scared the wits outta us by banging on the desk while demonstrating a madman’s role. Then there’s this other fella who just can’t stop getting on everybody’s nerves… But I guess there are his types in every office and home… And these other 3 that completely worship me!! They're all so sweet and polite... So unlike men in general ;-) LOL

Then there are 2 like Amir Khan… The kinds that I find cute… Both of them are short (pity pity!) and don’t speak much. One of them doesn’t smile too often, but when he does, is he attractive or what! He said he was a good cook and he got chicken chilly for all of us the other day. (Unfortunately, I didn’t understand the taste… I thought chicken chilly was Chinese, his dish looked very Indian and masaledar.) The other, he’s from Meghalaya and so soft-spoken, that I have to tune my ears to catch even the slightest of mumbles in order to verify the accuracy of his grammar and accent.

The women, as always, are decent and sincere. They’re the ones that copy everything that is written or explained, and they are progressing mighty well. Of course, they have their almost-majnus in class, and it’s a sight when they start questioning each other about their personal experiences…

The funniest of them all is this man who has a deep baritone and speaks as if he's reporting some sansani khez khabar on one of Aaj Tak's sting operations! The moment he starts reading, we're all cackling away... As we do when the "mobile" guy (he's constantly moving; I guess he was born in a train akin Natrajan in Hum Hai Rahi Pyar Ke!) talks... He speaks faster than a speed of a Japanese train! Another crazy guy shrieks and cackles when he laughs and sets us all laughing... Ek ek namoone...

The cacophony they create when I give them a break!! Lord… It’s ear-splitting… But most of them have a terrific sense of humor so can’t blame them. I tend to have these fits too when we’re just chatting casually after class…

So, work’s going well, as you can very well make out ;-) What isn’t going as well as it should are my essays for the b-school application. I JUST CAN’T decide what to write in my essays to make them unique and impressive. How can you write an answer for “short and long term goals” that is different and more effective than the other applicants? Ditto for “Why do you want to do MBA?” and “Why do you want it now?” and “Why so-and-so particular school?” Hell guys, I want an MBA coz I want it, and I want it now coz I want it NOW. Why play the genius?

Not even sure who to approach top guide me in writing and editing my essays. I know of a few institutes in Pune and there are several online, but the latter are too expensive and the former – I’m not sure about their success rate… Guess I should go and ask… But I’m just too lazy… After 6 days at work for over 9 hours a day, can you blame me??

Kya kare kya na kare ye kaisi mushkil hai…
Koi toh bata de iska hall o mere bhai…


Boo hoo…

Class again tomorrow :-) We’re doing Tongue twisters…

Yippee!

Confused, aren’t I?

:-)

Love all,
Princess

Monday, September 7

The Seven Deadly Sins

It's the seventh of September today.

Time to baato some gyaan.

Do you know about the Seven Sins? I'd heard about them, but I wasn't quite sure what they were, or what their significance was. So, you know what I did - I checked them out. On my pet site – Wikipedia.

The Seven Deadly Sins (also known as the Capital Vices or Cardinal Sins) - a classification of the most objectionable vices - used since early Christian times to educate and instruct followers concerning (immoral) fallen man's tendency to sin.

The sins are Lust, Gluttony, Greed, Sloth, Wrath, Envy, and Pride. The acronym SALIGIA captures their first letters in Latin: superbia (pride), avaritia (greed), luxuria (extravagance/lust), invidia (envy), gula (gluttony), ira (wrath), and acedia (sloth).

Dante Alighieri (the famous poet) spoke about the sins in his epic poem The Divine Comedy, and here I shall present to you some info about the same.

Lust – We all know what lechery is… Excessive thoughts or desires of a sexual nature. Of course, Dante's criterion was excessive love of others, which therefore rendered love and devotion to God as secondary. Giving in to lusts can lead to sexual or sociological compulsions and/or transgressions including (but not limited to) sexual addiction, fornication, adultery, rape, perversion, and incest.

Gluttony - The over-indulgence and over-consumption of anything. In the Christian religions, it is considered a sin because of the excessive desire for food, which means it is withheld from the needy. However, depending on the culture, it can be seen as either a vice or a sign of status.

Saint Thomas Aquinas, an immensely influential philosopher and theologian in the tradition of scholasticism (popularly known as Doctor Angelicus / Doctor Communis), went so far as to prepare a list of six ways to commit gluttony:
• Praepropere - eating too soon.
• Laute - eating too expensively.
• Nimis - eating too much.
• Ardenter - eating too eagerly.
• Studiose - eating too daintily.
• Forente - eating wildly.

Greed - also known as avarice/covetousness is a sin of excess just like lust and gluttony. As seen by the Church, greed is applied to materialism, or the acquisition of wealth in particular. Disloyalty, betrayal, bribery, scavenging and hoarding of objects, theft, trickery, or manipulation of authority are all actions that may be inspired by greed.

Sloth – This was believed to be the failure to utilize one's talents and gifts. The modern view goes further, regarding laziness and indifference as the sin at the heart of the matter. Sloth is regarded as a lesser sin as it is more about NOT doing something (omission) than actually doing wrong (commission).

Wrath - Also known as rage; it may be described as inordinate and uncontrolled feelings of hatred and anger. These feelings can manifest as vehement denial of the truth, impatience, the desire to seek revenge by harming self or others. Thus, suicide was deemed as the ultimate, albeit tragic, expression of wrath directed inwardly, a final rejection of God's gifts.

The next sin, Envy is similar to greed, yet different. Envy is aroused when another person has some quality or possession that one would like to have. Those who commit the sin of envy resent that another individual has something they perceive themselves as lacking, and they wish the other person to be deprived of it.

Pride (hubris) is considered the original and most serious of the seven deadly sins, and the ultimate source from which the rest arise. It is the desire to be more important or attractive than others, failing to acknowledge the good work of others, and excessive love of self.

Now this is interesting - The Roman Catholic Church also recognizes Seven Virtues which correspond inversely to each of the seven deadly sins...

Vice Virtue
Lust - Chastity
Gluttony - Temperance
Greed - Charity
Sloth - Diligence
Wrath - Patience
Envy - Kindness
Pride - Humility

Some consider Justice as an eighth virtue... But I guess that's enough info download for the day :-)

By the way, do you remember I told you about how the Pandavas set out to reach Heaven in their mortal bodies and they all (except Yudi) failed? Coincidentally, 3 of the 5 Pandavas failed due to their pride, while Bheema and Draupadi were unsuccessful because they loved something/someone else more than God in their lifetime...

Amazing how the stories, philosophies and mythology connect!

My greatest sin? I'd say Pride... I got too much of an ego and I'm damn sure about every single thing I do... Some call it intelligent confidence and appreciate it :-D

Discover yourself!

-Princess

Thursday, September 3

Movie and MTV Mania

I used to be extremely proud that I never regret anything in my life.

Alas! I cannot say that anymore…

I watched Kaminey, and even the recollection of it stings and pinches like a thousand scorpions.

My bro and bhabhi took the family for what is undoubtedly the shittiest movie I have seen in a long, long time. Thanks, but no thanks guys. Thanks for saving my money (you saved quite a sum, too, courtesy Vodafone Tuesdays at E-Square) but no thanks for this suicidal torture. Which godforsaken brainless morons gave this shit-pie 3 and 4 star ratings?

I thought Shahid, apart from being a brilliant dancer and a notable actor, was also good at choosing interesting scripts. Now I seriously doubt it. Ditto for Priyanka. The babe has nothing to do in the movie except bawl and howl and weep and shriek. She does speak very cute Marathi, but then if all I wanted to do was listen to Marathi, I’d just hop to my next-door pakka Marathi bamman neighbors and lounge around for an hour.

Point noted. The main actors suck. What about the story? Who are the kaminey thought this film would be good? I’m going to make no bones about the fact that the direction, editing and storyline is exceptionally shoddy and the rapid pace is a poor excuse for scenes that are shot are weird angles and have no coherence to say the least. Come to think of it, what was the significance of the absurd massacre at the end? How do only the actors emerge out of this carnage alive? Why are there countless characters and innumerable twists in the movie, none of which make a lasting impression? The broth stinks… Kaminey crew, please note - Nothing can make up for the absence of a good plot.

The less said, the better, I suppose. The only moment I had a hearty laugh in the theatre was when a tiny tot yelled “Bhope” (the villain’s name, if I’m not mistaken) out of sheer frustration. I was yawning throughout the film, as was everyone else, and waiting for the torment to end. Need to catch a movie soon now to get rid of the memory of this one.

(Rating?? Do I STILL have to spell it out? This is a sure-shot negative. DO NOT WATCH THIS if you’re in your right senses. Better watch Life Partner instead, as I hope to do sometime.)

I also have my suspicions about the senses of the participants and creators of the Pulsar Stunt Mania show on MTV. These guys are bizarre!! The things that they do!! Oh shucks… As much as I enjoy watching all those perilous stunts, I sure get goose-bumps when they are made to do something especially outlandish. Such as riding a bike while seated on the handle (what is called “high chair” in stunting lingo), 100 feet above the ground on a single, thin, wet, metal plank. Or jumping into the sea after climbing an incline and passing between the obstacles placed on a truck. Freaky, right?!!

All in all, I’ve learnt a few things about stunting through this show, and this encouraged me to look up the web for more. (There’s SO much more to this than what was shown in Dhoom!) Here are a few pictures that I found online… (Obviously the second one is my favorite!!)



I’m a fan of Pulsar Stunt Mania (despite the unbelievably ugly and crude anchors of the show). I’ve seen the contenders do amazing Wheelies (Basic, Single-hander, 12 o’ Clock, Seat Stander), Stoppies (Basic, Tank, Switch-Back Tank), Human Compass (Basic, Singe-hander), Zero Circles (Switch-Back), High Chair, Eagle, High Chair Eagle, Pillion Christ… and so many more. While these may seem just names to you, I bet you’ll go bonkers when you see the actual videos. Here’s the link!
http://mtv.in.com/stuntmania/

(FYI - Javed and Handa are now in the finals. Adil was cute but he got eliminated in a crazy sand stunt)

Hey, I didn’t tell you that Airtel MTV Connected is now over - the show where twins fight it out to prove themselves the most “connected” in the country. A girl-pair won it, and I’m so happy for them!! Of course, I’d have liked it if Naomi and his twin had gone a little farther…

There’s this other show that’s recently begun, also on MTV. It’s called Rock On, and the makers are trying to locate a rock band consisting of members from around the nation. The talent you see on these shows ranges from dreadful to dazzling, and I am personally fond of the drummers and vocalists. And of course, those marvelous people who make different sounds with their mouths. Whatta gifted voice-box, fellas!

It’s Ganesh Visarjan today. This year, the celebrations were fairly subdued due the swine flu pandemic. Yet, Ganesha stayed with us for 2 extra days, else he normally departs on the 10th day. He loves us all :-)

And do you know that he loves me a lot more?!! I got a freaking 6 on 6 in my AWA section of the GMAT!! I was ecstatic when I got the official report online, because I was aiming for a 5 or 5.5 at max, and the 6 on AWA is much better than an overall GMAT score of 750!! Cheers!!!

By the way, it was Onam yesterday. Happy Onam to you all :-)
And it's Teacher's Day on the 5th. So, do make it a point to wish your trainers/teachers or whoever you consider your mentor...
(Hi Bhanu and Snigdha, Happy Teacher's Day in advance!)
(And all my Abhinava Vidyalaya, Fergusson College and Pune University - Psychology Dept professors... Love you all!)
(Hope to add Kellogg / New York Stern to this list soon!!)

Well, for that to happen, I must get my applications ready and submit them before mid-October so that I stand a good chance at being selected at my chosen B-Schools... High time I start working on my essays. Wish me luck, readers. And if there’s anybody out there who can help me with my applications, PLEASE SOS!!!

Adios!
Anuja

Tuesday, September 1

Chhod Aaye Hum Wo Galiyaaa...


Why do people resign?

I mean what makes them give up the comfort and predictability of their current job and look for new opportunities?

Monetary issues? Hmm, could be...

The desire to do something different? Maybe it is indeed the familiarity that they want to escape... Highly probable.

Lack of growth? Possible...

Ye know what I consider the most important reason for resigning? (Or reasons, I should say.)

The absence of support, respect and appreciation.

I know because I have quit my previous job for the very same reasons. I hated the fact that there was no acknowledgement of my good work, but bucketloads of criticism for a single thing done imperfectly. I detested the insensitivity of the employers towards my needs and concerns. Granted it paid better than what I make today, but here I atleast have hope for growth and promotion, both in terms of money and position.And bharose pe hi to duniya kayam hai... Right?

So why am I talking about this today? Coz one, I complete a month at my new workplace. (Thanks!) And two, 3 people put in their papers last week.

You guessed it. They felt unappreciated, disrespected and unsupported by their team and leader.

The fact that I didn't know who to believe despite hearing both parties involved did not alter the fact that I was surprised and sad (coz I quite liked two of the three females who were leaving). Besides, this exodus was quite unexpected, and I wasn't ready for such news in my very first month of joining.

From what I've seen, heard, learnt and observed so far, money is NOT the primary issue behind most people's decision to quit their jobs, though it is the reason cited the most often. Yes, professionals in the 21st century can't work for peanuts, but they sure won't jump for a few extra bucks if the current position satisfies their basic needs and a couple of non-basic ones. We prefer working with people we know and like, and we enjoy our usual work and fun. Trust me, quitting is not our first preference if things can be set right.

What we attribute as more significant is the amount of respect and support in the organization. Lets accept it, we are smarter than our previous generations, who relied more on hard work than "smart" work. We are more intelligent and resourceful than most seniors. For us, innovation and efficiency are more valuable than fixed working hours and pre-determined policies/processes. We are willing to dedicate all our time and effort for the end we believe in, and contribute to our team and organization. Technology, advancement and modern education have helped us in this endeavor, but nothing can undermine the fact that Gen Y-ers are a talented and promising lot.

But don't overlook the fact that we are also tremendously self-respecting.

Be it at home or at work, in professional or personal relationships,we cherish our self-esteem and we cannot bear to be taken for granted or to be insulted.

I am not hiding the fact that we youngsters (or young adults, whatever suits) are short-tempered and tend to pull the trigger a tad hastily on a few occasions. We are also highly ambitious, and the volume of our "needs" may color our perceptions about our worth and contributions. However, those in command ought to remember that nobody's perfect and for everyone, there are a couple of points that are non-negotiable. These include respect and acknowledgement more than any remuneration or incentive.

A good package can make quitting a little difficult, but when it comes to self-respect, we usually prefer not to compromise. (Given the recession, we might hang around a bit, but rest assured that when the right opportunity presents itself, we shan't waste a moment.)

You want to give negative feedback, bring it on. Constructively.
You want to tell us just how useless and tiresome we are, go ahead. Politely.
We can listen to anything, as long as it is framed positively and delivered objectively.

(And ya, please be ready to listen to our side of the story, too.)

But yell at us, and the best of your pleas and intentions shall fall on deaf ears. Because our minds are busy analysing the intensity of your volume and the harshness of your words. And then we hear nothing else. Even if at times we choose to forgive, we never forget...

When it comes to appreciation, I recommend a course in psychology for all current and potential professionals. The reason behind this suggestion is that a lot of people measure their worth, success, happiness and value at the workplace by assessing the quality and quantity of praise they receive from their supervisors and subordinates. It is EXTREMELY important that we be credited and appreciated for a job done well.

And it is only fair (given that you leave no stone unturned in beating the shit outta us when we goof up).

Finally, empathy... How can we forget that? No, I don't mean sympathy. I hate pity. But I sure admire those who can understand others' (genuine) problems and situations. If the boss can take leave coz his son's got a cough, then why frown at the employee who decides to take the day off because his mother had a fracture? Trust and support make people come together, be it in love or friendly relations, or in a functional team or department.

Mind it.

Do you already lead a team at work? Got a promotion on the cards? Well, this is for you, then... You gotta be a family at work, ladies and gentlemen. Not the cribbing and persistently fighting kinda families, but those that stand by each other and celebrate being together. If progress is your aim, there can be no substitute to the above, can there?

Not that I know of...

Love Luck Laughter,
Working Princess

P.S : Yes! This post was chosen by Blogadda as it's Tangy Tuesday pick. Check this link ... Way to go!!

Shadow

He looked at her like she was the air he breathed, Without, he would collapse.  He lived to see her smile, Her dimples, his prized possessio...