My Big Little Man

Happy Diwali, folks! (belated, sorry)

Exactly a month since I last wrote - caught in a whirlwind of activity, juggling work and home, festivals and routine. Aarush turned 4 last week, and I'm 1.5 months old in terms of NT age. Cheers to us!

I've said it before and I'll say it again - days don't pass, but years fly. I feel it when I see my son every single day. We don't think we're growing old, or our parents are getting older, but changes in kids are just so much more noticeable and adorable. From the gurgles to now complete sentences, superior Hindi and English vocabulary usage, arguments and comebacks - Aarush is a conversationalist's delight. And sometimes a bother, coz he's a chatterbox with no mute/stop button! He even sings to himself during solitary play or does running commentary and if I don't hear anything, I need to pop into his room and check if everything's okay and I generally find him asleep. Ha ha. 

The funniest words he's used recently are "Saba-naba Kich-di" instead of "Sabudana Khichadi" (= a sago delicacy frequently consumed during fasts, but also preferred otherwise). Oh he can very well enunciate "Sabudana Khichadi" but he insists that his teacher calls it "Sabanaba Kichdi" that's what it is, thank you very much. 

His favorite color is orange since birth, he loves shopping, especially for his car collection, and he is very clear about what he wants and doesn't. He does not like being touched, but he is obedient and inquisitive. You may call him shy the first time you see him, oh boy, wait till he is a little comfortable and you'll be enthralled by his energy and wit. "Your kid is not coming" - he said to a neighbor once, and "You don't care for your mother" - he told me when I chose to cross the road with him than his granny. Smart Alec.

Sonny boy made me immensely proud when he scored almost cent per cent marks in his school tests. Honestly, I would not mind much even if he got half as much. After all, I was a 90+%er all through school, and I don't think it matters at all now. Add to that, he joined the new school 3 months late, so my expectations were pretty low. Fortunately or unfortunately, he has set the bar high now, and I'm going to try and not let that color my future expectations from him! But he's a wiz, that chap - Hindi, English, coloring, writing, logic, sports, memory - you name it! Hurray.   

His EQ (emotional intelligence) is staggering, in my opinion. He's wiser beyond his years, more sensible and perceptive than most adults. (Could this be because he has immature, impulsive and aggressive parents, I wonder?)

He mediates fights, asks questions, seeks to understand, puts his point across, all very gently and honestly. He very expressive and sensitive as well, and I both, admire and fear this. Admire because he's such a beautiful human to be around, and fear because emotions bring more pain than joy in the world we live in. He is hurt when some kid refuses to play with him or doesn't do "dosti / batti". He is elated when someone else is happy, and he knows how to share and care. His demeanor with his little cousin and friends is marvelous and it almost nudges me to give him a sibling of his own, but no sirree - too high a price to pay for his companionship! I'm one and done. LOL. Got my own life, sanity and aspirations (and finances!) to consider, so no. At least not until circumstances change.


Circumstances.... all well, but nothing great. BAU (business as usual) but nothing that fires up the soul. Mild depression? Maybe. I have a hard time falling asleep at night, and then there are days when I don't want to get up from the bed. I worry about my weight, and binge on junk. Life is on track, no REAL trouble, per se. Got the resources, lack the will. Have responsibilities, but no dreams. I do shopping for others, I pursue others goals and problems as my own. Passions of the past have vanished, I feel more like the side cast of the story supporting the lead characters than actually the hero of mine. I don't know if that is good or bad, but it sure feels like I'm whiling away my time without making my time and abilities count. Matter of time, I hope. Until then, it is Facebook and Instagram checking, Bingo showdown craze, Splitsvilla and Koffee with Karan reruns, and some Netflix now and then. Oh, and when I can summon the perseverance and patience, it is to read Perfect Love by Shubha Vilas and conclude The Curse of Bramha by Jagmohan Bhanver. Writing (book or blog) is (as you can see) right at the bottom of the list. Why repeat and harp on what you've said 100 times before? Right? 

Went to get my eyes checked - and here's the news... I've got glasses again, thanks to my screen obsession - TV, laptop, mobile. 6 years spec-free was thrilling, and I have no regrets about my eye surgery - it was worth every penny and worth all the effort. Back to spectacles for now.

And time for us to say adios...

Have a good one, fellas. 

Cheers!
Anuja

Sweet November

And we’re back!

Gosh, it’s been a while. One would almost presume that since the number of visitors and followers on my blog has increased, mere bhi bhaav baddh gaye (=I’ve turned pricey).

Let me assure you that it is no such thing. Abundant apologies to you, readers. And loads of belated Diwali cheer as well! Hope you had a blast eating and shopping and celebrating, without blasting noisy crackers. I did… rather had to… coz my husband and brothers-in-law forcefully had me setting off rockets (that landed in a neighbour’s house) and anaar’s. Crazy, ziddi boys!

I’ve been busy settling into my new job, there’s loads of things to learn and so many people to meet, weeks passed by in the blink of an eye. I’m one month old here already! Making heaps of mistakes and getting a little better every day. Now that’s what life is all about, right?! I’m having a gala time too with the Annual Day Celebrations in full swing here – our team stood first in Dumbcharades (I was one of the smart and talented participants), and we had a blast in the Hawaii and Halloween dress themes. Turns out our team Black ‘Pirates’ is leading the charts. Hurray!! Antakshari and a lot of sports events  in progress as well, tough to reckon when it turns 6 pm and time to head back home... Though the getting up early bit is a tad tiresome on chilly mornings!

On the domestic front, hubby darling whisked me off to watch Krish 3 on Diwali night, it’s not as great or as horrible as people claim. In fact, it was a 100 times better than that pathetic Ram Leela. Darn! Sanjay Leela Bhansali making such a horrible movie is unthinkable and unbelievable. What made Deepika commit this blunder? The only one who redeemed himself through his great acting was Ranveer Singh. (Psst – he was born in the July of 85, just like moi. Maybe that explains his dashing attitude and charisma. Hee hee hee.)

The first one hour was nothing but Chitrahaar in a medley of colours. Hansaa of the Khichdi fame has done well as Dhankor, but everything else falls flat including dialogues, plot and script. You’re left haping and wondering multiple times at the senselessness of the script, and not one viewer has appreciated this film. So take a hint and give this one a royal skip. Please. Just don’t punish yourself this bad.

Bigg Boss and Masterchef are engaging me to the hilt me, and I've taken a fancy to games since I bought my new LG G2 mobile phone. Become quite a couch potato these days, your truly. So much so that I haven't totally given up on reading and blogging. Sigh! But hey, Sophia sucks in BB and my enthusiasm for MC has reduced coz I inadvertently checked the winner and it wasn't my favorite contestant. Double sigh....!!

Pune’s getting nice and cold, come December. Time to get the bright woolens out of the closet. I’ll be traveling a few weekends for family commitments, so apologies in advance, but you’ll have to keep browsing my archives until I publish something nayaa tazaa :-)

Also, here is a link that I checked out and liked. Hope you enjoy it too!

16 Dumbest Things Vegetarians Have To Deal With

 Rest is best, you take care and have fun!

Cheerio!
Princess

Naya Job, Naya Phone... Super Baddhiya!!

Hi fellas,

Happy Dushera! May all evil in your life die and goodness and success persist :-) 

My life at work was nothing short of torture these last few months. While professional ups and downs are common in every working man/woman’s life, not many lows last as long as my last 1.5 years. All thanks to a horrible manager who I shall not name here, but let me assure you, no matter how bad yours is, mine was worse.  

Am I glad to say it’s over!

Despite my getting promoted to an Assistant Manager level, my work at IBM had become mundane and the policies and environment were no longer favorable for my career growth. I’d started off as a travel executive with Optimos and later became a part time language instructor at inlingua. Armed with a masters in Psychology, I knew training was my calling and I took up training and consultant positions at Alchemy and Yellowbox. A break in IBM was too good to be true and I accepted their offer as a Learning Facilitator primarily in the VnA and communication skills domain. My final goal was the LnD department so I took up projects and stretch assignments in Learning and OD. A lot of initiatives and hard work got me excellent ratings throughout, but my ambition remained beyond reach. Apart from that, I was at the receiving end of a lot of warm wishes but more envy and hatred. It took its toll on me; I am a very sensitive person and I get attached mighty quickly. But well, here we are – a dream opportunity arose with Hitachi Consulting, an IT firm in Magarpatta and I grabbed it with both hands. Only time will tell whether my decision was right or wrong, but for now, two days later, I am a happy professional. Touch wood!

(And a big chunk of that merriment goes to a new LG G2 handset that I have bought and my new employer will sponsor... Killer, innit?!! Loving the new phone... and learning its myriad functions!)

Between IBM and Hitachi, I had a nice 10-day break.

Initially, it seemed like a heavenly and welcome lengthy period and I was elated at the prospect of having over 200 hours all to myself, do the things that I long wanted but never could for various reasons. As I’ve said before, 24 hours in a day is not enough. With handling the house as well as going to work full time, along with keeping family and personal commitments, there is no space left for leisure or relaxation. I was looking forward to catching up on my reading, sleeping, watching movies and TV shows.

And yet, as the 10^th day drew to a close, I realized that I’d not done half the things that I had planned. Though I managed to finish John Grisham’s The Racketeer (a fine book with great narration) and commence Ramesh Menon’s Siva (fantastic so far), others like And the Mountains Echoed, Inferno and several Readers Digests remained unopened. I’ve seen a few of the latest movies (reviews up on the blog already) and I’ve also watched my favorite (Anger Management, Two and a Half Men, Comedy Nights with Kapil, Masterchef) and not so favorite (Bigg Boss, WWE) shows. However, my Disney cartoons and movies on the laptop stay untouched :-(

All in good time, I guess. I shall have the evenings all to myself going forward so I still have a chance to complete all the pending stuff listed above. Unfortunately, I will have to be an early bird, contrary to my night owl lifestyle of 3.5 years. Let’s see how these changes agree with me...

What’s up next? A lot of learning so that I can start performing my AM in Learning and Development role with poise and efficiency. Travel as well, to get to know my professional network and team. Our new house is almost ready so we need to get started on the interior work. Also, a trip to Tirupati and my native place is on the cards. October and November will pass in a the blink of an eye, and come December, we’ll be getting ready to welcome the new year with new resolutions and plans.

What’s ticking at your end? Diwali plans and cleaning I suppose... Wish you a wonderful festive season!

Cheers!
Princess  

Diwali Dhamaka!!

Wish you many happy returns of the festive season, and may your days ahead be filled with joy, prosperity, love and laughter!!

I love the Cadbury Celebrations ad that they air on TV and radio. They’re mighty senti ads, trust me, and the first time I see one, I almost always have tears in my eyes. Like the one where Sahil (from Sarabhai vs Sarabhai) visits his old neighbour and hands him a box of chocolates to apologize for his pranks as a kid. Or the one on radio, where a mellow, sincere voice appeals to us to wish family and relatives personally rather than just calling them on the telephone. Hats off to these guys… Great script – simple yet touching, and excellent characters – visual or audio. Cheers, fellas!

I was about to say that Diwali this year seemed a little subdued and controlled as far as rowdiness is concerned... But I stand corrected... I was wondering that people were bursting fewer crackers than usual, and then I heard terrifying crackers at the crack of dawn and late into the dusk. I myself enjoy the gorgeous, voiceless anar and chakris more than the noisy bombs, but I do know how excited young and old folks get about the firework trails, and I don’t mind. It’s Diwali, after all! Sweets, shopping, gifts, diyas and making merry – bring it on!!

Talking about "making merry", most people think its a good sign to drink and gamble on Diwali eve. Whoever created that ritual? Is it one at all? Or is it just another excuse for bewdas to hit the bottle? I'm not sure, but I sure don't appreciate it. I'd rather spend time with the family in a sober state than be inebriated and worry about money lost / won in gambling... But for those who enjoy this part of the festival, cheers!!

I noticed that there are a lot more Chinese (or Japanese) style lanterns in the market now than the traditional ones. And they’re beautiful. There’s something very sophisticated about these akash-kandils that the Indian ones fall short of capturing. The one that I wanted to get for our house - a bright crimson fiery hued ball with folds like a rose - was unavailable when I went shopping. Missed it :-( So didn't get one at all in protest...

(Yeah I know that sounds silly... When did I ever say I was smart and sensible all the time?!!)

By the way, did I tell you our home is getting renovated? We’re majorly doing up the living room, trendy furniture and all, and the rest of the house will be painted. The family’s thrilled; there’s not been any mammoth change in the house since the time we (my dad, to be precise) purchased it back in 1987. Of course, we can’t do much about the ample stairs (we stay on the top floor), and the poor parking space (it’s an old construction). But we’re doing all that we can. I’m sure the results will be stunning. And ya, you’re invited :-)

There have been quite a few interesting purchases this year. The number of electronic goods and gadgets we’ve bought is not funny. I got myself a new Samsung Champ (it’s an AWESOME phone) at a terrific price, and we got a new cell phone for mum, too. Both my bro and I got new laptops (both Dell Inspiron, by chance!) and we also bought a new LCD TV and mixer-grinder in February. A refrigerator and washing machine are still on the agenda, and I won’t be surprised if we buy them (and a new microwave and music / DVD player) in the coming few months. Keep watching this space for more…!!!

I’ve been living a hectic 3 weeks – the IBM certification training is still on, and I’ve hardly caught a couple a hours sleep every night. I wake up groggy and drowsy, and I am in a constant frenzy of activity – be it anxiety and targets at work, or social and family commitments to catch up on. I’ve missed so many films, I can’t even begin to tell you. I still regret being unable to catch Robot. However, I’m far from depressed, considering that movies are not aired on TV within 2 months of being released. Also need to catch up on my reading… The bookmarks in Piccadilly Jim and BPO Sutra are fraying at the edges. Grumble.

Pardon my cribbing. It's not like it's been all work and no play. I've had a fantabulous weekend hogging on exotic satays and tempuras at Malaka Spice all for free! Plus I thoroughly enjoyed the not so amazing movie Jhoota Hi Sahi starring John Abraham and the silly, ugly Pakhi (or whatever her name is). And of course, Action Replay (however its spellt - with the multiple N's and Y's). Especially the song Zor ka Jhatka hayy Zoro se lagaaaa... Akshay, as usual is adorable, but the show-stealer this time was the young man who plays his son - Aditya Kapoor if I'm not mistaken (baal ki dukaan). And I also saw Due Date, with the stunning Robert Downey Jr... Droooooooll... Ditto review: decent movie, but not something that you just cannot miss...

Apart from that, I've been playing and fooling around with my darling nephew who seems to be growing more handsome, ill-tempered and cute by the day. He's made me act like a fool and sing all day long, and I'm not complaining. What are Bua's for?!! :-)

On that note, here’s an interesting thought that struck me the other day while I was travelling to office…

Life is a cobweb, I agree… The question is: Are you the fly or the spider?

Profound, eh?

Another one…

Life is all about choices… Or is it?

Sometimes isn’t it better to have the choices made for us? And I’m not just talking about instances where you’re between the devil and the deep sea. I’m hinting at those circumstances when everything is perfect and you have to opt for one of the two (or more) marvellous choices. A predicament that I’m facing right now. For the last few weeks actually. This is one dilemma that I definitely would like to stay clear of… The amount of confusion and strain is staggering… and frustrating.

I’m going to leave you with that food for thought.

Have a great new year!!

- Princess

Jao Naaa...

The rains are lashing the city and I'm wondering whether we are in the midst of the monsoons... It's already Diwali, man! Time to say "Jao Naaa" to the rainfall :-D

Very rarely do I come across a phenomenon that I cannot clearly categorize as good or bad, or anywhere in between. Looks like I’ve struck upon such an event - “What’s Your Rashee?” starring Harman Baweja and Priyanka Chopra.

I can't decide whether I liked the movie or not. I’d been very eager to see it right since the time it released 2 weeks ago, but my health and busy schedule (ahem!) didn’t permit it. When I finally caught the movie at E-square on Gandhi Jayanti, it was only after a long wait courtesy technical problems in Screen 1… The film was certainly lengthy, after all they had to show 12 different sun-signs. (Piggy Chops was hoping to enter the Guinness Book of World Records for being the first female actress to portray 12 characters in a single movie, don’t know what finally happened.)

Ashutosh Gowariker has tried to make an interesting foray into the romantic genre, but he did not succeed in recreating the magic of Lagaan and Swades. Harman Baweja looks like Hrithik Roshan throughout the 3 and half hour film, so I don’t think it would be fair to comment without comparison. He is almost as good a dancer and actor as Hrithik, but his luck sure isn’t as incredible.

Piggy has done a good job as usual… Her characters are very endearing and believable – be it the stupid Mesh-kanya or the Scorpio bimbette. I couldn’t control my tears when I saw Hansa aka Kark-kanya. The resemblance between her character and mine is truly astonishing. (I have a mail with all Priyanka's characters and descriptions; leave me a comment if you want me to send it to you. It's stunning…)

My most exhilarating moment was when I saw Chicago Booth in the movie - Hurman is an MBA student in the film. Apart from that, there are quite a few scenes that are memorable and sweet. Watch this at home if you want to, no stress about visiting the theatre. Besides, it will sure help to fast-forward the 13 songs… Quite a pain, if you ask me… (For those keen on knowing, Harman marries the Aquarius woman... I am not aware what his own Sunsign is though.)

I am now looking forward to the KJo venture, Wake Up Sid with Ranbir (whatta cutie!) and Konkona. The movie has already made ripples by mentioning Mumbai as “Bombay”… Nevertheless the promos look good, especially the title track – Kya Karoon. Wake up guys, go for this!! (I'm hoping Karan Johar's done a good job and this is not another Lakshya.)

The news on TV is that Khatron Ke Khiladi Level 2 is now over, and the winner is the lucky jodi of gross Anushka and adorable Gurmeet. I was betting my boots it would be Jesse, but her luck failed her. I was glad Carol got evicted. (She is so stupid and ugly, how come she works as a model? India mein kuch bhi ho sakta hai…) Bigg Boss has taken prime time status on Colors now. The channel is making certain that it doesn't lose its viewers!! Kudos for that!! Unfortunately though, the participants of season 3 seem quite sad - Poonam Dhillon and Ismail Darbar, Shamita Shetty and Raju Srivastav, Rakhi Sawant's super-ugly mum and a pregnant Sherlyn Chopra - whoever's interested?!!! I wonder if even Big B Amitabh will be able to draw in the audiences. How far can even the best of salesmen lug a dead goat??

I hear Rahul Mahajan is planning to have his Swayamvar publicly akin Rakhi Sawant... Jeez... Who do these people think they are? Especially after it came to light that Rakhi's was a scam... By the way, I managed to catch Pati Patni and Wo the other day, quite a stupid show. These reality shows really aren’t as exciting as they were at their inception…

Oh, did you know Mona Wasu won in Is Jungle Se Mujhe Bachao, she bested Chetan Hansraj in the final showdown. Well-deserved, girlie!! :-)

Time for technology... I’m super-surprised by Samsung Marine. Whatta phone man! You can drop it in water or on the ground, and it won't come to harm! The mobile boasts of a stylish design and long durability (apparently it is dust- and water-resistant), and can bear bumps, bangs, and scrapes. Provided with a shock-proof case, it is said that the cell can remain safely immersed in one meter of water for about half an hour. Besides, the product is designed to withstand extremely hot and cold temperatures. At 7 grand, this sure sounds awesome... Lets see how the market welcomes it…

By the way, it's Karva Chauth tomorrow, and there's a state shutdown on Oct 13 courtesy Maharashtra polls. I'm voting this time - finally got my voters card :-)

(Notwithstanding the fact that all the candidates are goondas...Shivajinagar constituency has 5 folks, one worse than the other. Check this - there's a GENTLEMAN who is 5th pass and has 5 criminal cases against him. Might have to opt for the 49-O.)

Cheerio fellas!
Princess

Kismat Ka Khel

Hiya!

Another occasion when I’m gona ask you to put your hands together and hail the victor!

And the hero is none other than Nauman Sait – the winner of Roadies 6.0 (just as I’d predicted). Yippeeeee!!I’m SO SO SOOOOO glad that Palak did not win.

The grand finale (which had 2 parts) had Raghu bring back Natasha and Sufi in the contest with Palak and Naumi, while the ex-Roadies chose Kiri as the most deserving chap amongst them to get a final chance to win the title. The 3 battled in a diabolic task - walking on a single, wobbly plank in the dark with flashlights dancing in their eyes – and while Sufi failed to complete the activity (poor guy), Kiri outdid Natasha, and became the final contender with Palak and Naomi.

I missed the last episode. (Sunday evenings are a bad time to show any good stuff on TV!! Please take note, folks!) But I manged to catch the repeat telecast last evening on MTV. There was a penultimate rappelling task, where Kiri was brainwashed by Raghu and Rannvijay to compete with Naumi and dump Palak in the ultimate task for the Roadies title. In which Naomi gave his best, and emerged triumphant! Well done, boy, well done!! I’m thrilled!!

The episode was very touching; I was weeping with joy as I watched Naomi literally bleed to reach his destination. Each and every person who had ever criticised or hated him admitted that he had proved himself and completely deserved to win. He now returns home with 3.62 lac Rupees and a Karizma bike... and fame... which is priceless!

You can also congratulate me for scoring 54561 on Snake 3. I ran out of time as I was busy munching on the apples, pears and cherries that act as the snake’s food. Greedy me!!

And while we’re on the happy mode, let’s wish my Dad as it’s his 55th birthday today. (Bhabhi turned 25 yesterday. Less than 3 months to go for my big day!)

By the way, I've found out a few folks who share their birthdate with me; wana know??!! They are Daniel Radcliffe (Mr. Harry Potter), Monica Lewinsky (she needs no introduction, does she?!!), Lokmanya Tilak, Chandrasekhar Azad, Slash from Guns N Roses, and hold your breath - HIMESH RESHAMMIYA!! ROFL... Goddd.... Crazyyy...

Quite a few good news-es, eh? There's also some sad stuff - Feroz Khan died of cancer at age 69. He is survived by his talent-less and witless son Fardeen and daughter Laila. I did not particularly adore the man, but I sure admire his confidence and style. He'll be missed...

The other news is that the authorities are trying to give swine flu a miss. We've heard of bird flu before, but this time, it's pig flu that's doing the rounds in US, UK and Europe. 103 folks lost their lives in Mexico thanks to this condition. (Don't worry, your pork is safe, just heat it well above the usual temperature.)

I’ve had a great weekend. Did nothing special really, except Sizzled at Yana ;-) But if sorrow doesn’t always need a reason, then neither does happiness! I’m in good spirits since last week... God knows why, but I’m loving it, and may it continue!!

I helped facilitate a Team building program for GTL at their GITA training centre ahead of Wagholi. It went very well (as usual), and there’s quite a bit of work in the office now courtesy FIRO-B reports for another team from the same company.

The best things in life are free. However, even those that come at a price can give tremendous bliss. And I mean something as small as a Ceres juice pack, which I purchased at Dorabjee’s the other day. (Youngberry flavor - tastes nice.) Or the Weikfield jelly crystals. Or the cute pair of blue earrings that suit my sexy Punjabi suit to a T! I’m happy!! Touch wood...

I told you I’m reading the Anatomy of Deception by Lawrence Goldstone. I’ve finished over 200 pages of the 475-page novel, and the plot is still not completely developed. While I understand the protagonist Ephraim Carroll’s character and temperament, we’re still clueless about the vanished cadaver in the morgue that stunned Prof Osler and fishy Turk when they caught a glance at it. New people are introduced on every page, and there is no solid data about who is important in the climax and who is a mere decoration. And now Turk is dead, poisoned apparently... Heaven knows how this will end... Osler's my chief suspect...

By the way, I learnt quite a few new words while reading the book – blithely, which means casually; datum, the singular form of data; rapscallion, which means rascal; and many more.

I need a change (as usual). I want to go outa the city, meet new people, do something different. While my heart is hovering on a trip to Thailand and Malaysia, my brain suggests Goa, where I could also opt for the Basic Human Process Lab (BLHP) by ISABS. Career/personality development ek taraf, chhutti bhi ho jayegi. Two birds with one stone, good na?! Let’s see what finally happens... (My mantra for all crossroads.)

The stars foretell that my good times shall roll starting May. I’m keeping my fingers crossed. May 1 will sure be good (it’s a holiday on account of Labor day urf Maharashtra Din. Hee hee!) May the rest be better than that!!

Adios buddies.

-Happy Princess

Wake Me Up When September Ends!

Thanks to the power cut, I don’t need to use my alarm clock.

As much as I enjoy sleeping like a log, it’s terribly aggravating when you have to wake up sweating coz the fan’s stopped working.

(Oops, just remembered what we used to say at inlingua... Pigs SWEAT, humans PERSPIRE.)

The heat has increased multifold, not just coz of the sun, but also coz of the approaching IPL. Bouncing youngsters have started betting on who will win or lose in the league. I hear Chennai is the top favorite, but I personally know nothing about the teams, except that SRK’s gang is called the Knight Riders (Kolkata) and liquor baron Vijay Mallya has a squad, too. I could probably search a wee bit if you guys wish to know... Happy to help! ;-) Hehe...

(I'm good enough to be Vodafone's brand ambassador, right? Just like Sallu-bhai gushed "dobara mat poochna" to mediapersons in his Chlormint ad.)

News at my end is that I’ve had my first ever pedicure this week. It’s a stupid process if you ask me, takes too much time and effort (and money and paraphernalia!) for too trivial results. Of course, my feet looked yummy after the entire episode, but am I doing it again? Not anytime soon... I might consider a massage or a facial or face clean... Been ages since I did that...

Life @ work is peaceful at the moment. The boss has realized (after scolding me for delaying a job 3 days) that it can wait another week. So, I’m cool right now, well aware that this is the calm before the storm. I’m busy making my shopping list which includes a book, some garments, a pair of shoes, a watch (and some private items that I cannot mention here).

I recently visited the Modi Ganapati temple in Narayan Peth coz my mum insisted we should go there. It’s a cute little shrine, with an equally cute deity. There were lotsa old folks seated there listening as a woman recited some lessons and spiritual instructions. I also noticed some pamphlets and boards announcing the beginning of summer camps and “sanskaar varga” (which is something like a summer session where kids are taught the strotras, arts and crafts for a fee). I wonder why parents and elders cannot impart the same knowledge to their tots. Are we too busy or we ourselves unaware of our mythology and religion? Food for thought.

Practice makes perfect is a lesson I firmly stand by these days, coz I’m going gung-ho with the Snake application on my cell-phone. My latest high score is 42,000 N.O. (I believe that’s the sign in cricket indicating not out. Not too well-versed with cricketing terms and gestures either.)

Something’s on my mind; it’s not really bothering me, but it’s just that I have a need to know... Somebody I know celebrated her birthday a few days ago. I did not wish her. Do you think she missed my call? I hadn’t really forgotten, in fact, I’d purposely not remembered. We haven’t been in touch for a long time, and even the rare occasions when we did interact, it wasn’t smooth and friendly. Rather, it felt formal, something that you did consciously, as when you’re treading on thin ground, not sure what to do or say...

The gap widened, the distance grew too large to bridge... She did not make an attempt to maintain contact, and even my efforts were not rewarded too generously. So, I decided I won’t be a pushover. Why act like a pile-on if someone wishes to move on? Seems like that’s ok with her as well... (Deep inside I know it’s not... But then, I can’t be the only one driving this relationship.)

Kiska hai ye tumko intzaar main hoon na,
Dekh lo idhar toh ek baar main hoon na...
Khamosh kyu ho, job hi kehna hai kaho,
Dil chaahe jitna pyar utna maang lo,
Tumko milega utna pyar main hoon na...

That’s her favorite song... Fits aptly in this situation, na?!!

I’m there Sarikadi... Just a phone call away...
Wish you a belated happy birthday.

Wish you a great weekend, readers. I’m sure I’m gona have a blast!!
Be back soon!!

-Princess

What’s on TV?

You might have read / heard this famous quote that I caught on Discovery Travel and Living : It’s good to have an end to journey towards, but it’s the journey that matters in the end. (Just thought I’d share it with you...)

Did you watch the latest episode of MTV Roadies? It was by far the bestest one until now. (Actually, all the contestants are so thhakela and pakela, that any amount of effort by Raghu, Nature Baba, Danger Debbie and their crew is rendered futile.)

However, this one was different. After irritating Dev (thankfully) got kicked out coz of his over-smartness, it was Roop’s turn to be voted out. The remaining 9 Roadies – Polomi (wonder how she survived this long), Samrat (looks the most promising and deserving, but politics will kill him sooner or later), Bobby (cool Delhi-ite), Kiri (crazy chinki), Natasha (grr... sucha galling female – she’s made too many enemies too soon), Sandeep (the head behind the plots), Tamanna (I like her guts, though she has a constant frown on her face), Pradeep (lukda-sukda scheming Sikh), and Suzy (Pune gal who is no more on the show) – journeyed to Silvassa and had to wrestle each other for immunity. Nats and Samrat won, and here comes the brainwave – the twist in the tale - you either get immunity or 2 lacs cash : What would you choose?!!

The task was archery, and both failed (I don’t know genuinely or intentionally) to hit the target which Rannvijay (watta cutie he is!) effortlessly marked. Result – both immune, and Suzanna had to leave. The rest are now packing their bags for Australia, and Raghu has warned that the things they will be doing there will be outrageous and extraordinary. I’m all geared up! (FYI : Due to the change in time zones, the show will now be broadcast on Sundays at 7 instead of Saturday.)

(You are welcome.)

What's happening on MTV, is that the Dance Crew show is over, and Splitsvilla is kicking off its new season soon, which that crazy adorable dude Nikhil Chinappa will be hosting. There are 9 men and 9 women this time, and I'm wondering what the concept will be... Watch Baalika Vadhu on Colors for a lot of rona-dhona, coz they're showing all the last rites of the dead groom... The way they've picturised it is really heart-rending and tearful...

Talking about the TV, did you check out the Sajid Khan-Ashutosh Gowariker argument at the Star Screen Awards? I am not too keen on all these award functions and TV shows, so I didn’t know about this until a socially-aware friend told me about it. It was uber cool!! Full danga-fasaad...

Thank God for the internet. I quickly googled the fight, and viewed the clip on Youtube. (Wonder whoever in the world has all the time to record and upload this stuff, but whoever it is, sure helps disseminate the info! Thanks, webbers!) I even read about the attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team in Pakistan on the web news portals. If it weren’t for these sites, I’d be left clueless and unaware about everything that’s happening around us.

Be it surfing for work-related research, or staying on top of the news flashes, the world wide web is my savior. I don’t even have time in the morning to glance at the newspapers, and whoever can watch Aaj Tak and NDTV for news all day?!! Times of India online gives me the pleasure of reading a newspaper, even as Google news gives me other reports. And I must say, I enjoy this online customized version more than the hard copies we get at home. Typical Gen Y-cal, eh?

Didn’t give you folks a detailed review of the movie Delhi 6 coz I didn’t go for it. I heard awful evaluations that made me want to skip the torture. I anyways am not crazy about Abby Baby (though I enjoy his freestyle dance and humor) and I find Sonam very unattractive, so wasn’t too tough a decision...

The film is about the Monkey Man story that rocked the country capital some years ago, and the Hindu Muslim riots that occurred thereafter. The songs are pretty cool, though – Masakkali, the title track Ye Dilli Hai Mera Yaar, Gendaphool... Very distinctive beats. India ki shaan - Rahman at work again, what else can one expect?!!

I was checking out the upcoming movies on this site and I’m wondering why half the movies are being made... I mean it takes no genius to predict that the movies will be duds. Of this list, I’m sure to watch Big B’s Alladin, Dulha Mil Gaya, 3 Idiots and Munnabhai... Maybe even 13B, Main aur Mrs. Khanna, Taalismaan and Alibaug... But Horn OK Please, Himesh’s Kajraare, Jai Veeru and Jail? Jeez... Some people got tons of time and money to waste... Count me out!

Hey! I’m pleased to tell you, readers, that the friend I wrote to a while ago has landed a job as a counselor with a reputed institute. She now stays busy throughout the week, and I hope she has better things to think and agonize over than men, guys and males.

Right now what’s getting very worrisome for me is the fact that I’m glued to my new Nokia cell phone, courtesy another S addiction. This time it’s the game Snake III. I love the Adventure mode, where there is plenty of food, obstacles, time limit and you need to cross a certain stage before the gates open to the next level. My high scores so far are 375 in Classic, 505 in Custom, and 4994 in Adventure. Yippeeee...

Time to run. Be back tomorrow... A very special poem ready to be posted...

Love,
Anuja

Nothing Billu About It...

I’m not quite sure what happened on or after Feb 14th with reference to the Pink Chaddi buddies, but here’s what Times of India quoted on D-day (aka V-Day) : Perhaps never before has underwear played such an important part in Indian cultural history. The “Pink Chaddi” campaign, launched by the Consortium of Pubgoing, Loose Forward Women, has attracted hordes of members — the number has touched 34,032 and still counting — making it one of the most popular sites these days.

Well, teme one thing, mates - Who decides what is Indian and un-Indian? Is democracy and freedom of expression a myth, something to decorate our constitutional charter, without understanding or adhering to?

I’m outraged at these goondas parading around spreading terror as “moral police”. Uneducated, ruthless rascals - are they equally tyrannical at their homes with their daughters and wives? Or is this honor saved only for those that are outside their control? I feel sorry for their depraved upbringing and decadent principles. They flaunt their so-called patriotism and aspire to protect “Indian” dignity by molesting and inhumanely assaulting their own country-mates! I wonder how fair that is... And how Indian, too...

However, one positive outcome of such mawali behavior is that the youth has finally decided to stop lying low, and actually do something against injustice and mistreatment of self and the larger community. They acquired their perfect, civilized medium in the form of the blogosphere and world wide web, which was hitherto used primarily for chatting and loafing. Apart from the Pink Chaddi crew, there are a hundred many individuals and groups airing their opinions and seeking support. (Remember I told you about this gentleman who invited people to the Taj gates to protest against the Mumbai attacks?) Finally, learned people (who are cultured as well) have found a way to raise their voice with sophistication and humanity. Cheers to that!

You must be wondering about today’s title. The reference - I happened to watch the recent SRK movie – Billu (initially titled Billu Barber) over the weekend. The verdict – Mujhe Budbuda ka (non-jungli) Billu bahut pasand hai.

You must have heard tales of Krishna as a child, and how he had this impoverished childhood pal Sudaama, whom he loved with all his heart. The very same story that you heard then is now made into a full-length movie; Sahir SRK Khan as the charismatic superstar, and Irrfan as the poor naai (=hajaam) who cuts hair for a living. The story is about how these two langotiya yaars meet serendipitously and are reunited by fate.

SRK is his real self in the movie – right from his humble interaction with the simple villagers to his pride at being the superstar he is. (Did you hear he had his 7th surgery yesterday?) The songs are quite frequent, but they’re not repulsive. The movie belongs to Irrfan, who easily charms the audience with his self-esteem and integrity. The rest of the cast is pakka Priyan – the same folks as Malaamal Weekly, Hulchul and the rest. Rajpal Yadav (the official brand ambassador of Roopa Frontline!!) and Om Puri are wasted in the movie, and the heroines with item songs breeze by amidst appealing choreography and fascinating sets.

The movie is by no measures a must-watch in the cinema hall, nor can I say you should watch is on DVD, for that matter. It’s strictly OK. If you care more about your popcorn cravings than the actual screenplay, go for it.

Moving on to an important announcement!! Say hello to the newest kid on the block, a recent addition to the “crazy-about-the-radio” brigade... Taadaaa!! Mommy dearest!! I was stunned the other day to see the music system in her room, and she perpetually walking to it every 2 minutes to change the frequency or raise the volume. A Ghanta Singh fan, she doesn’t tire of repeating how old songs are unparalleled in rhythm and lyrics even as she tries to sing new songs in her own style. (Drives me crazy. Blame the perfectionist streak.)

Hey, another piece of news - I bought a brand new Nokia 3110 – not a very fancy instrument but suits my budget and requirements fine. SMS is a challenge currently, coz Moto and Nokia have different typing styles (the space button, send and clear functions, etc.) Wasting quite a bit of money when incomplete messages get sent erroneously, but I’m trying... Yippee! New phone, new phone!! I miss you already Moto darling. Your sleek, slim style will forever remain on the top of my admiration list!

Gotta go; competency mapping calling!

Love,
Princess

Download PDF (Patriotism, Dreams and Fun)

Hi!

Friday’s here, sweethearts. And this is a long weekend in India, courtesy our Republic Day. (Indians rejoice not coz of the significance of the day, but coz it’s a public holiday.)

I have written about patriotism twice I think (it was the review of Aamir one of those two times, and a general rant the other time.) I don’t know if I have shared this with you before, but I feel proud and amazing when I see everyone standing up for the national anthem before a movie starts in the cinema hall. Something tingles inside to see the community respecting the national symbol as one!

I dreamt about animals last night. (Don’t get startled; I’ve had dreams wilder and more bizarre than this!) What kicked off the dream were two mighty elephants, grey-white, with long legs and massive ears. They were slipping backwards over a slight incline, and a rider on one was sliding down as well. (Slowly, fortunately for him.) But the situation wasn’t fatal; they all seemed in control of themselves.

I saw this as I was riding pillion with an old dame in a saree. (I don’t know who she was and what business of mine it was to sit behind her!) As we hit a dirt track, a lion started its hot pursuit of us. As the creature chased us at breakneck speed, I screeched to the grandma to go fast fast fast! And fast, she went. (Don’t know how she did it at her age!)

As I looked back, I saw a man wildly signaling to us to slow down and stop, but we thought he was out of his mind to give sucha foolish suggestion. When the lion was almost at our tail, I realized we had no scope of outrunning the beast, and so we might as well do the man’s bidding. Grandma hit the brakes, and wonder of wonders! The lion dashed past us. Seems like he just wanted a good race!!

(Hehe. Tells us we should think outside the box, and if we cannot, then we ought to give others’ ideas a chance.)

My dreams are as unusual as they are amusing. I once dreamt that I was sitting with Sunny Deol watching television, and I also dreamt that my school was inundated with snow!

I often see my school and schoolmates in my dreams. (Had anyone else said the same to me, I’d have expressed that there could be some psychological or unresolved issues during the said period. But, that ain’t true for me as far as I know.) I have seen Radhika and Neha a million times, as I have Kunal and a few others. It’s true I was very attached to all these people, but by no means do I have anything to share with them that I haven’t already.

I just wish my schooldays had been more cheerful and memorable. Didn’t enjoy being teased about my skin color and specs... Now, of course, when they look at me, I see the appreciation and admiration in their eyes about the person I‘ve become. The perfect story of the ugly duckling becomes pretty swan. (I said pretty, NOT beautiful!)

Well, that’s that about dreams. In real life, I’m currently struggling with “Organizational Restructuring”. Some client request. Hope it doesn’t turn out like the Performance Appraisal Review Meeting, where all my mammoth research and effort appears to have gone waste as the client absconded after hearing the commercials.

Come to think of it, Indians want the best stuff at paltry prices. Alchemy is by no means low-priced, and neither was inlingua, one of the most expensive language institutes in the city, where I worked as a language trainer for 2 years. Independent of the fact that I have been a loyal employee who enjoys her work, the truth is both deliver quality. And quality comes at a cost.

(Not like a few other language coaching schools I know that charge half as much and teach the beginner and advanced levels simultaneously! I mean what da #^$% ??!!! How can you learn the vowels and perfect tenses at the same time?!!)

I keep getting the news from inlingua that a lot of instructors keep coming and going. (Tough to last when one surrounded by politics.) But what’s in the news, the papers I mean, is the adverts of some training firms that have adopted inlingua’s yellow-black scheme – like Seed Infotech, and another one, I think it was Yellowbox. I still tend to think of my last workplace as my own... The ironies of life!!

Apart from work, what’s happening in my life at the moment, is dealing with the electronics in my home. Gifted my parents a Philips juicer-mixer-grinder (as I’d told you) for their anniversary, and bro gifted them cell-phones. Dad bought a new bread toaster recently, and we’ve been planning to get a plasma TV for ages.

Hey, have you been watching Roadies? The one episode I’ve seen since they started their journey was where Rannvijay (whatta dude, man!) poses Hindi mindbenders, and the ladies have to answer, failing which the guys get whacked on their balls. Uh uh. “Immunity” in the game at what cost?!! Oh, and the money task was to collect shit from all across the desert. The Roadies managed to gather cartloads of excreta – animal, and even human. With their bare hands. Ughhh...

I must say I’m disappointed with the lot. None of the contendors seems to have the “zing” factor that makes a Roadie a Roadie – Polomi, Varisha, Palak, Devarshi, Suzzana, Pradeep, Kiri, and other punters whose names I don’t even recall... All duds. No winning streak unlike Prabhjyot and others in the previous seasons.

Talking about TV shows, did you know about this cartoon character called “Hagemaru”? He looks Japanese, and I’m so sure they did not consider the Hindi translation of the name... (For the uninitiated, it means something on the lines of “shit and hit”. Gross, I know. I remember chatting with my friends when Skoda Laura was launched. How Indians wouldn’t buy that car coz it sounds like the male organ in Hindi...)

Enough chat for the day... Time to sign out! Have a great weekend! See ya Tuesday!

Bharat Mata Ki... Jai!
Princess

Vidya Nishnaat speaking

(Naah, that's not some new friend I've met. It's the Marathi translation of Master of Arts. Cool, eh?!!)

Ye galiya ye chaubara, yaha aana na dubara... Ab hum toh bhaye pardesi... Ke tera yahaan koi nahiiii....

This old parting song comes to my lips as I begin this post, coz I am now formally out of the University! Done with education, and there's no going back... At least not to the PUNE Univ...

Time for some news...

The dusky babe who made the dark-wheatish skin color fashionable, none other than the sultry Bipasha Basu, has turned 30. I am not too fond of her, (her lips look weird) but I certainly find her much better than the fair-brigade that have acting skills of a hippopotamus.

You all sure have heard/read about Satyam by now. After the World Bank barred them for 8 years, (and a host of other events in between like Directors renouncing their posts) Ramalingama Raju has resigned and confessed his role in the terrific fraud that underlies the IT company. It's share price has fallen from 140 bucks to 40, (Sensex is affected, too) and their auditor PWC (PricewaterhouseCoopers) is facing enquiry. A massive 7000 crores! Whew... I know how many zeroes that has, but I wish I knew just how people carry off these enormous scams!

Our Muslim bhai-log are celebrating Moharram today. It's a bank holiday, so a lot more others are cheering, too. (Including my Dad, as the Stock Exchange abides by all the bank holidays.) Lucky, lucky!

I read about this disease called De Quervain (also called washerwoman's sprain or mother’s wrist, Wiki tells me) in yesterday’s Pune Mirror. Apparently, this condition “is an inflammation of the sheath that surrounds two tendons that control movement of the thumb.” In simple terms, your thumb starts paining due to extreme use. And it appears that this syndrome is more common in women... (We poor souls! What with having to run around and do all those chores you men disregard! Sniff...)

Wiki further says that symptoms include pain, tenderness, and swelling over the thumb side of the wrist, and difficulty gripping. (Fear not, coz pain can occur in the normal individual, but if severe, DeQuervain's is likely.) Pain will be located on the thumb side of the forearm about an in inch below the wrist. How this happens is all you young fellows type and text too much, be it the comp/lappie or your cell-phone. You’re merry while the tick-tick-tap-tap occurs, and at the end of the day, you are left nursing your wrist and thumb that have suffered the onslaught of your vigorous acts. So beware! And keep taking regular breaks to loosen up and exercise your limbs. Nahi maanoge toh pacchtaoge bacchu!!
Now that you’re educated and my social duty is done, I can commence upon my favorite topic – ME!!! I am now officially a Master of Arts as declared by the University of Pune, the Chancellor and his coterie. Though my aggravation at not being honored was titanic, (further fuelled by my batch-mate who asked if I had won the gold medal as I was the department topper) I managed to sport a smile as me and some friends took some pictures in the customary black gown and cap, holding our degree certificates.

How I wish our convocation was as grand and ostentatious as the Symbiosis event. Saw hordes of students walking past Hanuman tekdi, clad in their regal black robe and ribbons in blue, red or yellow. All smiling and cheerful. (Obviously, they didn’t have to wear smelly, used clothing with shared headgear that reeked of oil and dandruff.) But well, it’s all for the best. Leme see if I can share the pictures with you when I get them next week.

The pleasing bit of news this week, is that a wonderful lady at my ICICI bank home branch said I have a sweet voice! Can you believe that?!! Some things I shall never believe. One is that I am beautiful (Sibi has broken his head a million times trying to convince me), and the other is this.

I wonder how so many people mistake my voice for my mum’s on the telephone. She has the most melodious voice on earth, and while I’m not too hoarse and raucous myself, I sure cannot be compared with her in a hundred years. Can’t even dream to. I know I’m attractive, and I know I can sing decently well. Say anything beyond that, and I’ll laugh on your face. Period.

This is weird, but I'm missing my Jaipur trip the last few days. Out of the blue. Naah, not the HSBC program one for work, but the other tour I made with family in Dec '07.

When and where will I go next, Travel devta?!!

You guys stay right here, and come back for more tomorrow!

Cheerio!
Anuja

The 3Ms - Mobile, Magnolia, Mahabharata

Something weird’s happening with my cell-phone. I think meri nazar lag gayi hai...

Remember I told you the teeny darling has everything I’d possibly need, and is my most cherished handset till date? Well, seems like it has taken offence. My hands-free doesn’t work until it’s tilted at a particular (and may I add, highly awkward) angle. Besides that, either the Airtel network is screwed, or my sim has gone nuts. I thought my friend had gone barmy when he said I was messaging his from some other number. But, it was true! When I sms-ed him, instead of my number, there was some other number that was appearing in the sender’s details. Not only that, when I was trying to make a call, I was told my outgoing was barred! Hell! Even the customer care number was not going through. (Thank god it’s toll-free!)

Visited the centre yesterday, so I hope things function normally now. I’m sick of the switch off-switch on, remove sim-insert again formula day in-day out... Besides, I was really freaked out that my sms went as another unknown number. What with the terrorist threats and high-fi technology crimes like identity-hacking and password –hacking, I thought my sim was hacked!

My latest discovery has been the Magnolia restaurant. Abba’s in town, and it had been a while since we caught up, so he suggested dinner. Ammi had gone to attend some Bramhakumari discourse at KP, so it was just the two of us. I’m tired of the same old joints in Pune, and in my quest for “something new and different”, I nodded as Abba said Magnolia. Located in Aundh amidst plush electronic and furniture malls, this Thai and Chinese restaurant is not as heavy on the wallet as my favorite Mainland China, but has a comparable ambience, service and fare.

What considerably added to the experience, was the fact that I did not have to order, as I passed the buck to “the man at the table”. (I find it a very onerous and tedious task as the menu seems purposely built to perplex and distress diners.) So, it was Hot and Sour soup, Crispy Chicken, Shanghai Chicken, and Egg Fried Rice that landed up on our table. I wasn’t quite prepared to see coriander and olives floating in my soup, but maybe my understanding of said broth is flawed. (I resolve to henceforth order clear soup at Chinese/Thai restaurants.) The starter was pretty decent, and the main course scrumptious. I had a few laughs as the cute waiter there described the Shanghai Chicken and Chicken Hongkong in almost identical terms, even as he recommended a white gravy Chicken Hot Pot.

As conversation hovered around married and professional life, I ordered Sizzling Brownie for dessert, and watching-my-diet Abba willingly sneaked a few spoonfuls. Sound like a perfect dinner date, eh? What makes it even more ideal, is the bill that came to a measly 300 per person! They also serve wine and beer, so the place could be a good venue for friends or lovers. My rating – great place, must visit once!

As far as reading goes, I’ve resumed the Mahabharata and reached the part where Krishna slays Sishupal, his own cousin, at Yudi’s Rajasuya. I had no choice but to shut the book (with the bookmark firmly in place, of course) and ruminate. Have you any clue WHO Sishupal was??!! I, for sure, did NOT know this eerie connection between Hiranyaksha-Hiranyakashapu, Ravana-Kumbhakarna and Sishupal-Dantavakra... They were all he same two people, born and reborn as demons and each time killed by Vishnu Himself!! Jay-Vijay, the gatekeepers of Vishnu’s Vaikunth were cursed by some munis coz they did not let them in when Vishnu was resting... Kya na, kisi bhi baat pe shaap! If such things were still true today, can you imagine what would happen?!!

“You refused to let me go out with my boyfriend, so may you be separated from your husband forever”... Followed by the mum wailing “Noooooooooooo...”

And if one doesn’t give a penny to the beggar (the monarchs of the Indian streets and public places), “Jaa sale, tu bhi apni agli paanch zindagiyon mein loola-langda bhikari banega”...

Whew! Thank God for small mercies...

So, wassup pretty people? I’m thoroughly bored of work, though there seem to be some refreshingly different assignments in the offing. However, my core responsibilities remain the same, so, it’s not a breather for me just yet. Maybe by December-end, early-Jan things should change. Massively. Psst psst!

Christmas next week and New Year eve the week after that. Time’s a-dragging! Thought of any resolutions hitherto? I can’t conjure up any. But I’m sure New Year’s gona be rocking. Got some plans in mind, but will tell you after it actually happens!

That’s all for now. Be back after the weekend.

Cheers!
Princess

Meeting Mantras

There are 3 types of people in this world...

Those who can count, and those who cant.

;-)

Smirk smirk...

Well, ok I admit, there are a lot more types of people in this world. But I’m kind of estimating that all of us, sometime in our lives, have been to a meeting/seminar. I’m privileged to attend client meetings these days, and I have come across some peculiar behaviors that instantly register as goofy or elegant.

(You sure as hell know I’m not gona talk about anything very positive; graceful behaviors belong to all those self-help books that I recoil from!) Encouraged by your responses on my earlier post on un-taught teachings, I’m gona share some silly things that people do (yes, even the educated, sophisticated ones) that make us squirm.


(By the way, here's an addition to the teaching nobody taught post - Don't smear your head with some stinky, fetid chameli ka tel. The hair oil reeks and makes life hell for others...)

Without further ado, here is the list of don’ts in meetings (unfortunately, not exhaustive or all-inclusive):

Talking on cell-phones during meetings. Or worse people letting their cell-phone vibrate for ages without bothering to either switch it off or letting it sit silent without disturbing the rest with its earth-shattering rumble.

Playing with the hair, especially women. Or pens and bags and files. Whoever stopped you from faking your interest and total involvement?!!

Biting nails. Now that doesn’t need any explanation. It’s juvenile and it’s ridiculous. And certainly not the best thing to do if you want to come across as professional and disciplined.

Dressing too casually. Better overdressed than under. Dressing well always creates a good impression and makes you look well-groomed and focused. It also shows you mean business and are not out for a picnic or party. I know some companies don’t follow dress codes, but if it’s a meeting, you better be well dressed as you never know who might join or supervise!

Changing poses too often on the chair, or leaning back in a semi-horizontal fashion, or doing anything that makes the chair squeak. A colleague of mine keeps falling over the chair as he keeps moving his hands and legs one way or the other. He dresses impeccably, but the charm is lost thanks to these monkey tricks. (The latest is, he's screwed his high-backed chair by stretching it a tad too much too often...)

Sipping tea/coffee loudly. You’re not here to express how much you love your cuppa. If you’re the prime speaker, forget about the chai-pani and complete your assignment. If you’re the audience, don’t down the cup in a gulp, but don’t waste hours on it either. You can sip at appropriate intervals, silently and gracefully.

Not saying anything. You’re not invited to be a dumb duck! Say something relevant at the appropriate time. Don’t just agree with the boss and don’t just play the devil’s advocate. Be an eager listener and an enthusiastic audience even if it means just nodding your head and murmuring “yes/of course/true/that’s right” at calculated occasions.

On the same note, making a point that is extremely silly just for the sake of saying something is not a good idea. Try to understand what’s happening and observe where the meeting is going. Keep mum until such time when you feel a part of the group and believe you are on the same page. Then voice your observations and question gaps that are clearly not elucidated.

Dragging on. Know beforehand what you need to say, how much you need to explain, and how long. Be prepared to face a dull audience, and make sure you’re informed about the topic at hand. Most importantly, keep it simple (the KISS principle never fails!). On the same note, don't sound monotonous. Modulate your voice and speak enthusiastically. If the topic doesn’t excite you, it won’t interest anyone else either.

Well, guess I should wind up there. Too much broth spoils the cook.

Whatever.

Keep rockin!
Love,
Anuja

Weekend by Chance

A very unplanned and unexpected weekend... Whoever said self-made plans work out?
I struck gold over the weekend – a discovery that you'll surely appreciate... Women honk for business, men for pleasure. How did I arrive at this premise? I haven’t really gone the hypothesis-testing way, but it sure is a validated statement. Shall explain in detail some other day. For now, ruminate!

The news is out! Yyuuvvrraajj (whatever the spelling is!) is a super-duper flop. (Folks like Zayed Khan and Tusshar Kapoor should just take a hint and spare us such torturous enterprises.) But even the others, save Anil Kapoor, have not managed to please the audiences. I anyways hate Sallu, (I think besides looking and sounding stylish, he’s a dud at everything else – acting, life, or whatever). So I ain’t too disappointed. The trailers of Rab ne Bana di Jodi are looking good, Haule Haule and Dance pe Chance are splashed across television screens (seen the cute way SRK boogies in the latter?!!) and I think the movie will be good. Time will tell...

Went shopping with mum after ages. (Ain’t it amazing the way we tend to ignore people who are important to us? We conveniently sideline them and their little joys for the sake of temporary, more exciting activities. Which end finally and leave you down in the dumps...)

Nope, we didn’t buy anything too sizeable; a few odds and ends. But most importantly, mum was happy coz we spent time together, just the two of us, and in turn, that contented me. Indeed, the best things in life are free... Like the company of the one you love...

(What you do with that togetherness then decides the necessity of the Mastercard.)
Ahh. the good news is that I'm doing a pretty decent job of not repeating my clothes very frequently. Cheers!
I read a few funny articles in Pune Mirror yesterday (you may also be interested in this and this). Japanese men are now buying bras. And so, lingerie companies have latched on and sunk their fangs into yet another unusual venture – bras specially made for men! What’s coming next?!! God save the world...

The Sunday TOI makes for an interesting read, especially the quotable quotes (I know the term is Reader’s Digest-ial, but pardon me for that!) Here’s some :We don’t see things as they are, we see them as we are – Anais Nin.
When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves...
(I have taken the last one quiteseriously; if I don’t change myself and a few aspects of my life now, you’ll soon be reading my obituary in the very same newspapers I talk about here...)
Shashi Tharoor has written a very optimistic review of Slumdog Millionaire – the movie based on Vikas Swaroop’s novel Q & A. I’m really excited to see it!

And the news that has really frustrated me, is that the same silly guy who won Roadies by fluke has managed to win Bigg Boss 2 as well!! I mean, *&^#%*^#*... Luck really favors some!

Well, we seem to be going on and on about films and filmdom. So, here are some other updates – I went to this place called Sigree, where I tried my long-awaited liqueur fantasy – Bailey’s Irish Cream. (I duno why an ex-colleague spoke so highly about it. To me, it tasted like butter toffee ground and mixed with milk and poured over ice in a fancy glass. Is it alcoholic? I didn’t think of it one bit as intoxicating.) Anyways, the food was OK, but the ambience and service was excellent. Very few places in Pune would boast of good service, so I must give some extra credit to this restaurant. Predictably, it cost a bomb to order just one starter and one curry with rice. But, everything comes at a price. So, in all, a fine experience. My rating – 6 on 10. Which is pretty good as hotels go!

There is something else that deserves a 10 on 10 – my experience at Croma. This electronics mall not only has a superb setup, but the range of goods they have is marvelous! I swooned over their dazzling LCD and Camera collection. (Need to buy a digicam soon; I’m dying to take pictures of nothing in particular and post them on my blog for you to see!) And ya, I also need to buy a cellphone for myself. Ya ya, I know I said my Moto’s going good, but... it’s become old... and there’s some weird khar-khar sound that comes when I’m chatting... and the hands-free isn’t working too well either... You understand, right?...

(Uh-huh)

So, my November and December paycheck are booked. I’m not gona see a penny of either. Better cut the expenses!

A different weekend.

A different life.

Soon.

And it’s all for the best.

Adios!
Anuja

Thank God for cell-phones (And also the techie guys who actually invented and produced it)

There is no doubt about the fact that I cant live without my cell-phone.

Most people can’t. And especially at my age, it’s the worst nightmare anyone could have. We’re all addicted to it and we’re all loving it.

I have a Motorola L6i (I dunno too much about handsets and functions, but don’t want u to ask me later when I don’t remember the type). I’ve had 3 Nokias before this and a Sony Ericsson, too - a pretty flap one with a shining red Spiderman theme. I used to think Nokia was the best, but I did not find any more or any less trouble with the other brands I’ve used so far. Especially this Moto. It’s sleek and it’s thin, and it has all the functions I need – basically calling and sms, camera, calendar, a few games and radio. (I’m not too much into the multimedia and GPRS and hi-tech stuff, so suits me and my pocket fine.) I’ve had it since last February. No issues. I’ve dropped it into a bucket of water once, I’ve dropped it on the floor much less than my other mobiles, I’ve managed to have not too many scratches on it inspite of not having a cell-cover, and despite carrying it around in my jhola with a million other odds and ends, pointed and sharp and shiny. (But, now I think I ought to get a new one... I’m messing up my reputation of changing my cell-phone very few months and besides, the sound’s not too clear on my Moto...)

I know a lot of people complain that us kiddos and not-so-kiddos are glued to mobile phones. Now obviously, how do you expect us to stay away from the attractive applications in the cell-phone? We’re busy clicking away and ticking away, and when we’re not answering calls, we’re busy making them! It’s as if the person who’s far has come close and the people sitting right next to us are distant. Being at the receiving end quite a few times, I know how irksome and annoying it can be when your companion is busy on the mobile. (But Abba, this does not mean you glare at us when we so much as touch the phone! What when you answer 20 calls in a span of 10 minutes? We don’t grumble then!)

I know cell-phones should be used with prudence and discretion. But I can’t get over my habit of keeping the cell within reach at any time of the day (maybe coz I get lotsa sms and the moment I abandon the phone I miss several calls that I expected when I was holding on to it). At night, the last thing I see without my glasses is my cell for any new msgs, which is also the first thing I see in the morning, sooner than I open my eyes totally. And I also sneak a peek at the mobile screen several times in the dead of night for the same reason. Which cheeses off my parents (or rather used to; they’ve long realized they can’t help it and given up.) I earlier switched off my cell-phone in the night, but lost that habit as I had to be reachable at all times owing to, uh-uh, some reasons...

So, thank God for cell-phones. I don’t know what I’d do without them! Right from keeping me organized to keeping me connected to helping me pass time, my cell has emerged as the next important thing after my Vaseline lip-guard (maybe they tie at the same spot). I make notes in my calendar (Moto calls it datebook), and these range from reminders to pay bills, visit the parlor, buy groceries and stationery, even blog notes! Wise ideas that strike at odd times need to be recorded lest I forget the exact terminology and theme. (Waise I don’t forget things thanks to my excellent memory, but recording them externally helps keep my mind uncluttered and available for more urgent, pressing matters. I don’t exploit or waste my memory; and I value and respect it just like other precious gifts and prized possessions.) I’ve written full-length poems in my datebook application that saves 64 characters per page!

Why do I need to write so much? Well, I want to share my life. The laughs. The tears. The worries. The fears. (Wow! That rhymed!) Basically everything that occurred and was worth a mention. I told ya I’ve been writing Dear Diaries since childhood. Most of it was mundane stuff, chat conversations with friends and lovers, fights with family and hate notes to random folks. Almost all my books have their last couple of pages full of instantaneous scribbles, ideas and plans, short notes and poems. It all adds up to who I am today. Besides, you know how it is with Cancerians and memories. Crabs find hard to let go of people, memories and incidents. Being a Cancer-Leo cusp (a dirty, dirty combination!) you will find a host of things that connect me to my past. And I often take trips down the memory lane. In fact, this blog is precisely one of those endeavors where I can sit back when I’m older and read through all my rants and fantasies. (And your comments and compliments, of course!) But hey, this page will last, right?!!!

I find it extremely irritating when strangers don’t introduce themselves when they call. I mean why do you expect me to know who you are and what you’re talking about when you call me outta the blue and start raving about your last concert?!!! Doubly irritating is it when the caller asks for the identity of the receiver. I mean, hello?!! YOU have called so YOU teme who you are!
The same goes for sms-es without senders’ names. Grrr... I either waste my balance in trying to locate who they are, or I lose my patience and peace of mind in trying to recall who they might be! Simple phone etiquettes are history. I didn’t spare a thought when I read an article that said people no longer say “Hello!” when they answer the phone. I mean, if the caller and receiver know each other and their numbers, then a “Hi” or “Wasup!” is good enough... Or something else more casual and friendly. But this is an absolute no-no for people who call after ages! Guessing games suck!!!

What doesn’t suck are the variety of ringtones and caller-tunes doing the rounds. The baby laughs and songs are no more swanky. But there were a few incredible ones from Airtel and Vodafone that really took the cake. There was this one which says “wrong number, please check” and another where Nana Patekar in his highly imitable style screeches at callers, and another where ... Too many there, and more coming up as we speak...

So, the next time anyone calls me with a “guess whoooooooooo” tune, I’m gona say “boo to youuuuuu” and hang up. Ab aayega mazaaaa ;-) Hehehe...

Adios!
Anuja