Much Ado about Nothing!

Is it me, my paper or… Guys/(girls too) please help me know as to whats wrong with who!

Couple of day before, in the paper the front page talks about Pakistan admitting its involvement in Mumbai attacks (which speaks the gravity of the situation for both countries) and very close to it with same importance is given Muthaliks – Pink chaddi  & his khadi sari news.. By now you all know what the whole thing is about! The next day same thing confronts me in the front page – Muthalik and his sena going haywire about V-day in other parts of Karnataka, being calm in Bangalore, Bajrang Dal being the berserk forceful matchmaker somewhere and being the placid “krishna love” admirers handing out Vday cards elsewhere!  And guess what I had to read on the third page of the vary same paper? Group Kiss in Mexico enter Guinness!!

There is Indian security issue at hand, there is an airshow here with 26 countries participating, there is this recession issue to deal with..etc!!!And the senas were busy buying chaddis and selling khadar saris. I wonder what they would have done in Mexico? Suicided or mass murdered? or would have themselves entered the Guinness record as the greatest match maker in the world.

It is so damn easy for a handful of youth to get into a pub and beat up girls, It is easy to stand in groups, catch up a couple and tell them to marry. Excuse me protectors, we looked around anxiously when we were wrapped up in 6 full yards of cotton cloth, travelling with our spouse when guys tried to poke their finger at us? Where were you? having tea breaks? Oh ok, perhaps these “Guys” who are out there, just to make travelling a torture for us girls is helping protect “Indian Culture” as well? These “Guys” who just make walking on roads an aerobic exercise for us (what with their dashing from all sides) is actually protecting the ’sanctity’ of our “culture”?

MatchMaking – Do you even know what marriage is all about to marry off young couples just because they held hands? What rights do you have to claim that my country’s marriage belief is founded on the basis 0f ‘holding hands’?

Pub – What happened to “Sri Ram” value of treating women with respect?  The media story of Mangalore Pub Assault wasnt actually showing any “Maryada Purushottam” followers there!!

Indian Culture – If we have a couple more of such leaders, India wouldnt be there for them to protect Indian Culture!!  They will be so busy weaving Khadi Sarees for us, when the world around would have reached greater heights of progress and crushed us in seconds!

I’m appalled that one person as old as Muthalik can actually talk ’such nonsense’, I’m alarmed at Acharya’s reaction to the whole situation! (Il need a seperate post for all those remarkable remarks!!), I’m dumbfound that there are actually youth who help sena and bajrang dal carry out their stupidity!, I’m blinking at the media making it their front page headlines for so many days! I’m confused as to how useful an exposure for the elections this would be for the particular groups! I’m sitting with my jaws dropped to the floor thinking how stupid can a whole nation get!

I certainly do not need a culture which will put me in the condition girls are put to in Afghanistan sans the protection they have. Im as wrapped up as an egyptian mummy is and guys keep peeping for one ‘open space’ and they give me the crap that they are trying to make the bharatiya naari? what about Ram jaise “maryada purushottams”?

I certainly dont have to take my time out and go stand in long queues, take the pain to chose some leader who displays such foolishness or allows during his tenure such foolishness!

I guess all those with sanity think this way! Is this nation at this juncture having too many self proclaimed rulers? Are we all sleeping to endure with those who think they are ‘Hitlers’ and force it upon us? Is it because our leaders have nothing regarding, security, development, recession  issues to deal with? Is there going to be a new department called Moral Policing? Moral Policing Minister – Mr. Muthalik! ?

My weekend trip – A tryst with Nature

 

I got 2 days for my eyes to feast upon. Now, as I relish those lovely moments let me try to frame it with words..the images I captured with the eyes of my mind. Now before you read the whole things and judge me a ‘psycho’ let me tell you to consider it in a more ‘relative’ term ;P.  For someone who hardly stepped out of the “office – house” consistent & infinite loop..it sure is worth writing about.

 

Our start off on Friday evening was eventful. A whole lot of chaos of getting late & yet another creative brain claiming the conductor that we are reporters from Aaj tak & would like to cover his ‘fuming’ at us has to be termed as eventul!! J

 

Saturday dawned with a ‘mind bathe’ in the river sowparnika. The ripples of flowing water alongside the greenery was worth watching though a dip in it was not ‘thinkable’ as the nearby masonry was taking its toll on the river. From there we went to Mookambika Temple. This is one temple which I was told I wouldn’t be able to make it unless the deity wanted me to! So to sum it up I had been to “the place” where I “had wanted” to go all my life but thought it was “impossible to”. The very mention of the word ‘tour’ would make me spring with joy so imagine the effects of a much-awaited one.

 

The only consolation I have when the world around calls me dumb ;P is that ‘I was born on the day my people celebrate the day of this Goddess of Literature.(yeah I see to it that I declare it as and where possible & it is with great difficulty I fitted this sentence here..phewww..) So it goes without saying that each step of my way in her sanctum was with awe. I found myself writing on those stones her name so that she would bless my pen forever, watched the kids start their first step of their journey to knowledge. This was one of those places devoid of captions & catalysts to stir up our devotion. And since devotion was one of those things which worked best without catalyst I had a great time with my inner self & the supremacy.

 

After noon we had a ‘bumpy’ or any ‘appropriate superlative’ ride to the hills of kudajaadhiri. Superlative coz by the team we reached the top a couple of us were completely shaken. The photographers were at work and the elders were at an easeful pace. I couldn’t spare a moment of mine to either. The view in front of me was the elixir I could ever hope to see and the tranquility it brought with it diminished the chaos around into distant clutter.

 

The trek uphill was worth it, trust me – for every step we took. I fell in love instantly with lush green abyss in front of me so much so that eby was left behind ;P. The trip to murudeshwar was the next day. Was much more easy when compared to this and yeah with a lot of perks on your way with the landscapes and sea playing hide & seek as you travel. It was hard to keep your eyes open but the thought that a person like me cannot ‘afford’ to miss the smallest visual treat helped me stay awake.

 

If it was greenery in Kudajaathiri, it was cool blue that soothed my eyes in Murudeshwar. As far as eyes could reach it was blue. The horizon where sea & sky met was blue and up even the sky was blue. And to compliment that we had huge structures in ash & golden . Now here in Murudeshwar I dint feel anything close to folding my hands and bowing my head. You know it was meant to attract, and attracted I was. It wasn’t a place, which allowed you to go back & explore your inner self. It had eye-catchy structures and scenery and as all guys invariably put it, when it is there for us to see, might as well open our eyes wide and see; P.

 

After a small  break (though unforgettable as I had my first fall in the sea!!) in a beach nearby, we went to Udupi Krishna temple. I don’t think I can put it in words the emotions that this small silent temple evoked in me. The fact that the trip was almost over clubbed with the confusion whether we would actually have time for the darshan before boarding our bus let me down a bit. But finally when we actually could have the darshan, Krishna especially in his quiet humble abode, glowing with gold sure had the effect on me as he would ever have, if not more!

 

I sure should thank my cousins, esp the avid traveler (by now this has become his pseudonym in my friend circle) for gifting me moments that don’t wear off with time, and sights that just don’t fade off J. Infact I guess I should thank them more to have roped in eby into a travel spree which was almost impossible for me all these days ;P

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Flowers of Different Hues

Today Im “congratulated” for having “successfully completed” two years of “marriage”.

The irony that lies within makes me laugh, but anyways let me dress up and celebrate it as my birthday as again ‘birthday’ probably is a day – your parents got/met you!

 

And I guess I have more reasons to celebrate this day coz somehow I’ve proven myself and the world that the co-existence of species from two entirely different planets is actually possible and errr yeah ..pleasingly possible!

 

2 humans as opposite in their nature as God ever would have created! I mean if there isn’t a better antonym than south pole..for north pole, there couldn’t be a better one for me as Eby ;P.

 

 If I love pastas or subway – he feels they are bland to the extent that he would have considered it’s goat feed if not brought in the special plate. Every time he eats meat and I get a chance to watch it closely I watch him in such a manner that cannibals aren’t far ;P

If I would hop into any vehicle to anywhere just for the kiss of the breeze, he is tougher than an elephant to move from hither to thither. If I’m a spontaneous spender, he’s a stickler for savings. If I were obsessed with books, he wouldn’t even touch one at gunpoint! If he can spend a whole night exploring a mobile, I’m as allergic to it as school children are with math books;  (err cited my example here!)

 

The list is endless and equally endless goes the fights we have! I had no clue you could actually fight for reasons like forgetting your ‘bindi’!! and he had no clues that CID’s are less qualified to me when it comes to interrogating the time he reaches home! (For further reference on this topic, you can contact him & I’m sure he’d have an exhaustive list..to the extent that he’d prompt guys with ‘single’ status to stay where you are until death do part u & your peace ;P)

 

But I have to admit that in 2 years these differences have become an inevitable part of my life. It is with much awe that I see that I’ve been absorbed into a different globe, with the freedom to retain my ‘alienisms’. It is with great gratitude that I observe the same shoulders that I fight with is there to lean upon to cry over (mostly over the very same fights ;P). It is with a little apology that I ponder over any moments I have spoilt & for the moments that remain to be spoilt..(as unfortunately I’m born this way & fortunately I’ve been accepted as I am. ;P)

 

 

As different hues in a bouquet add beauty & life to it, we existed with our differences complimenting each other. There are seasons there that come and go and for which we need to make allowances for. But Hopes remain that spring consistently knocks our door.

 

Art of Friendship.

For me friends were just another set of people who lived elsewhere with different parents – whom I could talk to during class and play with  during breaks. They just are there when i see them and I dont care where when I dont. 

When i started caring, I found myself entangled in emotional webs any time i step                       
into a new place. There were “friends”, “only mine” friends or
“mine too” friends.

“Friends” were all those who smothered you with compliments.

 ”Only mine” friends were those to whom you talked too much and just for
that sin you expected the penance of them talking only to you.

and “mine too” version were those great looking,
exceptionally talented, college famous personalities
who happened to have a casual chat to which you’d cling on
for your life and say “guess what we spoke about the other day…yeah we r
tht close you know!!”

Im inviting trouble when I say Noor is my ‘best’ friend. She doesnt even know the existence of this space and other
close friends consistently visit here So let me put it this way..If there is a way of friendship she was my ‘Noor’.

The streak of light that taught me what that bond was all about.

I never realized what friendship was until the day i saw tears in her eyes for a situation that I was going through. Before I could cry or complain about it..i saw her eyes moisten and wondered whatever in the world that would be for. I never realized the meaning of the bond till I found myself screaming & crying out of joy for a beautiful victory of hers. She made me realize that being friends just doesnt mean hanging out together but going out of your way to think for the other.

We had seperate ‘gangs’ I guess..she being the ’sort of celebrity’ and me being a ‘nerd’. But she somehow would have thought and sorted out almost all the problems I have managed to create.  She, more than me knew I had talents in one arena and areas of improvement in another. And suddenly friendship for me never just stopped in having a blast together but being there for each other.

Yet we did have a blast together in our own way. We would drool over people we thought were handsome and play pranks on others who thought themselves great. Most of the teachers mistook us to be great listeners & attentive/obedient students when actually we would have escaped through the back door when we saw some lecturers come through the front.  No we wouldnt let that tarnish our image, we would walk upto our respective favourite professors and ask unnecessary doubts. If it’s her favourite, she’d ask the questions and I just need to tag along and vice versa. And yeah almost all the pranks that college life normally bless our lives with!

I guess Ive always tried to put up my best ‘me’ in front of others till then. Kind of wearing the best dress when you go out. With her, I have actually voiced out the worst ’self-criticism’ that ever run across my brains. I never resented being a blabber mouth or a boring mute. It really dint seem to matter. Coz then there was one person in the wole wide world who accepted me with all the flaws I could ever imagine.

It has been 9 years now. We have seen each other grow, take different fields, stride different paths. Have seen different people cross our lives and been there for each other through thick and thin. And today things that I wouldnt dare to look into a mirror and talk out, I guess Id call her up and speak.

I had thought of writing an ode to her on the eve of her birthday. You all know that procrastination is just another word for a libran like me..by now. Nyways “better late than never” as someone (probably like me) put it. So let this be now when I miss those innoce days of friendship in the daily grind, this day when people step out as swiftly as they step in with more wounds than warmth. This age when friendship has no space or time.

If I do have friends today or rather people who value my friendship, I guess I owe it to her. Coz she was a walking/talking book on the “Art of Friendship” for me

 For her I dedicate this line which has stayed with me long after I finished the book..with a seemingly equal passion with which the author must have written it…

For you, a thousand times over….

 

Warring with White Lies

If  someone starts talking about my follies they just have a blast there! And half of my going into hide outs when i meet people is coz of this ‘confidence’ of them finding out my ‘true self’. Eby’s friends welcomed me to Mumbai with ‘great respect’, and hey I’m not exaggerating here. They would clean up the house if they knew I was to go there, they’d attach ’silencers’ to their otherwise ‘beautiful’ vocabulary, they used to hide when any one revealed the others tryst with the neighborhood girl, and they even used to leave one entire sofa (plss not coz of my width! I promise) for me to sit while they flock together n the floor. Me? yeah i did enjoy playing the great ‘Big Sister’ game. I would smile at their genaral talks which they never actually addressed to me (out of respect ;P), I would laugh at their taunting each other infront of me..but I never ..ever used to open my mouth except for the one word answers.  Alas! Good times never last they say.

Unfortunately husbands are this complexly programmed robots sent to earth who have ears only for cricket commentary, national geographic channel and all the news channel when you are talking about the color of the dress you’d like to buy, the Bag which is now Hype and the places on earth that ought to be seen. I often wonder about his hearing capacity and have screamed my ruminations of having a two-wheeler! But I was awed at his capacity of hearing the slightest and softest of my stupid statements, his commitment in recording them for days after and dedication in playing it back to his friends exactly when im around!! And i tell you my husband is extremely talented in this! As a result the above mentioned guys now dont talk when they see me coz they’ll be busy laughing their hearts out.

Eby was kind of enjoying the game till he realized that everything has 2 sides. If I was dumb enough to make him laugh so was I dumb enough to make him cringe ;P. As Ive already said they are complexly programmed there seems to be ‘different tactics’ to deal with different people which goes completely beyond my comprehension. He would teach me that I need to tell someone that we got late coz our bike broke down which I’d parrot perfectly, but when a second question comes as to do we have a bike.. Id stare blank. When the third question as to ‘was it a puncture’? I would vividly search for him rather than answer.  He’d deny to the best of his buddies having certain stuffs after a complex logical thought (which ofcourse is not worth discussing with me) when i’d jump in and ’remind’ him with the best of my voice that the thing asked for is in the topmost shelf!

I guess the last straw atleast till now was yesterday night. We were completely unwell and bedridden n xmas when there was an invite from his cousin’s place for dinner.  We just couldnt say no..for (dont ask me the reason!!only he knows! ) Knowing me well enough by now he cautioned to me that I was not to interfere till he told me to. He handled it smooth enough i guess as we were suppose to go there just for a ‘hi’ with the pretension that we had dinner under unavoidable circumstances elsewhere. He took me for dinner at a chinese restaurant and taught me the place name which i should say, the time we went, the reason why we got late and many other. ((Now i guess my hearing capacity was limited to the beauty of switzerland the guys n the next table were talking about)

So we landed up there and all were full of smiles until ofcourse when asked what we had for dinner i told – chinese chop suey and veg manchurian and as to the question whether the friends we met were a couple I said “yes a sweet couple”!! Apparently the ‘unavoidable’ circumstance that Eby had infact told them was that his ‘bachelor’ friend’s parents had come down for xmas and wanted to treat his ‘city’ friends with proper ‘traditional’ kerala food ;P.

The Binding Tie – The changing perspectives

I remember my childhood days (as everyone i promisse it isnt too far
away ;P) I used to wait till my Dad comes back from his job. An anxious
wait it was to tell him that Geeta pulled my hair and Anu won the
award for painting. Priyanka will be leaving the school and what not. I do
not know if he paid attention but I sure knew I tried my best. If i had no
idea of how much my influence was I was given a small intro by the
employees in his company -

“Here is the one who painted our GM’s nails”.                                                                                                                                                                                                     (mind you bright red was the ‘in’ thing or rather the only thing then!)
I remember him saying no, but i wouldnt budge. Finally he gave in and then
atleast to my Dad’s knowledge ‘removers’ didn’t exist. It wasnt as easy as
the pony tails i tried in his hair ;P. But there he gave me the gift of
acceptance that no matter how silly I am, I’m a vital part of his life.
An unquestionable dependence from my part and an undeniable acceptance
from his. Unquestionable coz no matter how angry I am with him, If i want                                                                                                  
a chocolate I have to go ask him! And yeah you guessed it right! I
wouldnt have attitude block my way there! and undeniable coz no matter
how much I stamp my feet and cry aloud for the Barbie doll in the middle of
the shop, he cannot disown me (better he never wanted to beat me!!)

Ive read in books and psychology stuffs that girls desire a husband who is
like their father. Which dint make any sense to me in the beginning. Eby is
as different from Dad as he could get. But i realize both bonds share
some basic values.

As I look at the alarming statistics of Divorce around I realize it is because of
the lack of the similarities in the Bond. As the best of my buddies have trouble                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       with their marriage I realize they werent lucky to have as much of their Dad’s time.  

                                                        
When people out there are pointing at the various shift timings                                                                       of  BPO/IT sector, stress levels at jobs, General view & general acceptance
of divorces. They lose out the main points – Relationship with parents,
dependency and acceptance.

When I have fights wit my hubby as to why hes so late, why I dint call..I
guess I have no worries. But when i take out a new ‘modern age me’, when
i blurt out, “I can do it on my own” is when i realize I get the scare
and scamper around to restore peace.

No I’m not against woman empowerment and other developments. Just
mused on the topic. Just pondered how ‘right dependency’ and ‘true
acceptance’ can reinforce bonds despite the social changes.

Head Vs Heart

Ah souls with hearts

And those with heads

I pray you do not meet

The head swirls to impress

The heart – all emotions suppress

And out rolls ludicrous feats

The heart ponders to succumb

The head by now goes numb!

There doesnt remain..even a word of greet

The head decides it’s over

The heart thinks it over

Decision and Indecision just never meet

The head find it’s vain

The heart feels the pain

Comes hell in heaven’s retreat!

Im sorry for such a dumb post/poem..but the emptiness had to be poured out. Im stupefied by the interpretations of the world. I alarm people by my own. I’m pulled out of my serene silence into a more disturbing ‘lack of words’. Im tagged confused and again left to muse. Guess Im better when im left alone than when im pulled along and stranded in the middle of nowhere. O yes Im talking nonsense I knw probably more to the people concerned than to those who arent. And what is it all about?? Yeah the same friend who pulled me out of my shell and has been lulled to sleep!

Movie Quirks

I dont know why..vimmuuu has been tagging with all ‘quirky’ tags . Well anyways i was left without words and topic aftr the happenings around and I guess It will do good to come out!

 

1. I can enjoy a movie only when im with my dearmost ones…the best ones who know me inside out and vice versa..new groups, formality,official gettogether..no!

2. The reason for the above quirk is coz..once the movie starts i just immerse in it and apparently the person sitting next to me would be having a 3d effect as he/she has to put up with me beating/clasping/sobs/ tantrums as the movie takes its comical/fighting or sad scenes.

3. Somehow the actors/actresses in the movie makes me decide whether I should go watch it in a theatre or not! No matter how bad it is..if it has Hrithik Roshan in it..vote me in ;P saw Dhoom2..FIVE times ;P and that too 3 in theatre! But that was before marriage (sigh!!) but even now I’ll manage to stamp my feet and reach the theatre atleast once if Hrithik is there. Same goes for Kajol. PS: My last bday gift from my friends was ‘Dhoom2 VCD’ they had couriered it along wit chocolates to Bangalore from Mumbai ;P so u can guess..

4. PopCorn and Cola is a must!! No matter what Ive gorged on before steppin in the theatre and no matter how thin my wallet and how fat my waistline is. ..The word interval (or any synonyms) on the screen will take my heart automatically to the foodbar.

5. Most of the south indian movies have a lot of stunts in it..so generally i dont prefer to go in the theatre and watch them and if at all there is one i close my eyes or divert my attention till the whole commotion gets over!!

6.I too wait till the end of the credit roll jst to see if any of our friends in the post production circle are listed there. And mainly to avoid the crowd that swarm out as though someone from the screen is gonna eat them alive if they dont escape! But i perfectly understand their predicament if it is a movie like drona or honeymoon travels!!

I stop here..coz rarely do i go to movies and whenever I go I guess so much of ‘quirkiness’ is enough to drive people wit me mad! Now who else is weird at movies ? I would like to hear about it from Nautankey, Kanagu, Sahaja, Vishesh, Karthik

Mumbai

Yesterday night I dont know why I was weeping like a baby on my way back home. I just couldnt control. It was a sudden surge of emotions for someone I lost when I was 8! And then the news of attack on Mumbaikers. I was wondering If couldnt till date let go of someone I lost almost 2 decades back how is Mumbai dealing the dangling of their and their loved ones lives!

Every year something comes up and they lose their lives. But still the city rebuilds and goes about life as though nothing has gone wrong. Earlier it meant nothing but today as i see those blood smeared station in the internet I shiver. I had stood there as innocent as those who died yesterday waiting to reach some destination and never knowing they would be quickly taken to the ultimate one.

I found myself ringing up numbers I thought I never would try. My heart skipping its beat before they answer. Im relieved all of them are safe, but my heart goes out to those who have lost their dear ones! I know how the bruise stays for many years. It was highly untimely of my previous post I guess. I was just trying a positive flavour to re-channel energy into upliftment and here comes..the hardest blow!

I hope the toll doesnt go up anymore and the situation is brought under control.

First Award

I have been awarded for the first time in blogosphere. Whenever I visit other blogs and see the many awards that their blogs are adorned with I feel sad . When will I get a chance. When will someone ‘award’ me . I remember feeling the same way when I used to watch the prize distribution for activities I havent even participated. (Now you know who to blame) I need to thank Kartz for this beautiful butterfly

 

 

 

 

 

 

Before I pass this award, there are some rules which I have to mention - 

1. Put the logo on your blog.
   
2. Link the person who awarded it to you.
   
3. Link the bloggers you are about to honour.

Now i pass it on to

Jo – the most systematically organised book review blog

Nautankey – For making me giggle every step of my way through his blog

Sangeeta – For the perfect cocktail of music and words that her blog comes up with.

Smita – Ofcourse for being the coolest blog Ive ever seen. be it design, books, movies, thoughts or the language! U rock!

Vimmuu - for being the coolest blogger around ;P (((buhahaha)))

last but not the least to the person who lead my way to active blogosphere and who’s style of writing I adore the most – Scorpria

Signing off for now with a loud whistle coz im just soo happy.. Thanks Kartz once again. But U had mentioned that it is for the love of words that we share..wherein I guess I know only 30% of your diction So i dont know if I truly deserve it but Im happy anyways!