Hold All

Hold-all is something I have inherited, it’s a gift from heirloom, sort of ‘poitrik sompotti’ –which is kind of a treasure passed down from generation to another, from one’s dad (if I can offer a more specific translation for this Über-Bengali terminology), if I can label it that way! Thanks to our nomadic existence which warranted sturdy travel gears anytime of the year, in rains and in snows, every now and then …hmm….

And a hold-all is all I want when that’s an odd piece of article in my store room. Hope dad is not reading it, yikes!

Thinking of the term ‘hold-all’, I wish I could be one such myself when its such a difficult task to seal all those invisible pores which cry out loud from time to time to shed all the ‘stories’ all over. Umm, what an expression! Yes, I know exactly what I am talking about and you might need a wee bit of explaining here :)

As a person I am all words, spoken the better. Now you know what I am trying hard to ‘hold-all’ so badly.

I guess I have come to realize how this talkative nature is so irritating. This is a quality as I am never at odds in a new situation; I can just walk up to someone and talk. Well, that’s a good way to be not-so tongue-tied. But have you wondered what happens when in a group you are the only one who is all words? Sound-bites…err sound-byte!!
The same trait if exercised within limits could be very entertaining, social, and fun and if toppled a wee-bit more could be so very boring and not-attractive? I have found that out.
And I feel a mix of bad and sad :) Hehehe… I am incorrigible! (Gyan-paapi! Baaps, that's again a heavy duty Bong from my side..hic hic)

And sometimes I thank my stars when my friends are busy in midst of things, either running from one corner of the city to another or on treadmill or lost in contemplation or analyzing facts and figures or just browsing and away from their phones. I really thank my timing as that’s when I get to see what all I have in store to ‘pour’ out. And such times could be frustrating for someone who believes in voicing it out. But after all those turbulent times-which lasts for a good five-to-ten minutes, its all so serene and I am all so sane and rational.

Its actually a good idea to have those thoughts with you and not let those out the moment you see a pair of ‘willing’ears!! Oops, I feel so sorry for those who had been victims of my non-stop non-sense.. err …'stories of the day'-bout with a nice guise of smiling face and a set of twinkling eyes.

Silence is golden, said someone somewhere. May be not for me definitely! But I love Buddha and what all he says. I wish to listen to him…..

Hold all…err …hold on..I offer to change. Change is only constant.

And here goes Solna ‘holding all’ in prayers…“Buddham Sharanam Gachhami”. And Buddha smiles…

Culture-vulture

I am totally immersed with Tagore these days....I am with him day in and day out...

Err...I mean I am reading his books, listening to his music and talking about him, researching on him...I am into him. Yes, its like this ever since I have visited Shantiniketan.


Hmmm...I just managed a weekend to visit Shantiniketan and what a trip that was. I suddenly discovered the dormant Bengali side of me...and I am happy.


I am pasting a couple of pictures from my Tagore trail so that you can also walk with me as I recite:



"amader chhoto nodi
choley aanke-bnaake
boishakh maashe taar hnaathu jowl thake"





Hmm....I am happy when someone commented that my Bengali has improved that I have been speaking in Bangla with such eloquence that no one can say I have been away from West Bengal for a good 22 years. It definitely makes me swell in pride and I am sure this will make my mom happy too......














P.S: All pictures are copyright material Solna.

Happy and GAY

I am happy and I am gay…oops!

Anyway, stop calling me names, I really mean it. I get grumpy here.

This is a post-mortem of sorts after a nice concert and group dinner. One important mention of the evening is that it was dominated by a man who is always gay. The after effect: I feel happy after a weekend long me-time and a slow Monday with ‘work from home’. But I do feel tired on Tuesday afternoon with just four hours of sleep….yikes, don’t ask me why so much sleeping time was lost.

This is no bipolar thingy. It’s simple PMS and it’s normal. And it’s normal to feel moody. Just like some people are differently creative (wow, what a term!) I am differently moody and I sport different shades of mood. But most of all, if you really know me that well, I am a perky, happy, cheerful, all energetic kinda person (as if I owe you an explanation? I am fine the way I am.)

I just tried to re-read some of my old blogs (just to know what all some of my friends are reading and what all things they are finding out about me) and I was awesomely stunned at some of the descriptions I have written about me. And I really gave it a thought. But then how does it matter if you have a complete different interpretation reading what I write? Does this mean I stop writing the way I want to? Or I check what all meaning or interpretations are possible for some of my descriptions? I give a damn, seriously, I do.

The other day I was asked as if someone took me for a case of bipolar disorder just that I have been writing about mood swings, getting on sudden highs, and then low phases. Well, I have been just writing about me. I actually say more than I should …but….

You know I was actually upset when you probe based on what you read and enquire whether I could be case of a clinical condition. Anyway, it’s my fault. I should have taken care in using words like ‘going on a roller coaster ride’, ‘doomed’ etc with such generosity.

High or low, its business as usual and I realized one thing really hard: its only you ( I remember the number “Its only words, and words are all I have, to take. Your heart away”; I really like this song, ahhh, my guitar) and you only at the end of the day to help you out of a sticky wicket. And that you can only help yourself. And I am happy that I have me with me all the time. I love this moody-me so very much.

Ouch! Just going on for nose-dive…

I guess it is inevitable and I also knew its coming!

Yikes, I almost know how someone is reacting after reading this one sentence….Well, for your benefit Sir, I am explaining…so, don’t again say what you once said!!

I have been going through a very longish ‘high energy’ phase and it had to come to an end. It’s only normal. What is not normal is the erratic way it knocks me out. And I find me doomed in the middle of an important deadline and lose all my smartness and forget to flaunt my trademark smile (someone said ‘bewitching’) and for some reason get bogged down by the stare of that new-chick (I have a new term for her: ‘sophisticated-uncouth bitch’). I really hate when I am on such a sticky wicket… (Ouch, what’s happening down under with these men in Blue, losing matches after matches!!? I was referring to T20 matches in New Zealand and the losing streak India is continuing with…See, I am explaining!)

I guess I know what’s been happening…I mean in my zone, in my life, that is.

I have been happily spreading thin and not realizing the after effect as my energy level was high. I was wondering the other day when I was ruminating on my energy spurts as if I had taken some dope. Seriously, I can go on a high without anything and behave in such a manner which could be so very similar to someone just high on, say, marijuana. But I am naturally like this. My happy ‘high’ phase is very high and it shows. You will notice that bang on, no mistaking my presence.

But what comes after that is a very sudden, out-of-control ‘doomed’ phase. And I feel so utterly sorry for this. I have been on a roller-coaster ride and suddenly when I park myself within some unknown shell it surprises everyone around me and I am so very ‘shelled’ that I don’t offer an explanation and I know it could be irksome.

But for the benefit of my friends around me I have issued an 'update' (oops, so sophisticated, who cares?); have you seen my FaceBook off late? I know, its irrational. It can be seen as an act of immature mind. But I just wanted such an ‘absolute-ME-time’ that I have to enter into my shell without mincing any more words. And I am telling this way on my blog so that you all know I have not been avoiding any of you. But I just needed to have me with me, just in my skin, in my raw self, in my emotions, in my tears and… and…

I hope you will help me get my me-time and I wish to give time to you (I wish to meet you, sorry for the goof up this weekend) and see you when I have that nice smile to compliment my new hairdo. I don’t want to effect you with my moods. I care for you.

And I remember a phrase which is so apt: ‘conserve energy’. I need to learn that, its high time I do. And I also remembered just in time to 'cut the details' for a story well said!!

Obama Speaks....

Obama believes, "that every man is trying to either live up to his father's expectations, or make up for his father's mistakes."

Hair and Now

I had a very exciting Valentine’s Day eve this year. Complete with a new hairdo followed by a sexy dinner date at a Chinese place where we ate some yummy lamb with nicely stinking bamboo shoot and got drunk on some Vodka shots. And I did a tipsy walking on my way home. No one noticed, only I knew I was drunk. It was a very nice feeling as when I am drunk I am super efficient; I even ordered around and asked a man to vacate the ladies seat on Metro; that was the last train, btw!

Ummm..this new hairdo is really hot…I mean I am liking it.

It started like this: I have been growing my hair for quite sometime actually. Hmm, there is a history to it. Some background for the readers: I remember the last two visits to hair salons, one was in January 2007 in Tirupathi (a kind of annual ritual which has become irregular) and the very last visit to a hair dresser was in November 2007 (that was just before a trip to shed some baggage, well….). After that I spared my hair and allowed them to grow and get longer. (It actually grew quite long; you can see for yourself in the picture taken just before I went under the scissors again.) This long hair looked cool until this winter when I struggled every morning with my entangled hair and ended up making either a bun or an untidy looking plait And for some reasons that was not helping my nice façade (read: face). Hmmm.

So, I have been giving serious thoughts about a new hair cut (read: short hair cut). Voila!
I not only got a great suggestion but also had a friend accompanying me for the session.

And it happened just a day before Valentine’s Day. First, I could not wait to get a new hairdo and then I would be gone and away for another week after that.

So, I meet Mujeeb after a busy Friday at work and pleasntly realized I was at a heritage site as he is the third generation creating magic with scissors since 1930. Wow, such impressive bio. And he played with my hair, worked with it and ultimately came up with this new one for me. I was at one point feeling like a guinea pig with onlookers around me; I really created such a big thing out of this that my session took quite long and others in the salon got thoroughly entertained! BTW, I saw a very nice looking man who was waiting for his turn. And I later found out that he had come to shave off his hair as he lost a bet. Hmmm! But I rather liked him…shhhh. He even came prepared with a sexy cap; I quite liked his flowing hair, but they are all gone now…hmm.

Coming back to my new hairdo, I was really impressed, not just with the result but with the way he played with his scissors. He simply is superb in understanding your need, the person you are and the kind of look would go well on you. So, I am not only looking a few years younger (that’s a good thing!) and trendy but I am also having a very low maintenance look for my ‘on the go’ lifestyle (a very good thing!).

And at the end of it I was so excited that I had to celebrate, so went on to dine with my friend. And you know I had a fabulous time this Valentine’s Day. I am loving every bit of it.

So, now you know I had a great time this Valentine’s Day…..

P.S: I will back with my N-counter series once I am back from the fabulous land of Mizos.

Quote-Unquote

“Fear less, hope more; eat less, chew more;
Whine less, breathe more; talk less, say more;
Love more, and all good things will be yours.” - Swedish proverb

Counter that..

I am in the middle of finding out where Mamit is located and I had this thought about updating my BlogSpot. Oops, such a thought; especially when it means sitting in glass cabinets and stealing time from work. But I am just being creative and I have nothing pending on my desk and I am all set for a trip to far North East on work!

I remember updating my Face Book status to 'suddenly she is on a high' a few days ago and which is true. I am most certainly on a high, not high on alcohol as you may think. But this is kinda feeling high and relishing it (I almost had a serious tête-à-tête with one of my friends whether this is any symptomatic variation of mood swings/bipolar or other such disorders). I was not worried but I am getting conscious with comments from friends and alike. I call it 'my high energy phase'. But I like this active, lively, miss-sunshine state of mine. This state identifies my being to the 'T'. Hmmm, I wonder as if I suddenly discovered me…voila!

So, you know I am on a high. And it shows- be it with friends after a tiring (call it boring) day at work for an impromptu tea at our favorite cha-bar, be it about marking an attendance at a film festival sans anyone (I remember one comment 'you went alone?'), be it with travel plans (I have been rather prolific all these weekends, traveling non-stop for short weekend trips and making quite a list), house work (I am still revamping…oops, its never ending or may be I am fussy that I always feel 'that picture frame isn't great, lets change the color of the wall..etc etc') and ultimately I hear my wise (and very nice and great looking) brother say 'you really have energy for all these!' with loads of appreciation mixed with awe in his tone. Hmm, I love praises and especially the genuine ones.

I was meaning to write about some N-counters for quite some time. And before I deviate to another idea I must document these very thought provoking and life changing philosophies of life. I have been specially saving them since December last and still haven't managed to document them.

N-counter #1: I am standing in a line at a bank counter and I am at my most irritated state. I like plastic transactions, any day! And counting currencies are not for me. I would hate it if I have to carry them with me and then deposit them and then find a long queue waiting to greet me at the bank! Hmm, so you know what irritated me that day. And when ultimately my line started to move I found one gentleman stealthily positioning himself near the counter such that he can bypass the line. It made me mad. First, I started to murmur and then in more audible sound protested; this made my predecessor in the line direct his grievances to the gentleman in question. The gentleman turned and said 'no line for senior citizen'. Oops, I almost looked for a cover. Then after his turn he stopped to do some thing at the counter and by that time my turn came. We looked at each other, face to face, eye to eye. And then he smiled and said 'I just came in to deposit what all I saved from this month's expenses'. I was rather taken aback at his simplicity. I came back home remembering those words, especially when we are not having sunny days financially. This little savings and the whole idea of not expanding our needs are so important to realize.

This remained with me for quite sometime and I still remember the golden words, the thought behind it.

Hmm. This is all for this post. I hope I could describe well this time and especially for someone who started to read my blog recently with a hope he will not crib about its 'tantalizingly incomplete' description.

And I will be back with more on N-counters. Promise!

N-counter

Hey there...it’s been quite some time already and I realized how soon its end of a month in this new year. Umm...true...time flies! And it really did.

But for some reasons I am having that 'time well spent' feeling about January. I was sharing my thoughts with my very good friend, who is crisscrossing the Vindhyas, the other day about how January has suddenly filled my life with so much of energy....Well, its way too much to handle actually!! First, I am sort of a hyper-energetic/ hyper-active type and then suddenly there are so much of activities around me...looks usual with a casual glance though...but the more you peer in and you realize...whoa....everyone around me is spinning with ideas and they all want 'me' to be there...Yikes!!

But I am not complaining...I am rather happy as I have never seen me so amazingly striking off my 'to-do' list every evening with such a lovely grin on my face...almost makes me feel like a big achiever everyday.

Well, I have not gotten much time to fill in my blog-sphere with bits-n-bytes as much of the time was spent on the roads, traveling for various things and not so much for road trips though. I was busy attending meetings, sitting for exams (don’t ask me!), standing in the queues, visiting my old college campus, meeting my old teachers, writing/editing a number of documents (amazing...how I finish just on time!), more meetings, shopping for gifts and flowers (there was an anniversary dinner at home!), partying, late-nights, fun times with old friends, meeting some cranky old men (read: professors...not mine...never had such ones teaching me in my life), listening to Obama (dude, I am in love!!), attending a family dinner at the US embassy (read: a big family!), meeting new friends and their friends, drinking coffee at 2am and hopping ...(nah! I am not saying anything here..), traffic jams, flexing plans with flexibility, going to gala events (can you believe: just returned from attending 'one-day' at Jaipur literature festival? Thanks to a very nice person and a writer and a poet!) and realizing how sometimes I forget to breathe in!!

Hmm....seriously...I really have to slow down...not to say stop and do nothing but I wish to give space between what I do and breathe in from time to time.

Ahh...and I was meaning to write about some encounters when I started to write this...but I completely got into another trajectory...well...that will happen in my next when I return from this cute little 'sexy' trip this weekend. I am starting tomorrow and I have not yet undone my travel bag from my last trip...urgh.....I almost can smell that stinking Levis…yikes!

Trek a break..

I suffer from itchy feet all the time; it has become part of me, sort of an eczema which never cures. I don’t want to find a cure, I kinda enjoy the itch…(umm more you itch more pleasure you derive out of it, I am getting naughty here!). And I love itching..err my itchy feet. And now I am into etching…what?

Intrigued? So, read on…

I am sure you will wonder what brought her back to blogspot on 31st December when she had already written her last post of the year and vouched for a very-busy day-and-night on New Year eve. I surely shall explain - I do owe an explanation, especially when I deviate from my plan and write another post (which also means asking you to read/review it when it was unanticipated). So, I must explain, I better without mincing any more words…

So you must know what brought me here tonight ‘ignoring’ my New Year eve activities (I actually got home early and all my meetings went on well, so no worries! ‘She is exaggerating’) and preparation for my dad’s birthday (this one is real) as I found very interesting inspiration in this and this (really nice stuff!!). And they brought me back to my beloved blogspot. And I don’t seem to be complaining. Why, you wonder….hmmm

Coming back to itching and etching…I mean writing about this thing surely can satiate my itchy feet syndrome. I already find myself dreaming about a holiday in the forest of Borneo, in the serene environs of Malaysia, amidst the monks chanting Buddhist hymns in Cambodia and….and…and the list goes on. I really wish to land up in a beautiful place for my next holiday. I surely deserve a great holiday….don’t you know?


And I can’t tell you how itchy my feet are now; I have to get into travel mode soon.


Looking forward to a great year full of exciting trips, vacations, and a lot more travel writing. And I want to feel the itch err.. I am ‘itching’ to win this one.


Trek a break or shall I say, 'break a leg'!!

One more year and another…

I am at half century… Umm…I managed to score a 50. Well, I am talking about number of posts this year. One post per week on an average if you want more analysis… (he he).

Its kinda year end stock taking! Its stats, my dear, hard facts and numbers…

Not bad, I murmur…given all the nomadic existence err experiences, mood swings... (Umm, actually these are rather high-yielding times, so discount that!), other time consuming activities (read: my apartment and things associated with that) erratic behavior (read: last minute plans for movies, parties and meeting with friends on a short notice and such things). Well, no bragging, but honestly I am happy at my regular relationship with this blogspot.

This year made a mark for many reasons, for good reasons and bad.

For my little world 2008 would be a milestone, as I bought myself an apartment which I call my home. I am also happy for my trips to 25 cities and three countries this year despite not-so-good economic situation. I am happy to meet some of my old friends when they visited me. I am thankful to all who hosted me in different places this year for making my time memorable and safe. I am very happy as Mr. Obama could head for the US President’s chair on 20 January (I really am a BIG admirer of Obama!)

2008 was also a damper of sorts for global and local economy, many would not want to remember 2008 and would avoid its mention in case it re-visits (such superstitions!). Terrorism (read: cross border terrorism) was at its height in India and five major cities were attacked in 2008 causing loss of lives, property and not to mention peace. It was really B-A-D, they had a B.A.D plan to hit Bangalore-Ahmedabad-Delhi but they also went beyond their plan and added Jaipur (looks like they pre-tested their method here?) and Mumbai. Mumbai incident saw the largest casualty and maximum involvement of forces (Army, anti-terrorist squad, Mumbai police, Maharashtra police and not to mention the commandos from special security forces). And this one led to massive nation-wide awareness campaigns which has brought people of India together to fight against terrorism and made all of us stand in unity with a hope for a peaceful and democratic system tomorrow. Let’s hope for a better time in 2009.

And this one will be the last one in 2008’s slot.

I decided to punch in this one today with advance new year wishes looking at my schedule on 31st December when I will be hopping from one airport to another, talking about statistics, preparing for e.ee…egg-(and)–jams…ha ha ha exams (or taking one, not sure, lets see) and juggle in some ‘friendly’ meetings (no partying, no plans so far). I surely have a busy day-and-night tomorrow. I will tell you how I fare. So, see you next year then :)

So, here’s wishing all of you a very happy, peaceful, prosperous, fulfilling NEW YEAR. Happy New Year folks!!

Now I really want some nice food and some……do I need to tell you that also?

Corner Kick!

Ummm…so much is happening around her and she heard her muttering whether someone up there is listening to what she has been thinking…and she wonders. Well, not that she is complaining!

There is a saying ‘When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Going!’. Whatever you derive out of it and wherever you come from and however you wish to read it, it actually best describes her current state. No worries, dude. She has seen these, been there and done these many times over. Now you wonder what? And she says nothing for you here.

Just a sort of example to elucidate what all these gibberish happening so far:

She is having a free time, (taken a break that is, for all you sophisticated souls). She is feeling the cool air and sniffing the soot that comes free with it sitting in the open in a posh coffee shop. She is planning to have yummy cup cakes they make in Flurys and sing Christmas carol at St Xavier’s next door. She is unpacking her old baggage in disbelief and discovering those ‘new’ shopping from 2005 from another shore. She is amazed to find how tall he can be when this hunk from Nordic took her for a traditional lunch which made her forget her own height in shock (even she forgot to stand next to him, such embarrassing moment!). She was thinking about a particular dish, just a casual thought, she was suppose to prepare under guidance (the guide went missing!) and returns to her base to find the lady in the kitchen tossing the same recipe (a variant of sorts, though). She goes out for a meeting, a more formal one and discovers her own follies and others follies too. And she goes about twinkling eyes, (hmmm..lilting music there), with a jump in her stride. The Levis from Mexico just fits her fine even now…wow!

Still she is continuing and she is wanting to do ‘this and that’ (she remembers him say ‘this and that’ on phone from across the border) amidst of all this madness - a kind of schizophrenic situation by the river. And the gentleman from the bay was right, that was her schizophrenic moment!

Then comes a realization, something so crucial dawns on her. So how far will you go? And she says ‘all the corners of the globe’. It keeps her going. And that gives her a kick!

Are there any corners, world is a round place, isn’t it? And more so, even flat, he he…

Missing Link

I am missing my Mr Globe (you know who I am talking about, don’t you?). No, I am not talking about any variant of Mr World or anything of that sort. He is the one who sends me to the globe to check where on earth he is located every time we communicate.

Yes, he is a globe trotter of sorts. I have a nick-name for him (it’s just for me, so you don’t say, ok?). I call him ‘Lonely Planet’ (good naturedly, I say giggling!!).

I realized that he has not been up and kicking for past few weeks and that he has been recuperating from a nasty infection. I was amazed at the ease with which he actually described that; I have seen/heard men not describing much about their illnesses. One of my researches on masculinity did trace why ‘they’ do that. Oops, you got me talking about my work on my blog, yikes! No complains….you better know what do I do for my living err….for my .nomadic existence, or better even, what makes my life so nomadic (the other day the hunk err the Prof from Uppsala called me vagabond much to my dislike, though. I gave him a benefit of doubt considering the amount of English communication in the university town of Uppsala…here goes…oops ‘shala’!!). Anyway…I move on…

I wish LP a quick recovery; want to see him up and kicking. I really do. More so with a selfish motive, since he had not read my blogposts for many weeks now, and I had not heard him discussing them.

So, get up, get going and start reading and let me hear your comments and how you like them. Ooops, such stern female this one, no mercy at all..he he.

Quote-Unquote

"It's a funny thing about life; if you refuse to accept anything but the best, you very often get it" - W. Somerset Maugham

Why Lie?

It was strange, I will say very strange.

I was in a meeting with someone who is not a stranger and yet not a celebrity but so much is known about him (may be he did not know that). And during the course of interaction I did ask him not-so-important questions which he very promptly answered. I repeated the answers since I had heard before (and known) something completely different so that he gets a chance to correct himself. Yet he repeated the same response. Hmmm, I wondered and stopped still looking eye-to-eye with him. I did see a slight hint of discomfort. Well....

I wonder why people lie about little things in life, when so much more is already known about them (thanks to websites, authentic ones at that) and especially when its about mundane things as trivial as which school one attended and from which University/city one graduated. I cannot understand what makes people cringe and not say the name of the university if its a small town? Why people are so insecure and hierarchical? I would like to think one needs to stand by these little facts of their lives, or else one will always run for cover under a Gucci dress or an Armani suit to feel great. Life is about being honest. Life is about acknowledging who we are; where we came from. Its our habit of hiding such trivial facts makes these issues so-very important to us, have you ever wondered that? Its we who first value-judge a thing before others do.

Sir, just so you know its an utter shame for a person like you to suffer from such insecurities as after doing so well and achieved what all you have so far you should have felt proud to mention your alma mater and the city you came from. Or else you should not have mentioned them in your bio or better even went to another school and re-done your degree.

Well, at the end of the day, you are a liar for me even if you stand tall among people but you score quite low on my list.

Me(N)merizing…

I wonder what make men meet another woman….

I have no problem with friendships with men, with their chivalrous gestures. But I am talking about special attentions from men which are uncalled for, do you get it?

I am talking about those thin lines between mischievous and flirtatious pokes and those disgusting, very suggestive activities. I am talking about when much married men try their hands on other women. And I ask what make these men take interest in another woman? Hmmm…really a good question when we see number of application for separation and divorce is going north in geometric proportion, and we hear stories of bad marriages and ‘caught him red handed’ tales from our female friends and colleagues.

Sometimes, I think twice before I plan to attend a get together at my married friend’s place. Well, I take care, you know. I have seen myself. I have experienced myself how my very confident female friend found herself in a not-so-great situation and how she did not feel confident about it. And I didn’t feel great about it either; not comfortable in such company when my idea of attending such functions or get-together is spoiled.

I do not go to these get-together with an intention to score a point over any of my married female friends with their husbands wearing lecherous hats. I am chirpy, friendly, extrovert, I have confidence to strike up a conversation in a gathering, and I have self respect. And I do look good sans cellulite! These definitely make me look attractive on any day of solar calendar! And most importantly, I really DO believe these are not reasons for a man to stray and forget his vows he had once pronounced when he took that holy bow.

Well friends, it’s disgusting. I hope my friends read this and know how I feel about all these. And why sometimes I am so choosy about who all are coming to a party, you know?

Hmmm…. Give me a break from double standards, lecherous men, ‘good-husband-trying-on-their-wife’s-friends’. Just know that I have friends (both male and female) who can give me good company, respect and great time. And another thing, I like my company to a hilt, so, you don’t have to worry even if I am single and looking. It is to say I am not looking at you. So, stay away and let me walk my way. Got me?

Writing on the wall…

We like to see grass greener on the other side. Can we beat that? I got that feeling just a few while ago when an acquaintance sent me a similar sounding appreciation on the chat window. Oh-hell, ma’am, I am just not doing as great you ‘always’ think I do.

So, how are you doing today? Hmmm…I.A.S…
I.A.S? How do you read it? Let’s see how we read that.

(1) The most appropriate and common response for an Indian would be ‘Indian Administrative Service’. Well, you got it correct and scored a point there. And it shows you are intelligent, well-tuned, and may be ‘happy’. Really? Does it help?

(2) It can read as I am Sad. Yes, I am sad now, so, I am in I.A.S mode. Can you be happy and partying away when you are sitting on a time bomb and especially when you don’t know when that’s timed? Do you get me? Well…..
I hear how my friends escaped the terror attack in Mumbai. I still can’t forget the sentence when one of my friends said “I was so relieved to see my baby’s face the next morning”. Why does anyone want to live in terror? I would not, you would not. Then why still we are allowing it to creep in and leading this life counting for our turns? Have you ever wondered how it is to wave a goodbye to your young ones on your way to work; you never know that could be the very last time you saw each other.
I am not saying we are all immortal otherwise, we are not. But this terrorism is really making our lives hell. No one wants to live in terror, shock, fear. We all want to live a normal life free from all these cheap thrills. Can we all join hands and say ‘our lives are not for ransom’?

(3) It can also read I am Safe. Wish we all wherever we are in the world can say this without any fear one day.

Terrorism has to stop and no matter what our politicians have to shell out from their brains or pockets, no matter what it takes terrorism should be shown the door. Do we have any one in Indian polity to take charge, to come in front and lead and show us the way?

For post script I have today’s story: Its election time in Delhi. I was supposed to vote today for Delhi state legislature to elect our next Chief Minister. And guess what? I don’t have my name in the voter’s list!! I called up the office of local legislator and explained my scene. I am not a new voter (I have been voting since I turned 18); I am not a new resident in this residential area. I am a citizen of state of Delhi, and most importantly I want to vote. I have all the credentials to exercise my right when I was told to turn back and go home. And my local legislator told me he could not help me cast my vote today. And this is just when my American friend sitting in Mysore could vote for Obama? So, why is that? And we say we are the biggest democracy on the face of this earth. I still wonder!

Um, I told you ma’am, life is not always flying as you think. It does take nosedives sometimes.

Taken for ransom?

Its a pity how terrorism is taking our lives for ransom. I would like to wish that we all come together and fight this menace. We need to tell 'them' that this has to stop. We need to strengthen our combat system against terrorism along with more public awareness and vigilance. We, as citizens just cant turn back and have that 'business as usual' attitude.

We need to learn from the past. Delhi rocked with serial bomb blasts two months ago and now innocent people are held hostages in hotels in Mumbai. Do we need more examples to learn and fight these?

And if you look into the coverage of Mumbai episode its like war, army is in, special forces are in to comb them out of hotels? Why did we wait to make 'them' so strong? Our lives are not for ransom; we just cannot put more lives on the firing line for 'these' terrorists. Our men in uniform and citizen don't deserve these. Any thought on that?

I can ‘DIY’ for it

Picture this: Evening time on Saturday, nice cold wind playing with soft silky curtains on my bedroom door, dimly lit rooms and I am admiring my silhouette on balcony walls as I try to explain how I have this throaty voice as an old buddy throws an alarm in the air thinking I was down hearing my voice on phone.

Nah! I am rather all perked up and rearing to go..... I am set for some crowd at my place after doing up the place. Well, more than that actually. Hmmm…

A mere mention about my place gets a dancer’s swirl in his voice (gawd, this man knows how to shake his booty, I swear!) and he wants to land up here in a jiffy from the land of four squares err…pillars. He is in all wonders and wants to know how come I am all so smitten and engaged with this place and how beautiful it must be that I have been revamping/renovating ever since I have acquired.

I say: some things just know how to get attention, don’t you know?

Well dude, this is for you: just to say my place is an ordinary place and I am keeping it all spruced up with my imagination from time to time with some innovation. But don’t rate it as anything great. It’s my sweet li’l pad and I loooooove it. So, that’s the reason in all probability it’s mentioned more often in my conversations.

I just wish you to visit without any major expectations and believe me I am not in a mood to show off my place or readying it for any home-décor magazine shoot. (Ahhh, I have to take pictures anyway, just reminded of a request of other friends, tsk tsk!! Chris and Rikke, this is for you as well). What I can assure you are nice food (hand made, home cooked by one-and-only ‘me’) and comfortable stay if you wish to spend time over some movie and drinks. And when you do visit and spend some time around and seen things with your ‘critical’ eyes I would like to know what you think about the place you have been hearing from me all these months. Fair enough.

Now some update from what kept me so busy last week if you did not hear much from me after I returned from the hills.

I just completed adding a nice 'closet cum bookshelf cum dressing cabinet' complete with mirror (I for some reason find it rather sexy!) and I am really happy with it as its not only my design but I single handedly gotten this job done without much splurging (my wise brother commented) with generous helping of a smart carpenter (he is getting more work at my place if I plan to add another furniture in future).

What next? A luncheon party? Some cozy time with movies on my sexy home theatre? Another renovation? Hmmm…

I am heading for bath…err bathroom, it needs a make-over I feel. Let’s see, how my planning goes around the bathroom. I will keep wondering till some nice brainwave strikes and I know for sure that’s the right design (I have already started with some sketches). I will wait for my ‘eureka’ moment. And till then keep guessing: what I am ‘DIY-ing’ for.

P.S: Just a piece of query: does anyone know of any website about home renovation, especially bathroom fixtures etc? I am quite a regular with ApartmentTherapy, want to know any other nice website/s. Thanks!

Blissful and High

Its sheer bliss, truly!

Picture this: 3000 meters above sea level, 0-5 degC, amidst tall pine trees, monks and monkeys (no joking). Its peaceful and amazingly quiet. And I was blissfully disconnected: no mobile, no wi-fi, no Internet connection on my laptop (Indian telecom network has spared this village), no cameras, and no writing materials (these were intentional…hmm…what?). My wrist watch was the ‘only’ thing which told me the time and the date and somewhat kept me oriented.

I was with my body and my mind, truly. Just the way I am to the core.

Yes, I just returned from a fabulous trip from the foothills of the Himalayas. It was planned just so when the time was perfect: winter is slowly setting in and when my mind was in the verge of a ‘shut-down’ and such a ‘me-time’ was the need of the hour.

Hmmm..that was it and I found myself in that dreamy village.

Really a dream come true and this nomad never had such an exotic experience ever in her life. She stayed in a little asbestos-roofed hut with just a cot with a thin mattress and a few sheets of blankets and quilts; where she ate one meal a day, bathed and washed in water, just water and not hot water. And most importantly, she spent all these days only hearing sounds from the nature. It was complete silence for her.

First, I had no one to speak to. No chatting with neighbors. I could hear bells ringing in a nearby school at some time of the day; some times I would hear sound of drums from distance presumably from a marriage procession from the nearby village; or some sudden chaos from the monkey family which also lived with me on that hilly terrain; or some random drops on the asbestos when those pine cones fell on my roof which I collected dutifully at the day break (such collections!). Few other sounds I got familiar with were of a hoarsely croaking crow and barks of a very strange looking dog (he looked diseased for some reason; his color looked abnormal and so was his snout).

I was so connected with myself that I knew how it feels when I breathe in and whats the sensation like. Spending time on the lap of nature rejuvenated me, brought some divine serenity around me, in my steps, the way I walked, went about trekking up and down five hours a day. And at the end I only feel blessed.

I was so much in love with my ‘holy-day’ that I almost felt like extending my stay. I was not missing anything in particular (I only felt the need to know about Obama and a family thing which was planned at the last minute when I was all set for this exotic trip. I remember chalking out how to spend the last day in the hills before I started my descent: which food I will have; Tibetan or Israeli. And after descending down from the hills on my way to the next town I knew my brother is a happy man and Obama got his chair!! Wow…I say: a double wow!!

And ever since I am back I have been ‘prescribing’ this holy-day to all my friends and family. And I am waiting for my turn next year.

I say its blissful time at the top. Blissful and high at the height!

P.S: This picture is a copyright material. Solna ®.