Random Thoughts

2007-08-22T15:24:00.000-04:00

Random Thoughts has moved to a new location.

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HERE.

Moved.. Virtually too

2007-08-22T00:19:00.000-04:00

If left to us, we would have lingered and loitered over on this blogger blog. But then, immensely knowledgeable person, told us to get off our lazy ass and move to a self hosted domain.

Of course, he was the one who was then put to work. Since what I know about coding, computers and all that shit can be written on a grain of rice and still have space left over. He offered to help us out (I think he meant I will answer a question or two and I thought he would be willing to do the whole thing for us :))

So, here’s the new space. Appropriately a beach. Since that is where we abide too. And that is where we love to be. Now get a beer (or nimbu paani, if you prefer) and chill out there..

So skedaddle there and please let us know what you think, we will appreciate your thoughts.

And please give a shout out to the Lord, who was pestered the whole day with every little thing till this was up and running.

First post on that domain is for you, R!

And Pliss to be updating the address.

I will add a code to automatically redirect you folks but an updated url would be appreciated.

Signs Of Old Age

2007-08-21T10:57:00.001-04:00

You know you are growing old when,

- thinking of using massage oils to spice up your love life, makes you think of the mess it is going to make on the bed. "But honey, oil stains are hard to remove! Can we at least change to old sheets on the bed"

- thinking of feeding loverboy in bed, makes you think of the crumbs, the ants and the cleaning up to do. "Honey, get up. I need to clean up the crumbs. And vacuum the floor."

- thinking of using food products to enhance the loving, makes you think of how sticky everything is going to be. "Can you get off me. I need a bath. The whipped cream is sticky and scratchy after it dries."

-thinking of a passionate session on a moonlight night on the beach, makes you think of where the sand can get into. "Argh. That is uncomfortable.."

-thinking of making out in the pool, makes you think of how soaking in chlorine water is not the best thing for your body. "Can we get out now, I am getting wrinkles."

-thinking of him ravishing you in the kitchen, makes you think of making a note to clean the counter/table tomorrow before breakfast. "Must remember. Not to cook before cleaning up!"

And before someone says it,

I know. I am growing old. And Boring. Sigh. HELP!!!

Question

2007-08-20T15:33:00.000-04:00

Something that arose out of the past post on cheating.

"What is cheating?" - H. asked me. I mean is sleeping with someone the worst crime one can commit in a relationship? Would you never trust a guy who cheated on you? What if it is that one time/ honest mistake?

Well, I am not naive to say things like don't happen or that I would not commit such an act. Shit happens. Some things can be resolved. It all depends. But he raises a valuable point. Is physical intimacy the only kind of cheating the absolute no- no in a relationship?

Is it worse if the person you turn to when you are down is not your guy but that dude from office ?

Is fantasizing about that swim suit model when you are in bed with your girlfriend cheating?

Is flirting (I mean the dirty talk kinds flirting) cheating, too?

Would you be upset if your significant other indulges in one or all of these but never commits adultery?

Cheated!

2007-08-20T11:05:00.000-04:00

I never thought I would cheat with the Girlfriend's man. A. I don't cheat on friends and B. I could not understand her fascination for him. He is a needy, whiny so and so.

But as luck would have it, I had to live at her place. And Emma, the darling girl, is no chaperon. So we were stuck together. With him, demanding my company. Well, in the beginning it was nice to come home to somebody. Just have someone greet you at the door. And be glad that you are back. To sit with someone on the sofa drinking chilled beer. Watch movies with. You get the picture. I have been deprived of company. And since both Actin and Girlfriend were away, I was forced to stay with the Boy. And as one does when one lives with someone, I picked up on his moods and habits and figured where the attraction lies.

The boy is self centred (yeah, I know.. look who's talking). He not only wants your complete attention all the time but he also demands your undivided love. Which means when he enters the room, everything else ceases to exist. Earlier, I preferred playing with Emma to talking with the boy. She is adorable and loves to play with the ball. My kinda girl. Where as he is laid back, would rather lounge around and just do nothing. A couch potato! Something that gets on my nerves (unless of course I am doing it ;-)). But as we hung out over the weekend, I realized that he is like a drug - addictive. You hate him for making you a slave to his attentions. You want him to get away and give you some breathing room. And yet when he leaves you to pontificate in the bedroom.. you miss him.

What got me was the immensely pleasurable thing -He cuddles!! Women, you know what I am talking about. Here is a guy who just wants to spoon with you at night. Nothing more. Just because he wants to feel close to you. He will crawl in next to you and just watch you breathe. I got suckered in. That kind of attention, damn, it's been so long since a guy just wanted to be held by me :)

So I finally gave in last night. I slept with him. And more unusually (for me that is), I seem to have fallen in love with him. I love Eli!! There I said it.

I confessed to the girlfriend,"Getting up to his purring self... was heaven indeed!" And that I was not sorry that I did it. It was simply unforgettable.

She told me that she had worried that I would be suckered in by his magnificent catty self. I understand now why she loves him so much. He is a woman's man ;) And I am sure the girlfriend is glad that I am moving my ass away from her man.

PS-Of course I was talking with about the CAT! I don't cheat with my girlfriend's men - the two legged kind that is. Friends are worth more than a 15 minute pleasure trip.

Friday Audio

2007-08-17T00:13:00.000-04:00

Leaving on a Jet Plane. Movie- Armageddon. Sung by Chantal Kreviazuk. Written by John Denver in 1967.

Leaving on a jet plane

All my bags are packed, I'm ready to go
I'm standin' here outside your door
I hate to wake you up to say goodbye

But the dawn is breakin', it's early morn
The taxi's waitin', he's blowin' his horn
Already I'm so lonesome I could die

So kiss me and smile for me
Tell me that you'll wait for me
Hold me like you'll never let me go

'Cause I'm leaving on a jet plane
I don't know when I'll be back again
Oh, babe, I hate to go

There's so many times I've let you down
So many times I've played around
I'll tell you now, they don't mean a thing

Every place I go, I think of you
Every song I sing, I sing for you
When I come back I'll wear your wedding ring

So kiss me and smile for me
Tell me that you'll wait for me
Hold me like you'll never let me go

'Cause I'm leaving on a jet plane
I don't know when I'll be back again
Oh, babe, I hate to go

Now the time has come to leave you
One more time, oh, let me kiss you
And close your eyes and I'll be on my way

Dream about the days to come
When I won't have to leave alone
About the times that I won't have to say ...

Oh, kiss me and smile for me
Tell me that you'll wait for me
Hold me like you'll never let me go

'Cause I'm leaving on a jet plane
I don't know when I'll be back again
Oh, babe, I hate to go

And I'm leaving on a jet plane
I don't know when I'll be back again
Oh, babe, I hate to go

But I'm leaving on a jet plane
(Ah ah ah ah)
Leaving on a jet plane
(Ah ah ah ah)

Once more with feeling..

2007-08-16T18:18:00.001-04:00

Disclaimer - This arose out of a discussion (the other side will remain anon as he/she/it demanded of us). If you know who I am talking about, please don't give the said person a hard time! Well, not a really hard time :D

So normally my friends never ask me about declaration for love and such. For all the verbal diarrhoea I am capable of "I am in love with you" is a phrase I have never uttered. Mostly it was gleaned from our behavior. I have been alternatingly thankful for that and also aghast that our actions could be interpreted in such a sappy way!

But coming back to the main point, a friend recently is hoping to propose to the significant other. And was hoping to say something significant. Well, that's where I was roped in. To say something without sounding cheesy (which for the person meant NO poetry!!! If a man is going to propose, we demand profound prose of how we mean the universe and such like.. but anyways..). Now I am never speechless (yes, I know - I am a constant pain in the ear for a whole lot of you).. but I could not come up with something without it sounding cheesy.

I of course gave him the Spike speech - since both of us were avid Slayer fans (and hence the reason it finds a home on my vodpod) but that is cheesy too (at least to a person who is not a Buffy fan). Nice but cheesy. To me the whole declaration of love is cheesy. Why one needs to state the obvious is beyond me. But then I guess sometimes words are important. Well, I thought and discussed this with a few of my girl friends who are more experienced in this matter (meaning they have heard it and returned the sentiment - I have once replied to the professed feeling with a heart felt thank you and then once with, ditto.. . a la Ghost. Did not go well, in either case, but ah well..) and they gave me the whole "it depends on the mood" "it's how it is said" "its when it is said" "you just know the right moment"... in short no one had a fail proof formula - so I designed mine with a mixture of all that they said. Here is my plan - I need a sizable population to try it out (after signing disclaimer to abuse experienced)..

A. Pick a person (yes, professing self love is not going to get you the tax benefits).
B. Date them (Preferably for an extended period of time - in my opinion indefinitely or at least till they start whining about where are we heading)
C. Then either take them to a romantic setting - the beach/secluded woods was the number one choice- and tell them how much they mean to you. I advice you practice this speech. So that the words are not difficult to say. Try not to envision that this will mean you NEVER get to kiss another or hold another person in your arms. The forever vision can be crippling to your senses.
(Ps- Guys, most importantly, your bedroom is not a romantic setting! And saying it before sex does not count. True, that is when you would profess all sorts of things and really mean it - we prefer when you say it along with the cuddling!)
D. Look them in their eyes and say it, "I want to spend the rest of my life with you "(refrain from words like shackled, stuck or dreaming of singlehood). Don't rush the words - enunciate them. Say it as if you mean it. Girls, say it as if you are holding a puppy in your arms or that dress you coveted or that diamond ring. Guys, say it as if it is that dream car you always wanted or that kick ass TV or as if someone has given you a free pass to the world cup/world series - front row tickets with access to the players!
E. After you have said it - DON'T Wince. Or Cringe or close your eyes in pain. It is difficult but it will get better - at least till you see the next person who makes your pulse race , then nothing can be done for your overwhelming sense of sadness..
F. Then proceed to kiss the heck out of them. No one says you should not get any pleasure out of it!

I think this should work. Why someone would want to get themselves shackled is beyond the meagre understanding of this person. But statistically speaking if you sample a large pool and use this strategy without sample bias, you will get yourself hitched..

If anyone else has any other plan, please help my friend. I promise to make sure the first child is named after you or better yet, you can name the child what ever your heart desires...

Dil Maange ...

2007-08-15T14:54:00.000-04:00

I miss

-Radio Aakashwani, especially the 6 am Vande Mataram!

-The Doordarshan news, mostly the tune not the anchors- for some reason that soundtrack plays in my head each time I sit to watch the news, yes on any channel.

- The chatter in a language I love, either Marathi or Hindi.

-The street noises - from the "tring-tring" of the cycle vendor to the shouts of vegetable vendor, from the enterprising "bhandiya" of the utensil sellers to the "Out hai!" of children playing cricket. One can not think of home without thinking about the how alive the streets sound.

-Drinking Kingfisher - the 650 ml of chilled goodness (the one bottled in Ameerika stinks big time!) with friends and talking about anything and everything late at night.

-Eating at dhabas. Heck, eating at any road side eatery. Hell, eating what ever my heart desires, Desi style!

-Walking in sabzi-mandis (farmer's market). The sights, the sounds and yes, the smell!

-The streets. Of Mumbai mostly. The busy hustle bustle of people, the cars, the two wheelers and the cabbies. The incessant honking and cussing. The noise and the pollution.

-The rickshaws blaring music, even though it is Himesh's surrrrrrrrrrrr.. I miss those decked up rickshaws and the totally unfit woofers and speakers they have.

-The people - the massive outpouring from the locals at Churchgate or VT. The overwhelming sense of being alone in a crowd.

-Watching cricket. With friends. Or with strangers at a road side TV.

-Riding a bike (a motorcycle), just zipping and zig-zagging in the traffic.

-The clothes fluttering on the lines on a hot summer day.

-Raising the volume and singing along when they play the old favorite songs or advertisements on TV (check here and here for some classics).

-The Rains or rather the Monsoon season. Drinking hot coffee and eating garam pakora on the window seat. Just listening to the rain as it drenches the Earth.

-The Marine drive at night. The Queens necklace. The beach and the traffic zipping by. Need I say more?

Sigh! Yes, Dil Mange More....

Happy Independence Day

2007-08-15T00:01:00.001-04:00

India turns 60!

While there are numerous songs one associates with 15 August, my favorite forever remains Lata singing the memorable lines penned down by Kavi Pradeep. Composed by C. Ramchandra.

Aye Mere Watan Ke ...

Aye mere vatan ke logon tum khoob laga lo naara
ye shubh din hai ham sab ka lahara lo tiranga pyaara
par mat bhoolo seema par veeron ne hai praan ganvaaye
kuch yaad unhein bhi kar lo jo laut ke ghar na aaye

Aye mere vatan ke logon zara aankh mein bhar lo paani
jo shaheed hue hain unki zara yaad karo qurbaani
jab ghayal hua himaalay khatre mein padi aazadi
jab tak thi saans lade vo phir apni laash bichha di
sangeen pe dhar kar maatha so gaye amar balidaani
jo shaheed...

Jab desh mein thi diwali vo khel rahe the holi
jab ham baithe the gharon mein vo jhel rahe the goli
the dhanya javaan vo aapane thi dhanya vo unki javaani
jo shaheed ...

Koi sikh koi jaat maraatha koi gurakha koi madaraasi
sarahad pe maranevaala har veer tha bhaaratavaasi
jo khoon gira parvat par vo khoon tha hindustaani
jo shaheed...

Thi khoon se lath-path kaaya phir bhi bandook uthaake
das-das ko ek ne maara phir gir gaye hosh ganva ke
jab ant-samay aaya to kah gaye ke ab marate hain
khush rahana desh ke pyaaron ab ham to safar karate hain
kya log the vo deewane kya log the vo abhimaani
jo shaheed...

Tum bhool na jaao unko is liye kahi ye kahaani
jo shaheed hue hain unki zara yaad karo qurbaani
jay hind jay hind ki sena
jay hind, jay hind, jay hind

A song that makes me tear up, each time. Here's to all the brave soldiers who have laid down their life so that I would live in peace. You will never be forgotten.

Adoption In India -2

2007-08-14T19:13:00.000-04:00

The concluding part of my Adoption series.

A safe, happy home is the best environment for a child to grow and develop.
As clichéd as it may sound, India’s future lies in her children. However, with
millions of poor, undernourished and abandoned children, India needs a better legislative framework to facilitate adoption.

Touchy - Feely Issues.

2007-08-14T12:19:00.000-04:00

I travelled in a packed bus to school today. Not even elbow room. Chattering of students, other workers trying to read their newspapers while some people were trying catch that extra 20 minutes of sleep. The minute I climbed into that bus, I was taken back to the countless journeys I made in Mumbai locals.

Crowded buses or trains in Mumbai meant you were going to get groped. It meant the 50 year old guy who probably had a daughter your age at home feeling you up. Or that random person who inched close to you while standing in the bus to keep brushing up your body. Or the village idiot who pinched your boob just as you were trying to get down at Dadar while hundreds of bodies trying to get in. While I agree that not every man I came across in Mumbai indulged in this, the law of averages meant that most women who travel in Mumbai are subject to unwanted lecherous feel-ups. And I should really say girls. I remember the anger and self loathing I went through each time I travelled in the locals and it started when I was barely 12! It never diminished. I don't know how bad or good living else where in India is. From what I gather, life is marginally better in smaller towns. I say marginally as even in Nashik, I was used to the rikshawallas adjusting their rear view mirrors to focus on the women's boobs. So there is a varying degree of this disgusting behaviour that most women are exposed to growing up in India.

I contrasted that today with an equally packed bus but a completely friendly and safe atmosphere. I did not cringe or yell or try to pack myself in a small corner to avoid human contact in the bus. This has been true for my entire stay here. To be fair, most of it was in a small university town. But I have never been exposed to it when I was a tourist in NY or Chicago or Florida or Seattle.

Does this mean that women are never cat-called or teased in US? No!
Is there a danger of assault and rape? Of course! Human behaviour does not change across country lines.
Will I be groped in US? Sure. But the danger is not as prominent as when I was back home.

Which makes me wonder why the behavior is more prominent in India? And will it ever go away. Is it because we are such a sexually repressed people? Or because women are held as objects in our society? Will Blank noise and similar protests work in generating awareness or are they mere blips in the baby-batter filled men's brains?

Is there any workable solution to eve-teasing in India? Suggestions?

Adoption In India -1

2007-08-13T20:37:00.000-04:00

Parenthood is parenthood. It is about holding a child in your arms and dreaming beautiful dreams for it and then slogging your ass off to make them all possible. The child's biological origins don't matter. I admire people who open their heart to children who need the love and care of a family.
This is part one of my guest post on a blog I frequently read, Policy wise.

With about 12.5 million orphan children and only 300 licensed NGOs helping to place them (source – indianngos.com) and an average placement time of 18 months with infants, the odds are not placed in favor of the kids or for foreign nationals hoping to adopt Indian kids. In India only 4000 kids are adopted each year and 320 visas were issued to orphaned immigrants by US in 2006. In lieu of this abysmal rate of adoption, the recent decision by CARA to shorten the proceedings to two months is welcome.

Go read the rest!

Ps. if anyone has a story about adoption, do tell.

Changed

2007-08-12T22:24:00.001-04:00

I was told today that I have changed a lot by a friend who has known me from my infancy. Of course, I have changed. Isn't that what life is all about - we grow, we change?

And of course when one is so far from perfection as I am, one has plenty of opportunities to improve (of course one must never open door to strangers, so Opportunity knocks away, we ignore her). Lame joke.. but when one is drunk, one tends to be lame...

Yes, it also is a lesson I never learnt, not to type posts when one is drinking. For then nothing makes sense. But then when do I aim to make sensible comments ..heheheheh.. so here goes...

Well now that I am on my third glass of the fine quality wine (well, box wine is fine quality for cheap ass students, wokay!), I realize that everything in life is about change - relationships change, emotions change, likes and dislikes change.. in reality everything around you is changing. And however much one wishes for time to stand still, it never does.

So when everything in life is about change, why do we hunger for permanency? Why do we want things we want to outlast everything when in reality we may not feel the same about it in the near future? Case in point, I have a perfectly great record player at home - in the best condition still plays LPs but I never use it anymore. I prefer my portable iPOD. Isn't that what happens in a relationship, too? So why are we not happy in the here and now? If present is unpredictable and ever changing, why do we seek for assurances and promises to here after?

I want my now to be happy. It is the only tangible quantity to me - today, here and now - this moment. Who knows if I will even be alive tomorrow? So why should I care about whether someone promises me thousand tomorrows?

RNAi

2007-08-12T17:05:00.001-04:00

Nobel Laureate Craig Mello explains RNAi.

Excellent talk!

Peeves..

2007-08-11T11:37:00.000-04:00

It's not even 9 am and already have been exposed to two things I get irritated by...

Watching sports with girls.
I love sports. To me, if you are going to comment on the game - say something intelligent. Talk about the shot, the ball, the brilliant attempt at fielding - anything but who is more cute! Just don't talk girly nonsense when watching a great sport.
I don't want my sports commentary diluted by who looks fit at 35, or who is a hottie, or how Panesar with his Brit accent is sexy.. I just don't! I want my commentary to state how the ball was bowled, what a magnificent drive it was and more importantly how India has this match in it's bag!
Never watch a match with a women who say they love the sport but don't know what is the difference between mid-off and mid on!
Spoilt my cricket match. UGH! Women!!!

Figuring out which one of the couple is signed on the chat!!
A request for all my married or in a serious relationship friends - please continue to keep your/her alone mail accounts. I really don't want to be calling your prudish girlfriend some choicest names. Neither do I want to tell your guy about my PMS. So please keep the two accounts separate. If you sign on using the other's name - put it as your G-chat status!

Looks like it is going to be a long coffee drinking day!

Random Musings

2007-08-10T12:47:00.000-04:00

Thank you all for the sweet mails that asked me if I was alive and doing fine! As the recent posts must have made clear, I was in middle of my move. Drove 2000 miles and did not kill myself or any one else. Sadly only few people were contacted during the rigorous drive, just to let them know not to send the usher to bury me! So sorry to put you all through the worry...

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I have now settled in (as in I have a bed!)the new apartment. I am moving up - I now live in a truly gated community! I have my own magnetic key to open the door... woo hooo... For those who have not lived in small town, back in Lex a gated community meant a gate (that was never locked)with a foot of brick wall and that's it! The complex is huge with two pools and a tennis court - yeah, I am thinking of going there (right now only thinking :P)

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People here are exercise and health nuts! I mean I feel guilty ordering cream cheese with my bagel.. So I might start exercising and eating healthy .. yeah, the things we do to fit in :) And may be I will lose the "thesis gut" ;)

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Seriously thinking of joining a social group - may be ASHA or CRY. Time to give back to the community. And may be then, I can pretend to have a life! I mean, if I can volunteer my time for a cause, it means I have time to spare, no?

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The new work space is very laid back. Such a big change from the old one. I am still getting used to the lack of pressure and work your own time schedule thing. Luckily the people here are absolutely friendly - there is no competition between post docs in the lab which means that each one of us grows as an individual.
I am just getting my head wrapped around the terminology (even though I come from related work, I feel they are talking Latin sometimes :))and getting around the department.

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Most frequent question I got after I said I was the new post doc was "what does your husband do" which was changed to "Oh, your fiancee or boyfriend?" which rapidly changed to "Oh, I am really sorry to assume that!" WTF!!! People.. it is OK to remain single- you try having a life while working 16 hours a day! Hmph.. on other hand, there are plenty of good looking guys around.. hmmmm....

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So that's all folks.. Ladki ab tak maari nahi hai.. and no suuuuuuuicide.. so no chakki peeessing for all of you :)

Friday Audio

2007-08-10T00:36:00.001-04:00

I don't know why I am reminded of this song today, but for the whole evening I have been humming, "Yeh kahan aa gaye hum". Sung by Lata with Amitabh's voice reciting the beautiful words penned by Javed Akhtar from the movie Silsila. Music by Shiv Hari.

yeh kahan aa gaye hum

Main aur meri tanhaai aksar yeh baatein karte hain
Tum hoti to kaisa hota, tum yeh kehti, tum voh kehti
Tum is baat pe hairaan hoti, tum us baat pe kitni hansti
Tum hoti to aisa hota, tum hoti to vaisa hota
Main aur meri tanhaai aksar yeh baatein karte hain

Yeh kahan aa gaye hum
Yunhi saath saath chalte
Teri baahon mein hai jaanam
Mere jism-o-jaan pighalte
Yeh kahan aa gaye hum
Yunhi saath saath chalte

Yeh raat hai, yeh tumhaari zulfein khuli hui hai
Hai chaandni ya tumhaari nazrein se meri raatein dhuli hui hai
Yeh chaand hai ya tumhaara kangan
Sitaarein hai ya tumhaara aanchal
Hawa ka jhonka hai ya tumhaare badan ki khushboo
Yeh pattiyon ki hai sarsaraahat ke tumne chupke se kuch kaha hai
Yeh sochta hoon main kab se gumsum
Ke jab ki mujhko bhi yeh khabar hai
Ke tum nahin ho, kahin nahin ho
Magar yeh dil hai ke keh raha hai
Ke tum yahin ho, yahin kahin ho

Tu badan hai main hoon chhaaya
Tu na ho to main kahan hoon
Mujhe pyaar karne waale
Tu jahan hai main vahan hoon
Hamein milna hi tha hamdam
Issi raah pe nikalte
Yeh kahan aa gaye hum
Yunhi saath saath chalte

Meri saans saans maheke
Koi bheena bheena chandan
Tera pyaar chaandni hai
Mera dil hai jaise aangan
Hui aur bhi mulaayam
Meri shaam dhalte dhalte
Yeh kahan aa gaye hum
Yunhi saath saath chalte

Majboor yeh haalaat, idhar bhi hai udhar bhi
Tanhaai ki ek raat, idhar bhi hai udhar bhi
Kehne ko bahut kuch hai, magar kisse kahe hum
Kab tak yunhi khaamosh rahe aur sahe hum
Dil kehta hai duniya ki har ek rasm utha de
Deevaar jo hum dono mein hai, aaj gira de
Kyoon dil mein sulagte rahe, logon ko bata de
Haan humko mohabbat hai, mohabbat hai, mohabbat
Ab dil mein yehi baat, idhar bhi hai udhar bhi

Yeh kahan aa gaye hum
Yunhi saath saath chalte
Yeh kahan aa gaye hum

Sigh!that voice.. sends up shivers down my spine.. if only.. sigh!

How time flies...

2007-08-09T20:00:00.000-04:00

Six years ago today, I arrived in Lexington all by myself.
And now, I find myself alone in a new city once again.

Six years ago, I missed M and S, back home - two people who always had my back.
And now, I miss M and S's, back in Lexington - they put with me!

Six years ago, I knew nothing about what I was doing.
And now, I find myself in the same boat.

So things change and yet, they remain the same...

What I did ...

2007-08-08T20:11:00.000-04:00

Some 2000 odd miles have been covered in the last 4 days..
The only fun stop was the Grand canyon.
Now, I need to just sleep and then sleep some more..
Blogging will resume in a day or so :)

Friday Audio

2007-08-03T10:38:00.000-04:00

If someone asks me what song would feature at the top of your all time favorite list, it would be "Woh Shyam Kuch Ajeeb Thi" sung by Kishor Kumar, composed by Hemant Kumar featured in the film Khamoshi. Lyrics by Gulzar.

WOH SHAAM KUCH.

Woh shaam kuchh ajeeb thi, yeh shaam bhi ajeeb hai
Woh kal bhi paas paas thi woh aaj bhi kareeb hai
Woh shaam kuchh ajeeb thi

Jhuki hui nigaahon mein, kahin mera khayaal tha
Dabi dabi hansi mein ik, haseen saa gulaal tha
Main sochta tha, mera naam gunguna rahi hai woh
Na jaane kyon laga mujhe, ke muskura rahi hai woh
Woh shaam kuchh ajeeb thi

Mera khayaal hai abhi jhuki hui nigaah mein
Khuli hui hansi bhi hai, dabi hui si chaah mein
Main janta hoon, mera naam gunguna rahi hai woh
Yahi khayaal hai mujhe, ke saath aa rahi hai woh
Woh shaam kuchh ajeeb thi, yeh shaam bhi ajeeb hai
Woh kal bhi paas paas thi woh aaj bhi kareeb hai
Woh shaam kuchh ajeeb thi

Just plain fantastic...

Friendship

2007-08-01T08:56:00.000-04:00

I was in the coffee shop last evening and two young girls were chatting nonstop. It took me back to my school days- S (I don’t like to call her Sakshi, her real name is much more beautiful) and me were like that.
We stayed just one block away. We would go to school/college together, come back together, get down midway somewhere to our houses, and then go to drop the other to her house! -all the time chatting about something, till the deadline, 8 pm in both the houses (yes we had a deadline to get back home :() After that we could use the telephone to carry on our ‘important unfinished’ conversations.
Today, even if I think hard, I cannot recall even one of our conversations. But just to give you an idea of how engrossing such discussions were, one day we went for a morning walk and came back only after 2 hours- we lost count of time since we were discussing something very important. Both our families had alerted the police and search parties were sent for us! :)
I am always amazed by our friendship. We are both very different by nature. I am a rather emotional person and S does not show her emotions very easily. I am a very people’s person and S has her strong likes and dislikes as far as people are concerned. (Give her a book to read and she won’t notice anyone else in the room! Ask her mom about her reading habit on the dining table….she still gets irritated :P)
But we think alike. We understand each other very well and respect where the other is coming from. Put us in a room and someone is prone to be a victim of our innocent pranks. One of our Chemistry teacher always saw to it that we did not sit together, since we tended to pass notes and in general disrupt the class. I would be on the 2nd last bench and she would be on the last (she is taller than me). Little did she realize that distance did not make any difference to our mischief, and we just got more people embroiled into our "discussions".
We have known each other for more than half our lives. We have been with each other through the proverbial ‘thick and thin". From innocent childhood days to growing into responsible adults, we have shared our lives with each other without the fear of being judged. From collaborating on making coffee to trying our hands at business together-held an ‘exhibition cum sale’ for children’s clothing :), we were always game for adventures, if we were together.
For all the things she posts on her blog about herself, S is the best friend one could ever have in the world. I am not as good with words as you, S – but this is just to let you know, you are the ‘bestest’ friend and will always be. Here’s to our friendship!
And this quote is apt for you:

"A true friend is someone who thinks that you are a good egg even though he knows that you are slightly cracked." -- Bernard Meltzer.

BTW I am the cracked egg here! :D
(For those of you who need more info on the adventures of the ‘RT girl-S’ E-mail me separately.)

This is a guest post written by my "bestest" friend, Madhuli. And take her up on the offer to know more about me, but beware she is the spin- machine when it comes to me .. for example she thinks I am nice!! *shudder*

Question

2007-07-29T11:09:00.000-04:00

What do you call a girl,

- who has one suitcase full of clothes (that's it! All of her clothes) but has three full of books*, one each of DVDs and Music?

Apart from hopeless that is..

* this after dumping a whole lot of them on the girlfriend :)

I am depressed. I never thought a day would come when I would have to chose one book over the other. But that is what is keeping me occupied, work by day and packing by night. Decisions, decisions, decisions. Keep this, sell that, junk that or pass it on..

I wish I could go back to the time when all I had to decide was whether I go the lab at 9 am or 10 am on Sunday. Those were the days!

Friday Audio

2007-07-26T17:46:00.000-04:00

Sahir Ludhianvi's nazm in Amitabh's voice. Film: Kabhi Kabhi.

powered by ODEO

Khayyam composition. Singer's Mukesh and Lata.

Kabhi Kabhi -Mukesh

There are two versions of the poem "Kabhi Kabhie" - one is the romantic poem Amit (Amitabh) sings to Pooja (Rakhee)when they are in love, and the other version, rewritten by a shattered Amit when Pooja marries Vijay (Shashi Kapoor), is a bitter, self-hating ode of misery and loss. Sahir Ludhianvi wrote the latter version of "Kabhi Kabhie" first; the more romantic version was written for the film [Source: Wiki]

And yes, I love Sahir's first attempt, from his book TALKHIYAN -

Kabhi kabhi mere dil mein khayal aata hai
Ke zindagi teri zulfon ki narm chaon mein
Guzarne pati to shaadaab ho bhi sakti thi
Ye tiragi jo mere zeest ka muqaddar hai
Teri nazar ki shuaon mein kho bhi sakti thi

Ajab na tha ke main begana--e-alam hokar
Tere jamal ki ranaion mein kho rahta
Tera gadaz badan teri neem baaz aankhen
Inheen haseen fasanon mein mahv ho rahta

Pukarteen mujhe jab talkhiyan zamane ki
Ter labon se halawat ke ghoont pe leta
Hayat cheekhti phirti barahna dar mein
Ghaneri zulfon ke saaye mein chup ke jee leta

Magar yeh ho na saka aur ab yeh aalam hai
Ke tu nahin tera gham teri justjoo bhi nahin
Guzar rahi hai kuch is tarah zindagi jaise
Ise kisi ke sahare ki aarzoo bhi nahin

Zamaan bhar ke dukhon ko laga chuka hoon gale
Guzar raha hoon kuch anjani rahguzaron se
Muhib saaye meri simt barhte aate hain
Hayat-o-maut ke purhaul kharzaron
Na koi jaadah na manzil na roshni ka suragh
Bhatak rahi hai khalaon mein zindagi meri
Inheen khalaon mein rah jaaonga kabhi kho kar
Main jaanta hoon meri humnafas magar yunhi

Kabhi kabhi mere dil mein khayal aata hai

Urdu Helper -
SHADAB=fresh;delightful
TIRAGI=darkness
ZIST=life
SHUAON =light
BAGANA=not related;stranger
ILM=knowledge
JAMAL=beauty
RANAION=grace;elegance
GADAZ=soft
NEEM BAAZ=half open
MAHV =drowned
TALKHIYAN=bitterness
HALAWAT=relish;deliciousness
HAYAT=life;existence
BARAHNA=bare;naked
SARA=inn
DAR=gate;door
GHANERI=thick
JUSTJOO=search
AARZOO=hope;desire
RAHGUZARON=passage
MUHIB=dreadful
SIMT=direction
JADAAH= path
SURAGH=trace;clue
KHALAON=vacuum;space
HUMNAFAS=friend

Ps. Does anyone have the poem in it's entirety in Amitabh's voice? I would appreciate it very much.
Edited in -Correction by Lalit .. thanks a lot!

Mastercard Moment

2007-07-25T09:09:00.000-04:00

This is the best e-mail I got from H. so far -

You just have to come up with twenty questions and break the ice, y'know, how long do you intend to talk about the weather and such? You like a person and you got to ask him things, important things. I don't what is important to you girls but there has to be something! I mean you fuss about your shoes matching a dress so you would have something that matters to you, right? So go for it! Ask.
And you know what she asks me? What is your favorite color!!!! What is wrong with you women?

Hahahhahahaa.
Date in Central Park- $50.00
The nice bottle of Chardonnay - $35.00
Ride in the park - free (you cheapo!)
H (the self proclaimed connoisseur of the better sex) disgusted with women- Priceless!!!

Btw- how would you break ice with someone on the date?

Just FYI..

2007-07-23T17:19:00.000-04:00

I usually think that I am the only one delusional in life (and also a little schizo but we will let that one slide by, unnoticed). So I am constantly surprised that other people end up on this space and expect profound thoughts. This is aimed to save them that trouble...

Are you for real?
No. Mostly I am a figment of my own imagination. Sometimes, your own basal thoughts sustain me. But reality and I don't co-exist. Sorry, if you think I am real, then my friend, you need some serious help. I can recommend some doctors.

Do you have to be so condescending to Desis?
No. I don't have to be anything. I am an equal op hater. I actually extend the same condescending attitude towards people who question good science,who believe in god, or those believe in all sorts of crappy things - soul mate, astrology and marriage- in short mostly everybody.

Do you know that quality is better than quantity?
Hmm. Such abstract concepts are difficult for my brain to comprehend. But we sense some sarcasm leveled at us - and as usual things that can possibly get us to examine our true selves are mostly ignored.

You come off as a rude bitch with no good values.
Yes, we like being our true selves. Mostly. When the nice one takes over, life becomes boring. So we try to keep her sedated and out of the way.

You are repetitive. And mostly ho-hum. There are better bloggers than you.
You nailed me! I , me (rather all of us) agree that I am a mediocre blogger with no talent and no originality. And your analysis of this blog deserves a standing ovation.

Don't you have anything better to do?
Not really. Killing old women and hurting young kids and torturing the innocent and ruling the world becomes boring after some time.

You should try and get a real life.
Being utterly lazy, we ask that you get us one. Till then our delusional tale satisfies us.

Most of your readers are males who read your posts because you talk about sex.
Kudos! You should team up with the other two observers (or may be like me you also suffer from split personality). But yes, most of my readers here are males. The females that hang out here are a figment of my imagination!

Why is the email so long?
The long email is just to make sure only the really sincere mail me. That saves me the trouble of actually replying.

How much of what you write is true?
Sir, I claim to be delusional. So how do you expect me to answer this?

What will your family think of this blog?
"Why are we not mentioned more? And *Ahem* you lose half the verbal battles with all of us" will be said to us (and they are lying!!)

Don't you think you should tone this blog down?
For all intent and purposes, I don't think. So your request is put into the will see tomorrow bin!

I would love to meet with you.
So would I. Love to meet with me, that is. But sadly I have had no luck so far. I will let you know how it goes. Keep dropping by on the blog till then.