Our Dear Mama Papa Game:)

Girl stuff one called it; and childish another:
We fussed and fought. Agreed and disagreed
At last consensus came
To play our dear mama papa game.

When one acted as a traitor,
We wondered who’d be facilitator!!
But as usual it was super mom to the rescue
Who filled the game with all the hue.

Gift economy was not just the rule of the game.
From our mama papa a command came.
Some silly, some sweet, some thoughtful and neat
And sometimes emderatology needs better techniques.
Commands executed perfectly by a few.
Partially by some, getting complaints from their mums.

Each put thought in the gift they gave
Which we exchanged in that tiny cave.
With the camera constantly flashing
For the toothpaste models it seemed like a bashing.
Was it the seasons cheer or the company near
Only happy voices we would hear.

Voice modulation never attempted
The excitement we pre-empted
Moving from the little cave
To a whole new planet
An alter ego tries to save.

With meal to recount the days events
Pleasurable it was to see
Reactions to insane conversations
Unfortunately the insane didn’t seem to realize.

And as usual
Hopscotch it seemed to be
Until home base we managed to reach

Thats my father..

No i don't have to look back
the pictures in front of me flash
he held me in his arms when i cried
hit me on my knuckles when i couldn't divide!!
realised every dream even before i could see
and loves me even when I'm only me..

From little steps to exam preps
From early morning alarms
to perfect cappuccinos and bournivta
From silly movies to high spirits
For being there all credit he merits...

There ain't no doubt in my mind
He is one person who never left me behind.
Through struggles and strife
he taught the meaning of life.

My biggest critic
My best appreciator
He always tells me to try harder,
that's my Father :)

no ode i can pay..

No ode to nature like Wordsworth i can pay...
no vivid narrative i can say
of the genial sunshine that comes through after rain
penetrating the dark clouds following each other like a train
the water droplets that gleam on the flowers
proclaim their purity and soothing powers
the solitary bird that flies across the sky
savouring the moment, not getting itself dry..
on the roof top i stand and wonder
to stay in basement and work was such a blunder...
to the beauty if the sight i surrender..

My drink!!!

It is but an art to fix my drink

hovering between the large and small.

no a wrong one wouldn take me to sanity's brink

nor would i demonstrate idiocy more than i normally do

the only thing that would be high are my footwear heels...

but ofcourse i would take up a dare

like a stupid mare

without for the world a care

to bring to perfect proportion the "concoction"

with company thats new and old

there was no putting on hold

the free flowing one liners..

well it couldn have gotten finer

except for a meal with a fine diner..

Monday Mournings????

it's a Monday morning and
surprisingly there aren't any blues..
i would attribute it to a weekend
filled with a variety of hues...
its not on every Saturday
that we get a night out..

Flips and flops are inherent in our plan
after all we are a funny clan...
acting like 3 idiots is not
limited to the screen..
the watchman who witnessed
our madness, i'm sure thought
he had a horrible dream
till there was completion of the team..
the fourth entering with a temper
we made all attempts to pamper
including a rhyming banter...

tempting they are...
junk and ice cream..
even after an appetizing meal..
vocabulary is not our asset
but that dint make us "taboo".
it was as precious as corals
the mid night class on morals
and we were let out of the grip
when we did go on our "road trip"
although i couldn wake up Sid..

after yes and irresolute no..
for the concert we decided to go..
Papu cant dance..
but we gave ourselves a chance..
screaming and yelling like those
old school days..
of laughter and mirth
there seemed to be no dearth..

issuance of curfew ordinances
left us "flighting" like Cinderellas..
No.. we wouldn't change into rags
nor lose our carriages to take us home
just that we would get to hear fireworks
that for a couple of days in our ears would lurk..

the inevitable exhaustion to the bed hinges
even those who are 6 feet, two and a half inches...

A little thought...

A little thought i ponder on...
For thoughts become things the say..
the little thought that comes at last
i don't want to be a thing of the past..
what has gone past has gone
its time to move on
its is impossible to get back
what one has foregone...

Finally out of Hibernation....

i survived!!! four months of sitting at home and trying to study.. Omg!! i never thought i could do that.. but i did... i did.. i did.. the result was not very satisfying though.. for now that is the least of my worries.. exams are done.. and finally I'm out hibernation and allowed to break free.. to do what I've been wanting to for a very very long time.. the list of things to do is really really long.. but lets see "10 things i wanna do after exams"
1. Get myself a really nice haircut
2. Shop till i drop
3. Clean the mess in my room and book shelf
4. Go on my nice little joy ride
5. Make up for all the lost time with family and friends
6.Read, Read and Read more.. uh.. not text books.. my sweet love stories and enthralling mysteries.. and a couple new bestsellers
7. Watch all the movies that I've missed
8. Experiment a little with my culinary skills and learn to fix a few drinks
9. Plan an improbable holiday ( i might not go on one but there ain't no harm trying right???)
10. Lastly try and loose some weight...
ya ya ya.. there is loads more that i need to do.. so lets wait and watch how things pan out....

for the man of science..

hmmm... time management has never been one of my virtue (its not that i dont try but it doesn seem to happen) anyways i'm a couple of months late in posting this.. so apologies to the person to whom it is dedicated..

when it comes to this "man of science" i always fall short of words..an thats the reason i kept postponing posting this one... but there is one thing i say confidently.. he is a total "drama king" (creative liberty).. all he has to do is a little natak and he knows he will get his way through... and of course sometimes.. actually most of the times jumps to conclusions and hangs up.. gussa to iski naak par hota hai.. baitha bhi nahi.. khada... ok ok don yell at me for that.. its a fact.. try and recall the number of times u've hung up on me!!

apart from that he is actually pretty sweet.. uh.. thats not pretty an sweet.. duh...

an i got the lunch u promised me.. so u'll get the brownies i promised.. its jus that as usual ill be late.. but u'll get it..

an now im at a loss of words..

P.S. this was in my drafts an im not satisfied.. but since u wre waiting.. place a bet ill do editions to it in the near future!!

Incoherently tryin to say i miss u...

Those memories are by no mean way few..
and i can reassure there'll be many more new...
of good times and bad..
its just that i'm a little sad..
cos i already miss your addictive cheer
your little texts which wipe away my fear
for how much you care
without you its like something isnt there..

Wipe away the fears today
Everything will be okay
Capture each moment happy or sad
Cos i want to live it too...
Keep faith in your drive and ambition
you've never given up
dont give in now..

an remember
the miles between us cant keep us apart...

Scraped my knee and proud of it...

scraped knee.. hurt ankle.. an torn jeans.. logically the next phrase would have been "boys will be boys" but i'm proud to flaunt that the next phrase actually is "yippi yippi that happened to me"...

no i dint fall off the bike.. nor did i try climbing a tree.. i only got a little enthu to watch my dear friend lead the school march past as Head girl.. well and in the process of running to the other end of the ground dint realise that the long jump pit comes in the way..

its not often that i scrape my knees (it doesnt imply that im not clumsy, because i define that), i celebrated this scraped knee.. not because there would be someone to acknowledge the pain or to massage the swelling(anyways there was no one) but because it awoke the sleeping child in me.. the one who loved cheer and fun.. the one who could be the just and the jester... it made me realise that the carefree, fun loving girl is still there, waiting to come out.. and out she is.. without a care of whats going to happen...

scraping my knee brought back to me the joys of childhood i had left far behind in a life where each move seems to be calculated.. reminded me that i am still entitled to do things without giving the consequences a thought...

Random or synchronised???

the fact that a silly facebook quiz told me that i'd meet my Mr. Right at a coffee shop is not the reason that i hang out at one most of the time.. i just find it really comfortable place to indulge myself in some deep studying.. (of my books ofcourse!!!).. but i do waste a little time reading the outlook.. and so i did today too...

there are certain unexplainable synchornies in life... its not even a couple of days back that i was having an intense discussion about true love and 100% commitment.. and the cover story of outlook was about screen romance and the love it never talks about.., there was a very nice article by the writer of Khosla ka Ghosla (sorry i'm very bad at names).. coming the author wove a beautiful article from patches of real life situations of love that was not.. just reinstating my question whether reel life 17 year old romances exist???

and i talking about synchronisation.. an elderly couple walked into the coffee shop.. and there was something about them that i could not take my eyes off them (apart from the lady being really attractive and smartly dressed in a pretty Saree).. they ordered for a sandwich and coffee for each of them.. their conversation was just flowing on.. not just through words.. and when they were done.. like most elderly indian couples it was the lady who paid(the lady carries the bag you see.. and men are more forgetful in old age).. outlook declared Shahrukh and Kajol the most romantic on-screen couple... but i'm sure even Aditya Chopra wouldn't be able to script love as true and honest as i saw today...

love is not just teenage romance... its waking up early some morning to make her a surprise bed tea.. to do the dishes together..to give..to commit... to trust.. to cherish.. not for a day.. month.. or year.. but for a lifetime...

Omg.. What a match.. Again!!

Not many put their money on history repeating itself.. but it did.. another epic final at Centre Court yesterday.. but it was Federer who was the heart breaker this time... (ummm.. i was more than thankful it was not Nadal facing him.. i'm sure i'd have failed to handle the stress)

the fifth set.. Vijay Amritraj merely called it the longest fifth set of a grand slam final.. (I'm sure he'll use more adjectives for it now). but the decider and omg.. A set that saw fantastic serving.. more winners than errors.. Roddick played arguably his best tennis.. was broken only once in the match.. and at that point he lost the match..

the match was definitely not for the weak hearted.. an enjoyable battle that left me regretting for my trimming my nails early yesterday morning.. i dint have any to chew off during the match you see...

Roddick might have lost the match.. and my heart cries out for him... but what disappointed me more is that now Federer overtakes Nadal as the World N. 1 *sigh* *sigh*

My teddy bear...

There are quite a few people i cant live without and ofcourse i'm sure they know that.. but there is someone very special (something, most would say) i cant live without too.. my eager listener, confidante, and very very loyal friend.. my very loved teddy bears.. most would call me an arctophile(a teddy bear collector), call me what you want, because its not like i care.. but my teddy bears are the dearest..

with about 2 dozen of them, each of them uniquely christened, they are very special to me.. and each of them has had a special way of being an entrant into my life... they offer unconditional love and comfort..

in times of hardship, they've provided solace. in times loneliness they've proved company. in times of silence they've listened...

Even when i'm cynical about the rest of the world.. i know my teddy bears will be there for me..

Here is something i had read sometime back and for obvious reasons immediately related to it.. so go on and read it.. Till then here is a bear hug from me to you...

I am your guardian teddy bear

I'm looking out for you

Just pull me close and hug me tight

Whenever you feel blue.

Just tell me when you're feeling sad,

I listen very well.

Your hopes, your dreams, your troubles too

I promise not to tell.

Share with me all your secret thoughts

Don't hold back anything

Just know that I'll be by your side

Whatever life may bring.

You are a very precious friend

You're special as can be

Nobody else is quite like you
And I should know, you see.

Because I am your teddy bear

And teddy bears are wise

We watch and learn our whole lives through

We're Einstein's in disguise.

So let me give you some advice

Always stand proud and tall

Be thankful for your special gifts

Because you have them all.
And I'll keep looking out for you

Just know that I am there

I am your biggest fan, you know

'Cause I'm your teddy bear.

No expectations no disappointments

"We do not indeed so often disappoint others as ourselves. We ourselves to form hopes which we never communicate, and please our thoughts with employments which none will ever allot us, and with elevations to which we are never expected to rise; and when our days and years have passed away in common business or common amusements, and we find at last that we have suffered our purposes to sleep till the time of action is past, we are reproached only by our own reflections; neither our friends nor our enemies wonder that we live and die like the rest of mankind; that we live without notice, and die without memorial; they know not what task we had proposed, and therefore cannot discern whether it is finished."

Under pressure and stress of this overburdened life often one tends to forget themselves. Changing the way one thinks from good to bad, better to worse, is just because one is too afraid to experience emotions and so the attempt to escape and think it will protect from disappointment.

shortcut to happiness????

It was a couple of years back that i participated in a play.. Dr Faustus.. ok i'm a student of literature.. but its one of the best plays ive read.. and the best ive been a part of till date. the plot overview is basically that Dr. Faustus a scholar is dissatisfied with his knowledge sells his soul to the devil (Lucifer himself) for twenty four years of knowledge and prosperity..

The whole play and our performance just came as a flashback when i was watching this movie called "Shortcut to Happiness". the protagonist sells his soul for name fame success and glory, but after he has that he is still not happy on the inside..

how many of us would gladly do that... little do we realise that name fame and success might give us momentary happiness but not fill our hearts with happiness.. cannot give us the euphoria that would bring tears of joy...

why do we pour ourselves into pursuits that provide so little in lasting happiness???

why is it that no thought is given to Aristotle's saying "happiness is "the virtuous activity of the soul in accordance with reason, happiness is the practice of virtue." - there is no shortcut to happiness

or may be i just think toooo much :P

Choose wisely..

"Its not abilities but our choices that truly define who we are " - Albus Dumbledore

when i was just thinking what is the good that i learn from the post today, i heard Albus Dumbledore.. and it was like lightening struck.. (the Eureka types). what is life all about, the big decisions that i make?? well yes ofcourse, but more so the little little choices i make everyday. and then i thought do i always have a choice? because most of the time i feel i am compelled to do things, but now when i look back, i've always had choices when i felt i dint its just that i dint like the ones available.

Sometimes it may seem insignificant what we choose, but every minor decision of ours has an impact on our lives.

So what is important is to make a choice. Choose wisely and stick by it; nobody says it'll be easy but you will definitely get there!!

In the journey of life

"Dance like no one is watching. Sing like no one is listening. Love like you've never been hurt and live like it's heaven on Earth." - Mark Twain

What does it really mean??

well atleast to me, it says,

in the journey of life...
do what you're supposed to do
do what you want to do
and
do it the way you're supposed to..

don't bother about the outcome or outspoken
because you know you've the right the best you could.

Its not just roasted beans...

For me "A switch is a switch" and "tea is tea" but is coffee only coffee?? uh uh.. no way.. ok i know coffee has been a part of quite a few blogs.. but what to do.. i just love coffee... A cup of well brewed coffee..
it really does not matter whether its the Godfather of Italian coffee in the form of an expresso or the prince in the Latte.. though the mention of cappuccino will have my face a lit up (a little extra sweet cappuccino i might add).. and its not just the Italian coffee that catches my fancy.. Because for me the Indian filter coffee is just a little better..

Coffee has become an obsession, addiction and joy of life.. but then there are a few people who've taken the title "coffee and cigarettes" too literally and think the combination is just perfect.. I guess they've only heard the title because one of the characters (pardon my poor memory because dont remember the name) repeats a million times atleast that coffee and cigarettes dont make for a very healthy combination...

For me its no Expresso vs Latte or cappuccino vs filter coffee.. cos i love them all the same.. the only one i like better is a mug of hot frothy coffee made by lowe especially for me... and Cafe Coffee Day's tag line is right in saying "lot can happen over a coffee" so let a lot happen. let it stimulate and rejuvenate you..

Pass it on..

Have you had a kindness shown? Pass it on;
T' was not give for thee alone, Pass it on.
Let it travel down the years,
Let it wipe another's tears,
till in heaven the deed appears; Pass it on."

Rev. Henry Burton wrote this hymn when he heard his brother in law narrate an act of kindness shown to him and how he was asked to pass on the kindness..

This has been my favorite hymn since the day I've learnt it... more than the song its what the song has taught me.. It taught me that the best moments of life are the little unremembered acts of kindness and love..

There are 3 principles of kindness... ( I dint formulate them but try to emulate them)

1. kindness seeks opportunities to express itself
2. Kindness is shown for the sake of someone else
3. Kindness is not slow in taking the initiative to meet a need

"T' was a sunshine of a smile, Pass it on;
Staying but a little while, Pass it on;
April beam the little thing,
Still it wakes the flowers of Spring,
Makes the silent bird to sing, Pass it on."

Its little acts of kindness that we need to show, so don't wait for something big, Love demands the loving deed, Pass it on.

http://fakeiplplayer.blogspot.com

A KKR match may be a dull and boring one to many.. With most rightly predicting what the outcome of the game will be.. but with every KKR game comes the magnificent display of the literary skills of an anonymous blogger who has created a stir in the blogging community.

Fake IPL Player or Poison pen as the KKr team call him has been posting quite a lot of masala.. which a few claim is a well-structured literary piece of all the gossip available in the media while a few others are of the opinion that it is far too easy to make fun a team that is known more for its celebrity owner than its cricketers or cricketing skills and is currently so dysfunctional that an insider is actually blogging "Confidential matters". Our dear friend has been chiefly aiming for his kkr team mates but hasn't spared the rest of them by any means.


Every one has been in pursuit of this Fake IPL Player, the fakester who has become bigger than the tournament itself, and if you thought he wasnt enough there is an ingenious follower of his who has created a dictionary for all the nicks he uses, skateserbia.com/?p=308.


Love him or hate him but you cant ignore him.. whether cricketer (which seems a little far fetched considering his eloquent language) or entertainer.. I'm thankful to him for a providing a nice little laugh early in the morning...

Its all my fault...

Its all my fault
i love to love..
Its all my fault
i try so hard..
Its all my fault
with ease i trust...
Its all my fault
i sought to be understood...
Its all my fault
i am in disarray,
when good is not enough,
and better is possible..
Its all my fault
for realising late,
the good was the best i could do..
its all my fault
i judge myself
by others expectations..
and worse of all;
its all my fault
I'm last on my own priority list!!

i hate not the way you make feel
but the way i feel..
sometimes like a princess..
like the world is mine
and i loved every grape in the vine..
sometimes i lived without a care
about how in this big bad world I'd fare
sometimes I'd take all the time
just to "stand and stare"

but now that seems just too rare
the strings seem to pull and
i seem to have lost what was
and the world seems far away
the time just as usual doesn't wait
that only compels me to feel
I'm already late
and more than the way you make me feel
that's what i hate..

i hate not that you hurt me..
i hate it that i hurt you
when i love you with all my heart
and i don't want to part..
cos whatever happens ill hold
you next to my heart...

Cooking - Day 3

Day3 it is.. and on my menu is Dumb Bhindi and roti.. so lets get started.. actually its not very complicated.. first wash and cut the bhindi.. i did cut it really neat (atleast thats what i thought.. and that was before my grandmother told me that i m chopping too much of the edges)..

Step 2.. i take out my super looking cooking vessel.. ( i love cooking in those cute looking aluminium pots)

then i being.. heat a little oil.. fry the jeera add the masalas (and my trick for most indian dishes.. add a pinch of everything in the box and extra of the ones im sure go into the dish :P)
then put the bhindi in... cover the vessel and let it simmer..

after about ten to twelve minutes i ask my grandma if its done and she says add the masalas now.. (uh uh was my reaction.. you already know what i had done.. but thats what the recipe online told me) anyways i checked it with the spoon and it looked cooked.. so the gas goes off.. a little of it in a bowl to make my guinea pig taste...

and yippii.. my aunt says its super :) and then i tell her what i did.. and there i learn another tip.. fresh bhindi is very tender so its ok if the masala is added first..

Verdict: Bhindi brilliant.. rotis need loads more practise

Cooking - Day 2

After the success of the palak paneer, i wanted to get a little adventurous.. and decided to make alu ka parantha. Wow.. I love paranthas, some may say, while a kitchen regular is sure to say that there is nothing adventurous about making alu ka parantha.

The confirmation recipe i read online did make it look easy. but uh right. first boil the potatoes, while thats happening knead dough and leave it aside for sometime, peel the potatoes and mash them, add the spices and make the filling. Till here is the easy part.

And then you have to roll the paranthas. now, not only is that tricky but also requires loads of practise and skill. the parantha keeps tearing and the filling starts popping out.. uh.. really painful experience.. but then i managed to cook the required minimum of four.

Verdict: Looks horrid with all the masala popping out and it being shapeless, but it was edible enough to be eaten without cribbing :(

Cooking - Day 1

Mum is not there.. so for a month i'm the queen of the kitchen.. day1 in the kitchen and yippe its a holiday.. and whats cooking as per my menu?? umm Palak Paneer.. cooking really is a stress buster.. anyway to get on with making palak panner.. dad got the palak and 2 bunches of it (previous experience told me one bunch ain't enough for the whole family) so there you go.. onions and tomatoes are on the kitchen table.. but oops first i have to make the paneer.. so there goes one liter milk on the gas and to curdle it i squeeze lime juice.. so as the milk gets curdled.. i get all the other ingredients...

Then for cleaning the palak, graciously i'd admit that i had quite lot passive learning in the science of cooking, so one such tip i learnt was to wash and clean the greens properly and second always boil and then chop them. so tediously i clean the palak and put for a light boil, meanwhile i chop the onion, tomato and garlic and grind them into a paste... the milk and curdled and been strained into a muslin cloth to give the paneer shape. the palak has boiled and cooled a little and that goes into the mixer too.. a smooth Green paste is ready..

so all the basic preps are done.. now is my time to have fun.. The kadai is on the gas.. 2 tablespoon oil.. the onion- tomato paste goes in first.. till it gets a little golden brown.. then the spices.. (whenever i get confused i use all mum keeps in the spice box and whenever is most of the time). then the palak goes in and a sliced chilly.. a little cooking for about five minutes..(you dont cook greens for too long they lose the vitamins).

ok the gas is off.. and so am i.. i have notes to copy till lunchtime..

at lunchtime the gravy is on the flames.. the panner is being cut into cubes.. salt is added to gravy(adding salt at the end lets the palak be green).. the papad is roasted. the maid has already cooked the chapathis...

and lunch is served..

Verdict on the palak paneer.. Good but salt is a little less :(

Men Gossip more than women??!!!!!

there was a very interesting article in today's paper titled "Men gossip more than women" disappointingly i was late as usual and dint have time to read the entire article (my priority was the zodiac forecast column). anyways coming back to the topic. "Gossip" is an activity that has been associated with women for time immemorial, the tell-tale habit and the humour of saying that a woman would suffer from indigestion if she dint pass on the news she had. Well yes, women do gossip, they do pass on little tittle-tattle, but all of it is to build a stronger bond or break the ice with friends and colleagues.


Men would never admit that they gossip(i call it the male ego). and not only gossip, they gossip on mostly similar topics as women but i think there is a small difference. For women it is a chatty talk they indulge in, for men it is a sort of morale or confidence boost.
and to top it all they'd call it "Networking"

The little bit that i picked from the article today was that while an average female spends 56 minutes a day on gossip mongering, males indulge in it for 72 minutes but they tend to talk more about themselves.

the most important point of difference between men and women gossiping however boils down to 2 factors for me a highly animated tone with plenty of detail and an even more animated and enthusiastic response :P

Men might gossip more but women are more skilled at it :P

shoe flinging and then regrettin??

I agree that our constitution provides us with the fundamental rights of expression; but its one thing to use the liberty to say what you want and another to misuse it. I dont know if im being hypocritical but i truly found a shoe being hurled at Bush funny. seeing an Iraqi journalist throwing a couple of shoes at bush may not mean much to me but seeing the same treatment to a union minister is no laughing matter. I know politicians in india are no longer respected, but Mr Chidambaram has atleast a few credentials to his name to be treated respectfully.

Tytler getting a congress ticket after being given a clean chit by the CBI in the 1984 Sikh riots and probably to add insult to injury Mr Chidambaram did dodge the question pretty well. whatever said and done; as a journalist the first thing to learn is to report the news in an objective manner. and how can someone do that when they cant keep their emotions in check and act off handedly.

hypocritical or not it was sadistic pleasure to see Bush being ridiculed, but it is hurtful and angers me to see a man like Chidambaram being treated like this; atleast in the former case he was in alien territory and had done sufficient wrong to deserve that.

the journalist has already apologised and regretted his actions saying he did not intend to hurt anyone. the damage however is done. i dont support politicians but a few them like Mr Chidambaram do deserve to be treated humanly and shown basic courtesy, about the rest i really dont care.

when best friends fight!!!

Some people ask do best friends fight? Well may be not all it really depends you know. There are best friends who understand each other totally, know immediately that something is wrong. You’d hardly see them fighting. And there is another set, who can’t seem to finish the day without a fight, it’s just as if it’s a mandatory part of the daily routine. But that doesn’t mean that they understand each other any less.

There are many who say that spending quality time, understanding each other, listening to them are the best ways to strengthen a relationship.

Not many will agree with me, but what I would add to the list is a nice healthy fight. Uh.. I am sure there are raised eyebrows. But with a few people it really does work... and i'm talking about the "violent conflicts" not conflicts in the literal sense, with not much of perceived or actual oppositions of views and needs, but violent yes!! (everyone cant afford a punching bag. can they?)

Each time the silly fight occurs; there is one who attempts the sincere apology and the other who stone heartedly rejects it. Only to say a couple of minutes later, I don’t need an apology from you stupid!! Sometimes it may take a little longer than a couple of minutes, but that does not mean there is a hard bricked wall, there is only a little veil that does not take more than a moment to throw off.

Each time the fight is over the smile seems to get brighter and the bond seems to grow deeper.

A cup of coffee

A perfect cup of coffee is a quest that has captivated men and women all around the world. my life is a cup filled with hot freshly brewn aromatic coffee... and for me it was perfect.. i felt i had conquered..

when you blend the 4 different ingredients of coffee; milk, water, sugar, coffee. and to spice it up a little the 5th cinnamon you get the perfect coffee..

each ingredient different and totally unique, and the coffee cant do without any of them.. you have to mix them at the right time in the right mix..
you dont need the understanding of physics or the laws of mixtures of chemistry for that :)

i thought i had got it right.. fixed up where i had gone wrong..with no shortcuts i gave it my best.. but i guess i was wrong again.. my coffee is beginning to go wrong? what do i do to set it right?? can an expert help me out???

B + :)

it has become habitual for me to start my day at work by reading my igoogle horrorscope. and today it said that i'm filled with positive creative energy!! Well did i really need an online forecast to tell me that?? not at all.
The one thing that i've always known but learnt over the last couple of months. thoughts are things, and you reap the results of your thoughts. these thoughts manifest our lives. like the vibs that emminate from each of us so do thoughts. and it is in our minds the kinds of thoughts we let. the laws of attraction work not only in physics. with negative thoughts you are destined to exepreience negativity and evil results.
Positive energy and positive thoughts help you operate at a level of bouyancy and cheerfulness, your more optimistic about everything, its a more happy and confident you.
Things go wrong, not sometimes but many times, its how one thinks that makes all the difference. and really its not very difficult, they key is SELF-MASTERY

All the Worlds a stage!!!

All the world is a stage said one
a wide universal theatre another
with a nod of agreement superficial i add
where "heart felt emotions" are artificial
the "Act" is not of seven stages
In seven stages they act.
Barbie smiles are on faces
thoughts and ideas are shallow
and most "like sheep" most seem to follow
where humanity is a sham
only as good as walking the ramp.
Cynical it may seem
but to make the world a
better place is only a dream!!

Are woman truly empowered??

when one is asked to define a woman.. its almost certain that they will fall back on the stereotypes and cliches of pink satin, softness, sensuality, who handles relationship, that of a daughter, sister, wife, mother, friend to perfection. it is true that she gives a lot to each relationship. earlier she was the perfect homemaker and now she is the perfect balancer.

Woman's Day is to celebrate the social, political and economic achievements of women. There are Sonia Gandhi, Oprah Winfrey, Chanda Kochar, Kiran Shaw, Shoba De, woman who have accomplished so much, achieved so much, much more than most men. but for everyone of them there are millions of women who wake and sleep, live and die in grief.

We live in the myth of the few thousand successful woman who have broken barriers and rules, gone past the glass ceiling. I'm not talking about the you and me but the millions of other women for whom Patriarchy, discriminatory customs and values are a part of the society where they are seeking a life of dignity.

Each human being is to be cherished for who they are, but more so a woman. for the millions "hers" for whom life is a constant struggle for survival. but they question is "is she ever going to feel cherished?" Are these woman who we call "empowered women"?

I'm not trying to take away anything from those women who have reached their goals in life, who made dreams reality and the impossible possible. the perfect daughters, sisters, wives, mothers, friends, professionals, it is they who remind us that "A woman is the full circle. Within her is the power to create, nurture and transform"

I may....

I may not complaint
but i fell the pain
i may not ask for what is rightfully mine
because i just chose to wait for my chance in the line
i may not appear to be insecure
but i still might need your reassurance
i may know i'm loved
but i might want you to tell me that more often

i may be difficult to handle sometime
and i might "have the vocabulary of a mime"
and thats when i want to hear what i need to hear
think a little
and the truth will hit you between your eyes
i may strive for the elusive perfection
but i'm still most human...

All Grown Up!!!

King Solomon says,"There is a time for everything and every activity under the heaven". The "Tiny Tods" as my little brother affectionately calls them, have grown up.. and its more than the second prize in a cooking competition that made me realise that. The responsibility and maturity by no means implies that the madness has gone (i hope it never does) and yesterday was enough proof of that; with the two of them doing a photo shoot dressed as babes, and displaying the famous pout :P.. and the madness doesnot end.. they actually used blowpens on my face, one cheek pink and the other blue (i dunno how i let them do that).

Now they seem to understand things better, look at things from more than one view point. They've blossomed, into beautiful swans, who seem to have the perfect blend of maturity and madness.

And as my lil bro says, the third graders are no longer in third grade:)

The Perfect chocolate :P

Most of us know chocolate as a deliciously decadent sweet that we eat in cookies, cakes, candy bars, and other desserts. And, chocolate isn’t simply a snack or key ingredient in cooking. Over the centuries, many cultures have used the seeds from which chocolate is made—cacao. Plus, medicinal remedies featuring chocolate have been used as household curatives across the globe.

For centuries, legends from many cultures have claimed that consuming chocolate instilled strength, health, faith, and passion in those who drank it. These legends attributed magical properties to chocolate and endowed it with powerful symbolic value. Chocolate is still revered as an icon of love and devotion today, and eating chocolate remains a part of many enduring holiday traditions.

Chocolate has long been regarded as a pleasant diversion, if not quite a magic bullet, for feeling low. And, for most people, this is still the case. It is considered the best antidote to depression. Chocolate still maintains its known "feel-good" effect on people who are simply having a bad day, for those who are severely stressed or clinically depressed, the effect may be to make the depression and stress worse.

Ok all of that was just to show off that i know quite a bit chocolates. The whole point of this what many call futile exercise is to put on record my experience of tasting a flavour of the latest Cadbury range. Bournville. Well it is named after a famous village associated with the Cadbury family in England; but what is more fascinating is the intense chocolate. For a chocoholic like me the promotional ad was enough to wait for its launch.

I took to the ad too literally " you don buy a bournville, you earn it". well i earned it, fair and square, but the one who owed it to me refused to give to me. Well he ultimately did:P (though he dint even take the pains of buying it himself :P )

A total choco-addict that i am, I'm glad he kept his word. it was one of the nicest I've ever had. From the texture to the taste.. it was perfect. It melts in your mouth and makes you go ’mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm’..


and to the stupid who gave that chocolate to me i just want quote Henry Longfellow

"Long, long afterward, in an oak
I found the arrow, still unbroke;

And the song, from beginning to end,

I found again in the heart of a friend."

ok i even want to say this..It was not a act of heroism, but for me it was a reflection of how you feel.Thank you for caring, thank you for being there unconditionally, for being there and supporting me in all circumstances. Thanks for being a great and delightful friend. :)

P.S. i'm not able to upload the pic :( and btw you still owe me a few chocolates :P

Luck by chance :P

Luck by chance is a contemporary tale , where the plot revolves around how an outsider tries to find his feet in the world of Hindi cinema. Ironical then that a star kid has sought to make such a movie.

Few scenes being the cliche slapstick comedy, few others are cynical enough to make you smile; but there are few in the movie which try to escape the realities of the real world. And you definitely cant resisting laughing hard at them especially when you've experienced a few them yourself.


And going for the movie itself was by chance and lucky. Watching the movie was not really only watching the movie experience for me this time. It was the brother and three dwarfs at the theater, where the three dwarfs totally freaked at everything they could relate in the movie to themselves (considering their self-obsession it was on most occasions.) there more than a few comments flying, whether it was on Isha Sharwani and Juhi Chawla being complete "Fashion Disasters" or tacky lines we'd heard in real life ourselves.

There is no way i can miss making a mention of this; Vikram Jaisingh the promising and good looking want-to-be an actor aspirant knows what he wants and how to manipulate the situation to get it. He works his charm with surmounting success on the yesteryear star Neena. But what was not surprising that she falls for that charm. "Girls will after all be Girls" (thats what i heard) :P

The movie showcases a slice of life in bollywood, it being a mix of opportunities and destiny. the brother had an opportunity to sit in the luxury of his house and watch the "onslaught" of the Indian batsmen, it was his destiny that he was stuck at the theater with the three dwarfs only to witness them laugh their heads off and listen to them comment on the events happening on and off the screen.

My disorder...

I have a psychological dysphoric disorder. Most may call it an imagined disease and say it is all in my head. or probably attribute it to the most obvious female disorder(i was hoping it was the case all along). But i have ultimately accepted the existence, impact and importance of this disease.

Apart from dysphoria which is obvious from the nomenclature of my disease, the other symptoms include irritability, bloating, anxiety, mood swings and insomnia (trouble falling asleep).

There aint any laboratory test that i undertook; but i have successfully diagnosed the disease, with the symptoms and also identified its causes which include, high cocoa and caffeine intake, stress perceptions, undue fantasying of improbable events and ofcourse unsuccessful attempts to violate social norms.

There is no use crying over spilt milk. But i atleast can clean the spilt milk, cant i?? So now that i have diagnosed my disease, i will devote a little time from my otherwise so-called hectic schedule to research on the non-medicinal and non-addictive treatments of the disease.

Uhh.. I missed it!!!

And he said it again.. Very subtle this time "another nail biting finish" thats what he said at the start of the fifth set... and that too exactly when i had was forced to leave the luxury of my home and the pleasure of the watching the final set of the Australian Open final, to meet another appointment.

The score line tells me i dint miss much of the game. What i am more interested in was to Federer's reaction to the loss. I guess all the hype about him equalling Sampras did jinx the finals for him.

The four sets which i did watch were intense and spell binding; both players displaying their skill and talent to its zenith. Nadal showed no signs of tiredness inspite of that epic semi final(there is someone, actually two of them out there who claim they are sure that banana has drugs.. Phew). There were some really cheeky points, between long rallies, quite a few extending to 20 shots.

By the way did i miss saying that Star Sports put a commercial just when Nadal was changing his shirt?, talk about wrong timing.

Never measure your victory by somebody Elise's loss: thats how a famous proverb goes. it doesnot matter that Federer lost, its that Nadal won, his first Slam on hard court.

And what i claim i missed, was not seeing Federer in tears(and the someone does not like men crying too, its all about the male ego you know). In this case though i think there would have been more hurt than ego. My sympathies to Federer. I read what i missed and I agree. "you are one of the best in history” thats what Nadal said that the presentation. So i'll wait and see what comes up on youtube and on Nadal's blog. For now it is "Yipee rafa won" :)

Omg... What-a-match!!!!

Its not very often that my little bro says he has only 10 finger nails to bite off!!! if federer vs tipsarevic last year was a highlight at the Australian Open last year and the Wimbledon final between nadal and federer breathtaking.. the all Spanish semi today was heartstopingly fantabulous.

Rafael Nadal vs Fernando Verdasco at the Australian Open Semi Final 2009 created history. the longest ever in Australian Open History.

God i think dint want me miss the second half of the action and sent a blessing cancelling my evening class.

i may not be a pro at tennis, nor is it my area of expertise.. but the match i saw today was by far one of the best i've ever seen.

Five hours and 14 minutes of intensely fierce is no mean joke. 95 winners from Verdasco (totally disappointing many about not making it a three digit figure) dint wilt away Nadal. The point Nadal won in the fourth set to win his fourth game made the entire arena stand up and applaud. Nadal tired Verdasco making him run around the court and the effort was taking its toll on the 25 yr old Spaniard. But all those signs vanished in the tie break; taking it 7-1 he leveled the match to 2 sets a piece.

And in the fifth set altleast i din't want to place my money on whose serve would be broken first. but Nadal definitely had the added advantage of serving first in the decider. verdasco saw off two match points courageously, but to Nadal's relief instead of the timely ace (like many other occasions during the match) came a double fault.

Quite an anti climax ending to what had been one of the most dramatic matches of the era. A true epic.

Unfortunately there had to be a loser. Fortunately for me it was Verdasco

I do hope the final is not a dampener. With a fresh Federer crushing a tired Nadal (i'm saying that inspite of Nadal having a better head to head record in Grand Slam Finals)

So Nadal go for it.. Don't give up easily. Your trademark persistence will pay-off (like he is gonna read this)!!!

Rafa The Writer???

With a golden mane, a long face structure and at six feet one inch, the Tarzan look alike i'm talking about is Rafael Nadal. The world No 1. He has set up an all Spanish Semi at the Australian Open. Am not amazed at him being there. His sporting skills i have never questioned. His rivalry with Federer has been more than thrilling.

Right now he is doing everything right on the court(touch wood). what i'm surprised at are his literary skills. i had been ignorant about his blogging till it came in one of the newspapers highlighting that he will be writing his "digital diary" everyday during the Australian Open.

There was a very sweet bit on one of the blogs where he says he is getting better at English, then goes on to apologise because he made a mistake with "his English" and then says it was his translator..

Dry and boring for most people. But for ardent Rafa fans its a nice sneak peek into what he does and how he does.

umm obviously I'm gonna be following (when i get time)..

Mixed Emotions...

A study in Washington suggests people who experience mixed emotions (the feeling of positive and negative emotions) are more creative people.. and the psychologists go on to explain that such people interpret the experience as a signal that they are in an unusual environment and respond to it by creative thinking.

Another study says that people remember occasions with mixed emotions are not remembered as well as those where the felt singally happy or sad.. obvious isn't it.. because we tend to rely less on the episodic memory of emotional experience. We are uncomfortable with mixed emotions. We want to resolve the conflicts. Thereby we fade the emotional intensity.

and there is my theory.. that mixed emotions are a result of "lack of emotional persistence". We react differently to the same situation at different times. We react differently to different situations at the same time..

there is really nothing deep to be lost in thought. there is no strange philosophy. the nuance of emotion is that "you can like and hate a person at the same time"

just be sure of how you handle your mixed emotions.. let it not make a mix of anything else..

..........

what is the cognitive state of mind when u feel you've done something you shouldn't have.. the feeling that wouldn't go away.. the feeling of having hurt someone very dear(or getting them angry)... the feeling of remorse... the "brick on the conscious".. the perception of being wrong in the conscious an sub conscious state of mind..

uummm.. i guess that pang of emotion is called guilt.. something i'm currently experiencing..

once i told my friend "dash the guilt and throw it out of the window" and she said it ain't that easy.. well however trivial that matter is.. probably highly insignificant and easily forgettable.. today i agree that it ain't that easy to dash the guilt and throw it out of the window..

the least i could do to sooth my conscious was to apologize to that dear one i hurt.. i did.. profusely and genuinely but the guilt doesn't seem to go away...

Possessiveness..

i got a text which said that "possessiveness does not arise because we do not trust someone but because we cannot imagine our life without them.." and i just starting thinking about it..


and as usual i checked the dictionary.. the dictionary defines possessiveness as "Having or manifesting a desire to control or dominate another, especially in order to limit that person's relationships with others." Um.. does that sound good??? the tendency to feel possessive is totally natural but there is a huge difference between being and acting possessive.. most have the opinion that personal freedom and choice are of utmost importance.. but for all though..


Possessiveness is the underlying reason that otherwise sane person totally insane... and possessiveness is not found only in a romantic relationship where there might be a degree of insecurity forming the base of this emotion...

but look a toddler... try taking his mum away from him and you'll hear him wailing, screaming and probably he'd attempt to beat you up.. and toddlers are possessive not only about their mums but also about their toys...

but the toddler is just learning isnt he???

relationships collapse because of possessiveness overdrive and power struggle.. actions in a relationship can never be reasoned out.. the joys and happiness are meant to be shared and not limited like a piece of cake or cookie.. not being over-possessive is a lesson and learning in life that requires conscious effort from our part to put in practise..

in any relationship it should not be sought to take over the other person's life.. rather enhance it..

My cute adorable little baby brother..:)

i dint stare at him sleeping in his crib.. i dint feed him baby food... i dint hide away his G I Joes (if he ever played with them) i never tried to break his gun into two... there are no nostalgic thoughts about his childhood.. but truly there is a highly creative image..

what i always wanted was a younger sister and younger brother.. and God has been really kind to give me a likeness of both.. anyways today i'm all pepped up to write about my adorable little baby brother..

ok for firsts i got a fully grown baby brother.. thats exactly the reason i dint get to hide his toys.. or better still break them.. nor did i get to feed him baby food.. well i'm definitely going to attempt make him taste my cooking.. (he calls me the worlds best cook even without tasting my cooking.. think thats the only reason he has the guts to do so.. he wouldn't have the audacity to that after experiencing my culinary skills).. :P

Secondly.. my little baby brother aint really little.. he is a good six inches taller than me..

and the best way to describe him is to compare him to a coconut (he'll kill me if he reads this) but he truly is like that.. with a rugged exterior.. someone you wouldnt really expect to have a lot of emotion and sensitivity.. but like soft whiteness of the coconut he is a true delight to know.. he listens to you like he doesnt know to talk.. he'd let you pour out all you want.. and then give you the most sensible and practical solution..and really him owe him loads for the innumerable times he has heard me crib and blabber on and then drive sense into my head..:)

and you know what is better.. he listens and doesnt forget.. he remembers exactly what you tell him.. no matter how irrelevant that is to him..

he hates the kind of movies i watch.. but never misses out to tell me when one of my kind is on air.. uh.. its a different story that he cannot imagine life without television.. (not many can imagine life without their first love.. can they??)

he cant take non-sense but bears my senseless company with no utterance of irritation...

and if Pablo Picasso and Leonardo da vinci were put together also i dont think they could paint as beautifully as he does.. and trust me i cannot over exaggerate his artistic skills.. he is the best.. and i have proof of that right in my bed room..

thats my little adorable baby brother.. truly cute.. and irresistibly sweet..

we are polar opposites at many things (actually most) but there are many beliefs and values that we have in common..

Thanks lil bro.. :)

Pink carnations....

Dear, Delicate, Durable.. there is only one thing that comes to mind.. the most anciently cultivated beautiful carnations... and not just any carnations but the pretty pink ones.. the scientific name of the flower literally translates into "flower of love" or "flower of the Gods" may be thats why it has been revered for so long..



Legend has it that when Jesus carried the cross, the Virgin Mother Mary wept, and where her tears fell on the ground, the first carnations sprang up!! thus making the carnations a symbol of mother's undying love.. though i'm not too sure about the basis of this legend in Christian mythology..




i saw the most beautiful bunch of pink carnations ever about a week ago... and to describe them in words is highly improbable.. but it spread a smile across my face and i wish i had stopped to buy them.. well its all together a different story that i dint have cash on me to buy them nor did i have anyone to them for me..

Fragrant and fabulous, they are enough to lift up my spirits when i'm low and the colour pink echos perfect happiness and thankfulness... the strong sentiments that the pink flower expresses is a perfect compliment to its long lasting beauty...

an i'm still waiting for my bunch.. :P