=)

True Story

2012-02-17T22:11:00.000+05:30

I am the undisputed ruler of Brokedom.

Image off the Internet

Heart of Life

2012-02-13T23:46:00.002+05:30

This track's playing on loop today:

Subliminal, afternoon-y and soulful - that's how I'd describe his voice.

After Knopfler, it's Mayer I turn to for anytime-comforting, anytime-daydreaming, anytime-loving.

JM - 'Half of My Heart' belongs to you.

Melting Moments

2012-02-10T01:55:00.007+05:30

My current favourite ad is the one for/from Aviva Life Insurance - the multiple roles played by a Father.

And no, not because it features Sachin Tendulkar, the brand ambassador.

I love how simply and beautifully the relationship for a father and son is portrayed in this ad by BBDO India.

Ads like these reinforce my belief that I just cannot become a copywriter and that if I was one, I'd do complete injustice to the role.

The copy in this ad makes nod your head in agreement with phrases like 'friend-friend', 'cake-shake' and more. One of the copywriters of this ad is Josy Paul (who taught us a module in Creativity in XIC). So grateful to have been able to learn from this crazy, brilliant man.

The characters fit in beautifully and the cinematography is lovely. Uhm, but one thing that ticks me off, though, is the videography in the span 00:01 - 00:03. I hope the incomplete shot of the father's face/head was deliberate and not a mistake. But I forgive it, anyhow, for the wonders outweigh the rest.

Then the Music - heartening as it is, it sounds very familiar but I can't place the original (argh). That aside, Vijay Prakash's awesome, deep (and somehow kind, yes kind) vocals are just perfect for this ad. Can't imagine any other singer sing this jingle better.Who'd believe he's sung 'Beera' (with anything but kindness) from Raavan and 'Hosanna' (all soul) from Vinnaithandi Varuvaya. Versatility at its finest.

Psst...The fact that he is from Mysore, Karnataka makes him an instant favourite with me. *grin*

I've been watching this ad on loop for about the 47th time (honestly, I've lost count) and it still warms my heart every single time. It's after long than an ad has had such an effect on me.

36 seconds of pure love. =)

Games

2012-02-03T02:46:00.001+05:30

Tales of Innocence;
All it took to melt her soul
was his reticence.

When

2012-01-31T02:04:00.004+05:30

When you cannot pinpoint the feeling when that beautiful gaze engulfs you and a gorgeous smile follows, not far behind

When you think there's nothing more to something and turn to leave and a word of appreciation makes you turn around and smile

When you finally decide that a bond has to end and you see a new beginning

When you fold your arms tightly, unwilling to let go and someone reaches out for your hand

When you wait endlessly, impatiently and eternally for a knock on the door but what you've been waiting for barges in without warning

When your smiles make conversation

When you understand the meaning of every syllable and sound of the unspoken

When someone sends you a photograph of coffee and says, 'Guess who came to mind as soon as I laid eyes on this pic'

When you play a game of stare-frown-stare-make-monkey-faces with a child and suddenly he or she breaks into a smile

When the fire burns so strong that you willingly plunge in its heat and let yourself melt

When you wait for the day you can talk your heart out to him or her but when the day arrives, the words forget to arrive on time

When your laughter has no end or beginning

You know you've arrived at a blissful destination called The Unnamed.

A Skyful of Joy

2012-01-28T01:57:00.000+05:30

\m/ Bob Marley

2012-01-16T03:17:00.009+05:30

“Only once in your life, I truly believe, you find someone who can completely turn your world around. You tell them things that you’ve never shared with another soul and they absorb everything you say and actually want to hear more. You share hopes for the future, dreams that will never come true, goals that were never achieved and the many disappointments life has thrown at you. When something wonderful happens, you can’t wait to tell them about it, knowing they will share in your excitement. They are not embarrassed to cry with you when you are hurting or laugh with you when you make a fool of yourself. Never do they hurt your feelings or make you feel like you are not good enough, but rather they build you up and show you the things about yourself that make you special and even beautiful. There is never any pressure, jealousy or competition but only a quiet calmness when they are around. You can be yourself and not worry about what they will think of you because they love you for who you are. The things that seem insignificant to most people such as a note, song or walk become invaluable treasures kept safe in your heart to cherish forever. Memories of your childhood come back and are so clear and vivid it’s like being young again. Colours seem brighter and more brilliant. Laughter seems part of daily life where before it was infrequent or didn’t exist at all. A phone call or two during the day helps to get you through a long day’s work and always brings a smile to your face. In their presence, there’s no need for continuous conversation, but you find you’re quite content in just having them nearby. Things that never interested you before become fascinating because you know they are important to this person who is so special to you. You think of this person on every occasion and in everything you do. Simple things bring them to mind like a pale blue sky, gentle wind or even a storm cloud on the horizon. You open your heart knowing that there’s a chance it may be broken one day and in opening your heart, you experience a love and joy that you never dreamed possible. You find that being vulnerable is the only way to allow your heart to feel true pleasure that’s so real it scares you. You find strength in knowing you have a true friend and possibly a soul mate who will remain loyal to the end. Life seems completely different, exciting and worthwhile. Your only hope and security is in knowing that they are a part of your life.”

- Bob Marley

Here's to Friendship, Love and Marley.

=)

We Can Work it Out

2012-01-03T00:11:00.004+05:30

i love working out.

walking (seldom jogging) on the treadmill, cross-training, stretching, cycling... i love it all.

i was always petrified of joining the gym with preconceived notions based on all that i had heard and assumed.

but i am glad (and how!) that i joined one.

i love how good i feel after a work-out. i like to push myself till the treadmill meter shows me '100% complete'. i like how nobody cares about how fat or thin the person next to him or her is. i like it that it just lets me be. i feel good.

of course the music sometimes is terrible but, well, tolerable. remixed versions of songs like 'Tose naina laage re piya saanware...' which are absolutely irrelevant unless of course there's a budding gym love story, which i highly doubt. i carry my mp3 player sometimes and succumb to the loud music when i don't.

and of course there are those ladies who can't stop complaining to their trainers about how much more they have to work out.

yes of course there are the guys who can't stop looking admiringly at every mirror they pass by.

and then some trainers who stand in a group and discuss their new year plans, failed relationships and hopeful new associations.

to those like me: i believe we can work it out. we can get back in shape and make all those who made fun of us eat their words and then put on weight too!

a note to myself this year would be: work out, don't burn out.

and with that, another pathetic version of a famous track plays: 'allll izzz wellll....'

Image off the Internet

*walking faster*

Fervent Prayer

2011-12-23T11:49:00.000+05:30

Image off the Internet

at one past midnight

2011-12-19T01:05:00.001+05:30

the craftsman fumbled
as he awoke from slumber:
'twas a die-cut dream.

Submit Yourself to Nothingness

2011-12-18T20:53:00.004+05:30

Submit yourself to Nothingness.
Bury
your face in the calmness of white.

Revel in the sweet delight
There's no need
to hurry.

Take it slow;
Go on.

Forget everyone, everything.

Let your back be to the world.

Smile a muffled smile.

Breathe in the new.
Exhale.

Let the magic unfold
in the joys untold.

You've earned it.

Go on...
and get a back massage.

Couldn't Have Been Better Said

2011-12-16T01:38:00.003+05:30

'I'm a miner for a heart of gold....'
Neil Young

I love....

2011-12-10T21:27:00.004+05:30

... this quirky song/scene by Julie Delpy from Before Sunset

Two

2011-12-09T23:06:00.001+05:30

Who'd have thought I'd stick around for two years at one organization?

From loving the job most of the time to sometimes, not so much, two years passed by as quick as a magician's trick.

But stick around, I did.

I'm two here and still learning.

Monotony

2011-12-06T19:34:00.001+05:30

When the high point in one's day at work involves evening snacks.

Father and Son

2011-11-17T19:42:00.001+05:30

Just noticed the two profiles on Twitter:

While the son says:

The father says:

Senior Bachchan is cool like that!

Whaaaa?

2011-11-17T19:35:00.002+05:30

Now, one can't check a blog on blogger unless one is logged into their Gmail account.

Woah, good marketing move.

Or, is it?

2011-11-04T20:23:00.002+05:30

Home is where the mess is.

Chillar

2011-10-12T18:49:00.001+05:30

I found Rs. 26/- in change stashed away in my laptop bag, over time.

Small change. Small joys.

2011-10-12T17:16:00.005+05:30

There are so many questions one seeks answers to:

How does an ambulance driver feel while wading through traffic to reach the hospital, hoping for resurrection of the dying?

or

Has one's 72 year old spinster aunt ever fallen in love?

Ambiguous guesses and probabilities in the mind do not suffice. But one lets them be.

Unanswered. Unquestioned.

Freak

2011-10-11T18:27:00.002+05:30

Sometimes, we have unpleasant dreams.
Sometimes, those dreams come true.

10-10-11

2011-10-10T15:39:00.000+05:30

And again today, I remember the smile and the beautiful soul that was Akhil.

Happy 25th that would have been. Happy Birthday.

The First of Many

2011-10-07T17:20:00.003+05:30

My first order on flipkart - The Best of Saki in paperback.

Yayyy.

Short stories, Saki and flipkart Zindabaad!

---

Pssst... it was a very tough choice between RK Narayan and Saki *sigh*

Dis-tress

2011-09-18T21:10:00.010+05:30

Oh yes.

For someone who'd get at least three (different, mind you) hair-cuts in a year to someone who deserves an award for patience, here I am with cogonut oiled hair, waiting...and waiting for the tresses to go, uhm, grow.

Let's see what wins - hair that grows till the waist (that's growing at four times the speed of the hair) or a whim that ends up in submitting oneself to the scissors and stare blankly into a reflection of you wearing a plastic cape (or whatever it is called) and looking wryly from the corner of one's eye at a lot of your former hair in chunks on the floor.

Ah yes, I haven't got a new haircut in over a year.

What's worse? The guy at the salon telling me, 'Your hair is damn good....' - aha, your reflection is almost blushing, mmhmm - '...but you could do with a better hair cut.'

--
image from the Internet

Common Interest

2011-09-13T12:28:00.000+05:30

I can bet on the fact that one common interest that binds us all together is...

.
.
.
.
.
The Weekend.

Such is Life

2011-08-27T20:24:00.004+05:30

Month ends always, always, always make me contemplate, meditate, wonder, ponder and other rhyming words...

'How and where did all that money go?!'

--
image off the Internet

Life's Lesson

2011-08-26T19:16:00.002+05:30

It's the little things that make the bigger picture.

Uhm

2011-08-26T18:41:00.003+05:30

A word I like, look forward to, have a lot of expectations from and am eager to experience
but am not ready to step into...
yet.

Marriage.

Au Revoir

2011-08-08T22:41:00.001+05:30

Dear Beautiful Girl

There's one day and some hours between you and another continent. And a year and some months before I see you again, before we share chai at Koshy's, before we go footwear shopping, before we share secrets and giggles in person, before we sit on a bench in Cubbon Park watching the world go by....

I wish you all the love, joy, success, and peace in the world. Yes, all of them.

Enjoy your first snowfall, make funny snowmen and snow-women, amaze people with your awesome culinary skills (eh, I'm getting envious of them already), teach, learn, laugh, live, love.

May you swim through smiles, dance through little struggles, write through feelings of spring, summer, autumn and winter.

And most of all, may you make yourself proud. As proud as we are of you.

As much as we love you (that's a lot of love, baby).

Happy Journey.

Here's to You! *raising my glass of fruit juice*

143. Always.

Theater

2011-07-31T08:44:00.002+05:30

No movie experience comes close to watching a play... alive in front of you, the characters talking to you, inviting you into their lives for just a little bit.

Watched 'The Memorandum' at Rangashankara last evening. Liked the use of lights and music the best.

All in all, a good play. I returned home happy.

Pleasant Surprises

2011-07-30T09:41:00.000+05:30

Life's full of 'em.

The Weekend...

2011-07-25T12:07:00.003+05:30

...was Houdini.

It vanished.

There's Something

2011-07-23T14:20:00.002+05:30

so passionate, warm, enchanting and beautiful about fire...

that I'm drawn to it like moth to flame.

Yes, yes...literally.

Mystery

2011-07-23T01:02:00.000+05:30

There's more to you than meets the eye
There's more to me that meets the eye.

Irony

2011-07-15T09:17:00.003+05:30

Of course, we have a beautiful country we're all proud of.

Then again, the innocent suffer and the oppressors go scot free.

And that's India for you.

I wish...

2011-07-11T01:22:00.002+05:30

...the weekend was on loop.

Broke

2011-07-02T11:59:00.005+05:30

Nothing in hand,
Nothing to lose.

sigh

2011-06-27T23:02:00.003+05:30

There's so much to write about.

But I end up writing about my bright yellow day. And feel smug about it too.

Maybe it's the coffee,
maybe it's the work completed,
maybe it's you.

Today

2011-06-27T22:58:00.000+05:30

I wore a new bright yellow kurta with new bright yellow matching (not surprising, eh?) footwear.

So bright that I thought I needed sunglasses.

But it was a happy yellow day that went a happy yellow way.

Too Cute to be Drunk

2011-06-14T14:33:00.002+05:30

Source: http://www.millionface.com/l/beautiful-coffee-art/

Universal Language(s)

2011-06-09T12:37:00.000+05:30

My take on Universal Language(s):

Music:

Smiles:

Food:

---

Images off the Internet

The Simpsons

2011-06-04T10:39:00.000+05:30

A series I'll never get enough of.

Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie... I love the dysfunctional family called The Simpsons.

Hope

2011-05-28T10:48:00.000+05:30

What a reassuring song.

Bless you, (late) Kishore Kumar.

To a Legend who Turns 70 Today

2011-05-24T18:02:00.002+05:30

Forever Young
- Bob Dylan

May God bless and keep you always
May your wishes all come true
May you always do for others
And let others do for you
May you build a ladder to the stars
And climb on every rung
May you stay forever young
Forever young, forever young
May you stay forever young.

May you grow up to be righteous
May you grow up to be true
May you always know the truth
And see the lights surrounding you
May you always be courageous
Stand upright and be strong
May you stay forever young
Forever young, forever young
May you stay forever young.

May your hands always be busy
May your feet always be swift
May you have a strong foundation
When the winds of changes shift
May your heart always be joyful
And may your song always be sung
May you stay forever young
Forever young, forever young
May you stay forever young.

Wishlist

2011-05-23T12:02:00.000+05:30

I want to own the 'Diary of a Wimpy Kid' series and read all the books by the end of 2011!

:)

While...

2011-05-21T11:31:00.001+05:30

...I am grateful that many people are in my life,
I'm also grateful that some are out of it.

Something to Ponder About....

2011-05-16T17:16:00.005+05:30

Glitter in the Air - Pink

Have you ever fed a lover with just your hands?
Close your eyes and trust it, just trust it
Have you ever thrown a fist full of glitter in the air?
Have you ever looked fear in the face
And said I just don't care?

It's only half past the point of no return
The tip of the iceberg, the sun before the burn
The thunder before lightning, the breath before the phrase
Have you ever felt this way?

Have you ever hated yourself for staring at the phone?
Your whole life waiting on the ring to prove you're not alone
Have you ever been touched so gently you had to cry?
Have you ever invited a stranger to come inside?

It's only half past the point of oblivion
The hourglass on the table, the walk before the run
The breath before the kiss and the fear before the flames
Have you ever felt this way?

...

There you are, sitting in the garden
Clutching my coffee, calling me sugar
You called me sugar

Have you ever wished for an endless night?
Lassoed the moon and the stars and pulled that rope tight
Have you ever held your breath and asked yourself
Will it ever get better than tonight? Tonight...

---

The song that got my wondering, smiling, dreaming, nodding today and will for a long time to come....

::Wanted::

2011-05-05T17:00:00.004+05:30

Conversations over endless cups of chai with doses of wry smiles and melancholy.

:-)

April...

2011-05-01T08:44:00.003+05:30

... has come and gone.

And what a month it has been... Birthday *grin*, the big 25, celebrations, to-do lists, family, friends, food, joy, discoveries, more gifts, animals, smiles and daydreams (as always)... and more and more and more and more gifts.....

I cannot be more grateful for the (at the risk of sounding very cheesy) loveliest gift of 'em all - my beautiful family and wonderful friends.

Life's good.

*touchwood*

Craving(s)

2011-04-04T23:07:00.003+05:30

- Window seat >> Koshy's, St. Mark's Road, Bangalore
- Train journeys >> long walks >> Café Samovar >> Colaba >> Bombay
- Crax & paani puri >> Delhi
- Green >> Wayanad
- My Canon D-SLR >> (yeah sure) in my dreams

Wish I could live up to my blog name in moments like these.

*sigh*

But daydreaming is good, oh yes it is.

Reality, though, would've been much better.

The Countdown Begins

2011-04-02T12:33:00.000+05:30

Image off the Internet

Weehoooo!

I can never get enough of...

2011-03-24T16:54:00.000+05:30

:-)

::Corporate Culture::

2011-03-23T09:48:00.002+05:30

One day, I will leave the 'Corporate' behind.

And move on with the 'Culture'

:-)

chuckle

2011-03-22T11:28:00.005+05:30

What's the best thing about Monday?
.
.
.

Image off the Internet

It's over!

I Wish...

2011-03-20T08:33:00.003+05:30

...Weekends were longer - 7 days would've been juuust about ideal.

*sigh*

nod

2011-03-19T21:54:00.002+05:30

(Good) Music always, always saves the day!

Image off the Internet

Declaration on Holi

2011-03-19T17:40:00.001+05:30

I Love...

2011-03-15T15:06:00.004+05:30

...the blue of the sky,
the green of the trees,
the yellow, pink, red and mauve of flowers

...the hues of Summer

=)

A Scoop of Awesomeness

2011-03-03T21:13:00.000+05:30

My Current Love

2011-02-24T21:40:00.003+05:30

Bright
Ubiquitous
Pleasant
Beautiful

Bougainvillea

Gratitude

2011-02-20T09:36:00.003+05:30

I feel infinitely blessed and grateful to meet amazing people everyday.

Last evening, I met awesomely wonderful people - Uday Uncle, Nithya Aunty, Arpi and Uncle's Parents at their beautiful Home.

It was humbling, to say the least.

God bless the Vijayan Family. :-)

People

2011-02-02T21:00:00.009+05:30

I love them.

I love observing them

I love being with them

I love being away from them

I love writing about them

I love photographing them

talking to them, listening to them

their stories, their songs, their dreams

their lives.

Today I met a very, very genuine and inspiring person - the older sister of a visually impaired successful man.

In the sixteen odd minutes that we spoke over lunch, I learned so much about her - her battle with arthritis, her being completely bedridden for eight months (losing 30 kgs in that period), the belief in everybody around that she would not survive, her own fears about decomposing and dying...

...and then emerging a winner.

She also told me about her travels, travails, her dream of joining the UN and a lot more.

I learned so much about her. I learned so much from her.

"The Sky is the limit", she said.

My respect, love and good wishes for her are, well, limitless.

***

God bless You, S! =)

I Loved Today

2011-01-26T23:14:00.001+05:30

It was a day with Family, Friends, Food

...and Fun.

:-)

Two thumbs up to Today!

I Believe...

2011-01-16T13:47:00.001+05:30

...a clear Conscience is the best gift you can give yourself.

=)

Timmy

2010-12-24T20:36:00.002+05:30

I call her Skeeboo.

She's one of the sweetest, gentlest and most loving canines I've ever met =)

Amogha

2010-12-22T19:39:00.001+05:30

My CUTEST co-passenger on our flight to Bombay

All of you seeing this, please remove nazar off this little golly-dolly-wog :)

Awww =)

2010-12-12T09:59:00.002+05:30

Yippiieee!

2010-12-11T13:10:00.003+05:30

I'm beginning to believe that I've got the best You've got to offer!

Thank You, Life!

=)

I Am

2010-12-05T01:04:00.007+05:30

I am passion
I am anger
I am raw
~~I am Love~~
I am celebration

I adorn her forehead
I am his pride
I am her sindhoor.

I am the ambulance light.

I am gory
but
I can save lives
I am blood.

I am the Stop signal.

I am her dress
I am her lipstick
I am her nail polish
I am her high heels
She wears me.

I am embarrassment.

I am her blush.

I am guilt.

I am a gift-wrapper.

I am a post box.

I am Rudolph's nose.

I am Santa Claus.

I am Christmas

I am hot.

I am Red.

***

This template is dedicated to my absolutely undiluted love for the colour.

=)

'Tis the Season to be Jolly...Tra la la....

2010-12-01T23:06:00.005+05:30

Peace. Joy. Love. Christmas. Hope.

::December::

Elation

2010-11-28T01:51:00.001+05:30

(Genuine) Appreciation and Applause is worth all the dark circles, sleepless nights and panic attacks.

For the Good Times Gone By and For the Best Times to Come!

2010-11-07T11:08:00.004+05:30

The two pretty ladies on the extreme left and right (Su & Shru/Mangu) are getting married...soon!

It's a feeling that's yet to sink in, but I can say for sure that I'm super happy for them; for they are marrying the loves of their lives...and I've believed in their love stories materializing into something more meaningful than that of a 'boyfriend & girlfriend'.

I've known; I've believed.

Here's to six years (and counting) of our Friendship and many more years to come!

I wish you all the love, joy, peace and prosperity...more than you had ever imagined, more than you had dreamed of.

May you make your Parents and Families proud.

May you be the best wives and daughters-in-law, ever.

And may you get many, many, manyyyyy children, who I can babysit and click pictures of! :D

Prayers, Peace, Love & Hugs (always)

Me
=)

My Love for Lamps Shines On =)

2010-11-05T21:42:00.004+05:30

All pictures clicked by Me

I had the bestest time going diya shopping, buying diyas, making the cotton rolls, lighting & arranging the diyas and just about everything related to them!

Happy, Joyous, Bright & Prosperous Diwali to all of you reading this. =)

Circadian Rhythms

2010-10-31T12:23:00.019+05:30

All of us dream - consciously, unconsciously or sub-consciously.

We don't know if the conscious and sub-conscious dreams will come true.

But that doesn't stop us from dreaming.

We dream of an ideal life, the perfect love, unimaginable riches , the most successful career, never-ending happiness and what not.

We build dreams in our hearts and minds, hoping to make them concrete someday.

Someday.

Sometimes, someday comes too soon; sometimes, it takes a lifetime; sometimes, someday never comes.

Dreams are like ceramic or porcelain - beautiful to the beholder; precious to the owner - who polishes his dreams every day to make them shine in all resplendence.

Sometimes, we give these beautiful dreams to others in the hope, illusion or belief that they are the most deserving custodians of the precious dreams.

In our hasty joy, we forget to attach the 'Fragile. Handle with Care' tag before willingly giving them away with a broad, hopeful smile and blind trust.

The appointed custodians take these dreams from us, willingly or unwillingly. Sometimes, if we're lucky, the guardians make these dreams into a more beautiful reality that we had (n)ever imagined.

Perhaps sometimes, they do not understand the vulnerability of our dreams. One day, intentionally or intentionally, the dream falls from their hands.

And shatters.

We shed a few tears, pick up the pieces of porcelain, fix and repair them if we can, discard them if we cannot....

and buy ourselves new porcelain, new ceramic, new Dreams.

We don't stop dreaming.

We keep working towards our dream to transform it into Reality someday.

It takes time, hard work, hope and many a times, (good) luck for the metamorphosis to take place.

Dreams keep us going, dreams keep us growing,

We're nearing, we're almost there and one fine day, noon or night - we're there!

We, then, begin a new cycle.....

and buy ourselves new porcelain, new ceramic, new Dreams.

Future 'Tense'

2010-10-28T01:15:00.008+05:30

How I am Now:

How I will be as a Wife:

How I will be as a Mother:

All Cartoons off the Internet

The stickler that I am for proper Grammar, spellings and punctuations, I'll strive for a future perfect as I sit in my feveret restorent one day (on a day like this one) browsing through the menu card that boasts of dishesh like 'babe corn manchurian' and 'mancho noodles' followed by a spread of deserts like 'beth by chocolate' or 'chocolate fudza'... and chuckle to myself while the staff minds its peas/peace and cues.

Bondage, Bandage and Healing

2010-10-26T00:43:00.001+05:30

An open wound
collects dust, dirt and the unwanted.

Pollutants
slowly corrode
the wound...

...so one quickly bandages
the wound, the pain, the hurt

and hides it away.

A dry scab forms itself -
ugly but an assurance
of Healing.

new cells
new skin
new life....

That's how Closure feels.

New

and Liberating.

It's Official

2010-10-22T23:40:00.006+05:30

I love my Soul City - Bombay/Mumbai

Nothing or Nobody and I mean NOTHING or NOBODY can take that away from me.

It's the city I was born in.

It's a city that I have really lived in, and how - independent, happy, carefree and without regrets.

It's the city that made me appreciate Home and Family all the more.

It's the city that made me take my Freedom very seriously and not squander it.

It's the city that made my strong conscience even stronger.

And yet, it's the city that is my weakness.

I love this City and I know for sure it loves me back just as much, if not more.

Why else would it keep calling me again and again and again?

And why else would I obey and go back to it, every single time?

Gratitude

2010-10-19T02:28:00.003+05:30

And at the end of the day and the beginning of a new one, I would like to thank Mr. God for blessing me with a wonderful family, super friends, genuine well-wishers and to put it simply - a beautiful Life!

Image off the Internet

=)

I Love My Job

2010-10-15T22:15:00.002+05:30

Pic 1: My happy workstation; the flower is because of Dussera. All the PCs laptops were adorned with the flower today :)

Pic 2: The view outside the window near me when it's raining crazy heavily outside

It lets me be.

More importantly, it lets me be me.

Meaningful

2010-10-14T14:47:00.003+05:30

“In the end we are all separate: our stories, no matter how similar, come to a fork and diverge. We are drawn to each other because of our similarities, but it is our differences we must learn to respect.”
~ Author Unknown

That says a lot.

...says a lot.

...a lot.

10 / 10 / 10

2010-10-10T09:35:00.028+05:30

I remember Him with a smile, I always do.

Maybe it is because the memories I have are of Him smiling His warm, sweet smile.

Memories:

- of Him and Her during our Psychology Practical Exams - smiling at each other shyly while She conducted her experiments on her "subject" - Him

- of my last brief meeting with him at Babs' place on January 26th 2008; before four of them friends were getting ready for an outing - his ready smile, his gentle demeanor, his black bike (the make and model of which, I don't remember, but I sensed He was very proud of it)

- of seeing Him smile in all the photographs I had seen of Him

- of Her first telling me about Him, in notes passed along in the English Literature class - the gloomy classroom with pink and white walls and both of us interested in each other's respective love stories (mine was non-existent then, Hers had just begun)

- of reading about Him in Her blog posts and feeling really happy for them

- of remembering their "monthliversary" once in a while on the 23rd of some months

Memories - because He is no more.

If I, who have only met Him only fleetingly, over the past few years, can feel so much pain with Him gone and with Her feeling so much pain after knowing and being with him for almost 4 years, I cannot imagine - I really cannot imagine what his Parents must be going through.

There are some of us who cry hoarse on losing an artificial earring and there are some who bravely face what Life gives them, and sometimes, what Life takes away from them as well.

His Parents:

My first introduction to His Parents was when, in the aforementioned English Literature class, She had told me about them - His Dad was originally from Andhra Pradesh and His Mom was a Maharashtrian....

That was about all I knew about his Family.

His Parents, now:

After He passed on, I have made a new Friend in His Dad, Uday Uncle - through e-mail exchanges, messages, brief meetings etc.

Uday Uncle is a man of quiet strength, of gentle seriousness, of few but meaningful words, of pragmatism, of courage, of Hope....

Nithya Aunty is the person you fall in love with from the moment you look at her - her soft eyes, her sweet, ever ready smile, her support to Uncle and her Family - you just cannot help ~~liking~~ loving her.

The first time I met her, she told me she had heard about my e-mails.

The second time I met her at Landmark, Forum Mall (where Uncle was invited to speak as one of the writers for the Chicken Soup for the Father's Soul), she told me about how the last time they came here was with Him and how He would do anything to keep His sister happy; about the tradition He had started (and they continued) of taking his sister out for dinner every Sunday evening/night.

They told me that I must come home. In fact, whenever I interact with Uncle, he tells me to visit them and something or the other comes up and I just cannot meet them. Shame on me.

When it was time to leave, Aunty gave me a gentle, tight hug that I will never, ever forget. Her warm hug is what I associate her with.

Uncle's courage and strength is what I associate him with.

His warm smile and smiling eyes (with long eyelashes) is what I will always, always associate Him with.

For Uncle, Aunty, His Grandparents and His Sister, here is a song I had once sent Uncle and I am listening to right now:

I Wish You Peace - Eagles

I wish you peace when the cold winds blow

Warmed by the fire's glow

I wish you comfort in the lonely time

And arms to hold you when you ache inside

I wish you hope when things are going bad

Kind words when times are sad

I wish you shelter from the raging wind

Cooling waters at the fever's end

I wish you peace when times are hard

The light to guide you through the dark

And when storms are high and your, your dreams are low

I wish you the strength to let love grow on,

I wish you the strength to let love flow,

I wish you peace when times are hard

A light to guide you through the dark

And when storms are high and your dreams are low

I wish you the strength to let let grown on,

I wish you the strength to let love flow,

I wish you the strength to let love glow on

I wish you the strength to let love go on.

Today is His 24th Birthday that would have been.

Happy Birthday, A.

Photograph: Thomas Firak

Your beautiful Soul lives on
You live on
You smile on....

I know.

I Want...

2010-10-09T13:37:00.002+05:30

to be able to find the right partner

to be able to find the right songs

to be able to find the right rhythm

to be able to make silhouettes

that move, that are moving

to be able to draw patterns

of the notes

with our feet

to be able to jive

to be able to waltz

to be able to dance

Image from the Internet

'That's Not My Problem'

2010-10-08T10:47:00.006+05:30

The other day, my friends and colleagues, S & H, left work in the middle of itself to donate blood for another colleague's friend.

Few, I was told, refused or said they had too much work and couldn't take time off.

---

"Happiness is a by-product of an effort to make someone else happy." Gretta Booker

(I have come to believe that making others happy is my objective in Life, but I will save that for another elaborate post.)

I try to help people as much as I can, as well - I help the HR Department with e-mailers, posters, gift ideas etc., simply because I love doing so and I just cannot refuse to help anybody when I know fully well that I can help them. I have heard that some of my seniors and colleagues do not appreciate this as I am helping "other" departments.

I have observed, with much chagrin, that many people are so self-centered that they just want to finish their work and get out of their workplace at the earliest. Their attitude to doing anything outside their Job Description is, 'Why should I do this? The Company is not paying me for it...." or "I'm too busy...." or "Someone else can do it, please leave me out of it...."

We talk of Unity and Team-Work and then we clearly demarcate the boundaries between "Us" and the "Other". Ironic.

Imagine if you really need help one day. Would you like if someone refused to help you because he/she wasn't getting paid overtime or cannot do something that was not defined in his/her Offer Letter?

Think about it.

The point of this post is not to whine or complain.

The point is: I really respect people who, when circumstances require, go beyond their call of "duty".

In the Mood For a Holiday

2010-10-01T00:34:00.001+05:30

2010-09-30T01:10:00.002+05:30

I wonder if some things are worth it or it's just futile effort.

Hope someday I can look back and classify them as 'Learning'/'Learnings' if nothing else.

Note to Self

2010-09-26T13:19:00.000+05:30

I ~~should~~ will, one day, make noteworthy one-minute/short-films.

And 'one day' is not too far away.

I'm getting there...one day at a time.

#200

2010-09-23T16:10:00.019+05:30

Another milestone? Perhaps.

I've written about Family, Friends, Love, Food and what not in this space, my Home on the Web.

Now here's to 20 things (apart from the aforementioned Family, Friends, Love, Food and what not) that always, always make me H A P P Y, no matter what!

- Music

- ~~Writing~~ - nope, doesn't necessarily make me happy, sometimes has the opposite effect

- Babies

- Purple anything

- Lampshades

- Photography

- Smiles

- Filter Kaapi

- Bombay

- Stoles and Dupattas

(pic of my latest stole to be uploaded soon)

- Bangles (and more junk jewellery)

- Hugs

- Sarees

- Footwear

- Theater

- Crayons / Colour Pencils

- Stationery for writing/craft

- Animals

- Sweatshirts

(Google 'sweatshirt' and see the funny images that show up; hence we will not include a picture here.

- Hot chocolate (the original, not Bournvita/Milo)

- Mark Knopfler

Now, feeling happy all over again I feel like treating myself to a plate of another happy-factor:

Breaking Ties

2010-09-23T13:23:00.000+05:30

You break expensive porcelain...you are forgiven.

You break people's Trust...it is unforgivable.

You can glue broken piece of porcelain together.

But the cracks will always remain.

Milestone

2010-09-22T17:08:00.005+05:30

My Obsession, My Dream =)

2010-09-18T23:56:00.002+05:30

Tradition: What Indians Cannot Live Without

2010-09-18T10:24:00.002+05:30

2010-09-17T17:24:00.000+05:30

There will always be so much more Music to listen to
There will always be so many more books to read
There will always be so much more food to taste

There will always be so much more Love to give
There will always be so much more Life to live =)

Perspectives & Perceptions

2010-09-16T18:02:00.002+05:30


I love this image I found on the Internet

Animal Instincts

2010-09-09T13:51:00.008+05:30

each day, he is living
or is he only giving
his sweat, blood, tears;
harbouring constant fears
of criticism and blame
all reasoning seems lame.

a merry fish or bait?
he is trapped - it's his fate.

the bite after the bark
of the senior shark.

he is the trial,
he is the error;
nobody to rescue him
from impending terror.

he is a donkey; with heavy load,
he trudges up the winding road.

or maybe an ant.
well, sigh, he can only
whine and rant.

or he just may be a bee
they want all the buzz
but they wont't let him be.

yes, animals he is many
human he is not
that's what they seem to think
that's what he's been taught.

his story is dreary,
his shoulders are weary,
his back is bent;
all energy spent,
he shuffles about;
one day he will burn out.

now who is there to save
the damned Corporate Slave?

Picture off the Internet

To Two

2010-09-08T13:11:00.010+05:30

like two shoes of a pair

they walk in rhythm

like two feet of a soldier

in attention

they stand together

~~like two peas in a pod~~

no, that's as cliché

as cliché

like two hands

joined together

in a 'namaste'

like two fingers

crossed tight

for good luck

like two eyes

from a pair
looking in the same direction,
at the same horizon

like two bangles

of a pair,
making music

like two pieces

of dark chocolate

in a bar

like the two ends

of a shoelace,

entwined in a bow

they come together

from two different worlds.

and make a Universe
of their own.

---

To two of the sweetest I know people I know.

Food Heaven!

2010-09-08T12:21:00.003+05:30

Daydreaming on a Sunday Morning

2010-09-05T09:06:00.008+05:30

If there was one legend I could bring back to life, it would be R.K. Narayan.

On a Sunday like this, He and I would discuss Life, Travel, People, Malgudi, Writing and what-nots over endless steel tumblers of strong, perfect filter kaapi. =)

Robert Frosted

2010-09-01T14:27:00.001+05:30

I have Smiles to go before I sleep....

Meandering

2010-08-21T03:13:00.023+05:30

It is twenty seven minutes past 2AM on a Saturday morning.

My eyes are red and sore.

And I am wide awake.

So is Cliff Richard who is singing 'I Could Easily Fall in Love With You' to me from his snug place on our Winamp Player, from the playlist which is named after him, in capital letters (CLIFF RICHARD) and has, predictably, all of his songs.

More songs than I know; more songs than I will ever listen to.

I am awake because I am ideating, daydreaming and wondering about ~~the presentation~~ The Presentation I have to make in front of the whole office, CEO included, on 25th August 2010; hoping ~~the~~...The Presentation is so good that the 'audience' doesn't end up getting distracted / bored like how I do, more often than not. Then again, Karma is watching me all the time, isn't it?

'With the Eyes of a Child', I daydream about The Presentation going well. Very well. Time, Karma and the Audience will tell.

I take off my glasses for a bit, rub my eyes (though I know very well that's not what I should be doing); and increase the shade of red, in the rather large surface area of black and white that make up the colour of my big eyes.

Richard sings 'We Don't Talk Anymore'.

I pause. I ponder. I rub my eyes some more before wearing my glasses back on.

It is amazing, sometimes miraculous, yes that's the word - how Music knows the words in your heart, the words on your mind, the unspoken words, the feelings - and then Music goes on to reflect the exact feeling. How? That's something I should answer with a song perhaps.

The one playing now? 'She's so beautiful; she's so kind and free....' There goes/plays another miracle!

But my mind and memories go back and forth, distractedly, to 'We Don't Talk Anymore' and another miracle....'When Two Worlds Drift Apart', CR sings soulfully. Why am I even writing this? I can just let Music do all the talking, can't I?

While Music knows my heart, my fingers know my mind.

My mind wants to write. I want to write.

I am cautious about divulging details that seem more-than-necessary. In facts no details are necessary.

But maybe an outpouring is.

Should I pour myself a cup of tea, instead? My mind wonders; wanders.

Okay, let's talk; let me talk.

Now is the most successful I have ever been, in terms of my profession, in terms of my career. I love my job because (to put it very honestly, as selfish as it may seem), it allows me to be me, to pursue my interests, to succeed both on the job and off it.

Appreciation mails, accolades and occasional brickbats are a part of the routine. I take all the aforementioned in my stride and in my smile.

Where do the 'now', 'successful', 'accolades' and the like come into the discussion of Cliff Richard and Music and why the emphasis a song that coincidentally reflects my feelings?

Because as I meet you (rather, see you, from afar - with two monitors, mine and yours, and several kilometers separating us) in the world of Social Networking Sites and see 'updates'....

Whoa! The song playing now is, 'She means nothing to me'. Wry smile.

To continue from where I had left off before exclaiming the above sentence, Because as I meet you (rather, see you, from afar - with two monitors, mine and yours, and several kilometers separating us) in the world of Social Networking Sites and see 'updates'.... realization dawns...and how! Mr. Richard knows me so well by now that he knows the exact songs to sing.

Out of the several reasons, one of the several reasons (apart from much more serious issues) was the job, the success, the accolades, the Now.

Reasons for what?

(It's so funny, how) We Don't Talk Anymore.

Perhaps, it is now time to add another line from the same song... 'But I ain't losing sleep and I ain't counting sheep'.

Ironically, I am awake at eight minutes past 3AM. I haven't lost sleep; Sleep has just gone for a long walk, I suppose. I will write till it's back.

Meanwhile, I'll let Monsieur Cliff Richard take center stage, since he seems to know me better than I do, at this hour, when most of this part of the sane world is sound asleep.

We turned water into wine but that didn't last
We were the victims of our age
Now we live on different floors
And go our separate ways
And talk behind closed doors
We changed our world waiting for it all to end
It's such a shame but who's to blame
When two worlds drift apart

- Cliff Richard

My Now made us Yesterday;
Or maybe your Now made us Never.

We may never know what yesterday, now and never could have been.

Okay, it's time for me to go out into the night to find my Sleep who seems to have meandered.

And Blue turns to Grey.

Babble

2010-08-19T01:51:00.006+05:30

of pinks,
of blues
and many hues.

of toothless smiles,
of photographs
and many memories.

of holding
the new born
close to her;

close to her own world

of lifting her*,
so she reaches out
to the sky
with chubby fingers
and tiny, pink fingernails
that glisten
in the sunlight

just like her* eyes
that light up
when they meet
momma and papa's.

of pinks,

of blues

and many hues

more colours she will weave,

more memories she will make;

more smiles will light up her world

as she dreams, wide awake.

---

*her - a new born miracle :)

=)

True Story

Heart of Life

Melting Moments

Games

When

A Skyful of Joy

\m/ Bob Marley

We Can Work it Out

Fervent Prayer

at one past midnight

Submit Yourself to Nothingness

Couldn't Have Been Better Said

I love....

Two

Monotony

Father and Son

Whaaaa?

Chillar

Freak

10-10-11

The First of Many

Dis-tress

Common Interest

Such is Life

Life's Lesson

Uhm

Au Revoir

Theater

Pleasant Surprises

The Weekend...

There's Something

Mystery

Irony

I wish...

Broke

sigh

Today

Too Cute to be Drunk

Universal Language(s)

The Simpsons

Hope

To a Legend who Turns 70 Today

Wishlist

While...

Something to Ponder About....

::Wanted::

April...

Craving(s)

The Countdown Begins

I can never get enough of...

::Corporate Culture::

*chuckle*

I Wish...

*nod*

Declaration on Holi

I Love...

A Scoop of Awesomeness

My Current Love

Gratitude

People

I Loved Today

I Believe...

Timmy

Amogha

Awww =)

Yippiieee!

I Am

'Tis the Season to be Jolly...Tra la la....

Peace. Joy. Love. Christmas. Hope.

::December::

Elation

For the Good Times Gone By and For the Best Times to Come!

My Love for Lamps Shines On =)

Circadian Rhythms

Future 'Tense'

Bondage, Bandage and Healing

It's Official

Gratitude

And at the end of the day and the beginning of a new one, I would like to thank Mr. God for blessing me with a wonderful family, super friends, genuine well-wishers and to put it simply - a beautiful Life!

chuckle

nod

“In the end we are all separate: our stories, no matter how similar, come to a fork and diverge. We are drawn to each other because of our similarities, but it is our differences we must learn to respect.”
~ Author Unknown

There will always be so much more Music to listen to
There will always be so many more books to read
There will always be so much more food to taste

There will always be so much more Love to give
There will always be so much more Life to live =)