None 1

There is something I have in common with all my friends... I have not been able to pin-point what it is... but just had this conversation with A2 and I love her soooo much.

A2: ms bored so u r going?

Me: Sigh.... nothing to do. What you doing?

A2: C'mon... you should... I am supposedly working... don't feel like

Me: You buzz me as soon as I make a post... comments are so regular. Get a life!!!

Hows Chinnai?

A2: I had one of the most terrible incidents of my life today

Me: Kya hua?

A2: Today morning on our way to office we took an auto which we daily do.We daily have to negotiate with autowallas to pay 35 rupees from T Nagar to smith lane in whites road. The actual meter charge is 21-22 only.Today as usual we negotiated and got into an auto (Number TN07 D4525). The autowalla din’t take us inside the smith road, even though we mentioned it earlier to him.On telling him that we will give him only 30 rupees he spat on me!

Me: What the fuck!!! Thats horrible. Didn't you hit him?

A2: Ask me. No... I didn't

Me: What a bastard!!! I hope he meets with an accident today

A2: I couldnt... I was so shocked. I hope so too

Me: shit yaar... u must be disgusted. These damn autowalas of chennai

A2: I wasn't sure about going to cops... they are a clan... have written about the incident to times, hindu, TN wesbite to thank CM.. , mouthshut, my HR and MD
I am totally disgusted. I dint want to get my hands dirty by beating him also...plus there was no protection for me, i doubt my colleagues just too much to offer any help in that

Me: You were alone in the auto?

A2: nah my 2 flatmates. They stood there like an ass. Don't remember if they said a word also.

Me: What the fuck!!! 3 of u could have beaten him up. What coward bitches!!!

A2: I know.. thats why I didn't have the courage to start it out

Me: A1, you and me would have murdered him

A2: I know. Thats the difference

Me: Yes... Thats the difference

A2: I missed you guys then.

Me: Remember when A1 beat up the guy who touched her ass?

(This is what happened... A1 was in the temple with her parents at Kerala... some guy touched her ass... usually girls just move away or give a dirty look.. but A1 was already frustrated... nothing in her life was going good... on top of that here was a guy trying to take advantage... she chased him, caught hold of him and slapped him. Thats what I call guts)

You take care of yourself... you are alone there... you have to take care of yourself. Love you. Muah!!!

And here I am cribbing about my life.

Btw... all my friends would have stood up for themselves like A2 did. I guess... thats we all have in common. We don't take shit from anyone.

PS: A2... sorry for putting the conversation here without your explicit permission.

Btw... In Chennai one autowala almost hit me... In Kolkata the cabwala lied to me and tried to charge me extra. I complained to the cops... an entire crowd gathered... and they blamed me. I made the cabwala apologize in front of the crowd and then let him go.

None

Sometimes you just want to run away... from everything and everyone... to a place where there no phones or internet or anything. At such moments... music or books don't help.

Sigh... NOW I am looking fwd to my trip next month. Its an extravagant trip... one I absolutely cannot afford right now... but I am going anyway. Its just one life. And I know I will find moments when I will be only with myself... no friends, family, colleagues... only strangers.

Damn these Gujjars... they create a ruckus every few months. I cannot venture outdoors 'coz of them. I mean seriously... how do they have so much time? Don't they have to do better things with their life? Yesterday they burned tyres close to the petrol pump and blocked the MG road at the peak hour. People turned up at work despite the traffic jam.

I look out of my window and wonder what do I REALLY want... as a person? In school we were taught to think about what kind of people we want to be and work towards it. I wanted to be good... never lie or cheat or pretend. It is awfully hard to do these things anymore.

I was watching Friends... in one episode Chandler is sitting on his chair (the big black lazy one) and talking to himself... thats how bored he is. I totally identify with him.

PS: We have been given a day off 'coz of the Gujjar trouble going on in NCR. It sucks. I hate surprise days off. Can't venture outdoors... tired of watching movies... in no mood to read or cook or watch TV or talk on the phone. Been listening to 'I miss you when your gone' and 'Kiss me' by cranberries... very soothing.

2 weeks back I met RJ... a batchmate from TAPMI. One look at me and he said "Kya ho gaya? Tumhare chehare se ronak chali gayi hai. Whats wrong with you?"

Another friend told me "Do you know what I did yesterday? I bumped into a long lost acquaintance and started cribbing abput my life... he was almost a stranger. How pathetic can I get?"

Dance Like a Man

'A woman in a man's field is progressive, a man in a woman's field is pathetic'
This art flick is about a Bharatnatayam dancer couple and their life till their daughter has her first dance performance. The husband is not as talented as his wife and his father hates his passion for dance. The wife is talented and driven... she wants her daughter to be famous... something she couldn't achieve. The daughter is confused by her desires and expectations of her parents.
A very watchable movie.

Not Tagged

Tanuj has put up a tag on his blog and not tagged anyone (Why the hell not?). I am taking it up.
Here goes:
1) LAST MOVIE YOU SAW IN A THEATRE?
Chronicles of Narnia- Prince of Caspian.. will watch Gatothkach tonight (I don't want to think about it)
2) WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING?
'Remember Me?' by Sophie Kinsella (of Shopholic Series)
3) FAVOURITE BOARD GAME?
Business... my sis and bro found it immensely boring.. I love it.
4) FAVOURITE MAGAZINE?
I will be honest here... Cosmopolitan. The rest I read when I need to sleep.
5) FAVOURITE SMELLS?
First Rains... Mom's cooking... 'Live Luxe JLO' perfume
6) FAVOURITE SOUNDS?
Phone ringing... when my fav people call
7) WORST FEELING IN THE WORLD?
Coming home to an empty room
8) WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU THINK OF WHEN YOU WAKE UP?
I check my phone for 'Good Morning' msg
9) FAVOURITE FASTFOOD PLACE?
Mc Donald's (I am addicted to Chicken McGrill... they don't bloody deliver to my area... :()...
Love Pav Bhaji at 'Honest' and 'Choice' in A'bad
10) FUTURE CHILDS NAME?
If it is a girl... 'Ananya'... will let my hubby decide the boy's name
11) FINISH THIS STATEMENT - 'IF I HAD A LOT OF MONEY I'D
do exactly what I am doing right now... BLOG
12) DO YOU DRIVE FAST?
Yes... but safe
D13) DO YOU SLEEP WITH A STUFFED ANIMAL?
Yeah... a dolphin. The doggie has gone for a wash and Teddy broke his arm
14) STORMS - COOL OR SCARY?
Cool... when I have company... Scary... when I am alone
15) WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST CAR?
Still waiting to buy one
16) FAVOURITE DRINK?
Lemon n Iced tea
17) FINISH THIS STATEMENT- 'IF I HAD THE TIME I WOULD
Blog.. read.. watch movies... Thats exactly what I do these days... I guess I do have all the time in the world
18) DO YOU EAT THE STEMS ON BROCCOLI?
Don't remember
19) IF YOU COULD DYE YOUR HAIR WITH ANY COLOUR, WHAT WOULD BE YOUR CHOICE?
Pink... I did get pinkish red highlights in July'08
20) NAME ALL THE DIFFERENT CITIES/TOWNS YOU HAVE LIVED IN?
Himmatnagar... Mt Abu... Veraval... Ahmedabad... Manipal... Chennai... Trichy... Bangalore... Gurgaon... Kolkata... Mumbai
21) FAVOURITE SPORTS TO WATCH?
Eeks!!! No sports.... plz
22) ONE NICE THING ABOUT THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS TO YOU?
Sweet & Cute fella
23) WHATS UNDER YOUR BED?
My bed broke last week... :(
24) WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE BORN AS YOURSELF AGAIN?
Naah... once is enough
25) MORNING PERSON OR NIGHT OWL?
Day person
26) OVER EASY OR SUNNY SIDE UP?
No idea
27) FAVOURITE PLACE TO RELAX?
Bean Bag...
28) FAVOURITE PIE?
Pie is too American for me...
29) FAVOURITE ICECREAM FLAVOUR?
Butterscotch... Chocolate... Mint
30) OF ALL THE PEOPLE YOU HAVE TAGGED, WHO IS THE MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND FIRST?
I tag everyone... with the guarantee that none of them will respond.

Confession

I have a confession. I wanted to make this declaration after a few months but right now seems like the perfect moment (don't know why).
There is a saying "Love is like a butterfly which alights on you only when you are silent and still" I agree... I found love when I lost all hope and stopped looking. It wasn't at first sight (thankfully... I am too old for that)... or even at first talk (like I wanted it to be)... it creeped onto me gradually but steadily. One fine day I woke up wanting to marry him.
Lemme begin at the beginning. I met K.S (Yup... its him) at Chennai. I arrived at Chennai in the 1st month of training as DSE (Distribution & Sales Executive). I had to find a hotel for Rs 300/night... an impossible task. The HR female gave me KS's contact who was a summer trainee. Next day at 5 am I met him. My first thoughts about him "22... decent... harmless"... I was right only about 'decent'. To cut the Chennai story short... he helped me find a room in the same hotel... while the room was getting cleaned I sat in his room on the tiniest chair. I wanted to sleep... the situation seemed quite hilarious... I could hear my Mom screaming in my head "You sat in a boy's hotel room??? Chee... chee... How could you? What if he would have done something? What will people say? What kind of a job is this?"
Anyway... we had dinner together on the roof top restaurant after work during the 2 weeks...
He never hit on me (I am still insulted)... was a perfect gentleman and no nonsense kinds. On our last day we watched 'Ocean's Twelve' at Satyam... and had lunch at 'Hotel Ranjith'. I asked him to keep in touch with little hope that he would.
I was pleasantly surprised when he did. At B'glore I always caught him online.. he made me laugh. Everything was usual till we met again in Mumbai.
Our first real date was at Colaba... when I actually wondered if he was single. I had not asked... thats when I found out he is 24 (my age) and not 22. That changed a lot of things... and then he proposed. Just like that!!!
One thing led to another... been 6 months now. 6 months of bliss... of knowing someone is there... who will listen no matter what time of day or night... who cares... who loves...
6 months of heaven.
Touch wood!!!

PS: To know more about KS... check out his blog 'Ketan' (in the sidebar).
Sorry KS... this must be totally unexpected but I love to surprise you.

Memories

Our mind never stops thinking... even in moments when we are no consciously using it.
I went for a walk today... my fav songs were playing on my Ipod. I wasn't thinking anything... and yet thoughts flowed... only the good and fairly recent ones:

• My first weeks in TAPMI were the best times with my group (Group 9). We worked and then hung out together. It was bonding time for us. The brain storming sessions were fun... one member was the Bakra and the others made his/her life hell. I remember Shaks chasing me around 'coz I had stolen his chappals. When I teased the guys too much they caught hold of me and threatened to draw a moustache with the marker. Our trip to End Point when Sinha climbed the tree and clicked pics with the cow... late night bike ride to Malpe beach... Core groupie (Paddy, Shaks, Sethi and me) assignment 'A Guide to Liquor- What to drink and when' which was rejected and we had to pick a more apt and boring topic 'Retail'.
• I have this habit of scribbling in my book. It maybe a poem, thoughts, conversations... I made good use of the boring lectures. Sinha was one of the few people who knew about this habit. If our seats were together he would go through everything I had written despite my objections.
• APC and I had some good times together. Friendship is never perfect (thankfully). Its not about zero conflict but how they are dealt with. Does it make the friendship stronger or does it wither and fade away? APC and I have come out of it stronger.... we both have a mean sense of humor... are open minded... have discussed the worst things without fear of judgement... are far from perfect or even good or nice... are sadists...
• A post on TAPMI memories cannot be complete without A1 and A2... my time in TAPMI was bearable 'coz of them. Everytime I listen to a song played at TAPMI parties... I miss them. We laughed... cribbed... cried... hung out... had meals... hugged... watched movies... danced... sang... together.
• And of course... all the fillers (people I interacted with for one reason or the other)... Vinayak strumming the guitar and the brilliant smile... Shake with the smart ass comments... Arun: the decent docile creative sweet guy... Tangy with the one liners and cheeky smile... Hemant: summer project at Chennai... Nidhi and swimming... Sharmistha: the best roomie... and loads more.

So what if I am not happy in the present? I have happy memories. I guess thats why we are blessed with an imagination... to make life more exciting and happier than what it is currently.

Frida

Why? Why? Why? Why a movie on the life of the painter 'Frida'? Maybe her paintings are great (I am not artistic enough to judge)... but what was so great about her life? What was the point of the movie? So.. she was a bi-sexual... big deal... and her husband was a polygamist... are these reasons good enough? I don't think so. I wanted to catch this one for a really long time and I am sorely disappointed. An absolute waste of Sat night.

My Big Fat Greek Wedding

A movie I can totally identify with. In all Indian families there are people (usually relatives) whose only motive in life is marriage... and not just their own. Inter caste marriages are not easy. After all... arranged or love... it is about coming together of 2 families not just 2 people.
And since I know I will never marry a Sindhi guy... I just realised I might be in the same situation as Tulla (the female lead in the movie).
Yenjoy!!!

Filum Time

With plenty of spare time in the last week I made a list of movies I need to catch up on. This list is not exhaustive and will give my movies watching hobby a direction. The genres are comedy, drama, art... there are no action or horror movies included. Action is boring and I prefer to watch horror with some company (If I sleep with the lights on... all kinds of Arthropods (insects) invade the room).

So here goes:

1) The Departed

missed it in the theatres... heard it is great

2) Schindler's List

Yes... I haven't yet seen it... :(

3) Bourne Identity, Supremacy, Ultimatum

Don't crucify me...

4) Parzania

Have been reluctant to watch this one... I think it is about Godhra riots

5) Sideways

Was on the Oscars list

6) As good as it gets

K.S has recommended it to me... have watched bits and parts of it

7) Fahrenheit 9/11

Had downloaded this movie from the net... but it was in Chinese... wanna watch it again.. this time in English

8) My Big Fat Greek Wedding

Watched it today... the right time

9) Being Cyrus

People trashed this movie... I want to see how bad it is

10) Delhii Heights

Heard this one's crap too... but I want to judge

11) Elizabeth: The Golden Age

Like Shekhar Kapoor's movies.... like Cate Blanchett... have seen the 1st part

12) Bandit Queen

In 9th std Monu, Jainee and I argued whether this movie should have been made or not. Jainee and me were against it... Feel the contrary now

13) Michael Clayton

Missed this one in the theatres

14) American Dreamz

Sounds like a sloppy romance movie

15) High School Musical -Part 1 & 2

I am a sucker for senseless teenage movies

16) A Mighty Heart

I bought the book (haven't read it though)... wanna watch the movie

17) Munich

Yess... haven't watched this one either

18) No Smoking

People who don't smoke trashed this one... those who do loved it... what do I think? I need to find out

19) Manorama: 6 feet under

I like Abhay Deol... plan to watch every movie he stars in (but Ek Chalis ki last local is not on the list... I am crazy... not insane)

20) Dance Like a Man

Tomorrow... Have been dying to get my hands on this CD

21) Johnny Gadaar

This one was a surprise hit

22) Paheli

C'mon... it went to the Oscars... it must be worth a watch

23) Black Friday

People have raved about it

24) The Terrorist

Remember watching the interviews and trailors of this one... it came and went un-noticed

25) Maine Gandhi ko Nahi maara

Don't know what it is about...

26) 15 Park Avenue

Don't like sad movies... so have been avoiding it... but its got Konkana.. has to be on the list

27) Lady in the water

Night Shyamlam... The Village left me disappointed but I am willing to take the risk

28) Calendar Girls

A comedy

29) Gangster

I can't get over how skinny Kangana is... have watched bits and parts only

30) Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon

Oscar Winner

31) Lost in Translation

No idea what this one is about

32) Frida

Tonight

33) Shakespeare Wallah

Art flick

34) Traffic

Heard it is good

35) Billy Elliot

Sweet flick

36) Maqbool

Has 3 gr8 actors--- Tabu, Pankaj Kapoor, Irfan

37) Saving Private Ryan

(hangs head in shame)

38) Philadelphia

Tom Hanks= good movie

39) Choker Bali

Art film... have watched bits and parts

40) Cocktail

Tom Cruise as a bartender= drool machine. Have watched bits and parts

41) A fish called Wanda

Supposed to be one of the funniest movies

42) The Courtesans of Bomaby

Art flick

43) Bow Barracks forvere

Read previous post for review

44) Brokeback Mountain

Oscar winner

45) The Thin Red Line

Any more additions?

PS:

Another addition.. as per Vijay's suggestion

46) Ek Chalis Ki Last Local

A suggestion from KS

47) A few good Men

My favorite all time romantic line

Him: What does that taste like?
Her: You don't know what a pear tastes like?
Him: I don't know what a pear tastes like to YOU

--- From the movie 'City of Angels'

Retail

Last few days I have been reading up on the retail sector in India... in mags like Images Retail and Progressive Grocer. They never fail to mention that retail employees suffer from lack of training.

Today I encountered that:
Scene 1: At 'The Guardian' in Qutub Plaza in Gurgaon... a pharmacy chain in Delhi and Gurgaon.
I was looking for a foot cleanser. After scouting around in all the shelves I turned to the employee:
Me: Hi... do you have a foot cleanser?
Him: Yes... (removing a foot scrubber of 'Body Essentials')
Me: Thats a foot scrubber... I want a cleanser
Him: (taking a tube of foot scrub). Here Mam
Me: Thats a foot scrub... I want a cleanser
Him: Mam.. this is the cleanser
Me (showing him the label): Thats a scrub
Him: Mam... lemme open and show it you... it is the same thing
Me: No... it is not. Cleanser and scrub are completely different
Him: No no... they are not
Me (trying not to lose my temper): I USE them... I know
(A cleanser cleans while a scrub removes the dead cells)

Scene 2: At Nokia outlet
Me: Hi... My blue tooth is broken. It has warranty. I need to get it repaired
Him: The warranty does not cover breakage
Me: Then what does it cover?
Him: Only defects
Me: Look... this broke within 15 days of purchase... there has to be something wrong with the product
Him: Mam... if it has to break... it will break in 1 day
Me (shocked): This cost me 2000 bucks.. something THAT expensive is NOT supposed to break in 15 days... get it?
Him: You will have to take it to Nokia Care

Bow Barracks Forever

I was wondering whether to pick up this CD for quite sometime now. I am glad I did that today.
This movie is about an Anglo Indian community in Kolkata. They live in Bow Barracks. The lives of the residents, their pain, sorrows, joys etc are traced.
A decent art movie... One person who is a permanent fixture in all art movies is Lillette Dubey. What an amazing actress!!!
I could identify with it 'coz I have grown up among Anglo Indians. They are quite a confused section of society 'coz they neither belong here nor there. The people I have encountered always complained that the govt has neglected them. I am not sure how much truth there is in it.
Anyway, the hostel I stayed in for 2.5 yrs was run by an Anglo Indian couple. Aunty wore the pants and treated her hubby like shit. She abused him in front of us. We hated her. She terrorised us by punishing us every week for trivial reasons and let me not even get to the beatings. The youngest kids (as young as 5 yrs olds) suffered the most.
Uncle was a mild mannered fellow. He didn't make any decisions and never scolded us. We sympathised with him. He had to dry Aunty's undies... massage her legs and cook. Now when I think about it... Aunty ran the hostel on her own maybe thats why she bossed him around. He was more of a liability than asset.

Btw... my first crush is an Anglo Indian... will save the story for another post.

Hint: If you stay in a metro and there is no CD shop close to you.. hop onto the website catchflix. com. You can rent a CD online.. it is delivered next day... the collection is huge and you can pay by debit or credit card. Try it.

Pursuit of Happiness

I bought this movie CD in Dec... I knew it was sad and senti kinds so have been putting off watching it. Bored and lonely today I had no option.
The movie is good... sad... with a happy ending. Will Smith is an amazing actor... his expression at the end is worth a million dollars (he definitely got paid more than that for it)... he is one of the few actors who can pull off 'Men in Black', 'Hitch' and 'Pursuit of Happiness'.
Don't watch it alone... you will need someone's shoulder to shed tears at the end.

Chronicles of Narnia

If you watched Chronicles of Narnia... the lion, the witch and the wardrobe (part 1) and liked it... you will definitely like this part too... else avoid this movie.
I guess this is the briefest (if there is such a word) review I have penned (typed I mean... but I prefer penned... has a classy sound to it).

A long break

Sorry guys... it has been a long break. Yes.. I am alive and kicking too. Let me begin at the beginning.

Last week began or rather the week before that ended with a trip to Dehradun and Musoorie.

There were 3 options:

1) Corbett National Park: The trip would involve staying in tents in the jungle... going on safaris etc. An adventure trip.

2) Rishikesh: A one day trip focussing on river rafting. The temples would be avoided completely

3) Dehradun and Mussorie: A completely leisure trip

I was in dire need of some calm... and picked the third one. I had read about the resort "Shaheen Bagh" on Ankur's blog (refer side bar) and was impressed. Bookings were done and we were off.

Dehradun has nothing to offer sight-seeing wise. The resort is quite good... it is actually some rich guy's home converted into a resort. The food is home-made and very tasty.

On Sunday morning we headed towards Mussoorie which is an hour away from Dehradun. I was majorly dissappointed. I have stayed in a hill station (Mt Abu in Rajasthan) for 7 yrs... the best 7 yrs of my life. Mussorie is crowded with the usual hill station sights to see.

Below are a few pics:

View from the rope way (Rope ways are the only attractions in both the places)

Shaheen Bagh: The resort (Beautiful... ain't it?)

Another shot of the resort... Late at night we sat on the grass and looked at the stars (There are no stars visible in Gurgaon skies at night)

View of Musoorie from the rope way (I am not sitting in another rope way for a really loooonnnnggg time)

I had a house guest and rest of the week passed away. A2 also visited me. When she entered the office building her comment was "This place is the Whos Who of FMCG".

Thunderstorms are a usual occurence these days... they start anytime (1 am... 5 am... 10 am... 7 pm... 10 pm)... God help you if you are outdoors. You may be blown off with the wind or a tree might fall on you (I am not kidding). I love rains... in A'bad we would rush to the terrace of the govt hostel and get drenched in the first rains... sometimes there would be rain dance at nights. But Gurgaon rains don't move me. I soooo hate this place.

Anyway... how can a post end without a mention of a loo? Few weeks back we were at Epicenter (it plays the same role as 'Habitat Center' in Delhi where plays/art shows/exhibitions etc are held) for a workshop. The loos there are the weirdest 'coz there is a female employee there opening/closing the rest room door for us. No privacy at all.

Things I love

• George Michael's pink and white shorts in "Wake me up before you go go"
• Reading my previous scraps
• Reading previous blog posts
• The thought of this weekend... next week... and next weekend
• The thought of next month in USA
• Home... sweet home
• Long phone calls... which go on.. and on... and on... and on...
• Listening to fav songs (Playing "Superstar" by Jamelia right now)
• The thought of freedom... soon

Boys will be Men

Me: Hey... How was your exam today?
K.S: Yeah... allright. I left the exam hall only 15 mins earlier
Me: What? Why? Whats wrong? What did you gaasss so much about?
K.S: Well... there were 8 of us in the hall and 6 of them were females
Me: So?
K.S: I was kinda uncomfortable among so many females... So I took longer to finish writing the paper
Me: I am still confused... what do females have to do with your exam?
K.S: I am an engineer and studying in 'ABC' Management Institute. I am not used to such a sex ratio
Me: Please tell me you are kidding...

Mistress of Spices

Cannot upload the pic... something wrong with the net connection. Anyways... this movie based on a book. I liked the book... it is different... not everyone will like it. The movie is quite good too. I watched it despite the horrible reviews.

The story is about Tilo (Aishwarya Rai) who is the 'Mistress of Spices'. She has special powers bestowed to her by the spices. She uses spices to help others... to bring them love, cool their mind, help them get over fear etc. There are only 3 rules she has to stick to:

1) She cannot use the spices for her own desires. She is not allowed to have any desires

2) She cannot step outside her store of spices... else she might lose touch with them

3) She cannot touch another skin

If she breaks any of the rules... the spices will punish her. Actually.. they will punish her customers.

Everything is hnky dory till she meets Doug. He brings out all the desires she never knew existed.

She breaks the rules... is punished. Watch the movie to find out what happens.

Wedding bells

Don't mind the misleading title... I have to attend a wedding reception tom. Usually I avoid weddings... unless the couple promise the food will be good.
During Monu's wedding (my best friend)... Honey and I hogged the entire time. Before leaving we gave her the gift.. told her how gr8 the food was and thanked her for inviting us.
She was mighty pissed... but couldnt show it 'coz her foundation would crack and the pics would come out all wrong.
Coming back... an ex-colleague is getting married... a sweet and nice female (a rarity). The most important part about a wedding is... the dress... my dress... not the bride's. Now... I was a nomad for 8 months... I could carry a limited amount of luggage (hate the baggage restrictions for flights)... party dresses were out... so were unlimited shoes/make up/jewellery. Jeans/kurtas/salwar kameez were in. If it was Gujarat I could have mis-matched a few clothes and been ready... but this is Delhi. The effort that women put in their dressing is commendable. No wonder Delhi guys are such leches.
The shopping spree started with a decent gaudy (Punjabis love gaudy dresses) Indian dress. It took me 1.5 hours... various calls to my mom... visit to 5 stores... before I said "Fuck it... I am buying the least confusing and sober one".
Now... my new sandals do not match the dress... I cannot wear black sandals with a white dress. Thats an absolute NO... The exact color of dress is white with gold and a little blue. "Gold or blue sandals would be ideal"; I thought. But... I cannot wear gold/blue sandals with any other dress. Sigh.... what a dilemma. After visits to 2 stores... I remembered my white sandals purchased months ago... they have heels (not ideal for shopping trips) and do not match my wardrobe. "Yippie". Next in line was jewellery... the MOST difficult part. I tried to picture my Mom there commenting on every blue/gold earring. After another hour of confusion I found a jewellery set which screamed "Pick me". Now.... I carry a purse which holds all my worldly possessions and bare necessities (2 Cel phones, an I-pod, comb, wallet, keys, kajal, hanky, blue tooth, pen, specs, Kingfisher pouch with head phones).. the pink and black both do not match my dress. Shopping alone is no fun... I lost interest by then and decided to head home without buying the purse but with one last purchase... the nail paint and the bindi. Gold or blue? Gold it is.
Btw... this is just the beginning... I will spend half the day tomorrow just getting dressed. Being a female sucks/rocks.

Some thoughts

• A person's response to expectations defines his/her stage in life. As a teenager I hated expectations of any kind. They pulled me down and tied my wings. I expected nothing and I wanted nobody to expect anything from me. Now... expectations define my relationship with another person. When I expect something I acknowledge my relation (friendship, colleague, acquaintance, relative, family) with him/her... After all... nobody expects anything from a stranger.
• There are 3 kinds of people in this world:

1) Those who work like crazy... they will be in office from 7 am to 11 pm... work on weekends... their life centers around work. After retirement they realize what they have missed... their family barely knows them... which makes them all the more miserable.

2) Those who decide that they will work like crazy for initial few years... maybe 2,3,4,5... and then priortise. Such people usually marry late in life... what I wonder is... working becomes a habit then... how do they manage to balance work and life (if at all)?

3) Those who are clear between the difference between work and life... work is a means to earn money. Period. Treat it that way. Leave work pressures in office... switch off official cel phone on weekends... don't check mails on weekends... etc etc. Give enough time to your family (if they matter). Such people are rare.

• From 2) I am moving to 3). After all... if a person buys one candy less it is not going to lead to starvation.
• In life you can either be practical or happy.