Home!

This week I did (seeing as I am typing this post just a few hours before I am going to go back to Bangalore) a short trip home for my mother’s 50^th birthday. My visit was a complete surprise for her, and as I opened the door, she just stood agape at the threshold, completely taken by surprise. That was so worth it!

I took an overnight train to Hyderabad and then Pinni and I flew down to Vizag. We reached a day before her birthday and surprised her. The day of her birthday was spent cleaning up the house and making arrangements for the surprise dinner party we threw for her. It wasn’t much of a surprise considering how we were cleaning, not an activity you would otherwise catch Samee and me doing for love or for money. But it was a good party, with most close friends and family there, good food, lots of laughter.

I bought her a stove as a birthday gift. I can’t help but wince at the thought of buying her such a boring gift, especially because she doesn’t even like to cook, but that is all she wanted (which I could afford) so I gave in gracefully (ahem!) and bought it.

The day after the party, the whole gang headed out to the farmhouse. It was raining throughout, and the farm was a brilliant green, looking fresh and lovely. We then headed out for a trek to some nearby caves. By this time, the raining was coming down quite heavily, and we voted in favour of doing the trek even if it meant getting drenched. But the heavy rain became a torrential downpour, and even the drive became a pain because of the low visibility so we turned back to a grandmother’s house close by, where we hung around chatting and playing with their incredibly adorable one month old puppy.

After we reached home, we had Ash and Sim over for a while. Ash and I have been friends for over 15 years now. But then, that is part of the charm of growing up in a place like Vizag.....it’s a city where everyone knows everyone, and it’s difficult to not become friends when you end up running into each other everywhere; suddenly you stop and look back and you realise that even though you’ve left home long ago, and gone and made many more friends, some of your dearest friends remain the ones you’ve known all your life.

My friend the Scottish Muscleman (SM) came home too, and after we saw off Mahi and Buns at the bus stop, we went for a long drive by the beach. SM was in low spirits, and he passed them on to me too, so we ended up discussing topics which just depressed both of us. Once he dropped me home, Samee snapped at me while I bore her attitude with calm and patience (truly!), and then went and cribbed to Ma about it, who of course grabbed the opportunity to muse aloud at length on the ills of our generation.

But Sravan served me a huge scoop of Strawberry icecream, and as I type this post while my cousins and (currently) hateful⃰  sister play cards next to me, I feel awful about having to leave tomorrow. It’s like this EVERY SINGLE TIME I come home. I don’t have it in me to leave the day I’m initially supposed to so I inevitably end up postponing my departure by a few days. This time though I decided to stay firm (also, there are no tickets available for the next one week :-p ).

So I’m off tomorrow, and I will see you on the other side of the journey soon. Have a good weekend!

⃰Whattodo! My sister and I have this love-hate relationship. As do most sisters. No?

Already, I feel so guilty about hating her in this post that I want to declare my undying love for her and give her my new pink shoes; though I actually wont of course.....they are PINK shoes!

Sigh! I should have just wished for a brother. Would have made everything a lot less complicated.

Weekends, Football and Other Stuff

It’s tough to appreciate something when you have too much of it. And given all the free time I’ve had lately, I’d forgotten to appreciate weekends. I KNOW! But this weekend changed all that, for I had been very busy the whole of the last week, rushing to meetings, and spending about 2 hours a day in commuting; and so Friday saw me very tired, and quite looking forward to the weekend.

And what a glorious, lovely weekend it was!

On Friday, Nike’s cousin came over from Hyderabad to spend a couple of days with us. We drove down to IIMB, Nike showed her around the campus, and then we sat down to doughnuts and coffee at the campus CCD. Many of my campus memories are tied to the CCD (erm, not in terms of “oh, remember that best doughnut I ate, ever, was at the campus CCD” but more along the lines of “ooohh, remember when we were sitting at the CCD and such and such a thing happened”) so it always makes me feel warm-fuzzy-nostalgic when I go back there.

I spent the rest of the day in IIMB on work and came back home in time for the Netherlands – Brazil match. This match saw the addition of soft drinks to the usual collection of beers, breezers and popcorn, thanks to the visiting cousin. I was rooting for the Dutchmen, so that match ended on a very satisfying note. Though I must admit that the brightness of their orange jerseys sometimes makes me wonder why I am supporting them, for such bright orange jerseys. Must. Be. Outlawed.

Having helped the Oranje win, I turned my attention to Nadal on the internet. (Dear gazillion sports channels: Given there are so many of you that every other channel seems to feature sports through the rest of the year, why is it that not one you is showing Wimbledon and leaving the football reruns to the competition? WHY?). Of course, given his form, Nadal didn’t need my help (or anyone else’s either), and I felt rather sorry for Murray at the end of it all. He had me worried in the beginning with his shaky form, but now he looks unbeatable. Oh, but I LOVE Rafa.

I was hoping this stroke of wins would continue and Ghana would prevail over Uruguay; but thanks to Luis Suarez’s ugly handball, that was not to be. Well, you can’t win ‘em all. Still, no prizes for guessing who I’m going to be supporting in the Holland – Uruguay match, despite the orange jerseys.

Saturday morning was lazily spent dozing over the newspaper. Post-lunch we sat down to Jeopardy and Scrabble. Once that was done, frenetic calls were made, and much planning and cancelling and conferencing happened before a dozen of us finally headed out to Zero G to see the Germany – Argentina match. All that planning paid off because Zero G was perfect - the screen was HUGE, the layout of the place is such that you can sit almost anywhere and get a good view of the screen, it was filled with an enthusiastic crowd, yet it was not so crowded that we had to strain to see, and it is reasonably priced.

The only downside was that they were not playing the commentary. But all in all, I think Zero G was an excellent choice; and any other place would have been too crowded/ too expensive/ too difficult to get good seats/ standing space only/not such a large screen. Also, I was going back there after 3 years, and the place looks very nice indeed now that it has been refurbished.

Now back to the match, I couldn’t quite make up my mind who to support. I was leaning towards Argentina, I even had a bet on Messi; but after the Germany – England match, it’s very hard not to root for a team that played such entertaining football. And whatttayyy match this was! Germany was fantastic, simply fantastic. It was such a pleasure to watch them play. Even hard-core Argentina supporters would find it difficult to not admire the way the Germans played, and totally outclassed the Argentines.

Oh, by the way, four years ago, I was at Bottles and Chimney in Hyderabad for the Argentina – Germany World Cup match, and felt like I was the sole German supporter in a pub filled with Argentina fans.

Anyway, once the match ended, we headed out to the Chancery Pavilion for a poolside FIFA party. The party started out rather slowly, but at some point the DJ started playing Bollywood, and the dance floor started filling up. Speaking of which, I just don’t get this whole ‘Bollywood music, ugh!’ thing that most DJs have going. I mean, clearly it’s the Bollywood numbers that get the crowd onto the dance floor, so why do DJs insist on turning their collective nose up on Bollywood and playing numbers nobody really wants to dance to?

Is this only a Bangalore phenomenon, or is this true of the clubbing scene in other cities too? Fair peoples of other cities, kindly lend me your wisdom on whether it’s the same scenario in your city too or if Bollywood gets the respect it deserves as THE music to play on club nights. Okay, end of rant.

So coming back to the party, which was in full swing by this time, with people jumping into the pool and all. We got into the spirit of the things and jumped into the pool too, and started splashing about in tune, or something, to the music. This was the best part of the party, it was awesomely awesome, and when I become rich I’m going to have a swimming pool in my house and have pool parties ALL THE TIME. The short term plan though is to make friends with someone who does have a pool already so we can have pool parties there. Any of you out there reading this right now?

After I got out of the pool, I went to the restroom, and this girl in there saw me dripping wet and actually asked ‘Are you sweating so much from all that dancing?’ Huh? HUH? Seriously, woman, what were you smoking?

We left the party early, and after a quick stopover at Empire to pick up dinner, we headed home to watch the Spain – Paraguay match and play Taboo. However, everyone was rather tired, so people gradually dropped off to sleep, and no one watched Villa score for Spain.

Sunday saw friends over for lunch, and then out to the Leela for bowling. A visit to the Leela must necessarily include a stop at the Barista, so a round of bowling (and air hockey and foosball and insert –name-of-random-shooting-game) was followed by a tall glass of Swiss Mocha Frappe. Then it was on to Brigade Road for some people watching. Oh, and at some store in Brigade I came across this very cute pair of light pink cargos. Now I’m not a cargos girl at all, but this one was on sale for 125 buck, yes, a HUNDER AND TWENTY FIVE BUCKs ONLY, and it fit well and looked good, and I wouldn’t be a girl if I passed that one up, so of course I didn’t (pass it up, that is).

Also, a momos counter has opened near the Nilgiris on Brigade - veg momos for 25 bucks and chicken momos for 30 bucks. Not bad at all, especially considering I don’t know where else in Bangalore momos are available by the roadside; and if YOU know, please, please drop me a line, and you shall earn my eternal gratitude (unless you’re suggesting some place in HSR Layout/Jayanagar/Whitefield or such other far off places to which one can’t go just to eat a plate of momos by the roadside, as much as one loves a plate of momos by the roadside). We then went to Donut Baker for donuts doughnuts. Damn you, America! I love their chocolate fudge doughnuts, as well as their plain honey dipped doughnuts – do give them a try.

We headed home to watch Rafa lift the cup. Did I say I LOVE Rafa? The weekend couldn’t have ended on a more perfect note!

In Which We Tell a Tale...or Two

Okay, so I am a lazy, lazy girl and I am going to put up an email forward which a friend sent me, and which I liked muchly, though it came in a little late:

Once upon a time, a guy asked a girl "Will you marry me?"

The girl said, "NO!"

And the girl lived happily ever after and went shopping, dancing, drank martinis, always had a clean house, never had to cook, did whatever she wanted, never argued, didn't get fat, travelled more, saved more money, and had all the hot water to herself. She watched chick flicks, not football, had high self esteem, never cried or yelled, felt and looked fabulous in tracksuit pants, and burped, and was happiest all the time…

The End...

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Despite hearting this tale, I really appreciate being married right now. And this is the tale of why:

Saturday night Nike and I went to a friends’ place for a game night. The chicken didn't agree with me, and I was throwing up all over the place...including on their very lovely carpets from Turkey. Nike put me to sleep and cleaned up after me. Once we came back home on Sunday morning, he made me fresh cold lemonade (its a different matter that I threw that up too within seconds).

And so that is how I spent the Sunday, with a stomach bug that saw me throw up anything I tried eating or drinking. When I’m ill, I move into a“I wanttttt my mommmmmeeeee” and “I want to go homeeeee” state, and am very very difficult (more difficult than normal, that is. What? Yes, that IS possible). But with Nike in charge yesterday, I wasn’t homesick, despite being sick (heh). He went and bought the medicines, made sure I took them on time, handed me everything from books to glasses to tissues as I lay in bed clutching my stomach, he roasted papads in the afternoon, went out and got coffee and muffin for me to eat while watching the match, and made me soup for dinner.

So THAT, people, is my happily ever after!

Oh well, for now anyway!

In Which We Go On Holiday

So I just got back from my weeklong holiday in Himachal Pradesh. Nike and I flew to Delhi, met up with some friends there, and the next morning took the Shatabdi Express to Kalka. From Kalka, we hired a taxi for 8 days, and drove up to Naggar, which is 30kms before Manali. We stayed at the lovely Naggar Castle, went white water rafting, and hiked in the surrounding hills and had a lovely time.

We then went to Manali for two days. I have nothing good to say about Manali, I’m afraid. It was crowded, noisy and dirty. We went to Rohtang Pass – in fact, even trekked up some way. We went to Solang Valley but couldn’t go paragliding because of the rains, but we did go zorbing. And we went around the town itself.

We then spent two days at the Great Himalayan National Park, and that was the highlight of our trip. We trekked 12kms into the park with a porter and guide, and set up tent there for the night, and then trekked back to the village the next day. After that we spent two days at a home stay run by an elderly couple in a village called Ghiyagi in Banjaar Valley – literally the middle of nowhere. There we took a lot of pleasant walks.


We drove back via Jalori Pass with its fantastic views, and stopped at Shimla for a couple of hours. Shimla was a surprise to me – it was very pretty and I think I would love to go back to it sometime, but in the winter, when its quiet and cold. We then drove down to Kalka, took the overnight train and reached Delhi after a hot and uncomfortable journey. Delhi was hot and uncomfortable too, but I ate  a lot of good food, and met some very good friends, so it wasn’t all bad.

I came back home to Bangalore at 1 in the night on Sunday! I had a fantastic holiday, but it is good to be home too. The weather is nice and balmy and very pleasant, with the sun barely making an appearance. A project I’m working on has started from Monday, and I’m rather excited about it. Lots of things on my to-do list for the next one week, so I’m going to be very busy.

The other big news is that I’ve FINALLY started reading LOTR. Yes, I know! About 10 years ago, I started reading it, but I found the prologue unbelievably boring, so I gave up on it. And no, I can’t just leave the prologue and get on with the story – I’m surprisingly anal that way. Anyway, after much persuasion from friends, I decided to give the book another shot, and took it along with me on the holiday. I’ve finished the first two books ‘The Fellowship of the Ring’, and really enjoyed it so far. I’ve just stared on ‘The Two Towers’.

So now I’m quite sleepy, and am craving to get back to my book and bed, so till later then!

In Which We Bounce Back

Okay, now that we are back from the trip, and are relatively more cheerful, I’ve decided to pick up this tag from Preeti. I had fun doing it!

Asked someone to marry you? Innocent. Got asked though (and don’t believe anything else Nike may tell you).

Ever kissed someone of the same sex? Guilty. And I’m not going to spill the beans. Ha!

Danced on a table in a bar? Guilty. And it was such fun!

Ever told a lie? Guilty. I’d really like to see someone who said innocent to this one! That said and done, I’m usually honest because I am rather superstitious about lying.

Had feelings for someone whom you can’t have back? Innocent. Unless you count semi-crushes on random stars as ‘feelings’.

Kissed a picture? Guilty. Oh, those years!

Slept in until 5 PM? Guilty. Mostly on the Sundays after an L-square, when we got up just in time for the evening snacks.

Fallen asleep at work/school? Guilty. ALL the bloody time at b-school of course. And at work, I had a boss who would encourage us to take short power naps after lunch – he was from a b-school too.

Held a snake? Innocent. The heights of my adventurousness in this aspect is limited to stroking somebody’s pet dog, and a kangaroo.

Been suspended from school? Innocent. Given I was such a Ms. Goody – Two – Shoes in school.

Worked at a fast food restaurant? Innocent. 

Stolen from a store? Innocent. Though lots of my friends did in school – candies, gum, key chains, once even a whole crate of soft drinks to get to the school picnic – I sternly disapproved of such things and I still do. It still makes me mad when I hear of people who do things like that – those few bucks will not make a darned difference to us, but will probably make a lot of difference to the shopkeeper.

Done something you regret? Guilty. Just one thing really. If I could turn back time, that would be the only thing I would change.

Laughed until something you were drinking came out your nose? Guilty. Though I’m not exactly the embodiment of etiquette otherwise also.

Caught a snowflake on your tongue? Innocent. Heyyy, let me tell you the story of my first experience with snow*.  

Kissed in the rain? Guilty. I love the rain!

Sat on a roof top? Guilty. Even slept on the IIMB rooftop on night, blanket and all!

Kissed someone you shouldn’t? Guilty. And that’s all I’m going to say! :p

Sang in the shower? Guilty. That’s the only place my family and friends allow me to sing

Been pushed into a pool with all your clothes on? Innocent. And I would drown if someone pushed me.

Shaved your head? Guilty. Long, long ago. When I was two years old. I don’t think I would ever do it to make a style statement though. I'm very non-radical that way.

Had a boxing membership? Innocent. I’ve been wanting to join kickboxing, but I’m really not just the boxing types.

Made a girlfriend cry? Guilty. More than once. Thanks to my once outrageous temper.

Been in a band? Guilty. I was the guitarist, though I couldn’t play the damned instrument to save my life!

Shot a gun? Guilty. At an exhibition, of course.

Donated Blood? Innocent. Sigh. Gathered the courage one day to go and donate, and was turned back because I was anaemic. I think it will take a couple of years before I gather the courage to go again and donate.

Eaten alligator meat? Innocent. Did want to try when I was in Australia on a trip, but never did get the courage.

Eaten cheesecake? Guilty. Blueberry, mango, strawberry.....

Still love someone you shouldn’t?Innocent. If I love someone, I think they are worth being loved by me ;-)

Have/had a tattoo? Innocent. Never will also, since my threshold for pain is non-existent.

Liked someone, but will never tell who? Innocent.

Been too honest? Guilty. Diplomacy isn’t my greatest skill, but I’m learning.

Ruined a surprise? Innocent. In fact, even pretended to be surprised a couple of times, though I’d known about the surprise for a while. And I’m the one who usually plans the surprises.

Ate in a restaurant and got really bloated that you couldn’t walk afterward? 

Guilty. All the bloody time. Especially at buffets. Whattodo? I’m just very greedy that way.

Erased someone in your friends list? Guilty. Though it caused, and continues to cause, a lot of heartache.

Dressed in a woman’s clothes (if you’re a guy) or man’s clothes (if you’re a girl)? Guilty. Till not so long ago, I was quite the tomboy.

Joined a pageant? Innocent. I am vain, but not THAT vain also!

Been told that you’re handsome or beautiful by someone who totally meant what they said?

Guilty. Atleast, I hope they totally meant it.

Had communication with your ex? Guilty. And it is no big deal.

Got totally drunk on the night before exam? Innocent. The idea holds a horrifying fascination for me though. 

Got totally angry that you cried so hard? Guilty. All the bloody time! Though it’s better this way than my earlier expression of anger, which was to break the first thing that came to my hand.

Woah, I am guilty on so many counts! Who would have thought?

Feel free to pick up the tag – I had great fun doing it, and you will too, I’m sure.

* Now for my snow story:

In 2005, I was supposed to be in Belgium for four months, from September till January, but I fell ill with chicken-pox and decided to return home a month early, in December. I hadn’t seen snow ever in my life till then, and with my Switzerland trip cancelled because of my unexpected early return, my only chance was if it snowed in Brussels.

Fat chance, people said. It rarely snowed in Brussels, and even if it does, that happens only in February, which is peak winter. But I’m an optimist if ever there was one, so for my last two weeks, the first thing I did on getting up every day was to look out of the kitchen window for snow. But there was none. Two days before I was due to leave, I got up to see the entire backyard was covered in snow. For a little while, I thought I was dreaming.

So I did get to experience snow on my last two days there. And that, ladies and gentlemen, was my first taste of snow! I did get to experience snow last December in Italy during the honeymoon also, and it was BEAUTIFUL. I didn’t trying catching a snowflake with my tongue though – next time ;-)