I Love Luv Storys ;)

She was pretty, she was young;
she was humble she was fun!
She was naive, she was sweet;
she was bubbly, she was neat (!)

He was nice, he was fair
he was handsome, he still had hair (!)
He was older, he was grounded
his character was oh so rounded.

She liked him and he liked her,
Signing up for trouble? Oh yessir!
But what's to do when one's young and rash,
sermons and lectures belong in the trash!

She told her mom, and she told her friend,
about this boy, who seemed God had sent.
Her mom approved, and her friend grudgingly so
'cause they just wanted her happiness, and nothing more.

The days rolled on, and months went by
The happy couple now weren't so shy.
They tweaked circumstances to be together,
unaware of the foreboding, or any rough weather.

But the girl's father, now makes an entrance
Into the scene, it's like a death sentence.
Announcing that she'll marry only of his choice
at this, everyone seems to have lost their voice!

The girl is miserable and quite morose,
"I told you so!" said the friend who went hoarse;
But the girl's determined to make it work
even if it's facing her father, who's no less than a Turk.

So the story will unfold, by and by
and will tell a tale of great hue and cry
of family, love and matrimony
of drama, fears and hegemony!

The girl is sure, but the boy unsure
if now would be a good time to get his life insured!
If you want to know, what is in store
you'll have to stay, and watch this space for more!

Making my day :)

It's amazing how some of the smallest and sweetest of things can make our day sometimes. A long drive in great weather, playing with one's pet, listening to one's favorite song on the radio, receiving a compliment, or having a phone conversation with a friend after really long... :) The feeling's indescribable. Just a surge of Happiness.
A school pal of mine called today. One of my besties, and we spoke for close to ten minutes. I know that's not very long for a conversation (going by my track record) but considering she's sitting in the US and shelling out a whole lot for it, it made me feel quite special. And the reason for the call, just because :)
This blog entry is perhaps one of my shortest. And anyone reading it should thank me for making their day, for having to read so little of the rubbish that I generally dole out.
As repayment, go make someone else's day too. Go call a friend you haven't spoken to in a while, or help your mom in the kitchen. Let your sibling have the T.V. remote, or let your dad finish reading the newspaper supplements first. Hold out the door for someone or go scratch your dog's ears... Whatever it is, Just do it. Make their day :)

Getting over it...

I got burnt in a fire accident almost 11 yrs ago. It took place in school, after a dance performance on our sports day. We kids were instructed to file into a matador that would circle our sports field after the completion of our dance. Dressed as Santa Clauses, complete with cushions, and raw cotton lining the red suit we were wearing, we were told to wave at the audience with lit sparklers in our hands. We were a disaster waiting to happen.
Over such a long time span, my memory of that fateful day has blurred but the repercussions haven't. I was burnt on both the legs. My calves mainly, and the area right behind the knee. For years I didn't make peace with not being able to run as fast as I used to. The reason being, I'd damaged some nerves in the accident. Worse still was enduring stares from rank strangers who'd grimace at the scars. Things like these don't do much for a eleven year old's confidence.
I almost stopped wearing shorts outside and I soon grew out of the 'skirt and blouse' wearing phase too. I'd only wear jeans and pants and the like. That's because understandably I didn't want to draw attention to the scars at all. A lot of times I'd be tempted to wear something minuscule, but the idea of getting pitying glances and having to plunge into a long story of how it happened, always made me think otherwise.
My friends did their best to bring me out of my shell, but to no avail. (And God knows I drove them up the wall by not listening) It was only when I spoke to a school friend (who'd been in the accident with me) some months ago, that I began changing my perspective...
It's true that often, people see us as we see ourselves. If one's comfortable in one's own skin, people around, are too. It's when we're apologetic about something, that most people don't know how to react. And this inturn leads to alot of awkwardness that's seen as unacceptance. Most times, the people whom we seek approval from are the ones who want to see us being happy and want us to be ourselves. Scars or no scars, irrespective.
Two months before the 11th anniversary of the fateful incident and five days shy of my 22nd birthday, I wore the most daring outfit I have, by far. A little black dress. And that's the first time in all this while I've worn something outside to show off my scars. No leggings to cover the marks and no stockings to make them less visible.
I wore it to go out partying with a bunch of friends and I had the best time ever. No one at the pub even noticed, and my pals didn't give a damn. We just had the most wonderful time and this one experience has helped me get over one of the biggest things I'd had a complex about.
It doesn't take as much strength to hold on as it does to let go... Let go of one's anxieties and insecurities. But once one has, there's no looking back. Now I want to bring on all the shorts and tiny frocks I can (much to my conservative mom's horror!)... But its wonderful when one get's past obstacles and speed bumps in life. Makes one feel confident and happy about finally getting over one's fears and issues. I'm not worried so much about my scars anymore... It's about perspective and all in one's mind at the end of the day. Amen!

Crushes, hots and what not! :D

Yes, believe it or not I've decided to dedicate an entire blog entry to everything edible and 'yumm-azing!' From smoothies and fruit crushes to spicy and hot food! Gothcha with the title didn't I?! The inspiration/credit for this entry goes to a close friend, with whom I spent two hours (during class) passing chits on every edible and tasty thing we could get our rusty minds on!
For those who know me and are my loyal readers, it shouldn't come as a surprise that I'm finally writing about the greatest love of my life- Food.
I've been a die hard foodie since the time I could count on my fingers ( Wait, I still count on my fingers... I mean since the time I began counting on 'em) But I'd like to give myself more credit. In my knowledge, there are foodies, and foodies and then there is me. I've never restricted myself to a single cuisine or a dish. Am not just fond of desserts or any one particular course during the meal. From soups and starters, to the desserts and paans, I enjoy them all. Immensely. A few of my favorites things to eat include... a lot of things...
From French fries to potato chips with sour cream. From paani poori (with hot channa) to extra spicy pav bhaaji. From cheese fondue with bread sticks to paneer salsa wraps. From chilly garlic mushroom starters to grilled sandwiches. From Schezwan noodles to cheese burst pizzas. From paneer dosas to chole bhature. From fried mozzarella to hot aaloo parathas. From soft hot idlies with extra dollops of ghee to stuffed steamed momos.
From blueberry cheese cakes to vanilla milk shake. From CCD's Devil's own to Cream Stone's Oreo cookie shot. From rasmalai to kaaju barfi. From homemade milk chocolate to Milky bar's white chocolate. From layered chocolate cake to banana sponge cake. From Amul's raspberry Dolly (ice-cream) to custard with jello... And just a few other hundred dishes that I shan't mention cause I'll be inflicting self torture if I do.


My apologies to everyone who's craving their next meal (like me) or whose saliva glands are working overtime (like my dog's). I couldn't help but make the entry 'cause food had been playing on my mind for long (when does it not!) and t'was time I went ahead with it. Thanks for reading and hope you have a hot meal awaiting you. Bon appetit! :)

We grow up everyday...

I was just reading some diary entries I'd made last year and I couldn't help but notice how things have changed since then... Drastically. It's amazing yet amusing to think of all the childish and girlie things one writes in the privacy of one's diary. And it's a good thing it stays private, cause nobody, for the whole world would want to be put through the horror of someone getting hold of a book that consists of one's deepest, (even if not-so-dark) secrets.
I've maintained diaries since I was about 12 and it's entertaining to read some of those entries... But most of the time, all one ends up thinking is- 'Really?? I thought like that? What in the name of Sweet Mary was wrong with me?!'
Another thing about diaries is that they make one want to go and live in the past. When things weren't as complicated, when we didn't know how things would eventually turn out, when things were just right...
But the best part about diaries is this. They make one realise how much one's grown as an individual. One has the opportunity to look back and smile... To think that 'Yeah I was a dork back then... but at least I'm richer for the experience'... and maybe/hopefully/definitely/certainly, I've learnt my lessons and shouldn't do the same all over again....

This blog entry was made in loving memory of every stupid thing that's happened in my life. I'm thankful I shouldn't have to be in the similar predicaments again (That's if I go by my grand theory of learning from my bad experiences)... Therefore presently, my motto: Bring on a fresh new bunch of foolish lessons to learn from. 'Cause after all, life's about growing up everyday :)

The most exasperating situations to be in!!

1) Missing a train by a hair's breath: Its indescribable how frustrating it can be, that even after running like wild buffaloes to get to the right platform, my friend and me have missed innumerable trains. We've almost always arrived (in such situations) just in time to see the train pulling out of the station.

2) Wading through muck in expensive shoes: Oh my. This is certainly the next annoying thing after missing trains, because mostly, the muck is the very reason for us missing them (the trains) in the first place. We practically have to moon walk through it so as not to sink deeper into that distant cousin of quick sand. The one thing that's come off this exercise, is now I know what people mean when they say 'in deep trash'. Literally! I get to be in it everyday!

3) Having to keep awake during a sleepy lecture: You can almost see double. Your eyes are getting heavier. You want to nod off into deep slumber but you're sitting right under the professor's nose. Could hell get any worse?

4) Waiting for an hour and a half in a train compartment ( that's full of crying babies) that's come to a stand still : Just two words- Holy cow.

5) Stuck in crawling traffic with bad music: The problem with the stereo in my car is that it's had the same CD stuck inside it for the last 8 months. None of the cajoling, pleading and banging seems to have done it any good. So for company, I have glowering motorists, irritating fellow drivers and the same music over and over and over again. *Sighs*

6) Last, but certainly not the least. Being late to class: And that's after waking up early, to get ready early, to catch the train early, that arrives late. Isn't that the most exasperating thing??!

What a Dream!

Have you ever had those nightmarish yet silly dreams where nothing makes sense? Dreams that totally defy logic? For instance, you're walking down a flight of stairs one moment and then hurtling toward oblivion in the next? Running toward something and then randomly having a nonsensical conversation with a friend? Well, I've had plenty of such dreams. They make one feel rather foolish on waking up, but seem quite real when we're dreaming them. Although I can't recollect most of my dreams, I remember vividly, the one I'm about to narrate. It happened in the month of May when I'd been preparing for entrance exams feverishly. That might explain why my brains had been adversely affected in dreaming what I dreamt that day (!) It was exceedingly dumb and far fetched, now that I think about it. Anyway, here goes: I was standing by the sink doing the dishes, when the doorbell rang. It was Keshav, the boy I tutor in English. Instead of his usual pant and shirt avatar, the child standing in front of me was dressed in an obnoxious outfit. A pin striped tee shirt teamed with a green Hawaiian skirt (one, that an Anglo-Indian neighbour of mine usually wore). I was shocked on seeing him thus and had every intention of cross examining him to know if he'd become gender confused lately. I was preparing a small speech in my head that involved telling him that it was alright to not want to wear pants or jeans, but floral skirts didn’t quite compliment him either. Maybe he could try pastels. But before I could launch into my lecture, he turned towards me and thrust a handbag (presumably his) in my hands. I didn't know if I was supposed to open and confirm it, so I thought better of it and decided to pay his mother a visit. The boy needed fashion help and so would I if this continued. It was imperative to tell her, and then let her decide if she wanted him to continue wearing skrits and frocks and what not! Car keys in hand and Keshav with his skirt and bag in tow I reached my garage. To my horror, my car had been swapped with an old model of a Fiat. How I knew that the dusty car was mine, Lord alone knows. I nearly got hysterical! We were on our way to his house and I may not have been paying attention, when suddenly, Keshav morphed into something resembling a monkey. An ape, if I wasn't wrong. Imagine driving a car that barely moved while sitting next to an ape dressed in a skirt! I got to his house in the worst mental state and found his mother calmly fermenting milk. I was barely able to tell her about it when I was jerked awake by my dog's barking. What a dream!... But I have one regret about waking up too soon. Not knowing her reaction. Would she have yelled? Sobbed? Throttled me? Or wanted to laugh hard at the image of her son in those clothes? Beats me, but I'd like to have known anyway!