I've probably written this blog post about a million times in my head.
And I'm already stuck after the first line!
It has been less than a month since the 22nd.I can't believe those papers are over! Looking back, it feels like time just flew by. The endless classes, metro rides, never ending rants and constant self doubt. All done and dusted. At least till January.
I didn't want to make a To Do list this time. For once I wanted to try not planning everything. Not that I've managed to get done quite as much as I wanted to.
The laziness is addictive.
Papa's been nudging me to do something productive, shockingly even mentioning his office once. He thinks I need a routine. Thankfully, Mumma thinks differently.
But at least this is one thing I can now cross from my list.
This blog is alive again!
Friday, December 17, 2010
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
November.Forever
K: I'm SO bored. I can't take it anymore!
G: I know ya. The only thing that keeps me going is that its only till november.
K: I know! Then we're free :)
________________________________________________________________________________
G:I was telling Kari how we only have to do this till november!
Papa: That not true you know..
G: Huh?
Papa: It'll never be over. You'll have to buy that reckoner every year.
G : *sigh*
G: I know ya. The only thing that keeps me going is that its only till november.
K: I know! Then we're free :)
________________________________________________________________________________
G:I was telling Kari how we only have to do this till november!
Papa: That not true you know..
G: Huh?
Papa: It'll never be over. You'll have to buy that reckoner every year.
G : *sigh*
Monday, March 01, 2010
What A Life
I don't remember the first time I met them.
OP Uncle and Vinnie Aunty.
But I've grown up in their house. Counted the subzi in their fridge for fun. Made that window sill my most favourite spot in the whole wide world. They still tell stories of how they've known me since the time I couldn't reach up to the dining table.
I didn't want to just call them Uncle and Aunty. It was too impersonal. But somehow no other word stuck.
Years have rolled on. They have their own grand children. I don't mind the fact that I have to share them. I'd like to believe that we're all one big family.
November it was when Uncle got sick the first time.
He hasn't been better since.
I see him wasting away every week. Ten kilos lighter now.
Memories of our early morning walks come flooding back. He taught me to not be scared of anything slimy. Entertained me with all his stories of flying.
And there he is now.
I can see the pain on his face. How he masks it with all that sarcasm.
I went to meet him early one day, sure that we'd run of of conversation soon. The silence wasn't unnerving. I wanted to tell him to be strong but I couldn't whiteout crying.
He looked at me. Sighed and said " What a life".
I was stunned. I hugged him and told him it'd be alright, the word sounding hollow in my head.
I came back home and I realised how I'd never told him how much I loved him.
Next time around, I lay my head right next to him.
Told him there was something I needed to tell him. Something I'd never managed to say.
"I love you so much."
He looked at me, smiled and fell right back to sleep.
I was glad he hadn't seen the tears rolling down my face.
OP Uncle and Vinnie Aunty.
But I've grown up in their house. Counted the subzi in their fridge for fun. Made that window sill my most favourite spot in the whole wide world. They still tell stories of how they've known me since the time I couldn't reach up to the dining table.
I didn't want to just call them Uncle and Aunty. It was too impersonal. But somehow no other word stuck.
Years have rolled on. They have their own grand children. I don't mind the fact that I have to share them. I'd like to believe that we're all one big family.
November it was when Uncle got sick the first time.
He hasn't been better since.
I see him wasting away every week. Ten kilos lighter now.
Memories of our early morning walks come flooding back. He taught me to not be scared of anything slimy. Entertained me with all his stories of flying.
And there he is now.
I can see the pain on his face. How he masks it with all that sarcasm.
I went to meet him early one day, sure that we'd run of of conversation soon. The silence wasn't unnerving. I wanted to tell him to be strong but I couldn't whiteout crying.
He looked at me. Sighed and said " What a life".
I was stunned. I hugged him and told him it'd be alright, the word sounding hollow in my head.
I came back home and I realised how I'd never told him how much I loved him.
Next time around, I lay my head right next to him.
Told him there was something I needed to tell him. Something I'd never managed to say.
"I love you so much."
He looked at me, smiled and fell right back to sleep.
I was glad he hadn't seen the tears rolling down my face.
Monday, January 11, 2010
Smile Please?
I love to smile.
Or as Susie would put it, I could be Colgate's brand ambassador. Several times the uncle who takes my passport size photos has told me to smile less.
Being the smiling type, I end up smiling at people everywhere. Aunties with cute babies, people at the office where I'm auditing or even people on the train. But what I've always noticed is that, more often that not, people never smile back. They just stare back blankly as if they've never seen any one smile. They could be laughing hysterically with a bunch of friends two minutes back but the moment a stranger smiles at them, they become all cold and seemingly emotionless.
I think this is something that's every peculiar to Delhi (I'm going to refrain saying India, cause I haven't really travelled that much). Every time I've travelled out side the country,I've had every smile reciprocated. Every person whether walking on the road, in the bus or even in the washroom, would always smile back.
What is it with us?
Are we a much unhappier lot?
It cannot be the busy or hectic life. I've been to New York and I didn't get a single blank stare.
Its like we're afraid to smile.
Or has the city made us distrust even some one who's smiling at us.
Maybe its just not natural instinct and I'm not sure its a quality one can imbibe.
So I'm going to have to just learn to live with the stern/worried/morose looking faces I see in the train every Sunday.
Or as Susie would put it, I could be Colgate's brand ambassador. Several times the uncle who takes my passport size photos has told me to smile less.
Being the smiling type, I end up smiling at people everywhere. Aunties with cute babies, people at the office where I'm auditing or even people on the train. But what I've always noticed is that, more often that not, people never smile back. They just stare back blankly as if they've never seen any one smile. They could be laughing hysterically with a bunch of friends two minutes back but the moment a stranger smiles at them, they become all cold and seemingly emotionless.
I think this is something that's every peculiar to Delhi (I'm going to refrain saying India, cause I haven't really travelled that much). Every time I've travelled out side the country,I've had every smile reciprocated. Every person whether walking on the road, in the bus or even in the washroom, would always smile back.
What is it with us?
Are we a much unhappier lot?
It cannot be the busy or hectic life. I've been to New York and I didn't get a single blank stare.
Its like we're afraid to smile.
Or has the city made us distrust even some one who's smiling at us.
Maybe its just not natural instinct and I'm not sure its a quality one can imbibe.
So I'm going to have to just learn to live with the stern/worried/morose looking faces I see in the train every Sunday.
Of Delhi Winters And Related Adventures
This one's been in the making ever since I read Siddharth's post on Delhi (http://siddharthkrishnamoorthy.blogspot.com/2009/12/ode-to-theedelhi.html).
The last couple of days have got me thinking of the city even more. It all started with my early morning Metro ride. I have class at seven every other day. The fog that descended last Tuesaday made it impossible for me to drive. I had to get to class and the only option was to take the Metro.
So I took the train at quarter to seven, discovering in the process how early morning rides are a perfect opportunity to let the mind wander. The train was enveloped in a blanket of white till Akshardham. Thats when I started thinking of Delhi. I've spent twenty years in staying here ( and I don't care if you don't consider Noida a part of Delhi, I always will). Even though I like to proclaim myself to be a Kashmiri, I'm a complete Delhite.
There's something about this place thats completely unique. Its not just the myriad of people or the potent mix of culture. Its not just the long drawn traffic jams or the Blue lines. Most importantly for me, it is our ability to always be interesting.
You can never get bored in Delhi.
Never ever.
Delhi has to be one of the perfect places to spend time alone. My walk from the Metro station to class made me aware of just that. There's always so much happening around. Even if its 7:15 a.m
I walk and travel alone from class to office. There's hasn't been one day where something interesting hasn't happened. I've seen a pick pocket being caught, an uncle lecture the Metro on the "DTC culture" and a rickshaw wala who was intent on turning a two minute ride into a roller coaster nightmare. All in one day.
I still crib about the traffic, the lack of courtesy, the rash driving and more. But every Sunday as I walk from Pragati Maidan to ITO, I fall in love with the city and realise that it is here that I belong.
The last couple of days have got me thinking of the city even more. It all started with my early morning Metro ride. I have class at seven every other day. The fog that descended last Tuesaday made it impossible for me to drive. I had to get to class and the only option was to take the Metro.
So I took the train at quarter to seven, discovering in the process how early morning rides are a perfect opportunity to let the mind wander. The train was enveloped in a blanket of white till Akshardham. Thats when I started thinking of Delhi. I've spent twenty years in staying here ( and I don't care if you don't consider Noida a part of Delhi, I always will). Even though I like to proclaim myself to be a Kashmiri, I'm a complete Delhite.
There's something about this place thats completely unique. Its not just the myriad of people or the potent mix of culture. Its not just the long drawn traffic jams or the Blue lines. Most importantly for me, it is our ability to always be interesting.
You can never get bored in Delhi.
Never ever.
Delhi has to be one of the perfect places to spend time alone. My walk from the Metro station to class made me aware of just that. There's always so much happening around. Even if its 7:15 a.m
I walk and travel alone from class to office. There's hasn't been one day where something interesting hasn't happened. I've seen a pick pocket being caught, an uncle lecture the Metro on the "DTC culture" and a rickshaw wala who was intent on turning a two minute ride into a roller coaster nightmare. All in one day.
I still crib about the traffic, the lack of courtesy, the rash driving and more. But every Sunday as I walk from Pragati Maidan to ITO, I fall in love with the city and realise that it is here that I belong.
Friday, January 08, 2010
An Ode To Worldspace
I haven't written a word for close to two months.
I don't want to blame it on the padai or the office. I just haven't had anything to say. Though two months is a really long time to not have anything to say.
And this post is not just because I have to write something. Its just that now, I finally have something to write about.
So coming to what this post is all about,
Two Saturdays back, after I came back home from class,
Guess What??
Huh??
They're shutting down Worldspace!
WHAT???!!!! HOW??!!! WHY??!!!
I saw it in the paper in the morning
But..what are we going to do!!!!!!!
We can't do anything
Our life is over!
And that single conversation almost brought me to tears. We've had the Worldspace Radio for more than three years. I've studied to it, eaten dinner with it and read my favourite books with it in the background. My Dad would tell all and sundry how we had to be the most loyal customers. It was kept on the entire day, even when Ma and I took our afternoon naps.
But most importantly, Worldspace helped me discover my type of music. I was one of those who'd listen to just about everything and before I got Worldspace the only musician I really followed was Norah Jones.
And then I found Channel No. 197 Up Country. So totally my kind of music. I love country music and most of what I know and hear of it was because of Worldspace.
So the news of Worldspace was more than just disastrous. It was the end to endless hours of Up Country. I can't go back to normal radio. Too many ads and irrigating RJs and never/hardly any country music.
The last couple of days before it shut down, I heard a little bit of every channel. Mumma says dinner time doesn't seem the same anymore. We're trying to find a replacement in the millions of CDs we own. But I've gone over most of them already and our options are sort of running out.
So here's to Worldspace and the wonderful years we had with it.
You are missed :)
Sorely.
I don't want to blame it on the padai or the office. I just haven't had anything to say. Though two months is a really long time to not have anything to say.
And this post is not just because I have to write something. Its just that now, I finally have something to write about.
So coming to what this post is all about,
Two Saturdays back, after I came back home from class,
Guess What??
Huh??
They're shutting down Worldspace!
WHAT???!!!! HOW??!!! WHY??!!!
I saw it in the paper in the morning
But..what are we going to do!!!!!!!
We can't do anything
Our life is over!
And that single conversation almost brought me to tears. We've had the Worldspace Radio for more than three years. I've studied to it, eaten dinner with it and read my favourite books with it in the background. My Dad would tell all and sundry how we had to be the most loyal customers. It was kept on the entire day, even when Ma and I took our afternoon naps.
But most importantly, Worldspace helped me discover my type of music. I was one of those who'd listen to just about everything and before I got Worldspace the only musician I really followed was Norah Jones.
And then I found Channel No. 197 Up Country. So totally my kind of music. I love country music and most of what I know and hear of it was because of Worldspace.
So the news of Worldspace was more than just disastrous. It was the end to endless hours of Up Country. I can't go back to normal radio. Too many ads and irrigating RJs and never/hardly any country music.
The last couple of days before it shut down, I heard a little bit of every channel. Mumma says dinner time doesn't seem the same anymore. We're trying to find a replacement in the millions of CDs we own. But I've gone over most of them already and our options are sort of running out.
So here's to Worldspace and the wonderful years we had with it.
You are missed :)
Sorely.
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