Of Notions Destroyed And Some More...

GMCS

February 8th - February 25th, 2011

This one's been due for just over a week now.

For the longest time I'd pride myself in the fact that I didn't have a lot of close friends doing CA. It gave me this sense of exclusivity. The hooligans in class only intensified my belief.

So obviously I wasn't looking forward to spending fifteen full days with qualified/aspiring accountants holed up in some random bhawan at ITO. But boy was I wrong.

Not only did I manage to survive the course but I also managed to brutally destroy notions that I've held on to for close to four whole years.

To be honest I eyed everyone a little suspiciously the first two days. Making mental notes of how weird everyone was (no offence, you guys!). But through the games and discussions, the endless photo sessions, the forever lasting game of dumb charades and doodles that still need to be scanned, I met some wonderful people.

It really has been an awesome two weeks. And yes, more importantly it has once again taught me not to judge. For if I really had, I would be missing out on some great people in my life.

So here's to the car rides, the obsession with cocoberry, the lunch lines with women's reservation, the shady song singing and a whole lot more.

See you all soon!

Karol Bagh. Take Two

June, 2008.

That's the last time I went to work in Karol Bagh. Two whole summers I spent walking the streets, trying to make my way through the hoards of people that descend on Pusa Road everyday.

That summer was also when I fell in love with balance sheets again. As much as I was thankful for that experience, I prayed I'd never have to work their again.

Today I went back. I was very apprehensive when papa suggested it, scared that no one at the office would recognize me. But I couldn't convince him to just send the mithai. So I went.

It was nothing short of surreal. Even though it's probably not possible, it seemed like a LOT more people!

The street looked completely different. A new hotel and new bank branch made it hard for me to locate the office. But I found the staircase at the back. The same guard, the same expression-less secretary on the second floor and the same office. As if time had really not changed anything here.

Thankfully, everyone remembered me and the conversations were not in the least bit awkward.

I will always remember Karol Bagh. For the insane heat and the almost non existent AC, for the pigeon hole offices, for the pink sports car that is still parked opposite office and for the people who really welcomed me then and today :)

Chronicles of the lazy bum

It has been a week since the twenty first.

More dramatically put, the biggest sub plot of my life got a befitting end a week ago.

But this post is not about the result or the celebrations thereafter or even the million thank yous that really need to be said.

It's about the new side of me that these holidays have made me discover. I've never been this free. Never since school ended have I got this much free time on my hands. I have to admit, I've loved every moment of it. I'm truly dreading the end of my afternoon nap cycle and the twelve hour sleep patterns.

The laziness had also meant the slow death of this blog, which hopefully I'll try and amend soon.

I've been trying to get some reading done the last couple of days but being lazy has really become a lifestyle for me. I get nothing done and I don't seem to mind it either. Hopefully, the brain wouldn't protest too much when the time comes. But till then I intend to fully enjoy the last couple of weeks/days left.

Or as Saumya puts it

" Have fun ya. The next time we'll get long break like this will be when we're pregnant."

Getting back to life

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!

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*

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.

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.

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.

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.

To Bargain Or Not

I can't haggle to save my life. I don't like to haggle. My mother though can run a certification course on the same. Sadly, I havn't inherited an ounce of that art.

We've been looking for a particular kind of cushin cover for a really long time. Today at CP Mumma found the perfect match. This, after looking through an insane number of covers and trying out different combinations. Then of course came the inevitable

"Kitne lagaogi ?"

"Madam, maine toh aapko theek theek hi lagay hai. 75 ka hai, maine aapko 60 ka bataya hai."

"Chalo 50 ka de do."

"Nahin madam usme toh humara kuch nahin bane ga."

"Arre de do na."

I'm already squriming at this point.

"Nahin, madam"

Chalo theek hai phir, hum aage se dekh le ge

And then the walk away. Now this I've always thought to be the riskiest move. Also, the one that is most likely to get you the best bargains. I mean if you really like whatever it is that you're buying and the guy doesn't relent, you'll end up regretting the walk away.You can't really go back because then the shopkeeper has the upper hand. Or as my five year old cousin would say " Aap ki chop ho gayi " .
Of course, if he does relent and holler for you to come back, you're the lucky winner.

So yes, coming back to my mom's shopping strategy. We walked and she hollered back. We walked a little more and we could hear her scream in the background. So I told my Mom that we should go back and get them. I took her purse and walked back. Now, Mumma thought she'd bargain for 200 (50 *4 ). But when I went back, I some how managed to agree to 220. Mom was furious. But I managed to convince her. The cushion cover lady didn't have change so my Mom got impatient and decided to walk. For twenty bucks. We walked away for twenty bucks.

And this is where my problem with bargaining begins and ends. If you like it, you should get it. That is, if it it involves as little a sum as twenty rupees. Its not a hundred or a grand. Twenty we can afford.

Cushion cover lady follwed us and got the change with her. So we ended up paying 220.My Mom of course, has vowed to never go shopping with me.

My Dad thinks we should have started with 30!

Here Comes That Train !

The Metro's finally reached Noida !!

I've lived through a lot of construction work, diversions and traffic jams for the last 2 and half years. Needless to say I've really anticipated this moment. The sight of the train being tested a week before gave me such a kick! So yes, I couldn't wait for Friday, the thirteenth.

Mumma couldn't stop talking about it on Friday. She even clicked a photo of it from our balcony. First day was going to be mad so we figured we'd risk Saturday and go for a ride. Of course, half of Noida would have used the train on Friday. The other half, unfortunately decided to turn up the exact moment that I did. So the station was jam packed when we got there. I'd quite literally dreamt of the day I would buy my Smart Card ( yes, I am slightly dramatic). The platform was a total mess !! There were just too many people trying to spot the train. I love the fact that I can spot my house from the platform. So yes, fifteen minutes later the train decided to grace us with its presence.

And then the pushing and shoving began. I've travelled in blue lines and DTCs before so I'm used to it all and over the years have learnt to hold my ground even if it is a few square centimetres. Mumma though hasn't been in a bus for quite some time. I could see how much the rush was bothering her. We ended up standing right next to the doors. So she tried telling people not to get in at several stations. Obviously, that didn't work. And just as we were pushed and shoved in, we were pushed out at Rajeev Chowk.

I'd like to believe that the once the initial excitement wears of, the rush will get staggered. But I'm also painfully aware that there's no way that I can avoid all that rush always. Sadly, the Metro can't make people disappear. Or may be everyone will travel by the train and the roads will be emptier. Maybe not.

The ride back was much better. We got seats and watching the lit up line from the Metro was great.

Thank you DMRC :)

Mumma's Birthday And Going Back To Where We Belong

We celebrated Mumma's fiftieth today in compensation for last year. I felt so bad for her, completely ruining last year because of my papers and I had promised to make it up to her this year. So we celebrated her 50th today and we celebrate her 51st tomorrow :)

I gave her tons of options and wherever she wanted to go we'd go. I knew she wanted to go back to Khan Market. She's been wanting to go back for years and some how I've never managed to get her there.

Mumma's grown up in Khan Market. Spending winters there because Kashmir was way too cold. So naturally, I've grown up hearing stories of Khan and how much fun every one had together.

Over the three years in college I've spent a lot of time in Khan myself. I even looked up Flat no. 10 and reported back to her that it now housed a salon.

As I drove towards the parking I could sense her excitement. She started looking around and told me of how she remembered it. I let her lead the way. I knew where she wanted to go first. 10, Khan Market. She stood there and just looked. I could sense all those memories flooding back. We even went up and looked around, as she proudly announced to all in sight that she used to live there earlier.

We went all around the market. I heard stories of night stays, bike rides, morning walks and more. I've heard most of them before and I know I'd love to hear them all over again. She told me of shops that were there even when she was young. She told me how much the place had changed.

I thought we'd go to CP next but she wanted to go to Lodhi Garden. I know how much she used to love those morning walks with Papaji. She looked around like an excited kid. We walked all over the place and I loved the fact that she was completely enjoying herself.

Its been a wonderful wonderful day. We haven't spent this sort of time together in a very long time and I'm very glad we did.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MUMMA :)

Of Home, Audits, Train Rides And All That Jazz

I've just come back from my first out station audit.

It was my first trip alone in years.

I wasn't looking forward to it a lot but it eventually turned out to be a lot of fun. I suddenly realised how use to I am to staying in Delhi. I crib about the traffic but deserted roads in Panchkula made me uncomfortable.I complain about the millions of people and zero breathing space but an almost empty mall on a Saturday evening made me feel like I had landed on Mars.

I love Delhi.

But I never really knew that. I've always wanted to move out. I've made extravagant plans of moving to DC or owning a farm in Vienna. I'd never even considered that leaving would ever be an issue.

I also didn't love the whole being alone bit as much as I thought I would. Mornings just dragged on forever. I must have called home some three times even before breakfast. The silence at night wasn't soothing and that stupid coir mattress didn't help either.

I discovered family and the fun of hanging out with cousins. I've never felt so loved by relatives in a really long time. Those late night gossip sessions still have me in splits. I hope we get to meet more often !

To top it all the work wasn't that bad either. Tons of new stuff that I will hopefully remember.

It was a great week and I'm glad to be back home !!

Of Blue Elephants and Disappearing Parks

I see those statues everyday. Wrapped in blue plastic waiting to be unveiled. It makes me sick every single day. Mayawati and her army of blue elephants trampling over every park in sight.Endless articles have and will be written on the money and environment. But she's also managed to single handedly destroy much more than that.

I remember driving by those walls a couple of months back. Kari and I thought it was to border the parks. Little did we know that Mayawati was just trying to keep all the demolition out of sight. I remember how Papa came home all distressed one day. He had managed to get a glance behind those massive stone walls. He couldn't stop talking about how everything had been razed to the ground. He could see the swirls of mud spilling onto the road from his office.

I don't remember the last time I went to Nandan Kanan but I have a lot of happy memories there. The endless orange bars I've had there, the school picnics, sleeping in the winter sun and taking a drive just to see the fountains light up the night.

Its all gone now.

And even though there's a stay and the court might intervene, what was is now all gone.

If I could, I'd love to go throw a shoe at those stupid statues.

21 it is!

I wanted to mark the day on my blog.

And even though I'm three days late, I still wanted to write this post.

I'm not one of those people who start counting down days a month before their birthday or get really super duper excited.

But this one I was really looking forward to. 21 has a great ring to it and I get to use it for one entire year. I'd planned to do tons of things, some plans worked out and others didn't. I didn't get the dress or the haircut. But I had great two days and I'm trying to stretch and spill the happiness over to this.

So even though Henna might say I'm already half way to 42, I'm really kicked to be 21!!

Of Tax Reports, Five Audits and Six Whole Months

Its been six months.

Six whole months.

I didn't thing I'd survive this long. Half a year seems like a really long time!

I don't think I've made many friends but that's not really something I was looking for any way.


I'd promised myself that I'd give the work my best shot. I figured maybe, just maybe I might like something. Six months and a tax deadline later, I know at least one thing for sure. Tax is way cooler than any audit.I like looking up stuff on my own or figuring what the act really wants to say. There's a certainty to tax that in some weird kind of way is vaguely comforting. I hate asking people around and new audits scare me slightly.I don't know what to do, who to ask, where to go.

Mumma used to constantly tell me that she can't imagine me spending all my days buried in files in front of a computer.But honestly, I don't mind it one bit. I like having my own desk and my own laptop.I like labelling files and sorting out papers.

But it also worries me that I might get too comfortable. And then not have enough guts to get out when I really want to.

Hopefully, by the end of the next 6 months I'll know exactly where I want to be.

Baby Noor

I'm not too fond of lizards but unlike most people I don't think they're creepy and disgusting. I do hate mosquitoes though. Lizards eat mosquitoes. So all my life I've followed the simple logic of a lizard being an enemy's enemy and thus, my friend.

But for a while now I've been noticing these baby lizards all over my house. They're just beyond cute. With tiny hand and feet that look like they're been sketched on the wall, these lizards are just adorable. Watching them run around the house has been so much fun. Many an exam night I have spent looking out for these lizards for some entertainment.

I can't believe people shoo them out of their house or even try to kill them!

Since I have been so in love with these baby lizards, I decided to name them! I can't really differentiate between them so they're all called Noor :)

The last baby Noor was spotted a couple of days ago but I haven't seen her since. I'm waiting for a new one to pop on my walls soon!

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Believe it or not, your life does not depend on the Direct Tax Code.
Really.

-Pa

HAPPY FAMILY.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ROGER!

Why so sad.

How are you feeling now?

I'm ok. No fever now.I just feel all fat.

But you're not fat.

I am.

Why don't you watch something on TV? Watch So you think you can Dance.

Look at them. They're all so thin.

Ok, so maybe this was not such a good idea.

Its just so hot.

Then why don't you switch on the AC?

Because then its just too cold.

Then just increase the temperature.

but it doesn't go above 25.

Are you sure you're ok?

I just feel like crying.

Umm..why? Did someone say something at work?

No. I just get this feeling from time to time.

__________________________________________________________

Are you feeling better today?

I spent the entire afternoon crying.

Why?

It happens sometimes. I'm fat, I haven't studied and I'm not motivated enough.

But you're sick. You can't be motivated.

Still.

_____________________________________________________________

Hello.

Ok woman here's the deal. I know you really like to, but you need to stop wallowing in self pity. Stop wallowing.Stop.

umm..ok.

Have you cried in the last two hours?

No.

Have you eaten anything?

I want to eat Spaghetti.

You know you really make it impossible for anyone to help you.