Let the fear prevail

BJP’s Bhay Ho video that's doing its rounds on YouTube to counter Congress’s Jai ho, kind of hits you below the belt, whether we like it or not. The video was apparently sent to BJP by a party sympathiser and is not an official release. But it sure works well for them.

This sixty seconder parody of Slumdog’s song Jai Ho is sung by 2 street children and  goes like this:

Ratti ratti sachi hamne jaan ganvai hai,

bhooke pet jaag jaag raat bitayi hai,

mandi ki maar mein naukri ganva di,

gin gin vade hamne jindagi bita di,

mandi ho, atank ho, mahangai ho, bhay ho, phir bhi jai ho!

 

Not that BJP has done a better job in not instilling fear. I can’t image living  under BJP’s leadership, let alone Manmohan Uncles’.  We’ve seen what a mess congress has made of our country. Man, what choice have we got this time? No really, who will you vote for and why?  And this time we have a far more aware voter.  At least I see a lot of action in the blogsphere and internet over the coming up elections. Check out this site: www.engagevoter.in . And I am sure the youth this time is more aggressive about bringing a better government to power. But look at the choices, it makes me cry. But, I come back to my question- who should you vote for? Who kept up promises? Who has a clean chit from the law? Who will let me and my daughter walk in sleeveless tops and shorts without being slapped? Who will ensure me a peace of mind while I watch a movie, in a packed cinema hall without having the imminent fear of being blown into pieces? Who will get those petrol prices down? Its an endless list. And I haven’t even touched on the most important questions yet.

I know its not as simple. I have my set of duties too that I need to perform  before I raise a finger, before I ask questions, before I give up. And Gulaal, Yuva like movies stir something inside me, but then again like the many politicians, I remain apathetic, hoping someone else will do the job. 

As Gandhi once said- Be the change you want to see in the world.

Friday

Friday is the best day of the week. Even better than the weekend itself. The general mood is happy. The air is heavy with a happy kind of anticipation- of the coming weekend. Its completely besides the point what you actually end up doing over the weekend. What I am trying to convey, is a feel good factor about everything around you on a Friday. The music you choose is a happy peppy one, the wine and beers are in stock , you make Biriyani for dinner, and you make long winding plans for the weekend- like it were Christmas break.
Your plans are a little far fetched, but who cares, its just a plan. You think you can manage grocery shopping, catch a movie, go for dinner, do a picnic, shop, catch up on sleep, meet some friends, hit the park, go to the zoo, watch opera, sit by the harbour, get a DVD home for a late night watch and call a list of friends you have been meaning to call in the longest time. Of course, none of this happens, except for the grocery bit, and maybe some DVD viewing late in the night, after the little rascal is asleep after her day long histrionics. But but but- Friday is not like that.

Friday is sweet. Its like you were expecting your favourite person to arrive from a far away land; like you were to meet your boyfriend after 2 long days ; like your birthday was soon coming up and you can't wait to rip open your gifts....

Get the drift? And then your partner is back at 4pm and makes cha for you. :). Nice. I like.

My wine is chilled, and i hear him pop up cork. Cheers!

Mood Food

If you’ve lived with me long enough, you could tell the mood I am in, by just looking at the dinner table.

In an unusually spectacular mood: Thai curry, Chicken Casserole, Grilled Fish, Chicken Biriyani, Raita, Tiramisu (table laid, with finest cutlery, Candle light, wine et al)

In a good mood: Doi maach, Tomato begun, Cholaar dal, Prawn- Malai curry, Luchi, Bhaat

In a depressed mood: MTR

In a foul Mood: Burnt Alu, saltless Masoor dal, Rice just enough for Meeshu

In a very very very bad mood: No food.

In a I am fed up of cooking but why the hell would you care mood: Toast, butter.

In a why the hell are we having this party mood: Over cooked Biriyani with no salt, chips for starters

In a neutral mood: Rice, left over fridge food.

In a I am missing home mood: Hyderabad House, Paramatta, Sydney

Technorati Tags: Moods,food,me

WIP

Some 10 people asked me how my book was coming up. I thought it requires an update.

I told R, this laptop is way too heavy for me to carry all over the city. I needed a smaller version, like  HP Mini.

So, that’s where my book is stuck. You know who to blame.

The Home Makers of PGW

Hadn’t she been the one

who had  in a rather smug manner complained,

they don’t have better things to do.

Why, they can’t talk beyond their kids, husbands and mothers in law.

She had so disapproved their evening chai gossip sessions

and their congregation at the park, exchanging recipes.

Go, learn an art, or read a book.

Why then, did she crave to share her mug of cha with a next door neighbour,

and oh, how she waited to hear her door bell ring.

She wished them to be here, the home-makers from PGW,

to talk, share, gossip, fret, fume, laugh, complain, sigh and say

Its not easy, being a home maker.

Today she takes back all those unkind words she had said, of them.

All day long she repeats what they had said- yes, its not easy being a home maker,

and while she said those words, she sniggers at some suited booted women who walk past her.

 

Technorati Tags: home maker,verse,unhappy

Of incorrigible partners

Print this poster and put it up on your bathroom mirror. May be, it’ll help?

 

Anything that is not in front of you, or on a messy table, can’t be declared ‘lost’. You can try looking into neat, well kept draws, where things are supposed to be kept. Just so that everyday, for half an hour in the morning, you need not lose you car keys, wallet, access cards, home keys, and find it anyway. Better still, get back home and leave you stuff in the draw, a place you know, you will find them, next morning.

You imagine every phone call from your partner to be an enquiry about the time you’d be back that evening. So the minute you pick the phone, you say you are in a meeting. Have you ever thought of a possibility that the call was perhaps to tell you that she loves you very much.

Every Saturday need not be spent on grocery shopping. At times, the fridge is loaded with vegetables that you won’t eat, but will buy anyway. That’s fine you know. Just ensure you get the stuff and rack them in places, like normal human beings do. Don’t stuff them up.

You do not live in a boys hostel anymore. If you change into your shorts, the trouser and shirt you’ve taken off, needs to be put  back on to a hanger, and hung inside a wardrobe. However, if you wish to leave them on the floor anyway, why don’t you hire some help from those Smith or whoever, the cleaning guys.

The terrace is not your personal ashtray.

Have you ever noticed the mugs arranged under the mirror in the bathroom? They are not beer mugs. They are meant for toothbrushes. Now that you know, you perhaps will care to please put back yours in it, starting tomorrow morning?

Vacuum cleaning the house, is not your partner’s birth right. You could try it sometimes too, you know. Its fun.

Your partner is not a cleanliness freak. Your partner likes to maintain a beautiful home for you. It is when stuffing toys back into the toy box 30 times a day and collecting your clothes from the loo, study, bedroom and from strategic corners, makes her a complete freak.

You like quoting – the world’s best cooks are men. How about trying to become one?

A home has more than 2 mugs to break monotony and for guests who like hot chocolate, coffee and tea. Not because you like leaving them in strange places, because there more mugs anyway.

How come nudging and pushing don’t wake you? But a subtle tring on the Goddamn blackberry does?

Has your tea loving partner ever said NO to tea in all those years you’ve known each other? Then, why why why ask?

Your partner cooks, cleans, dusts, scrubs, loves, writes, smiles, socialises, praises, plays, gyms, paints. Its perfectly okay if she can’t drive. Driving is not a virtue.

Its amazing how dirty you are, but still prefer wearing ironed tees and shorts. Just remember, someone does it for you.

OK, so you’ve made your partner brekky. Great. But why expect praises for the rest of the bloody year? For toast and butter??!

 

But despite all this, we continue to want you in our lives because we love you, you incorrigible creatures.

The woman who thought she was Virginia Woolf

This one was  new. A character she thought was so like her. It was Virginia. Virginia Woolf. She feels stressed, trapped, wronged, and incredibly depressed, just like Virginia. She had her moments of restlessness and high activity, alongside times, when the world came to a complete stand still for her, like Mrs Woolf. There is a party she imagines to host in the evening, of which she is extremely stressed about. Yes, exactly like Virginia’s Mrs Dalloway. There is a Pavlova to be made and she is sure it would turn out all wrong. And he would obviously despise her for it ………and what of the other guests… She abandoned those thoughts and set to write. Its what calmed her, or so she thought, till she starts thinking of the plot, of which she has been working on, in her mind, for years.

She talks to him in a strange British laced accent, and frames long winding sentences while talking to her friends, like they did in nineteenth century classics.  And she would speak in a strange ‘book’ like way. She would say things like - why, yes, Sue, certainly you would want to think about the irrational decision you’ve made and just informed me of, but I can’t reckon the motive behind such a hideous resolution, much less agree to it.

She would transport herself into a world, that only she had insight to. While others thought, she had gone all deaf, she’d be in the middle of an open meadow, staring at the clear blue sky above her. She would do some very strange things. At times when she’d be in her normal hide, she’d try and compare herself with Virginia and think how similar she was with her..except for the fact that she was straight and the idea of getting intimate with a woman abhorred her. And suicide was not exactly the way she imagined to die. And of course, she couldn’t even dream of having her kind of talent, and writing prowess. Virginia was a Goddess. But apart from this, she loved playing Virginia Woolf.

This had been on for two days. He was being patient.

I think the last straw was when she speaks to him of a certain character she wishes to murder in her virtual novel. That’s when he heads straight to the DVD rental store and picks up Harry Met Sally, Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron, Amar Akbar Anthony and another mindless Mithun da flick. He curses himself for letting her rent  The Hours.

When things settle, and he gets his regular breakfast and doesn’t see excessive amount of flowers in flower vases scattered around the house, he feels better. Its time they had a little talk. “ Its your stupid, warped head that makes you want to see those films. Twisted wonked out books and movies. Next time you try your Virginia Woolf with me, I promise to become Mr. Hyde.” They burst out laughing and she begs him to let her watch Memoirs of a Geisha.

“Good Lord, NO”!

(After he left for work the next day, she slowly pulls out ‘Moments of Being- Autobiographical Writings’, by Virginia Woolf. With a cup of Cha and a big fat fluffy doughnut, she settles on her favourite recliner).

Technorati Tags: Semi Fiction,self,books,Films,The Hours

Therapy

A few weeks back Jhinni’s status message on FB was - ‘cleaning is therapeutic’. That got me thinking. What is it that heals me? Especially when I am in a terribly low mood. And I found my answer- baking! The procedures, precise methods and getting the recipe just right, makes it involving and at the end a very satisfying experience. Baking is not new to me. I have been associated with baking since I was a toddler. Ma is a fantastic baker. She baked fresh breads, cakes and cookies for us. We never knew back then to appreciate oven fresh cookies and breads. Even a thought of it now, makes me drool. Ma was summoned to bake cakes for children’s birthday parties and for  ladies' club parties and picnics. She always made the most mind blowing chocolate cakes I have ever had. Well, she still does. And as kids, Dada and I sat by ma around the big mixing bowl, waiting like hungry dogs to lick the bowl clean after she had finished pouring the batter into the cake mould. We begged her to leave some extra batter just so we got to lick a little of of that buttery sugary raw batter… and how we fought over it!! Dada is now a serious corporate honcho, but will give his right arm to get his hands on that cake mixing bowl, even today. I bet.

So then, I indulged in some cake therapy today (yes yes, it happened right after the YouTube session). And I can’t tell you how complete I feel. And the house is infused with the fresh aroma of vanilla and so are my senses.  Ummmmmaaah.Lovely.

Yes, one of those rare days, when she agreed to wear a frock and a blue one at that. Look at that smile. Indeed satisfying. Visit my food blog in sometime to see the cup cakes :).

When nothing makes sense.

Sometimes nothing makes sense. This world, money, people, love, food. Nothing. And it is in times like these, that I turn to YouTube. And then everything makes sense all over again.

Everything is suddenly romantic. The weather, the mess around you, the joblessness, the nothingness of it all. Everything is around you in bright, happy shades.

 

 

How can things not change with a little music in your life?

 

 

Technorati Tags: youtube,self,songs,movies,music,romance

Chicken nuggets, Harvey , Arziyaan, the good life.

Watching a movie all by yourself, munching on Chicken nuggets dipped in Aporto chilli sauce, can be an extremely exhilarating and liberating experience. I did that today for the second time in my life. The first time was in Hyderabad many years back- but that experience was anything but liberating. Oh well, before I go any deeper, have I told you that meeshu's day care cum school or whatever they call it here is in a shopping mall in our suburb? Now you know. I like my readers knowing these little details- helps them picturise what KG does after dropping Mish at daycare. I had no plans for today. I thought I'll get back to make R's fish curry and catch up on some reading. I almost left the mall but on to my right this poster was screming out loud- LAST CHANCE HARVEY. Last show today. It almost read LAST CHANCE KG. So I walked up to the counter, bought a ticket and went right in. I still haven't figured why and how I did that. I didn't give myself a second to think...u know what I am talking about?
The first thing that hit me on entering the hall was the fact that I had the ENTIRE hall to myself. :D :D. hehaahahawwww. waaow. I always thought it takes a lot of money to book a hall all to yourself. I also found it strange because this is an impossible thing to happen back home. There would at least be 10 vela loafers, who'd come by to catch a 10.30 am movie. At least college kids?? And to think of DDLJ running for some 10-12 years now in that Maratha Mandir in Mumbai?!!
No-no. Ozzy land is something else. People here would rather take their partners on a day out surfing or biking. Nice, passionate, enthusiastic people. At least that ensured a full hall to myself. I couldn't have been more pleased. I called R who was slogging his backside off in Melbourne- 'I'm watching a movie.' 'Oh? have fun'.

I don't know how many expletives he must have used on hanging up, coz there he was slogging, and here I was sipping on orange juice and nibbling chicken....but am pretty much sure a lot of women are doing that right now -- poo-poohin this educated-yet-vela-mother-living-on-her-husband babe. But its ok, you know.

So, then, I saw the movie and cried bucket loads at many points and wondered what I was doing there in pitch dark watching such a tear jerker, all alone. (Its a beautiful film, go watch if you like soppy romantic flicks). But slowly the movie got happier, and so did I. After the film, I bought myself a Skim Latte- yea for the snooty wanna be slim babes like me - and walked past some boring shops. I window shop there so often that I know exactly if a sushi roll has been sitting on that counter for too long, or if a skirt which was on sale the previous day was being sold for full price the next day.

jus then, Arziyaan started booming into my ears from my Ipod. I realised I was in the wrong place. I walked straight out of the mall, walked a few paces and hit the bay. Sat on the bench and stared at the still waters and lip synched to - Sar utha ke maine to kitni khwaahishein ki thi..Kitne khwaab dekhe the kitni koshishein ki thi Jab tu rubaroo aaya, Jab tu rubaroo aaya nazrein na mila paaya, Sar jhuka ke ek pal mein, Sar jhuka ke ek pal mein maine kya nahi paaya.... and little by little got high on Kailash Kher and Javed Ali.

Life is good.

(PS: I still think Harvey's daughter should have let him give her away at the wedding ceremony. Oh that poor poor guy.)

You are such a jerk :) :) :)

There is one thing I can’t thank the developers enough- for creating the magical ‘Smiley’’  :) :) :)  That little small face that you add to save many a situation, where it mainly involves saving your posterior.  Have you ever given those small faces a serious thought? I did, and realised they are God sent :).

 

Smiley for business use:

1. Email to the client : ‘Hey K, hope your Monday is going as smooth as can be :). Well, your layouts are coming. Will mail them to you in an hour, till then enjoy your coffee :) :)

2. After 4 hours of that email- Hi K, sorry, my mobile conked off, and the power decided to give us a slip since lunch time. :( Your Layouts are ready, and will email them the minute the computers come to life :)

3. After reading an email full of @#%$^!!#$#% and asking me to come personally to deliver those layouts- ‘I know K, this is getting out of hand and those layouts are long due and the brochure should go into print today, but I have a meeting set in the next half an hour in electronic city :(  :(. I have told my guys here to email it to you the minute the power comes :). You’ll love the layouts. :)

4. After successfully dodging the presentation of the horrible brochure layouts till the next day, an email goes- ‘G’morning, K. Here are your brochure layouts :) :). The power came at some insane 2 am this morning!!

5. Where the hell is the email????? Sorry K, for some reason the damn creatives are stuck in my out box. Will see you this afternoon with the layouts personally! :) :)

6. Client writing to agency: Hey, got the layouts. need a re-work on ALL :). Call this afternoon?

7. Client’s mail to agency after an email fight with servicing, and the client’s boss breathing down her neck over deadlines: Hi, I know re-working all of it is tough, but lets at least put our heads together and brainstorm on what best can be done to get the stuff out by tonight. We are a team, people, and like always I know, we’ll pull this off too :).

8. After agency does it, after a whole night of no sleep, client’s email: Hi people, can you guys come over to my office at two, for a new brief? :)

9. A smiley that I am sure is doing its rounds these days- Dear xyz, unfortunately due to the recession, the company is unable to give you your yearly bonus. But am sure you will be glad that you still have your job :).

 

Smiley for ‘friendly’ use:

1. Hiee!! You are such a goddamn bitch :) :) :). well, you could have stopped by you know!

2. Babe, thanks for those encouraging words. I could have done without them :) :). But thanks anyway. :D

3. I am not mad at you ya (read she is pissed mad and wants to kill her), its just my mood, you know na :)

4. Sorry for ditching :)

 

Smiley for use on husbands

1. No food tonight :(. Let’s go out? :)

2. Hey, know what..i picked up those shoes on my way to work, finally :D :D

3. I just bought that phone, u can use it sometimes too :D :D

4. I love you :D

 

:) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :)

You are such a jerk :) :) :)

There is one thing I can’t thank the developers enough- for creating the magical ‘Smiley’’ :) :) :) That little small face that you add to save many a situation. Have you ever given those small faces a serious thought? I did, and realised they are God sent :).

Smiley for business use:

1. Email to the client : ‘Hey K, hope your Monday is going as smooth as can be :). Well, your layouts are coming. Will mail them to you in an hour, till then enjoy your coffee :) :)

2. After 4 hours of that email- Hi K, sorry, my mobile conked off, and the power decided to give us a slip since lunch time. :( Your Layouts are ready, and will email them the minute the computers come to life :)

3. After reading an email full of @#%$^!!#$#% and asking me to come personally to deliver those layouts- ‘I know K, this is getting out of hand and those layouts are long due and the brochure should go into print today, but I have a meeting set in the next half an hour in electronic city :( :(. I have told my guys here to email it to you the minute the power comes :). You’ll love the layouts. :)

4. After successfully dodging the presentation of the horrible brochure layouts till the next day, an email goes- ‘G’morning, K. Here are your brochure layouts :) :). The power came at some insane 2 am this morning!!

5. Where the hell is the email????? Sorry K, for some reason the damn creatives are stuck in my out box. Will see you this afternoon with the layouts personally! :) :)

6. Client writing to agency: Hey, got the layouts. need a re-work on ALL :). Call this afternoon?

7. Client’s mail to agency after an email fight with servicing, and the client’s boss breathing down her neck over deadlines: Hi, I know re-working all of it is tough, but lets at least put our heads together and brainstorm on what best can be done to get the stuff out by tonight. We are a team, people, and like always I know, we’ll pull this off too :).

8. After agency does it, after a whole night of no sleep, client’s email: Hi people, can you guys come over to my office at two, for a new brief? :)

9. A smiley that I am sure is doing its rounds these days- Dear xyz, unfortunately due to the recession, the company is unable to give you your yearly bonus. But am sure you will be glad that you still have your job :).


Smiley for ‘friendly’ use:

1. Hiee!! You are such a goddamn bitch :) :) :). well, you could have stopped by you know!

2. Babe, thanks for those encouraging words. I could have done without them :) :). But thanks anyway. :D

3. I am not mad at you ya (read she is pissed mad and wants to kill her), its just my mood, you know na :)

4. Sorry for ditching :)


Smiley for use on husbands

1. No food tonight :(. Let’s go out? :)

2. Hey, know what..i picked up those shoes on my way to work, finally :D :D

3. I just bought that phone, u can use it sometimes too :D :D

4. I love you :D



:) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :)

Fictional facts

She had a fundamental problem maintaining her blog. People had started believing all that she wrote – in the sense, they starting putting two and two together, started relating every single word with her life. It was getting dangerous. She was partly to be blamed, of course. She was too lazy to add labels and tags like fiction, fact, story, semi-true, fully true etc. But the problem was not just others. The problem was her husband who was a devoted fan of her blog had also started making facts out of the fiction she wrote. So suddenly he’d come up with suspicious questions, out of the blue. Like, so do you really like chick flicks? or comments like, ‘I think a guy who has seen Gone with the wind 25 times is a pansy’. I don’t remember telling you I saw Gone with the wind…. The most baffling one was with a Shorshe Bata post she wrote about a jealous wife who made her husband eat MTR ready to eat food, despite making his favourite mustard fish, because she was sick of hearing him say, he missed his mum’s cooking. On reading that post, he was quick to correct, ‘ma cooks only occasionally, Amma, the cook, has been cooking at home for over 15 years in our house, you know’….a desperate attempt to tell her that he loved her food and couldn’t remember praising his mum excessively in front of her. And even more baffling was when her mother started calling her up from India, asking inquisitively ‘ I heard you aren’t feeding your husband well?’

She remembered what her friend told her recently- babe, Yes you do write well - because you observe well. But you don't steal. I plagiarize - relentlessly. From life. She wanted to call her right then and say, stealing she did, and that too pretty shamelessly. She stole from things around her, from the people she met. That’s how she wrote. Borrowed, stole, plagiarized from her neighbours, friends, parks, trains, supermarkets, comic character like relatives, crazy lovers, dogs, couples…

She borrowed heavily from couples, and made a story of her own. But she ensured she didn’t borrow too much to give them away. She probably picked their backgrounds, the way they spoke, the look of their living room perhaps. And then, she distorted the truth mercilessly. It gave her a strange sort of wicked satisfaction. Actually, come to think of it, it was not troubling her at all. She liked the fact that there was so much speculation around what she wrote, especially from her husband who had such a puzzled look each time there was a new post on her blog. It tickled her and pleased her. with an evil grin on her face, she resolves to write more of these…she rubbed her hands in glee and started punching keys on her keyboard, in a devilish frenzy.

A tiff

What does one do when a couple has exactly opposite tastes in movies? Its the worst thing that can happen to a couple actually. No no, its not all that bad if he was Bong and she a Mallu. Never mind the fact that her mother insisted  he wore a veshti in the wedding, and his mom created a ruckus over the white saree she chose. Even eating the awesome Rui maach in coconut oil is okay once in a while. And he was also ok with having curd after coconut oil Maach-Bhaat. But what the hell does one do in front of the TV, with different films to watch on a  weekend? Its bad, really. Especially when she wants to watch PS I love You, and he is sulking that he hasn’t had an opportunity to watch Quantum of Solace, yet. 

They fight. She cries. Old grudges are unwrapped and presented on a plate. Go ahead. Eat it. Didn’t you once tell her in one of those wooing dates that you had watched Gone With The Wind 25 times? Now eat the bloody lie. Eat it, she says. He  had even gone on record telling her that, his idea of a perfect evening was, having her head on his lap, while he stroked her hair, and they both watched endless romantic flicks back to back, nibbling on Lays Sour Cream & Onion. Forget watching those flicks, he wants the entire couch to himself. The week end is threatened to be ruined. She forewarns that she will take the TV into her room. It was hers anyway. Hadn’t she gifted  him the TV on his birthday?  So it had been her money, after all. A Sony Bravia doesn’t come cheap. She had paid installments for a 8 long months, and look how he was behaving. So she threatens to retract her gift. He chides her of her taste in films- soppy girlie stuff, he says. She sobs louder.  You never really loved me, she cries. What had love got to do with all this, he yells back.

What more must he go through, he thought. Fish in coconut oil was a torture enough, a weekend over Harry met Sally types was totally not his cuppa tea. He blames all his friends who said Bongs and Mals made great couples.

It didn’t really matter what they ate, if they didn’t like the same kind of films, life goes for a full bloody toss. Grumbling, he goes for a game of cricket.

 

(Of course, in a few week’s we see a brand new Panasonic Vierra in the living room.This one is 10 inches bigger than the Bravia. He insisted on buying it all by himself. He wanted to be safe this time- he doesn’t tell her that, silly. Happy moments again.  Both, cosy on their couch, watching Grey’s Anatomy. The weekend is  a distant 4 days away. Meanwhile, peace lurks. Its immaterial that, when the weekend will eventually arrive, there will be another tiff, despite the fact that there were two TVs in the house. ‘What’s the point of watching a film if you can’t watch it together’, she yells….that’s how it starts yet again)

Write

I had once told myself, if I have a total of even 3 people who read my blog regularly and said at least one good thing in 6 months, I will consider writing a book. 2 days back when I posted a link on FB, I was advised by many to seriously consider writing a book. That’s awesome advise, you know. I thought about it very seriously, really. And the more I thought of it, the more definite my decision to write got. I wanted to know how it would change my life, and just you see the brilliant responses I got from myself -

So, if I agree, and start writing a book-

• I will have an excuse to not look for a job any further. Screw recession.
• At the pretext of writing a book, I could go to the harbour bridge and sit on a quaint bench with my laptop and pretend writing funny stories.
• Since Raj is also of those who wants me to pen a book, I could ask him to fund a trip to London,where my story will be set- I need to see the city and know it, to put my characters on strategic streets and tube stations, right?
• I could also ask him to buy me a Sony Vaio, or a Mac book pro where I can write my book. Need inspiration, no?
• I can start sending Meeshu to day care on all 5 days instead of 3- I need my space you see?
• I can ask Raj to cook, need time you know.
• I can ask Raj to clean and scrub too, I’ll have some more free time then. So while he is in the kitchen, I languish on a deck chair, in my bay-facing terrace.  Writers need to think, fool.
• Oh, the best part of it all- I can sit by a cafe and eat endless doughnuts and cha, because each time I dig into a doughnut, I get a million story ideas.
• And when I get a writer’s block, we could go to a romantic getaway, to New Zealand, perhaps, to reignite my imagination.

Besides all this, when someone asks me this reaally annoying question (almost all do), if I have finally secured a job, I can say in  a husky voice- eh, well, I am writing a book these days…i don’t plan on doing these stuck-in-a-rut job any longer’.  I am tired of blaming the recession and waiting for Obama.

So, its a decision. KG will write a book after all.  The benefits are far too lucrative to be ignored. Please stop jeering. A lot of people have really said I write well. IK went on record saying, my writing style is incomparable. And am sure he wasn’t buffooning around, in his trademark style.

Two names

But why can’t I wear black?

Because its your wedding, Titash. Our wedding, rather. How can you think of wearing black?

Oh please, Rajan. You make me nervous you know, with this sudden interest in superstitions. Since when did you start believing that colours could bring bad luck?

But, who is talking about bad luck here? All I am saying is, its our wedding, so wear something peppy, happy, bright. May be a blue? Please, Tits!

Stop calling me that…sheesh! its disgusting.

Its only me babe, I like calling you that…you look adorable when you go all wonky..you know, your nostrils flare up!!

Raaaaju! Shut up.

Now why would you want to call me that? All servants back home either have that name or have named one of their sons that.

What do you expect? You think Rajan is a very hep name, as is?

Why not Raj?

Cause it sounds filmy. And you don’t possess half of Srk’s charisma nor do you have his kind of money. That’s why.

Forget it. So its blue, then?

NO. Black.

Tits, please.

If you don’t stop calling me that, I’ll call the wedding off.

Why couldn’t your parents name you something better? TITASH.  Sounds like a bad car crash. What the hell does that mean?

First, stop abusing. My name came from a movie. It was Ritwick Ghatak’s film- Titash Ekti Nodir Naam. It means, ‘A river named Titash’. That’s how I got it. My parents adored Ghatak’s films. There is so much depth in his films. I think its a well thought name. What is Rajan any way?  So down market.

Ghatak? who the hell is that? Rajan means a king. How majestic. My parents gave me a name with potential and personality. Not some frivolous movie name! And that’s exactly how you are behaving, like your name- frivolous.

Frivolous?? You call Ghatak’s films frivolous? Is that what you think? Oh damn. I should have known who I was marrying. Someone who doesn’t even know who Ghatak is! Its a shame to my family. No wonder Baba was so against this wedding. He must have seen a lack of depth in you…oh you are so hollow.

Hollow my ass. How can you be so nasty? I love you. How can you suddenly become so different. I just saw someone so different in you. Do you really give a damn about who Ghatak was? 

Yes, I do, Rajan. Ghatak matters to me, the way Ray does, Saurab Ganguly does, Rasogulla does. Mohan bagan does. Uttam Kumar does. Bongness matter to bongs. You can’t get away with a single word of slander against anything remotely bong. And if you really want to marry me, you have to marry my bongness along with me. If you can’t do that lets call it quits.

 

There you go again. You can’t keep calling off the wedding every five minutes, babe. OK, I won’t comment about your name any further. But you have to promise me something.

Anything at all. But never ever provoke the bongness in me.

Done. Now will you wear this Blue silk, tomorrow?

Ok. *smile* *hugs*

I love you, Raju.

I love you, Tits. Ummm… by the way…who is Uttam Kumar...?

Ask, believe, VISUALISE, receive….. Bingo!

The Secret remains my friend, philosopher and guide, in times of dire need of motivation, love and self-belief. I follow all that she (Rhonda) says like a puppy. Her simple- ‘ask – believe- visualise- receive’  mantra, has done wonders to me. I actually create miracles whenever I want :D. That’s what i am going to do today. The book says when you ask for something, believe in it, and start manifesting those thoughts inside you. And then start VISUALISING it like it were happening.    Rhonda says if you want a car start visualising the colour of the car, put your hands on the steering wheel, drive it, close your eyes and feel the breeze….smile, enjoy…think of every little detail. This exercize takes yo a step closer to what you want. You cannot doubt how the universe will make this happen. You need not worry either. Just ask, and start believing that its coming soon.

 

I have tried this with small little things…and each time I have done it with all my heart, I have made it happen. Ice creams, pizzas, Microsoft, love, peace, great boss, a pair of shoes, mending relationships, friendships, Australia. These are the miracles, I made possible with my positive thoughts.

So if I can make so much happen, why not try something bigger?! So, here I am happily visualising ONE of my life’s biggest dreams- a home of my own. Our home. Mish Mash’s, Raj’s, Coffee’s and Mine. Coffee is the Lab, who will be part of our lives soon, when we go back to India.

 

Here goes.

This house, will be in Hyderabad. In a locality that could be one of these- Uma Nagar, Banjara Hills or in Secunderabad. It will be a flat - 2500-3000 sqft. Lets call her ‘Snow white’. So, Snow white will have a big terrace overlooking vast spaces of greens or water. She will have a total of 4 bedrooms. The master bedroom and guestrooms will have a balcony each which will also overlook water or green fields/trees. The other two rooms: one for Mish mash and the other a BIG library cum study. Aside from these rooms, there will be the usual Kitchen, store and laundry. Snow White will be  beautiful, inviting and warm. She will love entertaining and charm her way through people’s hearts- so much so she will make friends with the guests who come, and they will keep coming back, again and again, to this enchantress.

 

Snow white will be a blend of contemporary styles from all over the world with a touch of rustic India. Snow white will be ALL white. The walls have to be stark white. The colours will come from other things..you’ll see how. One or two of the walls can have wall paper or a wall full of blue and green pebbles. The colour scheme that will run through the house will be around blues, greens and a touch of red/orange/yellow. Except Mish Mash’s which of course will be in shades of Pink.

 

Living Room.  The living room will have two parts. A lounge area and a family /entertainment area. The lounge will have white sofa/ couch or a wooden oone with white/off white upholstery clubbed with Rattan/Cane seating. Furniture will be non fussy but full of character and aura. So, no matching sofa sets please.  You’ll see a mix and match of a sofa and comfy chairs, modas and floor cushions. The center table will be a treasure chest or something very rustic. The sofa will be cushioned with turquoise blue and green silk cushions.  The living room will open into a tiny courtyard, which will have a really cute 4 seater table for my morning and evening cha. And the little courtyard will lead you to the terrace. There will be lamps of all kinds in strategic corners….(Incase you don’t know what to get for my housewarming, bring me a lamp- I will love you for it, forever). Hmmm, so from what i can see in my head, it will be an amalgamation of these pictures (my vision board for Snow white’s living room)

 

 

 

(source: Inside Outside, Australia)

 

 

The blues look more striking with a white backdrop. 

Source: House of Turquoise (This is such an awesome site people, make sure you visit it!)

Source: House of Turquoise

I love the way this corner is done- just the way corners should be- cosy. And the photo wall. Will elaborate on that a little later.

From flickr photostream of xjavierx

I like the painting here

Source: Elle Decor India – Art issue- Sept

Source: xjavierx’s Flickr photo stream

Source: Good old Fab India

 

 

I so so love the cushions and the touch of blue from the center pieces..

Source: Stylish living and entertaining, Australia

 

 

Aqua green patchwork floor cushion. Find it here

 

Awesome chairs, no? Source: House of Turquoise (MUST Must Must visit site)

 

I am lusting after this sofa and the painting behind.

Source: House of Turquoise

 

I love the look of books in the living room- it adds colour, charisma and so much personality to the house. Mine will have it too!

Source: the awesome House of Turquoise

 

The paintings behind, it brings the ocean into your living room!

Source: House of Turquoise

 

You Sit here, and you feel like the sea is not too far away..

Source: House of Turquoise

 

This is part I of my visualization exercise :). Just one part of my living room. Slowly, the entire house will come alive. Watch this space!

 

And for those who wanna know where and how I started creating miracles, go here: www.thesecret.tv