Dec 21, 2007

X'mas 2 Win!

there're a few organizations that make u feel proud to have been associated with them at some point of time in your life. c2w, is definitely one of them. they're absolute creative geniuses... saw this video on an ex-colleague's orkut profile... and cudn't not post it here!



they say, first jobs are always special. technically, my first job wasn't c2w, but whatever i learned towards being professional, diplomatic & ethical, i can certainly credit AK for it. it's rare to have a boss you can look upto. one who's a celebrity. and a genius. who leads by example. is not only a good boss, but also an amazing human being. it's the place i made one of my closest frenz - vibs. it's a place where i realized that if u're genuinely talented, u don't need to throw ur weight around. i realized that fun and work CAN live together. that ethics do exist in media. that the world is not really that bad a place. without taking names, just wanted to let all of them know - am really honored that i was considered worthy of working with u! all u guys who make c2w what it has been and is, even today! it was really nice to know that office hasn't changed a lot since i left. more, to know the spirit that makes it so amazing is still alive and kicking! and yeah, i still visit the site. regularly.

oh yes... enjoy d video... and merry x'mas y'all!


Dec 20, 2007

easy? yeah, right!

i have a predicament. actually, it's more of a realization.
now, if u've been following this blog for a while, u'd know that i recently *a year ago* learnt to cook. before u shudder or move on directly to the comments section and say something smart-alecky.. THAT is not the problem!

the problem, however, is this. i screw up the simplest dishes.

picture this:
6 people coming over for dinner. last minute notice. i can manage to cook appetizers, main course and of course, we buy the desert! *what did u think, i was superwoman!?* but d point is i usually manage to cook decently enough for whoever's eating to help themselves to seconds. and sometimes ask me how i cooked it. and trust me, i quite pride myself on such occasions! *i also brag about it to suruchi/minal.. whoever i find online.* i'm not overtly fond of cooking, but i manage.

then, after a couple of days of eating "rich" food, when the tummy wants a simple meal. umm... i screw it up! meals as simple as daal/chawal *not d the chawal, i screw up d daal*, rajma, or even the wretched boiled aloo sabzi!

i can make kick-ass palak paneer, but boiled aloo ki traditional maharashtrian sabzi? oh gosh!

i KNOW how to cook these. trust me, my mom and my MIL thot that these wud be the only things i'd be cooking. *d rest of them cudn't imagine me cooking. still can't.* and there i am! proving them wrong all over again!

i tried following recipes *which, has never worked for me*, i tried going with the flow and cooking it as i cook other food. naah, not working. i even tried reading mom's recipe and doing everything the same way and STILL screwed it up! what is it!?

and this is supposed to be easy-to-cook, u know! i remember my aunt once saying, 'if someone's coming over unannounced for dinner, just boil those potatoes and cook it up. simplest thing to make'.
*me hass a looong puppy face as i write this.*

it's like "beti ko chai banaana toh aata hi hoga?" DAMN! wrong example. i can't make tea either! well, we both are coffee drinkers! so that's not really an issue!

but d point is, WHY are these allegedly simple dishes SO complicated for me?! and why is it that i manage perfectly well with everything that's supposedly complicated? i think V was right... my brains ARE in my pinkie toe! :(

i wish i cud figure out how not to screw this up. either that, or how to not feel guilty when i screw it up. oh, wait! i already know that!

Dec 19, 2007

...in a decade...

am tagged again! thinking aloud thinks i'm being too wicked coz i'm quite vella... *she's right on that one!* and i ought to think a bit. so here i am! tagged to list the 10 things i wanna do in the next decade.

disclaimer: no, this is not a list of all the hypothetical stuff i keep wanting to do... like getting a pet tiger, professional figure skating *yeah, rite!*, becoming a professional wildlife photog and all d super fantastic things i wished i could've done. this is a list of the practical things i've actually wanted and are feasible to me at this point of time, age & size. it's taken me all day to shortlist these from the "i wannntttt..." list!

so, coming to the tag. in no particular order, i intend to...

:: get a tattoo. i've been a complete chicken on this one. i've wanted one since i was in junior college. ma sed i cud get one, but then i shud also get surrogate parents. not in those many words, but that was d moral of the story. i guess she was prolly scared that i'd end up living in with a hippie or dope-head or something!

:: get a dog/cat. this in d next 2 years. for sure. there's a 'slash' there, coz i still have to decide whether i'm gonna stick to wanting a pet cat and waiting for it to adopt me or i'd get a dog whom I would be adopting. names for both have been finalized already. *v's logic is that we already have a cat in me. so another one would be a repetition. so we shud get a dog for novelty.* more pros & cons in another post, some other day.

:: live in at least one other country. and travel. this is a rather long list. of dream destinations. places that i want to visit. too long for a "point"... maybe i'll do a post on it someday...

::
write. something that's a lot more meaningful than this blog.
something that'll hopefully let me earn some money while doing what i love... would've said 'write a book', but i'm no longer sure i have the talent for that...

::
learn at least 2 new forms of dance. and no, u're never too old for
this! i used to learn dancing as a kid. and then, decided that i was a good enuf dancer if i cud dance on stage to bollywood/pop/firang songs. now i also feel i shud've made time & gone for those salsa classes. but it's still not too late. and 2 is not too unattainable a target.

:: own & decorate our own house. with a separate study room. of course, this room would house the books, music and d laptop with internet connection. and, by default, me.

::
become a "parent". yeah, i know! we've not yet thought of this one. but since this is for the next 10 years... well, sure i'd want a kid by then! AND i can only hope to be a decent mother to him/her. gosh! even writing this here is getting me worried. there's SO much to consider before we get to this level...


::
figure out what i want to do - work-wise. and hopefully, get on with
it! even if this is "stay-at-home"... i just hope i'm SURE of it.

::
figure out HOW to respond nicely to genuine intellectual innocence. this is something i've been working on since 2000. hope i get to the level where i know how to ignore or respond politely to such individuals.


::
hopefully, maintain my opinion that even if i don't achieve any of the above, i am still happy. with my life. with V. with what we have. with what i do. with who i am. amen!


any of you reading this, who avoid planning like i do... do take this up. if nothing else, it'll help u put ur fears of planning to rest!

Dec 17, 2007

p.s.: a wicked me...

edited to add:
"good gurlz go to heaven,
it's the wicked ones that have all the fun...!"

now that suruchi's reminded me of the R story... i shall post it here, as a P.S. to fuzzy's tag!

R had recently joined hungama. i shall NOT say what he did there. but let's suffice it that he was new to b'bay *the big, bad city*, a little wet behind the ears, married and yet, apparently unacquainted with how wicked women can be.
R also stayed VERY near my place... and mid-way to suruchi's. since he was new, *unacquainted with local trains* we offered him a lift home with us via cab. *yeah, we cabbed it home!*

R was being typically "new". he was trying to have a conversation with us while himesh played on the cab radio. it was at the end of a rather stressful day and both of us *suruchi & urz truly* were in case-taking mode.
suruchi: so, what've u done so far? *he was new and suruchi loves interviewing such folks. only to prove that our boss hasn't done a good enuf job. yeah, she's far more wicked than i am!*
R: i'm an engineer. i've done my engg from
*we both exchange snooty "ooohh, foren returned boy looks!" and laugh. loudly.*
R: but i haven't received my degree yet. i have to collect it from them. and it's been 3 years since i completed.
suruchi: i'm also an engg. but i have my degree.
me: *to R* so u have no proof that u're an engg?
R: *not expecting THIS question* NO! i mean, yes! i have! i have the certificates and documents and *blah blah blah*
needless to say we weren't listening.

after abt 20 mins of taking to each other and ignoring R, we'd reached juhu. i thought R shud be given a "mumbai-darshan" at that point of time.
me: have u heard about beer bars?
R: *with a look like a deer caught in headlights* yeah. why?
me: there're lots here.
R: oh. *pause* ok.
me: u know how to distinguish between beer bars and normal restaurants/bars?
R: no. *with a very obviously uncomfortable look on his face*
me: *paying no heed.* well, there's an armed guard standing outside the beer bars, u know. normal restaurants don't have guards. and u can see inside... blah blah blah...
R: *wondering why i was being so informative* have u been to one?
suruchi: no, never.
me: *realizing that he prolly thot too highly of suruchi to ask her that* no. but i would love to. in fact, i always wanted to be a dancer there. meri childhood aspiration thii, to be a bar dancer.
R: looking to suruchi for solace.
suruchi: yeah. *looking at R's scandalized expressions* she can still do it, right? she'll be good at it also.
by this point, he was really really scandalized. he didn't talk to me after that day, in fact. recently when i met him in bbay, all he said to me was "ok?" and refused to look me in the eye. like i actually danced in d beer bars.

actually, i'd tried this "i-wanna-be-a-bar-dancer" stunt once before this evening also.
circa 2003: at c2w, there was this new chick who'd joined. she was exceedingly daft and not the types they normally hire. one fine day, she asked me if i wanted to go for a movie after work. i told her i cudn't because i danced at a local bar and i cudn't get late. of course, vibs helped me by confirming this story to her. daft that she was, d only way she cud react was by asking "does "CEO" know?" yeah... i'd be worried about that!

okk... enuf sed! i think i can write a book on this topic! but i promise, no more on this topic from me now!

Dec 14, 2007

wicked wicked me...!

the wicked fuzzy tagged me to blog abt MY wickedness. she cudn't have found a better time. rite when i'm introspecting why santa's refused to visit me in a long long time.. she reminds me that i'm wicked! hmm... i don't deny i'm wicked. but i'm very subtly wicked. usually, people don't realize i'm being wicked towards them. they think i'm being "kind" to them. so, 95% of my wicked stories got canned, coz almost all the people i've been "kind" to read this blog. *or they say they do!* some don't. here're two of my ToM wicked stories!
-----------------------
i'd been at mica for a while, when they introduced the "creative program". these "creatives" lived off campus. *obviously, they cudn't share the esteemed land of shela with us superior mortals* but there was ONE who was offered a room on campus.
one fine nite, we *me and 5 other group-mates* were working in the comp lab on a presentation. i was to add the finishing touches on it. so i stayed back after the rest of my group had left. this creature from the creative batch, was working on something on a neighboring comp. now, if u knew me at MICA, u'd know i wasn't d friendliest person in my batch. unless we knew each other well. but the 'creative' didn't know that. so he asked me if i was good at english *he confessed he wasn't*. and asked me if i cud QC his artwork for him *his copywriter had gone away for the night.* i like QC'ing, coz it pertains to me correcting other people. so i agreed. we wrapped up and were going back to the hostels *he to his, and me to mine* when the by-then familiar sounds of peacocks mewing floated across the air. if u've heard a peacock mew, u'd know that it WUD sound scary to a newcomer at 4 in the morning in the middle of nowhere. i cud see d 'creative' was "concerned".

him: *looking around with a startled look* what was that? u heard?
me: yeah. keep walking and don't look behind.
him: what? why? what is that?
me: some chick committed suicide here after her boyfren spurned her. she roams around campus at nites. esp. at such unearthly hours. she is allegedly quite dangerous. just last week, she followed A. he managed to scathe by with a broken ankle. that's y all the lights in d rooms are off. and no1s outside right now. nobody warned u?
him: what?! NO! i don't know anyone here yet. my first day. how come u were out?
me: i'm a gurl. she's dangerous for boys! ONLY. u know hanuman chalisa?
him: HUH? no!! teach me!
me: no, i'm sleepy. it's ok. u just go to ur room. lock it. draw the curtain. keep the lights off. and DON'T open if anyone knocks. ok?
of course, i went back and knocked on his door after 5 mins. he found me the next morng to say that someone HAD knocked on his door. and he was thinking of shifting off campus with the rest of 'em folks.

*p.s.: i told him later that i'd made up d story and they were peacocks, not a spirit. we went ahead and became good frenz. today, he happens to be a part of some of my fondest memories from MICA.*
-----------------------

was about a couple of months into my 3rd job. and my boss here was rather hen-pecked. i was sitting at my boss's desk while he was away for a reliance meeting with S. they weren't expected back that day, coz the Rel offc happens to be outside the city, for all practical purposes! i was sifting thru his mails *HE'd told me to!* and trying to locate the one he'd apparently sent to me a couple of days ago. i hadn't received it. hence, the effort. but then, his land-line buzzed... and me, being me HAD to answer it! and it was this woman who snapped at me with a "who is that!?" now, i don't take politely to rude callers. all d worse, if they're women trying to give me attitude. so i sed "u called. i answered...so u are?"
*notice how she completely ignored my question?!*
she: is HE there?
me: *being VERY nice.* he's out, but i'd be able to take a message for him?
she: *snootily* no, thanks. i wanted to speak to him. when'll he be back?
me: u could try his cell, but i doubt he'll answer. he's with S, and they're out for the day. he shud be back here tomorrow, i guess.
she: HUH? WHAT? i'll try his cell. thanks!
turned out that was his wife. and he had a lot of explanations to give at home for MY answer!
p.s.: he was only at the reliance meeting. they weren't upto anything. i knew that. she, apparently, didn't!
-----------------------

there're many more:: like me having set a format in which V has to send me a detailed document if he needs to work over weekends. *i never check this doc, but it's fun to know he really makes it!* then there's giving suruchi's hubby incorrect info on how to use a conditioner - she was a partner in this crime! *i tried this later with V also. it worked!*, getting confidential info out of clients by telling them that the "other circle heads" gave it to me, troubling Mr. Teddy as i'd recounted here, harassing people who joined hungama and had to work with me, wearing a single anklet and spooking out a colleague who thought there was "something" following us coz of the tinkling sound of the anklet-bells... lots of wicked occasions! but since these two were top-of-mind... i'll leave u with them. enjoy! and do pick this tag and tell me that fuzz and i are not the only two wicked ones! oh yeah, if any of u who read this can think of any more of my wickedness... pls leave that story as a comment. i promise, i'll publish it if it's true.

this n that...

flicked this off galadriel...enjoy! while i go recollecting nuggets of wickedness for my next post on fuzzy's tag... hmm...

50. Have you ever saved someone’s life or had your life saved?

V and i married each other. so, yes to both.

51. Make up a definition for the following silly words -
Fruitgoogle: throwing fruit at google when it doesn't come up with a satisfactory answer to d silly question u asked.
Ambytime: what i don't get anymore. my fren 'amby' has disowned me.
Asscactus: condition that occurs when u sit unknowingly on the nearest support in a desert.

52. What was the last thing you made with your own hands?
a greeting card.

53. What was your favorite toy as a child?
a squeezy cat. it was gifted to me on my 1st b'day. and i still have it safe at home in india.

54. How many TVs are in your house?
one. we're poor people. also, we don't watch tv.

55. What is your favorite thing to do outside?
dance on d street with equally crazy frenz.

56. How do you feel when you see a rainbow?
happy & dreamy. simultaneously :)

57. Have you ever dreamt a dream that came true?
i don't r'ber my dreams. of d dreams i dream with open eyes, some come true... some i forget.

58. Have you ever been to a psychic/tarot reader?
naah. wanna try one someday. but i think i need a shrink more.

59. What is your idea of paradise?
it's kind of all-in-d-mind...

60. Do you believe in god and if so what is he/she/it like?
am kinda agnostic. so all help on this one is appreciated.

61. Do you believe in Hell?
d concept? i like it.

62. What one thing have you done that most people haven’t?
QC'ed bhojpuri content for decency - visuals and songs.

63. What is the kindest thing you have ever done?
i don't do kind things. really. if it happens, it's probably coz i see the need. then it's not kindness anymore.

64. Are you a patient person?
yeah. unless u're stupid. *and i'm working on that. my patience, not ur stupidity.*

65. What holiday should exist but doesn’t?
there're already more holidays than reqd. weekends shud be the only holidays.

66. What holiday shouldn’t exist but does?
oh wow! how many shud i name!?

67. What’s the best joke you ever heard?
an ex-client's out-of-office reply was this:
"Hi, I am not in the office till ___. For issues, please call or SMS. But remember, you HAVE the right to remain silent! Thanks."

68. Where is the most fun place you have EVER been?
d hungama mobile office from april 2005 - jun 2006.

69. Is your hair natural or dyed?
dyed. currently, it's bordering on burgundy.

70. Do you have any deep dark secrets or are you pretty much up front?
no deep dark secrets. if they're deep & secret, i'd probably forget them!

71. What is under your bed right now?
a sleeping bag, 2 storage boxes and 2 empty bags.

72. If you were in the Land of Oz would you want to live there or go home?
i wud want the option of returning if i didn't like it.

73. If you drive do you frequently speed?
No. as in, as of now, i don't drive. if i did, i wudn't speed.

74. What is the world’s best song to dance to?
how can there be one? currently, i'm biased towards mika. so, most of his tracks!

75. What song was on the last time you danced with someone?
maahiya. with poo.

76. Do you prefer Disney or Warner Brothers?
DISNEY. till d time suruchi works there.

77. What is the first animal you would run to see if you went to the zoo?
d snow leopard. i love them. i want one.

78. Would you consider yourself to be romantic?
my considering doesn't change the fact that i'm not.

79. If the earth stopped rotating would we all fly off?
wow! i hope so...!

80. What is the one thing that you love to do so much that you would make sacrifices to be able to do it?
nothing. i'll find something else that i love to do.

81. If you (and everyone) had to lose one right or freedom, but you could pick which one everyone had to lose, what would you pick?
d right to judge people. *if that's a right!*

82. If you had to choose would you live on the equator or at the North Pole?
Equator, or thereabouts.

83. Would you rather give up listening to music or watching television?
the idiot box.

84. What do you think makes someone a hero?
a good marketing strategy and effective communication skills.

85. What cartoon would you like to be a character in?
Shadowcat from X-Men.

86. Name one thing that turns your stomach:
public restrooms.

87. What was the last thing you paid for?
coffee at d NY airport.

88. Is there magic even in mundane things?
sure there is!

89. Get anything good in the mail recently?
yeah. minal's mail y'day made me feel nice :)

90. Which would you rather take as a gym class:dancing, sailing, karate, or bowling?
dancing, of course!

91. In Star Trek people beam back and forth between different places. Is the person who gets beamed the same person on both ends?
No. it's almost a clone. check galadriel for technical explanation! :D

92. What insects are you afraid of?
all. mostly, acid bugs.

93. If you could print any phrase on a T-shirt, what would it say?
"here comes sunshine"

94. What’s the most eccentric thing you have ever worn?
hipsters, a belly dancer scarf and a choli. *long, long ago.*

95. If you could pick one food that you could eat all you wanted but it would have no effect on how much you weigh, what food would it be?
moong dal halva and/or cheesecake.

96. What are your parents interested in?
ensuring that my bro and i have happy, fulfilling lives.

97. Have you ever caught an insect and kept it as a pet?
people do that...?

Have you ever caught and tamed a wild animal?
i'm a city-gurl. but wud love to.

98. What is more helpful to you, wishes or plans?
a healthy blend of both.

99. When do you feel your life energy the strongest?
when i'm passionate about what i'm doing. could be anything.

100. You are spending the night alone in the woods and may bring only 3 items with you. What do you bring?
sleeping bag, insect repelling light *charged AND with spare, charged batteries* and d iPod.

p.s.: i don't know y it's numbered like this. it's bothering me. but i'm too lazy to change it now.

Dec 12, 2007

in sickness and in health...

i'm not a very sickly person. in fact, i don't fall ill often enough. not even as a child. i didn't fall ill too frequently... but whenever i did, it was usually something serious!

the last time i was unwell was....... okk... i don't remember d date. but i r'ber suruchi having picked me up from my PGs and taken me to her place! and i wasn't like really "unwell" that day. just high on cough syrup. i took quite a bit of it coz i thot i was "going to be" unwell. hehe. yeah, that was fun! more fun to see the intrigued look on her face. trying to figure out if i'm unwell, high or both! but i'm digressing...

i wasn't well the past few days. and for a change, it wasn't anything serious. THIS, i say now. u should've heard me two days back. i asked V if i would die. and what he'd do if i died. *he was wise wnuf to shut up on my questions* yeah, i'm very melodramatic, that ways. i think i'm going to die even if i get a headache. but then, i've never known what it's like to be normally unwell.

what i would LOVE to know is HOW this man manages to filter the melodrama from fact. coz honestly, i couldn't have managed alone yesterday. and that's when i realized how much i like being married. to him. that he was indeed the rite guy. coz only the right guy would come home early... much early from work when his wife, the drama queen, mails him saying "not feeling well. at all."

with my acting skills *as those of u who know me would nod in agreement* it's very difficult to ascertain when i'm feigning and when i'm serious. over mail, all the worse. but so far, in the one year six months that we've lived together, he has managed really well. wonder what gives me away every time!

and purely for my reference, at any future point in time, when i fall ill again. our conversation immediately after he came home and found me curled up on the couch.

me: i'm not well. at all.
v: what happened? *knowing fully well what had happened*
me: feeling queasy. head's throbbing real bad. feeling giddy when i stand up.
v: did u eat anything? *this coz i pestered him to disclose the location of the meds. i think he doesn't tell me coz he's scared i'll OD on them!*
me: don't feel like eating.
v: but u can't take any meds without food.
me: i can't eat. my head's hurting.
v: the food'll go in ur stomach. not ur head. *pause* unless, of course, ur digestive system's in ur head.

*longer pause. analysing d risk factor of pushing this NOW, when i'm not well enuf to kill him*

that wud also explain ur brains being in ur toes, wudn't it?
maybe that's y u don't like anyone touching ur head. who likes to be petted on their tummy!? hehehe...

yeah, he is d purrfect man for me!

Dec 6, 2007

one of those days...

when i wonder...
:: if i'm not what someone expects me to be, should i let that affect me?
:: should other people's opinionated views affect my perception. of myself. of my reality. of my being...?
:: if i'm happy with myself. if Vin's happy being with me for who i am. shudn't that be enuf? for me... for us?
:: if everybody around me, except Vin, thinks i'm wasting my life. does it mean i really am?

Dec 5, 2007

1, 2, 3, 4...

flicked d tag of four off pixie's. basically, coz i am a sucker for tags.

four women i admire:

*i'm not saying my mom. i shall keep immediate family out of this blog!*
- vibha
- suruchi
- minal
- my cousin bro's wife, aparna.

four favourite foods:
- Indian non-veg. *this category has a LOT of my faves, so can't shortlist.*
- Butter Paneer
- Pasta in Vodka Sauce.
- cheesecake / moong daal halva. *it's a tie!! the latter is not available here, so i try not to think of it.*

four jobs i've had:
- client servicing exec: equus red cell
- biz dev: c2w/mobile2win
- consultant: oman mobile/du
- a/c head: hungama

four tv shows i like:
- everybody loves raymond
- that 70's show
- bones
- tom & jerry

four favourite drinks:

- Coffee
- Water
- Vodka with Sprite
- Hot chocolate

four fondest memories:
- the last year at MICA. everyone and everything that encompassed it.
- dancing to 'maahiya' post mid-night with poo. after a tiring day at work. and when we knew the next day would be worse. just coz we felt like.
- coming home from school to my doggies & cat.
- april 2004. minal's place. was JUST the thing i needed at the time.

four unforgettable days:
- when i got thru to MICA. had wanted that for over 2 years.
- the day minal & i jumped over the gate @ MICA to avoid facing thakur ji after a forbidden night-out at the disc!
- d day i agreed to marry vin.
- when i landed in the US for the first time. *i kinda thought that vin would've changed his mind and wudn't come to pick me. so was confused to see him*

four things i should work on:
- need to be more tolerant. esp towards d intellectually challenged.
- shud prolly stop sounding so opinionated.
- getting my drivers' license.
- learn to live in d real world vis-a-vis d virtual.

pick this up if u wish...

Dec 1, 2007

inanely...bollywood!

disclaimer: u're not allowed to dissociate with the writer after reading the following.

most of u know that i have a penchant for watching corny, over-hyped, utterly inane...in short all kinds of bollywood flicks. thot i'd shortlist the top 5 movies i've had the most fun watching. was rather difficult to shortlist. but that cud be owing to the trait of finding humour where probably none is intended. this list, however, will be restricted to the top 5. ONLY.

criteria for selecti
on: entertainment value ONLY.
*
i think the follg movies shud charge 23.7% extra as entertainment tax. coz that's the only thing they do. entertain. of course, u have to have a decent SoH and good company to appreciate the "subtle" humour in a non-comic caper.*

1. HDKG: love connects.
allegedly based on a "true story". a laugh-riot from the first dialogue! after all, how many movies do u see that start with an explanation for the base line!? for months after i saw it, i knew all the corny lines from this movie and i could cite them at the most (in)appropriate occasions! i'd have loved to quote d dialogues here, but translating them would kill the implied jokes. i was engaged to V when i saw this movie. i r'ber having quoted the ENTIRE movie to vin on the phone *ISD!* that was prolly one of the rare moments when we've spoken all nite on the phone! poor man still married me.

2. lucky: no time for love!

salman's set of 3 expressions. my fave mithunda and d daftest look on the chick's face. *they must've told her to copy salman or smthng!!* everything from "lucky da dhaba" to mithun's entry *which had mrids whistling in the theatre much to the dismay of an already embarrassed Ashish!* we had a "lucky week" in office after that for a week. where i tried my best to imitate "lucky's" expressions. the closest i got was reaching a kareena kapoor level. i know, i should have tried harder, and would have, but i guess it was asking too much of suruchi! *she'd already viewed d movie with me AND embarrassed her husband thoroughly!*

3. RGV Ki Aag.
LOL! hilarious to a fault! this would have been ranked even if it hadn't tried to rip sholay to threads! maybe, it would have ranked higher in that case. u HAVE to see this movie to know what i mean. it's an absolutely classic unintentional comedy. why would i want you to see this? because "hum bhi gandhi nahi hain" if u've seen it, u'll get that one! if u haven't, watch at ur own risk!

4. Aap Ka Surroor: The Moviee - The Real Love Story.
As a principle and part of 'ex-work ethics', i usually don't mock anything "himesh". but it wudn't be fair deny it the place which it SO fights to deserve in this list. absolutely mindblowingly hilarious! be it hansika motwani's "i-wanna-be-bhumika chawla" expressions, mallika sherawat as an ABA & Himesh-loving lawyer, d sidekick who thinks he's being a comic support by cracking jokes a 6 year old wudn't find funny or our hero himself! seeing this movie made me resolve to see all of T's home prods. they're amazingly funny. i know T has nothing to do with d dialogues, but there's one too many co-incidences for me to believe that anymore!

5. shabd.

imagine seeing sanjay dutt with his "i'm-too-studly-to-be-a-writer" look, aishwarya rai looking like she's in a tanishq ad and zayed khan who looks like he's there for the money! the fact that i saw it back to back with BLACK almost threatened to kill d humour. but shabd prevailed. afterall, it's difficult to ignore "words" when they keep raining all over the screen. on a side note, i really liked d concept of shabd... but that's a different story. i also enjoyed this movie later while watching it with suruchi on the telly... egging ashish that his wife followed movies with extra marital affairs rather religiously! d fact that he doesn't take me seriously really helps him!

and oh yes, there were two other movies which i almost listed; salaam-e-ishq & darling. didn't detail them coz this post is already too long for my liking! if u know of any more movies worthy of this listing, do let me know. if i haven't already seen them, i'll sure catch up on them now.


*all images courtesy www.indiafm.com

Nov 29, 2007

wanna chat...?

i was going thru my daily morning routine of having coffee, checking mails, checking blog comments, smiling to myself, checking facebook/orkut *simultaneously, yeah!* when suddenly, out of d blue, i heard a "ping". now, i don't usually leave my speakers on... so i WAS startled... and looked around expecting to see an elf apparate. *it's believable when i'm sleepy* and then, there was another "ping"... i was awake by now & about to go and check if i've left the oven on... but then, i saw this tiny pop-up on my gmail window. it sed "'X' says...". now, this was a pretty regular feature. mornings are usually when it's evening in india and my frenz are online. and we chat.
but the issue was : 'X' is not a fren. actually, i don't know WHO X is. or how he happens to be on my gtalk. i thought i shud try speaking to him, and thereby, delve further into this matter.
but X was saying a rather neutral... "hello. long time"
umm... ok. sure! i mean, i seem to have forgotten u... THAT long!

now u've GOT to r'ber that it's early morning. and i don't function very well at that hour of the day. so i buzzed back: "how long?"
and X, surprisingly says... "some time now. u haven't been online recently?"
oh hell.. he tracks my online activity?! he sounds like a stalker! *yeah, yeah... i think i'm worthy of stalking n all!*
the rest of our conversation went like this. i quote:

me: what're u doing on my frenz list?
X: i don't know. i saw u online today. thought i'd check on u.
me: i don't think i know u. nor how u got here.
X: i'm "X" work with monkie, we handle the --- platform for "pineapple"? u don't r'ber me?
*names have, obviously, been changed here!*
i knew ALL of d aforementioned, except X, of course!
me: oh! ok. i have co-ordinated with a few monkies while i worked with hungama. i handled d pineapple, yeah.
but no, i don't recollect u. sorry.

X: oh... tom had told me to co-ordinate with u the other day, r'ber? over the weekend of the krrish press con?

*honestly, it was more like couple of years back rather than "other day". also, there were 3 agencies and approx 30 ppl i had to co-ordinate with for getting that content live. i don't r'ber! but anywez...*

me: but y're u on my gtalk?
X: i had ur id, so i added u.

!!!

well, he's blocked & deleted now! also, this wasn't the first time i found someone unknown *unwanted, maybe?* on my gtalk list. has happened a couple of times before. but this time, it made me revisit my entire gtalk list and weed out people i thought were not frenz. *essentially, ppl i cudn't r'ber!* also, have weeded out everybody i haven't chatted with/mailed in a year. oh yeah, if u're not a fren, u will not be on my gtalk, facebook or orkut. simple. also, if any of u have added me "because you had my id", delete me. NOW! or at least, don't try & chat with me d next time u see me online! the whole creepy line of "friends are strangers till they become frenz", or wotever the crap is, doesn't work with me!

p.s.: if you have my id BCOZ i gave it to u, PLZ chat with me! :)

Nov 28, 2007

hibernation.


me: i hate the cold! i hate the thought of going outside or doing anything. wish i cud just hibernate through the winter months. get into a burrow and not step out or do anything till winter's done with! of course, with food. and drink.

V: *looking around at the dark, warm apartment*

...................
...................

and how is THIS any different?

p.s.: edited to add: image found on corbis. explains EXACTLY what i feel like doing :)


Nov 26, 2007

yeh hai meri kahani...

since i'm told that i'm good at doing tags *it's one of the few times i write a decent read* am picking this from preethi.

i was introduced to the concept of blogging quite early. 2002, i think. a much-younger copywriter colleague *who went ahead to transform into a super super junior of mine at MICA* was into bloggin and mailed me his URL to browse. i read thru his space. i liked it, yes. but i didn't pay much attention to it then. i thought this was some kiddie thing! also, i was too absorbed in my "career", back then! *'course i told him he shud keep writing. i'm nice that ways!*

years later, in 2005, minal mailed me her blog URL. she took to blogging as a respite, i guess. from what, i don't know. but she didn't want to tell anyone she blogged. and she was sharing this with me ONLY for feedback! i read one piece, and i got quite hooked. i loved her blog, her writing style... i could relate to everything she was writing about. i thought this was mostly due to the fact that i knew her and could visualize everything clearly! i started making time to read her blog in my extremely chaotic days @ work. it was a kind of a respite to me! whenever i needed a break, i'd login to her space and read.

personally, i always wanted to write. since junior college. it was one of the things on my list-to-do-before-i-die. write. i didn't know what i wanted to write. but i did write nice, lucid mails to most of my frenz. whenever i had the time. a few of my close frenz always insisted that i should write; and that i'd be good at it. i usually thought they were just being the good frenz they were & indulging me.

after i got married, quit my job and shifted to the US, i thought "why not!?" so i started this space. i didn't really tell anyone about it coz i didn't understand why anybody would want to read it. i was writing merely coz i loved to. and also - as an afterthought - because someday, i'd like to read all this and laugh at myself! then, i posted the blog URL on my orkut profile. i still don't know why i did that. maybe i wanted suruchi & minal *they were my only frenz on orkut then who read* to read my blog, but was too shy to mail across a URL! *yeah, am silly that ways!* and sure enuf, they'd read and tell me they'd read it... *they still do. sweethearts u both are!* then eventually, vellapanti set in. i started checking out other blogs, liking what i read... commenting when i liked something someone had written. and i realized that this virtual world was indeed very comfy. i haven't looked back since. to the extent of being termed a "geek" in those silly tests i've started loving!

i've made some really kewl frenz here. *dotcomrades, as fuzzy says* and over the one year 3 months that i've been blogging, there have been times that i write ONLY coz i know that you enjoy reading this. why, is something only u can answer.
really. feel like saying thanks to all of u - for reading, appreciating and giving me feedback. i love reading ur comments/mails. so keep them coming! i AM vain, that ways!

Nov 25, 2007

thanksgiving time-out!

we had fun... hope u did too...

Nov 24, 2007

secrets revealed...

back from a lovely thanksgiving time-out and returning to fuzzy's tag. here it goes... the 22 questions men wanna know answers to. *btw, who ARE these men who need to ask to know!?* fuzzy's done this really well, and all i'm gonna do is be honest. afterall, it's all in the name of enlightenment of some poor souls.

1. How do you feel after a one night stand?
If i gave so much emphasis on "feelings", i wouldn't have a one night stand, eh?!

2. Do you ever get used to wearing a thong?
sure! what is the perceived issue here?

3. Does it hurt?
HURT? why would it hurt..?! what exactly have u tried...?

4. Do you know when you are acting crazy?
yeah. i can see it in ur face. and it makes me enhance the act.

5. Does size really matter?
you'd hate to believe it, but it does. yes!

6. When the bill comes, are you still a feminist?
i'm never a feminist. but if u ask me out, and u decide where to go - u foot the bill!

7. Why do you take so long to get ready?
12.5 mins is NOT long!

8. Do you watch porn, too?
no. somehow, it's not my kinda thing. but u carry on.

9. Will something from Tiffany’s solve everything?
hmm... if it's between u & me, a lot of somethings may. but if it's global warming u're looking to remedy, then it won't.

10. Are guys as big of a mystery to you as you are to us?
LOL! good joke there! *and since u won't get that answer* NO!

11. Why do you sometimes think you look fat?
because i'm wearing three layers of clothing to resist the chill outside!

12. Why are you always late?
this is a weird question. i am not always late. and if i am, it's either my hormones to blame or then, i'm pregnant.

13. Does it bother you when we scratch?
yes.

14. Do you wish you could pee standing up?
in winters. when the toilet seat freezes. YES.

15. Why do so many women cut their hair short as soon as they get married?
to vent out against the stylist who refuses to let them cut their hair for at least 3 months before the blastid wedding!

16. How often do you think about sex?
a lot less than u.

17. What do you think of women who sleep with guys on the first date?
poor guy. they don't wanna go on a second date with that man!

18. Would you?
blasphemous question. i am no longer in the running for first dates. sleeping with a hypothetical date is surely out of question?

19. Do you realize every guy wants a girl just like his mom?
no, he doesn't. he wants superwoman. and he knows his mom isn't one.

20. Why does every woman think she can change him?
we all "hope" for a better tomorrow, don't we?

21. Does it matter what car I drive?
no, honey. as long as u drive a car from this century.

22. Do you ever fart?
yes. but the fact that u've never known that, means that it's not something to feel proud of or brag about.

i tag upsi, plush, pixie, galadriel and all u women out there who haven't done this tag yet!

Nov 20, 2007

"spirited" knocking!

it's WAY past halloween. the light outside our apartment has conked off. and i'm mentally unprepared for being spooked.
we were indulging in ideal weekend-nite entertainment. watching a psycho-horror flick with V. LATE, for a change.

it's approx 12.29 AM, and ALMOST the climax. u know the types when the alleged "ghost" reveals itself? with sound effects et al...? the scene where most normal people get spooked?

as is wont, V's extremely sleepy. it's WAY past his usual bed-time, u know? like TWO hours past...?? and he can't sleep without brushing & flossing his teeth. AND he's kinda a scaredy cat, so this is the perfect moment to avoid scary scene and still look like a hero!

in short, i'm watching it by myself. sitting on our "couch for 2" in the purrfectly dark house.

and then, suddenly, as the ghost in d movie's about to appear. there's a KNOCK on our door. umm... KNOCK? OUR DOOR? nobody ever knocks here. not even in broad daylight! and it's 12 something at night!!!
i - being the kewl kat that i am - very nonchalantly IGNORE IT! presuming that V wouldn't have heard it. but then, there's another knock!
this time i decide to not ignore it. i reduce the volume of the movie. by this time, V's out. of the bathroom, i mean! and staring at the door like someone's gonna bust it!

we stare at each other. i pause the movie. and then, we both stare at the door!

by this time, there's ANOTHER knock!

and V having mustered up enough courage, switches on the light & says *in an amazingly unwavering voice* "who's it?"
and a couple of blabbering voices mutter "sorry, really sorry!" and rustle down the stairs!

humans! DRUNK humans! and here we were thinking of supernatural spirits knocking on our door. THIS is what happens when u watch too many bad hindi movies. u believe ghosts would actually "knock" before coming in. huh!

Nov 19, 2007

geeky?? me?!?

i always thought i was one of the "kewler", non-geeky ones who walked this planet.
so what if i like and remember LOTR. *the book AND d movie*
so what if i've read all of tolkien's works. *i believe he's the best!*
so what if i get anxious if i don't check my mail every few hours.
so what if i prefer email/text messaging for communicating.
so what if i still read comics and enjoy animated movies.
so what if i live more in the virtual world rather than the supposed "real" world.
so what if i love reading and can read for days (cross out) hours.
so what if i thought that selling mobile content started from understanding the technology *and d markets! but who asks for that in quizzes?!* it works on.
so what if i still tease V for being geeky! *personally, i think geek guys are rather hot!*

so... it just means this:


71% Geek




go on! try it. come back and tell me if u're geekier!

Nov 14, 2007

bag-load of fear...

i love traveling light. normally, if i'm traveling even for a week, all i need is either a large hand-bag or a haversack-sized carry-on bag. that's mainly coz my clothes don't take up too much space. they're usually anti-crease, so i can stuff them! it's d shampoo/conditioner bottles, d body-wash, photo id's & the footwear which takes up space. which reminds me... i HAVE to go & check out the camileon heels. they're adjustable heels. so u can wear one pair of shoes as almost-flats & then attach the heel & there u are! all set to party in ur stilletoes! so u can save considerable space in ur luggage. but i'm digressing...

i don't know when d fascination for traveling light started. but over a period of time, i've figured out why.

for starters, i'm terrified... no PARANOID about airlines losing my luggage! i know there is no basis for this. but heyy, it's paranoia! u can't expect it to be logical, can ya?! i just think that every time i check in my luggage, the airline person looks at me with a gleam in their eyes... with the kind of look that says "there go ur beloved possessions! didn't u learn not to be so possessive of material comforts!?" of course, that is SO not true. but i still think so! and i look positively like an apprehensive kitten while waiting for my luggage at the conveyor belt. more so, if it's taking forever to come!

which brings me to d other aspect. when the bags start rolling out on the conveyor belt, i'm petrified that i won't be able to identify my bag! and i'd let it pass around. and that d airline would then refuse to return my bag to me coz it was unclaimed. and i'd be stuck with no bag. all coz i was stupid! i thought this happened only to me. but last time at the NY airport, i noticed THREE other people. all looking equally worried. and checking tags on every other bag that passed them by. i presumed it was coz they cudn't identify their bags either! of course, i've quickly solved this issue by buying bright orange bags! i haven't seen too many other orange bags, so mine are easy to spot!

also, i don't like to wait. all sorts of things prop up in my head while i'm waiting for my bags to arrive! and it brings out the bitch in me. which, is not nice. at all. all these factors put together means that i simply ensure that i travel really light! after all... if u're scared enuf of something, u'll do everything u can to avoid it. and i do.

Nov 13, 2007

pure hungama!

there are milestones in all our lives. u know, moments/time-spans that change u forever? there have been a few so far for me... clearing my CAT... getting thru the 2 years at MICA... surviving the madness of mumbai *there! i didn't say b'bay!*, d oman experience, joining hungama, getting married & leaving all of that behind me...

though i maintain that MICA did change me a lot. i think hungama, by far, affected me more. i am not yet sure whether all of that "effect" was positive or negative. maybe, as always, it was both.

it was here, that i realized my passion for bollywood. uptil then, i always knew i liked hindi films and cud sit thru them all. but never had i been concerned with how their music fared or whether their stars were saleable! i had favorites based on their actual acting skills instead of saleability! i would've turned up my nose at the suggestion that i might say "i like himesh" *of course, i like him!* or would've called u delusional if you'd said that "Panditji Bataayina Biyaah Kab Hoi" is a super hit movie. and ravi kishen and nagma are stars. or made you rinse ur mouth with toilet disinfectant if you'd suggested that i knew nigar khan's biodata & exactly how many slutty pics of hers were in d database. i would've disowned u if u'd told me that a mere month into the place and i'd be able to quote rakhi sawant *?!* and how she is very "profeshunal" and why!

over a year there, and how the tables had turned! i not only knew all of the above, rakhi sawant's sound bytes became lunch-time conversation! and d latest slutty star-aspirant was known to us on a first-name basis! and there was a time when i didn't need to refer to the database to know what content we had rights to! i knew all 52000 odd albums with song titles & imagery! GOSH!

but it was here that i met the most amazing people! as diverse as could be. as crazy as possible. it was here that i felt normal. normal to be completely me: quirky and insane. i had never worked with so many women before hungama happened. i didn't know it was possible for me to get along with them. but then, i had never worked in a "yellow" office earlier. neither had i followed bollywood data so keenly. i didn't realize when it moved from being a job to a way of life. and i guess that happens to anyone who is dedicated to their job in hungama.
suruchi had first mentioned d likeness to a cult, which i researched *due to ample free time!* and asserted even further!

a lot has changed there since i've left. *realization dawned when i'd gone to office in sept* but the chaos which got us all together & helped us bond, still reigns supreme. and i hope the new bunch there can learn to derive order off it! and i hope, we, who're out of it now... can learn to move on! and not evaluate movies by "ours" and "that's not ours!"

p.s.: no, i wasn't paid to do this by hungama. they don't need d publicity. also, payments and hungama are a topic we shall not get into on a public forum!

Nov 12, 2007

lost. and found.

Saturday noon. V comes home after 2 hours in his precious lab. on a weekend. to me. who greets him with a sad face.
V: *defensively* i'm on time! *d time he'd sed he'd be back*
me: i can't find my white sandals. *with a VERY sad face*
V: huh? *can't believe it's not about him!*
me: I CAN'T FIND MY WHITE SANDALS! *thinking it was volume that got d reaction*
V: why?
*can there be a dafter question?!*
me: *too sad to realize above-mentioned truth* i don't know.
waiting for sympathetic sounds. none coming.
me: come. help me find them.
V: realizing there's no way out walks with me into my closet.
me: *pointing in the mess of multiple footwear, clothes, shoe-bags, jewelery box, empty bags etc...* see? no white sandals.
V: ollay. see!! *points to beige sandals* that one!?
*me follows finger excitedly till i realize what he's pointing at*
V: *identifying d glare he's getting* umm... OFF-white?
me: THAT is beige! the WHITE ones. the strappy white ones?! they're not here!
V: *noticing the state of the closet* must be here somewhere!
me: NO! it is NOT!
V: let's check again tomorrow, okay? with a fresh mind?

after a couple of mails. and scraps. i get a reply. from suruchi. to my on-the-verge-of-tears question of "have i left my white sandals at ur place?" she replies with a "YES. u HAVE." *i quote her there!*

i KNEW i was glad to have her in my life! this just cements it further! at least i can now hope to have them back by d summer when i can actually wear them!

Nov 8, 2007

cheap thrillz...

there are few things i enjoy more in life than harassing what are known as "poor, innocent souls". *the poor there does NOT refer to financial status, plz!* these creatures are categorized into "case-takeable" by my and my esteemed group of close frenz! *and they'd know what i mean if they were reading this!* sometimes, V also falls under this category. i honestly derive tremendous pleasure from "taking his case" as i put it. but that's done coz of lack of adequate human contact these days!

everyone's like this, rite? i think it's human to try & find humor where u can. so what if it's at the expense of ur clients, bosses, colleagues or even juniors. i have avoided harassing people who report into me. but it's difficult! maybe, that was one of the reasons they had to go through 6 resources in d span of a year to find me one good resource! *2 of those were really bright & survived!* but most often, people i torment have no idea that they're being tormented. it's just me. and a few frenz. getting cheap thrills!

picture this:
u're a month old in the organization. u were supposed to send in a status report on monday morng. it's thursday noon, u're chatting arbitly with ur colleague. who sits to ur left. and your boss walks up to you and asks you with a puppy face "will you plz mail me the report?"
i looked at him, cocked an eyebrow and said "do i have to?" *d tone there prolly meant i won't*
flustered boss doesn't know how to explain that he also reports to people who will ask him abt that report. *THIS is why he's case takeable, if u haven't got it yet!*"please. whenever u have time today *i'm CHATTING?!* it will take only 5 minutes. i will be asked questions otherwise. please?"
by this time, i was truly amused!
"i'll think about it. rite now, i don't feel like doing it."
and, he ACTLY walked off!!! see? he had NO idea i had already mailed d report to his boss.
geez! i quit the job soon after. would've become a purrfect bitch otherwise. but yes, in his defense, he was a VERY nice human being. still is, i guess. and he prolly deserves better, more docile co-workers!

mr. teddy. another of my indirect bosses on an assignment.
now, mr. teddy is an amazingly adorable human being. *he's firang and doesn't speak hindi. so his team either abuses him openly or teaches him hindi abuses. i'm FAR better*. but he is VERY case takeable. to my credit, i never tortured him in front of his juniors, seniors or even in front of my team! this was d one exception.
was my second day in office. i was d only person from my team in d offc. mr teddy thought i looked a little lost. this, despite the fact that i'd already worked with 4 of his 5 team members! *i wasn't socialising openly coz i was already chatting online with them!* so he sent a meeting invite to his team to introduce them to me & vice versa. now, of course, his team is also formed of evil creatures like me. so they immediately set off taunting mr. teddy and bitching abt how unnecessary the whole meeting was. with me!
i, personally thought it was very thoughtful, so i accepted the meeting invite. *okay, okay! i knew his team had rejected d invite and wanted to see how mr. teddy would react* and mr teddy being his own sweet self had no idea how to tell this new, young, sweet girl yeah, yeah, he thot i was all that! am a good actor* that nobody else had accepted the invite! at the annointed hour, i put on my daftest face & walked across to mr teddy, smiled and said "we have a meeting?" mr. teddy was all flustered. his face was turning red *i realized later, this is a routine occurence* tried looking to his team sitting around him for support... but they were busy trying not to laugh. so mr. teddy smiles, and sez "yeah. but. these guys are busy... let's do it when ur team's in, eh?"
i cocked an eyebrow at him and gave him one of my puppy faces and said "are u implying that i'm not busy? wow! anyways. let me know whenever ur team has time to meet me." and i looked very upset. *yeah, i sed i can be an excellent actor!*
mr teddy felt really bad for me and took it upon himself to reprimand each of his team members later, individually, for having been rude. sorry, guys!
after this incident, however, i was ALWAYS extremely civil to mr. teddy. more than his team was! and he never got to know that i wasn't genuinely upset that day either. he still thinks i'm a good, sweet gurl.

see? there's no harm in a li'l bit of humour, is there. it doesn't make u a bad person. and of course, u aren't guilty if ur crime can't be proved! and these cheap thrills kind of make at least those days less drab!

Nov 7, 2007

feel at home...!

i don't celebrate all indian festivals with aplomb. my folks tried to instill in me a wanting to celebrate most major fests... but somehow, i cudn't relate to any of them. except for the food associated with them, that is! but diwali? it's like maggi hot and sweet tomato chilly sauce. it's different.

diwali has a lot of vivid memories in my head. as long back as i r'ber, we've celebrated diwali. now i don't say "we" as in the human race or the indian race or anything like that. "we" pertains to my family. my mom, my dad, my bro, my dogs and my cat(s). the latter depending on which years i am referring to.

diwali, to me, is associated with the cleaning up of the entire house. preening and pruning the garden, which usually my mom did for months before the actual day! d shopping... which was done weeks before when our diwali holidays for school began! *this was when i still enjoyed shopping* the rising early in the morning on diwali day. *i've never woken up that early except on diwali! but yeah, it felt good only on diwali day.* the dressing up and watching my bro & dad light crackers outside... huddling up inside the house with my beloved pets cause we hated the loud noise-making firecrackers... lighting diyas on the steps leading to the house.. in d garden... in all the windows... while my cat looked on. in awe, i guess. coz that was the only time he saw me do anything constructive around the house!
decorating the window sill with streams of marigold & lilies...with the entire flower basket on the ledge along with me, and the cat; who, obviously fascinated, would insist on lying down on the flowers. *not a good idea if ur cat is 7 odd kgs heavy!* the dog, jealous that she could not climb up on the ledge while the cat could, would keep looking at us... and refuse to let d cat near me once i was down from the ledge... of lighting sparklers and watching them fascinated... of watching ma draw the rangoli and trying in vain to not let the cat step on it...

later, as we grew older and moved out of home, diwali was the only time that we, as a family came together. all four of us. so it became extra special. we went out of town after laxmi pooja and returned after 3-4 days... that's as much leave as we got! we didn't have the dogs anymore, so that was one concern off our minds. *our dogs didn't eat in our absence, so kennels were out of the picture* i remember the trips to alibaug, to the konkan coast, exploring the beauty of the non-touristy villages, the virgin beaches, the simple, non-commercialized folks... they all, somehow, are associated with diwali in my head!
the weather's usually really adorable at this time of the year. neither too cold, nor too warm. just right! for lovely, long drives... evenings at the beach... or just sitting around and talking to each other...

this will be my second diwali away from home. last year didn't feel so bad coz we were at my cousin's place. maasi was here. and it felt almost like home. this year's a little different. my folks and bro are together... and i feel kind of left out of the whole thing. so it's now reduced to chatting with frenz back home, telling them how much i miss home and garner some sympathy! lol!
now it's more like upto me to make it feel like diwali for both of us. so, off i go to clear and clean the mess of an apartment... light up the tea-lights and candles, and place the beeyootiful flowers that the mad man i married got me without a reason! again! yeah, now that i think of it, it does feel like home!

p.s.: wish all of u a very very rockin' diwali!