I am a self-confessed believer in God and also in ghosts. No, I haven't seen either but I'm sure both exists like the sun and the moon does. I have often been assured of my belief in God's existence by answered prayers. But the ghost factor still remains an illusion. After watching scary movies, I'm often scared to the extent of not being able to sleep on my own in my room and end up seeking refuge at my landlord's, but thats another story for another day.
Yesterday night even though I slept with a happy state of mind, yet towards the early hours of the morning, I felt I was fighting with some strong external force which was trying to throw me off the bed to the ground. I could also feel some pulling of my hair by that external force and some wind-like noise just next to my ears. I tried to open my eyes and throw the blanket off my face, but I could not. I was gripped... with sleep and fear. I didn't know what to do, but in an instant second, without even trying any further to open my eyes, I chanted the Gayatri Mantra over and over again in my mind and I felt the 'evil' force perish into nothingness slowly. When I felt assured that there was nothing around me that could harm me in any way as I was protected with the strong power of the Mantra, I opened my eyes and threw the blanket off. I was perspiring and was soaked with sweat all over. But I could see or feel nothing out of the ordinary. Out of the window on the left of my bed, I could see the bright moon-lit sky trying to mix colours with the breaking of dawn. I looked at the wall space near the window where I hung the sketch of shiv-shakti with 3 rudraksh beads tied around it. On the right side of my bed, there on my book-shelf stood the small statue of Ganesh-ji in bronze (a gift from my friend Safal).
And then I asked myself, would I have dared to come in here and mess around if I were a ghost? Never! So obviously I must have had a nightmare. And then I drifted off to sleep again still chanting the Gayatri Mantra in my mind till the last few winks of my wakey moments....
November 27, 2007
October 29, 2007
In the name of THE HUSBAND, THE CHILD...
WOMANHOOD... what is the first image which comes to your mind when you hear this word? For me its symbolizes a very strong power of a woman, who would do anything for the love and well being of her husband, her children.... A person so vulnerable to look at, yet so strong from within, so full of love and warmth.... She's a power almost at par with divinity I think...
The hindu religion followers however have always been very insecure of the power bestowed in women by mother nature, even in a male-dominated country like ours. The religious leaders from times immemorial have always prohibited women from chanting mantras (powerful religious slokas from the holy books), performing yajnas (also known as Yagya) and homas (also called havana) and have bestowed a great number of vrats (religious fasts) most or all of them which are observed for the good health and long life of their family, not for themselves. To mention a couple-Sankat Chauth and Aahoyee Ashtami, are vrats observed by mothers and grandmothers, devoted to the good health and welfare of their children and grandchildren. Karva Chauth vrats observed by wives, is devoted to husbands (it was yesterday-the 29th of October, this year). But I really don't understand why all these fasts are incumbent only on women! Is this their ‘gift’ from pseudo-religious-pandits of our society for being a woman? Is there any such vrat which is dedicated for wives or mothers, observed by the husbands or children? It is understandable that vrats for children might be non-reciprocal as they are too young to observe fasts or maybe too weak to cope up with their daily routine while on fast, but what happens after the children grow up? Do they observe atleast 1 day of fast for their mothers in their entire lifetime? No sir! There is no such ritual. Or what explanation do we have for the Karva Chauth vrat? Isn't it surely reciprocal as husbands can well observe this vrat for the health and happiness of their wives? If the working husband is in service, trade, media, industry or agriculture, the domesticated housewife also has to manage the household... a 24X7 job that is more arduous than the husband’s. Today, most modern women earn their share to contribute into the household economy or for their own financial independence and rural women infact, work even harder with their men in agricultural fields. But at the end of the day, we always see the women folk coming back to their kitchens and doing their only share of household chores. Whether she is a part-time domestic help, a doctor, a teacher, an actor or a labour, the woman of the house has to take up the laddle in the kitchen, help her children with homework and maintain a beautiful love-filled 'home'. Isn't it simply amazing the way she manages it all and keep fasts as well?
After being around a few married female colleagues at work who observes the Karva Chauth vrat for the health and longeivity of their husbands, year after year, without even a single drop of water or a morsel of food right from dawn, throughout the day till the moon comes out in the night sky, yet managing to meet up with their 'call targets' of about 200 calls, like everyday(because the UK clients are oblivious to a ritual like this celebrated only by us Indians and hence no downtime) I believe this ritual is almost inhumane, especially for the women who work in a BPO. When I asked a few of them yesterday, like I enquire around every year, most of the women were shocked and scandalised at my question. When I asked them with utter curiosity if their husbands have also kept the fast for their good-health and longeivity, they answered back with double shock and defense that on this day only the women fast for their men and not any otherwise. I mean, c'mmon, don't the husbands need their wives as much as wives need their husbands? Won't doing so not only strengthen the tie of love between them?? Would the husbands actually be able to enjoy their long, healthy lives with their sickly wives who would be long dead before them???
The hindu religion followers however have always been very insecure of the power bestowed in women by mother nature, even in a male-dominated country like ours. The religious leaders from times immemorial have always prohibited women from chanting mantras (powerful religious slokas from the holy books), performing yajnas (also known as Yagya) and homas (also called havana) and have bestowed a great number of vrats (religious fasts) most or all of them which are observed for the good health and long life of their family, not for themselves. To mention a couple-Sankat Chauth and Aahoyee Ashtami, are vrats observed by mothers and grandmothers, devoted to the good health and welfare of their children and grandchildren. Karva Chauth vrats observed by wives, is devoted to husbands (it was yesterday-the 29th of October, this year). But I really don't understand why all these fasts are incumbent only on women! Is this their ‘gift’ from pseudo-religious-pandits of our society for being a woman? Is there any such vrat which is dedicated for wives or mothers, observed by the husbands or children? It is understandable that vrats for children might be non-reciprocal as they are too young to observe fasts or maybe too weak to cope up with their daily routine while on fast, but what happens after the children grow up? Do they observe atleast 1 day of fast for their mothers in their entire lifetime? No sir! There is no such ritual. Or what explanation do we have for the Karva Chauth vrat? Isn't it surely reciprocal as husbands can well observe this vrat for the health and happiness of their wives? If the working husband is in service, trade, media, industry or agriculture, the domesticated housewife also has to manage the household... a 24X7 job that is more arduous than the husband’s. Today, most modern women earn their share to contribute into the household economy or for their own financial independence and rural women infact, work even harder with their men in agricultural fields. But at the end of the day, we always see the women folk coming back to their kitchens and doing their only share of household chores. Whether she is a part-time domestic help, a doctor, a teacher, an actor or a labour, the woman of the house has to take up the laddle in the kitchen, help her children with homework and maintain a beautiful love-filled 'home'. Isn't it simply amazing the way she manages it all and keep fasts as well?
After being around a few married female colleagues at work who observes the Karva Chauth vrat for the health and longeivity of their husbands, year after year, without even a single drop of water or a morsel of food right from dawn, throughout the day till the moon comes out in the night sky, yet managing to meet up with their 'call targets' of about 200 calls, like everyday(because the UK clients are oblivious to a ritual like this celebrated only by us Indians and hence no downtime) I believe this ritual is almost inhumane, especially for the women who work in a BPO. When I asked a few of them yesterday, like I enquire around every year, most of the women were shocked and scandalised at my question. When I asked them with utter curiosity if their husbands have also kept the fast for their good-health and longeivity, they answered back with double shock and defense that on this day only the women fast for their men and not any otherwise. I mean, c'mmon, don't the husbands need their wives as much as wives need their husbands? Won't doing so not only strengthen the tie of love between them?? Would the husbands actually be able to enjoy their long, healthy lives with their sickly wives who would be long dead before them???
October 23, 2007
FRIENDS IN NEED
Not very long ago, just around mid-september I fell seriously ill. It started off with me feeling the blues a little more than usual. I thought it was just 'those days' of the month. Then it was followed by a slight stomach ache towards the right lower abdomen. I ignored it again. Periodic cramps had never been a reason for me to stop and hault my day-to-day super-active routine. But the pain did not subside even after my curse-days ended. As the pain increased to an unbearable level, with shivers and temperature shooting up at regular intervals, I realised there was trouble. So, I took a day off on the 20th of September and went downstairs to visit the lady doc who stays in the same building as mine, on the 1st floor. After the initial testing of the eyes and the tongue and a few presses on either side of my abdomen, front & back, she told me that she suspected jaundice and immediately scribbled down a blood and urine test from the neighbourhood lab. But she would rather I visited a good hospital and get a proper check-up. I was feeling so unwell that I knew I won't be able to make it on my own to any of the hospitals or labs. So I called up my cousin asking him if he could come to my rescue. He did, ofcourse... being the darling he is. I suggested we go to MAX Hospital (considered one of Delhi's best). There I got the initial treatment from the emergency doctor who gave me a couple of injections to bring my fever, shivering & nausea under control and then I had to give my blood and urine samples for the various tests. The next day, still with no improvement in my condition, when I went to collect the samples, the doc referred me to a lady doctor who immediately asked me to get admitted in the hospital's 'Saket' branch where they had an inhouse hospitalisation facility. From that day, the 21st of September, it was a slow curing process which had begun for the infection they had detected in my kidney which had spread onto my blood and urinary track.
The hospital stay, though long and boring, was quite a memorable one. And the few close friends I have here in Delhi, did their best for me which has made me even more closer to them than ever before. Here goes the list-
NIP (as I call him... short for Nabajit)-We are related in some way and have known each other since childhood, but more than relatives/cousins, we are very close friends and he always somehow gets a vibe if I am not well. He was the first one I called up on to take me to the doctor. Though he was not well himself, and had to take care of his 1001 things which he is always caught up with, he still came and took me to the doctor, waited there while I was getting treated. Then picked me up and took me to their place to stay over for the night just in case I feel worse in the night all by myself at my own place. Next day again he brought me to the doc to collect my reports, then drove me to get me admitted in the hospital, filled in all the forms and dealt with the formalities while I waited for the admission. He visited me at intervals during my stay in the hospital too. I can never forget this ever. Love u, Nip. I owe you a big one.
(P.S.- Please forgive me for texting you those stinky messages when you could not visit me for some days at the hospital. I was really sick of looking at the nurses' and doctors' faces and needed friends like you to be around more often. Guess I was asking for a little too much, but then I know I can demand of you whatever I want and be myself without any pretence, isn't it?)
JEENA (my-Xena-the-warrior-princess-of-a-buddy)-She broadcasted all around to all our common friends that I was sick and admitted in the hospital and urged them to visit me positively, almost to a bully-ing extent. And if that was not enough, the ones who did not turn up were not spared of her sarcasm and bitter remarks about their negligence and shameful attitude. Jeena baby, I know you care, but I think you overdid it with both the Sumits and Samrat...(those poor guys!). But she is the one person who visited me almost daily and called me up regularly to ask if I needed anything.
(P.S.-Girl, I want you to know that I used to wait for that time-slot when you'd come and visit me before leaving for your work. You really did a lot to cheer up my mood with your presence around. Thanks dear. Shall never forget this, ever. Also, couldn't have expected any less from you as you are my closest. )
NARO-My naga-friend who has a hectic 9-5 job in the Korean embassy. But once she heard I was in the hospital, she came all the way to see me from the other part of the city. I understand the distance and the nature of her hectic job did not allow her to visit me every day, but she was there on the day I needed someone the most (when the doctors were all on their weekly off on a sunday and the nurses were enjoying their own sweet high-tea while I was shivering with high-fever and extreme pain due to not receiving the injections on time). She went out all the way to find a nurse or a doctor for me and took control of the situation with much calm which had gone very much out of control with me shouting at the nurse and the assistant who had to be brought at my disposal. Thanks, girl. You were an angel for me that day, as always.
AKUM-Naro's boyfriend and my sweet buddy. He was there to see me everytime with Naro and also did his best that sunday to help. His jokes are hilarious which brought a smile on my face in the midst of my sick gloomy mood.
SHIVANI-Nip's gf... my would-be sis-in-law. She really needn't have bothered but she too did her best. She cooked for me while I was at their place. Also visited me in the hospital inspite of all her work. Thanks Shiv-ji.
VISHAK-Nip & Shivani's room-mate. We're friends and he didn't initially realise how sick I was when he saw me in the morning at their place with a swollen grumpy face due to the unbearable pain. He couldn't help laughing and making some nasty remarks, but I forgive him (yet once again...I hope u r keeping a count too, Vishak) as I know he didn't know how sick I was. Also yes, he visited me at the hospital and tried his best to cheer me up, failing miserably. But atleast he tried. Good try, Vishak. Really appreciate your effort. And hey, thanks a ton buddy.
DIPANKAR-My assamese friend in the office. He is my man-friday. I make full use of his being in the transport department of our organisation. Whenever I need to sneak out of office (unofficially), he is the one I need to call and ask for a cab to take me home. And voila! within seconds my work is done. He talks a lot, though... most of the times to a yawningly boring extent. But inspite of everything, he visited me in the hospital twice or thrice, each time staying for a long duration, chatting up constantly, telling me non-stop stories of his forgotten past hospital experiences. But for the first time I realised I was not all that bored of his non-stop gibberish which he's so good with. It helped to hear a human voice talking to me to kill the emptyness and boredom of my hospital stay. Thank you, my friend.
(P.S.- And now that I'm fit and fine, you can stop talking so much. (just joking!))
ANJULA-the baby in our group of four at work, who sits just next to my work station. She's more like a younger sister than a colleague or a friend. She kept abreast with the latest progress happening with my recovery and what the doctors have said, even while attending office, meeting her daily targets while also dealing with the various formalities she needed to cater to before getting into Jet Airways as an airhostess. She juggled through everything quite efficiently and visited me often, especially during the weekends. She's now in Mumbai going through her training for the airlines. But the help she offered to me while I was in the hospital will always be in my heart and mind. Thank you, little one.
(P.S.-I missed you all the same while I was in the hospital and more than ever, now... when you are not there sitting next to me at work, reminding me constantly to do my work while I am busy on the orkut or blogging during my work hours.)
GAURAV-The hunk of my friends from office.... good-looking, well-behaved and fiercely protective about me and Anjula. But he is a little immature, moody and short-tempered. Doesn't speak much and is shit-scared of my temper. On a Monday evening, knowing they would be visiting me the next day, I asked him if he can get me a print-out of the 'Hanuman-Chalisa' from work (I try to chant the 'hanuman chalisa' every tuesday evening, but do not know it by heart yet). He said he could. Later he must have realised that he had taken out the print-out in 'hindi' which I don't know to read fluently. But by that time he must've already reached home around mid-night and the cyber-cafes might have closed. So, he called up all possible people at odd hours of the night and the morning before they were to reach the hospital asking if anybody had access to the internet and a printer at their vicinity. I don't know how or from where he got it, but he produced a printout of the required Hanuman Chalisa for me (yes, in English) when they visited me the next morning before leaving for work. When Anjula narrated the whole story behind 'the print-out' I felt extremely guilty. But that's just Gaurav. 'Thanks' seems to be a very little word for whatever you have done for me, buddy.
(P.S.-After I was released from the hospital and joinned work, I was advised to have home-food for sometime. Gaurav's mom made it a point to send delicious home-made food for all of us (especially because she knows I stay alone and might not manage to cook proper meals during the week-days). Thanks to aunty too. What does one do to deserve such a royal treatment?!)
SAFAL-The cool-dude, Anjula's guy. He is level-headed and really defines the word 'kewl'. I have never seen him lose his temper and no matter what we say or do or to whatever extent he is provoked, he is always smiling. He can just let go off things till they cool down and the situation gets under control. He's our group's pacifier in our small tiffs and manages to make everyone laugh even under the most difficult of situations. But God save you if he has downed 2 bottles of beer. He will go on talking about anything and everything under the sun (or the moon) till we go off to sleep. Anjula & Gaurav used to drag him along with them when they came to visit me. My wildest guess says Safal would have generally just woken up, put on his clothes and shoes, brushed his teeth and come along, 'cause whenever he came to visit me, he was either eating at the hospital cafeteria downstairs or smoking or watching cricket matches (with Gaurav) at the hospital lounge, before coming upto my room to show his face, giving Anjula and me enough time to catch up with our 'girlie-talks' if there was any.
SHELTON-my friend from Goa who had stopped by in Delhi for his visa work, while on his way to New York City for a concert, with high hopes of me showing him around Delhi while he was around, was really upset with the whole thing. And he did drop in to see me in the hospital. He had also managed to smuggle in some local Goan pork sausages (my favourite) into my room and handed the parcel to me only after strictly warning me to eat them after I recover fully. He is another PJ-r(poor-joke-r) who has a tremendous stock of never ending PJs. And he used them to the full on me while he was around.
P.S.-That was really sweet, Shelton. I promise I'll show you around the next time you are in Delhi, provided I am not in the hospital. And hey, you can parcel me the port-wine bottles from Goa very soon as I have recovered now.)
And then there was GEETA and NIDHI from the office who visited me in the hospital. Though they are not close friends, I really appreciate their taking out time to come and visit. And CHOW (the kiddo) who called me up often, promising to turn up in a couple of days (but never did). His calls were very refreshing in themselves, though, full of vibrance and positive energies, urging me to get well soon. Of course, SUMIT VIRDI and SUMIT CHUG called up too with 'get-well-soon' wishes mainly because (you guessed it!) Jeena bullying them into it, but they did.
So, after my never-ending 8-10 days stay in the hospital I was finally released to go home and advised bed-rest for atleast 2-weeks till I recovered. So I went back home to the comforts of my ma & dad's pampering and care and stayed back for about a week before returning to Delhi to join work. NANDINI my friend in Guwahati came to visit me while I was there and it was nice to see her glowing with pregnancy.
Now I am fit and fine and back to work, but this long gap in between has made me a lazy bum and I still haven't been able to restore back my interest at work. Needed a break, got a break (minus the pain and suffering that came with the illness) !
The hospital stay, though long and boring, was quite a memorable one. And the few close friends I have here in Delhi, did their best for me which has made me even more closer to them than ever before. Here goes the list-
NIP (as I call him... short for Nabajit)-We are related in some way and have known each other since childhood, but more than relatives/cousins, we are very close friends and he always somehow gets a vibe if I am not well. He was the first one I called up on to take me to the doctor. Though he was not well himself, and had to take care of his 1001 things which he is always caught up with, he still came and took me to the doctor, waited there while I was getting treated. Then picked me up and took me to their place to stay over for the night just in case I feel worse in the night all by myself at my own place. Next day again he brought me to the doc to collect my reports, then drove me to get me admitted in the hospital, filled in all the forms and dealt with the formalities while I waited for the admission. He visited me at intervals during my stay in the hospital too. I can never forget this ever. Love u, Nip. I owe you a big one.
(P.S.- Please forgive me for texting you those stinky messages when you could not visit me for some days at the hospital. I was really sick of looking at the nurses' and doctors' faces and needed friends like you to be around more often. Guess I was asking for a little too much, but then I know I can demand of you whatever I want and be myself without any pretence, isn't it?)
JEENA (my-Xena-the-warrior-princess-of-a-buddy)-She broadcasted all around to all our common friends that I was sick and admitted in the hospital and urged them to visit me positively, almost to a bully-ing extent. And if that was not enough, the ones who did not turn up were not spared of her sarcasm and bitter remarks about their negligence and shameful attitude. Jeena baby, I know you care, but I think you overdid it with both the Sumits and Samrat...(those poor guys!). But she is the one person who visited me almost daily and called me up regularly to ask if I needed anything.
(P.S.-Girl, I want you to know that I used to wait for that time-slot when you'd come and visit me before leaving for your work. You really did a lot to cheer up my mood with your presence around. Thanks dear. Shall never forget this, ever. Also, couldn't have expected any less from you as you are my closest. )
NARO-My naga-friend who has a hectic 9-5 job in the Korean embassy. But once she heard I was in the hospital, she came all the way to see me from the other part of the city. I understand the distance and the nature of her hectic job did not allow her to visit me every day, but she was there on the day I needed someone the most (when the doctors were all on their weekly off on a sunday and the nurses were enjoying their own sweet high-tea while I was shivering with high-fever and extreme pain due to not receiving the injections on time). She went out all the way to find a nurse or a doctor for me and took control of the situation with much calm which had gone very much out of control with me shouting at the nurse and the assistant who had to be brought at my disposal. Thanks, girl. You were an angel for me that day, as always.
AKUM-Naro's boyfriend and my sweet buddy. He was there to see me everytime with Naro and also did his best that sunday to help. His jokes are hilarious which brought a smile on my face in the midst of my sick gloomy mood.
SHIVANI-Nip's gf... my would-be sis-in-law. She really needn't have bothered but she too did her best. She cooked for me while I was at their place. Also visited me in the hospital inspite of all her work. Thanks Shiv-ji.
VISHAK-Nip & Shivani's room-mate. We're friends and he didn't initially realise how sick I was when he saw me in the morning at their place with a swollen grumpy face due to the unbearable pain. He couldn't help laughing and making some nasty remarks, but I forgive him (yet once again...I hope u r keeping a count too, Vishak) as I know he didn't know how sick I was. Also yes, he visited me at the hospital and tried his best to cheer me up, failing miserably. But atleast he tried. Good try, Vishak. Really appreciate your effort. And hey, thanks a ton buddy.
DIPANKAR-My assamese friend in the office. He is my man-friday. I make full use of his being in the transport department of our organisation. Whenever I need to sneak out of office (unofficially), he is the one I need to call and ask for a cab to take me home. And voila! within seconds my work is done. He talks a lot, though... most of the times to a yawningly boring extent. But inspite of everything, he visited me in the hospital twice or thrice, each time staying for a long duration, chatting up constantly, telling me non-stop stories of his forgotten past hospital experiences. But for the first time I realised I was not all that bored of his non-stop gibberish which he's so good with. It helped to hear a human voice talking to me to kill the emptyness and boredom of my hospital stay. Thank you, my friend.
(P.S.- And now that I'm fit and fine, you can stop talking so much. (just joking!))
ANJULA-the baby in our group of four at work, who sits just next to my work station. She's more like a younger sister than a colleague or a friend. She kept abreast with the latest progress happening with my recovery and what the doctors have said, even while attending office, meeting her daily targets while also dealing with the various formalities she needed to cater to before getting into Jet Airways as an airhostess. She juggled through everything quite efficiently and visited me often, especially during the weekends. She's now in Mumbai going through her training for the airlines. But the help she offered to me while I was in the hospital will always be in my heart and mind. Thank you, little one.
(P.S.-I missed you all the same while I was in the hospital and more than ever, now... when you are not there sitting next to me at work, reminding me constantly to do my work while I am busy on the orkut or blogging during my work hours.)
GAURAV-The hunk of my friends from office.... good-looking, well-behaved and fiercely protective about me and Anjula. But he is a little immature, moody and short-tempered. Doesn't speak much and is shit-scared of my temper. On a Monday evening, knowing they would be visiting me the next day, I asked him if he can get me a print-out of the 'Hanuman-Chalisa' from work (I try to chant the 'hanuman chalisa' every tuesday evening, but do not know it by heart yet). He said he could. Later he must have realised that he had taken out the print-out in 'hindi' which I don't know to read fluently. But by that time he must've already reached home around mid-night and the cyber-cafes might have closed. So, he called up all possible people at odd hours of the night and the morning before they were to reach the hospital asking if anybody had access to the internet and a printer at their vicinity. I don't know how or from where he got it, but he produced a printout of the required Hanuman Chalisa for me (yes, in English) when they visited me the next morning before leaving for work. When Anjula narrated the whole story behind 'the print-out' I felt extremely guilty. But that's just Gaurav. 'Thanks' seems to be a very little word for whatever you have done for me, buddy.
(P.S.-After I was released from the hospital and joinned work, I was advised to have home-food for sometime. Gaurav's mom made it a point to send delicious home-made food for all of us (especially because she knows I stay alone and might not manage to cook proper meals during the week-days). Thanks to aunty too. What does one do to deserve such a royal treatment?!)
SAFAL-The cool-dude, Anjula's guy. He is level-headed and really defines the word 'kewl'. I have never seen him lose his temper and no matter what we say or do or to whatever extent he is provoked, he is always smiling. He can just let go off things till they cool down and the situation gets under control. He's our group's pacifier in our small tiffs and manages to make everyone laugh even under the most difficult of situations. But God save you if he has downed 2 bottles of beer. He will go on talking about anything and everything under the sun (or the moon) till we go off to sleep. Anjula & Gaurav used to drag him along with them when they came to visit me. My wildest guess says Safal would have generally just woken up, put on his clothes and shoes, brushed his teeth and come along, 'cause whenever he came to visit me, he was either eating at the hospital cafeteria downstairs or smoking or watching cricket matches (with Gaurav) at the hospital lounge, before coming upto my room to show his face, giving Anjula and me enough time to catch up with our 'girlie-talks' if there was any.
SHELTON-my friend from Goa who had stopped by in Delhi for his visa work, while on his way to New York City for a concert, with high hopes of me showing him around Delhi while he was around, was really upset with the whole thing. And he did drop in to see me in the hospital. He had also managed to smuggle in some local Goan pork sausages (my favourite) into my room and handed the parcel to me only after strictly warning me to eat them after I recover fully. He is another PJ-r(poor-joke-r) who has a tremendous stock of never ending PJs. And he used them to the full on me while he was around.
P.S.-That was really sweet, Shelton. I promise I'll show you around the next time you are in Delhi, provided I am not in the hospital. And hey, you can parcel me the port-wine bottles from Goa very soon as I have recovered now.)
And then there was GEETA and NIDHI from the office who visited me in the hospital. Though they are not close friends, I really appreciate their taking out time to come and visit. And CHOW (the kiddo) who called me up often, promising to turn up in a couple of days (but never did). His calls were very refreshing in themselves, though, full of vibrance and positive energies, urging me to get well soon. Of course, SUMIT VIRDI and SUMIT CHUG called up too with 'get-well-soon' wishes mainly because (you guessed it!) Jeena bullying them into it, but they did.
So, after my never-ending 8-10 days stay in the hospital I was finally released to go home and advised bed-rest for atleast 2-weeks till I recovered. So I went back home to the comforts of my ma & dad's pampering and care and stayed back for about a week before returning to Delhi to join work. NANDINI my friend in Guwahati came to visit me while I was there and it was nice to see her glowing with pregnancy.
Now I am fit and fine and back to work, but this long gap in between has made me a lazy bum and I still haven't been able to restore back my interest at work. Needed a break, got a break (minus the pain and suffering that came with the illness) !
October 11, 2007
THE LOST CHARM
I was very happy being in love with George Clooney with his pics in my wallet in that special place reserved for a 'someone special'. Reading his interviews where he'd comment that he is NOT attached and doesn't plan to marry...ever, I'd beam with joy. Just the perfect man for me. And he's good-looking too, just in case you didn't notice. But a couple of weeks back my heart shattered with the accident he was caught in, not because he was suffering from a broken rib and some scrapes, but because he was with a girlfriend Sarah Larson, who was also injured. Hey wait a minute, did I just say 'a girlfriend'? Now where on earth did she come from? And barely did they recover from their injuries when the Clooney guy declared of a prospective engagement with Sarah. So much for my luck! Now I'm no longer attracted to him anymore. I don't have anything left for Georgey boy. No love, no lust. The 'committed' factor, remember?
The story of my life. Sigh!
October 05, 2007
YET ANOTHER MR. WRONG
I noticed him sometime back.
He noticed me long before that.
I liked what I saw.
He could read my mind.
I wished he would talk to me.
He came and talked to me.
I thought he liked me.
He knew I liked him.
I fell in love with his behaviour and the attention he showered.
He wooed and followed me around like a puppy love.
I never hid anything.
He had secrets and issues.
I'm clean.
He's often stoned.
I became a little unsure.
He became defensive.
I began to expect.
He began to detach.
I was on.
He was on and off.
I fell ill.
He stopped communicating for a while.
I prayed to God he comes back to me.
He came back to me.
But now I'm disillusioned.
He's just one of the numerous other MR. WRONGs I've bumped across...
He noticed me long before that.
I liked what I saw.
He could read my mind.
I wished he would talk to me.
He came and talked to me.
I thought he liked me.
He knew I liked him.
I fell in love with his behaviour and the attention he showered.
He wooed and followed me around like a puppy love.
I never hid anything.
He had secrets and issues.
I'm clean.
He's often stoned.
I became a little unsure.
He became defensive.
I began to expect.
He began to detach.
I was on.
He was on and off.
I fell ill.
He stopped communicating for a while.
I prayed to God he comes back to me.
He came back to me.
But now I'm disillusioned.
He's just one of the numerous other MR. WRONGs I've bumped across...
September 11, 2007
NY RESOLUTION STATUS
I must admit, I have broken one of my New Year resolutions and have not been able to keep up with many of them. I was going through some very blue moments of late and started smoking from the 15th of August (incidently, on the independence day I succumbed to the 'butt' again). I smoked the whole day that day till my throat was sore and burning and tears ran down my cheeks with the smoke, mixed with my inner grief. I thought it was okay to take a break for 1 day and smoke... but it led to me smoking the next day again. The 3rd day my friend at work warned me about me getting trapped into it again. I convinced her and myself that I'd smoke for the whole week and then stop. The week elongated to become 2 weeks, precisely 16 days. So I smoked as much as I could till the month-end and then finally quit for good on the 31st of August. But I am not happy about it myself. I don't know why I couldn't be strong enough to not have done as I did. Perhaps there was a lack of reason or maybe that itself was a reason. Just for my health did not seem reason enough for me to have not smoked.
Sometimes I wonder why my senses go for a walk. Why I stop thinking rationally. Why I feel so snappy. Why I just want to let go of everything or everyone who matters to me so much. Why I have no zeal left for the ever new and happening thing called LIFE. I feel I have stopped 'living' for sometime now. I am just breathing, so I am 'existing'. Perhaps its a hint I should take seriously about a short break again....soon. The sun and the sea beckons...
Sometimes I wonder why my senses go for a walk. Why I stop thinking rationally. Why I feel so snappy. Why I just want to let go of everything or everyone who matters to me so much. Why I have no zeal left for the ever new and happening thing called LIFE. I feel I have stopped 'living' for sometime now. I am just breathing, so I am 'existing'. Perhaps its a hint I should take seriously about a short break again....soon. The sun and the sea beckons...
August 07, 2007
The SALT-N-PEPPER appeal
I had always had a strong liking for men with 'distinguished' hair. Most men don't get it, but the 'salt-n-pepper' on guys drives a lot of women wild. Well, call it the 'salt-and-pepper' or the newfound 'gravitas', but losing color doesn't make you an old man... if you don't wear it like Phil Donahue, that is. And if you'd keep it short, please. Thank you!
Most men refuse to admit they're 'gray'. 'Salt-and-pepper' is about all they'll cop to. Of course, they may be just about out of pepper, is another matter. But we all cling to delusions, don't we? Some men may not like the way their gra... I mean, salt-and-pepper looks, and with the Grecian Formula in vogue, they want to go in for a jet-black shade than a cool gray. But if you ask me, they should not colour their hair for a lark, 'coz very soon, they'd have to do it as a monthly chore. And isn't there something sad about habitually locking oneself in the bathroom and doling out dye into your aching hands, adjusting the mirror or your head angles (or both) like some aging junkie? Or worse still, roam around the house with a head-full of mehndi-paste for hours?
Today, in just about any line of work being 'prematurely gray' is an advantage. In fact, in any business, gray equals gravitas. And then again, there are millions of follicle-fetishists out there, and at the first hint of tint they find you and ogle your albino tresses like a hot pair of buns....( the same way I check out and secretly drool over men with short 'salt-n-pepper' hair). This is because, gray hair on a guy says he's mature, stable and sexy, but at the same time he can be relied on.
Think Big B as 'Sexy Sam'... he's swarmed with all those hot babes. Think Tom Cruise in 'the Collateral'.. He might have been the bad guy, but if you talk about his looks, ah! simply irresistible. Think Sean Penn. His fan base doesn't seem to mind his salt-n-pepper one bit. Think George Clooney in Ocean's Thirteen. He seems to be getting more and more drool-able with every passing year... I can't help falling in love with him over and over again..
My advice to all those guys with 'distinguished' hair? Give in to the salt-n-pepper look and make the most of it while you're still young. Better to be 'happily gray' than to be a 'serial dyer'. Remember, there will come a time in the not too distant future when you'd no longer be 'prematurely' gray. People will stop using the word 'distinguished'. By then, you'll have a paunch, a wattle, baggy eyes and sagging skin, and pretty young things won't even take notice of your hair. Only other guys will... the bald ones...
So, if you still think you cannot carry off the 'salt-n-pepper' on your crown, because your name is not George Clooney, just give it a second thought. Trust me, it looks damn hot....
January 08, 2007
RESOLUTIONS 007
Hello everyone and hello 2007. I hope you all had a grand celebration to welcome the New Year. But unfortunately, I was bed-ridden with severe stomach infection and a sun-stroke. Not a very pleasant way to start the New Year, I'd say. But then life goes on. And inspite of all the viruses, bad weather, a poor appraisal at work and nothing so exciting to look forward to, I still hope its a good year ahead. Its been quite a few years now that I hadn't made any New Year resolutions because I used to forget and break all my promises after a couple of months. But this year I believe it'll be different and I hope to have more control over myself. I've kept these 7 resolutions. Wish you all a very happy and prosperous 2007.
#001: Will never kiss the butt again...I said goodbye to ciggies.
#002:Will try to make my life more organic... more fruits, veggies, herbal-teas, juices...will curb on booze and meat.
#003:Will try to get onto the other side of the lenses...after modelling, now I want to get behind the camera and capture all things of beauty through my lenses.
#004:Will travel more...but off the beaten tracks...I'll try to cover more exotic destinations within the country.
#005:Will indulge more...and get myself gadgets to ease my work...a microwave oven, an ipod, a digicam and a laptop are on the priority list in that order.
#006:Will paint my life RED...and BLUE and GREEN and YELLOW and ORANGE...I'll paint so much that I can put up an exhibition by Diwali.
#007:Will talk to God more often...does not mean I'll be worshipping all the time, but I'll be super regular with my daily prayers.
And U R TAGGED. Post in your NY resolutions and lets see if we can all keep them till the end of the year.
#001: Will never kiss the butt again...I said goodbye to ciggies.
#002:Will try to make my life more organic... more fruits, veggies, herbal-teas, juices...will curb on booze and meat.
#003:Will try to get onto the other side of the lenses...after modelling, now I want to get behind the camera and capture all things of beauty through my lenses.
#004:Will travel more...but off the beaten tracks...I'll try to cover more exotic destinations within the country.
#005:Will indulge more...and get myself gadgets to ease my work...a microwave oven, an ipod, a digicam and a laptop are on the priority list in that order.
#006:Will paint my life RED...and BLUE and GREEN and YELLOW and ORANGE...I'll paint so much that I can put up an exhibition by Diwali.
#007:Will talk to God more often...does not mean I'll be worshipping all the time, but I'll be super regular with my daily prayers.
And U R TAGGED. Post in your NY resolutions and lets see if we can all keep them till the end of the year.
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