Copy That!

So you sit and watch a zillion movies cause you are a movie buff. I mean myself. With nothing much to ask for entertainment, I end up watching one movie a week at least. That gave me a chance to come up on these few cases

1. Pazhaya pattu pudavai

The heroine is rushing to an exam and finds that there is a strike called by some political party. Hero comes up with an ingenious idea and takes her in a vehicle that is advertising money for old silk sarees. Hero takes over the mic and starts making an impromptu announcement supporting the strike. The advertisement recording takes over but somehow the hero manages to cover up the goof and manages to get the heroine to her destination. This is from the Tamil Movie - Ethir Neechal (2013)

Heroine has an interview and she and her mom arrive in the city to realise that a strike is on. Hero steps in an fetches a taxi for them however the taxi is a advertising one. So the hero improvises and speaks for the strike. The audio of the ad kicks in but the hero manages to out do it and successfully manages to get the heroine to the interview. This is from the Malyalam Movie - Achuvinte Amma (2005)


2. Body in a Jaadi - Asthi ke saath masti

Ashes of a beloved are in a Vase. The narrator takes the story forward. Thinking selfishly, she loots a vase containing the ashes and keeps blackmailing her step-brother with it. Finally she reveals that they have been moved in to another container and are safe.

The narrator and his friend take posession of a vase containing ashes and blackmails a guy for information. Finally they reveal that the same was in a different vase all the while.

The first is from 1998 movie The Opposite of Sex and the inspired version is 3 IDIOTS (2009).

Sure you will see more compilations elsewhere but these were my own observations. Not copied from anywhere else.

The February Roundup!!

February had just 28 days and thank God for that. Which only means the coffers will get re-filled earlier than usual

This was a month of celebrations and hence the depletion of resources. Yes! Celebrations.

Kicking off the events was Parents' Wedding Anniversary!! Did nothing earth shattering but went for a surprise visit. Then felt guilty for not doing much about it and therefore followed it up with a compensatory visit the following week. This trip was to mainly take my mother on a shopping spree and also get something for dad.

Mid-Feb was the World Famous valentine's day and in other news, 15th Feb was my wedding day. Yes, it was indeed. However with husband away and me at parents', it was an odd day. We couldn't even speak on the phone. Then come evening 6, surprise surprise there he is at the door! It turned to be a very pleasant evening and a very quiet and simple 6th Anniversary spent together.

The celebrations continued with Dad's birthday. We had a simple visit to the temple early morning and spent the day together with breakfast, lunch and dinner at home. Of course the new clothes were worn and lots of pictures were taken. Dad finally took his first digi-cam selfie and I was at my 689th.

Also in other news, visited bangalore after almost 2.5 months. Strangely it felt as if nothing had changed, that we had not moved out at all. But the visit was very short and was soon on the way back.

The last part of Feb was where I was exhausting reserves. I wound up with a low cash balance, low bank balance, low call balance and a low battery all on the same evening. It was a strange feeling to be stuck like that. Ofcourse on reaching home everything was back to normal.

The one thing lagging though is my Time Management. My reading and hobbies have taken a back seat and I just wonder when will I get back to them. It was only with great determination that I managed to pen this roundup.

Just praying that I find my RHYTHM by end of March!

31 days of Jan

With inspired writing not flowing, I decided to make a log. Here it goes about Jan

Apart from the routine cleaning and cooking and cleaning there was a lot of lazing and procrastination. There was guilt and there was laziness. There was dust everywhere and work left pending and I'd make excuses to myself for doing it later. I guess it was my relocation blues working extra hours that made me while away my time in a mild stupor.

With this knowledge, ever since I have been trying to be more hands on and less postponing. The progress is there. Lots better than before. I still sit lazy but at least work gets done.

There was also my surrendering my long held library membership. After having voracoiusly read book after book for almost a year and a half, I finally realised that a break is needed. With the subscription going up, it was easier to decide. I hope to get back to active reading once again. However have to wait till I start to miss them books badly.

Jan was filled with cakes and pasteries and the realisation that I had gained a lot of weight. The weight and cakes were not related but then the cakes didn't help much either. My love for cakes and chocolates is an age old one. Something that I get easily tempted by.

Many other non-consequential things happened and still happen. But I can say that after almost 2 months I've finally settled down. A routine is in place, something that I can rely on and start planning based on. Uncertainity is something that I can hardly put up with. With home base reasonably set, I do feel a lot relaxed and whole lot in control.

That was basically Jan. A week of Feb has already flown by but the musings on that will be for later.

I also Vow to keep the writing alive.

Belated HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Finally the long overdue post for the new year is here. I had a lot to round up on the year past and really no idea of what to say about the year born.

2014 was a year of zillion earth shattering changes in my life. Changes for the better. There is no other way to sum up them all. Life before and after each of the events has been different. There has a learning, a lesson for life.

The year began with the biggest event and the most looked forward one. My sister's wedding. Although it did make me feel a bit mature and extremely responsible, I thoroughly enjoyed the challenges of being at the center of all the action and managing to do all what we had planned. Little stressful, hey but it's once in a lifetime!

Learnt to ride a bike and I can call the best thing to happen to me. My bike and I have begun a long term relationship and going steady. It was a wonderful experience from self doubt to struggling for balance till finally getting my license. Have a lucky penny in my keychain and just like that I am happy !

The third biggest change was of course was saved for the last part of the year. Dec'14 I officially moved back to Chennai. With mixed feelings I left the foster city and moved back to home ground. Having fun exploring the city with a different perspective than before.


If there is something about 2014 I can say, then probably that it revealed my inner strength. I can always look back to it at any hour for guidance. A power and punch packed year it was.

And then 2015 was born.

Well have to wait for 12 months to have something to say. No speculations!

Litte Delights!

Originally submitted in http://www.thecolorsofmysoul.com/2013/06/little-delights/


“SWISH”

“BOOM”

“KABOOM”


The sights and sounds welcomed him. Riding back in to homeland, after good long years in another country, his head automatically turned skywards, admiring the vibrant display of fireworks. He was really back home.

Change and Hope!

I woke one morning with just the usual thoughts; a plan for a warm shower, a plan to finish a book and a plan for a nice nap. But it was not to be. A phone call later I was getting ready for Work.

I have a strange relationship with Work; we meet only once in a while and mostly because a zero bank balance sets us up on a date.

Coffee Break!!

Attempt to tell a story. Leave your reviews as comments if you please

Part 1

The cup of coffee in her hands was still hot. The vending machine was the most sought after in the office. It was also the perfect place for a good bit of gossip and some girl time. Pallavi’s friends were all from different floors and different departments. After spending hours in front of the computer studying project reports, preparing quotes, following up with the site offices and

A tale of two wheels and a CAST!

I knew this day was coming but I did not know that it would be so close on the heels of triumph. Within a month managed to get my Driving license, drive 30 kms a day and crash land from the bike. Yes, Humpty Dumpty Had a Great Fall.

So Dear Me was getting to work. As always  I focussed on looking the part and being a big day et al, spent an extra few minutes on the looks department. Eyes lined with khol, hair fragrant from shampoo, lips shimmering with gloss, cheeks powdered up and a trail of my perfume following me.

A Tale of Two Wheels!

I was always being followed. ALWAYS. But never once did the Moon catch me when I was riding in my Dad's Bike.

A Blue TVS Suzuki AX 100 R. That's where my joyride began. For many years I rode in the pillion, on the tank, in the pillion on mom's lap, in the pillion drenched in rain, on the tank leaning to one side cause I was growing tall.

Then came turn for me to ride on friend's bikes.

A Train Ride..

Yesterday was a day filled with nostalgia. The morning was busy with not a minute to rest. I had an incessant cough and plenty of chores to complete before catching my mid-day ride.

I was on board the train, drugged, drowsy and tired, fast asleep even before the TT could confirm who I was. After over an hour of being under a Coma, I woke up.

This is not how I usually travel. I bury my head in a book or drown myself in music. I was too weary to indulge in any of them and just decided to look out.

Voila!

The Wedding!

So lots of things have been happening in life. Some trivial and some major. Major being my sister's wedding and trivial being settling back to normalcy post the event.

The wedding was a big thing. She was the last of all our cousins to get married and the youngest of the lot too. Everyone was present, either in the wedding hall or in front of their computers. Yes, we webcast it. It was a huge responsibility as my expert opinion was needed for everything, from the purchase of a safety pin to the selection of the groom. That's right!

After days and weeks of make up trials and accessory shopping, the D-Day arrived and it whizzed past us.

Lots of things happened and lots of things went really fast. I just remember being on my toes

The year that was!

So the year is drawing to a close. It calls for a commemorative post. Only when December is born, does the reality of 12 months flying past hit home.

The New Year began with an alarm  and not with resolutions. In fact at the stroke of midnight, I was in deep sleep. Nothing eventful of the day per say but the birth of the New Year always gives a sense of hope for starting new things and probably a sense that a miracle is around the corner.

I had expected this year to be special with many things coming my way.

My Grandmother

What do you want to become? They ask you as a child. We mouthed things like Doctor, Lawyer, Teacher etc. I sure did. For Role models, we would mouth names like Indira Gandhi, Kiran Bedi and all other freedom fighters and great leaders and scientists that we have been taught.

As you grow older, everything changes. The role models now cease to be characters from our history books but rather people who have lived alongside us and influenced our thoughts, words and deeds.

It takes age and time to realise this and when you do, something like this comes about.

My Grandmother

Introspection!

Now let me talk about my merits

Oh my! Nothing much to say.

And looking at my list of de-merits

It just puts me to shame

What about my many achievements?

Sorry, none really worth the while

At least my talents

Oh Please! Just dabbling here and there

Everything Happens for a Reason!

When something is HAPPENING you undergo various emotions and notions on what is going on and what is to come. Till such event completely unfolds, you are only left with two choices viz., be anxious or be calm.

ANXIOUS:

It was an usual working day's start. I had just laid out my laptop and was wondering what I had to do today. As my attention turned to my yet to start computer, an error blinked at me. My initial blank reaction soon turned frantic as I kept trying hopelessly for some magic to work by a mere restart.

The laptop was Dead.

This Place Called - SHIVAJINAGAR

I have been visiting this place for almost 2 years now. My office is located here. Here, this place, where I get a glimpse to a City that was very new to me just a few years back. Today, I feel I know it a little more than what I had expected, in such a short time.

The Audi zipped past me one evening and some days later there was a Jaguar. BMWs are so common here. Latest to this list of exquisite beauties, a Porsche ( say POR-Sha).  Every evening I am treated to the buzz of traffic, smell of dung and garbage which is soon followed by strong musky perfumes.

Here you get to see men clad in White and come September everything turns Peachy-Pink. You hear the Maulvi every day and the Church Priest’s Sermons on special days. Not left far behind is the temple nearby, where in August the festivals are celebrated with some fire.

If I fancy some tea, I can get it, along with some delicious Mutton Biryani. But since I am a vegetarian, I can settle for some tender coconut or some Fruit Salad or spiced nuts or even some sweet corn.

I get to hear a lot of Urdu and also a generous dose of Tamil. There are lot of Malayalam speaking people here too. But the street where I tread daily, Urdu it is.

Supermarkets are normally set in multi-storey buildings and carry central Air Conditioning. Over here, the supermarket spreads across the many roads and shopping is done under the skies unmindful of whether it is daylight or dusk.

When it rains you have to be wary as the roads turn slushy. It is common in any market place and this place is no exception. However I got lucky cause I had gotten a Jinxed Umbrella. Ever since I bought it, there were no rains.

In short, my experience here has been an Eye Opener (and a nose closer). 

And I LOVE YOU 13B (the old faithful that takes me home every evening)

Black Mark!

The first thing I do when I am alone at home, is to SNEEZE as loud and free as possible. Yes it is true.

Why? Well the reason is that my in-laws are a bit superstitious about SNEEZES and scrunch up their face when they hear one. Given that and my Chronic Sneezing problem, I try to suppress it and make it as less loud as possible.

Finally when left alone, I take the chance of Letting Go with great gusto.

Small Pleasures of Life.

But really how and when and why did Sneezes become a bad omen? God Only Knows.

I used to be very superstitious. During my school years I had a routine and stuck to it. If I faltered, I feared that I would be quizzed in class, my incomplete work discovered or anything random which I failed to do exposed.

Nobody likes surprise tests and I surely didn't want to bring it on by just waking on the wrong side of bed.

Later on I discovered Murphy's Law and realised that all my routine was in VAIN.

I do wonder whether they are really as potent as people fear. I just have one real and recollectable experience with a Sneeze Jinx. A shopping expedition where I ended up returning with EMPTY BAGS!

Talking about famous / common superstitions, who can give the CAT a miss? A cat on the way means a quick U-Turn, whatever be the time, urgency or errand. Our neighbourhood was teeming with cats at some point. Many families must have been relieved to see them go away (DIE even).

Seriously. But I found the stray cats a menace rather than Walking-Meowing evil-omens. Oh! That howling Dog too. Wonder how people restrained from Stoning it to Death. Shit scared they are about such stuff.

I had a Sign-of-Bad-Luck. I nicknamed this unknown man on my street "Unlucky Iyengar". He was unlucky not cos of his beliefs but just unlucky as I had an inexplicable dislike for him and believed that seeing him ruined my work / day. True to that, I did have some lousy days.

Then one fine day I had a revelation and he ceased to affect my day.

I still call him that though and I continue to dislike him.

So what has all this got to do with a Black Mark? No it is not about Lucky Moles (Molosophy on another day). It is about this little aberration. It is not a mole, mind you, but black mark for putting my finger between a Rock and a Hard place.

The Black Mark

The OMEN factor? This one is not evil. Based on my past experience, I have realised that getting my hand stained foretold Good Fortune. Every single time my clean hands got stained, I walked out successful and happy from whatever I set out to do. No kidding.

That gave me great happiness when I saw this one forming after that crushing experience. True to it's nature, I had a wonderful time with Loved Ones and even managed to get tickets to buses and cinemas in the last minute. That too on a weekend. Beat That!

Unfortunately nothing lasts forever and that applied to this little sweet dark darling of a black mark. It is long gone now and I do miss it's company. The pride it gave me to display such an anomaly that I even clicked it's picture to record it for eternity. Sometimes I just wonder whether I should just drop that Rock on my finger again. What say? Shall I?

Oops! Someone Sneezed. Crushing by Rock on some other day.

The First Time

His thumb traced a line down her neck. The warmth from his palm on her neck spread through her. He was holding her close, she was holding him too. Her eyes were shut tight but lips parted in anticipation. They stood cheek to cheek, feeling their breath brush off their skin.

They had met a month ago at a common friend’s birthday party. The connection was instant. They had spent the whole evening chatting and stayed together till almost everyone had left. She did not want the evening to end and the feeling was mutual. Phone numbers were exchanged and the first messages flew across the very same night.

It had started light and soon turned rigorous. Not a beep missed to reply and when it didn’t beep a sense of loss. Their hands typed feverishly and yet they had so much to share and then one day, they started to call.

When they weren't messaging, they were lost in thoughts. They could only wonder what it was and did not know what it was destined for. They had jobs and lives that needed their attention and that ensured that they spent some time apart. But the moment a window opened, the messages would start.

She felt a pain one night, inside her heart. It was, she realised called LONGING. She missed him, wished him to be near, an arm around her shoulder, her head against his beating chest. He felt that pain too and wished to hold her near and never let her go far.

They planned to meet for coffee; it had been two weeks since they had first met. Unlike the first time, they hardly had any words to speak. They sat silently, together staring in to their cups, watching the hearts in the froth and wondering what the other was thinking. Though they sat silent, they sat content, just happy to be near each other. She gathered some courage and extended her little finger from where she held her cup. It gently grazed his hand and slowly pried out his little finger too. They sat there, talking of the weather, looking dreamily everywhere else rather than meeting eyes. They sat there with their fingers intertwined.

The other meetings were unlike that one, they had lots to talk, there were lots of smiles and lots more fingers intertwined.

They were returning from dinner tonight. They had driven together but wanted to walk together for a while. It was a lonely corner.  He loosely held her hand and kept wishing for a never ending night. It was sudden. She turned towards him quickly and hooked her arms under his. He was taken aback. Shaken and nervous, he hugged her back and they held tight.

As they drew apart, he held her pretty head in his hands. He traced a line down her throat and gulped for air. He felt her swallow in anticipation. They now stood cheek to cheek, lips parted and waiting for that moment.

Sweet Memories Part 1

Someone has been egging me to write about something close to the family. That lead me thinking and brought me to one thing that connected us all.

Our childhood home.

My first memory rolls back to the time a tiny,little kitten sat outside the kitchen while my mom and grandma coaxed me to have a glass of milk.

Surrounded by trees that offered fruits and shade, a garden around the house with colourful flowers, a two storey structure with a gate and a pathway leading to the main door, the house was huge. There was a swing in the backyard and a tub of a cement block, which I don't remember using and a WELL.

Life was laid back. I would be playing at home, playing at the neighbors'. Playing up till it's 6 o'clock until my mom called my name. I'd be really scared to be late and rush home as fast as I could. She has never hit me but still I feared her.

The older girls in the neighborhood had a good time dressing me up. I wasn't a doll but I just loved lipstick. Though I'd later struggle to keep my lips apart. Those lipsticks were very sticky and my parted lips made me drool which I had to suck in every few seconds which in turn provided entertainment to the whole family.

I remember once when a beggar had come for alms and I had followed my mother only to get a thorn up in my foot. My tender baby feet bled a lot. I still remember seeing a long red streak, or probably just my strong imagination.

I was very young compared to my cousins. At least 20 years younger. One cousin would take me on his bike to get me some GEMS. I'd be very scared when he'd ride fast. I would cling on like a lizard. Yup! That scared.

The thunderstorms were scary. I remember one night, my sister was just a baby. She was on my mother's lap, I was sitting close by, dad and grandma were there too. Yet the thunder startled and scared me. I would shut my ears to keep the fear away.  I still do not understand why I shuddered so. It was not about the surprise element, something more.

For the naughty kid who failed to sleep, my dad always had the perfect medicine  First he would start off with stories. I would always listen to ONE (really just one) before dozing off. Most nights it would mix up with the things he did at work, sleepy ramblings. Second, he would gently mention the GOBLINS that would come out if the kids are too noisy and awake at night. Eyes and ears will both be shut tight even before he finishes his narration. Our bedtime would coincide with the Parliament News at 9 and on Sundays with The World This Week.

I remember many small incidents, simple ones. Once my sister and I were dressed in identical PAVADAIs and playing down in the pathway. My dad wanted to click some pictures. Happily my sister came and hugged me from behind, circling my shoulders with her tiny hands. It was so sudden that I ended up accidentally swallowing an entire LEMON RAVALGON whose lemony taste I was relishing till that moment. Photo clicked!

Too many thoughts flash in front of my eyes. For a 5 year old, seems like I had a good memory. Or it is purely because the impact was such. A beautiful memory of a life so innocent.

Stupid Idiotic Girl..

I am a total mess. Sitting here, in a restaurant, looking in to a menu and unable to decide. Well not about what I want to eat, rather what do I tell this guy sitting at the table with me.

Hi, I am Stupid Girl. Yup, that's my name. Well not my birth name but I felt that this one suits me better given what I am prone to, Stupidity. Dad still calls me Princess, wait till he hears about the things I do. Still he is too soft and loving that he would turn a deaf ear to all that being said.

Back to where I am right now. At a restaurant, hiding behind a menu and trying to think of something, anything. Just then my stupid brain decides to go on a little memory tour and I fail to resist.

It all began a few weeks back, two to be exact. I had to take up a communications training as part of my college thing. The less said the better. I was actually being video-taped when I gave my speech, which was exciting and then they relayed it to the whole class, making me an example on how not to stand wide-footed when on a stage. Embarrassing. To the point, in the training, there was a guy, the same guy. I saw him when he came up for his speech, never seen him before. When he finished his speech and returned to his seat, my eyes followed him, which was just out of habit. Suddenly he looked up and our eyes met. Again EMBARRASSING. I did not will it nor wish it. I knew that now on it would be more of 'look here and look there and look if he is looking back'.

A typical story, we ended up being on the same group to work on a presentation and just by the mere chance of locking eyes, I became his focal point. Wherever I went, I could see him, despite having 28 other guys and girls around. Okay, it was a small crowd but whenever I looked he would be looking at me.

Finally on our presentation day, he found me alone and immediately asked me out for a COFFEE. Innocent request and I didn't know what to say and I didn't want to be rude and so I agreed to meet him Friday at 5.

Which brings us rather me right here and right now.

Stupid brain. Instead of focusing on how to answer, it goes on a trip. I quietly peer over the edge of the menu and watch him give his order to the waitress.I have to make up my mind. For the moment I just go with "I'll have the same". But that doesn't answer THE question.

The question in question is his question on whether I would be his girlfriend.

Where is the "LIKE"? I would have preferred "would you like to be my girlfriend" rather than "be my girlfriend" accompanied by pleading eyes. Not bragging but he seemed besotted which was absolutely flattering.

Stupid brain finally manages to remind me of a good policy, "you need to be my good friend first, we hardly know each other".

"Well", I begin, "it's just that" and I get interrupted by his pleading looks. My heart begins to melt and I am getting scared. As I am still sensing it happen, I say "we don't know each other so well, probably it may work, it may not too. I am not unsure, I can't decide. I think we should just be friends."

 I really did not want to be rude and hurt his feelings, a simple "i don't like you" would have been fine, with a "so much now but you are such a nice guy and I really don't know what to say." Stupid again.

I guess what he heard were just "probably it may work". That was quiet obvious by that smile that spread across his face. Love fool.

So you see, my stupidity at play one more time. Now he has my number and plans in place and I smile sheepishly and wonder whether he considers me his girlfriend or just as a friend.

I know this will not last long and surely I will have to start working on a break up strategy. Oh yeah, I know the right plan, I'll just say that "     ". Actually I will dump my phone in to the gutter or just the sim, move to a different city, then take up private tuition and even change my name.

Guess Idiotic Girl would be a great choice.