Sahavasa Dosham!

Sahavasa dosham…bad company! Sigh !

We all know who God’s yo-yo is…but I guess God has shifted preferences — if not (and hope not) forever, at least for an evening! I was ‘yo-yo’ed so violently this evening, that I can almost still feel myself rolling up and down in air! Well, the intensity has decreased of course, given the time gap between the ‘yo-yo’ing and now

Off-topic: Who the bloody f***ing hell discovered Ctrl Z and its bloody undo function!!??

Feeling ashamed at a friend’s comment “You don’t write regularly at all!”, I took it up as a challenge and decided to write! I needed an idea; I scratched my head, I shook my head, I brushed my hair and even oiled it in the hope of increasing blood circulation and getting my brain to act — and then promptly slept off! (my head is my lullaby switch)

Woke up an hour later and decided to go book-shopping! Fully excited and all that and…ah! Wasn’t that an experience! When I reached back home, I was thrilled! I had Booker-winning material to write about! In high hopes of giving you all a post you’d never ever forget (and would keep coming back again and again to read ), I began typing out my 34th post! It was my longest (read as best) ever!

I searched for images, found a really nice one, added it! I formatted a few really important sentences, added tags…I was all set to post it. Last minute, I even decided to indent a paragraph, tried it, liked it.

I was so happy! I tilted my head a little towards my right, and looked heaven-wards. I smiled at God. God smirked ! “For what joy?” I asked. “You’ll soon know, my child”, God said. Rolling my eyes at God’s penchant for high drama (you all know how God made a fool of Godself in front of me once), I was about to hit Publish when intelligence struck.

The indenting was something I hadn’t done before. I stared at the post for a while (staring helps in sorting out last minute woes/confusions) and realised that the indenting actually took away the importance of the words there. Remembering that ‘minimalism is the essence of a good design’, I changed my mind. I didn’t hit Publish. I hit Ctrl Z instead. And everything went for a six!

I was shell-shocked! I tilted my head a little towards my right, and looked heaven-wards. God was still smirking!

P.S.: This post also had to be written thrice, since God apparently was not done ‘yo-yo’ing me. I wrote 2 paragraphs the first time and the power failed! (Like I mentioned here once, I always realise a little too late that there is a ’save’ option!) The second time, I wrote half of this whole thing, and instead of logging off gmail, I logged off WP . By now, (this is the third time and it’s 23:15) God has slept. God’s part-time yo-yo is free to live a normal life till God wakes up!

all-time buddy…broken-toe buddy!

Friendship…it’s a weird thing! And friends…they’re weird people!

They come into your life when there is no space left. And then, there is no time left! Your life walks over, takes an entry ticket to the nearest circus grounds and gets a seat on the most violent roller-coaster It’s an amazing phenomenon…

They say “Everything in life will change…only friendship remains the same.” Well, though I don’t agree totally to that, I do think friends are some of the most dynamic things that happen to you! No one else can be with you and create total havoc in your life …

There have been many friends who’s come, stayed, left and come back again…but none has mattered more than Jaya. Well it’s not Friendship Week or Friendship day; its not her birthday. What prompted me to write this is a really funny thing that happened to Jaya!

Its quite easy to say “He / She is my best friend. We have a lot in common.” But in our case, the ‘lot in common’ has always been a bit too literal!

Oh, the fun we’ve had!

Of all that we have in common — attitude to life, interests (books, hobbies, bitching and guys), memory failures, i-live-to-get-into-trouble syndrome and what nots — the most striking has always been our voice! And the things we’ve done with it

Hehe…everyone — from her parents to her boyfriend — always had (still have) trouble distinguishing her from me and vice versa. I once had the most embarassing conversation with her boyfriend Anyway, we have intentionally and unintentionally fooled many people and laughed our guts out!! Those stories are quite personal (and I’d be murdered if I publish them here ).

Well, coming back to the funny thing that happened to her… Yesterday, she broke her toe ! (No no, I’m not a sadist friend who is overjoyed at her toes woes )

Flash back : Two years ago, I went to the beach with a cousin and we were shooting sand at each other with our feet. At one point, my foot met his! He screamed at me for the little layer of skin I accidentally peeled off his leg — while, I wasnt even aware of my broken toe till I reached home I couldnt believe it! I’d broken my toe in the most stupid way one can break a toe . With that broken toe, I went off to Mumbai the next day with Jaya (for our project completion) and climbed every single available foot-over bridge at all most of Mumbai’s stations — across VT, Andheri, Juhu, Dombivali, Thane and Mahalakshmi …and then we went to Goa…with that same broken toe (you cant expect a toe to form bone, zap in 10 days)!!! And my dear freind teased me for being “the committed student”. (I looked at it as a chance to freak out in Mumbai and Goa with my best friend . Project? What project? Toe? Aah…slight pain there! )

Yesterday, Jaya had Thiruvaathira practice at her office. The girl by her side put her best foot forward — but

a thiruvaathirakkali in progress somewhere

at a time when it was uncalled for — and Jaya broke her toe! Thiruvaathira is a dance form that gives no room for violence! It’s one of those slow moving, peaceful dances. C’mon! If she’d been practising break dance, I can understand Hehe…knowing Thiruvaathira steps, and having done it myself a few time, I’d say she broke her toe in the most stupid way one can break a toe (but not as stupidly as I managed). And the “committed employee” is in office even today. Took no leave, could not stay away from work (or is it the practise?)

Edi, njaan athum kond nadann odukkam 3 weeks-il heal aakumaayirunnathu took 3 months. Maryadaykk veetil irikkaan nokku . Get well soon, honey! Mwah! Love you loads, my broken-toe buddy !

Image courtesy: www.indovacations.net

A dog’s purpose :)

wish she was i

This is not my literary creation. This is a mail I received a few minutes ago! The sweetest I’v EVER received, I must say. E.V.E.R ! I just could not resist the urge to put it up! All you dog lovers…enjoy this. And all you dog haters, enjoy this (and please, get a dog soon…at least get me one my favourite breed’s picture is also included at the end of this post )!

Being a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish Wolfhound named Belker. The dog’s owners, Ron, his wife Lisa, and their little boy Shane, were all very attached to Belker, and they were hoping for a miracle.

I examined Belker and found he was dying of cancer. I told the family we couldn’t do anything for Belker, and offered to perform the euthanasia procedure for the old dog in their home.

awww

The next day, I felt the familiar catch in my throat as Belker’s family surrounded him. Shane seemed so calm, petting the old dog for the last time, that I wondered if he understood what was going on. Within a few minutes, Belker slipped peacefully away.

The little boy seemed to accept Belker’s transition without any difficulty or confusion. We sat together for a while after Belker’s Death, wondering aloud about the sad fact that animal lives are shorter than human lives. Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, ‘I know why.’

awwwwwwwwwwwww

Startled, we all turned to him. What came out of his mouth next stunned me. I’d never heard a more comforting explanation.

He said, ‘People are born so that they can learn how to live a good life — like loving everybody all the time and being nice, right?’ The six-year-old continued, ‘Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don’t have to stay as long.’

Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly.

Remember, if a dog was the teacher, you would learn things like:

When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.

Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.

look how adorably comfy this one is!

Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure Ecstasy.

Take naps.

Stretch before rising.

Run, romp and play daily

Thrive on attention and let people touch you.

Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.

On warm days, stop to lie on your back on the grass.

On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a shady tree.

When you’re happy, dance around and wag your entire body.

Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.

Be loyal.

my dream doggie

Never pretend to be something you’re not.

If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.

When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by, and nuzzle them gently.

ENJOY EVERY MOMENT OF EVERY DAY!

By far, my most image-heavy post I love dogs…and cant avoid putting in their pictures (its half past 12 and am damn sleepy! Else I’d have sourced more pictures )

if they had a life…

am as bored and lazy as this bored and lazy doggie here

I’m so lazy these days, I’m wondering if I’ll ever ever be able to ‘work’ again….I think my career has gone for a six already (I’m due back in office in a couple of months’ time…but I’m not sure any more that’ll be an intelligent thing for my boss to do! )

Boredom and laziness can always work towards giving you weird ideas and crappy imagination. And it’s wonders had started working one me. Anyway, I was so out-of-mood and bored that I began telling myself “Have a life, Priya! Go out with friends, shop, read something, do some work…don’t just sit there like a lifeless chair (now, since when have there been chairs with life?)“, when I started wondering what all other lifeless stuff would do if they ‘had their lives’

Well, in my limited imagination and perspective, the hitherto ‘lifeless’ stuff around me would probably behave in the following ways: (I am sure they won’t approve of my perspective and will have better things to do. My bed would probably prefer walking around the house aimlessly and plopping on me every once in a while )

Yea, to begin with, the bed! I’m sure it’d love to turn upside down and lie on me with all its weight if it had a choice. I’m sure the cot would be extremely touchy, walk over to the nearby shop for ‘Super Glue’ and stick itself to the floor!

The table in my room would probably put up a board “Do not litter me, use the waste bin instead!”, and the waste bin would feel bored and neglected (unless the table and the bin gets into a deal!) Am sure I give them enough opportunity for a decent barter system.

My cupboard would sue me for choking it (even in its present lifeless state, it throws up throws out every single clothing of mine every time I yank the doors open. The cupboard doors, am sure, will have high blood pressure (holding the weight of all my clothes when its closed )

The bathroom would be the only happy ‘person’, I guess. I’m a pretty good singer and am always in full-throated musical extravaganza every time I enter in there (even now, it supports me with a lot of echo )…and well, not to mention the opportunity of seeing me naked, countless no. of times . But the washbasin would be a perpetual pneumonia patient (and suffer from high degrees of humiliation ). I refrain myself from thinking aloud of the EC’s (european closet) feelings!

My toothbrush will probably think I’m a skunk of sorts . My comb would die of overwork. My handbag would probably wish it were born as a waste bin and do the same job it does now, but with dignity!

The PC would constantly swear at me in digital languages (!!) and sent out sparks (its way of kicking, since it has no legs ) The mouse, am sure, will wish there was a cat around and could attain salvation! Combined, the whole system would curse me for leaving the stinking deadbody of my UPS unburied for such a long time (read as years)

My phone…ah! Its reactions and feelings, I got no clue about. For all the injustice I do to it (frequently dropping it; spraying it with water; almost-killing-it-by-leaving-it-chargeless for too long; leaving it around, making it scream for me endlessly when someone calls; and sitting on it now and then), I’m sure my phone will send out SMSs that say “save me from this moron(ess)” to my friends’ phones !

The TV would probably feel giddy at all times from too much channel switching…and would lose its mental stability (making it two maniacs in one house ).

My house will move out of town!

…am not even getting to what these ‘lifeless stuffs’ would do in vengeance If you ask me, I’m sure my bed would love to bulge its belly and burp out loud, throwing me off it! And the cot would probably grab me by my leg and swing me this way and that! The dirtiest (pun intended) vengeance would be of the EC :D . I shudder to think of it!

Now, what do you think stuff in your house/office would do to you?

Book review: Life of Pi (yann martel)

A novel. Winner of the Man Booker Prize 2002.

Winner of my heart! (I’m now feeling ashamed that I did not read it much earlier.)

Anyone who likes reading and lives the life of a passionate bookworm, please crawl into this one at the earliest! And it will crawl into your heart as effortlessly as Richard Parker twitches his ears!

Life of Pi has been a book I’ve been wanting to read for as long as I can remember…but somehow, never got my hands on it. Until recently, I went to Crossword with a friend who insisted I read it — and actually bought it for me!

The day I opened it, it gripped me. I sacrificed breakfast, lunch, dinner and sleep so that I could feast myself on Pi’s interesting life. And after the first two pages, I realised with shock that Pi was the name of the protagonist, a little boy; and not the name of the tiger on the book cover (“inspired by Calvin & Hobbes, perhaps, but on a more serious note”, I’d always thought!)

I’m generally a very fast reader…and usually complete a 300 page book in less than 5 hours (yes, if I start on a book, I always sacrifice on food and sleep …can never keep one down till I’m done with it). But with this book, I couldn’t bring myself to ‘want to finish’ it…in fact, the fact that the book would soon get over made me paranoid! I took 4 long days to finish it…calling up / messaging my friend now and then to say “This book is amazing…love it…” and the like!

Yesterday, I completed it. I was sad. I was thrilled. I was grateful. I was elated. I was angry. I was furious. I was in awe. I was stupefied. I was amazed. I was repentant. I was extremely thankful..and indebted.

I was sad the book was over; thrilled that I finally managed to get it and grateful to my friend for giving it to me; elated that Pi survived; angry and furious at 2 characters for not trusting Pi; stupefied at the realisation of what ‘life’ can turn one into; amazed that Pi could live through all of that; repentant to all my friends for not listening to them earlier and reading this long back; thankful to my dad for instilling reading habit in me…and highly indebted to Yann for writing this book.

Oh, all you people! You just have to read this book. No other book has moved me the way this one has (the only other one I still vividly remember is The Da Vinci Code, but that was more of a stupefying effect than such a turmoil of emotions!) I still haven’t recovered from the exhilaration of Pi’s experiences, which one would automatically experience too. I still can feel Richard Parker, can still see his muscular body, shining coat and prusten I wish I could meet him (though it wouldn’t affect him in the slightest manner; that much is evident in the way he walks off as the story reaches an end)…I cant imagine any other living being to be as amazing as him any more!

Oh…I wish my brain (I do have a small one, how ever idle it may be ) would soon wash out all memories of this book so I can read it all over again!

Life of Pi…awwwwwh! I loved it…and forever will be in awe of Yann’s penmanship!

P.S: Post inspired by Nikhil’s post on a book he is reading. I have never done a book review (though this can hardly be called one) ever before….and hope Its not as bad as I think it is

good? bad? good? bad? i do not know…

There’s nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so.

So says Shakespeare’s Hamlet. Well, how more true can this be ?

There are certain people who enter your life unannounced, uninvited, yet becomes an integral part of your life. They become so much a part of your daily life that after a point, you don’t even realise what they do for you and what they don’t…you start taking them for granted…sometimes you like them; sometimes you hate; sometimes you look for them; sometimes you hide; sometimes you listen to them; sometimes you walk away…

I have one such person to talk about…

This person was not my type at all…I never thought I’d become friends with this person. But well, you can never chart out your life, can you? This person and I became friends. And being in a new city for good measure, I found much help in this person. A symbol of purity at heart, this person is very endearing to all who surround. Extremely selfless, this person would cross desert and sea to be with a person in need. Though this person would always be with everyone, wishing them good, people end up hurting this person a lot…leaving this person to wonder why good never begets good, at least, in this person’s life.

For me, this person has been a huge support and help for as long as I can remember. We have had our fights and misunderstandings, joys and happy hours….but this person, unlike me, was always unflinching in defining the meaning of friendship. I have no words that will justifiably thank this person for all that this person did for me.

This person has a heart that forgives; love is all this person ever needs and expects. This person always strives to see goodness in others…and tries to conquer people with love. Even to people who have conspired against this person, this person returns it all manifold in a lot of loving gestures and favours. This person, I would hence conclude by saying, is unique…one in a million!

But…like I mentioned earlier, this person was not my type at all…and well, maybe not all man is perfect! This person is an extremist, in a good sense, though. For this person, everything is sacred–relationships are meant to be forever! Being an independent, free person, I found myself wanting the famous “space” in my life. But this person would always be there with a piece of good advice, a helping hand or a shoulder to cry on. And when perspectives of two people are different, everything one does would seem weird to the other…and well, though there’s nothing good or bad, thinking ALWAYS makes it so… and trouble creeps in…distance separates people…difference of opinions manifest themselves as irritation, anger…one loses the ones they once liked…but sometimes, one doesn’t care…that’s what happened to us too…

This person is not in my life any more. And I am neither glad nor sad that it ended this way. We probably never deserved each other. I hope we never cross paths again. May this scissors mark the end of what we mean to the other. Goodbye!!!

image courtesy: fotolia / sxc

all this way from 13 June to 13 August…

Today, my blog turned 2…er er…2 months

I shifted from Blogger (where i was very inactive) to WP on 13 June! Friends said “13 June, Priya…13…bad day for a good beginning…” and all that. But today, on 13 August (at 14:30 pm), my blog stats say “Alphabet lovers contributed to…1,789 hits since 13 June 2008!” …atleast 8 times of what I achieved in 1.5 yrs at Blogger So, yey to me!

Thanks to allllllll you gals and guys who visited, commented and encouraged me, I am today a much more confident blogger than I was on 12 June 08

On this day, I specially thank:

Manu, for always encouraging me to write; Nikhil, for introducing me to WP (and for stupid posts that sent a lot of ppl to my blog as well!! ); RJ, for posting the first ever comment on Alphabetworld…and for a lot of nonsense after that (oh yes, the laptop funda too! ); Reema, for awarding me “Ms Most Coveted Blogger” (which I still don’t know for what! ); Ken, for pestering me everyday, asking me to post something (she even threatens to kill!)…

and….

all my other readers/visitors/other bloggers for giving me excellent posts to read and enjoy…for reading and (still) putting up with my nonsensical alphabets…for giving me advices…for the fun, joy and thrill I always have when my inbox says “New comment…” …and most important, for teaching my stat counter that there are numbers higher than just 87 . I cannot thank you all enough!

Thanks a lot, everyone!

P.S.: Too many smileys, I know. But well, am always happy in WordPress. Sorry, folks …aaah here I go again!

ICICI — hum hain na(hin) !!

I recovered from my ATM card loss recently and realised that I’d been dumb enough not to have applied for a new one…but well, my indecision on the date of my arrival at Trivandrum made me wait a lil’ longer — lest the card comes to Blore and I be at Trivandrum.

Well again, as always, 45 minutes prior to my journey, I realise I have no money on me — had to pay for the ticket and then fill my purse with a lil’ cash (last trip home, my mom opens my purse, gives me a tragic-cum-dirty-cum-pitiful look and says “Rs 5 is all you have on you??”…ahem, that hurt! ). Anyways, I rush into this ICICI Branch, see their tagline ‘hum hain naa’ and feel reassured…till I reach Counter 1.

“Hi, I’ve lost my atm card and I’d …” “Have you blocked it, Ma’am?” “Yes. But I need to withdraw cash right now. Its an emergency.” “Sorry Ma’am, you cant do that.”

Now, did I hear him right? “Listen, I am leaving the city in half an hour and I need cash urgently…” “Ma’am, do you have your cheque book?” “No, I dont…” “Then you cant withdraw cash, Ma’am. Ma’am, we are open till 7; you can come back with your cheque book and withdraw later…” I’m getting pissed off here! “Look, sir, I’m leaving the city in half an hour. I do not have the time to go home now!” “Sorry Ma’am, then you cant withdraw cash.”

Oh my god!! These people are unbelievable!! “Look, is there another option?” “Yes Ma’am.” And then silence. He’s blinking at me! Hmmm…ippo technique pidikitti… (now I understand the technique)…one has to ask question by question and get their answers … I am actually seething by now! “And what, may I ask, is the option?” “Ma’am, you can pay Rs 28 extra and get an emergency cheque leaf…” What the f***?!

Then I am directed to another counter. I hardly reach there before a bright face looks at me and says “May I help you?” “Listen, I’ve lost my ATM card, but i need to withdraw some ca” “Sorry Ma’am, you can’t.” I look at him with an expression that screams “WHAT THE F***!?” “Look, will you let me complete? Your friend there said I can get some kinda emergency cheque…” “Ok. Please wait Ma’am. This is your call slip. When you are called, please go to that counter.”

There are no other customers in that bank…but yet, I have to ‘wait’ for my turn! Ah, the counter screamed my number! Bless you, Counter! I walk over to the lady there and start off “I lost…” “You may please check the counter number, Ma’am.” GRRRRRR! I’m supposed to be at Counter 6, but am at Counter 5…grave mistake!! (The two counters are separated by a very clean, totally transparent glass pane which is half my height!) Why couldnt the b**** just say “Next Counter, Ma’am.”?? But no, I have to walk back, ‘check’ the callout display and figure out which Counter!!

When I finally reach the right Counter and explain my plight, her majesty says “No Ma’am. If you do not have your ATM card or your cheque book, you cannot withdraw cash.” I started losing my cool totally. “What the bloody… Look, lady! I am here for the damn emergency cheque. I’ll pay you 30 or 50 instead of just 28! Just gimme one of those.” “No Ma’am, since you have unused cheque leaves at home, we cannot issue an emergency cheque. This is our policy.”

Then I tore the call slip, threw it into the darned dustbin (wanted to throw at her, but well, I’m not an ICICI employee; so I have some sense and manners!), muttered undescribable prejoratives and walked out.

And now, to apply for a new card, the call centre guys and gals say “You’ll get one from any branch.” The branch ppl say “You’ll get it through the call centre.” Finally the branch people win…I am put through to the call centre gal who takes all my details, makes me hold the line forever and then says “Ma’am, we are unable to process your request. Please call after an hour.” After a few hours, I call again (yes, I need that card badly…and am willing to go through this one last time!), a guy picks up, takes all my details, requests me to hold on since he has to check something and then phutt! he hangs up. I’m left with that irritating automated lady who starts off with “Welcome to ICICI…”

ICICI…my foot!

i’m already missing it all…

Yesterday was my last day at work…and well, everyone made it quite fond and memorable…

Mine could be termed ‘one of the best last day’ in Resource…hehehe…yea, probably they were all charged up to throw me out. But what they dont realise is that I liked it so much that, shameless that I am, i’ll definitely go back for more   Well, its not even a matter of choice. I have to go back…like i’ve mentioned here.

I went to office yesterday wearing the same dress I’d worn on the day i first joined! Though the dress was red, i felt blue .

And then the pranks began!

I was sitting peacefully in my room, typing away goodbye mails to clients (esp the good-looking male ones ), senti mails to colleagues and a respectful one to the bosses–when a dozen CDs came flying into my room and landed all around me! For a minute, i thought it was some kinda alien attack…! (what with the bomb blasts and all that…one never knows . I heard footsteps running away…and from the tiny tremors, i knew it was Harish!

The number of blank utalks that kept thundering onto my screen was screwing up my typing speed as well as the spellings in the mail!! When i begged them to stop, they started typing “dont gooooooooo” and sending 50 at a time again!!! And then it all hung!

And while i’m frantically trying to save the loooong mail (i never realise there is a ’save’ option unless its always too late), another wise guy walked in and said ‘Excuse me”, pushed my chair (and me) off, calmly shut down my system and walked off! And then i heard laughter from the studio!

Then again comes along another guy and starts shooting thick, hard cardboard pieces at me using a rubber-band! He had the aim a guy who’d drowned a dozen shots of vodka would have! Thank God for that!

Sometime later, Rajeshwari came and slyly took my desk phone off the hook and started to leave! If i hadnt actually seen her do it, I’m sure someone would have said they’re trying to call me. I’d have freaked out to find the phone missing.

The last straw was when one among the bosses said “we’ll charge you for water after 5.30…we’re very strict with guests” I was very near tears!! Everyone in office was bonkers yesterday…hiding behind walls/doors and springing surprises at me with “Booo” and all that! Popping into my room every 5th minute to say “last day…”

Oh god, the amount of noise i made in that office yesterday is unpardonable by normal norms ! But i had to keep shouting and screaming “shut up”, “i’ll cry now”, “nonsense”, “madness is happening” and a lot more! Coz i wont get to do all for a looong time

The party was yummmmmm….:D and the speeches amazing…at the end of it all, i was speechless!! Clutched the bouquet close to me and slowly walked out the door…and in the distance, i could hear the song “All my bags are packed, i’m ready to go…” float around.

Its been hardly a day since i left…and I’m already bored…wanna go to office!!