I was all excited about the long weekend (Labor day)-had reservations for Lasvegas,I had been researching and planning meticulously for one week for "the trip" -Had an hour by hour itenary to visit "the vegas strip" ...but as fate would have it it turned to be a heartbreaking weekend.
I got the news on friday that my uncle(father's first cousion) expired.He was 43, survived by his wife (38) and 3 sons ,the youngest is only in the 8th grade.
Apparently he was all well and after having dinner had gone to bed,at night, at around 11 he complained of chest pain and got all sweaty,he was taken to the hospital immediately and he passed away while he was talkin at around 11:20...jus 20 minutes...and he was no more.
I couldnt believe my ears when i heard the dreadful news,I asked again to reconfirm and yes that was a reality-mannu uncle(as we fondly called him) was no more:((
He was such a lovely person, always cheerful, spreading his infectious smile, even his employees were in tears when they heard the news and told that he always treated them with respect and care.
Every morning when I wake up I so much wish that it be a bad dream...but it just not is. :((
The one question which keeps haunting me....
why has life got to be so unpredictable?!...when he would have risen on that fateful day he wouldnt have known that it was going to be his last!
Someone has truly said,begin each day as it is goin to be your last,One day you are going to be so darn right!!
So go ahead... say I love you more often to your spouse,care enough for your children,make your parents feel special,patch up with your relative who hasnt been good to you,call up an old friend and most importantly smile more often and laugh really hard...because ,"kya pata,kal ho na ho"
Life is short and I guess we shouldnt waste it frowing and getting troubled over petty things. Instead we should do enough good and spread enough cheer so that when we are no more people remember us fondly!
By unkown...
"When you were born, you were crying and everyone around you was smiling. Live your life so that when you die, you're the one who is smiling and everyone around you is crying."
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Friday, August 28, 2009
Recession-Job loss- Furloughs
All of us have been reading about millions of job cuts across the globe, and the word “financial meltdown” is sure become a cliché . We feel awful about the recession and its repercussions when we read and hear about it, but we don’t feel the heat of it unless we have a close encounter with the downturn ourselves.
Yup u guessed it right…Vishal’s office announced that all its employees take a 5 day unpaid leave. (Did I hear the word leave-Hurrah!!Yes, I am so worked up by his long work hours-thanks to the blackberry and a 2 bedroom apt one of which is his "home office" as he calls it...and I say "home office" that's not even a word...oh yes,its an oxymoron i'd say)
Being an optimistic that Vishal is, he says that the furlough is something that the company needs to impose in order to survive and that he needs a break himself.
Even the salary hike wasn’t great this year in spite of him being a star performer.
On confrontation, the management told that they had two options
1. To terminate low performing employees or
2. To give a low to moderate hike to everyone in the organization.
And everyone vouched for the second option, Vishal and I vouch for it too, at this hour of distress we need to be sensitive and empathize with all those we can.
Yup u guessed it right…Vishal’s office announced that all its employees take a 5 day unpaid leave. (Did I hear the word leave-Hurrah!!Yes, I am so worked up by his long work hours-thanks to the blackberry and a 2 bedroom apt one of which is his "home office" as he calls it...and I say "home office" that's not even a word...oh yes,its an oxymoron i'd say)
Being an optimistic that Vishal is, he says that the furlough is something that the company needs to impose in order to survive and that he needs a break himself.
Even the salary hike wasn’t great this year in spite of him being a star performer.
On confrontation, the management told that they had two options
1. To terminate low performing employees or
2. To give a low to moderate hike to everyone in the organization.
And everyone vouched for the second option, Vishal and I vouch for it too, at this hour of distress we need to be sensitive and empathize with all those we can.
Saturday, July 18, 2009
MindSet
I recd this a few weeks ago as a forward with the subject "Mindset"...
before continuing to read ,Click on the picture above to view it clearly!!
(Click the back browser button to return to this screen)
I was more amazed at the mindset of the trainers (than the elephants) who think that the elephants would never try to break free from the rope??Just to give an interestig twist to the story...
What if one day an elephant out of the blue(or may be after reading this story;-) LOL) breaks open and runs causing a chaos?? Then what would the moral of this story be?? Never take the opposite party lightly :P or any other suggestions??;)
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Old age-Are we prepared?
USA has many remarkable facilities; one among them is its public libraries.Members can borrow Books, DVDs, CDs, browse the internet- all free of cost ...yes not a penny (no membership fee either).As long as you don’t loose the items borrowed.
Lately, if some thing goes missing I immediately call out for Aditya (my 2 yr old son).When he understands what I am asking for, he brings it from somewhere (am yet to find where his hiding place is) and hands it to me. Otherwise simply gazes at me. As luck would have it he decided to hide one of his favorite DVDs “Baby’s busy day” and was refusing to give it back.
So I went to the library and told the librarian- an old lady, that I don’t seem to find the DVD at my home ,so she told me I would have to pay the fine to which I agreed.She then started looking up on her system for that DVD record, scanned my library card and then I thought she would ask me for money, and the job is finished.(yes I have been through this process a couple of times earlier too)
Instead she kept doing something with her system for about 10 minutes. I began loosing my patience .As I was waiting there looking at her face – I discovered she was having difficulty reading the screen. She also kept murmuring “I don’t know if I am doing this right”. After about another 10 minutes she decided to get help from her colleague. She called “Sophie can you help me...”
So Sophie peeped into her system and remarked…”Anne you have deleted the record and it cannot be recovered”
Sophie left her with a “you-do-this-every time” kinda look.
Poor Anne didn’t know what was to be done. So she started scrolling the screen up and down. I was feeling sorry for her. I started imagining my grandmother in her place. My grandma is so protected that she wouldn’t leave the home without anybody with her and this old lady here was all alone in this situation to earn a living.
Finally Anne mustered up her courage and asked for another colleague Jane.
Jane also looked very disappointed but at least she tried explaining to Anne what the alternative way could be.
Anne was so nervous that she was struggling to sort the coins and give back the change, didn’t remember what the date was; she even forgot the spelling of the word busy. She was not able to follow the instructions of Jane and was fumbling for words while talking. After she completed all the formalities, I looked into her eyes and told her thanks and to take care with a smile. I could see a sense of relief on her face.
It is an undeniable fact that faculties get weaker with age. So what’s the way out I thought- personally when I get old I don’t want to be in Anne’s situation.
And that evening I saw Baba Ramdev’s yoga on TV and there was this sense of enlightenment. He preaches that if we practice prananyam 30 minutes a day then we can live up to a 100 with all our senses intact.
30 minutes a day - definitely worth - to avoid the embarrassment, feeling of helplessness in the later days...what say??
And yes, not to forget the other important aspect to survive in older days-Financial planning! Good luck with that too :)
Lately, if some thing goes missing I immediately call out for Aditya (my 2 yr old son).When he understands what I am asking for, he brings it from somewhere (am yet to find where his hiding place is) and hands it to me. Otherwise simply gazes at me. As luck would have it he decided to hide one of his favorite DVDs “Baby’s busy day” and was refusing to give it back.
So I went to the library and told the librarian- an old lady, that I don’t seem to find the DVD at my home ,so she told me I would have to pay the fine to which I agreed.She then started looking up on her system for that DVD record, scanned my library card and then I thought she would ask me for money, and the job is finished.(yes I have been through this process a couple of times earlier too)
Instead she kept doing something with her system for about 10 minutes. I began loosing my patience .As I was waiting there looking at her face – I discovered she was having difficulty reading the screen. She also kept murmuring “I don’t know if I am doing this right”. After about another 10 minutes she decided to get help from her colleague. She called “Sophie can you help me...”
So Sophie peeped into her system and remarked…”Anne you have deleted the record and it cannot be recovered”
Sophie left her with a “you-do-this-every time” kinda look.
Poor Anne didn’t know what was to be done. So she started scrolling the screen up and down. I was feeling sorry for her. I started imagining my grandmother in her place. My grandma is so protected that she wouldn’t leave the home without anybody with her and this old lady here was all alone in this situation to earn a living.
Finally Anne mustered up her courage and asked for another colleague Jane.
Jane also looked very disappointed but at least she tried explaining to Anne what the alternative way could be.
Anne was so nervous that she was struggling to sort the coins and give back the change, didn’t remember what the date was; she even forgot the spelling of the word busy. She was not able to follow the instructions of Jane and was fumbling for words while talking. After she completed all the formalities, I looked into her eyes and told her thanks and to take care with a smile. I could see a sense of relief on her face.
It is an undeniable fact that faculties get weaker with age. So what’s the way out I thought- personally when I get old I don’t want to be in Anne’s situation.
And that evening I saw Baba Ramdev’s yoga on TV and there was this sense of enlightenment. He preaches that if we practice prananyam 30 minutes a day then we can live up to a 100 with all our senses intact.
30 minutes a day - definitely worth - to avoid the embarrassment, feeling of helplessness in the later days...what say??
And yes, not to forget the other important aspect to survive in older days-Financial planning! Good luck with that too :)
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Mystery Solved!!
One fine morning of November 2007, when I woke up-the clock was ticking 9:00 Am (Sunday sure does bring some respite ;-)) Vishal was still asleep, so i thought why not surprise him with bed tea. I gathered myself up and proceeded towards the kitchen.As i was passing through the hall I discovered something strange, the timepiece of the set top box (verizon) showed 8 Am. Just when I began to wonder the inconsistent time display between the room clock and the set top box , I realized my brain was in no mood to take any load...all It needed was hot morning Tea,so I entered the kitchen and boooom another mishap there-the clock of my microwave showed 9:00Am.
Ah! How strange is that ...i began to wonder???
Did someone sneak into the house last night just to change the time of my clocks to stump me, (as everything else was intact, the way I had left it the night before)
I couldn’t help thinking what was going on while I was making Tea.
And just then I remembered I had to go online to chat with my mom in India.
As I switched on my laptop, I couldn’t believe what my eyes were seeing, the time on my system showed 8:00 Am .I was perplexed.
Were the clocks malfunctioning due to normal wear and tear or were they possessed by some evil spirit or were it just some bad coincidences. How could two watches show 8:00 Am and the other two 9:00 Am? So I checked my most loyal wrist watch and it showed 9:00 Am, the next moment my phone showed 8:00Am. Now I was befuddled to the extent that I started scratching my head. How on earth was I supposed to know what the actual time was? I couldn’t take the mystery anymore. I rushed to wake up Vishal and told him about the ambiguous timings the various devices displayed. In half closed eyes he told me “it’s called Daylight saving”!
Things were crystal clear now, I had heard about daylight savings, but never experienced them. :)
The time on the set top box and phone automatically updates itself through the cable network. And the laptop was set to incorporate the day light savings automatically as well. So now I had the task of adjusting my wrist watches and microwave clock manually.As I was adjusting my watch,I was thinking whoever said “No one can control time” :)
And then there were a spurt of questions running in my head, the most predominant being how does the travel industry make provision for this.
For example if a flight is scheduled for 12 Am .Now assume If the time change is scheduled to happen at 1 Am .This means after 12:59 it would be 12 Am again. So will the flight take off at the first 12 Am or the second one?? When i asked vishal this question he chuckled in his half closed eyes… I thought I had asked something stupid, but I breathed a sigh of relief when he said…my brain is no mood of taking this load right now:)
PS: Daylight savings is the practice of moving back your clock an hour in winters and advancing it an hour in summer so as to maximize the use of sunlight.
Ah! How strange is that ...i began to wonder???
Did someone sneak into the house last night just to change the time of my clocks to stump me, (as everything else was intact, the way I had left it the night before)
I couldn’t help thinking what was going on while I was making Tea.
And just then I remembered I had to go online to chat with my mom in India.
As I switched on my laptop, I couldn’t believe what my eyes were seeing, the time on my system showed 8:00 Am .I was perplexed.
Were the clocks malfunctioning due to normal wear and tear or were they possessed by some evil spirit or were it just some bad coincidences. How could two watches show 8:00 Am and the other two 9:00 Am? So I checked my most loyal wrist watch and it showed 9:00 Am, the next moment my phone showed 8:00Am. Now I was befuddled to the extent that I started scratching my head. How on earth was I supposed to know what the actual time was? I couldn’t take the mystery anymore. I rushed to wake up Vishal and told him about the ambiguous timings the various devices displayed. In half closed eyes he told me “it’s called Daylight saving”!
Things were crystal clear now, I had heard about daylight savings, but never experienced them. :)
The time on the set top box and phone automatically updates itself through the cable network. And the laptop was set to incorporate the day light savings automatically as well. So now I had the task of adjusting my wrist watches and microwave clock manually.As I was adjusting my watch,I was thinking whoever said “No one can control time” :)
And then there were a spurt of questions running in my head, the most predominant being how does the travel industry make provision for this.
For example if a flight is scheduled for 12 Am .Now assume If the time change is scheduled to happen at 1 Am .This means after 12:59 it would be 12 Am again. So will the flight take off at the first 12 Am or the second one?? When i asked vishal this question he chuckled in his half closed eyes… I thought I had asked something stupid, but I breathed a sigh of relief when he said…my brain is no mood of taking this load right now:)
PS: Daylight savings is the practice of moving back your clock an hour in winters and advancing it an hour in summer so as to maximize the use of sunlight.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Exam time Again!
Hello Friends,
Am Back again after a long long time…or so do I feel.:)
I cant believe I was missing blogging.Initially,I was so skeptical to take it up, thinking that I might not be able to do a good job, or I wouldn’t have anything to write about.Most of all I didn’t know if I would enjoy doing it.
Thanks to Vishal who suggested that I take up blogging and reassuring me that I would enjoy it. A special thanks to Kanu and Arun, as well who encouraged me by telling that my first blog was good, which motivated me to write more.
Ok now the reason that I was away...I was busy preparing for a Microstrategy certification.(a reporting BI tool),did a good job there...narrowly missed the centum mark and finished the 75 minutes test in 40 minutes flat! That evening I was treated to delicious Chinese food, at a restaurant.
Vishal like a very supportive husband helped around the house and with Ady.
So a million thanks to him, and this time I would want to take the privilige of changing the famous adage - "Behind a successful Woman is a Man" :)
Am Back again after a long long time…or so do I feel.:)
I cant believe I was missing blogging.Initially,I was so skeptical to take it up, thinking that I might not be able to do a good job, or I wouldn’t have anything to write about.Most of all I didn’t know if I would enjoy doing it.
Thanks to Vishal who suggested that I take up blogging and reassuring me that I would enjoy it. A special thanks to Kanu and Arun, as well who encouraged me by telling that my first blog was good, which motivated me to write more.
Ok now the reason that I was away...I was busy preparing for a Microstrategy certification.(a reporting BI tool),did a good job there...narrowly missed the centum mark and finished the 75 minutes test in 40 minutes flat! That evening I was treated to delicious Chinese food, at a restaurant.
Vishal like a very supportive husband helped around the house and with Ady.
So a million thanks to him, and this time I would want to take the privilige of changing the famous adage - "Behind a successful Woman is a Man" :)
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Indian Food- Foreign Palate
Last month, there was an annual international food festival at Vishal’s office. During this fest (read feast) everybody brings a dish of his/her native country for everyone else to taste or relish as the case may be.After a little deliberation, we freezed on Aaloo bonda and tamarind chutney.I got up really early (Yes, 6:00 Am is really early in my case) and prepared them.I Had Vishal taste one and he said they were excellent. (Well, it couldn’t be otherwise)
When the dish was placed at the table along with the others, it came to be known as “Indian meat balls” While, I don’t know how that name originated, nevertheless it was very innovative. Being a vegetarian that I am, I don’t know whether it’s a compliment, if I can make a vegetarian dish taste like a nonveg one.
Vishal told me it was amusing to watch people eat this (the only one) “spicy dish”
Someone commented “One of these could take a week to clear from the digestive system”.
While I was having a hearty laugh at this one I was reminded of an incident in a train while we were traveling to Venice. We were feeling very hungry and luckily my mom had packed lotsa food and pickle. (Vegetarians can sure have a tough time in Italy).An Italian was seated in the next compartment. He came to us and asked if we were having Indian food, to which we replied in the affirmative. He again asked if it was pickle, we were surprised that he knew the name of an Indian delicacy.He appeared again after 5 minutes, which had us thinking that he has a liking for Indian food .we were jus about to offer him when he told the smell was so pungent that it was making him giddy.!!
When the dish was placed at the table along with the others, it came to be known as “Indian meat balls” While, I don’t know how that name originated, nevertheless it was very innovative. Being a vegetarian that I am, I don’t know whether it’s a compliment, if I can make a vegetarian dish taste like a nonveg one.
Vishal told me it was amusing to watch people eat this (the only one) “spicy dish”
Someone commented “One of these could take a week to clear from the digestive system”.
While I was having a hearty laugh at this one I was reminded of an incident in a train while we were traveling to Venice. We were feeling very hungry and luckily my mom had packed lotsa food and pickle. (Vegetarians can sure have a tough time in Italy).An Italian was seated in the next compartment. He came to us and asked if we were having Indian food, to which we replied in the affirmative. He again asked if it was pickle, we were surprised that he knew the name of an Indian delicacy.He appeared again after 5 minutes, which had us thinking that he has a liking for Indian food .we were jus about to offer him when he told the smell was so pungent that it was making him giddy.!!
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Some Embarrassing moments...
It takes lots of courage to laugh at one’s own self. Very few people have it in them to do so.And today I choose to be one of the few ;)
There were 15 looooooong months between my engagement and wedding.And like any other engaged couple, we used to send each other dozens of messages every day. Once, while I was busy at office, I suddenly had an attack of hiccups, and I wasn’t able to get rid of it even after drinking water. Now it is said that if you get hiccups it means that someone is missing you. So I had this immediate urge to send a sms to Vishal “Bahut hichki aa rahi hai honey…are you responsible?” .After a few seconds I got a reply “Pani kyu nahi pi leti”(how about some water??) I was shocked as this was a totally unexpected reply from Vishal. Only later did I discover that I had sent that msg to a cousin whose name also begins with V and it was his way of retorting.And to this day he teases me about it.
I was narrating an incident to somebody the other day. In my eagerness to use new words/idioms/phrases, I told her “I smell a fish” (I guess it came from the word “fishy”) for conveying “I was suspicious of something”. Only after blurting it out I realized that this expression is not quite right so I immediately corrected and told “I smell a cat”… smell a cat?? I still kept wondering if something was amiss. It was only after she left, I realized that all I wanted to say was “I smell a rat”!!!
She must be thinking if I had just returned from a pet store.
When it comes to embarrassing moments, all parents will vouch for the fact that their kids bring them many of those. I heard this one from Vishal’s grandma…
She told me that once there were a few guests at home during summer and she served them nicely cut mangoes. Now the kind guests wanted to be loving to the kid (Vishal) as well, so they offered him to eat the mangoes. Without missing the opportunity, he started eating them saying” andar jaunga toh sirf gutli hi milegi ”(I will get only seeds later)
I just hope Ady doesn’t take after his father: D
There were 15 looooooong months between my engagement and wedding.And like any other engaged couple, we used to send each other dozens of messages every day. Once, while I was busy at office, I suddenly had an attack of hiccups, and I wasn’t able to get rid of it even after drinking water. Now it is said that if you get hiccups it means that someone is missing you. So I had this immediate urge to send a sms to Vishal “Bahut hichki aa rahi hai honey…are you responsible?” .After a few seconds I got a reply “Pani kyu nahi pi leti”(how about some water??) I was shocked as this was a totally unexpected reply from Vishal. Only later did I discover that I had sent that msg to a cousin whose name also begins with V and it was his way of retorting.And to this day he teases me about it.
I was narrating an incident to somebody the other day. In my eagerness to use new words/idioms/phrases, I told her “I smell a fish” (I guess it came from the word “fishy”) for conveying “I was suspicious of something”. Only after blurting it out I realized that this expression is not quite right so I immediately corrected and told “I smell a cat”… smell a cat?? I still kept wondering if something was amiss. It was only after she left, I realized that all I wanted to say was “I smell a rat”!!!
She must be thinking if I had just returned from a pet store.
When it comes to embarrassing moments, all parents will vouch for the fact that their kids bring them many of those. I heard this one from Vishal’s grandma…
She told me that once there were a few guests at home during summer and she served them nicely cut mangoes. Now the kind guests wanted to be loving to the kid (Vishal) as well, so they offered him to eat the mangoes. Without missing the opportunity, he started eating them saying” andar jaunga toh sirf gutli hi milegi ”(I will get only seeds later)
I just hope Ady doesn’t take after his father: D
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
The Three Most Important Men In My Life
The First Man in any girl’s life whom she adores completely is her dad, and am no different. My daddy strongest!!
I am what I am today, because of my dad. I had taken science group in my 12th grade aspiring to become an engineer, and by the time I could finish it, I was so besieged with physics chemistry math and what not, that I didn’t have any courage to go ahead and take up the Engineering entrance exams. My dad made me understand that life is not a bed of roses and that perseverance always pays off. He was in no mood of letting me quit. He wanted me to pursue my dream. He told me to take the entrance exams and that it didn’t matter if I clear it or not. An important lesson there “Karm karo phal ki aasha mat karo”-Bhagvad Gita. (Do your deeds don’t but don’t expect results)
And here I am an engineer today …!
When people asked me what kinda guy I’d wish to marry I’d say “He” must be jus like my dad…
And so entered Vishal in my life (though he is not like my dad completely)and life became all the more beautiful.It has been a wonderful 4 yrs of this companionship which I cherish deeply.He is not just a husband; he is also a friend, a guide and a great connoisseur of food ;). Of course, we have had our shares of misunderstandings and arguments but that doesn’t stop us from learning and understanding each other even better. In fact, every time we fight and then make up we feel more in love.
And so here we are inspiring bachelors/spinsters to get married…!
And the third little man is … my dearest Ady, my lill bundle of joy.
He rules my world, it sometimes amazes me that how this 2 feet something lill being could make me happy and grouchy both at the same time. There are times when he messes around the house and I get really overwhelmed with his naughtines. He amazingly senses it- looks at me with all the love and innocence in the world ,that I cant help but laugh .He acts as if he deserves all the sympathy and love one could give. But he is a complete brat. He showed me the new side of me, which I thought never existed…Never imagined I could sacrifice my ‘8-hrs-mandatory’ sleep for someone, cry at someone elses’ slightest pain (like that of a mosquito bite) ,miss someone terribly if I didn’t see them for an hour.
And so here I am a proud Mother…!
I guess life is all about growing up and donning new roles…First a Daughter, then Wife, and now a Mother. Am glad I have lovely people to share my life with.
I am what I am today, because of my dad. I had taken science group in my 12th grade aspiring to become an engineer, and by the time I could finish it, I was so besieged with physics chemistry math and what not, that I didn’t have any courage to go ahead and take up the Engineering entrance exams. My dad made me understand that life is not a bed of roses and that perseverance always pays off. He was in no mood of letting me quit. He wanted me to pursue my dream. He told me to take the entrance exams and that it didn’t matter if I clear it or not. An important lesson there “Karm karo phal ki aasha mat karo”-Bhagvad Gita. (Do your deeds don’t but don’t expect results)
And here I am an engineer today …!
When people asked me what kinda guy I’d wish to marry I’d say “He” must be jus like my dad…
And so entered Vishal in my life (though he is not like my dad completely)and life became all the more beautiful.It has been a wonderful 4 yrs of this companionship which I cherish deeply.He is not just a husband; he is also a friend, a guide and a great connoisseur of food ;). Of course, we have had our shares of misunderstandings and arguments but that doesn’t stop us from learning and understanding each other even better. In fact, every time we fight and then make up we feel more in love.
And so here we are inspiring bachelors/spinsters to get married…!
And the third little man is … my dearest Ady, my lill bundle of joy.
He rules my world, it sometimes amazes me that how this 2 feet something lill being could make me happy and grouchy both at the same time. There are times when he messes around the house and I get really overwhelmed with his naughtines. He amazingly senses it- looks at me with all the love and innocence in the world ,that I cant help but laugh .He acts as if he deserves all the sympathy and love one could give. But he is a complete brat. He showed me the new side of me, which I thought never existed…Never imagined I could sacrifice my ‘8-hrs-mandatory’ sleep for someone, cry at someone elses’ slightest pain (like that of a mosquito bite) ,miss someone terribly if I didn’t see them for an hour.
And so here I am a proud Mother…!
I guess life is all about growing up and donning new roles…First a Daughter, then Wife, and now a Mother. Am glad I have lovely people to share my life with.
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Slumdog Millionaire
It has been a wonderful weekend, quite refreshing –jaunted out after a long long time (thanks to the freezing weather).We had been to CT for skiing. Though, I didn’t try it, Vishal did and he enjoyed the experience. So what was wonderful in it for me?? I Got to eat yummy home made food (which was not cooked by me) and watch a movie in the cinema hall (yes, I love watching movies only in the hall) after about 10 long months. Thank you- Kavita and Manjunath
The movie hall was full of Americans, only the two of us (Vishal and I)were Indians. We sat there in pride as this was the movie (from India) which had won 8 Oscars.But our pride soon converted into embarrassment as the movie progressed.The way we are embarrassed, When we have surprise guests at home and they catch us in the midst of a disorderly house (thanks to my lill one who is out to ransack the house every minute of the day).It felt exactly the same way watching my home country depicted at its worst, amidst American guest.
I didn’t know if I wanted to request all my American friends there to shut their eyes & ears or to order the cinema operators to quit playing the movie immediately.
Vishal was so overwhelmed that he wanted to declare to everyone there “This is not true”. Am sure that, the majority of Indians wouldn’t have seen that face of India just like the way Vishal and I haven’t seen it before.
But as we got ourselves together we began to appreciate that this is real...it’s no fiction! And we ought to accept this fact no matter how disgusting it is.
For all those of you who haven’t seen the movie let me tell you something so that you will reckon with my feelings better. The makers of the movie have left no stone unturned to portray every negative that exists in India. Starting from the unhygienic and poverty struck slums they take you through the communal riots, red light area, child abuse, tourists being swindled, impure water sold as mineral water, child labor, police torture, local goons ready to kill innocent people for a few bucks.
At the end of the movie, it was hard for me to believe that there were no better movies to win the best picture Oscar award?? (Or was there some other reason)
I have definitely seen better movies than this one, haven’t you?
PS: If I for one feel that I would do anything to take this movie off screens …why doesn’t the government of India share the same feeling. On the contrary, I have heard that this movie has been made tax free!!
The movie hall was full of Americans, only the two of us (Vishal and I)were Indians. We sat there in pride as this was the movie (from India) which had won 8 Oscars.But our pride soon converted into embarrassment as the movie progressed.The way we are embarrassed, When we have surprise guests at home and they catch us in the midst of a disorderly house (thanks to my lill one who is out to ransack the house every minute of the day).It felt exactly the same way watching my home country depicted at its worst, amidst American guest.
I didn’t know if I wanted to request all my American friends there to shut their eyes & ears or to order the cinema operators to quit playing the movie immediately.
Vishal was so overwhelmed that he wanted to declare to everyone there “This is not true”. Am sure that, the majority of Indians wouldn’t have seen that face of India just like the way Vishal and I haven’t seen it before.
But as we got ourselves together we began to appreciate that this is real...it’s no fiction! And we ought to accept this fact no matter how disgusting it is.
For all those of you who haven’t seen the movie let me tell you something so that you will reckon with my feelings better. The makers of the movie have left no stone unturned to portray every negative that exists in India. Starting from the unhygienic and poverty struck slums they take you through the communal riots, red light area, child abuse, tourists being swindled, impure water sold as mineral water, child labor, police torture, local goons ready to kill innocent people for a few bucks.
At the end of the movie, it was hard for me to believe that there were no better movies to win the best picture Oscar award?? (Or was there some other reason)
I have definitely seen better movies than this one, haven’t you?
PS: If I for one feel that I would do anything to take this movie off screens …why doesn’t the government of India share the same feeling. On the contrary, I have heard that this movie has been made tax free!!
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Happy Valentines day
Not a day passes by when I don’t say “I love you honey” or “I’d die without you”.But he seldom responds,sometimes never even looks at me.He seems to be in his own world,quite contended with himself and his laptop or TV.Sometimes I feel if it is one sided..why doesn’t he reciprocate that often.But one thing that I know for sure is that I wouldn’t trade this love for all the diamonds in the world.
Then there are days when I want my space and he wouldn’t let go off me. He holds my face with both his lovely hands, look into my eyes and without saying a word says a 1000 lovely things. He smells my hair, gets lost in them,gives me the most cuddly hugs.That feeling, I must say, is truly blissful. I Live a 100 lives in those little precious moments.
There are times when he doesn’t feel his best or when he gets frustrated,There are times when no one or nothing in the world can satisfy him.It is in these moments that he needs me..and its then, when he makes me feel so important.It feels like I mean the whole world to him.
I definetly know, this is more than love..its love before the first sight…its truly unconditional..its between a mom and her son…between me and my dearest Ady.I love you my valentine…and I always will.
Now if V is getting jealous…pls don’t be..you are our valentine too.We love you with all our heart and our world is incomplete without you.
Then there are days when I want my space and he wouldn’t let go off me. He holds my face with both his lovely hands, look into my eyes and without saying a word says a 1000 lovely things. He smells my hair, gets lost in them,gives me the most cuddly hugs.That feeling, I must say, is truly blissful. I Live a 100 lives in those little precious moments.
There are times when he doesn’t feel his best or when he gets frustrated,There are times when no one or nothing in the world can satisfy him.It is in these moments that he needs me..and its then, when he makes me feel so important.It feels like I mean the whole world to him.
I definetly know, this is more than love..its love before the first sight…its truly unconditional..its between a mom and her son…between me and my dearest Ady.I love you my valentine…and I always will.
Now if V is getting jealous…pls don’t be..you are our valentine too.We love you with all our heart and our world is incomplete without you.
Monday, February 2, 2009
Indians adopting alternate homes
I was reading a blog posted by one of my Friends, where he seemed disappointed by the fact that Indians are migrating to western countries for the following reasons
Traffic obedience, serene/clean environment, respect for others, hardly-seen beggars, Social security...which he says are not justified reasons for migration.
I started commenting on his blog but it turned out to be lengthy and hence this blog!
With due respect to his patriotism, I would like to pen down my experiences and thoughts around the reasons.
The traffic discipline in India is appalling to say the least.
I was shocked at the callous attitude of the traffic there…may b my stay at the US highlighted this fact. People in India(particularly Blore) acted as if they were colorblind, no matter what color the traffic light showed the action was always “GO”
People with 2 wheelers were driving on the footpath!!! And by two wheelers I don’t mean just bicycle.I was party to this sight…A traffic policeman was screaming his lungs out to control the traffic as they were not obeying his hand signals… and then he helplessly let them go 'as they pleased' because his voice instructions also fell to deaf ears. Such disregard for rules!!!!It was a pitiable site.A few of my frnds who have returned to India from the US say that they have stopped driving their two wheelers and travel only by cars because they are petrified by the traffic.
I think Discipline in the citizens is the key to making a country progress.
Making India clean and green is also a part of discipline too.
People in India throw garbage on the roads ,while in US the same people of india pick/gather all the garbage and throw it in the trash.
The reason is the roads are so clean in the US that no one wants to carry the guilt of initiating throwing garbage around. Another important reason being that in the western countries you would find a trash bin within the range of your sight no matter where you are standing. In India you will not find any for miles, hence the roads are always unclean.
While visiting restaurants/malls/stores in the US , People stood, opened the door and allowed me to pass by before they passed because I had a kid in my arms.
When I went to India for a vacation I was reaching my 3 AC coach through a 2AC coach and it took a few moments extra for me to close the door as I had a kid with me. I was rebuked for wanting to stay longer in a 2AC at the cost of 3AC ticket.
I was really disappointed. teh reason being after getting such courteous treatment from foreigners how could I deserve a treatment like this from people at home??
Social security and lack of beggars are interlinked. While I do not understand how the Govt manages the Social Security I am sure it has something to do with people paying their taxes honestly.
So I guess these are the reasons that people living in the Western countries don’t want to get back to India.
Ofcourse there are 100s of reasons why people do want to go back home from the west…which may be I will write about some other time.
Traffic obedience, serene/clean environment, respect for others, hardly-seen beggars, Social security...which he says are not justified reasons for migration.
I started commenting on his blog but it turned out to be lengthy and hence this blog!
With due respect to his patriotism, I would like to pen down my experiences and thoughts around the reasons.
The traffic discipline in India is appalling to say the least.
I was shocked at the callous attitude of the traffic there…may b my stay at the US highlighted this fact. People in India(particularly Blore) acted as if they were colorblind, no matter what color the traffic light showed the action was always “GO”
People with 2 wheelers were driving on the footpath!!! And by two wheelers I don’t mean just bicycle.I was party to this sight…A traffic policeman was screaming his lungs out to control the traffic as they were not obeying his hand signals… and then he helplessly let them go 'as they pleased' because his voice instructions also fell to deaf ears. Such disregard for rules!!!!It was a pitiable site.A few of my frnds who have returned to India from the US say that they have stopped driving their two wheelers and travel only by cars because they are petrified by the traffic.
I think Discipline in the citizens is the key to making a country progress.
Making India clean and green is also a part of discipline too.
People in India throw garbage on the roads ,while in US the same people of india pick/gather all the garbage and throw it in the trash.
The reason is the roads are so clean in the US that no one wants to carry the guilt of initiating throwing garbage around. Another important reason being that in the western countries you would find a trash bin within the range of your sight no matter where you are standing. In India you will not find any for miles, hence the roads are always unclean.
While visiting restaurants/malls/stores in the US , People stood, opened the door and allowed me to pass by before they passed because I had a kid in my arms.
When I went to India for a vacation I was reaching my 3 AC coach through a 2AC coach and it took a few moments extra for me to close the door as I had a kid with me. I was rebuked for wanting to stay longer in a 2AC at the cost of 3AC ticket.
I was really disappointed. teh reason being after getting such courteous treatment from foreigners how could I deserve a treatment like this from people at home??
Social security and lack of beggars are interlinked. While I do not understand how the Govt manages the Social Security I am sure it has something to do with people paying their taxes honestly.
So I guess these are the reasons that people living in the Western countries don’t want to get back to India.
Ofcourse there are 100s of reasons why people do want to go back home from the west…which may be I will write about some other time.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
To Be or Not To Be
The one BIG question haunting all new mothers is .......
To Be “A Working Mother” or Not To Be…
I know of a few friends and acquaintances who did not have to think twice about it… they decided to shun their careers forever.Apparently their kids were their priority.If I think of it that way , then perhaps the term “Working mothers” would never exist because for a mother there cannot be anything more precious than her child.So then the next logical question is what makes the “Working Mothers” get back to their profession.
I guess it must be the passion, the zest, the ardor to go out and prove to the world.
It must be the Sense of pride they are filled with , when they think that they are contributing to the world’s economy albeit in a minuscule way
It must be the sheer delight that they are not restrained within the four walls of the house waiting the whole day for their spouses/kids to get back home.
It must be the justice they owe to themselves and to their talent & education....
the right to live and work like their counterparts...the “Working Fathers”
I am here not cribbing of the discrimination society dons between men and women;
rather trying to point the fact that both men and women bear the bruntof the same competition yet ending in two different places, one in the kitchen and the other at the desk.
To Be “A Working Mother” or Not To Be…
I know of a few friends and acquaintances who did not have to think twice about it… they decided to shun their careers forever.Apparently their kids were their priority.If I think of it that way , then perhaps the term “Working mothers” would never exist because for a mother there cannot be anything more precious than her child.So then the next logical question is what makes the “Working Mothers” get back to their profession.
I guess it must be the passion, the zest, the ardor to go out and prove to the world.
It must be the Sense of pride they are filled with , when they think that they are contributing to the world’s economy albeit in a minuscule way
It must be the sheer delight that they are not restrained within the four walls of the house waiting the whole day for their spouses/kids to get back home.
It must be the justice they owe to themselves and to their talent & education....
the right to live and work like their counterparts...the “Working Fathers”
I am here not cribbing of the discrimination society dons between men and women;
rather trying to point the fact that both men and women bear the bruntof the same competition yet ending in two different places, one in the kitchen and the other at the desk.
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