All the best Bammi!

Bammi has worked  real hard for last eight months. He has given up a lot to gain some, in fact most of the good old life for the new horizons. He has been extremely focussed and honest towards his studies. In some hours from now it will be his final face off with his last and deadliest enemies. I know he's prepared and he's nervous too! After all, it's all about maintaining his consistency of the high grades!

Don't worry Bammi, you will be rocking in each and every exam that you will write. You are constantly in my prayers. You have already proved your mettle by bagging the internship. I am sure you'll shine in all endeavors.
I feel extremely fortunate to have you in my life as my best friend and my mentor. I am sure you'll go places and thus me too :)

Images courtesy:
credendacreators.blogspot.com
same2u.com

Origami, latest passion!

Thank you so much Bammi for reintroducing Origami to my life!

It all started with Bammi's presentation on demonstration a TnD method. Ever since that day I am regularly folding papers into some artwork daily.. It's kind of became a part me before bedtime rituals along with shower and brushing teeth..eeeeee!

All done by me, me and me :)

missing the momentum...

It's like the winning streak, one has to put in efforts to keep it on. Same principle can easily be applied to me and writing. So many days have passed, so many moments have been lost without getting into the memory lane.
I have got so much on me mind that I don't know from where to start?

Past week was all about desi music, the soft, romantic melodies. Following two are me latest favorites :)
Coincidentally both movies have Tushar Kapoor in the lead role but I likes it bery bery much, eh!

IELTS : My experience!

First thing first, I took IELTS - academic module in first week of March this year. I scored 7.5 in listening, 7.0 in reading, 7.0 in writing and 7.5 in speaking with an overall banding of 7.5.
My major realization in this whole process of IELTS application, preparation, examination and then the result is that you can't drastically jump bands(exceptions may exist)! IELTS is basically an universally acknowledged yardstick to measure one's level of English language proficiency. It is practically impossible for most of us to master the language overnight! Our score most probably will be the same as mock tests. It'll be okay if you directly face the exam however taking practice tests before the actual test make you more conversant with the format.

There's no need to buy any additional material for IELTS. The complimentary book in itself is a complete package. Practicing 3-4 mock tests for listening and readings should be good enough. I personally did nothing for writing section, I just went through couple of samples from the book and got an idea of how to go about it. Same goes for speaking, I just treated it like a cordial professional conversation with a stranger/interviewer.

If somebody is planning to join coaching classes especially to clear IELTS then I think it's futile. If your command over English is weak then you must look at improving on it. You may join classes for longer duration, but again for English and not for IELTS. Again, I would like to reiterate IELTS is just a scoring system, your grades will totally depend on your proficiency and there are no tips and tricks to prove language proficiency!

Are we Indians liability to our ex-countrymen outside India, eh???

Note: Purely my thoughts, my anxieties.. Please read at your own risk!

I still remember the sarcastic expression that I had made when one of my family friends had stayed with some unknown Indian family during their first visit to states back in 1998. I clearly remember the amount of jokes that I had cracked up with an aunt about this so called phenomenon of 'fellow Indians outside India are as good as family'. It was weird that how in US, UK, Canada, Australia...etc. Hindi could make people so mushy that they would actually go out of the way to help strangers. Honestly, I never believed in this then I just thought it was just another cheap trick to save money. I mean how is it possible that in this selfish world people would do such nice things without any self interest? who's got the time and energy to do so? It's not those few altruistic ones I am referring here, I am referring to the major chunk of Indians settled outside India!

In 2007, I left home for the fist time and went to Bangalore for my first job. In Bangalore, most of the  communications were in English and sometimes I used to get lucky with a four liner banter in Hindi. Marathi - my mother tongue, my most favorite language on the face of Earth seemed extinct to me! One fine evening when I was window shopping at Shopper's Stop, suddenly I had heard familiar words amongst mixture of Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam. No offence meant to any language but they all seemed same to my ears except change in pitch and tone. I saw an elderly couple conversing in Marathi. I approached them, introduced myself and started chatting with them. I had no shame in following them till their car, just for the sake of some conversation in Marathi. Unknowingly I had  followed them everywhere in the mall, I also carried their bags and helped them pick some stuff. The joy that I had experienced then I can never express in words ever. Interestingly I was in India, my family was just a call away and I was in decent circumstances still it was such a big deal for me! Ever since then I have become a lot more sensitive to such issues. This experience has evoked deep pride and great sense of belonging in me about my state, my country.

Here I am, again on set of leaving my home, my state and most importantly my country. I know I will not only long for Marathi but also for Hindi, there. I know that any Indian face will put a smile on my face. I will need moral support from my fellow countrymen, who are now better known as NRIs in swadesh. Will they be courteous enough to return my smile, a greeting, few kind words may be? Based on all the horror stories from many people (again no offences meant, these are just the things bothering me night and day) I am harassed by these questions for which I have no answers at least sitting here in India:

Are we Indians really bad at keeping in touch, especially with our schools, colleges and ex employers?
Are we really not interested in being referred to help the newcomers from Swadesh?
Do we expect every new entrant to seek help for employment? Is that the reason why we want to maintain safe distance from them?
Do we really see our fellow countrymen as a potential threat to our existence in that country?
Is guiding someone new is so much pain that we keep shying away?
Have we westernized ourselves so much that the Indian values have evaporated with our Indian DNA?
Do we laugh at the misery of a fellow countrymen in society?
Are our feelings dead along with our accent?

I don't know the answers to any of these questions, I also don' know how true/relevant are they. All I know is that if I am able to pursue  my current dreams. My answer to all these questions will be a big NO. I don't know the scale and the magnitude but I will always be there for my countrymen, no matter what! I am born Indian, and I shall stay one till my last breath!

''Garvach naahi tar Maaj aahe mala Marathi aslyacha!''


Image courtesy: Google images
Disclaimer: No offences meant to any particular person or community, these are the questions that have turned me insomniac for past few days!

Marathi new year - Gudi Padwa!

I have loads to look up to and go through this year. I don't know whats in store for me, eh! I pray to the almighty for courage, strength and patience for easy passage through all the odds of life. I also ask for humble satiety of all the good and joyous things of life. 

I have left the well-being of my nest and my folks on him and I am sure he'll be the best at it, since he has always been the best! May this year bring peace, humility, progress, prosperity, health an happiness to each and everyone!

Happy New Year 2011...

INDIA: We are the world champions!!! ICC World Cup 2011

Yayyyy... we did it, we are the champions!!!!!


If you recall my last post 'now or never', I had pledged not to follow Cricket if India loses in WC 2011. Well, I won't have to give up Cricket now because men in blue are the new ICC WC 2011 champions... 


As a die hard cricket fan it was a long long wait for me, wait of the lifetime actually, eh? yeah because I wasn't born when Kapil Dev and team had lifted the bad baby(WC Trophy) in 1983. It's euphoria everywhere, and why shouldn't it be? We are a nation of 1.21 billion people and Cricket is our religion, if you cut open our veins you'll see cricket flowing with every RBC. Every li'l boy from almost every corner of the country aspires to be Sachin Tendulkar one day!


This is most probably my last WC in India and I wished, hoped and prayed for it more than ever. All of us have an ultimate secret wishlist, things before we die. I am happy to strike out one wish from my wishlist. What more to say, HaPpY is what I am...


India played exceptionally well in this tournament, except the game against England and SA they were killers.. the real terminators. This championship hasn't come by fluke, MSD and his brigade have really worked hard to dominate international cricket. This team has an excellent mix of experience and enthusiasm (Hosh ke saath Josh). They are matured, responsible and are chasing same goal. This team is not dependent on any one particular match-winner. Every single player is competent enough in coming ahead and rising  for the occasion. This team is not overconfident and doesn't mind experimenting. They have world's best batting order but this doesn't hold them from diving hard to save opponent team's boundaries. 'Catches win matches!' seems to be a part of their DNA. Not deadly but decent match winning bowling what else is the formula for world champions?


All in all, this was an excellent tournament for team India. It was a team effort, they are the best team in cricket world for sure an they really deserved the title! 


Every victory was followed by this brilliant Doordashan clipping...

My daughter from next life!

Title seems creepy and mysterious, eh? I know that it's not at all the typical of me to speak about things beyond this life as I really don't know and don't care about what after this life scenario...

"You know what? I pray to the almighty that in my next life I should be born as your daughter. I should be twice as difficult as you are to me!" I remember Maa telling me this, ever since I was like 4 yrs old. Initially she would say it every time I would be mischievous or stubborn and I would make faces. As I grew up mostly in my teenage, every attempt of mine to be a rebel was counterattacked by these lines and I would hate it to the core. Couple of years ago I heard these lines on my mistakes where they just brought tears in my eyes...

Today, I heard them again but the context was totally different. We were arguing over something silly just for fun. Both of us were looking at each other  to see who laughs first and the other one automatically wins the argument.  Maa laughed first and I won, she came and hugged me from behind while I was reorganizing  my farm. I sensed Maa's deep, unconditioned love, her pain that she will miss me like anything when I'll be gone. I really find these lines very amusing that they have appeared different and have lead to different emotions at different point of time in my life...

What if I'll be blessed with next life as a woman? What will it be like to be Maa's Maa? You know what I have no clue at all but I know one thing for sure that I'll be the happiest and the luckiest to have Maa around me in every life irrespective of our relation.


Kailas Kher's this composition had brought tears in my eyes when I had heard this song for the fist time, while watching Dasvidaniya!

I had also cried buckets, while watching Tare zameen par when this song was playing in the background...

mad mad mad mad mad LOVE!!!!

Our love is volatile, chemical,

Anything but typical ...

I want you badly,

I love you madly...

To begin with, the very first frame of mad love will give you 'How I Met Your Mother' feel. The feeling continues throughout the season so far. Having said so, Mad Love is not a bad or an exact copy of HIMYM. Mad love is a good plot with it's nice storyline, however it has starking resemblance with HIMYM in certain frames.

Tylar Labine is fantastic as Larry Munsch, again Larry's character somewhat resembles HIMYM's Barney Stinson played brilliantly by NPH. Ever since American Pie series I like Jason Biggs and he is absolutely adorable as Ben Parr, his charcter has shades of HIMYM's Ted Mosby played by Josh Radnor. Judy Greer's portrayal of Connie Grabowski is fresh and thankfully different from any particular lead character from HIMYM. Sarah Chalke, HMIYM's Stella plays Kate Swanson in Mad Love. If I had to pick anyone between Kate and Stella, I would pick Kate not because of Sarah's acting proficiency but because of the characterization.

The story is of four New Yorker's in their thirties, all in search of love. Ben and Kate find love in each and Larry and Connie detest each other from the very first meeting. Larry and Connie unwillingly get  tagged along with their best friends who are a couple now. Slowly, you do see a budding chemistry between the two but it's too early to expect any major happenings between C n L. If you are a HIMYM  fan then I am sure you'll like Mad Love and even if you don't like HIMYM you may just like Mad Love for all the things that are different from HIMYM.  In any case Mad Love is for all sitcom, romcom lovers, eh?

All in all, Mad Love is sweet, funny and romantic(my definition of perfect partner). It is inspired from HIMYM for sure. 22 minutes of pure enjoyment, so a MUST WATCH I would say...

'Fanta'stic Ad!

Nazar phiki, chashma colorful
Duniya dikhe orange wonderful
Naughty naughty bubble
Har bubble mein hai maza double
Double double, double double
Chuski jo le manwa
'Fanta'stic ho jaayeeee....

Fanta's latest ad for the Indian markets is really really appreciable... Can't help myself from posting this one!

so vile :(

Why me? why why why???

It's worst when your mindset suddenly shifts from absolute neutral to the negative extreme.

I have conquered all of my addictions in life except one,eh! I always torture myself with the ongoing yo-yo effect of my addiction. The whole thing had always been unrealistic, way too heavy for my kitty and absolutely hazardous to both my mental and physical well being.

It was a casual chance that I took in life. It was an experiment for the time being, successful results may have made it permanent but it was always meant to be temporary. I somehow always believed that I could always afford it and thats why I made it a part of my lifestyle. Initially I was just trying out stuff, needless to say it was fun and thats why I never realized that I had swapped places with my prey.

Every time I try to get over this addiction I end up hurting myself more. I have never been so helpless and miserable ever in my life. I hate to give my controls away. It's like chasing mirage. The worst part is that I know that it's hazardous, way out of my league and can't be true ever but still I want to reach for the moon on a new moon!!!

The mo' I think of it, the more I curse myself for getting involved. I am paying a huge ransom for an obsolete sadomasochism. I think, I kill my self esteem every time my thoughts involve my addiction. I am better without it and it kinda feels relieved to be a free bird. I will always regret this side of incorrigible me.

 In my head, two songs that are counter striking each other!

Isolation...

Aapla aapan karava vichaar taravaya paar bhava Sindhu!

Feeling very very indifferent at the same time too tempted to break free. Going through a tough time, never thought that things those I longed the most once upon a time will feel so suffocating. I think I am so frigging used to the fast, harsh, troublesome and lonely life that I find it difficult to enjoy/survive the slow, smooth, peaceful and easy life.

I received certain facts and figures with regards to my upcoming future, eh? It wasn't something that I had never anticipated in fact it was exactly the same that I had always imagined and was mentally prepared to deal with. The weaker, the lamer and the dependent types always follow the herd without any struggle for self. i can very well do that but thats not who I am. I derive immense pride and satisfaction from my struggles. It's the healthy stress that keeps adrenalin flowing for me. I love breaking my spine for my project at hand. All I am concerned and worried is for the upcoming formalities of the desired transition.

Things are getting uglier at the full stop. I have been transformed into a very selfish creature by the abstinence process. I am glad to be at this emotional quotient but kinda struggling to keep my temper in control. My wings yearn for flight, I need to be on my own anyhow and as soon as possible. I think I am at my best with strangers,eh! Yeah I don't have to pretend with strangers, I am not required to please them. I can be just my own selfish self and get away with maximum enjoyment without any regrets or resentments.

Right now I think Mellow Motif's version of lemon tree is more apt for me..

There is absolutely nothing on my mind right now... Absolutely no thoughts of  yesterday, today or tomorrow. Isolation!!! I think it's exactly what I chase now. 

Break up ke baad... Finally!!!

First thing first my first video both on f/b and on my blog!

Crazy clown hereafter referred as CC was flaunting his new Samsung dual sim phone in front of me. He was constantly bugging me with 'bayko bayko' a nerve wreaking number. I was so pissed that I was about to leave the room or perhaps the house. He guessed my irritation and switched to the following song. Initially there was chaos both in the background and in my mind. As the song progressed I started falling for it. I loved this song. I think this one will be in my collection forever just like Garva and others.

Ever since I am back from Mumbai this song is constantly on my mind... Unfortunately I am also hung on to bayko bayko... Stupid CC!

aloof...

Last night...

I was welcomed by some strangers, all middle aged males, in a remote small town. After brief introductions I realized that I was in Paa's territory. I was given an apartment to stay closer to him and I was sent to check on things if they were decent enough for me or not. All the men were friendly and were of Paa's league. I could noticeably see Paa's influence and dominance over them. They were cautious and courteous, way more than required. I was getting bothered by the constant help around me.  Soon, I started craving for solitude and wanted to get rid of them but I was kind of stuck!

I was sitting at a restaurant. It was again a new place, an unfamiliar one but the staff seemed to have known me. The place was warm and cozy, since there was no vacant table especially for a single customer the waiter guided me to a preoccupied table. There were two aunties and two children. I was in a mood for 'main aur meri tanhaayee' and hence was apprehensive about joining with strangers but waiter insisted and I had no choice so I joined the table half heartedly. As soon as I sat there, all the background noises were muted down and I started getting the feel of being the only customer in an elegant, fine dining place. It was like being in vacuum inside a glass bottle. I could see everything around but was not affected by the surroundings at all. I started interacting with the waiter and placed an order for chicken stake sizzler with garlic bbq sauce. It was back to normal, amidst of crowd when the waiter brought food for me, suddenly there were noises around. I was baffled and off my equilibrium when the waiter started describing the dish. I don't remember what he said except his suggestion that I should order 'angaare/ anguri kebabs' as a side dish. I politely declined as the dish itself was too much for me and It was too late to order the side dish. This place now looked so much like Pune's 'Vahuman Cafe'.

As I was feasting on my sizzler. I heard a familiar voice in the background. I turned my head and saw that enthupaplet was irritating rockstar. And as usual he was really bugged over something, it was kinda he wanted some peace of mind. I was so tempted to join them or at least let them know that I was also here but I restrained myself. I continued eating, was almost focussed on every single bite. EP spotted me while they were leaving, I simply excused by saying that I didn't realize that they were there. Rockstar said hello to me, he looked preoccupied. He exchanged a weird glance with EP and he left the place. EP also left in hurry behind him asking me to catch up at her place. I wrapped up my meal in a rush and I was outside on the road. I saw EP was walking behind rockstar and I started following the duo. It wasn't Pune roads and I was confused as hell. The scorching sun and the fight between the duo was killing me. EP and rockstar were arguing over something continuously and I was the mute follower. At one point I screamed in panic and they stopped, again they exchanged a vicious look and rockstar stormed out. He caught the first bus that stopped and he was gone. EP sat down on the road and held her face in her hands. I wanted to speak, I wanted to comfort her but I was so dumbstruck that I was staring at her like she was dead!

heat of perfection!

People eat to live but I live to eat!

I am not a perfect person but as far as the word food is concerned I am very particular about the taste and the hygiene. I am a decent cook and I have been cooking since I was 7. My food preference is very ordinary, I prefer simple yet delicious over any exotic and complex dish. I enjoy trying out new cuisines and recipes though.

I have been behaving extremely neurotic over cooking off late. I am kinda going through crave swings for meals. These days I am mostly hyper over the lack of perfection in cooking at home. As I mentioned I prefer simple food, I am also very particular about the taste, balance of flavors and hygiene. Unfortunately my taste buds have outgrown Maa's cooking. I often find lots of shortcomings in her way of dealing with ingredients in the kitchen. I have started backing off from meals just because they aren't the way I expect them to be!

I know, I am a lazy bone. I won't be pampered for long this way. Maa won't be around, I will long to see her. Somehow I don't feel the necessity of this pampering. I know that I am capable taking full controls of my life. My management skills may not be as refined as Maa's but I am some how content with my progress on my daily chores. I somehow sweat less negative emotions when I am in charge. I need Maa in every walk of life, not for her support but for the simple reason that she is Maa and I love her immensely.

As much as i want to hold these passing moments for long lasting effects. I also can't wait to be on my own. I need to make my life.. far far away from my nest, my kingdom. I love my folks and I hope to make them happy by carving a life different from the current one for all of us.

Cheerful...

Feeling unusually cheerful...

The break tuned out quite beneficial. It has got me closer to many of my set my objectives.
Started sleeping on the floor for direct benefits from  room cooler, however my back has started hurting in a very weird way.

Changed desktop background to this!

Tried and then made some simple, yet totally new and delicious recipes :) 

Mishti Doi...

It's past midnight and I am craving for mishti doi so much! My poor sweet tooth...arrggh!!!!!

Forlorn!

"Akele aaye the is duniya mein aur akele hi jayenge!"

We were born alone and we will die alone, is the simple translation of the above Hindi phrase. I have been feeling extremely low since last couple of days, mainly because I have started working towards flying away from my nest. My flight will be long and destination is miles away from my nest. My heart aches even thinking about leaving everything on aged wings. All my life I have been acting as stabilizer in ever withering nest of mine. I never knew, never cared if there was something beyond my nest.

Lately, I have started observing the changes in the world around. I have started listening to the voice within. I am forming my own opinions and deciding whats right and whats wrong for myself and for my nest. This in return has started resulting in conflicts, daily chaos, hourly arguments. Suddenly, I feel that my wings are stronger than the strength of my nest. The nest can't deal with my aspirations and thus my decision of this flight.

Ever since this awakening, this sense of self I have started feeling lonely. I don't know if my life so far will be evident in my future. I don't know if I will have routined, so called "normal" life. I don't know if I will find someone special or not? I don't know if I ever will trust somebody enough that I will build a nest of my own. My future is foggy but my present isn't pleasant too!

I feel tangled in the worry for my nest. I don't know its fate, once I fly away. I am not sure if it can survive a blow of wind? I know one thing for sure that whatever happens I won't be there to hold it together again. I am scared , after all in this whole world  this nest is the only thing thats my own, eh?

My worries are eating me inside out. This is so not me but the whole situation is beyond my control and I am leaving it to fate. I don't want to kill myself for something that I am totally helpless in.  I think the only thing that I can do is to make my life decent enough, that the warmth of my happiness and satisfaction gleams in this part of the world(my nest specially).

Image courtesy : lindabucklin.com & happydance.com.au

Nervous Nineties!

How do I feel right now?

At this very moment I kinda find myself in the shoes of a batsman who's made 90+ runs in the game of cricket and is not sure if he's gonna make it to the ton or not(the ball that he just smashed up in the air is going to be a sixer or he'll be caught at the boundary line)?

Every passing moment is kind of killing me, I am not very result oriented on this but the expectations of others and myself are kinda breathing down my neck. I just want to get over with the weekend. This is going to be my first official step towards my LIFE, eh? Thanks to Bammi, I feel confident that I deserve to be in his part of the world. I just hope that it turns out to be a fair deal. I hope, I will be honest in my efforts and I will make it large(decent) for me and my loved ones.

I have been very choosy and now my whole life kinda depends on this one aspiration of mine. I hate it the most when I don't see other alternative ways, for my own life. I know that life goes on but as of now this is the only way I am going to enjoy life of my own choices and it's consequences. I am too scared to even think of the other not so pleasant result of my aspiration.

What if I don't make it for my maple dream?

If I don't make it, then it's going to be my fault only and I won't have anybody else to blame it on. I like the strong sense of ownership, it makes me more responsible and thus the aspiration even dearer.. Many people give up their lifetime to figure out what they want. I think, I know what I want and I won't wait for things to happen in my favor on their own, In fact I am going to make them happen!

If things don't turn out my way then.... This won't be the first time for me, I am sure I'll do just fine!

Mr. Sunshine... Sunrise in progress!

Chandler Bing is back to the television world with a full time role of Ben Donovan in his home production Mr. Sunshine!

Mr. Sunshine is based around the Sunshine Center, a second-tier arena in San Diego. Ben Donovan is the general manager of the arena, he's been associated with the place for last 10 years. Ben's 40 and he’s a gloomy, self-absorbed loner. Ben is well equipped to deal with whims and fancies of the arena owner Crystal, a crazy, narcissistic and pill-popping woman. Thus practically running the place all by himself. Ben has also been dragged into rebuilding Crystal's relationship with her naive but good for nothing son Roman. Roman has been appointed as assistant to Ben, replacing his old lunatic but pretty assistant Heather. Ben's been in an on and off relation with Alice the marketing lady. Alice ends her friends with benefits relation with Ben to be exclusive with  Alonzo. Alonzo is a former NBA player and is an absolute optimist. Mr. Sunshine is about twists and turns of these characters often leading to laughter.

Matthew Perry has created a huge impact on all of our minds through his portrayal of Chandler Bing in Friends. It indeed is a great deal to create a bigger impact with his new role. So far in last three episodes of Mr. Sunshine, you see tremendous efforts from him to move out of the shadow of his previous successful role. However, every now and then you will see glimpse of the previous character, may be thats the real Matthew Perry. I don't believe in judging a book by it's cover so I am definitely going to carry on reading, in this case watching the show. The idea of sports and entertainment arena for the workplace is refreshing and potential, lets just wait and watch how it turns out to be in execution. I somehow was constantly getting the 30 Rock feeling while watching it, there were way too many similarities. If thats true then Mr. Sunshine is lacking the strong and powerful leadership of Jack Donaghy for sure!