Ah! A Song!

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This is an all time fav song and I cant stop listening to this. Sruthi and I don't stop singing this either. LOL. This one's for you girl. :)

Can't think of any.

Independence has always been cherished by everyone. Teenagers want to be independent, move out of their homes and live with friends. Women want to be independent, work and like to be able to get what they want. Men like to be independent, in their thoughts and actions. Children want to be left alone. Older people hate relying on their children for all they need. There is so much talk of independence and space going on all around me and to be honest I take part in it as well, sometimes.

This made me wonder... If all of us want to be independent, why are we together? I think the best form of independence is to be all by yourself, no ties, no bondage... You are completely on your own. Still, the very thought is scary and it sends shivers down my spine.

I wonder, is this a game that we play so we fit in with the rest of the world? I know some men and women who genuinely prefer being on their own and are always appreciated for the 'bold' stance that they have taken. Their lives have the positives too... They can plan their days around themselves and their jobs, they can take vacation when they feel like it, they have no PTA meetings to go to, no first aid to be done, no phone calls to be made, none to be answered... On the down side, they have no one to go home to, no one to spend the time with, extreme loneliness, really... Its hard to decide which one is the way to go...

If you all are wondering why I am musing loud about this it is because of a conversation I had with someone. Lets name this someone as 'X' and for convenience it is a 'he.' :) So, X wanted to know how I would maintain my independence after (if) I get married. I thought about it while munching on a well made toast... The answer is, I can't decide on my own. I tell him that I will have to draw a line on most things... It will be inappropriate for me to want to or even consider living life like the way I do now. I mean, I am all for a woman working after marriage and all that. But, how do people manage both family and work? I am freaking out at the thought!!! I mean, I have had my life easy up until now. No one to cook for, no ones laundry to be done, no dishes, no cleaning up after people, no planning the monthly budget... And all these things gets added to your life overnight!

Conversation with X was an eye-opener. It made me realize a lot of things and also accept many more. He leaves the breakfast table with a glint in his eye. And the parting shot is " I thought as much!" What ever that means, I do not want to know X! I don't know why this piece is on my blog. Strange, huh?

My "celeb" look-alikes

So, I have been away...

I have been away- traveling, working, sorting things out in my personal life... And to be honest, I did not have the energy or the enthusiasm to blog after that... Let me start with travel. I went to Hyderabad and then to Amritsar. Work took me to Hyd, a conference to be specific. Some good stuff there was
1) Keynote speaker- Dr APJ Abdul Kalam
2) Stay at a fantastic hotel
3) Biriyani from Paradise Hotel
4) Some good fun at the conference.

I did not do the touristy stuff, but I did try and visit the infamous 10 Downing street pub. Believe me, you all! Do not please go there. They are ridiculous!

So, after Hyd I traveled to Amritsar and spent some time with my cousin there. I am in love with Punjab. It is ranked No.2, after Kerala. It is an amazingly beautiful place. For more on this, peep into my Picasa pictures.

Another news is that I am moving to Hyderabad for a quarter of a year. I am excited about that! :) Cant wait to work in Omega!

I will blog more next year. This is a promise! ;)

Mornings...

It all started ( like it usually does) over a chat (IM) with the Geek. He asked me what I loved about a morning at TVM and wheres the best place he can get that photographed. It set me thinking... Over time, I have come to love my mornings. Really, thats the time that makes me feel fresh, happy and peaceful. And I broke up my favorite things, depending on where I have lived. So, here Goes.

TRIVANDRUM

-Ah! Home!!! I love the early mornings, when almost everyone around is up by 6 am at least. It is still a little cold, people are still sleepy, the milkman is around, the paperboy is doing his rounds, the ladies are usually drawing Kolams outside their house and I sit out at the veranda and take it all in... What could make it better? A light drizzle!!! ( I miss home! I should go visit soon!)

-When I was close to 12 or 13, my dad used to go for these morning walks. He would take me with him and we would walk across paddy fields and such... To feel that green green surroundings is a blessing in itself. And we bought vegetables from the local farmer and always agreed that the food tasted better when we got it from there!

-There were days when I would go visit the Padmanabha Swamy Temple in the early mornings. Close to 5.30 am... I would take the shortcut via the local streets and can hear the ever so melodious Suprabhatam and can see ladies cleaning the front yard and getting down to draw the Kolam. You look up and you can see the tower of the temple... Almost like the God's looking down at the same sight...


BANGALORE

Hmmm... I sometimes missed those snippy mornings... I usually slept in... But then, the Bangalore mornings were best enjoyed with my cousin, a cup of coffee and us sitting outside enjoying the weather ( which is always awesome there!) and engaging in some fun chit chat! I miss her, and those days!

GERMANTOWN, MD

:) Always the best place, 'coz my brother was with me then. I think I was the happiest there, being so close to him and being able to talk to him. We would make a nice cup of tea and idle away some time. Old Malayalam songs on the computer and us reminiscing about the time gone by.... He brings a balance in me, that no one can. Miss him a lot!

DELHI

It is again, the outdoors. I sit on the stairs outside, near the tree and hear the birds chirp... Theres always a cool, serene calmness to this place thats always bustling in activity. You can feel the city has gone to sleep and is waiting to get the rest that it badly needs... Kinda makes you feel good. I am loving these mornings especially because its almost winter!

Its a shame to miss out the best time of the day for anything else... I am waiting for the Geek to send me the pic that he has taken, to be uploaded here... lets see if he makes it!

Happy Mornings!

-K

A note from my journal dated- June 16, 2006

I was reading the news online, with my cuppa in hand... And lo and behold, a news story catches my eye... Shashi Tharoor being nominated for the top job of the UN. I was grinning like no one can... It took me back to 2001, when I was in the second year of college, and was based in Cochin. My landlord was an ex-navy personnel. He used to subscribe to The Hindu then, just for me. I used to simply ignore the Sunday magazine, except for maybe the cartoons. Until one day in April, he pointed out to this article by Shashi Tharoor. It was such an eye catching article, and the language was definitely The Hindu standards. If I am not mistaken, it was on April 1st and the article had a good reference to the date as well. He also took a dig at the readers of The Hindu. Traditionally a part of South Indian household, the newspaper is held in high regard, and has this population of filter coffee drinking people who thrive only by reading The Hindu!

Coming back to the man of the moment, On that very first article he set straight the expectations people were to have. He talked about India and being an Indian. The heterogeneity thats so much India. And I vaguely remember a mention of an incident concerning Napoleon Bonaparte and a fate line... I was hooked line and sinker. He promised to be back after a fortnight. And even to this date, I wait for the Sunday when his column appears! It is an incredible feeling to read someone this savvy with words. And I thought it was just words on paper...

That was Until... The anniversary of St. Stephan's. That was the same day on which Pakistan was celebrating some event ( a thank you meet for the contributors who helped rebuild the country after an earthquake, If I am not mistaken). I was tuned in to watch what Mussharaf had to say. The man sounded so fake! He couldn't hold my attention for more than 2 minutes. I decided to switch channels and read up his speech the next day. This was until I arrived at the channel that was doing a live telecast of the Stephan's anniversary(centenary). Shashi Tharoor was speaking, reminiscing about good old college days, discussing the adda's (hangouts) and what not. One was a world leader, thanking supporters. Another was yet to be a world leader but had people eating out of his hands. Thats when I truly realized the power of words and the charisma required to be a true leader!

What I am saying is that he has the Charisma, Will, strength and character to lead the world into the future. Highly educated, humble, and capable, I wish to see him do the top job and hope to read more of his articles and listen to those amazing speeches.This is the kind of role model, we need. Heres wishing him good luck! And this is his quote about India and being an Indian:

"When you are in India, you know that it's your home. I have written in my last book, India from Midnight to the Millennium that in certain circumstances you can stand in the sun and feel whole again in your own skin. That's something I miss, whatever it's like, whether it's right or wrong, it's mine, I care about it, I can argue about it, I can try and change it: it's mine, I belong. I belong to India, and India belongs to me. I miss all the specific things that I can mention, but ultimately the thing that is lacking is the sense of belonging that you have when you are on your own soil. "

India What???

No, I am not a Rabid, crazy cricket fan. Yes, I am proud that India won. And this is probably going to be the only world cup victory we Indians are going to see for the next 25 years. Or maybe until another "chak de" is made. Is It?

Victory was supposed to be sweet for me. But alas, it was short lived. All thanks to my niece. Let me explain here. So, no one was watching the game at home, until I walked in and turned on the TV. I started screaming and panicking every time the Paki's hit Sreesanth beyond the stands. I died a million times that day. I swore that my children will not watch cricket if India lost the game. And after umpteen prayers, and NLP practices, India won. And everyone were ecstatic. I call my brother and we were both way too happy!

All until my niece came sat next to me. And my cousin asked " Do you think this was a fixed one?" I grinned and said " HELL no!" So, my niece looks and me and asked the dreadful " What is a 'fixed' match?" I winced and explained it to her. She was thoughtful for a while. And she asked " Like Chak De?" I grinned and said "yea!" And I mentioned something about "traitor". She went " Who is a traitor?" I explained. She then asked " were Indian players involved in match fixing?" I thought and said "Yeah." She asked "who" and I said " You know, Mohammed Azharuddin!" She looked at me like I had 3 heads or something. She asked " WHO?" I was in disbelief. I mean, whats with these kids! They don't know him?? There were a million thoughts in my head about kids, Current affairs, news and everything allied. She suddenly smiled. And I was relieved. Then she got up, and as a parting shot " He was a player from YOUR generation, right?" My jaws hit the floor. So, this is what it feels like to be old. I was in pain for some time and thought of my brother and how many times I have hurled it at him... Man, I din know that it felt like a punch in your stomach.

I Feel equally clueless about the new players. I grew up when Sachin was a rookie, Kapil Dev was playing, Shastri was still groovy, Boon was on, Crowe was heading NZ, Akram and Imran Khan were swinging the Paki's ahead... I mean, who would have thought that silly boys like Ajit Agarkar will play? Times have changed... Cricketing times... I hate to admit that my brother was right all along... No matter what, Azhar is the most stylish batsman.