tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-293827972024-02-08T07:11:32.483-08:00ROXINThe leaf trails...Proxyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08446475705378737399noreply@blogger.comBlogger34125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29382797.post-68169395771013577802017-10-13T13:47:00.002-07:002017-10-16T07:52:31.068-07:00Madam, is your name Pallavi Roy?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
The lady at the office reception asked with a very perplexed
look on her face. I politely, out of habit, corrected her that its Pallav Roxy.
If only I could grow a strand of hair for every time there had been a question
or confusion regarding my name, hair product brands would be lining up to sign
me as their model. #recedingHairLineWoes #lameAttemptAtHumor<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Growing up in India, with a name like mine, was some interesting
experience. Starting from coping up with several rumors related to my parents’
marriage (Apparently my mother was a Hindu married to a Christian, or this was
my mother’s second marriage and I was her child from the first one.) to
explaining my grade one teacher what my religion is! Imagine a 6 year old
wondering what is religion even before learning how to spell the word. Each
time I started a new grade, the story had to be repeated for the convenience of
my new teacher. My childhood friends are as well versed in it as I am. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Things didn’t get any different when I was taking my
engineering entrance tests, with the invigilator wasting a good 20 minutes of
my time in explaining to me how I have written down my name all wrong. I had to
shut down his repeated rant of – “Your first name is Roxy and your surname is
Pallav.”, with a blunt reply which very well sounded like – “Screw you. I know
what my name is.” in my head. Thanks to my high level of brilliance (Ahem, I
like self-praise, get used to it.), the wasted 20 minutes didn’t hinder my chances
and I successfully got a chance to attend my favorite stream at one of the
prestigious universities of India. First day of orientation there, I go to the
student body that handled mail id creation for the fellow students and this guy
there, looks at his screen, grins ear to ear and announces it to me (so that others
at the table also get to listen), that my id is proxy. Somehow, folks found it
so amusing then. Hell, they still do. You see the id has stuck with me through
all my work assignments so far. (I love it!)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
With time, I also learnt that geographies could change but
that will not stop the questions. In India the FAQ was – “Are you a Christian?”
whereas once I moved to the western hemisphere it changed to – “Roxy? Hmm... Is
it short for Roxanne or something?” Now, now, don’t get me wrong. This is not a
rant of complaints but a mere recitation of the humor that my name brings in my
life. The anecdotes accrued over the years make for a great conversation
starter. My dad always giddies up with pride for picking up such a unique name.
He was on cloud nine when he was once addressed as Mr. Roxy years ago, he still
loves narrating that story. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
I can spend hours going through the tales, but here all it
will do is fill pages. But just in case there is a slightest chance that
you want to hear more, all you need to do is invite me for a coffee and we can
laugh together over a hot cuppa. <o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
Proxyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08446475705378737399noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29382797.post-90324812067660564682017-03-08T07:23:00.003-08:002017-03-08T20:08:53.129-08:00One Pink Parched Indian Woman<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;">#NayiSoch #AisiDhaakadHai</span></span></h3>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
<o:PixelsPerInch>96</o:PixelsPerInch>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="false"
DefSemiHidden="false" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="380">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="footnote text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="header"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="footer"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="table of figures"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="envelope address"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="envelope return"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="footnote reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="line number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="page number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="endnote reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="endnote text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="table of authorities"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="macro"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="toa heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Closing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Message Header"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Salutation"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Date"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Block Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Hyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="FollowedHyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Document Map"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Plain Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="E-mail Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Top of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Bottom of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal (Web)"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Acronym"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Address"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Cite"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Code"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Definition"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Keyboard"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Preformatted"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Sample"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Typewriter"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Variable"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal Table"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation subject"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="No List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Contemporary"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Elegant"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Professional"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Balloon Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Theme"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" QFormat="true"
Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="41" Name="Plain Table 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="42" Name="Plain Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="43" Name="Plain Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="44" Name="Plain Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="45" Name="Plain Table 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="40" Name="Grid Table Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="Grid Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="List Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="List Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="List Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 6"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:"Cambria Math";
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:-536870145 1107305727 0 0 415 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:-536870145 1073786111 1 0 415 0;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
mso-default-props:yes;
font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
@page WordSection1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in;
mso-header-margin:.5in;
mso-footer-margin:.5in;
mso-paper-source:0;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
</style>
</div>
</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Year 2016 in the Indian
entertainment industry was about “Women Empowerment”, much credit to Mr. Gandhi
for the popularity of the term. Most of these works have been creative and path
breaking. But the question is to what extent have they impacted the people who
are ignorant of their own ignorance? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Mr. Bachchan’s elocutions in
Pink churned out several famous dialogues, which unfortunately eventually
turned into much forwarded memes and lost the depth in their meaning. Sadly,
the one with the most impactful meaning was misused the most – “<i>Na sirf ek shabd nahi, apne aap mein ek
poora vaakya hai. Ise kisi tarah ke spashtikaran, explanation ya vyakhya ki zaroorat
nahi hoti. Na ka matlab sirf na hi hota hai!”</i> (“NO is not a word but a
sentence in itself. It doesn’t need any kind of clarification or explanation. A
NO just simply means a NO.”). Did the disturbed percent of the so called
greater sex realize the true gist of it or did it just end up in the list of
famous one liners which will be used while praising Mr. Bachchan. (“<i>Khush toh bahut hoge tum</i>”, “<i>Mere paas gaadi hai, bangla hai…</i>”, “I
can talk English, walk English, sleep English</span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">”</span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">). And has the victim blaming
stopped? Or do people still blame the girl who got molested for roaming around
at 3AM? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Victim blaming was a common
theme throughout Parched, a masterpiece which focused on the atrocities that
the women still face at the hands of society. Harsh truth being that the years
old repression and torture has acclimatized women in a way that they don’t mind
doling out the same cruelty on other women. Most women end up mocking
themselves to hide the pain, this is very much evident when Radhika Apte is
trying to hide her pain with sarcasm aimed at self – “<i>Duniya mein mere jaisi banjh nahi hoti toh bachchon ki haalaat poora
desh hi bhar gaya hota!</i>” (“Had there not been infertile women like me, then
the whole country would have been filled with kids). When Tanishtha Mukherjee’s
son retorts his mother, who prevents him from abusing his child bride, saying –
“<i>Aaj pata chala mera baapu ghar rahne ki
bajaye randikhane kyun jata tha.</i>” (“I now know why my dad used to go to a
whorehouse rather than staying at home.”); you feel for the poor soul – you feel
disgust, contempt and anger.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">A son condemning his mother
in a demeaning way is still not unheard of in the world and thanks to Star Plus
who are trying to bring about a change with their campaign <i>Nayi Soch </i>(New Thinking). One of their innovative effort is where
youth icons and popular cricketers – M. S. Dhoni, Virat Kohli and Ajinkya
Rahane are seen wearing their mothers’ names on their game jerseys. The
question being, why can’t we be identified by our mother’s name, after all what
we are is in large part because of our mommy darlings. One would hope that this
would bring about a change and make others also draw their identity as much
from their mothers as they do from their fathers. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">The year ended with Dangal,
with the story of a father Mahavir Singh Phogat preparing his daughters to wrestle
against the boys who justifies it in plain and simple words – <i>“Mhari choriyan choron se kam se ke?”</i> (“Are
my daughters any lesser than the boys?”). People had issues with him asking the
girls to fight with the boys, alas nobody had issues with a father forcing his
wish on the kids (however, that is another story for some other time). There is
this one scene where the referee tells the boy “<i>Chori se, samajh ke kheliyo.” </i>(“She is a girl, be careful while you
wrestle.”) and pat replies Zaira Wasim <i>“Bas
chori samajh ke na kheliyo.”</i> (“Don’t wrestle thinking that I am just a girl.”).
That bang on attitude totally sums it all up. Play the game the way you usually
do, don’t try and make it easier just because the players are women. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Movies like Neerja, Nil
Battey Sannata and probably others that I missed out on watching, also deserve
a mention for various reasons right from celebrating long lost unsung heroes to
the quest of a mother to not let her daughter’s life go to waste. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">After witnessing all this
awe-inspiring work, how I wish that 2017 wouldn’t have started with the
incidents that happened in Bangalore or with movies like Lipstick Under My Burkha
being refused certification by the Censor Board. Are we starting back from
level zero? </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<!--EndFragment--></div>
Proxyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08446475705378737399noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29382797.post-74842018047440743982017-01-08T05:44:00.002-08:002017-01-08T05:44:37.262-08:00The Quest for the TIGER<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">#SaveThem</span></h3>
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Husband and I started this
year with a trip to Bandipur Tiger Reserve, another one added in our never
ending quest to see the mighty Tiger in its natural habitat. Before this trip
we had done around 8-9 safaris (together and individually), and with our
cumulative bad luck so far we decided not to rely on it. Considering Mommy and Daddy
in law were successful in past in spotting a tiger and Mom-Dad would bring
their beginners luck with them, we decided to tag along with them. So on the 1<sup>st</sup>
of January the six of us hopped into an Innova and took a fun filled road trip
to Bandipur, of course with a pit stop to family favorite breakfast place –
Kamath Lokaruchi. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Before I move on to other
details, a special shout out to the folks at Jungle Lodges and Resorts. A great
and an extremely hospitable place to stay during your wildlife quests. Helpful
staff who are ever eager to make your stay comfortable. And what else, they had
been supporting digital transactions long before our government started
advocating it. There is a quaint little sign placed at the entrance – “No cash
accepted. Only credit/debit card transactions allowed.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">So we started our evening
safari with vigor, excited to spot the wildlife in the reserve, learn some new
names and click some great shots. However, it seemed like even the jungle
citizens were having a bad new year eve hangover. We hardly spotted anything.
By the end of those uneventful 3 hours, we just reeked of dust and the jungle
commoners – spotted deers and jungle fowls – felt like next door neighbors. You
keep on seeing them everywhere you looked! The king of the jungle had ditched
us once again. There wasn’t even an alarm call heard. To add to the dismay, a
group of lucky wildlife
enthusiasts had spotted two leopards during their evening safari. The
disappointment however was washed down over a cup of warm tea and plateful of
freshly fried pakoras and much family love. And a dinner and a night time
stroll later, we were happily saying good night and looking forward to a new
day, new safari.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"> The eagerness woke us up even before the 5:30
AM wakeup call. And this time around there was loads to ogle at. A baby
elephant, barking deer, peacocks, eagles, kingfishers, woodpeckers, storks,
flycatchers, bee-eaters and plenty of other birds we couldn’t even catch the
name of. BUT the captain of the jungle team had evaded us yet again. The rush
we had felt when we heard a Sambar deer alarm call was let down by no
sightings. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Why-o-why oh mighty King,<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Like birds of the jungle, we sing.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Why-o-why we can’t see,<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">The fabulously striped thee.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 14.0pt;"></span><br /></span>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 14pt;">Thus
we ended our journey to the dreamland with a lovely spread of breakfast and the
giddiness of knowing that nobody else spotted a tiger either <wink>. We
started back for Bangalore. The absence of the predators was felt but not so
deeply because of the awesome company. The 24-hour long outstation trip with
parents is something you all should try. Its fun! TVF could probably think of a
sequel to Tripling. </wink></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 14.0pt;">
</span><!--EndFragment--></div>
Proxyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08446475705378737399noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29382797.post-44454584302512893752015-12-10T00:33:00.001-08:002015-12-10T00:33:57.211-08:00Vietnam Diaries<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">They say your travels make you smarter, more experienced.
And I think they are pretty much on the mark. One can have a variety of
experiences when travelling, and when one sits down to write a travelogue, it
is always hard to decide what to start with. Setting aside this confusion, I
decided to start with when I felt the most at peace. Standing right there at the serene Cua Dai
beach, gazing at the South China Sea, letting the waves wash away the sand from
beneath my feet. It was all so quiet and beautiful. The feeling that there is
nobody else in this world, nothing else that you have to do and nowhere else
you have to be. You can forget anything and everything and just live in that
moment. Stand there and just look around and observe your surroundings – the
surfer fighting the waves, the kids building a sand castle, the lady vendor
trying to sell goodies. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Vietnam has a lot to offer when it comes to visuals. It had us
engaged right from the moment we landed in Hanoi. Closely built narrow houses,
good roads, several two wheelers driving haphazardly, funny helmets, small
stools at the street food outlets, locals trying to sell you souvenirs, extremely
cheap ice cream ( I am serious it costs only 30 US cents). Our two days in the
capital were hectic and tiring. With so much to cover, old French quarters, Ho
Chi Minh mausoleum, ancient house, temples, pagodas, museum of ethnology, Hoa
Lo prison, Temple of Literature, Hoan Kiem Lake and much more, we got a taste
of how it used to be in old times with no internet and no GPS to assist you.
Our first day mostly went in consulting a paper map and trying to find our way
to places. A big wake up call on how much we rely on the technology these days. Kudos
to us that despite our shortcomings we managed to visit all that was on our
list along with finding out great places to eat. Well, some self praise doesn’t
hurt! ;)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Post Hanoi, our plans to cruise along in the Halong Bay was
washed out by a serious storm in the area. We were looking forward to it,
dreaming about the great photo opportunities that we would get. What followed
was something I never imagined us doing on a vacation, Trekking! But Mother
Nature did not disappoint us at all. Walking along the trail with some
breathtaking views of the rice fields of Sapa was a fun filled adventure in
itself. However, our interactions with the locals here kind of dampened the
high that we got from the beauty of the place. People are helpful but all for a
price. Children are well versed in English and proficient in 101 of how to get
friendly with the tourists. The continuous pestering is a deal breaker. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">After the highs and lows of Sapa, we moved on to Hoi An, the
quaint little town. The best stop of the vacation. Our two days here went by in
a breeze and we wanted to stay and explore more. The good times started with us
checking into Rock Villa. If you are visiting Hoi An, this is the peaceful and
hospitable stay that you are looking for. And what more, it is easy on the
pocket as well. Hoi An can be very conveniently explored on bikes. One would
fall in love with the evenings of the town, with luminescent lanterns, floating
candles, hustle bustle all around. The foodie within, gave us a shout out to
set out on a gastronomical journey and we readily signed up for a cooking
class. Working our way through four delicious courses accompanied with the
chilled passion fruit juice was the adventure we would so fondly reminisce. If
you are a fruit lover, Vietnam is definitely the place for you. The sheer
abundance of the variety of tropical fruits can leave you wanting for more. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Ho Chi Minh City, our last leg of the vacation was a bundle
of mixed experiences. The old city of Saigon, one of the most populous ones of
Vietnam, left me pensive – wondering out loud about what the atrocity called
war actually means. Looking at those heartbreaking pictures of Agent Orange
victims in the War Remnants Museum I could only think of how the war affects
the innocents the most. It scares me when the probability of a worldwide one
keeps knocking the doors every now and then. I am sure what we see in the
museum is just one side of the story and the other side would be equally gut-wrenching.
The tales of the tough times told at the Reunification Palace, the reality of
the Cu Chi tunnels just kept calling out to me. Why is that we fight? What good
comes out of it? Are the winners happy for sure? Thankfully we decided to give
the gloominess a break and went for an experience of a lifetime. Our dinner at
The Noir was unforgettable. The realization of no sight makes one aware of all
other senses and the possibilities of life. Our tryst with dining in the dark made
us wiser and hopeful. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">There is so much more to explore in Vietnam. We could only
fit in so much in 10 days, but these 10 days were a great learning experience. It
was like going to a school of a different culture of the world. It is commendable
how the persistent hard work, clean habits, the ideology to renew of the
Vietnamese people have brought the country out of the hell hole in which the
civil war had left it. They are a brilliant example of the society that is
evolving with the changing times and is still maintaining a balance with its
age old culture. Uncle Ho’s country has something in its kitty for every soul. </span></div>
</div>
Proxyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08446475705378737399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29382797.post-10547583591542498112015-09-20T00:35:00.000-07:002015-09-20T02:04:00.318-07:00Raahi... <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-size: large;">ये रास्ते बुलाते मुझे,</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">सुनाते कोई नई दास्तान।</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">हर मोड़ नया, हर सड़क नई,</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">बंजारा दिल ले जाए जहाँ।</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">कहीं खेत खड़े खलिहान बने,</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">कहीं रेत पड़ी रेगिस्तान में।</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">बूँद बूँद मिलकर सागर फैला,</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">दुनिया कुछ नहीं बस एक मेला।</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">गुनगुनी धूप से सजी इमारतें,</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">बर्फ़ीली सफ़ेद चादर ओढ़े मकान।</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">छतों से गिरती टिप टिप बूँदें,</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">वो पतझड़ से ढकी बनिये की दुकान ।</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">चलता चलूँ, फिरता रहूँ दर-बदर,</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">कर रहा हूँ इन नज़ारों की खोज। </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">बस एक होश, बस एक सोच,</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">जी लूँ मैं बन ख़ानाबदोश। </span><br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Proxyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08446475705378737399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29382797.post-325975281422466572011-08-18T03:42:00.000-07:002011-08-18T04:01:12.157-07:00Rainy Day<div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia; "><i>"Rain, rain go away. Come again another day. Little Johnny wants to play."</i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span">
<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Even after reciting this rhyme several times during our nursery days, it never actually became our motto in school. Our July and August were spent in singing:</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span">
<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><i>"Rain, rain please do stay. Come again and again whole day. Little Johnny wants to play."</i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span">
<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span">The rainy days of Bhopal are etched in my memory and my friends from Carmel would nod and echo their agreement here. Rainy days were the golden days for the school kids.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span">
<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span">The most looked forward treat used to be school announcing a holiday due to heavy rain pour. Wow... I still remember how I would wait for the bus and then come back hopping happily, splashing all the puddles, ruining my clean and well pressed uniform. <i>"Chutti mil gayi... it is a rainy day... Bus nahi aayi"</i> Even my Mom used to get intoxicated by my happiness and would smile at the extra bout of work (my mud stained uniform) that I would bring back for her. You see, the those were not the days of Surf Excel. <i>"Daag achche hain!"</i> came quite later in our lives. I so envy the kids these days when they are encouraged on national television to enjoy sack races, get themselves covered up in cycle grease to impress a girl or beat up a puddle because it had hurt their little sister. I so much envy them... really. Anyhow, coming back to my rainy day celebrations, the rest of the day always passed by in a blur. Watching TV, reading comic books, shouting, dancing and creating all possible nuisances. Best part used to be when rains would stop and a clear sky took over past noon. All kids in the colony used to come out and play. It used to be the best of both worlds, no school and more playtime as well.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span">
<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Even when at times school administration didn't get too liberal and used to call us for classes while it was raining cats and dogs, the poor turnout was a blessing in those moments. Most teachers would skip lectures and then we, the fortunate ones, used to get free periods one after another. We used to remove our shoes and drenched socks and jump from one bench to another. Sing songs, play games, chat and discuss even the most trivial issues as if our life depended on it. The whole day used to be like a recess time and then we used to board buses that would take us back home.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span">
<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Well what can I say, we were kids back then. Those were the golden days, real gold. Now it is all so mundane and different. It has been raining continuously in Bangalore since last night and still I had to wake up, get ready and drive all the way to office. Getting mud soaked by the splashes made by my fellow drivers. I reached office somehow after tackling the worst possible traffic jams and then got busy with meetings, codes, installations and obviously writing this post. I wish I could still get back those school days once again. Sing the wrong rhyme again and play once again. Oh dear... "Rain, rain... "</span></div>Proxyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08446475705378737399noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29382797.post-87108905005587814622011-07-14T07:33:00.000-07:002011-07-14T08:00:35.174-07:00A little girl I am...<span style="font-family: lucida grande;">Credit rolls of "What a Girl Wants" were still scrolling on the TV Screen as Daphne Reynolds' quest to get that special "Father-Daughter" dance came to a happy ending, Anagha pressed the red button on the TV Remote and the screen flickered and went blank. What a beautiful relationship it is, the one that a father and daughter share. Anagha couldn't help but smile at the thought of the "My Daddy Strongest" t-shirt she had got specially printed as her first ever Father's Day gift for her <span style="font-style: italic;">Papa</span>. How excited he got that day. It was simply priceless. Could have easily been the idea for a MasterCard Ad campaign. Getting a t-shirt Rs. 60/-, printing a picture Rs. 100/-, the smile on your dad's face Priceless.<br /><br />Her train of thoughts traveled through each junction of her life with her Dad and came to a halt at the phone conversation that they earlier had the very same day. <span style="font-style: italic;">"Betuji, I didn't realize that my little angel has grown up and is a young lady now. Your Mom is pestering me to find a suitable match for you. The very idea of you getting married gives me jitters, but that is how life is. I knew this day would eventually come..."</span>. This and all the cliched stuff that any father would say before dropping in the bomb of already having found a suitor for her. <span style="font-style: italic;">"Ayush will call you in the evening, just talk to him. Okay! We will only move further if you say yes. Do keep what I just said in mind. Love you Betuji. Take care!"</span> Hmmph, has she really grown up? Daphne had a "Coming Out" party thrown by her Dad, but does any girl ever really grows up?<br /><br />Anagha walked towards her closet with her mind exactly on one thing that was going to prove her point. She opened one drawer after another until what she looked for were there in front of her eyes. Little miniature toys, collected secretly over the years with fun meals, toothpastes, jellybeans, chocolates and what not. She probably has thousands of these. She still loves to pick up goods with such freebies when she shops for groceries. Never a fan of displaying her collections, she hid them all away from where her friends could spot them and make fun of her. She still loves each single one of them and has fondness for all the new ones too. Has she grown up yet?<br /><br />She closes the drawer and tries to shut down the door of the closet, but it is almost stuffed to the edge with clothes, matching accessories and shoes to go along with every dress. Her childhood fantasy to have a closet of the size of a mansion is still a fantasy, but her fascination for all that she would put in that closet hasn't gone down one bit. How her heart still aches for every new piece of fashion she comes across. Had funds not been an issue, she might have filled the whole house but for now she has to be content with coming to terms with only a closet full of them. She still remembers how she had hopped up and down the whole house when her Dad had bought her favorite dress and matching shoes and a cute little purse to go along with on her third birthday. Anagha couldn't help but laugh at how she still does the same when she gets back from her shopping sprees, only difference is now she does it after shutting herself up in her room. Has she really grown up yet?<br /><br />Not much has changed from when she was a toddler. She still wants a big tight hug when she is low in spirits. She still needs somebody to look after her when she is sick and bedridden. Tears roll down her eyes with every wound, physical or otherwise. She still needs to be looked after. She still has soft toys lined up on her bed. She still loves to listen to a story while she goes to sleep, only now the stories are told by movies or books rather than being recited by her Mom. She still feels elated to see a new leaf grow out on her plant. She still loves to listen to the morning chirping. So how exactly is she grown up? What is different now? Just because 26 years have passed since she had troubled her Mom to get into this world, doesn't exactly mean that she has grown up and is ready to share her life with someone. There is so much to learn, so much to see, so much to experience. Why give that all up for a stranger? Why stop being Daddy's little girl? Well these would probably just remain questions. Nobody can actually answer them. Anagha sighed as her train of thoughts had finally reached to the last station. All that is now left is to get down and get unknown in the crowd. <span style="font-style: italic;">Trin, Trin...</span>the phone rang and it is time for another experience, good or bad, time will tell.<br /></span>Proxyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08446475705378737399noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29382797.post-91944615878369850502011-03-02T00:39:00.000-08:002011-03-02T00:43:05.841-08:00Without YouDays have passed,<br />And so have the nights.<br />Spirits have been low,<br />And high are the tides.<br /><br />Roses are now black,<br />Gloomy are verses of love.<br />Sea is forever violent,<br />Meaningless is act of dove.<br /><br />Nothing seems complete,<br />Without you in my life.<br />Nothing feels correct,<br />Without you by my side.<br /><br />Looking for some comfort,<br />Searching for some rest.<br />Walking alone here I am,<br />Being <span style="font-style: italic;">Invictus</span> is the quest.Proxyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08446475705378737399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29382797.post-55806987997909027202010-08-03T04:46:00.000-07:002010-08-03T04:54:46.434-07:00Eternal Loner<span style="font-family:lucida grande;font-size:100%;">Surrounded by a sea of yellow,<br /><br />Wishing for the darkness to fade.<br /><br />I am nothing but a Sunflower,<br /><br />For the Sun I have to forever wait.<br /><br /><br /><br />Perched above a bough on a tree,<br /><br />Gazing with blank eyes going wide.<br /><br />I am nothing but a Night owl,<br /><br />For the Night I have to forever wait.<br /><br /><br /><br />Standing erect on one leg,<br /><br />Waiting for the water to wade.<br /><br />I am nothing but a hungry Crane,<br /><br />For Food I have to forever wait.<br /><br /><br /><br />All alone in the golden field,<br /><br />Yearning for the color of jade.<br /><br />I am nothing but a Solitary Reaper,<br /><br />I have to forever wait,<br /><br />I have to forever wait.</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">P.S: The use of <a href="http://www.eliteskills.com/c/2594">Solitary Reaper</a> is a mere reference to Sir Wordsworth's famous composition that goes with the same name. </span></span><br /><p.s: href="http://www.eliteskills.com/c/2594"><p.s:><br /></p.s:></p.s:>Proxyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08446475705378737399noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29382797.post-32201881721814620422010-07-20T11:56:00.000-07:002010-07-20T12:03:09.371-07:00(In)sane<span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">It has been a while. No, I am not talking about the time that has lapsed since my last post. It has been a while since I last felt sane. Sanity is a companion which follows its own wishes and acts on self discretion. </span>Wanted by each one and answerable to none, sanity writes its own script. Your wisdom, knowledge and desires are of no record or importance. There have been instances in the recent past when I so wanted to catch hold of it and trap it in a prison made of the strongest substance known to mankind, but alas, even those bars would have failed to captivate it. Sure, I can go ahead and post signs all over requesting eagerly to my sanity to come back, but will it result in anything good? Will it so happen that the next day I wake up, I feel the lousiness inside my head gone for good? Most probably not. The question is what should one do when in desperate need of sanity - call out for help or just wait and watch??<br /></span>Proxyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08446475705378737399noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29382797.post-29119061363602698602010-04-09T04:55:00.000-07:002010-04-09T05:02:59.451-07:00Sadness… An Equation?<div style="text-align: justify;">Ah! The tears of unfathomable sadness. Cartman must have found them delicious. After all whatever Scott Tenorman had planned and executed to humiliate Cartman, it was his time to give him the piece of Cartman’s extraordinary brilliance. For those, who lost me from the first use of the word “Cartman”, let me take the liberty of introducing you to Eric Cartman of Comedy Central’s animated series South Park. The show is intended for mature audience, and is famous (I don’t agree with the infamous tag used by wikipedia) for its crude, surreal and satirical dark humor. The above reference was to an exceptional episode “Scott Tenorman Must Die” where in Cartman plans and executes his revenge for getting humiliated time and again by Tenorman. Anyways, no matter how much you like or hate him, I’m not here to write and publicize Cartman. His numerous fans have already made sure that he lives forever.<br /><br />However, he isn’t the inspiration behind this blog today but it is what he said: “The tears of unfathomable sadness, yummy!” I know I would be branded a sadist for this statement, but I still gather all my courage to write it here: Tears or no tears, there is always an unfathomable sadness in every human being, which comes out time and again. The one and only counter cure is the happiness which is even more deeper than the sadness within. Unfortunately I happened to come across numerous examples, which have nurtured this thought.<br /><br />In order to explain my point, lets take a group of four people - four healthy, sane and happy homosapiens. Lets name them A, B, C and Z. A’s happiness happens to have a directly proportional relation to a special person X, someone who is dear to heart. The equation is somewhat like:<br /><div style="text-align: center;">X present = A happy, X absent = A not happy.<br /></div><br />A’s sadness prevails when X is not there whereas A’s happiness takes over the charge when X is around for comfort. This equation is roughly how I’ll document A’s cheerful self and somber mood.<br /><br />B on the other hand, possesses a switch to the valve between the two moods. That particular switch controls B’s mood. This switch is however controlled by the weight of what is going around. If we assume that surrounding happiness and sadness form a total of 100% and there is no other mood element present, then<br /><div style="text-align: center;"> Switch(B) = :) if %(surrounding :)) > 50<br /> :( if %(surrounding :() > 50<br /> :S if %(surrounding :( or :)) == 50<br /></div><br />C particularly struggles with the sadness and loneliness these days, and sports a fake happiness to avoid questions like “Why so sad?” The main motif and important task for C these days, is to ward off any such awkward and gloomy questions. Fear of becoming a masochist (A willingness or tendency to subject oneself to unpleasant or trying experiences.) is getting the best out of C. In words of equation:<br /><div style="text-align: center;"> Mood(C) = Fake :) where C == !Alone<br /> :( where C == Alone<br /><br /></div>Z has a slightly different case. Unlike the rest of the three, Z finds happiness in small gestures. The policy is when sad, do something to take your mind off it… do something impulsive, something stupid or something different, something random to brighten up your life, to get that special sunshine. All in all, Z’s events can be drafted as:<br /><div style="text-align: center;"> When Z == sad, do Z = random();<br /></div>No matter how much I try to form an equation for Z’s case, I fail each and every time. This is the best I can do to let you guys know about Z. Probably, one can’t create an equation for happiness, one just stumbles onto it while doing random stuff.<br /><br />I know I tried too hard to explain my point and I have performed poorly. But I think you got the point and so now aren't you done reading? Go get me a Sandwich! :P<br /></div>Proxyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08446475705378737399noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29382797.post-690553725113717812010-03-31T03:32:00.000-07:002010-03-31T03:34:38.843-07:00Not meant to be.<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">It is when you sigh, oh so deeply, that I realize that you are standing right beside me and that we are not one and the same. You are not a part of me, at least not anymore. I start feeling the sensation of the touch that your hand is leaving on my hand. I don’t remember when we started doing it, but along the time, holding hands has become essential. It looks like it is what we do to connect to each other. One of the palms supporting the other and the ten fingers entwining into each other. I don’t remember how long we have been standing like this, looking at the horizon, wondering why don’t the sky and the earth actually meet at a point, why do they just give us an impression of it? </span><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">I drift back again to the day I had first met you. I had found you so adorable in that black shirt and blue jeans. Although it wasn’t love at first sight but still our story started then onwards, if I can call it a story at all. The length of it is so short that it can probably qualify as a fable, a fable that someday I might narrate to my son and daughter. He would idolize you, and she would dream about you. Coming back to the day you saw me, not the same day as I saw you. I can only take your word for it that you found me cute. But I know it was not the cuteness in me that brought you towards me, it was the cuteness that I found in you that made you cross the room and gaze into my eyes. I remember each of the sentences you have used since then to tease me, to irritate me or to make me happy distinctly. I remember every compliment that you have given me, or everything that you said you didn’t like about me. </span><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">It was never friendship, it was always this strange peculiar attraction to each other, the completeness we found with each other. It was all complimentary and not supplementary. The presence or absence of others was not of matter to me anymore. It was you who made the clock tick. Even then I knew that our paths are different. This is just the crossroads at which we happened to bump into each other. From here, you have to travel East and I’ve to lead my life towards West. But still those moments that we spent together, those discussions, those arguments weighed even more than combined mushiness of my previous relationships.</span><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">Today when I’ve to leave, leave this place and travel away from you, I feel this sinking sensation which is draining away all the warmth you had provided to my cold heart. But I can’t stop it and patch the hole that is coming into existence. You now look down into my eyes. Your deep brown eyes, they don’t ask me a question, and neither do they answer anything. I listen your heartbeat through them. I wish we could stay back for some more time and I could swim some more into those eyes, the ones that now have my eyes locked in a consistent gaze. But all I do is lean my head on your shoulder one last time and my heart whispers, “We were never meant to be.” and then you sigh again.</span><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span><br /></div>Proxyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08446475705378737399noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29382797.post-78599748955451361542010-02-14T08:58:00.000-08:002010-02-14T09:16:01.669-08:00Desire<span style="font-family:lucida grande;">When the rain does splatter,<br />When the drops pitter-patter,<br />Take me away to a place,<br />Where no one will ever matter.<br /><br />How I had wished to be alone,<br />Neither a whisper nor a moan,<br />Farther and farther than a milestone,<br />Where bonds the sun, earth and horizon.<br /><br />But those inside my head, the demons,<br />Of treachery and prohibited legions,<br />Tie me to the past and the present,<br />For future they have no reasons.<br /><br />All I desire is to break strings that bind me,<br />Finish the spider and web that accompany.<br />All I desire is to sprout wings and fly high,<br />Reach where the orange colors the blue sky.<br /></span>Proxyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08446475705378737399noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29382797.post-13760320622796933572009-11-24T10:30:00.000-08:002009-11-24T22:25:38.574-08:00Just call me Angel, every morning Angel...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://img01.picoodle.com/img/img01/4/1/15/miraclelove/f_angel4m_ad17f5c.gif"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 499px; height: 579px;" src="http://img01.picoodle.com/img/img01/4/1/15/miraclelove/f_angel4m_ad17f5c.gif" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br />Today, sitting in Audi 09 of PVR at Forum Bengaluru, and watching Saif bowling all so cheesy comments at Kareena (which she was actually batting to... and surprisingly well enough), I wondered what does a guy need to do in order to woo a girl. About 3 years ago, I had posted “How to look at a guy in 8 ways!” and had got good enough queries from all my friends of not so fair gender for delivering a KT session (knowledge transition – a famous term in the IT sector). After lots and lots of pondering, even after having a “Girls are NOT dumb” kind of session with Apoorv, I never was able to actually figure out a good and well planned manner that one can execute? Probably because I have never ever felt like wooing a girl and also never got a chance to break hearts. I can never bring up a plan guaranteeing a 100% success like the one of SRK – “6 din and ladki in”! (Ohh well I had to mention KHNH, after all it was a KJo movie that triggered this thought process, and well all KJo movies are usually kind of cheesy)!<br /><br />Looking around I find all my friends, some in knee deep and some in above the danger level ocean of mushy gushy love. And in fact not just me, even if you pause for a second and look around you, you’ll definitely find the life size couples from Eric Seagal’s Love Story or to relate it to the today’s junta Chetan Bhagat’s 2 states (I hear people are relating it to their very own lives and love lives). Anyways, coming back to the topic, when I go through the ways in which the couples around me came together, I do find a variety and an inconsistency in the behaviours. But again, there are actually some things absolutely common and so to be on a safer side and also to maintain your interest in the post, I will list them down here.<br /><br />1. One Love - Tell her that she is the only one and is always going to be. No ogling, bird watching or checking out the other specimens.<br />2. She is the angel, your darling angel – Remind her that daily, every morning and every night.<br />3. No chiggy wiggy here – She definitely wants you to be her charming prince, her knight in shining armour. Don’t let her feel as if it is just a fling or else you gonna pay big time (of course I’m talking about the shopping expenses).<br />4. No cheese or muffin (basically anything high in calories) please – Girls hate that. You don’t ask them for a band aid and then tell them that you fell for them the moment you saw them... it sucks.<br />5. High maintenance always – You do need to invest, if not money then time for sure. Some would want both while some would be satisfied with either, but then again no pain no gain.<br />6. Happy B’day my love – Never, never ever forget the Birthday... tie a knot in your handkerchief, enter a reminder in your cellphone or make your sister remind you, but do not in any case - not even in 2012, forget the day she came down on earth and that too just for you.<br /><br />All this and I’m sure you will be able to sail through the whole Pacific Ocean yourself. I’m no Hitch and I definitely don’t host the Ugly Truth, so don’t run and come to me for any advice in case anything goes wrong... which I’m sure will definitely do (it always does)... just learn from your mistakes and try never repeating them again.</span>Proxyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08446475705378737399noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29382797.post-72059538825584758392009-06-03T12:13:00.000-07:002009-06-03T12:28:27.681-07:00Love...<div align="justify"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Sarah Jessica Parker had to think about the three dots that follow this word but unlike her, this special four-letter word is still a mystery to me. It is something that I dread something that I am scared of, something I get nightmares of... and hey-hey do I hear you say Freak!! Well whatever you may call me the truth is that it sure is intimidating.<br /><br />What the heck is love? Why does it make such a difference if you are not into it? When will people stop telling you that it is the most important part of your life? How do you tell them to stop doing that? Who is there who never ever speaks about it? Where should I go to find answers to all of these?<br /><br />See for yourself the effect of this lunatic thing on my sane state of mind. A thing which can bring out all 6 words of question (What-Why-When-How-Who-Where) at the same time. I am surprised at the way people behave when they are in it. I can not understand when they say it makes you blind and your heart is not in your control. If it actually does all that then isn't it a disease and one should eradicate it from scratch? Then why in the sweet name of Lord people don't find a vaccination for it?<br /><br />All this and I guess I already know the answer to this. I muse over the fact that I have known the answer about all this crap since the very start. It is because we have been born with it as an inbuilt defect in our system. You can try a lot to shake it away and tear it apart from yourself but you see you can not.<br /><br />Now, I know this that this post of mine will be branded stupid, naive, amateurish and many more things. People might even argue over it. But as always I don't care. I don't give a damn to what people think. You see, after a long long time I got something to write about and I couldn't have given away the chance to write. Not even after spending 10 tiring hours at office. Thanks to Carrie Bradshaw, Charlotte York, Miranda Hobbes and Samantha Jones to bring me back.<br /><br />So it is L.O.V.E and what do I hear goodfellas - L is for the way you Look at me... music notes...</span></div>Proxyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08446475705378737399noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29382797.post-73249888146214740142009-02-16T05:52:00.000-08:002009-02-16T09:35:04.173-08:00From Chaudhary to HattoriCouple of weeks back I was visiting my uncle’s family in Pune. With my mind pretty much made up to enjoy the 3 day long weekend. The laziness had taken over me completely. <br /><br />There seemed nothing much better than lying on the couch, with TV remote in one hand – lazily switching between the channels and a large mug of hot cocoa in another. While abiding by my pledge to chill out, I was moodily surfing through the various channels. Well, honestly it was more of button pressing and less of interest in shows. I then encountered "<span style="font-weight:bold;">Mahabharat</span>" (the old one, the one with "<span style="font-style:italic;">Main Samay hoon...</span>" and not the shit that Ekta Kapoor is serving the Indian audience these days). Apparently, Fox History has taken interest in airing the age old TV Show. It used to be one of the shows that kept me glued before the TV screen during the childhood days. I never used to miss even one single instance of it… starting from the chants of the Bhagwad Geeta shloka – “<span style="font-style:italic;">Yada yada hi dharmasya…</span>” to the end of the casting display. So it was but obvious that my finger stopped pressing those buttons. I sat there enthralled and excited. Though in the times like nowadays, those TV shows look stupid with age-old animation techniques, weird makeup and fancy dresses, but I still found my eyes stuck at the screen.<br /><br />Either I was so intently watching the saga or my kid cousin is so expert in tip toeing her way through her scattered toys that I didn’t realize that she was just standing next to my ear. I here give her all the credit for having such mighty screaming voice that can tear away something inside one’s head totally apart. She screamed and screamed and screamed till I switched off the TV and looked at her in complete despair. Alas! Her screams continued. And when I was looking at her with an “Oh 2-year old… please tell me what you wish for… I would die fulfilling thy wish” kind of an expression, my aunt came to my rescue and familiarized me with the mannerisms of the self-imposed most important being in the family – my cousin (yes the 2 year old who converses in her own gibberish, thinks she can break the wall with her little fist, the toy breaker etc. etc… phew I can’t stop at listing her qualities… and before anyone of you points your accusing finger at me, let me clarify that I loved each one of the little tyke’s tantrums). Anyways, the point was that it was time for her favorite cartoon show and I was not letting her watch that (At that time… with a split headache I so deeply wished that Oh Lord, please give the power to converse to each and every child as soon as they are born… please).<br /><br />It turned out that the show was “Ninja <span style="font-style:italic;">Hathodi</span>”. I don’t know about you guys, but it was the first time I ever heard of this show and found the name quite amusing. Had heard of Ninja Turtles and as far as I could figure it out “<span style="font-style:italic;">Hathodi</span>” was a word of Hindi language that meant Hammer. I couldn’t make out head or tail of what was going on. After Googling about it a bit, I realized it was not “<span style="font-style:italic;">Hathodi</span>” but Hattori. The actuality of the show is some what this: <br /><br /> <span style="font-style:italic;">“10-year old Ken (Ken'ichi) Mitsoba is an average kid who goes to elementary school, and struggles with his studies. Meanwhile from ninja land aka Land of the Ninjas, a little ninja named Kanzo Hattori comes, and befriends Ken'ichi. Hattori is now a part of the mitsoba family along with his brother Shinzou, and his ninja dog, Shishi-Maru. Hattori helps Ken'ichi with his problems, and constantly keeps an eye on him, as a good friend”</span> – Taken from <a href="http://www.wikipedia.com">Wikipedia</a><br /><br />“Amusing things, kids watch these days” was the first thought and then I was zig zagging amongst the favorite comic and cartoon characters of my childhood days – Chacha Chaudhary, Pinky, Billu, Naagraj, Super Commando Dhruv, Ducktales, Talespin, Mickey, Tom n Jerry… but then all of them are amusing too. My parents would have thought the same thing about what I used to watch and I guess I too must have given them similar headaches quite many times. There are new names now – Hattori, Pikachu, Ben 10, Richie Rich, Popeyye, Naruto, Xiaolin and list continues.<br /><br />Old are the days, but similar are the ways. The Gen Y (I am not sure but I think that is what the kids these days are called after the era when we were termed as Gen X) is busy whiling away time on the TV, Computer and Xboxes. One of my 7-year old cousin (yes, yes… I have lots of kid cousins) did not know what are games like “Ice-Water”, “Nadi-Pahad”, “Help”, “Chain” etc. I was aghast by his response; these were the games we loved in our primary school days.<br /><br />Phew… after reading all this cribbing from start to this point, I feel like a old grown granny of some sort. NO… NO… what the heck happened… where did I loose my sanity? I guess I am still sane… the only problem was that it does give a feeling of growing old when one reminisces about the personal childhood favorites, as they are now extinct and no kid talks about them. They have new things to muse over and pass their time with.Proxyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08446475705378737399noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29382797.post-25511177910613441142008-12-22T01:08:00.000-08:002009-01-16T02:14:17.808-08:00Taj, Gun, Blood and Nanny!<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:100%;">After reading what Mayu had to say on her <a href="http://chitchatni.blogspot.com/2008/12/small-drop-in-ocean.html">Chit Chatni</a>, I just wanted to add some more to it. As she has put up something intimidating in plain and simple words, yet I find only couple of people looking to it. The problem is not that she hasn’t spoken on a public platform, but the problem is that there aren’t many people who would have actually acted like the way she did. The most common reaction would have been to shout at the policeman and make a run for the train. I don’t know but yes, probably I too would have done the same thing ( :) a self realization! )</span> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"> </p><p class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Anyways, that was just a part of it. The impacts on Taj and Trident is hardly any, both of them are insured and would be up and running in no time. But, the impact on those present there or those who have suffered personal loss the blood bath is a permanently tattooed heartache. While the whole ordeal was going on, the young Ajmal Kasab was watched on national television captured in camera during his (brave according to himself) act of inhumanity. But most of India was still moving according to its daily routine – offices, schools, shops – all functioning like nothing has changed. Of course, I don’t expect that day to be “the day the earth stood still”, but to mention this was somehow making the whole thing look like an irony, which most of the writers have done (??).</span></p><p class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;"> </p><p class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"> </p><p class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Personally, I pay homage and deep respect to the people who couldn’t survive the whole ordeal. My heart goes out to them. Here I would like to make the special mention of the Rabbi couple, who are now survived by their two children – the older one who is suffering from a terminal illness and the younger 2-year old who was rescued by his Indian Nanny, Sandra Samuel.</span></p><p class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;"> </p><p class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:100%;">This earth has lots of religions surviving over it. After these attacks and in fact several others, the Islamic community has been looked down upon as the one spreading terror. But is it so? Ask the meaning of terror to the Christians who were slain in Orissa few months back. Ask Rahul Raj’s father whom he thinks is responsible for the untimely death of his son. Ask anyone about what they despise or what they think is terror… you’ll get a different answer each time.</span></p><p class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;"> </p><p class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:100%;">The point here is, that the wrong is not in a single community or region, but the wrong is in everybody. Few overcome that wrong with good in themselves and some let the wrong out because of something bad (now, I don’t know what bad… but probably any bad).<br /></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><p class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Well, enough of the philosophy and lecture. I know I can’t make a solid point here, but I still wanted to speak all this out aloud. What touched me most is that India is still the same after all these attacks at its integrity. And I think it is time for the example that I had preserved for so long…</span></p><p class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;"> </p><p class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;"></p><p class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><span style="font-size:100%;">The incident is dated a month back. According to my daily routine, I take a three-wheeler to my office daily in the morning. Now, the place where I have to get down is spelled – “Thavrekere Road” but is pronounced in several ways by the people in Bengaluru – “Taavarkara”, “Taavarkere”, “Tavvarekar” etc. etc. – the correct one even I don’t know till now, though I end up using the third option often. Now, on the day I’m talking about, I hailed an auto and asked the driver to take me to “Tavvarekar Road”. Now this dear fellow was only proficient in Kannada, which unfortunately is no proficiency of mine. Still I tried my level best to explain to him where I needed to go. After a tiresome 5 minutes of explanation, the driver looked at me and smiled, hit his forehead with his hand and looked at me as if I was someone real stupid and said.. “Ai yo… Taavarkere Road”… and signaled me to sit inside. The most important lesson I learned that day was, even if two people don’t speak the same language, still they can communicate effectively, what is required is a little patience.</span><p></p><p class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Then why do such misunderstandings leading to terror take place? Why don't people sit and solve the problems they face? Why do they always have to take up the gun and shout? Why??</span></p><p class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span></p><p class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:100%;">P.S: Thanks to Ankit for his support regarding this post, and also to Mayukhini - for posting that incident. :)</span> </p>Proxyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08446475705378737399noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29382797.post-90103112066213110932008-11-26T00:37:00.000-08:002008-11-26T00:44:07.382-08:00Induction Blues<p style="font-family: georgia; text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Sitting in the Induction Room, along with few others, it just crossed my mind that Taxes are not just going to be in Maths Text Books. They are very much going to haunt me for the rest of my life. The only thing left now is to wait and watch what it would look like?</p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: georgia;"><br />Would it be a big headed, hairy, huge, and shark toothed monster; coming to scare me in my dreams in order to capture the power of my screams. Yeah, yeah… you got it right, I’m talking about Monsters, Inc. But are there any chances of having a <span style="font-style: italic; font-family: georgia;">Sulley </span>who finally realizes the mistake and transforms the whole concern to capturing laughter instead of screams.<br /><br />When I look around me and by “around me”, I mean the world and not just this Induction Room, I find people running to save taxes, playing tricks to get away and in some cases go to the extent of committing crimes… don’t look at me like that… morally Black Money is still considered a crime! I don’t think that Humans and Taxes can come to terms and go hand in hand together. By the looks of it, there can never be a happily ever after for this couple.<br /><br />But now, I don't know what to write... I can't get to a conclusion... I have just started earning... I guess it would be right though <span style="font-style: italic;">cliche </span>enough to say that time will tell. So for now <span style="font-style: italic;">Au Revoir</span> and C Ya!!</div>Proxyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08446475705378737399noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29382797.post-43769192197367490982008-11-24T08:26:00.000-08:002008-11-24T08:33:18.255-08:00Gender of the “Walls of India”<div align="justify">Pondering huh... what is this gibberish that I’m gonna give you after more than six months of wait. OK, I know nobody waited but then it kind of does add to a feel good factor to write that! Anyways, when I woke up after such a long sleep, I decided to come up with something weird and yeah stupid too, in order to come into my writing trance again.<br /><br />This idea sprang up when I was finally leaving Roorkee. You see, Roorkee is a small town in terms of commuting and travelling facilities. But I don’t blame Roorkee for that, because UK as such is a small state. (Oh, please your highness the Queen of Britain. Forgive me but I wasn’t referring to the mighty state governed by you. UK is the postal code for Uttarakhand, a small crunch of land that has now been separated from Uttar Pradesh). Anyways, back to business, in order to get to Bangalore I was required to catch a flight from Delhi’s domestic airport and so I boarded a train from Roorkee to take me to the country capital.<br /><br />Now coming over to what we started with. The best part in travelling within India is not just the countryside but also the walls of the towns and cities. These walls are painted, marked, and postered with various messages. Based on these messages, one can come up with an idea of which gender do these walls support. Support in the battle of sexes, support in the war of power, support in the struggle between Yin n Yang. Till the afore mentioned journey I had this idea that it was the feminine gender the walls felt for. Why? Well here it is why?<br /><em>1. Sachcha desh banana hai... Bahu betiyon ko padhana hai.<br />2. Chahiye budhape ka sahara, to kyun sirf ladke ko pukara.<br />3. Mat karo atyachar, har ladki kare yahi pukar.<br />4. Karte hain aap apni betiyon se pyaar, Mat karein sweekar dahej ki maang.</em><br />These are some of the slogans, which spoke of the loyalty of the Indian walls.<br /><br />But then... just two things changed my mind... I came to a conclusion that Indian walls are of a democratic mind. Without further ado, I present to you the best roadside one liners ever!!<br /><br />1. <em>Lovely Men’s Beauty Parlour (I’ve never seen a lovely man before).<br />2. Dahej kanoonon se agar biwi kare pareshaan, hamara is or zaroor kheechein dhyaan. Forum for Men.<br /></em><br />I know it is an abrupt end, but you see the above statements left me speechless. I don’t have anything more to say. Have a good time!!</div>Proxyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08446475705378737399noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29382797.post-44033323798825224932008-05-03T10:48:00.000-07:002008-05-03T11:06:10.617-07:00A Lifetime of 5 years!!Its almost an year now since I posted Chronicles of Nostalgia and now I again stand on those cross roads, the only difference being that previously others were leaving and it is now I who is leaving, in the world of Nostalgia I am the Chosen One this time.<br /><br />This thought struck me just yesterday while filling up slam books and diaries or better termed as memoirs for my friends and juniors. It was this one statement that I wrote, that came from somewhere within, that caught up with my thoughts and here I am telling you about these 5 golden years. But first of all what I wrote - "I have lived a lifetime here!".<br /><br />Some people would take it as a result of boring persona and a give up attitude but then I guess they fail to understand what I want to say here. NO, I have not grown old, wrinkly and weak so that I write that. It is just simply the fact that this place here called college campus lets you gain a new experience, help you grow mature and give you all the possible opportunities to mold yourself. I am not the same person as I was when I joined this place on 31st July 2003.<br /><br />I tried my hands on new things, learned stuff, gained best of friends, made foes, argued, laughed, cried, consoled, and what not. All these things comprise a lifetime and that is what I have lived in these golden five years. It was great to be here and this place will always ROCK!!Proxyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08446475705378737399noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29382797.post-59145078995647906392008-01-09T03:01:00.000-08:002008-11-30T21:14:41.583-08:00Bete-NoireWell, the title has nothing to do with what follows next. Its just that, its a new addition to my vocab (courtesy: PTV in one of his post). For your ready reference, bete-noire means a detested person; someone or something which is particularly disliked or avoided; an object of aversion. Everyone has someone or something to dislike, it sometime seems that the very own existence of us humans depends on how much or to what extent do we dislike the particular object.<br /><br />Whatever be the case, it is none of my concerns to get worried about the amount of hate or love that is spread in the world. So far, life has been going good with all its ups and downs. A suitable enough update would be - failed MS, got lucky with Oracle and again back to a failure through CAT so the next is that I am waiting for another success in queue. Life always goes with ups and downs, it somehow has never learned to travel on a widespread plain. After a large bum, I have to settle down and wait for a low rise. Still its been comfortable till now and I hope I won't feel even a bit of motion sickness on my leftover ride... which by the way I think is going to be long enough.<br /><br />Couple of days back one of my friend told me that I'm so lively and I just repeated the famous Jab We Met dialogue - "<span style="font-style: italic;">Main apni favorite hoon!</span>". But when I wait and think about it, there are lot less people remaining who actually love themselves. Most of us are busy cribbing that the others get more, they have a 'better' good luck than ours, there has been a case of favoritism etc. How many instances have been there where one has not done so? I admit that at a point in my life I was like that too and then one day everything changed. Everything as in everything. It was the day I got my rejection from MS, was dejected (it was my first rejection after all) to the core and the feeling was hopeless and then that almost an hour talk with Dad made me take a whole new perspective towards everything. He just said one thing, if I would have got selected for Nestle which sure was a better lucrative offer than BHEL, you wouldn't have been there thinking about your rejection because I would have been long dead (Nestle was posting in some remote village in Punjab, where at that time terrorism was at its peak and the factory was burnt with all its employees inside) and you would have got a compensation instead of the chocolates you think about. That one sentence made me realize that whatever is happening to me is probably for my own good. I don't say that might be some odd day MS campus in Hyderabad catches fire and I die there but now I don't care how everything goes... I just live through it.<br /><br />Somehow, that one sentence has changed something within me and has changed my whole perspective turning me into the one who just loves whatever happens - good or bad. Again here Good and Bad are couple of the relative terms that we come across. Its the relativity from person to person that classifies things as good or bad. As they say, <span style="font-style: italic;">Beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder</span>, similarly I would quote this as <span style="font-style: italic;">Morality lies in the minds of the people.</span> Boozing and fagging might be in for some whereas they are just a no entry territory for others. Similar is the case with pre-marital sex affairs, bribe or prostitution for that matter. Still some don't take things lightly and create a hype over that. Why does this simple fact never cross their mind that their roaming and cuddling around with there boyfriends, or simply having a boyfriend, is considered BAD by some others. Somehow, everyone ends up overlooking these facts and this aspect of theory of relativity.<br /><br />I am all <span style="font-style: italic;">vella</span> (not <span style="font-style: italic;">yella</span> or <span style="font-style: italic;">della</span>) this semester, the above passages were a part of the gibberish that runs in my mind these days. Pardon me in case it offended you. For now that is it... let me relax and switch over to watching "Music and Lyrics" - a lovely tale of a song writer and a born lyricist! Adieu!Proxyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08446475705378737399noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29382797.post-85465726729344969162007-11-24T05:19:00.000-08:002007-11-24T05:35:11.892-08:00Alpha as a factor...<span style="font-family: georgia;">Recently, I just happen to come across this fact that how much are guys thinking about the whole concept of alpha-woman. I must admit this whole concept seem to scare the hell out of them. The very fact that today in India, the major power-packed positions are held by women, seem to hurt some aching nerve of men. All they can think about is there nightmare getting true.<br /><br />There seem to be lots & lots of retaliation against the discrimination, towards women, from guys. Each one of them seem to worry about the day when women will occupy all of the important positions across the globe & will become the string pullers for the men who'll be boiled down to nothing but puppets.<br /><br />I agree to everything that's said. Given the current situations, where women are supported on the fact that they had been downtrodden since centuries & now its time to give them their rights, the eventual end is definitely this. But... why do no one still looks at what is still going on. The women whom we talk about consists around only say 30% of the complete women population of the country, the rest of the 70% still remains the subdued one... the one who are brought up to get married, run the household, get pregnant, give birth (in fact in many cases... multiple times), raise kids and then grow old and die. These 70% are still being taught how to become good wives and how to please in-laws... I don't say thats bad but then I don't think guys should even get worried... since that divine feminine power still does not have its 70% ready.<br /><br />In fact, its just still centuries to go till this so very worried about final destination is reached. Why get worried just now... let the generations to come take care about it!<br /></span>Proxyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08446475705378737399noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29382797.post-72230534375252572912007-08-17T08:29:00.000-07:002007-08-17T08:45:04.447-07:00Musings...<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">No posts since past one and a half month! I know I might have committed a crime. This is never-never ever a passable or allowable act in the religion called </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: georgia;">Bloggerism</span><span style="font-family: georgia;">! I'll not make an excuse of being busy or that nothing interesting happened in my LIFE. All I can say is that I was suffering from the conventional and communicative disease of <span style="font-style: italic;">laziness</span>.<br /><br />The first few words that ring in my ears, when I think about this ailment, are <span style="font-style: italic;">"Aalas Buri Bala Hai!"</span> These age old words of wisdom have been passed down from generation to generation in one or the other way. Kabeer stated it as <span style="font-style: italic;">"Kaal kare so aaj kar, aaj kare so ab! Pal mein parlay hoegi, bahuri karega kab?"</span> But now if someone would wake up and try to look around with open eyes, one would look at a bunch of closed eyes and hear loud snores and a plain chant of <span style="font-style: italic;">"Aaj kare so kaal kar, kaal kare so parson. Itni jaldi kya hai pyaare, abhi pade hain barson!"</span><br /><br />Due to this LAZY factor, a new phenomenon is budding up! That is to achieve maximum possible in minimum possible time with minutest of efforts required. This is pretty much proved by the increasing number of reality shows that are populating the TV channels. What on observes is that these reality shows, now in there 2nd or 3rd seasons, are gradually becoming a platform for kids on the block. The average age of contestants is decreasing as the zeal to prove oneself at an early age is increasing tremendously. These little ones of around 16 or 17 years of age have barely achieved puberty and are right there in front of our eyes in all glitteratti and glamorous mode. I sometimes wonder, have I overslept or was I too Lazy to see this! :|<br /></span></div>Proxyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08446475705378737399noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29382797.post-80983101988632286002007-07-01T07:54:00.000-07:002007-07-01T07:58:15.996-07:00The Night time Adventures!!<p style="text-align: justify; font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal">Now now… don’t think that the blog that you are gonna read now is not suitable for the minors’ eyes… in fact its pretty much to do with the ones of there age and also the ones like us (who still have the small one hidden inside). Recently, after coming back to Roorkee, I had to temporarily shift in another room in a different wing of the hostel, the one which no one prefers the most. And yeah… on the same very day, I very much understood why it is so. After shifting all my stuff and relaxing a bit, I just thought of having a look at Sonal’s room (she had already gone home) and to see if I can find anything to munch… what met my eyes first was a lovely note she had stuck near the switchboard about the dos and don’ts in the room. The list was not very long and bulky, just contained the following three points:</p><div face="georgia" style="text-align: justify;"> </div><ul style="margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify; font-family: georgia;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal">Do not try and open the window, there is a large family of lizards residing there.</li><li class="MsoNormal">Do not leave the door opened for long, there are too many of them.</li><li class="MsoNormal">A packet of Wai-Wai is in my cupboard! <span style="">J</span></li></ul><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: georgia;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: georgia;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal">LIZARDS as we all know them are the creation of God that me and Sonal despise the most. Can’t even bear to have one, in the very small room, which SB has provided us. Hina has also shifted to a nearby room, and shares our concerns regarding the creepy creatures. Now the fear and hate vent out in form of different reactions that we give to there different sizes. The small ones are chased upon and killed as soon as possible. The bigger ones are feared and looked constantly at, in order to be careful where they head too. And the medium ones can’t be murdered but yeah… we do chase them so that they get out of the room! </p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: georgia;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: georgia;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal">Now, from the time we have shifted in these rooms, our trio has been busy with late night adventures with these Lizards of the Sabarmati wing. We have got well equipped in order to fight Lizardophobia. You think about it and we have it… a broom, crazy lines chalk, hit and what not. And in fact we’ve not let even a small time wasted in Lizard Proofing our rooms.</p><br /><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal">The nights are tiresome and the days are dreary... but all we need is peace, solace and to get away with this tension as early as possible! May our requests are heard by the God Almighty!<br /></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: georgia;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: georgia; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p>Proxyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08446475705378737399noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29382797.post-85225153463337628172007-06-05T21:14:00.000-07:002007-06-05T21:42:11.533-07:00Confessions of a Slothful Environment!<div align="justify">Had it not been a desire to have a look at my Dad's office or an unnecessary temptation of undergoing a small term training at the country's largest public sector unit, I would never have landed up in an environment which I now dislike the most. Kudos to Dad for spending a long (>22 years .... man!!) glorious period of his professional life here... Bravo... I'm proud of you Dad!</div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">What hits me the most is the contrasting difference between the two workplaces... the one where I <em>interned</em> last summer & the one where I am getting trained this summer. The only similarity is that both of them are the ace ones in their respective fields. But they are so very different from head to foot, from body to soul, that I can't help but disgruntle at the situation.</div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">Now most of my frenz would simply nod and sigh out their acceptance by saying "Yeah! I know <strong>What you did last summer!</strong>", but buddies believe me when I say this certainly is not like what I did last summer :(. Every, single drop of air here shouts loud bout the laziness & careless attitude of work.</div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">Time is something which they seem to have in abundance. In compensation to the flexible timings people enjoyed at <strong>MS</strong>, the office here is supposed to open at 8 AM, though the <em>security walas</em> (not the good natured men of G4S but old uncles of CISF) keep you waiting till 8:45 AM to furnish you with a Gate Pass (the <em>Sarkari bhai</em> of Access Card). Why in the whole world do I need it... just in order to get into the grounds of <strong>BHEL</strong>, to cross the huge iron gates guarding the ADM building which is not a spec when compared to the <strong>MS</strong> campus (though small in size, it still had a sense of grandness and a prevalent homely feeling). Moreover, the G4S guys never used to let you enter without your access cards whereas here no one even cares more than a needle to check your gate pass thouroughly.</div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">Entering further into the realms, there is no heed given to the employees' enjoyment. In IDC, our Team Admins used to remain on their toes for every small little favors we used to ask from them. Here the so called Personnel department doesn't even care for it! As an intern too I had enjoyed a hell lot at IDC, whereas here I am god-dammit paying for getting trained :(, so why should I be given any good natured, well behaved conversations! </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">All this and much more ( I know it more or less seems like a cribbing session... but couldn't help it), it just gives a thought to what the hell will the goverment do or how much great deeds can a governemnt do with this kindda attitude prevalent in all government and public sectors. These offices and firms are there to help countrymen grow and let the country grow... but the biggest question is how will the seed even survive without even a beam of the sunshine of enthusiasm!</div>Proxyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08446475705378737399noreply@blogger.com9