Thursday, March 29, 2012

Don't Strangle me

She stood at the brink. The terrace had no parapets. I thought she would plunge. I called out to her, she turned back and smiled. Oh! She was just enjoying the view. I asked her if she minded stepping back and standing at a safer spot, she simply replied in negation. He voice slightly hinted a smile, teasing me.
I was worried. I knew her since ages. She wouldn’t do the unreasonable. She was an optimist. She was a hardworker. She was a dreamer. She had zillion dreams to fulfill. She wouldn’t jump. Of course not!
I remember how she once told me about getting a penthouse on the topmost floor of a huge building in Mumbai. She wanted to sleep on the open terrace, watch the stars in the sky and count the cars on the road, which appeared like tiny dots. She said she would take me there too. Show me how it looked from up there. I have a fear of heights. But I knew sharing her vision would not be scary at all.
She still stood there at the edge as my heart raced. I called out to her again. She asked me to sit, while she sat there too, her legs dangling out of the terrace. She seemed carefree, like she had done these stunts before. She asked me how was I doing. I had no reply. I wanted her on the other side of the terrace. Safe. Then probably I could’ve answered her questions. I was getting restless. I approached her. She knew I was afraid of heights. She asked me to stay where I was. I got closer. She yelled at me. I yelled back, asking her to come to the other side and be safe.
She refused and told me she was good enough to take care of herself. I felt restless. I rushed to her and pulled her inwards. She tried to free herself, and said “Don’t strangle me”.
While I pulled her more, she struggled, and soon I lost grip. I realized, I had pushed her from the building. Four floors. Down. Over the slab.
She was sitting safely. With a slab 1 meter under her feet. She had a safety measure in place. I didn’t see it. I pushed her over it. To death.
I only remember her last few words. Nothing else. “DON’T STRANGLE ME”. I had.

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Towards the setting sun

© Yamini. Inspiration : Pooja Cornelius

By the time you come to me,
I would have set into the Horizon
But still, I'd say, take your time
'Coz, morning will be a new one!

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Raabta



Photo Courtesy:Pooja Cornelius

Faili thi siyaah raatein, aaya tu subah leke
Bewajah si zindagi mein jeene ki wajah leke
Khoya tha samundaron mein, tanha safeena mera
Saahilon pe aaya hai, tu jaane kis tarah haan leke

PS: Stuck on "Raabta"...in loop! :)

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Treasure Found

This is the gist of the Bachelorette Party that we all had last sunday. It was for Maloo, and she obliged with an excellent writeup, expressing her take on all that happened to her starting from the time she woke up to the time she slept.. :)

This Tangy Tuesday Post is by Maloo. Treasure Hunt ki Kahaani, Maloo ki zubaani... Sit back and Enjoy!!

***

Hello,

In this entire episode of bachelors’ party and the treasure hunt, I have found my true treasure.
It’s the friends around me who care for me and love me for who I am.
So I want to thank you all for being there.
Big bow to pri yam and puntoo for bringing this all together and making it a special day for me..


Prologue:

I spent the entire Saturday cleaning the pimple saudagar wala house.

Story:

Friendship is precious; not only in the shade, but in the sunshine of life, and thanks to a benevolent arrangement the greater part of life is sunshine.
When this sunshine dawned up on 18th of March, 2012, very little I knew what it had in stored for me.

After a very tiring Saturday, full of cleaning, I decided to sleep off my first Sunday in Pune after a really long time.
For all those who don’t know, I have a very bad timing of my metabolic activities. But since I am not a child anymore (fact), I don’t have the privilege of sleeping this activity off in bed. Usually the first thing that I see in the morning are my roommate Yamini’s feet. It’s not out of the respect that I have for her, but for the fact that she sleeps away to glory for quite long and also the fact that the cots are positioned that way. But today, today was different. It was a picture perfect bed that we usually see at showrooms. The bed sheet neatly folded, pillows perfectly placed and the bedspread neatly organized. I should have got my first hint then and there, but I was too drowsy to read between the lines or precisely speaking to read between the cots.
I began my massive journey to the next room when I saw all three of them (Yamini, Priyanka and Divyanka) discussing something. They suddenly were quite when they saw me approaching. I asked them what was the matter, but no answer. My second hint!! Again, too drowsy to read between the lines, I continued on my journey to the activity center. And to my (bowels) shock, I saw this stuck on the mirror.

Good Morning Maloo… :)

I stand where every one wishes to be
Opposite to me, is the mighty Archie
Comic, it may seem, I am very very old
Pretty Parsis built me, I am told
 
Cramped in a small space, but I smell of butter
You'd come with many, but couldn't capture me in a shutter
French cuisine, as simple as a toast
Or, if I have sodexo, let me be the host!
 
Come to me, I am all positive of best
Think grammatically, and if you must, do not rest
 
It's morning time, you aren't hungry?? WTF!!!
Let's go.. let's go to the sweet old _________!
“WTF..!!!! what is this”, I thought. I knew immediately that it was the sweet old “Goodluck”! , but what was this supposed to mean. And who did this and why and how and…. I was out of questions. And then the three mighty kings (queens) appeared, with devil horns and tridents in their hands.

“Oh mighty Knight, shut your trap.
Let be your ignorant drunken ribaldry!
No more battis and no more crap,
Do as you’ve told for you owe a map!

To the treasure land you find your way,
Solving the puzzles taking help if you may!
Perform well for we are time bound,
Your bachelorhood is only for some time around!”

It was then I realized what was happening. My drowsiness had completely washed out and I had a treasure to hunt for. It was a test of the brain and the brawn. Gearing up with my armor, this knight, bravely set on her quest for treasure. First stop.. Cafe Goodluck…!!!!

After we ordered our breakfast, I was handed the second clue.

GUESS and UN - JUMBLE!!! :D

.1. Duble achhe lagte the, par Bade bhi achhe lagte hai
   Pehle Siya ke saath the, aaj kal Priya sang dikhte hai  --
 
2. If Dumbledore : Michael and Tom : Fiennes
   If Cedric is Pattinson whose looks are truly divine!
   If Chang is Katie, Ron is Grint,
   Tell me who Granger is, and we are on our next stint! --
 
3. Is bande ka budday aata hai 18th Sept ko
   Kitni naukri badalta, puchhungi isko
   Tujhe bhaati sirf kulfi iske saath
   pata nahi karte ho kitni saari  baat!     --
 
4. Ishan - Aarush, Gauhar - Nigaar
   If Ross and Monica were twins, kitna maza aata yaar!
   But they weren't twins, Phoebe had one!
   Tell me her name, and then see what's the fun!  --
 
5. Patent pe patent, tareekh pe tareekh
   tu toh kama rahi hai mast fame!
   Company ne sar aankhon pe bithaya hai..
   You should call out its name!    ----
 
6. Tera hobby, tera timepaas
   sundar sundar patle patle paper wala timepass
   rang birange kagaz ko yu gol ghumakar
   ajeeb ajeeb phool banakar
   logo ke haath me gift thamakar
   tu karti tera hobby, tera timepass! !    -----
 
7. ____ nahi ye andhi hai
  Desh ka dusra gandhi hai!    -----
I had this massive task of guessing and unjumbling!!!




First attempt:
1.    “teen clues toh Ram Kapoor bolte hain… magar yeh siya kaun hai”
2.    “Harry Potter!!!.. mujhe toh kuch nahi pata iske bareen mein”
3.    “Swapnil Adokar”
4.    “Phoebe ki twin!!! Uska naam… uuuuffffffffffff”
5.    “E***n” (protected for ethical needs…!!!!)
6.    “Quilling”
7.    “yeh toh annshan ke waqt ka nara tha na”

Second attempt:
1.    “Ram Kapoor hi hoga…”
2.    “logon ke chehre yaad nahi rehte mereko.. Hermione ka asli naam kahan se yaad karoon”
3.    “Swapnil Adokar”
4.    “ummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm”
5.    “E***n” (protected for ethical needs…!!!!)
6.    “Quilling”
7.    “slogan kya tha….”

Hints by the moderators:
1.    “tujhe jo lagta hai woh likh”
2.    “Sherlock holmes ke assistant ka kya naam tha”
3.     “”
4.    “Nagpur mein girls school hai sadar mein”
5.    “”
6.    “”
7.    “kya tha woh yaad hai.. kisske liye tha woh yaad nahi kya”

Third attempt:
1.    “Ram Kapoor”
2.    “Emma Watson”
3.    “Swapnil Adokar”
4.    “ummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm”
5.    “E***n” (protected for ethical needs…!!!!)
6.    “Quilling”
7.    “Anna”
Breakfast over, bill paid and I still had to unravel my next destination. Phone a friend was allowed… this knight asked for help in the first round itself.. L
And finally
1.    “Ram Kapoor”
2.    “Emma Watson”
3.    “Swapnil Adokar”
4.    “Ursula”
5.    “E***n” (protected for ethical needs…!!!!)
6.    “Quilling”
7.    “Anna”

Now unjumbling “RESUEQA”…. What could this be???

My attempts:
1.    Phoenix
2.    Acquire
3.    Rafrees
4.    “movie ka naam hai kya”

Clues by the moderators:
1.    “iss restaurant mein aaisa kuch hai jo….. jaanede it will be too obvious”
2.    “think mathematically”
3.    “wat is 2 exponent 2 called”

My final attempts:
1.    2 raised to 2
2.    2 to the power 2
3.    Aur kya bolte…ummmmmmmmm
4.    Square!!!!!

Next stop…E-SQUARE…!!!!

I made many attempts to know the name of the movie but of course, all were futile. These kings were far more prepared than I could imagine. The movie experience was good. The title suited perfectly to my wedding theme, “This Means War”. Also the experience was one of a kind considering the fact that there were two movies being played simultaneously, the colorful one in front and a blue one on the right. One thing was common in both… ACTION baby!! Hard core ACTION!!!!

We needed someone to relieve us of the huge stress of two action films. Shopping is cheaper than a psychiatrist. And so the pretty ladies went out shopping. Details of shopping are protected again for ethical reasons.


Pockets were empty and so were the stomachs, time for lunch.
Divyanka joined us and our new motto was, “Chalo Dilli”. Oops.. Sorry, “Chalo Rajdhani”!!!


The test of the brain was over and it was the time for the burp…Excuse me… time for brawn… sensory brawn!!!! I was blindfolded in the car and was asked to sense my next destination.

Next stop…. I am still sensing!!!!!

In this round I performed exceptionally well. I sensed my way to the destination. My blindfold was removed and I opened my eyes to… huge amount of sunlight and the name tag of “Radisson”. Up we went to the seventh floor into the cool blu spa. After an hour of complete body massage followed by a nice warm bath I truly had found my treasure.

On my way back home, I was thinking of the day’s events and that it was over now, I was truly content and rejuvenated.
But the three kings still had horns on their heads… Sahadevan came in… yes that’s my fiancée. It’s a bachelors’ party with a difference!!!
I was asked to get ready in 20 mins..!!! For a date.. !!!!

My last stop… (even Sahadevan didn’t knew where it was) Zaafraan..!!!!
Details of the date not disclosed.. yes that’s right, for ethical reasons.. ;)


Thus ended my bachelors’ day..!!!!

Epilogue:

Aaj subah jab mein bus stop ki oor aapne kadam badha raha tha,
I was thinking about all the events that took place yesterday.
I was planning on how will I tell mom and dad about what happened.
At what points will I tell them all the comments that were passed.
How I managed to just pass the good luck café contest..
How was the spa massage and what I felt while they were doing it…
Then I thought of calling yamini bhabhi and tell her all about it.. also the shopping part…
As I was gliding on my 7th heaven thought process…
I realized I was at the auto stand at the depot and I saw my bus going past me…
“rooko rooko!!!” I shouted and started running….
And much to my surprise..(Considering the fact that I run on the trade mill in the gym),
My legs slipped and I fell on my a** flat on the road… my hands stretched completely at the back….
People started staring at me.. But then I realized they weren’t looking at me… they were looking behind me…
And when I turned… I saw the omni ka bumper just 6-7 inches away from my face…
I looked up and saw the driver…
His expression: eyebrows completely raised, eyes wide open, mouth stretched to its capacity…
I couldn’t control my laughter when I saw him… but looking at the situation and the people around, just managed to chuckle
All the auto drivers around thought that the omni guy had hit me from behind and started yelling at him..
I had to clear the situation out and rescue him from their wrath only for them to start shouting at me…
“kya madam, ek bus ke liye aaisa bhagte kya. Jaan se pyaara hai kay bus…”
I managed to get out of that and check whether my bus had stopped or not…
Meanwhile one guy from my bus had seen me run and fall and had stopped the bus.
All the people in the bus had got down and were walking towards the spot.
It had stopped at quite a distance, so I was running towards the bus again…
People asked to stop running and walk slowly now..
I reached the bus and my fellow travel mates enquired all about the incident..
I assured them I wasn’t hurt and that all was well…
Thus all things and the bus were back on track…
In the bus I was thinking about the incident and realized..
No matter how high you fly, life always gets you back on the ground… the same old rough, hard, cold, tar coated, sharply edged ground!

Who knew that I would get to learn a lesson from my bachelors’ party…!!!

-Malathi

Monday, March 19, 2012

Sweetest-Heart!

She called me the other day
I wish I could make her say
What I always want to
But she'd obviously had her way


In her melodious tone she spoke
As if I were one of her folks
And how I love it when she yelled
Just the way I'd, when my finger broke


And then she laughed like an angel, sweet
I wish if we could right then meet
And I would kiss her cheek so pink
And that's how to me she would always greet


But her mumma took her and went up north
I wanted to not talk to her henceforth
But she gave me an angel to love and play
And whatever she does is all pretty worth


So I write for her then and now to show
so that the little one would always know
her aunt used to miss her bad
and used to write poems, two in a row


You are so far, and I am too
I wish I could tell your mom what to do
But she knows more, and so you stay there
But, baby, nonetheless, I love you <3

Sunday, March 18, 2012

Hen Party

On Sunday I was out with my room-mates for a Girls' day out. We had a surprise party thrown for Maloo and we called it a Bachelorette party, without the usual hoopla (sans the strippers and booze et al). We had fun in our own sweet way, beginning with a treasure hunt, leading to destinations which hid the next clue, all over the city.

This was one of those exciting Sundays, when you feel what a blessing a weekend is and what a great change Marriage is. It would be, like they say technically, a paradigm shift for this woman, as she takes it up gracefully.

More on this, coming up very soon!!

Saturday, March 17, 2012

Precisely, so!

You know the world is going crazy when the best rapper is a white guy, the best golfer is a black guy, the tallest guy in the NBA is Chinese, the Swiss hold the America's Cup, France is accusing the U.S. of arrogance, Germany doesn't want to go to war, and the three most powerful men in America are named Bush, Dick, and Colon.  Need I say more? 
~Chris Rock

Friday, March 16, 2012

Surrendered

I slowly walked in the bushes and tried to decipher the figure that deluded me from a distance and seemed like a human. I went closer and surged as soon as I saw it collapse. Into a cavity. I would hold it, but the sight beheld me momentarily and rendered me motionless, thoughtless.
I peeped into the Earth, I saw nothing. I simply recalled the fall and felt wretched. I hoped I could have saved the human from falling into the pit.
Bright lights, then buffed over my head and started approaching me. The siren, confirmed that it was a police vehicle.
“Run away”, my head kept chanting, like one of those useless mantras.
“Now”, it again authorized.
I found myself staring in all directions, my head moving hastily, heart thudding impatiently. I wanted to run away, but my feet were held firmly on the ground.
“Will you surrender for no fault of yours?”, asked the voice in my head again, and laughed nastily.
I knew there was something that had overpowered me then. As the place lightened up in the presence of the police van, I found myself in a graveyard.
I pressed my memory very hard, and tried to think what had led me there. Where did I start from? The chronology failed to make sense.
I surrendered. The police took me away to the one of those cells where they keep sinners. Sinners who have killed people. I had capitulated, to be one, with a fear of not being able to preserve my side.
My soul hated me for giving in so easily. I was being taken for a crime which I wasn’t aware of, the victim untraceable, the incident incredible. But the criminal existed. Me!
***
I woke up as soon as I saw myself in the prison, vomiting ugly tasting syrup. I could feel the taste pretty much after waking up. All the while I wished whatever was happening wasn’t true. I woke up, and went to my table to complete my next set of chapters for the novel.
I looked out of the window, and the same graveyard appeared. I realized, I was hallucinating, consciously. I smiled, and picked up a pen and started characterizing my protagonist. I knew what I wanted to write.
I rejoiced, as my phone rang and I saw Roy’s name. He was the light at the end of the tunnel, for me.
I talked to him; spoke to him about the dream, and how I decided to write about my central character. He said he loved me. I knew everything was perfect in my perfect little life.
***
“Your next hearing is now, madam. Your lawyer is waiting for you”, the warden informed.
“Now? But I have to finish a chapter today”, I pleaded.
“There’s nothing to write Ma’am. You have no such provision in the jail”, she said.
“A poet that he is.. Roy, I remember what he always said. I am going to take inspiration from him, let me complete this. This one..just 40 minutes!”, I pleaded.
“Now!! Ma’am. The lawyer is waiting”, she commanded.
I felt the pain in my thighs and my eyes hurt as she pulled me out and exposed to the light.
***
Talkhiyaan kaise na ho ashaar mein
Hum pe jo guzri hai hum ko yaad sab


Shehar ke hakim ka ye farmaan hai
Qaid mein kehlaayenge Azaad Sab

~ Javed Saab

Thursday, March 15, 2012

How about that Shuttle?

It's a thoughtful Thursday! :D

There was a time, when there used to be subtle indication of a double meaning in what people spoke. But now, it is a rarity to find a subtle indication of decency in what people speak. The other day I happened to watch a serial on the lines of Comedy Circus.

A girl, aged 8, was delivering her part. She was so expressive, and attractive, that it held my attention for a while and I stopped flipping the channels and decided to watch it for a while.

The content of her talk was cheap. Not that I didn't like it, ofcourse I did. Everything that is spoken in double meaning is appreciated and well-received. I had a nice time, laughing out loud at a few of the passes she made. She had an amazing timing.

But then, I wondered, is it really fair, to make a girl of 8 talk about something as adult as flirting and stalking a guy?

Had it been someone older, the act would have made a lot of sense. But I hated, for a being a part of the entertained audience. When children start talking about slapstick double meaning incidences, and ways to impress boys and girls, it shows, how fast the kids are growing.

I keep getting these forwarded mails from my friends, showing all the famous serials we had back in the 90s, the interesting advertisements and jingles on Doordarshan. When I think about my childhood, I think it was pretty much the way it should have been. We grew up, one year at a time. We spoke of flirting when we were teenagers, we understood the meaning of physical attraction in our later teens and the further details, as we grew older.

But when kids talk about these things, it is an utter shame to the parents who encourage such freedom, and don't give them what they should, at that particular age.

If they ever put me in the Censor Board for censoring what they show on the Indian Television, then  we'll have serials like Shrimaan-Shrimati and Shaktiman rotating again!
Anyway, considering how everyone has a right to express, I would not withhold anyone else's! :)

***

Talking about Double Meaning, something that happened recently with a friend, blew  my socks off, and I ended up laughing at such an awesome timing.

Now this one wasn't by an 8 year old! :D So it made sense :D

Yep, Aisa Bhi Hota Hai! :)

***
Gal: Badminton?

Guy: I think I forgot the Shuttke Cork..Do you have one?

Gal: No. I didn't get any. Seems  you don't want to play with me.  Don’t keep blaming me for not getting one!!!

‎‎Guy: I just went down and checked in the car...Really I forgot .. Otherwise I always bring racket, shuttle cork and shorts.  I came early in the morning to play badminton. Trust me!

‎‎Gal: Shorts???? You brought that too today?

‎‎Guy: Ya I wanted to play. So, I brought the shorts…
And forgot the co*k..

Gal: ROFLMAO :D :D

Guy:  :P

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Red on Road

© Yamini

While jaded feet gracefully tread towards eternity
The gait draws a few surprised stares..

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Commitment

Been a while, when I have honed my writing skills and taken up some interesting pursuits!
I am not very sure, how far I would follow what I commit, but I would like this place to be more happening and more creatively attractive!
I have decided to have one post every day. I may not be original every single day, but I would try to share a few of the interesting things that I come across.
So here's my list that I want to genuinely follow!
Monday - Musings. A day when I can creatively compose or creatively share. And have an inspiration ahead for the week. Something about love or pretty care, or opportunities and chances that I earnestly seek!
Mondays would be about Poetic Musings :)
***
Tuesday - Tangy Gossips. There is so much happening around, that I need to share. Obviously I won't be a bitch, but share some interesting news that I know and if in turn you know a few, we can all have a common forum! :D Sure, there can be a few personal gossips and a few general ones! :D
Tuesday's gotta be Tangy! :)
***
Wednesday - Words in Pictures. I would let the pictures speak. I am horrible at clicking pictures, but good enough to explain why I clicked them. It would be my representation of what I see or some novice who's going crazy on that cam! :)
***
Thursday - Truth and more. Confessions, real incidents, personal learning, and funny incidences that make Thursdays truly thoughtful! :)
ABHH would find a place here. Been long, huh! :)
***
Friday - Fictions. There exists a parallel universe, where everything works in fiction. It's unreal, but we wish to be there, it's false, but we find ourselves in the realms of imagination. Fiction is just stating the truth otherwise! So Friday, will be fictional... with all sincere attempts!
***
Saturday - Silent. Silence speaks louder than words. There must be a few days, when my blabbering shouldn't be published.
I'd rather quote the famous ones, who made more sense than I did.
Silent Saturdays, would mean, some profound quotes shared by the profound men (and women too)!
***
Sunday - Surreal. There has to be a scope for surprises. I love to be surprised. I love to be random at times, be awed by something surreal, something beautiful, something intriguing! :)
Surreal Sundays, would be my favorite!
They say, if you make it public, you ought to follow. :)
***
Today is Tuesday. I think, this is tangy enough, to begin with! :D
To add something more, I'd say, the Indian television has reached another height by clearly depicting a lovemaking scene in the serial Bade Achhe Lagte Hai. Where people are talking about Revolution in the Indian Television Industry, I am wondering about the family values, and the comfort level!
Will it be the same anymore to watch Soap Operas with the family?

Wednesday, March 07, 2012

She's Perfect !


Picture Courtesy: http://ericatwitts.wordpress.com/
An epiphany of the heavens
An assembly of faith
She brought me from where I was waiting
At the colossal heaven's gate


She nurtured me well
She put me together
She made me see the world so beautiful
She's Perfect, my mother!


***

She held my little finger
She thought it was her guide
She trembled, when I left her alone
I told her I'm by her side


She isn't my daughter,
But I love her like one
She's perfect, like a shadow - my sister
And sometimes she's my Sun


***

A wrinkled face so calm
A touch, so soothing and serene
Her love reflected in what she cooked
She taught me her special cuisine


The sumptuouous life, which she led not
Taught her many a thing
She's perfect, my grandmom,
She's the wind beneath my wings


***

She heard me when I had secrets to keep
She lent me a shoulder to cry
She laughed with me in my good times
She too shared her woes and joys


She talked to me and she understood
All that no one could comprehend
She sings, dances, plays with me
She's perfect, my friend!


***

A Talisman, so true, in my life
She spreads so much love
I wish I could thank her
But I can never do that enough


She plays different roles
She's crazy, she's fun
She is an epitome of completeness
She's perfect, a woman!



Happy Women's Day :)

if there were no dreams

  if there were no dreams the permanence would slowly take over and the little escapes into the terrain of subconscious existence would deli...