Strange(r) ConnectioN

A handful of people. A handful of places. Are enough to dramatize our lives through the young and old phases. We live in a confined world, we really do! And, nothing wrong with that, is also equally true! I can't possibly befriend the whole wide world! Although, i wish too!

There are, however, some characters that occupy an interesting part of your mind and memory. Like Jai and Radha of 'Sholay' ..... they barely spoke to each other, yet their bond grew :-)

Every morning my car takes a certain route to go to college and return. And what once caught my attention has now become something that i wait to see. There is this tapri or a pint-sized house of a gentleman! Gentleman, because i see him as an unpretentious old man.
I have been seeing him almost every single morning and evening for the last 2 years or so. And the same holds true with him i believe. We've never spoken to each other, i've never stopped there to eat any of the meals i see him cook, i don't even know his name! But a look at him even on the most stressful of days manages to bring a smile on my pretty face ;) Strange, isn't it? And however amusing this may sound but yes, I've always had a soft corner for the 'edentulous' ajoba's and ajji's I've known. ;)

He owns a beedi shop where he even serves hot tea and wadas to the limited crowd that visits him. I see him cut onions, i see him wash utensils on chilly mornings, i see him make and serve breakfast to people half his age, i even see him patiently wait for some customer who can add to his daily wage but, i've never so far seen the lack of enthusiasm or a hint of regret on his wrinkled face. :) He stays alone, or may be his family is far away. But this ajoba inspires me every single day!

Some do what they love, some love what they do. I don't know which of these holds true for you, but ajoba, you teach me to do what i chose/have to do with enthusiasm and honesty that will make me proud of what i do!

I will sooner or later, have a chat with him over chai and wadas.... but for now,
Cheers to this strange(r) connection.... in you i see modesty!

(In)Dependence!

Freedom!!  Its such a beautiful word! And such an awesome state to be in.
A  sense of having and getting to do or not do soo many little and big things... an opportunity to think and act in a way your mind and heart tells you to... a chance to attempt and a hope to dream :-)

Awesome! Isn't it?? Then should we be doing  things in the name of freedom and independence that are ugly and harsh and depressing?? After all this can we  rightfully claim that "we are being independent... doing things that we feel or want to do... just enjoying our freedom!" ???

Last morning i saw a pack of dogs bite and harass a piglet which unfortunately couldn't escape the ferocious canines and was killed and feasted upon. I felt helpless. Some attempts were made to try and shoo away the dogs but in vain.  The squeal of that little one could make anyone restless :( We feast on animals... they on some other animals... and those on someone else. And the cycle continues.

Every third headline states of a crime in the newspaper. Guwahati, Noida, Mumbai, Mangalore.... all the same. Molestations... Rapes... Some are arrested and released... some go away scot-free...and in the bargain... the victim is devastated. Yet again in the name of freedom, fun, urge... whatever you may call.

Worries will never leave a living soul. But the fear of not being able to live safely CAN be done away with. With freedom comes responsibility! Theres probably a lil bit of discipline even in being independent! :) Let our freedom be as wonderful to our fellow humans and living beings as it would be to us. :)
Happy Independence Day to all my Indian friends! :)
Cheers to the idiom "Live and let live"..... Real (In)Dependence lies in  this! :)

*Happy Friendship Day *

Yes i know Mother's Day/ Father's Day/ Friendship Day... are all passe! "We dont need days to wish n love them" etc. etc.  But there's nothing wrong in celebrating/ honouring them on a particular day just as we all do on our birthdays! :)
I have shifted to hostel a fortnight ago for more  reasons than one! And everyone here whose been asking 'WHY??" and and having their own views and opinions about it.... thank you! but i don't need any! :)
Coming to shifting to hostel, i've had a 5 year stay before as an undergraduate... and Life couldn't have been better then :-))
Am back again and beginning to realise that "its the people who make the place!" And i couldn't think of a better day to write this post!!
Its a toast to my closest buddies of SDM!! Shruti, Maitry, Shikha, Suppu, Hiral, Surabhi, Tanisha & Aradhna.
You gals have made the 5 years swift through like a breeze!! :)

 Fast forward to 2012: I'm taking my time to break the ice! And i eventually will! :-)

Happy Friendship Day to all! :)
Cheers to the memories!

Toothfully Yours.....

I've had a tough day today... with uncomfortable amounts of food to bite, chew, swallow and relish!
 When i was young, tiny and white; i had less of work and more of spotlight :) With a close tab on how shiny i looked - ohhh...how big i grew - how strong i was and sometimes how crooked i could be! ;)  I entertained you then, in MY growing years and also YOURS!!
Then one day, i popped and bled only to worry you who would take my place instead! You threw me up on the rooftop coz your neighbour told you so...that  i would come back soon- big and strong! Your grandma felt i should have been buried, and  so, my other friends were put into the soil in the hope that they would come up again, healthy and white. The wishes were granted and the 'tooth fairy' emerged victoriuos!
Back to business i was , relishing on the sweets and surviving the traumatic bones! There were times you made me hurry to death, you put me through awful chemicals... flavours that only you enjoyed and colours that made me dull by the day! Cigarette smoke  made my surroundings burn and areca nuts just added to the bruise. You enjoyed your meals- you soaked in your puffs.. while my only saving grace was a healthy environment ( my friends-gums and bone and the ever forgiving saliva)
All i needed was a healthy me but what i got was an ugly me. With an age old frayed brush and dollops of the coloured paste. You concentrated all your strength in trying to clean me in minutes but sadly didn't realise that i was only getting worn. I showed you i was sensitive, you could see my gums bleed but because i never caused pain... i always remained your ignored friend! :(
Soon my body started to cavitate... and my 'once upon a time healthy' bone to deteriorate. You noticed and forgot until i shook you one fine day!!! "Ouch!!"... you yelled and i heard and was at peace! :)
It was time now you see the people- you call dentists and we- our guardian angels!! :) You are terrified to go to them... and they leave nothing unturned to make sure your taken care of well!! You are petrified to take that one prick... and they try everything under the sun to make that one prick- painfree!! You have all the money to live a lavish life. But when it comes to me, you act clumsy!!

This was just a gentle reminder to let you know that am as important as your eyes, face and toe! If you don't know enough of me, its never too late to know!
You rock when you're happy .... And i rock when am sad! ;)
Cheers!

TICKLE ! You are being missed!

                      Tiny and Tickle!! Our two little darlings!!

  Probably as old as i am in the hubli house. My earliest friends here- and my first pets!!

 They were a couple of months old when we first brought them home. I remember we were so ecstatic about our two new entrants in the Joshi household. Tiny Joshi- the naughty lil beauty and Mr. Tickle Joshi- woo! the heartthrob!! ;))

It was soo much fun to watch these two play and jump and somersault in style! They'd eat and eat and yet behave as though they had been starving for days!!! Like me, the site of food made them happy :):)
As days passed, i got busier with studies and work. I spent less time with them, but loved them just as much. Watch them see you and spring out of the water  was the best part at the end of the day. Oh, they had their sun bathing sessions too!! With their master AJ... and the three would freak out!! :)
Yesterday morning something very unpleasant happened!! Tickle was not keeping too well past one week. He was down with cold and we suppose respiratory infection. We read all possible literature and browsed through the turtle care websites. He was being given warm water for comfort, antibiotics, vitamins and he was getting back to his active self :) Last morning i woke up pretty early and went to see how these two were doing in their tub... and what a terrible site it was!!! Tickle was lying upturned.... he was floating like a dead soul.... i couldn't believe what i saw.... rather i didn't want to!! Put him back on his four claws.. moved him, patted him, pinched him... but in vain.
Tickle was dead.
I dont know what happened that night... but tickle showed no signs of life. I was hoping it be a night-mare!! I soo badly was!! Such an adorable creature he was!! So full of fun... so harmless and so away from  the grey shades we all have. He showed me how to be content with whatever he had. Whether i played with him or not, whether i accompanied him for his wash hour or not.... when i was with him he loved me the same. Never expected. And never changed his way of reciprocating either!!
How awesome was he!!
We love you Tickle! And you are being terribly missed!!! RIP.
Cheers to every moment we spent with you!!

The (I)n Thing!

How important is it to be a part of the 'in' circle?? To use what the market/ media says is selling like hot cakes... to wear and show off what Page 3 claims to be 'the flavour' of the season... to do or not do something because 'its the trend these days' ......... a question that crossed my mind when a friend commented in public on my gold and old fashioned finger ring... "kya yaar anuja ... kaun pehenta hai aaj kal aisa?"... The smile on my face was just lost somewhere. Not because my friend didn't like what i was wearing but because 10 other people had a look at it after that and laughed!! I felt bad. I felt embarrassed. A couple of minutes later i quietly took off my ring and put it back in my purse.

I know appearance matters! I can't be wearing something obnoxious and then sulk that people make fun of me. But i do believe that i can't be doing a particular thing just because my social circuit demands i do it! Somewhere there is this 'personal choice and comfort' that should have an upper hand!

Something similar happened on Occasion 2, when a friend commented that i have really put on weight after marriage... yet again a public remark " tu bas aisehi phoolti jayegi??" Humiliating when people laughed and said " Anuja size zero ka zamana hai... aunty banane ka nahin"...I know i have!!! Am such a foodie!!! Yes i should be fitter but you can't kill me for it!!!

Am back to using the finger ring (which was actually gifted to me by my in-laws:)) I shouldn't have removed it then! :(... If i do something then its because it is important to me and i believe in it!! And i should not be ashamed of it!! Whether or not, its turning heads and fishing compliments, is secondary!!!

Lesson i learnt: Respect your own taste and choice! And more so, somebody elses!!

Its important to change with time. Its good to change with time.... but without losing that 'I' factor!

Its cool to be 'In'! But its too cool to be '(I)n' :)))

Cheers to everything that you do because YOU want to! :)

Salaam Boss!

My mother-in-law always says (with regard to cooking) "Jo bhi banate ho pyaar se banao. Phir woh bura ho hi nahi sakta!!" :) And knowing her skill and passion for cooking, shes totally flawless at it!
Its only in the past few years that i have made an attempt to convey my appreciation if i've really liked something! Till then probably i never thought it was so important to give a positive feedback as much as i was concerned about conveying the not so nice aspects!! And i see a couple of grey hair showing up from my 'winnie mandela' hairdo! Everyday is a BAD hair day!! Hahaha :-D......Jokes apart.... Probably thats what is called growing up!!!
Being a good host, a meal cooked with love, a well done and managed resort or any creative piece of work, i've realised that every little thing involves a lot of passion, precision, planning and time!! Its to put it simply, a talent!! And it need not always be a Hussain painting or a Rushdie book to be in news!! ;)
A review on Trip advisor about a place/ hotel i liked. A comment on blog that i enjoyed reading. A mail appreciating a very well organised national conference. A good feedback on the most funky calender i've seen! I've made it a point now to appreciate every talent!
Talent, to some, is money. Its the hardwork put in to achieve perfection! Someone's dream thats presented with hope! And it needs a 'thumbs up' to take it higher!! :)

Good audience always clap! :-) Am being one! Hope your in too!
Cheers!