Cooking it up!

After my SSC (class X) exams, I enrolled myself  for a 3 day cooking class. Chinese cuisine was on the menu. This was suggested by a friend's mother who always saw me  try some tid.bits of  food. I wasn't very happy with the idea of going for a cooking class with ladies much older than me. Also,  at a time when most of my friends were planning of exotic holidays and talking about joining aerobics and dance schools and such supposedly cool stuff. But good food, different cuisines,  developing new tastes and cooking in general,  has always brought in a 'twinkle in my eyes' :) So I decided to give this class a try.

This was at the chef's home with 7-8 aunties who had enrolled with me. We were given printed notes of the recipes to be finished that day. We followed our chef step-by-step until it was all ready to share and eat. :-) When I was home after my first day of class, I remember my mother being more excited than me, to know how it all went on. To tell you the least, I was thrilled that evening!!!!  I told my mom that night, that I've done a lot of aerobics and swimming in my school days  (and I really have), and I am anyways good at dancing ;-). So I might as well learn some cooking since I have always had a liking towards it. And on the roll I went. With mughlai following Chinese. Then some cakes.. muffins.. n jellies, then ice creams,  assorted evening snacks and the great indian desserts! Whoa!!! I had such a blast those vacations!!! :) And I still have all of those printed notes!!! Yes! I carried them along to my in-laws place when I moved from Mumbai to Hubli after marriage.

Starting with only breakfast session of cooking and then a lil bit of helping my mum in law with dinner (which was as I did my Masters simultaneously), I took up to cooking like never before! Sunday brunches and festival lunches.... or just routine everyday food. I have been at it, day after day, for five years now! And I can safely say, that am the happiest when am cooking  (up) stuff  ;))

 In love and addicted to it. Yes, I also love dentistry :) And however silly it may sound, but along with my clinic, I sincerely wish to have my own little bakery which will be open only on Sundays!:)) I hope I do, someday.

Its lovely how small, innocent likings can change to hobbies or pass times and someday into beautiful dreams ! :)
Leaving you with some pics of what I have been upto off late :) Smakelijk!

Cheers!





 

Impeccable I am today!

Am in a state of delirium.... delirium of joy i would say. In a situation that's not routine, not normal but it has that tinge of victory and unprecedented joy!

I have too much to tell the world.... too many experiences to share..... too many emotions to display.... too many reactions to handle..... ruthless in your eyes maybe.... yet in my mind- a worthy winner!
I have sort of always been a person who attaches too much importance to people around me. By this i mean our society. I don't like it when someone dislikes me and neither am i comfortable hating people. Quite genuinely. Too much of interrogation can be allergic! And its tough when your thrown in a situation where everyone around you, you know, will look at you with pity and raised eyebrows! And ready with innumerable and idiotic questions! Nah! no relationship issues or problems with in-laws or family. Am super lucky and happy on that front! :)

 But yes, this issue is novel! Am on my way to having the last laugh!! :-) And this time people and reactions and tags don't matter! Why?? Because am in a state of delirium..... delirium of joy! :))

Cheers!

Motherhood

Now before you all roll your eyes and pop up questions, allow me to say... "not yet!". :) When?? Wait and watch! ;-)

Talking about motherhood, there is no greater joy for a woman than being a mother. From the point of conceiving.. to the joy of feeding your child and ofcourse everything that follows, its such a brilliant experience, I hear :) What is this one thing, if there ever is, that separates this bond of motherhood/ parenthood from all other relationships that exist today? Probably the sense of  'belonging to yourself'' or being a part of you that's born as an angel. :) And when one is deprieved of a part of this experience of giving birth, but can still have their biological child, should they be seen or labelled as 'selfish', 'mean' and 'heartless'?

I write this today because something that I read about surrogacy has disturbed me. Having 'n'th child through surrogacy etc etc. is a different issue altogether that am not discussing here.
To choose to not have a child and to be unable to have one due to medical/ congenital problems, are two different worlds!!!  Nobody goes in for surrogacy without a sensible reason best known to the individuals involved. We have no business there.  Nobody is 'using' the other! They rent-a-womb from someone who has volunteered to do so! And she has her reasons for doing it! Some write for money, some dance for money, you and I do many other 'sophisticated'  things to earn our money but the surrogate mother is the nicest of us all......... she gives her womb for money and more than that, a chance to someone like you to experience motherhood. And if you wonder how can a lady whose given birth to someone, give away that child to another woman? That's because she knows that the child doesn't belong to her! The baby is genetically and biologically not hers!

Surrogacy or surrogate pregnancy is not cruel and unethical as it is unfortunately made to sound! Foul play exists everywhere. There are many who advocate 'adoption' to surrogacy. Adoption is equally beautiful. Adopt, if you want to. Even when you are  able to conceive and give birth to a healthy baby. You need not be infertile to adopt!! Adoption is more humane they say. Then why go through nine months of excitement and exhaustion? Adopt instead!! But we don't! Because everyone  wants to first have their 'own biologic' child, right? You can have it naturally. Some can't. And so they opt for surrogacy.  Taking away a kidney from one healthy man and transplanting it to someone needy, is fair! But renting a womb as in surrogacy for valid reasons,  is not!
Such a ridiculous society we are!!!

Motherhood is a blessing. But more so, to put it simply, its pure joy! Theres nothing, absolutely nothing wrong in experiencing it with the help of a miracle called 'surrogacy'! :) I believe so. Its sad if you don't.

Cheers to science and those  incredible minds... you've given many a chance to experience this joy!


 

Love is blind, they say! ;-)

I grew up watching him fling up his arms to some divas of hindi cinema.... and always wished to be in their shoes ;). I've smiled at his trademark smirks and whistled and screamed and blushed see him show up on screen. :)) I've sobbed see him die and laughed watch him do some of the most stupid things. Hes made romance so picture perfect  and heroes shedding tears on screen so believeable.

When a  father lets go his daughter saying "Jaa,  je le apni zindagi" , Ah! who wouldn't want such a scene in their real life romance?? :)
When shiffon sarees were a 'must' in every woman's  wardrobe and soon to be parents wished to name  their sons Raj, Rahul, and Aryan..... he has managed to woo a zillion people and continues to bowl me over time and again!! ;-)

Thank you Shah Rukh Khan for entertaining! Pure entertainment!! Mindless?? May be, but I don't really care as long as am out of the theatre, smiling!  You may not be the most handsome man around, but I've never found anyone look as good  as you in a black tee, army pants and boots! :)))
Thank you for an escape from reality that has had love, colours, dreams and creativity in plenty. Thank you for being brave and passionate about your kind of cinema because I've loved watching it. Amongst the perfectionists, the Bachchans and Kapoors, thank you for taking me into a world so full of sheer drama, insanity and entertainment!

 Tomorrow if you ever decide to make a day- long movie, count me in! Undivided attention, even without batting an eyelid.... I will be there!! :-)
Cheers to a movie star!! :)

 

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!