Anumeha Sah

Lessons from a Sat Nav

2010-09-23T02:00:00.000-07:00

When you take a wrong turn...............For a moment you half expect the voice to scream at you saying "I TOLD YOU TO TAKE THE SECOND EXIT AT THE ROUNDABOUT.....THE SECOND EXIT".....but without the slightest change in tone the voice goes "recalculating"....and starts off ranting the next route.

So much for being a calm and calculated road guide!!

Happy Birthday Dad

2010-05-19T03:28:00.000-07:00

All Alone

2010-03-25T14:34:00.000-07:00

Life is a mystery

Everyone must stand alone

I hear you call my name

And it feels like home

- Madonna. Like a prayer

It Rains

2010-03-25T14:18:00.001-07:00

And just when you think...it's all perfect...and can't get better..........It Rains!!

:)

2010-02-16T11:43:00.000-08:00

You know you haven't been to India for quite some time when one day you read "Ram-Laxman" as "Ram-Lax-Man"

Time to book tickets for a home visit and a trip to Ram Leela Stage in Mallital.

More snowfall...and a frozen pond

2010-01-13T03:38:00.000-08:00

snow

2009-12-16T03:29:00.000-08:00

Nainital... right here right now!!!

yipppeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

2009-12-09T04:48:00.000-08:00

25 paise

2009-11-19T02:22:00.000-08:00

Back in Chennai, everytime we bought a newspaper costing Rs 1.75, we were handed a little Hajmola candy instead of 25paise and each time the lungi-baniyaan clad potbellied mustached shopkeeper said "Change Ilaay" meaning "no change".

So one fine day we said "Change Illay" while placing Rs. 1.50 and a Hajmola Candy infront of him.
He stared at us with Ravana brand bloodshot eyes, muttered some Harry Potter type mantras and needless to say refused to sell the paper!!!

I'm sure he still remembers us!!

Edited to add: The rickshaw fare in Nainital (which was Rs2 in the ice age) has hiked up to Rs8 for a single trip and guess what all the rickshaw wallas have "no change" and hand you a little pack of Parle G biscuits instead of 2 bucks.....so everytime you go to Tallital or Mallital, carry change or be assured that you will return with a "swad bhjare shakti bhare barson se"Parle G in hand!!

Warm Birthday Wishes

2009-11-03T02:13:00.001-08:00

"I have all the answers, Mum"

2009-10-30T03:52:00.000-07:00

I'm unsure if I will be able to teach you about religion
Coz i don't know much
My quests are still unsanswered
And i still don't know much

I may teach you to join hands in prayer
I may teach you to bow in obeisance
I may teach you touch elders feet
BUT if you ask WHY?
I won't be able to answer
Coz i have no answers
And i don't know much

They may ask you to quit meat on particular days
They may ask you to not have a haircut on a particular day
They may ask you to not eat beef ....but freely munch on other animals
BUT if you ask WHY?
I won't be able to answer
Coz i have no answers
And i don't know much

I may tell you the epics
The Ramayana, the Mahabharata and such like
BUT if you ask me why Lord Ram abandoned a pregnant Sita in the forest or
Why would Pandavas "share" Draupadi
I won't be able to answer
Coz i have no answers
And i don't know much

And i hope you question
Question each and everyday
Question each and every God
Question all we pray

You will read
You will learn
Find answers
Follow what you think is right

And one day
I hope my little one
You will confidently shun all the questions
And say " I have all the answers, Mum".

Slow down, Surrender

2009-10-30T03:44:00.000-07:00

And when you are running at your fastest
Life catches up
And says
"Slow down"

And just when you think you are invincible
Life catches up
And says
"Surrender"

And slow down you do
And surrender you do
While helplessly looking at rushing passers by!!

Happy Birthday Payal!!

2009-10-30T03:43:00.001-07:00

Happy Diwali

2009-10-16T08:00:00.000-07:00

Wishing a very happy Diwali to Tallital and Mallital folks.....and to all you guys back home.

Ice Cream Factory

2009-06-25T04:13:00.000-07:00

ज़रा मुस्कुरा - Ample reasons to smile.

2009-05-20T04:16:00.000-07:00

And there are some who search for a reason to smile!!!Here's to all of them-

सिर पर छत है?
मुस्कुरा
गर्म कपड़े हैं ?
मुस्कुरा
अगले पहर का खाना है?
मुस्कुरा

सब तेरा है? (बैंक का नही)
और मुस्कुरा

ज़रा मुस्कुरा - Smile please!

Happy Birthday

2009-05-19T03:34:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday Pops!!

Steaming hot strong chai in the favourite giant steel cup for the birthday dude !!!...notice the color for strength!

Waiting for cheej ..may be not Rs.50 this time!?

Recycle

2009-05-08T07:48:00.000-07:00

Recycle recycle recycle
The least you and i can do to give back!!
recycle some more!!

:)

2009-05-07T06:03:00.000-07:00

"ओ भिना कस के जाणु द्वारहटा "

"This Evening" not "today evening"

2009-04-27T08:49:00.001-07:00

So if you are still saying "I will do it by today evening" (like i was)
time to correct yourselves!! It's "This evening"
:)

Thanks to the corrector!!

Peri-peri

2009-04-23T00:44:00.000-07:00

Whatever will be, will be

2009-04-17T14:00:00.000-07:00

Que Sera Sera

Whatever will be, will be

The future's not ours to see

What will be, will be

Lyrics The Magic of Doris Day

Now!

2009-04-16T03:36:00.000-07:00

"So lets skip this (some number crunching) as it won't be much useful and will end up taking away one week of your life!", said the boss.

Don't know why but this "take/waste one week of your life" hit me like the comet hit planet earth ages ago!!
Waste a week? Is the rest of my life being lived to the fullest? Now what does that "live to the fullest" mean i have no clue....am i utilizing each second, each minute to the max (now what on earth does that mean?)
Came across this book called "The Power of Now".....it says live in now.....so have been experimenting with enjoying the morning tea, reading the newspapers, walking, working and the daily ablutions!!.....it's not easy because the mind wanders.....from sugar in the tea to sugarcane fields in Pantnagar to friendships formed in those years ...and it goes on......The mind will have to be harnessed to enjoy the steaming hot tea.

Now call it utilizing a moment or wasting a moment, the moment is gone....and what remains is mortals like me still pondering on the moment that just went by!!

Hmmmmmmm...and another just went by ....and another...and several as i type and post this!!

Thursday?? Today?

2009-04-09T07:40:00.000-07:00

And you get ready for work thinking its a Wednesday....and you go to work thinking it's a Wednesday..... and you work and slog thinking it's a Wednesday ...and around 4pm you see a notice in the coffee room -"The fridge will be shut from today 5pm and will be switched on on Tuesday 14th April"

Why? Why no fridge tomorrow .....you think ....and then you realise with that treasure hunt smile......it's Thursday already...and the holidays are starting tomorrow!!!..........tomorrow??.?This is better than winning treasure hunt..

happy holidays!!!

Happy Holidays

2009-04-09T07:37:00.000-07:00

Easter Weekend is here and so are the much awaited holidays!!
yippeeeeeeee
Happy holidays folks....and for those who don't have holidays Happy weekend!!
:)

Introducing Dollar

2009-04-04T12:13:00.000-07:00

Here's Dollar (wrestling with a balloon)!!....and he looks just like Rambo
Hope he grows up to be as bold, brave, handsome and "cutely dumb" as Rambo.
:)

Hindi akhbaar!!!

2009-03-26T07:39:00.000-07:00

So an angrej colleague approaches you in much excitement asking for help in reading a hindi epaper.The person wishes to know what the news is like in the local language....the webpage for Jagran Newspaper is opened...

I start reading/translating "The titles are - Main Page, National News, State News, International, Sports, Entertainment"

"Oh Cool! Lets read the national news first" says the colleague.

I click on "National News" tab....only to be met by sub tabs .....which i don't wish to read.......so i click "State News" instead saying that State news is rather interesting and continue reading some of the articles there.

WHY..why why ....why would this paper want to put such horrible sub tabs in the National News tab...why?

And some are different ....rather different

2009-03-26T03:48:00.000-07:00

Different like this bird!!

When all others were building nests on trees, bushes and under cover, this little bird decided to build a nest here.....very well ...seems like an OK place until you see the larger picture...

...well...best of both worlds as they call it!!....ok atleast the view is cool!!
Guess this bird likes to live in a house rather close to the road and market..."Bazaar ka ghar" as they call it in Nainital!!!

Way to go birdie!!!

Speechless.....yet again

2009-03-23T07:05:00.000-07:00

by this beautiful card that my little sister sent me today.

Baby sis, you sure mean the world to me!!....Reminds me of the teeny "katora cut" hairstyle baby i used to carry around in my arms!!!

More smiles!!

2009-03-20T08:39:00.000-07:00

On seeing two birthdates of the same person (this is in 1950s sometime...in Nainital) you wonder ....and wonder....till you are told that the midwife remembered to register the birth only 3 months later ...the similar weather as on the day of the birth reminded her of that day....but not the date!!! hence the two dates!!!

atleast she remembered!!

Crazy names

2009-03-20T08:33:00.001-07:00

It's time to open up the secret of - crazy names we kids teased each other with in those teenage years...

Hetal, Venki, Jans, Sankal, PC, Kabs, Gubs...the list goes on but the best among these was

K ki Malai

ring any bells????

Happy Holi

2009-03-11T03:54:00.000-07:00

No Calories??

2009-03-04T03:56:00.003-08:00

And if you are still eating those low/no calorie sugar free 'diet' things (the ones with artificial sweeteners).............
.....God save you!

Meteor Rush

2009-03-04T03:43:00.000-08:00

A very intelligent being enlightened me on what would we do if we knew that in a certain time period the much questioned meteor would strike earth? We would send a N bomb with a rocket and burst the damn thing!!

And if end was inevitable (say a year), everything on earth would come to a standstill....people would stop working....would head home to spend time with their families..but who would drive the buses/trains/ planes? ....Ofcourse there would be no electricity as all workmen would be on holiday....no produce...no food...all reserves exhausted.....money would have no value (no credit crunch)........and we would return to the beginning of civilization!!!

:) ...Food for thought!! and food for a movie script!!

The Supreme Heart

2009-03-04T03:39:00.000-08:00

And one day they may discover that the master organ is the heart.....The heart controls the brain that in turn controls all activities!!

They just might!!

Happy Eating!!

2009-03-04T03:32:00.000-08:00

And sometimes you are so cranky, irritable and crabby until you grab something to eat...And after a few sumptuous bites you are back to your cheerful and happy self!!

Hunger leads to irritability and we seldom realise this......while searching for a deeper meaning for that wavering disposition!!

Go eat!!

Origin

2009-02-08T02:21:00.000-08:00

Life originated from Abiogenesis ....and that seems the truth for now!

Going to Nainital??

2009-02-05T09:41:00.000-08:00

Besides the touristy stuff of horseriding, boating and shopping..there's a lot more to do in Nainital.......the place is best discovered on foot.

Here are a few things you must not miss

1. Sonam - A road side stall for delicious momos...steamed as well as fried.
2. Jalebis - From Mallital Bazaar....Turn left at the end of the market and there's an obscure little shop selling jalebis and only jalebis....sit on the tiny green bench and have piping hot jalebis from Soorjisah's shop
alternatively
go to Tallital Bazaar to another obscure shop and sit inside (again on tiny green benches) and savour jalebis with dahi....in the pleasurable company of mates.....to know who mates are go to Nainital to find out.........the word was left in Nainital by the British.
3. Walk - Walk up to Cheena Peak....it's worth all the effort.
4. Run - Early morning around the lake....it's truly amazing!!..though i havent had a chance to do that since long.
5. Walk some more - up to Viewpoint for an early morning pristine view of the Himalayas......meditate before the crowds arrive
6. Water - Called the seer...this is a lions face from which mineral water erupts 24/7....on the curvacious road to Hanumangarh. Though this source of water is most inappropriately placed opposite the kudakhadd (dumping ground)...there is something utterly blissful about this cold sparkly water....what that is....i have no clue.
7. Sunset - from Hanumangarhi...heavenly!!

Ample more to do.....lemme know when you go!!

Jalebi

2009-02-05T09:33:00.000-08:00

So when your colleague shows you a picture of jalebis and asks what that is.................and you are thinking of a way to explain him that................another colleague comes up with an answer - "I've had that Indian delicacy......it's fried sweetened batter"

Well......it sure is!!!!

fried..sweetened batter!!

Oh how i miss the famous jalebi of Nainital.......The brands Soojisah's and Lalsingh's to be specific.

snowfall today

2009-02-02T10:08:00.000-08:00

Rambo

2009-01-26T07:42:00.000-08:00

That's how adorable Rambo looked when we was growing up .....and soon receiving the love of all of us in the joint family...lots of cuddles and hugs (esp from Payal and me) later his left ear glided down and remained down....flipping like a light petal when he rushed around barking at the poor load carrying donkeys in the road.

Being tied down is what upset him the most. Unlike other dogs who create a ruckus on being chained, Rambo always surrendered and sat quietly with his head resting on his forefeet and his eyes closed....so much so that one of us felt bad for the guy and unchained him......it was the same moment that he would transform into a whole new playful full of life mass of black cotton wool, rushing around the house.

He put his point across by once breaking a chain and rushing away...point noted and soon thereafter no one tied him...he was a free soul!!

I always thought he must have been the last sign of the zodiac...dreamy, cool, not bothered and loving.......draped in wanderlust....sometimes we would see him only at meal times.... And to summon him from his hiding or from his excursions all that we had to shout was "Ramboooooow aa aa aaa"...he appeared...most of the times out of nowhere.

I have never come across a dog who is happy at the sight of Diwali crackers. When all dogs run away and hide at the sound of loud noises...bangs and crackers....(they saytheir eardrums are sensitive).............................Our Rambo was different.........happy and amused at the sight of anaar, phuljadi, laxmi, adoo crackers..... He would run after the groundwheel (chakri) and not once but twice tried to swallow a burning anaar (firepot). He tried his best to jump at and grab lit phuljhadi (fire torches)..... .... we would light crackers and run away waiting for them to explode and the fearless dog would in turn rush towards the sparks to eat fire!!!....thankfully we did not see any major incidents ...because much to his disappointment as he was kept locked away, safe and secure in a quiet room.

Didnt like being chained...was ever hungry...ever playful....very friendly....and was ours!!

As he grew up he discovered the neighbourhood more and more..made new friends and enemies....More enemies.....and we lost him to one of those last week.

Miss you Rambuli!!

On SRK

2009-01-21T04:15:00.000-08:00

And they say SRK overacts!! I have watched the last minutes of RNBDJ n number of times just to see his expressions when his lady love lovingly places her head on his shoulder……the look of sheer excitement on his face and that “face brightening up in a moment” look and that “is this really happening look”…..all come on his face simultaneously…….way to go SRK!! ( haha as if he cares!!)

On Surnames

2009-01-20T07:07:00.000-08:00

A recent question popped in my orkut account…the debate on surnames…what should be retained what left…talk about authentic surnames and like.

This was a question that led to another question – what’s in a surname?? WHAT?.....Everywhere and not just in India surname distinction is a rather common method of differentiation- wherein most decisions on raise/hike in materialistic or other terms is based on what the surname is??

Why not just do away with surnames?? Easier said than done as that might create complications galore.

Ok..why not retain surnames but on a different scale…example if a XYZ Sah get married to ABC James….why not give the kids a whole new surname formed form the parents surname eg..Sames??or Sahes or whatever for that matter…as long as both parents surname is present in the third name??..and this could go on forever..till there is no differentiation at all….ha!!.....again easier said than done!!

This would also mean an end to the malpractice of carrying the father’s family name/surname forward crap!!...and since when do married women have to change their surnames??..since time immemorial...and that too all over the world......heights of absurdity!!!

Hey women!!Keep your last names if you wish to.You have all the right to.

This might sound rather ridiculous….but we might as well start living in a ‘surname’ free world??

And to those who would still search for hidden surnames in the names formed from surnames…..Go figure!!

Holidays in U.P.

2009-01-19T08:16:00.000-08:00

And during your college holidays you are invited to a friends place in the interiors of Uttar Pradesh somewhere…(welll..not really interior)..you gladly accept…reach there towards sunset and after a warm welcome, introduction to the family members and a sumptuous meal go to bed..in the hope of exploring the place and its customs.

It’s a new place and sleep evades you but sooner or later you twist and turn and settle and sleep towards the little hours of the morning….some time later the morning sunrays fall upon you from the translucent curtains….some one has opened the window it seems…..you friend is not around..up for some tea maybe….and you drift into sleep again….a bit later you hear rustling of the leaves/shrubs outside and you you lazily raise your head to look out of the window….an elderly lady…shrunk with age….in the Surya Namaskara pose ..offfering water to Lord Sun/ Suryadev…..hmmmm …how nice…you smile and sit up…..but duck your head in the pillow for some more sleep………

...some time later as you are catching up on your dream, you feel something cold..rather cold…or icy cold on your feet…..you think it’s a dream and try to shake it off,,,but when the sensation continues..you wake up with a start…ready to jump out of bed…only to see the old lady standing right in front of you with hands folded in a namaste and head bent in reverence…....you look behind you ..may be the lady is praying to some poster God!..there is none…you stand up and greet the lady….hiding all shock behind a faked smile…..and just in time your friend appears with tea……an introduction and pleasantries exchanged with grandma..

It so turns out that in their part of the world, elders touch the feet of daughters and seek blessings!!

And guess what ..the next 3 days of your holidays are spent in shock as all introductions are necessarily accompanied by the same ritual... and futile attempts on your part to say no.....so futile that you helplessly end up rasing your hand like a deity everytime someone elderly bends to touch your feet!...Phew!!!

My school has a website!!!

2009-01-13T09:07:00.000-08:00

http://ramneestmarys.org/

just came across this...still under construction but a major leap!!..congratulations Ramnee!!

Morning

2009-01-12T06:00:00.000-08:00

Run

2009-01-09T08:44:00.000-08:00

Yet another reminder

2009-01-07T07:46:00.000-08:00

- I hope you have switched to brown bread from that rather unhealthy soft white bread.
have you?
HAVE YOU?

Happy New Year

2009-01-01T04:47:00.000-08:00

Wishing everyone a very happy and prosperous new year 2009.

क्या किया बंधु तूने समाज के लिए?

2008-12-19T10:00:00.000-08:00

कुछ नही ?

कोई उत्तर नहीं?

back!

2008-12-19T09:16:00.000-08:00

back to Square one

Muskatre baal

more smiles

2008-12-19T06:59:00.000-08:00

Imagine the dukaandaar or sabji wala saying - "That'll be 20 rupees darling" or "honey, how about buying these today?" or better still "see you tomorrow love"

let thy imagination run wild - try translating into hindi if you like

Ramblings - Stars

2008-12-18T03:40:00.000-08:00

Twinkle twinkle little star

Last night i wondered what you are!!

The stars that we see twinkling out there are much much larger than the sun
They are far far away - further than u and i can imagine
There are red stars and yellow stars and blue stars and giant stars
The red ones burn slowly - arent really visible; the yellow burn like sun (imagine the sun being just a medium size star!!!); and the blue stars and giant stars are the ones we see on starry nights. They burn fuel very quickly and at very very high temperatures.
So, while the stars shine upon us, they might actually have burnt off long before....( it took me a lot of time to understand this concept) ....the light that must have travelled once upon a time is reaching us now while all there is left now is sheer darkness
Nebulas and Supernovas are another story altogether .....(phew!!!)

P.S: many thanks to http://structured-chaos.blogspot.com/ for this information...and then totally refusing to answer any more of my questions!

Time

2008-12-17T08:57:00.000-08:00

It doesn't really return...the time i spend typing this..the time i spent in todays commute, the time i just sit and think, the second that just ticked by.......it is going too fast??...this day, this moment just passed.......and as i sit and think ...more moments pass by...i imagine time as an ever waving (goodbye waving) entity......

....guess its time to head home....this (arbit thoughts) usually happens when one has worked too hard in office.......or not worked at all!!!

ha ha ha ha

Ramee Ramnee Ra Ra Ra

2008-12-17T08:47:00.000-08:00

Now whatever that meant we cheered our school thus.

Thirteen years of 9 to 3 classes, an hour long lunch breaks, longer sports practices and three yearly terminal exams - along with Our Father in Heaven, Oh My God and pre lunch prayers - and i look back with pride and cheer - "Ramee Ramnee Ra Ra Ra"

2008-12-08T11:34:00.000-08:00

2008-12-08T11:27:00.000-08:00

2008-12-08T11:22:00.001-08:00

2008-12-08T11:20:00.001-08:00

2008-12-08T11:14:00.001-08:00

2008-12-08T11:00:00.000-08:00

get in touch

2008-12-06T03:15:00.000-08:00

ok guys...high time....i have searched and tried to trace your mail ids to no avail....
so if by any chance any day you come across this space...do drop in a line.
V.S; N.R; R.S; V.R; R.R.C

u know which one's you
Listen up
get in touch.

Look on.....maybe the answers are there

2008-12-04T07:12:00.000-08:00

picture of Nainital; stolen from http://structured-chaos.blogspot.com/2006_01_01_archive.html

Food for thought

2008-11-19T03:17:00.000-08:00

The people we meet in this life had been close to us/with us in the previous life…the social circle remains the same, just physical bodies change??!!....and this cycle continues!!??
?

on the way to cheena peak

2008-11-11T01:55:00.001-08:00

four beautiful flowers

:)

2008-11-06T03:15:00.000-08:00

Thumka lagai ke she'll rock your world.......
:)
amazing song!!

2008-11-04T09:38:00.000-08:00

Chal Chalein Apne Ghar.....

2008-10-02T03:37:00.000-07:00

Why?

2008-10-02T03:09:00.000-07:00

Doesn't any newspaper write financial news (credit crunch, bail out plan and the like) in easy English without jargon for laymen to understand??

Why why why?

Happy Birthday!!

2008-10-01T06:36:00.000-07:00

?

2008-09-26T06:06:00.000-07:00

Lying on warm grass
Under the clear blue sky
Slight discomfort from the grass blades fresh and dry

The sun shines brighter than usual
A firecracker, a splinter
Some psychedelic colours beneath closed eyes

Brighter and brighter till brightness bathes all space
Dimmer and dimmer till darkness prevails

Silence

2008-09-25T09:28:00.000-07:00

Not to be missed

2008-09-23T09:08:00.000-07:00

Ila Arun's performance in Benegal's latest flick.
Amazing...one can't stop rolling with laughter!!

Hot Water

2008-09-04T05:49:00.000-07:00

Each time I turn the tap on; it just amazes me – an effortless moving of the handle from the left to right gives warm and then hot water.

There was a time in Nainital at home when firewood was lit in the morning, and water would be heated in big rectangular tins (originally mustard oil containers…ganesh marka and the like). It would take time and then carrying the boiling water tins to the bathrooms and then the process of mixing cold water mug by mug..lest it gets too cold.

Then one fine day, a filter came in….a circular metal thing, hollow in the center and with a netted vent at the bottom. Wood could be lit in the centre while water would heat at the periphery. This had to be kept right under the tap so it could be filled in batches.

With all this warm water seemed like a luxury in the cold dull mornings at the foothills of Himalayas (read Nainital)

Along came the immersion rod…which had to be dipped in iron buckets only (coz plastic would melt) ….and the bucket mounted on a wooden platform lest the water on the floor carry all current all around…and once in a while when forgotten to be switched off timely, the water would reach half the level and the iron bucket would turn a peculiar bluish green…electricity personified.

(Dad would always use a towel to switch electric appliances on and off…and we laughed)

This had become much quicker now…no smoke..no labor..just some fear of an electric shock ….and lots of hot water.

Needless to say a cold water shower had not been experienced till this 9 year old visited a hotel in Nepal and found herself screaming and shouting blissfully - Magic – it seemed…warm water from a shower….WARM water!!!!....all days would have been spent in the shower but the lure of chocolate worked to keep it at 2 showers a day.

And then Lo and Behold here comes Dad with a winning smile on his face a helper carrying a huge carton- Introducing Bajaj Geyser!!!
With a red light indicating when the water is hot and when its not.

This appliance did make work easier for us ..but sometimes I do miss the early morning rush, the queue for hot water, carrying splinters and firewood from the rat infested godown to the filter, the long wait for water to reach the right temperature, the smoke, tears, the murmer of burning gummy wood, the warmth and glow of the fire.....

Chrome

2008-09-03T03:37:00.001-07:00

pic:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Chrome

Coming from Google Dev's kingdom, it should be good.

Will write soon about how it suits a common user (read me) in terms of user interface, speed, security etc.

P.S.: The logo resembles the lattoo/top i used to get from Nanda Devi ka Mela in Nainital...and more recently the beyblades that were a craze among my little nephews...Speaking of which Nanda devi Mela starts soon in Nainital...so guys who ever is around you better not miss those 3 days of Poo Poo Baajas!! :) ...ha haha ..the post started from IT and ended in baajaas!!

Happy Birthday Manu Da

2008-09-03T03:17:00.000-07:00

"Jahaan jaenge baby Mamu ko le jaenge"
words from Dad showing his appreciation towards Manu.

The happiness in your voice on winning the Delhi FM contest,
The shine in your eyes on being nominated the all rounder
The innocence in your voice
The simplicity in your style
The charming smile
The beautiful confident personality
The ever growing optimism in you
Are all an inspiration to me

Love you so much sis

Wish you a very Happy Birthday!!

Nainital

2008-08-29T07:11:00.000-07:00

Nainital would have looked like this once upon a time........the tallital side as viewed from the Thandi sadak..............hmmmmmmmmmm....kind of!!

Biking

2008-08-20T08:45:00.000-07:00

जय भारत !

2008-08-15T04:26:00.000-07:00

जब तक सूरज चाँद रहेगा
बापू तेरा नाम रहेगा

:)

Tesco aala ray!!

2008-08-12T02:39:00.000-07:00

"Tesco today announced a £60m investment to develop a wholesale cash-and-carry business in India alongside a deal with India's Tata Group."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2008/aug/12/tesco.supermarkets

Another one!

2008-08-06T07:45:00.000-07:00

At a snack party at Big Boss A's home.
everyone's busy savoring the snacks.

Big Boss A: So Jenny, what do you think of the credit crunch?
Jenny: (wiping her mouth gently with a tissue) Oh! i think it's great. We should have some more...................may be with chocolate this time.

Big Boss A almost collapsed!!!

P.S.: as told by a friend

Jai Hind!!!

2008-08-05T06:14:00.001-07:00

Why?

2008-08-01T02:15:00.001-07:00

Why would anyone want to pluck flowers and decorate their homes?

Why would anyone want to cut stems of flowers, nip little beautiful buds and gift those to their loved ones?

Why??

Why not let the let the colorful, beautiful, aromatic flowers be in nature, in soil rather than cut up and put in vases in homes?

Why not gift potted plants to your loved ones so that they can nurture and watch a life grow??

Why Not?

Conversations

2008-07-31T06:04:00.000-07:00

In Office, while you are busy crunching numbers on an excel sheet your phone rings
Caller: "Hi, What you doing?"
You : "Making a table"
Caller : "When did you learn carpentry?"
For a moment you are blank and then you laugh like crazy....a much sought after break from number crunching i say.

carpentry!!

More trees

2008-07-29T04:48:00.000-07:00

And they talk of carbon emissions as huge as 0.00000000.............and of ways to combat it....and ofcourse loads of currency spent on research and application.

Ha!

Is it not possible to plant lots and lots of trees and more trees and get a simple sustainable solution to the problem??

More Sundays

2008-07-25T08:06:00.000-07:00

And it was on some Sundays that we kids would persuade one of the elders to treat us with ice cream....Ice cream was royalty in those days…..and then the kids (generally the youngest ..me and 2 younger siblings)..would trod to the market happily with a Rs.35 in hand...and that was a whole lot of money.

A strawberry brick for the joint family….and to be rushed uphill all the way to the dining table of home into the safe hands of chachi before it melted……….and then it would be cut into 18-19 equal slices…..with the ‘greediest’ of them all (read mostly me) waiting to polish the wrapper clean.

Bliss!!!!

And then the piggies would eye others plates after finishing their share………and I would sit happily with my dog’s treasure (kukur-ak- dhan) waiting for piggies to come to me ..and then eat each spoonful while their eyes followed the my spoon.

Hahhahahaah!! Fun!!!
What else!!

Sunday!

2008-07-25T07:55:00.000-07:00

Sunday Essentials at Darshan Brothers/ Radha Sadan

Thatwani- Bhaat
Badi
Lijjat Papad
Mooli
Hara dhaniya namak
Nimbu

Lunch time basking in the sunshine….followed by some meetha pan (if chacha remembered to bring from Nar da’s shop)…the colourful Sunday Times glossy paper….and the treasured siesta.

mmmmmmmmm Sundays!!!

Happiness

2008-07-22T06:36:00.000-07:00

A hot steaming cup of bed tea ...served with a sweet smile.

What more can one desire from life??

:)

2008-07-18T01:47:00.001-07:00

Ranu, Manu, Guru, Bainu, Seema, Alok,Mohit, Manisha, Guddi, Somu, Shruti, Amit, Ayushi, Shilpi..................(and Bhaiyu/Ved was almost always missing from the list)

:)

2008-07-17T08:12:00.000-07:00

Ona,Raja,Sheela, Hema,Lalli,Shubha, Santosh,Lalit

Every Sunday 4pm - or was it saturday?

2008-07-16T06:53:00.000-07:00

....don't think we kids missed any episode of "Spiderman Spiderman".......and we called it by that double name-
"Toone spiderman spiderman dekha?" and the answer was always "Haan"

And i didnt know the lyrics till today!!!I'm looking for a place to hide now!!

Spiderman, Spiderman Does whatever a spider can
Spins a web any size
Catches thieves just like flies
Look out, here comes the Spiderman

Is he strong? Listen Bud He's got radioactive blood
Can he swing from a thread ?
Take a look overhead Hey, there!
There goes the Spiderman

In the chill of the night
At the scene of a crime
Like a streak of light
He arrives just in time
Spiderman, Spiderman
Friendly neighborhood, Spiderman

And there is a desi spiderman - who is charged a fine of Rs.1200 by a municipality worker for the mess he has created with the webs all over the place- dont miss this vid.

Meal times

2008-07-11T07:43:00.000-07:00

In a joint family of 18-19 people, if one kid skips dinner time no one notices.
Even i disagree!!! now!

I thought so until a few years back when I was told the truth.

Being the attention seeking kiddie of the family …(at number five ..among seven kids)…and being irritatingly fussy about eating food…(parents bought me appetite enhancing syrups…the most expensive with a kangaroo drawn on a brown bottle)…....which I gave to dear doggy…..i always always always created a fuss at meal times. While all the other kids would gobble up food happily and go back to playing, I would be the one sulking in the corner..or hiding under the bed in our 44 room mansion (I kid you not)…

Super Nanny was not around in those days or her naughty step would have worked……I just would not eat…..i was underweight…and the shortest in class.......and I would not eat.

Those were not the days of chips and drinks so that could not be the reason- I just didn’t eat..and nothing worked.

Until one day when I emerged from my hiding place way past lunch time….i headed to the dining table…..Just then Ma looked towards me and said “ Oh No! you have not eaten yet! We forgot about you…and both my chachis (aunts) repeated the same”…adding that food was over….and serious faces to top it all.

Tears….(which just wait for opportunities to roll down my face)….. and more tears later I was eating food off Ma’s plate…with all attention directed towards this 6 year old ofcourse.

This episode was repeated many times..until I actually got used to eating with lesser fuss ….(the fuss ofcourse continued till the day I moved to hostel accommodation in college.)

I hadn’t figured out this until last year when during a conversation I just said to Ma… "remember the time when you guys would forget that I had had my meal….it must be difficult to keep a tab on all 19-20 members and all eating at the same time”

Ma’s smile said it all!!

You know

2008-07-11T05:39:00.000-07:00

You know someone's really unhappy when an email ends like this

"Take good care of urself
A sad and disappointed and lonely friend"

Strange!!

2008-07-10T09:32:00.000-07:00

Strange! That in some dull days we turn to people whom we rarely think about at other times!!

Mighty Himalayas...

2008-07-08T07:38:00.001-07:00

i'm on the way.

Happy Birthday

2008-07-08T07:36:00.000-07:00

to whoever had been waiting for my wishes....it's never too late!!

Ram Shyam

2008-07-08T07:32:00.000-07:00

There are 2 cloth shops in the opposite ends of my home town-Nainital

-Ram Lal & Sons

-Shyam Lal & sons

and i've still not figured which one is which!!

silent exteriors

2008-07-06T22:21:00.000-07:00

chaotic interiors.

The unnoticeable sign of the impending storm.

Please......please....please

2008-07-06T22:17:00.001-07:00

please learn from your mistakes.

Sometimes................

2008-07-05T21:26:00.000-07:00

Sometimes one can just sit and watch .............helplessly.