Children's Sight

Do you usually smile when you see a little kid? Why? (Or why not?)

a) The kid is cute.
b) He/She reminds you of your childhood days.
c) You're just used to smiling when seeing a kid.
d) The parent/guardian looks at you, and you're forced to smile.
e) The kid looks at you, you want to give him/her a good impression.
f) Everybody does it! It's a natural law.

Thank you for your answers. Please add something else if you wish.

Happy Children's Day!

Wikipedia in Bhojpuri

Surprised? Well, check this out!

P for...

Pleasant - The weekend stay up in Charlotte, North Carolina at Ritu Masi's. I was there hardly for a Saturday. The other two days - Friday and Saturday - were spent traveling. The journey is only 4 hours one way, but let's just say...

Public Transportation - sucks! I took Greyhound both ways. And I was nothing less than...

Pissed - My bus was supposed to leave at 8 AM on Friday. I arrived on time at the station, had my ticket in hand, was waiting patiently. 7:50, 7:55, 8:00, 8:10, 8:20 - no word about the bus. I finally go up to the counter to find out what's happening, only to discover the bus left! WTF... I had to wait another 3.5 hours to catch the next bus. A new issue while returning. The bus I was to board was overbooked! Had to wait another 1 hour.

Pathetic - Greyhound toilets. I had to...

Pee - but I couldn't. While going to Charlotte, I only had to hold it for about 2-3 hours. But I set a new record on my way back - six long hours of bladder control.

Let's talk about happy things now....
Phenomenal - Ritu Masi's new house. Huge kitchen, spacious rooms, a mandir that can hold 30-40 people easily, nice neighborhood, beautiful lake view from every angle of the house, HDTVs (yes, multiple HD TVs), nice furniture, what not! Oh, and 900+ TV channels. Hmm...

Back to my own reality now...
Psyched - that's too strong a word, but still I'll use it (for the heck of 'P for...') to describe my emotions about an NYC trip, coming up in 2 days. Leaving Tuesday evening, returning Sunday. Driving.

Maa Tujhe Salaam! - II

Figured out something after 12-14 years.

While standing in the balcony, I saw a kid-mom combo strolling around the apartment complex. The next thing I see, the mother is running and the kid is trying to catch her. Reminded me of my bachpan. We - Mom, Hansag, and I - used to do the same. And just like this kid today, Hansag and I could never catch mom either. It never made sense to me back then. I mean, she's a MOTHER for god's sake! How can she be fast and tricky and all. She used to tire us out, ending up winning herself.

But today, the mystery unfolded in front of my eyes. It's pretty simple, I don't know why it never made sense to me back then. Well, adults are taller and can cover a greater distance with just one leap. DUH! One adult step, equals two or three kid steps. It always made sense to me when walking, but not when running. Reason? Simple. You walk beside your parents... but don't run beside them in a park, when playing.

Another Salaam goes out to the Birthday Woman (IST)!

Shock-E-Awe

What's the news?
My black eye.

Cool, a Black Eye! How'd you get it?
Fell in the bathtub, hit something around the end of the left eyebrow.

Is it bad?
Not really. I couldn't open that eye for the first two days. It did look pretty scary for the first two days. So bad, I had to wear an eye batch. Pirate style ;)

Nice pirate touch. Does it hurt?
Well it looks like it hurts a lot, but honestly it does not hurt at all.

Is everything cool?
Cooler than ever. I can still see through the eye, there were no stitches involved, no medication either. Neither for the swelling, nor for the big red clot I have in the eye. The doctor just suggested applying ice.

Blood clot?!
Yeah, it's a huge one. It's like my eye has 3 colors now - White, Black, and Red. Although it has been there for a week and a half now, the sight of it still scares me sometimes.

Oh my god, are you sure it'll go away?
I understand it can be hard to believe doctors, who knows if they're lying to cheer you up, to not upset you. But for some reason, I trust doctors like they're a species of deities. Well, doctor uncle said the eye will be back to normal in a few weeks, and I - considering him one of the highest powers in town - believe him. On the other hand, if my thobda does not go back to being the stupid thing it was earlier, somebody gonna get a hurt real bad!

Poor baby!
Yes, I know :( ...thanks for feeling so very sorry for me. I absolutely needed it!

Maa Tujhe Salaam!

Seeing Tripty and Siya today reminded me of Mom. The way Tripty was playing with her little daughter, and the way Siya was enjoying everything her mom was doing. From playing drums on Siya's back, to tickling her until she couldn't laugh anymore. From giving her enough time to catch on her breath, to doing the round-circles-on-hand followed by fingers-running-up-the-arm to make the excited Siya laugh a little more.

Of course, I don't remember any such playful moments from eighteen years ago, when I was two. But I can bet on my life - literally - that I had several of those. Make that numerous. Countless actually!

I remember when Hansag and I were old enough to start building memories for a lifetime. Back then they didn't seem so beautiful, or something to hold on to... but now, unfortunately, they're all I have left.

This is something that happened probably everyday around second or third grade. Our bedtime was something around 8 PM (or maybe 7, who knows).. but neither Hansag or I could fall asleep that early. To pass time we used to talk, or have a fighting match on the bed (the bed being the ring), or call in mom every five minutes and ask her for a glass of water. After drinking every drop, we'd ask for more. Two glasses were more than enough to make our tummies feel full again. So, we'd just stand up on the bed and hug and kiss her for several minutes. It must have appeared silly to her, at least it does to me now. What a silly way to pass time, to avoid sleeping, to talk a little more, to have an excuse for not waking up on time the next morning. Yet, a beautiful memory. A silly childhood routine, turned into something I often think about.

Wooden Monsters

Check this out.

last.fm

I listen to music a lot. Used to play Bollywood stuff all the time, but now I'm extremely bored with that. Have started listening to angrezi sangeet (finally!). Like a few bands.

Discovered last.fm and iScrobbler through iusethis in mid April. Have been scrobbling ever since then. Came across a number of bands due to last.fm - Beck, Incubus, Spoon - by checking out what my friends and neighbors listen to. It's a cool little tool if one's into discovering new stuff and willing to check out other people's interests.

The 'recently played' list is available on the sidebar of the blog (is that what it's called? hmm...) as well.

twentieth 'dhoom'

चलो, इतना तो पता चल गया कि in order to type and see हिन्दी on screen, I need to use Firefox on Windows. Or, soon figure out how to fix this thing on my Mac.

I haven't yet shared my birthday adventures on this blog yet; am wondering if I should.

Well, I turned 20 this past Sunday on April 22, 2007. I don't get excited about any holiday, I actually hate days like Diwali, Holi, New Years etc... when people take a hiatus from normal life, and end up emailing, scrapping, snail-mailing everybody they know, even people they haven't talked to in years - except on these special occasions. I believe all these are a waste of time, money and energy. Yet, there's one day that comes every 365 days, when I go crazy. I have no idea why I do that, can't find a logical explanation. All I can say is - I go crazy on my birthday!

This year too was a lot of fun. I did some pretty नौटंकी-like stuff. You know, the usual me.

Can't share a whole lot, but the highlights are - I went clubbing, and there it was full of धूम!

Blogger in हिन्दी

Saw this on my Blogger Dashboard today.

और हम भी शुरू हो गए मामू!
Thanks to Anupama and Nitin.

The only problem is that Safari doesn't support the editing toolbar and therefore I need to use Firefox or Camino to be able to type in Hindi.

Another problem, I can't see what I'm typing in either Firefox or Camino because the Unicode is not recognizing the Devanagari Script. So, I only see question marks.

Need to try Opera next.

Should I Laugh? or Cry? or go 'WOW!'?

I think, I'm mad about this!

I don't know about others, but I hate reading news, specially long articles. I believe news should be two paragraphs at max.

I really like those write-ups which cover everything they have to say in 10-15 sentences. A full page article giving details, quoting people, and then describing the professions of those people for a half page are really annoying. In addition to that, there are news pieces that spread over several pages. What's up with that? I understand the need for details, but then I also understand the need for quick update.

All news websites should probably adopt the BBC style - a summary of the article before one gets into reading a 10 minute text.

PS: Got a call from Bhai Jaan. Schernekau - my 12th grade English teacher - has requested the satire I wrote for her class, she wants to use it as an example. After two years, when I read it again... it makes me laugh! That was the initial intention as well. Though, I still wonder if I was too harsh :-? Schernekau scribbeled only a few words on top of my paper - 'I think I'm mad about this' - the grade I received - a perfect 100 :) - along with that piece being published in the school magazine.

inLove

Intimacy, originally uploaded by idogu.

hosh waalo ko khabar kya, bekhudi kya cheez hai
ishq keeje, phir samajhiye, zindagi kya cheez hai!

unse nazarein kya mili, roshan fizaayein ho gayi
aaj jaana pyaar ki, jaadugari kya cheez hai!

khulti zulfo ne sikhaayi, mausamo ko shaayari
jhukti aankho ne bataaya, mehkashi kya cheez hai!

hum labo se keh na paaye, unse haal-e-dil kabhi
aur vo samjhe nahi , ye khaamoshi kya cheez hai!

-from Marasim...
written by Gulzar; sung by Jagjit Singh

Farewell.

enough is enough! 2, originally uploaded by urline.

zindagi khaab hai tha humein bhi pata
par humein zindagi se bahut pyaar tha
sukh bhi the, dukh bhi the, dil ko ghere hue
chaahe jaisa tha, rangeen sansaar tha
chand din tha basera humaara yahaan
hum bhi mehmaan the, ghar to us paar tha
humsafar ek din to bichhadna hi tha
alvida, alvida, alvida kehna hi tha

-Mukesh's Song.

Shady Shaadi

Listen to Gudgudee and Jaagte Raho. Two feel-good (and the only songs worth listening to) from the recent bollywood flick Just Married. Usually, I like Pritam's compositions. Lately, he hasn't been so amazing.

As per the 2+ hour film, it was nice. The end, however, ruined the whole thing. The writer could have thought of something else. Hell, after reading the script or at least when editing the stupid thing somebody should have said something!

On another note, how rational was it for the director to name the movie 'Just Married'? It's hard enough to find it on IMDb since in 2003 Ashton Kutcher's romantic comedy was released by the same name. Plus, there are a thousand other Just Married's on there.

SINGeet

powered by ODEO

Closed eyes. Light creases on the forehead. The 'bindi' area applying its gravitational force on eyes and the creases. Neck moving slighty around allowing the head to lightly wobble. A humming sound generating from the throat, finding its way out the nostrils. Lips moving apart, giving way to voice.

dil ke mere paas ho itne
phir bhi ho kitni door
tum mujhse, main dil se pareshaan
dono hain majboor
aise mein kisko kaun manaaye
din dhal jaaye haaye, raat na jaaye
tu to naa aaye, teri yaad sataaye

:)

I like Mohammad Rafi's voice and songs as well.
Lyricists are awesome people.
Music Composers are even better (sometimes).

I Have a Dream

There was a time - 6 or so years ago in 8th grade, to be precise - when I wanted to become a Radio Jockie (RJ).

I thought I had a good voice.
A voice people would like to hear.
A voice that'll move listeners.
A voice that could do miracles.

Blah, Shit, Crap!

This was in part because back in Xavier's, I ended up being the MC - Master of Ceremony - for a number of assemblies (both Class and Common assemblies).

[definitions of both...
Class Assembly is when one's section presents in front of their subgroup, example Junior or Senior school.
Common Assembly is when the entire school is present at one location. Classes ranging from Prep to 12th grade. These are done on occassions like Gandhi Jayanti etc.]

Many times, my classmates would vote for me to be the MC. And once the job was done, people - friends, classmates, teachers, even strangers would come to me and say 'that was amazing!' This made me believe I had a good voice. A voice people would like to hear. A voice that'll move listeners. A voice that could do miracles. Blah, Shit, Crap!

The reason I'm writing this is because, somewhere inside I still want to do that - become an RJ. Not until I retire of course, but for a while. It'd be fun. I want to hear myself on the Radio.

GSU has it's own station WRAS88.5 FM. The entire Atlanta area gets it. And, I wish to be on it someday.

Good Evening Atlanta...

Mukesh

I feel sorry for myself.
I believe you should too.
Why?
Because...
Because, I like Mukesh.
Mukesh, the singer!
Yes, I like Mukesh the singer.

Then why am I sorry?
Why should you be sorry?
Because...
Because, I like Mukesh.
And, because...
Mukesh is amazing.
And, because...
I discovered the amazingness of:
Mukesh,
His Voice,
His Songs,
His Pain...
a little too late.
Too Late, I say... Too Late!

Why Late?
Why do I say, Too Late?
Well, because...
Because, it is late. Too late, I say.
Too Late.

I wish, I wish, I wish.
I wish, I had known him before.
I wish, I had listened to him before.
I wish, I had discovered him before.
I wish too many things, I know.
But, really! I really wish I had...

Before you ask me 'Why?'
I'll tell you 'Why?'

I listened to many stupid sad bollywood songs
in an era.
In an era, now gone,
Left behind, fogotten.
But I'll remember it always.
Remember it because,
I didn't have Mukesh back then.

Oh, it would have been an experience.
An experience, better than the one I had...
only, only if I had known Mukesh.
Known Mukesh back then!

I know.
I know, I need to answer 'Why?'

It was a time
of
Life.
of
Love.
of
Pain.

Something, Mukesh would have made better.
Just by being there.

Oh, What Fun it is to Ride...

...a curvy handled two wheeler!

Now, that summer (or, spring - whatever) is here, I've finally shed all the excessive clothing that I desperately need during the winter months. With this new season and change of weather, a new thrill, a new activity, a new passion has also entered my life - bicycling!

Riding a bike is one thing, all kids (or at least, most) enjoy this activity during the evening hours of their school days on roads, or in parks, or in neighborhoods, or in driveways. I too enjoyed it as a youngster. Racing with friends, counting laps, even going to the neighborhood market to get bread or milk (in India, of course) for household needs. In US, however, I did not have the pleasure of riding and riding like I was having fun, like there was nothing else I would do, or anything I would trade that hour of bonding with my bike for anything. Every time I would see someone on a cycle I would crave for just ek chakkar (one ride). My parents even bought a cycle, but I did not enjoy it as much. I went on road trips and rented bikes, yet it wasn't as satisfying... as today.

Today, I rode through Atlanta. Not on the pavement (or, sidewalks) as I had been doing for the past several days, but on the streets of Atlanta next to the cars and trucks who were going at 35, 45, and even 55 miles/hour. And today, I was happy, excited, thrilled, satisfied, proud, an achiever! Today, I felt like going on forever, not stopping for anything. Today, I had a new energy, for something I truly loved, and continue to love. Today, I've become a cyclist, once again!

On my way to greater rides...
Hail the bike Lords!

Breakfast in America

No matter which fast food place one decides to enter before 11 AM to fill up their hungry tummy, what one gets is not unique to any specific restaurant. Be it McDonald's, Subway, or Dunkin' Donuts the Breakfast Menu is the same everywhere in America!

Buttered or Chicken Biscuits
Waffles or Pancakes
Eggs, Omelet
Coffee, Milk, Juice

There is no variety. Nothing to look forward to or get excited about. Certainly not a chance of jumping up and down with a smiling face upon the discovery of the absolute need to have breakfast in some fast food restaurant. When there are so many fast food places in America that serve variety of things from burgers, to sandwiches, to tacos and burritos during the normal hours, why can't they come up with something creative for the early hours of the day? Something that closely matches their regular menu?

More companies need to be Apple like ...and... 'Think Different'.