Yet another New Year!

I read somewhere that man is probably the only creature who takes time so seriously.. The birds, the trees, the animals, no one apart from humans seems in a rush to make as much of time as possible. I had never thought about it in such a way. We use time so often to discipline ourselves.. Trains to catch.. Flight schedules, meetings, daylight savings (why not just adjust your schedules to make the most of it?!), birthdays, anniversaries, timezones, alarm clocks. We humans are obsessed with time. And a new year (apparently) indicates a passage of significant amount of time in our lives.

This whole concept of 'the-rest-of-the-nature-not-taking-it-seriously' kinda stuck to me. We do certainly delve too much into the past and hope too much from the future. It does add drama to our lives. 

But honestly, its a lot of fuss about one date. Why can't we make a resolution on any other date. Its gonna be as unsuccessful as all your past resolutions were! We are allowed to party (and not pay exorbitantly) the rest of the year too. Maybe its just a common day everyone decided to take off. You can introspect anytime during the rest of the year too.. Its not awkward. (What is a little awkward is putting it up on facebook for the rest of the world to read!)

I'm not saying I don't like NYE and the celebrations. I like an excuse for a celebration. But I think we have too much fuss around one date. I like to take lessons from nature. Let the world run on its pace and not time it. Let everyone just enjoy life and not run behind making up for lost time (cuz honestly whats gone, is gone.)

As one of my favourite artist pens in one of his songs..

"Well I’m sick of this town, this blind man’s forage

They take your dreams down and stick them in storage

You can have them back son when you’ve paid off your mortgage and loans"

Life doesn't have to be a time-bound plan. It could just be a free flowing river, a fish in the sea, a chase of your dreams.

Make today special by starting to chase your dreams. And then repeat the same tomorrow. And the day after. And so on. I think, life will be one big party then.

Psst: I do make resolutions. This year, its to travel to new places more. Atleast once in every 4-5 months. And I've already started it. Discovering west coast. :-)

A day in the locals of Mumbai

I am and will always remain in love with Mumbai. And also with the Mumbai Local. when my outstation friends ask me what is my most preferred mode of transport in the city, my answer without any hesitation is the local. And over the past 7-8 years... my experiences in the local have grown diverse...

I generally keep to myself in the train.. except the occasional purchase or two, i genrally dont fight for a seat or get into an argument with anyone... but this one time, it was morning.. and there was a group of women singing bhajaans and shlokas in the morning.. and all those were the type every kid in an indian household would no.. so even I started humming them along and i must admit i felt so good about it... to this day, i dont have any 'train friends' cuz i dont commute regularly... but that one time, it made me realise, its that community feeling and that bonding which is so strong in our families.. that morning no one was fighting in the train, all people around were simply humming the bhajaans.. kids, elderly women, young professionals, the lady who is selling some wares.. everyone was smiling.. ad it made me smile.. how deeply rooted is the Indian in us...

Another time, I was in the train with a few friends... we were in the gents compartment and there were some 'street-kids' with us in the train... and in our compartment was an old man with small square pieces of paper.. and that old man's hands were simply magic... turns out he was a master at origami and made stuff like talking lips, a flower and leaf, a pencil and things beyond imagination!! It was simply amazing!! the kids were in awe and so were we... he ended up teaching us how to make the talking lips... when that man left, he gave me a whole bunch of papers to make stuff... I must've made a dozen of those lips till now.. and even to this day, that incident makes me smile..

Locals may be crowded and tiring but they are also fast, convenient, available most of the times in the day and reliable. but more than anything else, they amaze me every time with something new making me realize I am just a small character in this big drama called Life!! It makes sure i meet new people and it makes sure i rarely have a boring travel time.. it gives me my space and gives me company when i'm alone. it makes me feel human and helps me relish this life some more. To anyone who has ever smiled in the local, you know what I mean.

Some things that run through a girl's mind when she's buzzzzing!

1. Gosh the guy on the next table is soooo cute.. would he mind if I say a hi? ;)

2. Can I have more fries? They taste soooo awesome ryt now!!

3. Should I completely stop texting my ex-boyfriend? Does he like me.. or is he still an idiot!! Need a drink to stop thinking abt jerks.. Conc. on the guy on the next table.. he looks well dressed.. Mamma's boy.. no doubt!

4. I'll do that assignment tonight! How much will the answers change after I am drunk.. Lets see!! And let the marks go to hell! :P

5. Is my nail paint better than the chic on the next table... Is that guy looking at her?!

6. Damn I cant make-out with anyone ryt now! (applicable to ones w/o a date!) Will that cute guy even look at me once?!!

7. I am definitely thinner than that one sitting there!

8. I should give up this material life and live like a hippie! Will the guy in the next table like a hippie?! Damn yaar.. but hippies are so not in fashion ryt now... Bah.. leave it!

9. That was my last drink... but wait.. I feel good.. I feel a nice buzz.. whats the harm in another one?! ;)

10. Can I sing this song out loud?? Its like my fav song ryt now!!

11. Screw the cute guy.. all guys are dumbos.. Looks are so freakin deceptive.. The last one also was like that... idiot!!!

12. Adios Amigos... I feel too sleepy to do anything good for myself!!

Nostalgia

It all comes to me in a sudden rush

Like waves that touch the rocks at the sea shore

Time moved on, and so did I

But memories stay longer than ever before

Those times when life seemed carefree

And the biggest worry was the pending homework

The days and the evenings were playing sport

And not the games people play at work

And being a rebel as a teenager

Friends were above what parents said

Learning and discovering what life is

Being an adult was all in the head

Come graduation, we knew it all

The world awaits us, is what we thought

Heart and confidence both took some beating

Anything and everything could be bought

No regrets in life is the best option

We did what was best and made us wiser

Mistakes are made by one and all

We pick ourselves after we fall wherever

Those tough times made us who we are

And a clear sky never makes a good pilot

Blocks were there to make life colourful

Black, white, red, blue and violet!!

Friends Worth A Lifetime (4) : Pooja

Some of the most memorable times with Pooja :)

Me and Pooja have been friends for the past several years... I dont even remember exactly when did we actually become friends.. but we became close friends in std 10th.. Mahesh Tutorials.. Part of the gang of girls who hated Prasanna sir!! Niyati and Sana completed the scenario... Life moved on.. college came along. But our friendship stayed.. It helped that her parents loved me and my parents adored her. It was like both sets of parents have 2 daughters. Yess.. She was more than just a friend.. a sister.. a guide.. a companion.. a friend.. a mirror.. a pillar of strength.. a shoulder to rely upon.. always there.. smiling..

There is no particular thing that I love the most.. The whole package is simply awesome!!
She's patient and always lends a ear to anything I have to say anytime. She can anytime manage to make me smile. We share the same values and thoughts in so many different things that its difficult to keep track of. We have cried with each other, we have cried for each other, we have laughed like crazy, we have done crazy things and always been glad that the other one was in it too.

Some relationships in life cant be expressed with just words.. Given any day, I know that I'll definitely have one person to fall back on whether i need a hug or convince my parents about my choices in life. Luv you Pooja for being that one person. Have a great bday!! (yeah.. its her bday today!)

10 Things You MUST DO In Mumbai

1. Watch the sunset at Marine Drive
2. Walk all the way till the end of Lands End at Nariman Point
3. Sit on the front seat of the top of a double decker bus and roam in the city. Preferably route no. 138.
4. Take a nice long look at the majestic Taj Mahal Hotel.
5. Travel by local train. (if you are daring enough.. then in 2nd class and if even more daring then at peak hours! :P)
6. Play cricket in Shivaji Park (for that matter any road will do)
7. Watch Sachin play in Wankhede/ Brabourne (Basically in front of Mumbai crowd)
8. Walk all the way to Siddhivinayak
9. Get drenched in the rain at any sea front (Marine drive/ Juhu/ Bandstand/ Worli sea face)
10. Drive on the Bandra-Worli Sea Link

Yess... Its Magic... Yess.. Its Mumbai! :)

The 'Happy' Feeling

This is my 50th post.. And I have to say. I am very Happy.. But the Theory of The 'Happy' Feeling is something that i will share with the world today. I had promised a close friend that this would be dedicated to him and will be my 50th post. :)

SO what do I mean by the 'Happy' Feeling... Well, essentially, it is that warm, fuzzy, butterfly feeling that you have when you are crushing on someone. The theory is that when you have a crush on someone, you are in general very happy. And its like the universe seems to you a combination of things that make you Happy. 

You try to find that person in every good and beautiful thing around.. Every happy song has a reference to them.. When you are at the beach, you want to hold their hand.. You want them to be next to you when the sun sets and the twilight sky seems the second most beautiful thing in the world. There is a smile on your face whenever you see them or when they notice you. You have butterflies in your stomach when you talk to them.. you want to say a lot, but don't want to embarrass yourself! ;) And still every time their name or face comes to your mind, you can't help but smile. Your heart is full of joy when you are around them.

And the best part, this isn't a relationship, so there are no expectations and nothing to tie you down. Its unconditional and generally one-way. That is what makes it even better.

Cheers to this feeling and Cheers to you if you've ever been a victim of this!! :)
The feeling is simply Awesome!! :)

Highlights of a brilliant night

The following awesome things happened within the span of 4 hours! :)

• PG A vs PG B … Who is the coolest?! (as if it needs to be discussed!) War of the classes!
• Filmy style meeting with Kaushik Mgr ;)
• Clicking pics in the taxi :)
• Hit the club looking awesome ;)
• 1^st cheers with my love of SIMSR :-*
• 2^nd hit with VT \m/
• Dancing with Saji, Jaju and Govind. B-)
• Emotional Goodbyes to Sukhmani and Risha :)
• Fundoo Freaky Dance with Vikash!! :-O
• Unstoppable bak-bak with Saji :p
• 3^rd one with Jaju and Saji \m/ \m/ \m/
• Getting Krishna to Dance (Yippee!!)
• Delhi vs Mumbai … Which is more Awesome?! Wars!! (Ofc Mumbai wins hands down!)
• Amazing friends who will not think twice before embarrassing you, to do something you actually want to do! (But are too chicken to do it!)

The 4 musketeers

I never imagined in the past

The 4 of us having such a blast

With pseudo names that cause glee

Let me introduce them to thee.

The monkey is the cutest of all

The giraffe cracks the worst jokes on all

The dolphin is my sweetheart & simply the best

The last one is me and we are the best.

The first time in jungle out in the night

It simply rocked with ‘A Beetle’ in sight

T’was fun being tipsy in the lane

The night did end on a jet plane.

Lack of memory is what haunts the second

Indulgence was my key in the end

Another night with singing fun

All I remember is smoke and rum.

The third was simply legendary

A night of song and dance and merry

Records were made and all were high

Performances made even the girls sigh.

Popcorn will soon change its name

Singing with an Indian accent is the new game

Feelings came on, like a flood

This time, I’m gonna drink his blood!

Google talk never appealed to me

But it connects me to the other three

The chats are dirty and fun with a twist

I pray the fun times forever persist.

Love you my 4 mosquitoes... oops!! 4 musketeers.. Ro, VT, 4g et moi! :) CD Rocks!!

New Beginnings

This life is short
Dont let it go waste
Live every moment like your last
Make merry and make haste

Mistakes are plenty
Everyday try a new one
Living with an expiry date
Is simply zero fun

A new year signifies new beginnings
A new year means to forget the past
A new year implies forgiving
Its A new year... HAVE A BLAST!!

Its the time for new everything
Time to smile and spread the cheer
Time for self renewal and heal
Time to move on and have no fear!

Wishing everyone a very very Happy 2011.. And Cheers! to a new great life ahead and new beginning!

PS: My fav part about a new year: Suddenly all unpleasant events seem a year old! and you know how time heals wounds! ;)

Friends are few..

I was meant to live a long life.

I was just another actor on this stage.

They cut my part short and left me midway

Its killing me like a severe plague.

Life had ended as I knew it

Everything changed in that moment

When I was alone and helpless

There was no time to lament

People are not bad, is what they said

Its situations that make the wrong decisions

So my friends be very careful

Take every step with extreme precision

For personal gain is the last motive

There are no ‘friends’ in this

But if there are some who can give their life for you

Do not let them be missed

Living is a challenge everyday

Facing several problems new

But all my fundas come to rest cuz

Life is a leaf and friends are the dew