If Only

As she opened her eyes, the early morning sun hit her face, she knew it was just another day in store for her. She shifted in the bed a little and the sheets crinkled under her weight. There was something comforting about the starched sheets and the solid wood of the almirah. She let her gaze linger on her reflection in the full length mirror. Her hair in a mess at the nape of her neck and her slightly smudged red bindi. The mark that almost dictates the way her life flows. She knew exactly what was the day was going to be like. The children had to be sent to school, the maids had to be supervised, breakfast, lunch and dinner had to be planned and cooked.

She got out of the bed, and entered the bathroom to brush her teeth. As she brushed, she checked for zits on her face, a habit that started when she was 15 and was never able to get rid of inspite of the smooth skin she now owned. She quickly showered while the phone rang a couple of times. She checked e mail sipping her morning coffee, and laid out her outfit for the day. Knee length pin striped black skirt, black stockings and white shirt with pink pin stripes. A black jacket to go with it as well. Shoes. She looked at the 40 different pairs of shoes she had and decided on the black low heeled pumps. She double checked her laptop bag to see if she had everything for the presentation. Today was the big day. A meeting with the boss and she hoped to floor them with her new designs. She walked out of the apartment mentally running through her checklist..Phone,Laptop,Keys,Wallet,cards...She felt the wind in her face and was happy to be alive..

She scolded herself for such thoughts as she got out of the bed. As she brushed her teeth and checked for zits on her face, she glimpsed a life she could have had..if only...

Old is gold?

Now, how many times have we heard this statement? Quite a lot I must say.Since we went to school and wrote 'proverbs' on the top of the board. How many times have we heard elders say that the olden days were golden days? Even more than that. At every family gathering, there would be some talk about fun times they had in 1960 or 1970 or whatever. When Shammi Kapoor came out with dil deke dekho and baar baar dekho and all his different dekhos they talked about the classics of the 40's. When we listened to 'Hum Bewafa', and 'dil Kya Kare' they extolled the beauty of Shammi Kapoor and Asha Parekh's songs. When Baazigar was a hit, Hum Bewafa was a classic. Well, we all have grown up with this kind of talk and just nod our head listening to this stuff. Slowly, this thing called age creeps up on us, silently while we aren't looking. We are so busy waiting to grow up as a teenager, we don't realize it until we start getting marriage proposals. Now we start reminiscing about school, and in the blink of an eye we are done with college too. Missing college life is a new topic. And then comes missing the first job.
So today, here I was sitting quietly in my room trying to get some reading done for tomorrow's class, and I open youtube. In a hindi song mood,start listening to 'Churake Dil Mera' , 'Jadoo Teri Nazar' and the like. I scrolled the page down a bit and read the comments. "Oh, my favourite song. What a classic. They dont make such songs these days. Thanks for bringing back old memories" were some of the comments. I couldn't help thinking it sounded familiar. When these songs came out, I would hear the exact same words. What rubbish is this? Look at Shilpa Shetty's clothes. They dont make them like before. How melodious R.D Burman's songs were.

I just smiled to myself. I dont want to say anything. I will probably talk about 'classics' like Om Shanti Om (new version) 20 years down the lane. So will you. So wipe that smirk off your face.

The Internet and Us

Is the Internet reducing the creativity among us? I know this is a debatable topic and that are two big sides to this coin. But in a way, I feel it does, in a few ways. We have this Indian night thing happening at pur school, and needless to say everyone is involved in some show or the other. I dont exactly know how I ended up in the dance event thing. After my initial reservations, I got into the mood and started having fun with the other girls. So we got together the other day with a bunch of songs in mind and started making up dance steps. Let me rephrase that. We opened you tube and started watching videos for ideas. It's besides the fact that we dont have too much time to spare for these dance shows and have to get things done as quickly as possible. You tube was the quickest way to ideas and we were almost done in no time. What im trying to say is that,we find almost any kind of information online. Are we really thinking as much as we used to? One could argue that we are infact using more innovative technology, different styles of architecture for the web and a million other advantages, most of which are technical. But for the layman, isn't this the easy way out? Just google it! Earlier, if I wanted to paint something, I would probably try to find a book, go to the library, open my window. But now, in a matter of milliseconds I have options in front of me. Literally. Is this in someway slowing down our thought process? Some of us wouldn't even attempt to think of new ideas. Especially for trivial things. The usual answer is "How difficlt will it be? We can find it online". I'm sure people who have been aroung much longer than I have, who have seen how the internet has brought about such a radical change in our lives and they way we look at things have something to say about it. I can say that I have been around longer than this phase of the net. But by the time I got to class 12, everyone was online. So I effectively have spent most of my time in this phase. I cant remember how it was before the Internet became our saviour. Maybt thats because school work dint warrant the use of such 'advanced' applications! :-)

Now don't get me wrong. I am a big fan of google and youtube. My lappie is my best friend these days. Im just trying to look at it from another point of view. The first thing I do after I wake up in the morning is check e mail!

I'd better get going. Need to search for some cool tattoo designs online!

Another tag!! Thanks Brat! grr!


1. Last movie you saw in a theater?
Juno - The first movie I watched after I got here. I really liked it.


2. What book are you reading?
I have been reading 'Brick Lane' by Monica Ali at snail's pace for the LONGEST time. I still havent finished it nor have I borrowed anything new from the library. On the other hand, I have been reading 'Information Ecology' By Davenport. I dont think it counts as leisure reading though. :-(

3. Favorite board game?
Monopoly and Cluedo

4. Favorite magazine?
Reader's Digest. I dont read magazines much other then when Im waiting at the Doc's or something.

5. Favorite smells?
Sunset heat buy Escada, Hugo's Deep red, Davidoff's Cool Water on a guy. :D
Also, I like the smell of mud during the first rains of the season. Reminds me of the days when I was at Abacus, when all of us would stand around puddles and watch tadpoles.


6. Favorite sounds?
Sometimes, the sound of silence is the best. Other wise it depends on my mood. But the smell of Amma making vadas on a Sunday morning beats them all.

7. Worst feeling in the world?
Losing someone and the realization that you will never see then walk through that door again. Ever.

8. What is the first thing you think of when you wake up?
In School - Ayyo. I dont want to go to school. I havent studied for the Maths test properly.
During Undergrad - Damn! I have to go to college! Cant I just bunk today?
When I was working - UGH. Do I have to go and deal with HER(a certain someone in my team) today again?
Now - Hmm. I'll wake up in half an hour. I have class only in the evenings. :D


9. Favorite fast food place?
Gangotree and Kenzo's for us old timers. Its called Eatalica now.

10. Future child's name?
:D this is a long list. I'm one of those types who loves names. So here goes - Rayaan, Vyas, Raiha or Mihiraa


11. Finish this statement. "If I had lot of money I'd....?"
Buy a car for myself. Right now, being the poor student that I am rely on the horrible horrible public transport.


12. Do you drive fast?
I havent driven here yet. According to my Amma's standards I was always fast. But all Amma's tend to think this way. So it cancels out!


13. Do you sleep with a stuffed animal?
No. I need to have my 3 pillows next to me though. One fur under my head,one to hug and one over my face. yeah. I dont know why. My fav stuffed bear hugs my fav photo on my side table. (A,this is for you!!! <3)


14. Storms - cool or scary?
Scary. Just the right time to cuddle up to someone.


15. What was your first car?
Considering it was Nana's car i drove first and I dont have one of my own yet, its a Santro.

16. Favorite drink?
Coffee. Also Sangria, and white wine.

17. Finish this statement, "If I had the time I would...."?
Travel more.


18. Do you eat the stems on broccoli?
yup


19. If you could dye your hair any color, what would be your choice?
Dark Purple. Which I actually did. But it dint show since my hair is already black. Im going to lighten and then streak it dark purple soon.


20. Name all the different cities/towns you've lived in?
Chennai, Bangalore and now College Park,MD

21. Favorite sports to watch?
Cricket I guess. I like watching Ice Skating a lot too. But not an avid watcher as such

22. One nice thing about the person who sent this to you?
Although I never spoke to him during 4 yrs of college, its fun chatting with him now!

23. What's under your bed?
Its a couch turned into a nice mid size bed. No place for anything under it. If there was, I would have arranged my shoes since there is no place for another shoe rack here.


24. Would you like to be born as yourself again?
Yes!


25. Morning person, or night owl?
Night Owl. I dont even have to think twice to answer this. If there was a petition for starting the day at Noon, i'd be the first one to sign.

26. Over easy, or sunny side up?
I used to LOVE sunny side up as a kid. But now its cheese omlette with green chillies.

27. Favorite place to relax?
On my bed with a good book, a packet of chips and sauce. Or chocolates. depending on my mood.

28. Favorite pie?
Apple. with vanilla ice cream.


29. Favorite ice cream flavor?
Vanilla with chocolate sauce, nuts and gooey choco fudge sauce.


30. Of all the people you tagged this to, who's most likely to respond first?
Im thinking Nikhilesh


And now, I tag..

B.G
I think Therefore..
Nikhilesh


yenjoiiii!