RJ’s and APJ’s

RJ is a man every person who knows him has an opinion about. Not just an opinion, it’s a case of extreme like or dislike. I’m no different. I’ve liked him extremely, and hated him the same. He taught me in the first two years of college; made me miserable by not letting me pass a single test in the 2 years; and still managed to make me like him at the end of it all.
He has been the latest hot topic on the batch community on Orkut too. Today, he took a special class for us. And I loved every moment of it. I know that through the year there were only a handful of lectures that I paid attention in for this subject. That teacher is just so boring! And I was all ears today. He brought back the killer Micro classes’ feel. For a split second he even made me think that I love Economics and should consider doing an MA. Thank God it was just a split second. Maybe I won’t mind studying Eco if he teaches me every subject but before the impossibility of such a situation may come up, he would just laugh his sarcastic laugh and shoo me away. His favourite sarcasms about low levels of intelligence, not being able to solve 2nd standard Math (partial differentiation) and so forth, (according to him) are all applicable to me. Nonetheless, I totally admire that man. He’s the best teacher I’ve had in the 3 years of college and his sense of humour, however lame at times, does crack me up.

And his was the closing lecture. He started the journey for us and ended it too. Loved, loved, loved it! :-)


APJ of course, is someone everybody in India knows. After the bugger rain stopped, I went to his estate. I’ll have to say that it was a rather boring outing but flowers being the subject here, I shall not dwell too much on the negative bit of it. The Mughal Gardens are open for public in Feb-March every year so I thought I’ll check them out today. Two things I completely loved –

The musical gardens
Patriotic fervour in the air...fountains dancing to the tunes of ‘I love my India’, etc was great!!! Beautiful sight!

Lilies
Sadly, 99.9% of the lilies had still not flowered but whatever I saw was lovely. Now I know that however much I may love roses, my wedding decorations will have lilies. Asiatic ones, if not the Oriental ones! White and orange ones looked sooo cool.

The other flowers were all double their usual size. Looked gigantic but pretty. Dahlias, tulips, poppies, pansies, marigold, the bougainvilleas in pretty purple, and a strange rose called Joey’s Rose. Very pretty!

Also saw a tiny bio-diversity park. Turkeys, peahens, ducks, parakeets, and some more animals. Cute!

Mr President came out to meet the people and I missed him by 2-3 minutes. But that’s ok. I’ll meet him 2 weeks later in my own college. He’s the chief guest for our Annual Day. :D

But I must say, he has a very royal house. Yeah, I know it comes with responsibility but even then! I mean, how do you explain fountains on the roof-top? Now THAT is fancy. I’d feel like a queen if I got such a house to live in.

It was a short outing. Cell phones, cameras, water bottles, etc...nothing is allowed inside. So I could not even take any pictures. But it was a nice break. Liked it.

So RJ’s class and APJ’s house made it a nice day. :-)

(Not) Too Long!

More than 4 days! I don’t like this place at a slow pace. It’s almost like you not taking a bath and it irking YOU the most. Uh...not the best of analogies, that!

Everybody is talking about college getting over. I’m talking about it too, but it has not yet sunken in. Classes are over but since we still have some reason or the other to go to college, I don’t feel anything. Farewell is right here, and I’m just thinking about it as a party. The significance of it is not hitting me. People are clicking pictures and I want to do that too but I am not thinking. I’ve also written for the ‘farewell issue’ of the college journal and still nothing. It’s taking too long! I’m quicker than this at reactions. But nah! Not really bothered by it...I’m busy with a lot of other things.
But yes, the thought of moving away from a lot of friends is unsettling. Some may go to UK and some may go to Chennai. Others, I don’t know where. But I know that most of them will not be in Delhi in a few months from now. Miiiles away from here! But then I don’t know about myself either. I’m working my ass off to move away too.

I just hope everyone’s happy wherever they go. And we keep in touch. I know I’m not lazy when it comes to such things.

Perfect 3 Hours!

A big, warm hug.
A sarcasm or two.
Self praise.
Self-help in the kitchen.
Little pranks.
Long walk.
Hanging out at Priya’s.
Laughing non-stop.
Going back to critical analysis of every passer-by.
Memories of embarrassing situations in public places.
Loving and hating men.
An Archies card without an occasion.
Sarcasm-filled words of love.
Best wishes.
And another big, warm hug.

Taste of Paste

It’s cold and it’s strong. Leaves a weird feeling in the mouth and I don’t like it.

Shades of Gray

Two people met, became friends and fell in love. They had their share of problems and misunderstandings but ultimately got together. They’ve been happy for the last 2 years. They have both been there for each other in the worst of times.
But now there is a third person. He and the girl have developed feelings for each other. And they both realise what a dumb situation they have gotten into. The girl’s boyfriend knows about it too because she doesn’t want to hide anything from him. He is still head over heels in love with her. And doesn’t understand how things can change without a reason. And she loves him too. She knows what a sweetheart he is. They have been happy together for a long time now. All she can feel right now is that she is a bitch.


And then there is another situation...

Two people met, became friends and fell in love. Their journey together is something that they cannot even describe themselves. They feel it and it feels real.
But the points in time when they realised that they’re in love were different. One took more time than the other to maybe not realise but to be sure and accept it. Today, there is no communication between them. They cannot express to each other how they feel. Maybe they both understand that the other one is sad and hurt because of the sequence of events but that doesn’t help either of them.
One longs for what they had and wants to take it ahead while the other wants to forget what they had because the memories of it are too painful.
They both try too hard – one to get to talk and the other to stay away from the same.


What should all these people do?

I want it all!

# I want that letter.

# I want a new wallet.

# I want sleep.

# I want a new fragrance.

# I want my CDs back.

# I want to run away from Economics books.

# I want a new pair of blue jeans.

# I want to go out of Delhi.

# I don’t want to wait more for a direction.

# I want to talk to my old best friend.

# I want to stop everything else and go plant trees & play with kids.

# I want to listen to Indian Ocean.

# I want to hope that by tomorrow the flowers’ prices (if not anything else’s) will come down.

# I want my irritating relatives to shut up!

# I want to stop thinking.

Red Box

...of energy

Catalyst for laughter
Strength
Encouragement
Endearing

I wish well.

Happy Day@Safdarjung's Tomb

Some people are naturally slow and you can’t really help their case. The person in question here is one of my teachers who was supposed to conduct an exam today but the reason for postponing it could not be lamer than what she gave.

Anyway! So did not spend much time in college and took my Vasant Kunj Special. But I wasn’t coming home directly. I had been thinking of visiting Safdarjung’s Tomb for quite some time and today the plan finally materialised. Of course, I was alone just like I was a year ago when I went to see the Red Fort. The excitement was not as high as the previous time because now I’m a lot more used to doing stuff alone but I was definitely looking forward to seeing the place.

The back view

Tiny corridor

The Tomb was built by Nawab Shujauddaula for his father Mirza Mudim Abul Mansur Khan or Safdarjung. (Now that's a long name!)

The number of couples inside the place was not even funny. I was feeling embarrassed in front of all the foreigners because of ALL those people who were at it. Looked like a wholesale market! For once I wished for some moral policing. Ugh!

Anyway, I kept myself busy in clicking pictures. It is built on the lines of the architecture of Humayun’s Tomb. And if not the inside, the outside has been maintained quite well. The ceilings were extremely pretty too. I spent about one hour there. Moved around at leisure (but the couples irritated me!!); it isn’t too big.

The ceiling

Looking up

Part of a pillar. This is one of my favourites.

I liked being there. Now I’m thinking of my next destination. :-)

And oh, I made my very own Flickr page too.

Comfort Discomfort Together Together

The winds of the last two days are accompanied by rain today. It feels good to know that winters haven't completely gone. But winter rains are a little depressing too.

One moment I was enjoying the chill in the air with friends ; walking absolutely oblivious to the rain drops the next.

Felt like listening to music one moment; wanted quiet the next.

Desired company but liked being alone.

Wanted to feel the breeze on my face but also wanted to stay away from it.

Thought that everything should stop for some time - I liked the peace; but then I just wanted to rush home - away from the chaos caused by the weather.

Moving on, I took a bus back home from college today - just like I always do on a good-weather day. Was alone for a change. In the middle of my long ride, I realised that I really wanted to feel the weather (good or bad, happy or sad) and so I got off the bus one stop before my usual. And so I started walking slowly. In nearly ten years, it was the first time I walked on the flyover next to my house. All flyovers should have sidewalks like this one. The view from the middle of it - the runway of the airport on one side and little dumping ground with old cars,etc on the other. That point also brought back memories of a sunset that made a moment surreal but I was not going to stop. How or why could I?! Even though I was moving very slowly I was off the flyover within ten minutes. So I decided to take a detour and walk more. That's when I also called Subhadip and that's when it started raining again. So the stroll got converted into a brisk walk while the conversation was maintained at the usual, casual stuff. By the way, my umbrella was safe and dry in my bag. Who would have wanted to disturb the perfect picture!

Got home all drenched and saw Dadi with a bandage on her head. She had a bad fall in her own room. Things just keep getting worse...

And it's just been a lazy, rainy, Saturday since then.

Living It

0400 hours: Everybody is tired but in a mood to have fun so the camera begins to roll and so does the madness.
This was while a cousin was in the middle of wedding vows. The rest of us, as always, found some place else to lose it.

The dancers (Nidhi and I) gear up and the photographer (Samridhi) starts singing...beedi jalayileeeee....

And the two of us do the popular steps from the original video! The exact same steps! NOW I can’t believe I did it, but yes, I did. I also had a big red flower in my hair by then.

The couple that got married the same day exactly a year ago was not behind. They wanted attention as well. So they again exchanged rings and made sure that the others applauded. We lost a chance for a separate party though!

I reached home early in the morning, slept for 2 hours and then went to college. There we dissected the ways of the different kinds of weddings that happen in India, but mostly Punjabi weddings. From how women make dirty jokes during the sangeet, to how the showing off really does happen; from how old aunties have curious minds with big mouths to the flexibility with which pandits complete the rituals... we talked and laughed about it all.

Everybody liked the way my hair looked and I loved loved LOVED it! Always a great feeling! :P

Then some of us went to CP looking for some nice sweatshirts because all our college sweatshirts are cheesy and we want to have our own, sophisticated ones. But we couldn’t find anything.
Does anyone know where we can find plain sweatshirts at reasonable prices and also get something printed on them?
The kids that went along wanted to run on the escalators before doing anything else. In retrospect, I think I should have joined them too. It’s not as much fun being on the side that is just watching and wondering when they will move so that we can get the work done.

Sleeplessness was having its effects. I was told, “I am not listening to what you are saying because you are drunk.” People are so rude nowadays! I don’t drink!

But there’s a hollow. Everybody is laughing but reality does not do that. It stares blankly.

En Route To Balance...

For the last three days I’ve been blanking out every time I get down to writing. There has been so much happening that I could use some ‘venting out’ but doesn’t work nowadays.
I feel this confirms that I am becoming stronger, detached and more independent. I know I am. I am more in control of myself than I ever was in the past. I don't need to write. And it makes me surer about ‘everything happens for the best’.

Good people are still around to listen and help but I’m less needy. I still crib at times but I’m human. I get frustrated but not bitter.

I have been ecstatic about the realisation that I am much more optimistic than I thought I was. In fact, I didn’t even know that I’m an optimist. It’s an incredible feeling.

And I hope I continue with this thing that has started.

...Finally!