Everybody Hurts

Relationships change. Forever. Without any exception. At all. 

Flipping Through

Priyam tagged me in a post which took me to the time when I looked forward to blogging because of all the friends that I had made through this medium. I lost some, I kept many. About them, another day. For now, I am taking up the tag. I have done this multiple times in the past, but it is entertaining enough this Saturday night. 

Ten Random Facts About Me (in no order):

1. My fingers know my BB password but my lips don't. That was the objective when I set it. 

2. I talk to imaginary people. And love doing it.

3. I recently got hooked to an astrology website. Yes, #facepalm

4. Some songs on my ipod have had a permanent spot on the playlist for five years now

5. I have a special feeling for people who walk with their hands in the pockets, in crowded spaces. Not!

6. I recently discovered that I have a stalker and I find it kinda cool. 

7. I do not have canines.

8. I don't like spending money on shoes. I don't even like shopping for shoes. 

9. I find it hard to make conversations. Quite.

10. Sometimes I wish I got some inheritance credited to my account so I can travel without a care. 

And some questions....

1. What is the first thing you do when you wake up?

Check my emails.

2. How do you express your anger?

I often rehearse some yelling with friends. Otherwise it stays in.

3. If you had to live on a lonely island and take only one book with you, which one would that be?

There isn't a favourite book.

4. An embarrassing moment/fact about you?

The recent past has been boring enough.

5. How much do you let your academic success/failure affect your life?

Extremely. It has always been very important.

6. Do you believe in first impressions?

I do. And I am mostly right.

7. What period of your life do you think was best?

Of the few that are over, I would say that school was the best. 

8. Do you live in present more or brood about past and fantasize about future more?

I live in the present. Think about the past. And leave the future for tomorrow.

9. Your favourite cartoon and why?

I like Sid from Ice Age. Hard to say why.

10. And finally Harry potter or Twilight? 

Neither! 

Weekend with colleagues

One fine day the folks in my team decided that we should go away for a weekend. The talks had always been there, but this time we had a more certain plan. Smita and Smera did all the planning and coordination. I didn't play any role at all. It most definitely felt uncomfortable to depend on others to plan my travel. But the group was too large and too excited for me to get involved and manage expectations & demands. So I just paid my share and let things flow. Worked out fairly well. 

We went to Mandawa in Rajasthan. I had never heard of the place before. Turns out it is quite popular – movies and ad films are shot there, it has featured in Outlook Traveller’s most recent issue, and apparently the place sees thousands of tourists during peak season. 

The drive was long, but smooth for most part. I was paranoid about the pollen in the air, but the rain took care of that. 

Vasu played some of my old favourite songs in the car, we laughed, ate, had wine, and six hours just flew by! I also stuck my head out of the window to gaze at the stars in the night sky. I have realised that doing this normalises the heart and lightens the smile. It is as if the wind takes the toxins away. 

Bio breaks on long road trips always call for entertainment. This one was no exception. 

The last patch after Jhunjhunu had terrible roads and was extremely spooky. But laughter usually takes care of all these issues. 

The Hotel Heritage Mandawa was nicely decorated and had a cosy feeling about it. I did wish though that it was cleaner and better maintained.   

They had cow bells for key chains

I was not very keen on drinking. But it was one of those times when you would rather go with the flow than be the odd one out. So I drank too. I was having fun until I suddenly felt like my senses were heightened and I could not relate to any of the multiple conversations going on in that room. So I went outside and sat for a while. The chill in the air after all the rain was slightly discomforting. The discomfort that you tend to like? That. 

The next day we went out to visit some of the havelis around. Typical Rajasthan-style filth all around! But if you manage to ignore that, the laid back culture, quiet lanes, the frescoes, the deeeep dried up wells, and history can ensure that you have a good time. I did. 

Joshiii! :D

I visited Ruhi’s ancestors’ haveli too! :D

It rained more in the afternoon. Quite the spoiler!

While we hoped and waited for rain to stop

I decided to come back on Saturday evening with Peter and Chandrika. The others were going to stay another day. I thought I could use the Sunday for some sleep. And I really CANNOT spend too much time with too many people even if I have enough happy feelings for them. 

Everyone!

As always, I am glad I went. :)

I am told I should get this expression trademarked 

Photos courtesy: Everyone

PS - NH8 sucks!

His Struggle

His mind races

Faster than reality.

The world seems to watch on

Slower than he would like.

Feels like BFF :)

She is independent

She is entertaining

Has a beautiful smile 

And a free spirit

We bonded over marketing classes, maggi, brisk walks, wild dances, and some unnecessary stress. She was an important part of the beautiful life up on that hill. Almost three years on and we always pick up from where we last left. I can never forget the god-awesome trip to the mountains we took together. And the endless inane chats we had in the hostel, in flights, in my room at home when she came for sleepovers, and pretty much every time we met. 

She is paranoid and emotional too, but you’ve got to know her well to be part of that. 

Mangalore was far, but I did not want to miss her wedding. One of the few that mattered. It was slightly inconvenient to do the back and forth between Delhi-Bangalore-Mysore-Delhi-Mangalore over a space of 10 days, but it was completely worth it. I am so, so glad that I went for her big day!

Warmth, simplicity and laughter enveloped my time in this beach city. Sea happiness, yes. Bad hair moments, oh yes! It should suffice to say that I carried a hair straightener to the wedding venue. And was laughing stock when I woke up in the mornings. 

I missed seeing the small runway of the airport on the hilltop plateau because I didn’t have a window seat. Basu says that I was lucky to have not witnessed it. I got way too curious to appreciate the good luck. Another time, I hope.  

It is one more person who has moved out of Delhi. I don't know when we will meet next. I know things won't be the same here on. This is hard. But I am wishing her a lifetime of happiness with the man who I think is perfect for her. 

Basu looks like a happy prisoner

Me at the Tannir Bavi beach :)

  Photos courtesy all the friends.

Mysore

Last I visited Mysore was when I was one year old. I obviously had no memories of the place, but for a few pictures in the family album. And then came the news of a wedding there. Everybody was going. You know, my big fat extended Punjabi family? Everybody. 

Three of us female cousins are the same age, born on the 3rd of a different month of the same year. Stuthi, the bride in question here, is the middle one. This was big news! Me and the other one, Nidhi were excited. But ultimately Nidhi couldn't make it and I travelled alone. 

I missed an exciting function, had a delayed flight from Delhi, the night in Bangalore was unexpectedly cold, the train to Mysore was obnoxiously delayed, and I dragged myself all the way with fever and cold. 

But to cut the long story short, the bride looked gorgeous, all of us ate a lot and obsessively clicked pictures of ourselves, we went on a long drive towards Coorg the following day, and like at all typical family gatherings, laughed a lot. 

Watching her walk towards her fiance, I figured a lot of things that I would and would not want at my wedding. I cannot bear to have lights flashing in my face and hundreds of people staring at me. I don't think I will let that happen. If and when time comes to it.

Stuffed kachodi!

I saw, I climbed, and I conquered.

 

Add-ons: Got to meet and spend time with Saikat and Rohini. And tasted authentic Mysore pak.  

While a lot of weddings keep flashing on Facebook, I think this is going to be the year of weddings in my immediate circle. Next up, Mangalore!

Grey

I believe that grey exists. There are many feelings and thoughts that do not necessarily conform to the definite  world of right and wrong. You surely need to have better communication skills to ensure that being grey doesn't lead you to being misunderstood, but it is okay. 

Then there are situations where there is no room for grey. There is no scope for interpretations. It's either black or white. If you say it is not white, then it is automatically black. If you do not say it is white, even then it is black. 

And an important learning is to know when and how to differentiate. To understand, to learn, and to move on. 

my issue is me

That is the problem.

Timeless

Priyam has done a series of round up posts on her blog, one of them being her 12 moments of the year through the viewfinder. So I thought I should do something similar too. I don't really have pictures as pretty as hers, but when I started browsing through the 2012 folder, I thought of doing two sets - places and people. So, here goes....  

You saw it earlier in the month, but this sunrise in Rajasthan was definitely the most beautiful one this year. 

                                                                

A numb evening with yellow lights over the river (Panjim, Goa)

Pondicherry's streets were a delight to walk through

I sat here for two hours as the sea breeze and my mind sang in harmony  (Ross Island, Andaman) 

There's nothing I haven't already said about being here. It was out of the world! (Lahaul, Himachal Pradesh)

This drive, these rains were easy to relate to because the alternative was to think about work (Odisha)

The little bubble that I live in was bursting with excitement when I went for this photo exhibition on Delhi's history

Lights and symmetry! (New Delhi)

This comes very close to the sunset that I actually experienced a day later. No company, no accessories, just me, the sea and the sun.  (Wandoor, Andaman)

Before I dozed off that afternoon (By the Bhaga river in Darcha, Lahaul)

An afternoon at a different island at Andaman. Had a damp forest behind me. Corals all around. It was the hour of reflection. (North Bay)

Liberating was the feeling!

And the people...

When Suvvir was nameless and just a few days old. Been five months already/

The palace inside Jaisalmer Fort had soo many artefacts to go through! (with Vidha)  

My moment of touristy happiness. Had just seen the sun rise on the east coast. And this was the only moment we halted inside the Sun Temple at Konark (with Anand behind the camera)

I never use people pictures for my wallpapers. This has been the only exception. (with Swetha at Deepak Taal)

Mommy!

The week that Milan and I completed a year in office (with Priyam and Vidha)

Farewells make me uncomfortable (with Daksh)

Spent some fine time in Goa with Ranjan

My dearest, most beautiful friends!

Evenings at Morrison never disappoint (with Robin, Swetha and Priyam)

From another classic evening at Morrison. Ladies night this time! (with Priyam, Milan and Vidha)

Suvvir's first Diwali with his grandparents

This took a while putting together. Hopefully, I shall only see you on the other side of the calendar now. Much love!