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Thursday, May 19, 2011

One happy revolution it's been :)



It was extremely hot today and I was trying to pack my bags (I’m leaving town for a month in a couple of days). The doorbell rang, and my brother yelled and asked me to come out. I was already hot and bothered and I felt even more irritated when he asked me to come all the way out. “What?!” I asked him (with the most annoyed expression on my face) as I came out and he gestured towards the door. A man stood with a package wrapped in bright red paper. He smiled as he himself started to unwrap it. I just stood in shell shocked surprise as I saw what it was. Ten gleaming, fresh, beautiful pink and red gerberas in a round glass vase. “Wow” was my first reaction. I was grinning like an imbecile. “OH my God, WOW!” was my second. I took them from him and held them close to me. “OH MY GOD. Shit, this is so awesome!” was my third reaction. My hands were shaking as I signed on the man’s paper.

After he was gone, I went crazy ballistic! I started jumping holding it in my hands, squealing “ohmygodohmygodohmygodohmygodohmygod!” while my brother stared at me with the expression which says “ugh, just WHY are girls like that?” I was afraid I might just drop the vase and it might break, so I placed it carefully on the table and admired the flowers from every angle for a long time. Ahh, they were SO beautiful. And SO pretty. They beamed at me, in the bright yellow sunlight. I am somehow not a big fan of roses, especially red ones. I mean, of course they are pretty, but they seem to be a bit arrogant. Ever notice how they’re all closed up? Like how some very good looking people look through half-closed eyes? Anyway, I absolutely ADORE gerberas! They’re the happiest-looking flowers I’ve ever seen! So open, so big, with their petals all open and bright and fresh! They seemed to be smiling at me. I couldn’t help jumping some more.


It was more than just a surprise. It was MUCH more than that. It’s amazing how one simple act can transform your mood and transform you. It’s not every day that you feel what I felt today. It’s not every day that your heart swells up and you feel like you will explode because you can’t take that much of happiness altogether. I haven’t been able to stop myself from smiling. I am gone, I am so gone. I’ve been off my rocker all day and I’ve to study for an exam. Sigh, I don’t care about anything anymore. I've been hugging the flowers, kissing them, and touching the petals. I’ve gone bonkers!

Thank you ever so much. My heart wants to come out of its rib cage and sing a song for you. Karaoke. You’re amazing and a half plus one! A million colon-phies! “Love you like a monkey on fire”!

P.S. Every second spent with you has been amazing. And I want the next 31,556,926 seconds of our lives to be THIS awesome as well! :D

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

A place I called home



Lately I’ve been having long, intricate, adventurous dreams every single night. The ones that make you feel like you haven’t really slept properly because your mind hasn’t exactly been to rest. I don’t mind dreaming, (in fact, I love it); what I do mind is when the dream vanishes as soon as I wake up. By vanishes I mean, that when I open my eyes, it just slips out of my hand. Poof! Even if I squeeze my eyes shut and try to recall it, it just won’t come back to me. And that REALLY bugs me. It’s like I’ve just seen an entire two hour movie and I’ve forgotten as soon as it finished. And sometimes I just know that the dream was good.
The same thing happened with me today and I just sat and hmpfed. I got up lazily, stretched and yawned. It came back to me when I was brushing my teeth. It just swooshed right back at me! I remembered my dream after all! I stood still for a moment as I remembered how beautiful it had been!

I was back in school again. I was there with my college friends, but the funny thing was: I was a kid. I couldn’t see myself, but because it was my dream, I knew it. It was the same field again, the same premises, the same old swings; the merry-go-round. How many times had I dared to swing myself upside-down on that monkey ladder, just to prove how brave I was to my friends even though I personally used to hate doing that? The grand old swing which we used to call ‘phisal-patti’ as toddlers. How many times had I been pushed down it by that big bully back in LKG? The church, the beautiful buildings, the Claudine Block, the gorgeous statues of Jesus and Mary and the lush green trees all around. My school it was. My second home for fourteen long years. I hated it, I loved it. I dreaded it, I was eager to go to it.

Everyday was a new adventure. My class was the perfect smorgasbord of kids who were lovable, naughty, absurd, irritating and plain crazy. My school made me what I am today. The small problems I faced there, taught me how to deal with the bigger issues in life. The little lessons learnt in those Value Education classes, did prove to add to my character. The amazing English teachers that I had are the ones who inspired me to write in the first place.

(The garden in front of the Claudine Block)

(The old building and the old Basketball court)


“Wow, our school looks so beautiful and peaceful in the evening right? Without all the hustle bustle and the noise?” I said to my friends sitting with me in the dream, who did not respond. I smiled as I lay there on the ground. Right under the neem tree where we used to sit together when we’d get tired of playing ‘Red Letter A’ and ‘Crocodile Crocodile’. There was a cool breeze blowing, and the sky was orange and purple and cloudy. There were birds flying over the graveyard. It was all so fresh and so clear.


I thought of the teachers, singing Christmas carols in the warm winter sun, sprawled across on the corridors against each other during free classes, the free spirited, sweet innocent two-ponied girls trotting about and later, the surging adolescent female hormones and the cat fights, free ice cream and secret santa, the feast of Dina Belanger and St. Claudine Thevenet. It was a completely different world altogether. So distant from what it is now. Nostalgia shrouded me like never before. I closed my eyes and sighed.

I feel like I haven’t valued my school as much as I should have. I need to visit my school again. I need to see our names within little hearts, engraved behind the field, on the wall of an old water tank. And I need to meet those four stupid friends of mine, whom I haven’t met properly in ages. They’d know I’m talking about them if they’re reading this.

I know I should have said this earlier but, Arrivederci St. Patrick’s Junior College. I miss you. 



(Last day of school)

Saturday, May 14, 2011

Joypur Ahoy!


(Our team at the first Local Committee Meeting)

If I leave out the episodes that took place right before I left for my Jaipur trip, and the episodes that soon followed it, I would like to say that it was one of my craziest and most entertaining trips so far! Things became a little interesting since I joined AIESEC—the world’s largest global youth organization. It is already running in 22 cities all over India (and in 110 countries worldwide) and I was more than glad it came to Agra as well. One of the good things about AIESEC turned out to be the excitable, energetic people I met from all over my own city who I had no idea about. During our first training session, when I first interacted with everybody, I realized that I had underestimated the people in my town. All of them were bright, friendly, enthusiastic young people and it was a pleasure meeting them all. But more on this later; this post is about the trip.

Last month, the AIESEC Jaipur team conducted their Annual social event ‘Utsav’ on the 30th of April and they invited all of us as well. It’s an event where around hundreds of underprivileged children get to showcase their abilities through cultural performances and they get to spend an entire activities-enriched, fun-filled day.  After a LOT of mind-numbing ‘will-you-go?’ and ‘should-I-go?’ sessions, finally it was decided that I was going. It turned out that I was the only girl amongst a bunch of guys who agreed to go. It did seem odd, trust me, when I woke up in the morning and thought to myself “Okay, so I’m going with four other guys in a taxi and I don’t even know them properly.” But then I told myself, “Look, it sounds bizarre, but it also sounds fun. You wanted to be impulsive and crazy, here is your chance. Just go for it!” And I did.

It wasn’t like they were complete strangers anyway. The car ride turned out to be amazing. The road was ever so smooth and the scenery was so picturesque, specked with the Aravalli hills. I sat in the front while these four bubbly, boisterous boys sat behind me; ever babbling, ever bickering.  There was Sid Singh, aka Dexter- a dreamy, lazy, slow guy; but also, extremely interesting and has good taste in movies and books (oh, and he has a blog as well!) Tariq Khan, this guy is funny, quirky and speaks really fast (and a good singer) and passes the funniest of random statements that make me laugh till tears spill out of my eyes. Aman ‘Cut-y’all’, a dimpled, sweet guy who is like so totally sincere about his studies! :P He is awfully teasable and the only non-kid-guy in our group, I felt.  Finally, there was Udit Jain. Cute, funny and very gullible. Oh, and very helpful. From the word ‘Go’ we were chattering away like monkeys who were suddenly given the freedom to speak after weeks of being voiceless. What I really felt good about was the fact that all these people had very good taste in art. We had a blast talking about movies, and music and singing along listening to Coldplay and the likes. We were talking nonstop from the start to the end until the driver had to yell at us to keep it down! On the way, we stopped at a dhaba where Udit and Tariq ran into naked ladies having a bath! Crazy!

We entered Jaipur and were greeted by its perfect blend of monuments and malls. That is what I like about it. It’s historical and modern at the same time. After meeting the rest of our members (Suyash, Rakshit, Amar, Uday, Navdeep, Apurv) at our Committee Coordinator Mansweeny's place, we were off to the venue. For the record, Suyash is one of best people to have been recruited for AIESEC. His energy, fervour is just amazing. Uday and Rakshit are these fun-loving, ‘don’t-give-a-damn’ type of people; while Navdeep and Amar are a little mellow, but always ready for anything. I was blown over when I saw the scene. Hundreds of little kids were swarming all over the place! They were running, squealing, laughing, chattering and some of them dancing exuberantly on the stage while the volunteers were interacting with them, serving food to them and had become little kids themselves. There were about a thousand kids, who came from schools and some NGOs. The venue seemed perfect, there was a stage, a lot of big steps which provided a huge space for the kids to sit and play around and there was a big field as well. We just stood around jobless for a while and met some of the Jaipur AIESEC people we knew and then we were ushered to do some volunteer work. We made the kids stand in two lines while they went and got the food served to them on plates. But the whole line-making scene got a little messy, so we took the plates and served it to them where they were sitting. It felt good, when they smiled in the cutest way ever and received the food.




(Left to right: Amar, Suyash, Tariq, Navdeep, Sid, Mansweeny, Uday, Moi, Udit, Aman, Rakshit)

(Forming lines)


(They'd got the moves)



(Serving food)


There was a drawing competition for the kids. They were provided with sheets, pencils, colours and were asked to draw absolutely anything. They were happy, eager little kids and they all chose a spot where they sat down comfortably; wore their thinking caps and began to draw. I was seriously amazed at AIESEC Jaipiur members’ spirit. Even though it was a scorching hot day, they were full of enthusiasm; they were talking to the kids, motivating them and just having fun. Suddenly I was perked up as well. I went around and saw the drawings the kids were making, talked to them, asked them their names and about their school and their lives and complimented their drawings. Some of the kids actually used their imagination and drew beautifully. My favourite ‘draw anything’ drawing used to be angular mountains at the top, the sun peeping out smiling, a house with chimney and smoke, a river with ducks swimming in it, a tree with mangoes falling off it, and a few V-shaped birds in the sky. Very original, right?

The kids were just adorable, they flashed their teeth as I walked around, showing off their drawings proudly. This one kid in particular I simply loved. His name was Deepak and he made a lot of colourful circles on the paper. I sat down beside him and asked him “ye aapne kya banaya hai?” Pat came his reply, “rang birangey laddoo ki barsaat” and just smiled in the silliest way possible. I couldn’t stop myself from laughing and hugging him. After every ten minutes he would come running up to me and give me updates “didi mere dost ne meri drawing ki cheating ki, par prize to mujhe hi milna chahiye!” He was just so cute and energetic, his eyes were big and bright and full of life.

(Tariq \m/)


(The face of innocence)


(Apurv with the kids)

(Sid's super'vision')


(Tee hee!)


There were sprinklers on the field and the kids were playing around them, getting wet, laughing and dancing. I just looked at them. They were just so cheerful. So innocent. So blissful. There were some deaf and dumb kids who gave a dance performance. It was absolutely brilliant. The little kids were reciting poems on the mic. They were the cutest, most delightful things I’ve ever heard. I was amazed at the energy reverberating throughout. The kids with the best drawings were given prizes. Before we left, Deepak came running to me and yelled a jolly, high-pitched “BYE” and ran off. The whole thing was nothing like I’ve ever experienced. The idea was to give those kids a day where they can have fun, be free, and show their abilities.

On our way back, we stopped at a lounge called Orca where I tried kiwi-flavoured Hookah for the first time! I didn’t get how to do it at first, but later I could make them, big smokey puffs =) We all sat, talked about the day and had a good time. We went home and in the evening we went to have dinner and we went bowling. We were invited to this terrace party and the set up was beautiful. Cozy, illuminated, amazing; and can you believe they were playing Radiohead? ‘High and dry’. I was in love with the place. We just leaned over the railing, felt the breeze blowing on our faces and looked down at the city lights. The traffic, the people, everything seemed to be in such a hurry from up there. On our way back, there were fourteen of us who squeezed into a single auto! It was unimaginable. Four of them were hanging on their arses at the back, and one of them was actually lying over us. It was hilarious and we laughed all the way.

(At Orca)

Back home, we changed, relaxed and just talked. I did not know that the fun wasn’t over yet. We went to the terrace where they played heavy trance music and we played games and danced. (It would not be proper if I divulge into all the details though) Erm, yeah, so all in all, it was ridiculously bizarre and I don’t think I’m ever going to forget it.
The next day we got up at 8, but missed the AC bus and had to buy non AC bus tickets. We were hungry, but nothing was open so early in the morning and we were sitting like beggars in front of KFC.  That was also a fun experience though. Tariq almost fell in a manhole! When the beggar kids came to us to ask for money, Tariq said “agar hamara paas paise hote toh hum aise baithe hote kya?!” The kids seemed quite convinced and none of them came to us again! :P

The bus trip was epic. It was extremely hot and we were surviving on Lays and Nimbooz. We chattered about the previous day, but as it started getting hotter, Sid and Tariq’s energy levels started to come down. Mid-way we stopped at a rest room kind of place and we had ice cream. Sid bought a bottle of Coke and hardly had a few sips when it turned hot. He was so frustrated at that, that he threw the bottle out the window. Udit and I started laughing when Tariq (this guy cracks me up) said “yaar tum log itni garmi mein hans kaise sakte ho?” with the most dejected, ‘I-m-going-to-drop-dead-anytime’ kind of expression on his face. I burst out laughing and laughed till my stomach felt like it will explode with the pain. I had tears in my eyes as I laughed like a maniac while all the other people in the bus looked at me like they were ready to throw me out the window. Thankfully, I slept for a while and we reached Agra. By the way, no matter how much you hate your city, it always feels good when you’re greeted by those familiar roads and places again.

We were welcomed by fresh cold coffee made by Udit’s mom at his place. After two hours of drinking boiling hot water, it was heaven. Back home, I told my mom about the trip. Good that you had a good time”, she smiled. I DID have a good time. Leaving out a few things, I’m sure I’m going to look back upon that trip years later, and smile thinking of how crazy and young and stupid we used to be :)


P.S. A special thanks to Dexter, for his awesome camera and the awesome clicks! :)

Thursday, May 5, 2011

Homo sapiens?



If you are reading this post, then I can safely and confidently assume that you’re a human being. (Or are you?!) Then I’m sure all of you will be able to relate to what I’m going to write. You all know how complex human emotions are. How humans have a tendency of misinterpreting things that people say and making mountains out of molehills. And how they think and overthink and chew over a tiny issue and let it get to them. A tiny little thing can disrupt relationships and uproot all the love a person develops for someone. What’s even more complicated is that every human is totally different and unpredictable. You can never say how he might construe something that he hears or sees. It makes me wonder how it would have been if I were an animal.

I’ll tell you how it would’ve been! It would’ve been awesome! I could have been a handsome giraffe, living in the interiors of a glorious green rainforest. I would have been free and happy and I would have eaten juicy green leaves off trees all day! What fun! Or I could have been a hippo. Lying in the marshy mud waters all afternoon, sleeping and eating and lazing around. Actually, I would have been great at being a crocodile. Because lying on my bed, doing nothing is what I’m best at doing. I would have loved to be a penguin too, a female one. I would have played in the ice, dived into the water and caught fish and my husband would have to take care of the kids! Hah! Ooooh, or I could have been a koala bear! I would have been cute and cuddly and huggable! Eeeeeeee, what about a kangaroo? I would have hopped and hopped and would talk to my little baby inside my pouch. So cute! Actually, I wouldn’t mind being a bird too. Flying high, high, high into the sky, building nests and laying eggs! Oh, I know! I could have been a pig! Going ‘oinky oinky’ and, umm, do you guys know the thing about female pigs? (kheekheekhee) *blush*

Wait, I got it! I’ll be a lion! All the animals would be afraid of me, and all I’ll have to do is sleep, eat and mate! Ahh, that’s the life! Do you see what I’m talking about? All these animals, they don’t have to care about relationships and hurting their partners, or getting married or divorced. They don’t mull over something stupid that a loved one said to them. They don’t pass snide comments to each other and cook ways to hurt the ones they love. They don’t have to cry their eyes out over a break up and have mental breakdowns and then go and visit the shrink to get their heads straight. Is it really such a good thing to be a human being?

Yesterday, while I was thinking about something stupid I said to somebody and feeling all guilty about it, (while also trying to study for my exam) I noticed my dog sleeping peacefully on the floor. She’d kept her face on her paws and she looked so contended. I would want to be her. (I would love to be a tiny puppy!) She gets to eat, she gets to play, she is loved by everyone and all she has to do is sleep and wag her tail. She doesn’t care about studying, or mugging up those stats formulae, or scoring good marks or making her parents happy. Then this one question rang through my head “Why did I have to be a human being?!” Automatically, I thought of ‘The Animal Song’ by Savage Garden and when I listened to it, I realized that was exactly how I was feeling.


“I am having difficulties keeping to myself,
Feelings and emotions better left upon the shelf.
Animals and children tell the truth, they never lie,
Which one is more human, there’s a thought now you decide!

I want to live, like animals; careless and free, like animals.
I want to live, I want to run through the jungle,
The wind in my hair and the sand at my feet.”

So true, right? You wouldn’t even have to live such long lives, full of struggle and strife. Break away from this chaotic, messy, crowded life and go live in the Savannas. Run free and happy and liberated! Have simple, happy, short lives!
But then the next day, I contradicted myself. I AM glad to be a human being. I DO feel lucky to feel all these emotions. How I had this sudden change of views? I came across something which made me feel all happy and warm again! I will share that something with all of you in my next entry. For now, I’d like to dedicate this post to all the wonderful animals the world over! I love you all and you make this planet a magical, exotic, exciting place to live in! Cheers to our wildlife!