For once I am thankful to this city. I still miss Delhi everyday, but thanks to the arduous commute I have recultivated a habit I had lost out on over the last couple of years in B-school - Reading. The one hour train ride between work and home has given me a chance to catch up on my reading. My weekends are spent at bookstores and a substantial portion of my credit card dues are for book purchases. While my mother complains about lack of space to stash my purchases, I can't help but succumb to the smell of a new book. I think it's time for that new set of shelves in my room back home in Delhi!
Sunday, November 04, 2007
Monday, August 13, 2007
Friday, July 27, 2007
Thursday, July 26, 2007
The last time I saw alokgarg43
Was a couple of days ago when he took me out to dinner at the Taj. Best way to cheer me up after living through hell in Mumbai over the last 2 months. How thoughtful of him. Honestly, this gesture was most unexpected.
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
Why I want to go to Lapland
Why wouldn’t I want to go to this place? What isn’t there? Snow, reindeer, the Northern Lights, insane light and dark timings, and of course SANTA CLAUS!!!
See more progress on: Lapland
Why I want to go to Liechtenstein
Interesting from a philatelist’s point of view, I want to visit tiny Liechenstein and buy stamps and postcards from local post office. I’ll send the postcards and keep the extra stamps. :D
See more progress on: Liechtenstein
The last time I saw Kapitan Niemand
Was at lunch today at Fountain Sizzlers. Hoping for many more such meetings atleast in the 14 weeks that he’s in Mumbai for. One of the only people in this world that I can be myself with.
Monday, July 23, 2007
What is my true calling?
I'm already unhappy. Or is it because I'm just so fussy? What I really want to do in life is travel around the world and write about it. When can I? Am I a traveller trapped in a banker's body?
Sunday, July 22, 2007
A New Perspective
Everything that I complained about while being in Delhi I now worship. The annoying traffic jams for no reason (especially the 'gridlocks' that occur out of nowhere), the incessant breaking of traffic rules by everyone, the curfew imposed on me by my folks, the constant involvement of my family in my life, the horrible weather,
In the end, Delhi is where my home is, where my family is, where my special someone is, where my heart will always be. I may be an anomaly of nature, for I am not one who has taken to the cosmopolitan, corporate Mumbai. Friends and family told me I'd love it here. But for me there was nothing here that I didn't have.
Freedom is something many people yearn for. One usually experiences it when they move out of home and move into hostel. But there still lies a protected environment, in whatever small form. Once you begin to work and begin to earn one's keep, financial freedom, is a feeling which is mind-numbing to say the very least. No more scrimping and scrounging on the pocket money which was just never enough. But it goes beyond money too. There is the freedom to be out at whatever time you want to, to eat pizza for dinner every damn day without someone breathing down your neck telling you to eat dal-chawal, to invite any number of friends over whenever you want to, to buy that expensive pair of shoes that you just had to have, to pack your bags and leave on a mini-vacation without giving a thousand explanations and reasons.
But today I realise that what my parents said was so true. There was nothing that I was deprived of. I had all the freedom you could imagine. What restrictions were imposed on me were because they cared. In fact, a small civil discussion with them often ended up with me getting my way, whether it was a late-night curfew or a raise in my allowance.
I don't associate freedom with Mumbai. I associate suffocation. From the tiny roads overflowing with vehicles, to the murky water of the sea, to the travelling in the local trains with barely any space to breathe, to the basic absence of footpaths, to the tiny houses (I mean, apartments!), I fail to see how someone can grow to love this place so much. Either I haven't given myself enough time to like this city, or maybe I just happened to see the negative side of it. Whatever it may be, my home is where my heart will always be.
In the end, Delhi is where my home is, where my family is, where my special someone is, where my heart will always be. I may be an anomaly of nature, for I am not one who has taken to the cosmopolitan, corporate Mumbai. Friends and family told me I'd love it here. But for me there was nothing here that I didn't have.
Freedom is something many people yearn for. One usually experiences it when they move out of home and move into hostel. But there still lies a protected environment, in whatever small form. Once you begin to work and begin to earn one's keep, financial freedom, is a feeling which is mind-numbing to say the very least. No more scrimping and scrounging on the pocket money which was just never enough. But it goes beyond money too. There is the freedom to be out at whatever time you want to, to eat pizza for dinner every damn day without someone breathing down your neck telling you to eat dal-chawal, to invite any number of friends over whenever you want to, to buy that expensive pair of shoes that you just had to have, to pack your bags and leave on a mini-vacation without giving a thousand explanations and reasons.
But today I realise that what my parents said was so true. There was nothing that I was deprived of. I had all the freedom you could imagine. What restrictions were imposed on me were because they cared. In fact, a small civil discussion with them often ended up with me getting my way, whether it was a late-night curfew or a raise in my allowance.
I don't associate freedom with Mumbai. I associate suffocation. From the tiny roads overflowing with vehicles, to the murky water of the sea, to the travelling in the local trains with barely any space to breathe, to the basic absence of footpaths, to the tiny houses (I mean, apartments!), I fail to see how someone can grow to love this place so much. Either I haven't given myself enough time to like this city, or maybe I just happened to see the negative side of it. Whatever it may be, my home is where my heart will always be.
Making It On My Own
I relocated to Mumbai 2 months ago. Initially thought to be the best decision I made (primarily career-wise), I am now inclined to think otherwise.
As my emotional highs and lows are more frequent occurrences than before, you can be sure of numerous posts from my end narrating my experiences as I 'struggle' to acclimatise myself to this godforsaken city called Mumbai.
As my emotional highs and lows are more frequent occurrences than before, you can be sure of numerous posts from my end narrating my experiences as I 'struggle' to acclimatise myself to this godforsaken city called Mumbai.
Thursday, May 10, 2007
The Best of Times and the Worst of Times
The 2 and a half months between convocation and joining work can well be a test of your patience. With absolutely nothing to do and no commitments whatsoever, this period is one that is sent from up above. But are we ever satisfied with what we have? The grass is always greener on the other side.
I have been pulling my hair out ever since I got back home from L. The first couple of weeks were refreshing. Waking up late, no reports to write, no exams or quizzes coming up. But I missed the excitement that I had left behind. Everyday was a reminder that my student life is over. Everyone keeps reminding me how this time should be cherished because it will never come back. Why then am I at the end of my road? I have nothing to do. I've met up with friends, have spent time with my family, have watched a zillion movies and tv serials, have caught up on my hobbies (primarily, philately). What now? Was being idle ever a reason to be stressed out?
While I can't wait for work to start, my special someone has already officially joined the rat race. Complaining to each other about our daily boredom, we both thought he was the lucky one to be the first to escape it. A week down the line opinions have changed. I am being advised to make the most of my freedom over the next 2 weeks. And here I was thinking I was going to die because of an empty life.
Reading is one thing, though, that still catches my interest. I have stayed up nights to finish a book. Sometimes, having succumbed to exhaustion (doing nothing the whole day oddly leaves you very tired at night!) I have fallen asleep early only to wake up mid way to get back to my book. What I read varies depending on what I laid eyes on first. As is obvious, I read a variety of literature ranging from intellectual to plain trashy (MBs are a tad too trashy for my liking though). A snapshot of what I've read lately should explain this better.
I have been pulling my hair out ever since I got back home from L. The first couple of weeks were refreshing. Waking up late, no reports to write, no exams or quizzes coming up. But I missed the excitement that I had left behind. Everyday was a reminder that my student life is over. Everyone keeps reminding me how this time should be cherished because it will never come back. Why then am I at the end of my road? I have nothing to do. I've met up with friends, have spent time with my family, have watched a zillion movies and tv serials, have caught up on my hobbies (primarily, philately). What now? Was being idle ever a reason to be stressed out?
While I can't wait for work to start, my special someone has already officially joined the rat race. Complaining to each other about our daily boredom, we both thought he was the lucky one to be the first to escape it. A week down the line opinions have changed. I am being advised to make the most of my freedom over the next 2 weeks. And here I was thinking I was going to die because of an empty life.
Reading is one thing, though, that still catches my interest. I have stayed up nights to finish a book. Sometimes, having succumbed to exhaustion (doing nothing the whole day oddly leaves you very tired at night!) I have fallen asleep early only to wake up mid way to get back to my book. What I read varies depending on what I laid eyes on first. As is obvious, I read a variety of literature ranging from intellectual to plain trashy (MBs are a tad too trashy for my liking though). A snapshot of what I've read lately should explain this better.
I haven't read the entire collection yet. Getting used to the 1st book was interesting. But it's a short one, so sailing through it isn't much of a problem. But stopping there leaves you wanting more. Personally, I'm not a fan of science fiction. So I've decided to give a gap between each book of this "trilogy". I'm reading other books in between. So, till now I've completed the 1st two. Can't wait to start on the 3rd.
This one's a laugh. I'm still wondering how the author got away with a book like this. The royal family has been ripped apart in this novel. While a disclaimer in the beginning mentions how the names are "purely coincidental", a few chapters into the book will confirm otherwise. A nice take on England and it's most talked about family. An entertainer on a hot summer day.
This was a very very interesting read. Simple language with large font made it seem like something a primary scholl child would read. The award mentioned on the cover confirmed my doubts. But the author has actually written the book through the eyes of a child siffering from autism. An eye opener, I ended up doing a search on the illness.
Friday, April 13, 2007
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
Gripped
I'm no fancy-shmancy literary critic, but I do know a weak idea when I see one. So I thank god for Dan Brown's addictive style of writing. I cannot bear to put down this book and just HAVE to finish it as soon as I can. Every chapter makes me want to read on further. Sadly, I have a feeling that there is not going to be much in store in the end.
"Act Your Age"
But what about the child inside me?
What about the part of me that needs reassurance now and then?
What about the little pang of jealousy I can feel sometimes?
What about the need for a warm hug and a kiss from my loved ones once in a while?
What about the anxiety that strikes when something important is on the line?
What about the little bit of stagefright that I feel when I have an important presentation to make?
What about my dad still calling me his "baby"?
What about how I act when I'm with "you"? Someone I am comfortable being with no matter how I feel everyday.
What about the part of me that needs reassurance now and then?
What about the little pang of jealousy I can feel sometimes?
What about the need for a warm hug and a kiss from my loved ones once in a while?
What about the anxiety that strikes when something important is on the line?
What about the little bit of stagefright that I feel when I have an important presentation to make?
What about my dad still calling me his "baby"?
What about how I act when I'm with "you"? Someone I am comfortable being with no matter how I feel everyday.
Thursday, March 22, 2007
Irony
I just glanced at the back cover of 'The Wish List'. The tag line reads 'Who says a modern girl can't believe in fairytales?'. :O The universe is mocking me!
(refer to my previous posts)
(refer to my previous posts)
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
Tormented by bad chick-lit
Oh my god! This book is becoming torturous to complete. I do like my share of chick lit once in a while. But this one takes the cake. 3 women living almost 'Sex and the City' style, based in Australia. And it is written as though a 12 year girl would write a romance novel about the cute boy she has a crush on. Does it get any worse?
Fairytales
One of the most depressing things in life is learning that nothing around you turns out to be a fairytale. Families aren’t perfect, friends aren’t perfect. We usually, then, tend to focus on what we feel we have more control on – our careers. When we face hurdles there, the fairytale comes to an abrupt end again. But the one thing that hurts most is relationships.
Call me a hopeless romantic, but isn’t love supposed to be like it is in the books and movies? Fine! I know I’m in dreamland. But I’ve always had a certain idea of a perfect relationship. Recently I thought I had finally hit the jackpot. By ‘recently’ I mean about a year ago. But as always, things have to go haywire and the good times give way to bad. The fairytale seems to be ending here as well. What else is left to still dream about?
Call me a hopeless romantic, but isn’t love supposed to be like it is in the books and movies? Fine! I know I’m in dreamland. But I’ve always had a certain idea of a perfect relationship. Recently I thought I had finally hit the jackpot. By ‘recently’ I mean about a year ago. But as always, things have to go haywire and the good times give way to bad. The fairytale seems to be ending here as well. What else is left to still dream about?
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