SPORTS...

Anyone who knows me a bit will find it strange to read an article on this topic so alien to me. Sports- its just a word to me, something that comprises of cricket, football, tennis and a few others…pictures of which I glance through the paper. I have always read the whole newspaper but I very easily jump from the third last to the last page completely skipping the sports section. I haven’t particularly played any sport, or rather, how much ever I have played cannot be considered a valid amount to say, ‘I have played’ neither do I follow any sport regularly. I must admit though that this attitude is partly because of my schooldays when I was what you call the, ‘plump little girl’ surrounded by much thinner ones and was often ridiculed for it, which deterred me from actively participating in any game. For me PT periods used to be more of a scare than fun. Anyway the idea of this piece is really not to get into my schooldays and lament about my passivity.

The other day my cousin (just about as tall as…oops I mean just about my height and much more petite than me) came home with her white shirt turned brown with mud and hair in a state of shock…the only thing I could make out clearly was her radiant smile with all the 32 visible. She had gone to see volleyball match played by her college. She herself plays basketball (to everyone’s surprise considering her ‘little look’) and lately has taken up volleyball as well. Though I should be the last person who’d add to anything on sports( not even the last...!!) the very fact that I am a good listener makes her tell me everything about the day. And so started off her ebullient description of the matches. She started off with how they won the quarter and semi and landed up to the finals against the toughest team. Her animated account of their cheers, the good hits and the bad ones etc almost took me to the ground live!! On noticing my blank expressions when she mentioned about spikers, lifters and underarm service and over arm service, attack line etc she explained her level best about volleyball as a game. Inadvertently she used to get into the cheer cry tempo in between and relive her moments there. So much for being a sports enthusiast I wondered! It was more than an hour but I knew she could go on for another hour on the same thing!! It was then I realized that even watching a sport could be almost as satisfying as playing one.
Another friend of mine is a great football fan, his account on how it all started and what every match (whether to play or watch) meant to him really makes me sit up and think wow now that’s called passion…
Yet another friend is a devout cricket follower. She never plays but you can vouch on her for correctly giving a count of every four and every six that each Indian would have ever hit!!
My dad, granpa etc are all great sports enthusiast, my granpa used to play badminton, tennis etc till the ripe age of 65.
I wonder why I never came in this league…..its not innate…it is to be developed but I never really did….
A sport is one such hobby or passion that teaches you a lot.. more often without your knowledge. It’s a high spirited fun which teaches you the dichotomy of victory and defeat, dedication and loyalty (towards the game, towards your team) The éclat when your team wins because you hit a six or scored a goal or scored a basket, the guilt when you screwed up at the deciding moment, the effervescence of your captain’s hug when you made it, a playful pat or an angry remark by your coach, your prayers when you want a team you support to win and so on. These are things that I have only heard and imagined not the ones I have experienced which I feel greatly deprived of.
So all you sports freaks…!!! You guys rock…never leave this passion come what may!! Like they say its never too late….you mite jus find me watching sum sport with dynamic enthusiasm someday!!! cheers

an attempt

I see the moonlight glowing with a shine,
It seems to tell me alls gona be fine,
It takes with it the day’s worries,
It promises me it’ll bring a better tomorrow,
That big round circle with the brightest hope of light,
Like it says sleep for the night,
Don’t see the bad you see in the world in your dreams,
C Dreams that brings smiles,
That can take you to miles,
Believe in that sky so blue,
As thou waiting for you,
As thou welcoming you to fly,
Fly as high,
Reach your dreams,
Feel your fantasies,
Don’t look back or down unless you have gone up there,
Keep going, make your destiny,
Its not written, you have to write it,
Go for it says the moonlight….
Go for it says its bright light….

A song not to be missed

My Immortal-Evanescence by Amy Lee…
It starts off on a low note, the only accompaniment being the piano, slowly you can hear amy lee’s voice as though from a far away mountain….she brings depth and passion into her voice and the song slowly picks up scale….these wounds wont seem to heal, this pain is just to real…the sorrow in her voice is such that your heart reaches out to her, it touches you right down your soul and it feels like you are one with the music, your mind flows with the words, the rhythm and the pathos. Although nothing of what the words mean might reflect any situation in your life, you seem to identify with the emotion that the poignant music brings about. Some where deep down inside the longing ness for something/someone, your desires, buried sadness etc comes out and you find solace in the soothing piano and her resonating voice…. I’v been alone all along…reaches the highest note when her voice soo filled with pain yet very strong and sharp comes out at its best…its like taking you into some other world you had kept hidden from yourself…
On the whole, an amazing song…..

halt...peace...run ;)

Have you ever tried meditation? Now... that word might sound like a real big task. Since what I am about to write isn’t exactly about how to meditate etc, let me re-frame the question, ever tried to keep your mind blank for a minute? (students :- this doesn’t include the time when your prof asks you a question about a topic while you were asleep or doodling on a paper…coz that “blank state” happens without you being conscious,hehe) What I mean here is voluntarily keeping your mind devoid of any thoughts for a minute…
“A minute” that’s like “60 sec” it flies away in no time when you are talking with your friends or watching a movie (provided a good one ;) ) and the likes… Jus try it out, I bet you’d be amazed at the plethora of thoughts that cross your mind in those 60 seconds like SRK famously puts it “woh satthar minute” its “woh saat/satthar second” ok apologies for the SRK mention (being an SRK fan I couldn’t resist).
Its like when someone tells you close your eyes and don’t think of a monkey,
FLASH!!! The moment you close your eyes, it’s a monkey’s face that appears from no where!!
Just as you try to disconnect your thoughts, involuntarily atleast 1 or 2 of the following might happen
”I have to take notes from XYZ... OR
areeey I have left the last sum undone.... OR
what time did I say I’d meet Mr.XYZ?..... OR
Is she still angry with me?.... OR
What must be there for lunch today??.....OR
Yesterday’s sheet did not tally properly, I have to check that out... OR
Where did I make a mistake in the code, was it the declaration part or the definition part…..o o I got it…..i haven’t assigned a value to the variable…....OR
this XYZ movie..wonder if we’d get tickets today....OR
I haven’t yet read the newspaper....OR
I hope the cooker doesn’t trouble me today.... OR
what to make for the guests in the evening….... OR aur aur kitna?
So many things running in there constantly.....but its true, that’s our mind, super fast and ever active….thinking wanted as well as unwanted things…
Lets see…..you could get better…..may be by closing your eyes and telling yourself “I should not think of anything now, I shouldn’t think of anything now……” but people that’s also a thought….your mind is still not blank!!!!!
Its strange we aren’t able to maintain a minute of silence or peace within ourselves after loving ourselves so much :p They say it comes with practice and I really do feel that we deserve that kind of a void moment at least once everyday....for all you know it might just help you slow down in this race you run tirelessly day and night for yourself, slow down isn’t lagging behind…by slowing down I mean just halting at intervals for a moment ,revitalizing and starting off with double the speed….

little kid and its sis.......

I was standing at the bus-stop waiting desperately for a 362 ,to reach for my music class. While I was lost in my calculations as to how I’d manage to cover a distance which would normally take 5 min, in 2 min, I was suddenly disturbed by a little slum kid which brushed past me. Apparently he was playing with his elder sister and running after her. I estimated them to be around 3-5 years of age. The kid was wearing an over-sized shirt while his sis ran about in a tattered frock. The kid ran and managed to catch up with his sis’s speed. And they ran back together towards the bus-stop. But the sis quickened her speed and reached to the bus-stop before her brother did and sat on the silver colored seat (the newly renovated bus-stop). It was the only seat left, others being occupied by two viragoes, an old man and a local. The sis smiled, her face lighted up with victory-she had come first and had conquered the seat. She seemed oblivious of the ‘chee’ ‘iissh’ etc of her co-seated people. She had won, and she was enjoying that moment. The kid’s face grew small, he shouted back, “mujhe baitne nahi degi tho main jaaega dekh”(if u wont let me have that seat, I will go) The sis let out a small “aah” a sign of “Like I care….”. The kid started walking away…….he looked back after a step or two…..hoping that his sis would oblige…..but realizing that his outburst dint quite impact his sis’s decision, he resumed walking…..then in a few steps forward he again turned behind….tears glistened in his tiny eyes and he spat out in anger, ‘ main terese baat nahi karega’(I am not going to talk to you)’ and vamoosed…..a few steps…and then stopped on his tracks when he heard a familiar voice calling out “abeeey, chal aa bait jaa’ (heeeey,c’mon u sit) . he ran back towards the bus-stop and she made him sit on her lap…the tears dried up in no time, the kid was all smiles now. It climbed from behind the seat, she got up and helped him in this weird circus. The kid then sat on the seat, now all for himself and she just smiled at her brother. My bus came by then and I had to leave…while boarding I saw back…..the people at the bus-stop had boarded along with me….there were none left there except the two kids who now weren’t interested on those empty seats….they were playing catch n cook running in rounds around the bus-stop….
I don’t know why this picture remains so vivid in my memory, I don’t know what moral I am supposed to pick up from it…I don’t know if I should be comparing it with the ‘o the rich life and o the poor people’…..but I know I enjoyed that 10 minute long scene there and the look on the kid’s face when his sis gave the seat would be there somewhere in my ROM forever…….

Eating on a banana leaf... :)

If you have ever had the chance to attend a south Indian function you would know what this is about. Having gone through the arduous task of sailing through a lunch on the banana leaf one would quite agree that it is indeed an art to manage a lunch on it. But once you master it, it’s more fun than anything.

The wedding is over and people rush in huge numbers towards the dining hall. Generally, two to three rows of long tables are arranged with enough passage in between for the valets to walk. Big, green, banana leaf are laid and its time to settle down. People start with sprinkling little water gently on the leaf and wiping it as though a sign to say, “Bring it on, I am ready for an attack” [One is pretty hungry after the dull wedding though one hardly has any active participation besides dressing and chatting, for having become so tired!!]
There’s a sequence to serving in the traditional banana leaf. First is a spoon of kheer, i.e to start with something sweet. Though for most it is like a movie’s trailer which helps you judge whether the further course would be tasty or not. Next is pachadi (a southie variety of raita with tadka) and crispy brown vada (vadai) to go with it. Next up are two-three kinds of vegetables of which one is mandatory to be spicy. Followed by the famous avail/kootu ( a liquid side dish with n-number of veggies in it). A bit of pickle for the last, and limbu rice (which acc to me they serve in miserly quantities most of the times….darn) of course salt if need be.
Three more to go before the final attack!! Starting with paruppu (Dal), rice and ghee. Hot and spicy sambhar to mix up with the rice, an icing on the cake being the crunchy papads. Its time to start!! Choosing one after the other diligently working your way through tasting and finishing all that is served, a major look out is the server’s speed as well as that of your co-eaters. Since, if you are stuck up with sambhar rice when the pandhi (the current eaters) are through with their rasam rice, then you may have to forgo on rasam…..unless you are brave, patient and vociferous enough to call out to ‘the mama ’and ask him for rasam.
Rasam brings us to a very seminal part of learning this art, by far the most challenging one if you have been brought up to eat with a spoon. You can turn yourself into a jester frantically trying to get things in place. Following criteria’s to be thought of:
1. What is the size of your leaf?
2. What is its current position? Too near to the table’s edge or safely far from you?
3. How filled is your leaf? Can you do some space management?
If the above questions are answered in positive, then you are ready for a kill, else there’s trouble…hehehe. Some tips…..
Once rice is served, make a small partition between the heap of rice, 1st serving---start mixing, second one---take care of the borders lest they make way to your expensive outfit, 3rd serving--- (strictly recommended only for experts) start off!!! Eating rasam rice neatly is a sure portrayal of dexterity.
Payasam next, followed by curd rice with the little pickle at the corner. Once done, you have victoriously completed the task, ready to move out….ouch…too full to move… ;)
Sitting next to naani has given me hands-on-exp and training. Being scrupulous while interacting with the mamas, since a mere nod/low replies will only land you with more. Also between regular intervals, looking out for which mama is serving which dish so as to be prepared for a firm YES/NO ably gestured with your palm over the leaf. Don’t engage in too much talking while rice is being served lest you overstuff yourself or waste food sloppily.
Scientifically, banana leaves make the food more tasty, keep the heat in them intact and due to the constant contact between your hand and leaf, the leave’s juice goes in along with the food which helps in digestion. Its environmental friendly, since its disposal causes no harm and are even given to cows at times as food.

SOOOoooooooo, planning to have lunch on a banana leaf??? ;)

pavsaache prakar.... :P

RAIN CATEGORIES!!!??? :D
I have this weird habit of categorizing and organizing things. Since I loooove rains, this thought just crossed my mind while in the bus, during the monsoons in Mumbai and what better roads than vashi bridge….haaaa
Although this might seema l’l “aiiing” at first, I am sure you’d b able to relate to it 
The first type “I’m there” It starts with small droplets, one where some of them gently wet your face and some fall on the tar roads giving them a polka dot like design. One which makes you feel its subtle presence….the coolness in the air and the vernal freshness that it brings around you. Almost mystic! One where you don’t have to use your car’s wipers, not have to open your umbrellas and not bother about the muddy waters. A good-natured serene, mother like rain which makes you sing a ‘cloud no 9’ or ‘goonji si hai’ and tempt you for a walk down the road with the open sky and its mild shower.
The second type “Catch me if you can” very annoying ones. Unpredictable and almost sardonic since when you are convinced that it aint gona rain i.e. you pack your umbrellas inside a cover and deep into your bag…..you step out and LO!!! Rains are there literally out of the blue….And by the time you manage to fetch your umbrella and open it (that’s when the button gets stuck too!!) the impish rains are gone leaving you drenched!! On the same lines, when you are waiting at the bus-stop it rains, when you get into the bus, it stops!! Its like this five year kid playing on off on off…making the weather humid, damp and should I say us confused!!
The third type “YAWN, a ya I’ll come” most vapid and sultry one. Where it seems like the black clouds is carrying a burden of having to bump into each other and rain for us. Like a lazy fellow who hasn’t opened the shower tap properly. You hear the irritating composition of “tap tap tap’ hitting the roofs of your balcony with the able support of the pigeons flapping their wings till you develop a headache. The atmosphere is neither conducive for hot bhajji and chaai nor for shopping outside. Its lying in between making the surrounds gloomy and sleepy, like hearing a song when the walkman’s battery has gone low……draggy, drappy, crappy hehehe
Last but certainly not the least “Take this, take that and take more” the fighter rains. Bringing lightening and thunder along, it’s this angry young man answering to all those whiners who complained of water shortage. You fold your pants up, carry a chaaata or wind shea…..there’s no escape. Raging sky mercilessly pouring its anger out. Its when you want to call home, but they wont allow you to remove your cell lest your cell conks off…you want to run home but the umpteen number of puddles and flooded streets…you can only swim through them taking diseases along with you…sluggish water…you want to drive fast but the speed of rain much greater than the speed of your wipers. It’s the time when the BMC is cursed, any mobile network is not good enough, potholes are at every half a step, parents are tensed…..chaos!! Once done, when the day ends, the clouds seem calm, smiles and asks…”Howzzzaaat??”
Mumbai rains give you such a variety….jai ho to Mumbai monsoons!!!

my first presentation

My first presentation, PCT-a subject in our curriculum for the 2nd semester. New people, new class, new prof, new college, and me. What to do? How to do? Each one was to prepare a topic and speak it in front of the class. By virtue of my nature, I was very apprehensive of public speaking. The day came and those 3 minutes were one of the longest in my life. I finished it off and sat back. I remember some saying it was good and that although they couldn’t hear me that well, I had done a good job. After that day, it was a new phase for me. Every other presentation of mine was better than the first, be it as a group or as an individual. Today when I think the reason behind the improvement, there is only one thing that comes to my mind and that would be my class-BE COMPS BATCH 2005. Whenever I had to go up on stage I had the confidence that everyone sitting in the audience wanted me to do well. Every face I looked from the stage had the same anxiety as I did while talking. This comfort level is something one develops after a great deal of time, and for me it was a huge thing.