Unloading my think tank...

I have something to confess. I went to watch Asia Cup match last year here where this incident took place. It was at the stadium; entry is free for all. I guess its a move to popularise the sport, and I could see that for every match, the stadium was jam-packed. This one was during the finals - India vs Korea. Me, Paro and her 2 friends went to see the match. We sat on those cement benches. We'd taken the Indian flag along with us and also made some pickets to encourage our team. Also, this was sometime after the bomb blasts at Hyderabad. So, there we are enjoying the match and having a good time. Suddenly, I hear cries of "Allah hu Akbar"! A bunch of guys sitting behind us were shouting it repeatedly. At once, (and I'm ashamed of myself) alarm bells rang in my head! OM MY GOD! What if they want to blow up this place?! What if ... ? Unthinkable questions came into my mind and I couldn't concentrate on cheering our team. The other girls were busy doing it, but my heart was pounding. I whispered my fears into Paro's ears and immediately, she said, we should to the VIP area of the stadium. We had passes, but we chose to sit on the benches cuz we were in a hurry. The queue for VIP area was long, and everyone was being frisked. Whereas to go to the common area, people were just let in. Anyways, she said we should move ASAP to the VIP area and we did. Nothing happened. Match proceeded smoothly, and we won by 7 goals to 2.

I felt really bad about myself. Ashamed. Guilty. Since when did I start thinking that a Muslim praising Allah is a terrorist waiting to blow up the place? Why did I think like that? Does it mean that I'm one of those narrow minded people, who decide whether to befriend a person or not by judging him/her by his/her last name? Or religion? No. A big resounding NO. I'm a person who thinks religion is only a way to have faith in a super power above, the Almighty. It maybe Krishna, Allah, Moses, Jesus - all. And I don't bias anyone on anything. People have a reason to behave the way they do, and the only way is to understand them, not simply judge them. But for that day, I can't seem to forgive myself. Muslims in our country have been wronged. But their methods are not right. Bloodshed is not the answer for anything. But, just because one of them is bad, doesn't mean all end up as terrorists! I have a couple of Muslim friends who love India, and are extremely peace-loving. Recently, all Imams came together and said that what Islamic terrorists are doing is not jihad, its fasad. And fasad is prohibited according to Quran. If today some are fanatics, don't you think that something/someone has rubbed them the wrong way? Who would willingly, for no reason, want to kill people? Who would want to blow themselves up in a hospital, killing sick people and doctors?

The Kashmiris are facing insurgency since 61 years now! 61 years of bloodshed, tension, no peace. They don't enjoy that; they want to get out of it and live in peace. The Islamic Rage Boy hasn't become angry in one day.

For people who've brought in such rich culture and a strong dynasty to our country, least we can do is accept them.

I'm sorry for thinking like that on that day... I have lots and lots to write on this... but this is too long already.

Another thing, do you vote? If you are an Indian and are above 18, please take part in the poll you see on right side of this page. I strongly believe we can bring about change by way of elections, but I've done so only once in twice Lok Sabha that were held (since I turned 18). Do you think too that elections help? India's current Air Force chief says he hasn't cast vote in 10 years! Thats because he's always been on duty during . I was shocked to hear most of my friends haven't voted even once, neither has my hubby. And many even think that its a sham. I wanted to know your opinion.

PS: I've labelled this post as "being Indian" because I strongly believe in एकता में बल है , that Muslims are our brothers and that all Indians do not hate Muslims or judge them.

I've been trying hard to pass time; I have so much idle time I really don't know what to do with it all. And then sometimes there's so much to do, that I hardly have time to breathe. But mostly, its the former. At work, I really do nothing. I add if-else statement in 2-3 events and test them. That's a "project" mind you. I'm sick of it all I can't wait to run away from all this.

So to pass time, I'm trying out various new dishes in the kitchen, the results of which are on my food blog for all and sundry to see. I haven't written some of the recipes that I tried (and were really good), I promise to do that soon. Meanwhile, its caramel custard and washing clothes tonight on the schedule once I reach the house. All I do at work is nothing. I'm so bored of it all. Now that SB has quit, it makes it all the more yawn-inducing. Others in the team ask me, "so you feeling alone?", "you missing her?", "your cubicle seems quiet" - hell ya I miss her! We gossiped and chatted away till 6 PM, and then left for our houses together. It was fun yeah. Now, its all quiet. And though I go to lunch with a group, the same problem persists - TAMIL BOLNA NAHI AATA! I've given up. I'm so through with these girls that I assume that I'm eating alone. Really, its that bad.

Forget it. I had a good time in Bangalore the weekend before last when we went to attend RK's wedding reception. Poor thing had a fever of 102. Then when they were given garlands, they put it around their own neck rather than their partner's, saying its too embarrassing to do in front of a crowd, and on the stage. Hehehehe. Food (the main thing why I went) was yummy - I love the Karnataka cuisine. And when I'm having authentic dishes after months, you can't really say that I hardly eat. I guess I subconsciously starve before a Kannada wedding hahahahahaha.

Then the tuesday following that, we went to watch Singh is Kinng. A small incident before I give my verdict on the movie. Once me and hubby were relaxing and we recalled an incident in which something happened (details unimportant) to which hubby said, "bakwaas tha ekdum". I said, it was not just "bakwaas"... like bakwaas ki hadd paar kar di types. So I coined a new word for that - KABWAAS! Effect can be felt when you said it loud, with emphasis on the "WA", and also, stretch the "WAAS" a little more. That's when you put across your point of that stuff/incident/whatever being over bakwaas limit, hence KABWAAAS! So coming back to my point, this movie was KABWAAAAAS! Comedy? Comedy ke naam pe Great Indian Laughter Challenge ka current season chal raha tha. That bad. But Akshay Kumar was good, as usual. Katrina Kaif looked gorgeous. How can someone look this pretty?! :-)

Then last weekend, long weekend in India due to Aug 15 being our Independence day - began real quick for me. From wednesday! I called in sick cuz I wanted to pack my bags and also the mehendi waali was supposed to come to my place. She came at 5, for her appointment at 2 (very good) and I got henna only on my palms - both hands. No time for back of the palms :-( Anyway, we went to Hubli and had so much fun! The weather over there was breezy, cool, and a temp of 25 deg C max kept us cool. KK looked radiant (it was her engagement ceremony) and we really had so much fun! I met most of them after my wedding - which means close to 2 years! :O Anyway, my niece has gotten cuter and as usual, is playful and never cries. If I ever decide to have a baby, I want a girl - exactly like her :-) And it turns out that this gawky, nerdy, geek is no more a simple belle. I'm talking about me. I've become good at applying make up. Credit goes to all my sister-in-laws - pure Punjabi girls. Before my marriage, I used to pull up my jeans and tee, brush my hair, spray deo and walk out of the house. Now, I take care of how I look - and I enjoy that. Kabhi kabhi aate hai occasions, to subtle make up lagaana chahiye. So all cousins were like "whats this, what have you applied here, let me too, do you have that blush/eyeliner/gloss/bindi with you now? Can you apply make up on my face" - So I had a line of girls waiting, including the bride-to-be. I happily obliged. Made me so happy to see them line up. And yes, I kept it minimal, as I'd done for mine. Sab khush.

After the ceremony, we went to stay over at Poo's house for the rest of our trip. Sukanya moushi is total fun and so is Poo. Poo's getting engaged this Nov, and she was gushing about her groom-to-be, who is a hi-fi aerospace engineer working in Atlanta. Her mom made awesome jowar-bhakri for lunch - traditional North Karnataka fare! Man I couldn't get enough of those! And she packed some of that gurolpudi chutney for me :-) yummy!

What else? We returned to this sad city on sunday afternoon and aur kya. WORSHT place this is. Can you guys guess where I live in India?

I miss mom. She'll back this month-end from US and I can't wait to see what she's got for me :D Bas, nothing else to write. I'm waiting for time to pass by quickly. Lot of things waiting to happen :-) I hope its all what I wished for :-)

I am a Snapdragon What Flower Are You?

"Mischief is your middle name, but your first is friend. You are quite the
prankster that loves to make other people laugh."

Whoa! I didn't even know that Snapdragon was the name of a flower! If someone told me that I'm a Snapdragon, I'd snap, bring on my dragon avtaar, and say to them - "hey you watch what you saying before you are sorry!" :D

Say, does the snapdragon flower smell sweet? Cuz I was recently given Salvatore Ferragamo's Incanto (as a gift) and also use Burberry London. Just curious....

Gimme a SIGNATURE!

Or specifically Suleman Mirza, there's a looker you've got! The dance duo Suleman and Madhu Singh of Signature kick 'arse'! I guess most of you'll have heard of them and even seen their videos on youtube (or met him if you stay in UK). Here's one I've got from youtube :D





I watched 'The Happening', 'Aamir' and 'Sarkar Raj'. The latter 2 at home, downloaded through Limewire. Piracy? Wellwhaddyagonnado, everyone does it.

Sarkar Raj is okay; its all hype. As usual Aishwarya can't act. But pretty she is :-) Very pretty. If you've seen last 30 mins of the movie, thats enough. You can save yourself the initial 1 and half hours of bore. The Happening is not so happening. It lacks the brilliance of Sixth Sense, but is much better than the Lady in Water. No need to watch it in theatre. Wait until the DVD/VCD is out. Or Limewire ;-)

Aamir, is a must watch. I never thought Rajeev Khandelwal could act. Of course, I steered clear of his daily soap and only read about his feud with Ekta Kapoor (idle at work is my justification to subject myself to torture of TV gossip). Back to the movie. He mentioned that most parts of th emovie was shot with hidden cameras, and that he got stares from the public when following instructions from the director.
About the plot: Its the story of how an urban Muslim doctor, played by Rajeev Khandelwal, finds his life suddenly thrown out of gear the minute he lands at Mumbai. His luggage is stolen, a mobile is thrust into his hands, and he's forced to carry out whatever the man on other end of the mobile asks him to do. His family is held to ransom. He knows of the enormity of the grave danger task only in the end; he's led to believe that he only has to deliver money to somebody and that he'll get his life back after that. He's made to go through the dirtiest, filthiest of Bombay's slums/areas, and is made to think that he's not doing enough for his community, i.e the Muslims. Rajeev doesn't buy the argument and says that a man can make his own destiny, religion has got nothing to do with it. Does he carry out the job and frees his family, or he backs out to do what (he thinks) is right - marks the end.

Its a well thought-of and well directed movie. The lead actor is very apt for the part, and his dialogues of how religion is no deterrent to come up inliffe, is not at al preachy. It sounds like its coming from a man who's led a simple, though hardworking life. The locations are realistic; you feel for the actor as he huffs and puffs his way through those streets, to complete the unknown man's job. I'd give it 3 stars out of 5.



And what the hell is happening in Zimbabwe? Rubert Mugabe doesn't want to quit. The first round elections held in March, in which Morgan Tsangvirai won, signalled end of Mugabe, so now Mugabe's supporters are killing Tsangvirai's supporters and other commoners who don't vote for him. Poeple have started applying ink on their fingers themselves to show they've voted (just to escape Mugabe's monsters), and on knowing this Mugabe's men have started cross-checking it with the people's voter IDs. Kitna bura haal hai wahan. All this violence in a country that got independence in 1981, whose unemployment is above 80%, inflation is at 100000% (yes one lakh percent. 1 US $ = 7 billion Zimbabwean dollars). People have 500 million dollar notes over there they use to buy vegetables! Hai o rabb! Kya ho raha hai duniya mein? Whats the world coming to?


And here's some feel-good news. WALL-E has released! Waste Allocation Load Lifter, Earth-Class-- thats WALL•E!!



Its an animation movie by Pixar, the lead is the cute robot called WALL-E. The movie has almost no sound, except for the sounds and grunts of WALL-E. It captures the story of this robot in an Earth where humans no longer exist. There's a pile of garbage all over the world. And he starts collecting and adding them to his souvenir collection. An animation movie with no voice? Only a robot? And a set that screams 'Earth is now full of garbage'? As an animation movie fan , take my word for it - it's gonna be a great movie. Check out this article on Time magazine. I can hardly wait for it! Here's the trailer!

I'm putting drugs into my eye and also taking drugs orally. I hope this ordeal gets over quickly. Doc asks me to have patience. Patience gaya tel lene yaar yeh jhamela theek karo jaldi.

I tried baking cake last weekend. It was a little crumb-y in the middle :( I used microwave oven. Should've known. I even took photos for my food blog hoping it'd come out like it did when I had electric oven. Alas, I was reminded that I have miles to go in cooking. (If it gives you the impression that I pressurize myself, you are right. I also (conciously or otherwise) encourage others to do so. OCD?)

A girls' evening out is much needed. Really, things around me are stiffling.

I asked mom to bring the guitar along. I want to join classes again!

I also have power yoga on my mind.

Which means I'll end up doing neither... lets not get there!

Mom left for US. She's going to NYC, NC, MA, MI... phew! I met Narain Karthikeyan at the airport and he was so nice. Happily obliged for a photo with me!

I feel guilty about being superficial, at times. I mean, I can be a little superficial, isn't it? As long as I don't harm anyone... then why do I feel so? And its not that I feel like being a tyagi and heading to the Himalayas. Where do I draw the line?!

I checked my weight just now. 46 kg. Not bad eh? There was a phase, of years, where I stood at 43 no matter what I ate. Or didn't.

I am crving for some lip-smacking, bowl-licking, mushroom and spinach soup. I find cooking therapeutic. It does depend on my mood, but not just happy moods anymore. When I'm feeling a little blue, I start thinking cooking what can perk me up, and do it. That way, end of it, I have something quantifiable. Satisfying.

Sometimes I think all this crap about being happy no matter what, is a big fat load of shit. When I'm feeling sad/angry, first thing I do is accept it. Whats the big hue and cry? I'm not an angel. Who's to say what I can feel or not feel? you want me to think otherwise, convince me. Else, leave me alone I'll handle it. And I can't pretend something didn't happen, when it actually has. I can't pretend something didn't affect me, when it actually has, very deeply. I have every right to do things the way you do. Why should it be any different for me? And for what?

Phew. *breathe in, breathe out*

"Hope is a dangerous thing. Hope can drive a man insane. Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies."

... to one of those online personality judgement quizzes...

You are Elizabeth Bennet of Pride & Prejudice! You are intelligent, witty, and tremendously attractive. You have a good head on your shoulders, and oftentimes find yourself the lone beacon of reason in a sea of ridiculousness. You take great pleasure in many things. You are proficient in nearly all of them, though you will never own it. Lest you seem too perfect, you have a tendency toward prejudgement that serves you very ill indeed.

You too can take the quiz here!

I like the way her hair is done...

Na main moman vich maseetan,
Na main vich kufar dian reetan,
Na main pakan vich paleetan.
Na main andar bed kitaban,

Na main rehnda phaang sharaban,
Na main rehnda mast kharaban.
Na main shadi na ghamnaki,
Na main vich paleetan pakeen,

Na main aaabi na main khaki.
Na main aatish na main paun,

Bulla ki jana main kaun (4)

Na main arabi na lahori,
Na main hindi shehar Nagaori,
Na hindu na turk pashauri.
Na main bhet mazhab de paya,

Na main aadam hawwa jaya,
Na koi apna naam dharaya.
Avval aakhar aap nu jana,
Na koi dooja hor pacchana,

Mai ton na koi hor syana.
Bulle shah kharha hai kaun,

Bulla ki jaana main kaun (4)

Na main moosa na pharoah,
Na main jagan na vich saun,
Na main aatish na main paun,
Na main rahnda vich Nadaun,

Na main baitthan na vich bhaun,
Bulle shah kharha hai kaun

Bulla ki jaana main kaun....

***

Here's the English translation:
Not a believer inside the mosque, am I,
Nor a pagan disciple of false rites,
Not the pure amongst the impure,
Neither Moses, nor the Pharoah,
Bulleh! to me, I am not known

Not in the holy Vedas, am I,
Nor in opium, neither in wine,
Not in the drunkard's craze,
Neither awake, nor in a sleeping daze,

Bulleh! to me, I am not known

In happiness nor in sorrow, am I,
Neither clean, nor a filthy mire,
Not from water, nor from earth,
Neither fire, nor from air, is my birth,

Bulleh! to me, I am not known

Not an Arab, nor Lahori
Neither Hindi, nor Nagauri,
Hindu, Turk (Muslim), nor Peshawari,
Nor do I live in Nadaun,

Bulleh! to me, I am not known

Secrets of religion, I have not known,
From Adam and Eve, I am not born,
I am not the name I assume,
Not in stillness, nor on the move,

Bulleh! to me, I am not known

I am the first, I am the last,
None other, have I ever known,
I am the wisest of them all,
Bulleh! do I stand alone?

Bulleh! to me, I am not known


PS: Its really late and I want to read. I'll update this tomorrow. For now, breathe in and let the meaning of the lyrics make you calmmmmmm. Om.