Wedding Chronicles- XI

After all the ceremonies, I was so very tired. Infact, Adesh started making a note of the rituals that we had to go through. Phew!!!

Well, next one week was mostly at home.

The next day, that is, on 20th Nov we went back to my parents place for phera. We stayed there overnight and returned back the next evening. A day later we went to Adesh's ancestral village to pay homage at the Gurudwara there.

But, over that one week, I had very anxious moments. The bride is not supposed to enter kitchen for a minimum of 11 days. This period can go over to 40 days as well. But, I insisted on 11 days. Imagine, everytime you need water, you ask someone to please get it for you, in your own house!!! Though Adesh's family, which is now My Family made me feel very comfortable, I still had initial ionhibitions in terms of opening my mouth too much.

After spending a week at Patiala, we finally returned to Gurgaon, to a new home, to a new life!

Wedding Chronicles- X

Ceremony IX: Reception


The next day, on 19th Nov, there was Reception function. It was a day function, that started at 12.00pm. But for me, the day started pretty early. I left for parlour at around 10.30 am. Again it was the same exercise. Wearing heavy dress, read lehnga, adorning heavy ornaments and putting on make-up. Thankfully, this time it was an old acquaintance of Ma, who has a parlour. So, it was comfortable and customised for me.

At around 12.00, Adesh and my nanad, came to pick me, and we went to the venue. There were already a lot of guests. We were taken for a round of introductions. My neck started aching with constant bowing to the elders, not that I resented it. After coverning every nook and corner of the venue, we were taken for a session by photographers. And that, believe me, is a pain.

After a gruelling half an hour with the camera guys, we went for another painful session. This is called sitting on the stage. Two huge chairs, more like thrones, were set up for us. I couldn't believe that the decorator intended us to sit on those. But we had no option. So, after throwing some tantrums, the newly wed couple went to the stage.

By this time, my parents had arrived. I was so glad to see them. It was a similar feeling that comes when you go to hostel, and parents visit you for the first time. Though it had been just a day that I had been away from them, considering that I stay away from my parents, I was grinning.

It was all set for us to cut the ceremonial, three tier cake. It was a yum pineapple cake. And, we were made to eat so much of it, I think I'll never ever eat pineapple cake agin.

Then, the gifting ceremony and photography started. A lot of smiling!!!

Another hour and we started looking for an excuse to get off the thrones. And, we managed to do that pretty soon. How? We simply hit the dance floor. And then, there was no going back up. We grabbed a couple of VIP chairs (read front row chairs) and watched the family members celebrate our wedding. We were mere spectators!

Jokes apart, after so many days of functions and travelling, we were very exhausted. So, we quickly had lunch. And after another hour or so, we left the venue.

Finally, I could get rid of the make-up, the jewellery and the heavy clothes. And, I watched TV. It was already evening. Relatives had left. It was only the new family. Fortunately, I was the VIP! The next few days would be a test for me, I was wondering. I planned to take it it as it would come.

Wedding Chronicles- IX

Ceremony VIII: Munhdikhai

At around 8.00pm, we reached Patiala, Adesh's home. Everyone was eagerly waiting for the bride! I was delighted at the grand welcome.

My Ma-in-law, first welcomed me at the doorstep with sweets. Then we went inside and I was introduced to all the relatives. Both of us were made to sit on a sofa, and everyone came and gave their blessings, and of course the gifts! It was for bride's munhdikhai (face viewing).

After an hour or so, we had dinner, and finally I could change into a salwar-kameez, and get rid of the heavy jewellery. It was a relief!

Wedding Chronicles- VIII

Ceremony VII: Doli

After Lunch (after Anand Karaj), we left the hotel, accompanied by the band and the entire set of relatives to our home. Ma and Papa and my side of relatives had left a little earlier. So, when we reached, it was all set to make me push out of the house!!! It was quite an emotional atmosphere.

My cousin sisters were given kalicharis (gold bands) by the groom, and they applied mehndi on Adesh's palms.

Then, Ma made us both drink milk. Finally, it was time to say good-bye. As we were coming out in the courtyard, I threw back rice grains, symbolising that I had paid back the debt to my Parents. I was all tears when I was hugging my Parents and Brother. As we sat in the flower decked car, the Doli, Papa, my brother, other male relatives and Pap's friends, all pushed the car till we left the threshold.

The feeling at that moment was so different. I had never thought that I'll feel so sad, considering that I have been staying away from home for more around 9 years. All I could think was that every time there is a chutti, I will not come to this place, but to a new home. And, I was so nervous of being a part of a new household.

Wedding Chronicles- VII

Ceremony- VI: Anand Karaj

18th November, 2007 was a BIG day in my life.... my Wedding Day.

I got up early in the morning, around 6.00am. Two of my very close friends, Shaziya and Roshan had arrived late night before. And Shaziya and me left for the beauty parlour at around 7.30am. I was having butterflies in my stomach. After reaching the parlour, I found out that there was another bride who was to get ready and incidentally, she had been my classmate for one year in school. Small world indeed!

Eventually, I put on the very heavy lehnga. I was so scared it will just slide down because of its weight! Then, the parlour lady started the process with my face, then hair and finally she fixed the dupatta. At around 9.30am, I was all set and Shaziya tied kalirhas (chandelier like ornament) to my bangles. Wow was I looking good! Ma came there to look at me and started crying. I wonder why Moms are so emotional.

Well, then me and Shaziya went home, where my grandmother was there waiting for me. At around 11.30am, Ma, Papa and my brother Gaurav came to take me for the ceremony. This was to be held in the Gurudwara. The baraat (Groom's people) had arrived at around 10.30am at Hotel Sepal, had their breakfast and were waiting at Gurudwara.

When I reached Gurudwara, my brother and cousins left my side to search for Adesh's juttis. Jutti Churai is a very entertaining ritual of Indian shaadis. And my brother wanted to make the most of it. More about it later. When I entered the Gurudwara, Adesh was already sitting and he was looking so handsome... I just couldn't keep my eyes off him!

The rituals started in another 10 minutes with ardaas, then Papa taking off Adesh's sehra, and handing me his palla. Then the reciting of the hymns started, that is the Anand Karaj. In Sikhism, there are four pheras around Guru Granth Sahib and these pheras are called laavaan. Each laan is preceded by reciting the corresponding hymn. After each laan, we bowed and sat down. Then, the hymn were recited for next laan, we got up, completed the laan and came back. After the four laanvaan were completed, there was ardaas again and we were proclaimed husband and wife! Congratulations followed.

After we came out, the drama of the cousins, with Adesh's juttis hidden, started. They were demanding money in return for the shoes. And, they got that too. It turned out that my smart brother bribed Adesh's driver to take out shoes from the car and his comment on the same was, "Its all about money, honey!"

Then me and Adesh accompanied by his sister proceeded for Hotel Sepal. We were welcomed by the band and went for the long and tiring photo session. Post the photo session, we were made to sit on a stage so that every one could see us. This was so embarrassing. Then every family came turn wise to give us gifts and get a photograph clicked. Aaaw... this is so bad. My face started aching from smiling so long.

Finally, after an hour we came down, sat with some relatives, danced a little and had lunch. It was already 3.30pm by then. It was time now for Doli. The details about this in next blog. I am done for today's typing.

Wedding Chronicles- VI

Ceremony- V: Choorha and Vatna Ceremony

Towards evening, on 17th Nov, more guest poured in. My mamaji also reached by dinner time. We had around 50 people roaming in the house around that time- kids watching TV, ladies gossipping with their respective set of relatives, gents chatting over drinks...

After dinner, at around 10.00pm when I most people had done with dinner, we all gathered for the choorha to be put on me. The choorha is a set of red and white bangles from maternal uncle, gifted to the bride as a symbol of marriage. So here I was surrounded by all relatives and my mamaji and mamiji on either side, ready to put on the choorha. The bride is not supposed to see the choorha till this moment. My Ma had put the bangles in milk to soften them, so that they do not scratch the skin while being put on.

It was a very emotional moment for me and to be very honest, reality struck me just then that tomorrow is actually my wedding. Till that moment I had seen only others wearing choorha, but now, here I had it on my own wrists.

Once I had the choorha on, Ma was ready with vatna, which is a mixture of turmeric and gramflour. This is applied on the bride and is supposed to enhance her beauty. All cousins and relatives took turns smearing me with the paste, and I started looking yellow after a few minutes. Hours spent at parlour gone waste in a few minutes!!!

And, in another half an hour every one was ready to hit the bed. It was going to be a very long day, the next day. As for me, I took a sedative to have a sound sleep. After all, the bride could not afford to have a tiring look on the special day... the photographs wouldn't come nice!!!

Wedding Chronicles- V

Ceremony- IV: Mehndi

The next day, 17th Nov was a day to relax a little, and I mean a little only. For me it was tiring as usual. We did not have any function. It was all family members only.

The morning was scheduled for Mehndi. We had called a couple of Henna artists to put mehndi on the palms of the females. And a special artist for the bride! It took full two hours for her to put mehndi on my palms, back of hands, arms, feet and legs. I felt like a statue being painted. In the meantime, all the ladies got over with their hands.

I had to keep it for the entire day. To delay the drying, my cousin kept dabbing sugar and lemon juice all over. Its really tough being a bride! When it was lunch time, Ma fed me with a spoon. Finally at around 5pm, I scraped off the semi-dry henna, but couldn't wash it till next morning. Already the orange colour had started to turn into deep red.

Wedding Chronicles- IV

Ceremony-III: Sangeet

On 16th November itself, after the guest left, we all changed, relaxed and gathered over tea for a gossip session. And, as per true Punjabi household tradition, I was the centre of all the banter. Finally by 5.30 all the rishtedars left to get set for an evening full of music, dance, food, drinks and FUN!

The Sangeet night, is a very important part of the wedding. In fact, I feel it is the most entertaining part. Friends and family members get together to sing and dance, to celebrate the wedding in the family.

It starts with involves gathering the neighbors by taking out Jago. Jago is nothing but a decorated pitcher with lamps on it. The females of the house carry Jago over their head and gather the neighbours- singing and dancing all the while.

Then singing the traditional songs called Suhaag. It is customary to sing at least five suhaags. And then we all hit the floor, dancing to the tune of the DJ. All this is interspersed with rounds of snacks and drinks and finally the dinner.

Overall a great evening and an important day of the Wedding Week comes to an end.

Wedding Chronicles- III

Ceremony II: Chunni, Sagan & Ring Ceremony

On 16th Nov, it was three ceremonies rolled into one function.... but at least a dozen rituals involved...

The groom's side visited ours for the chunni ceremony, proclaiming the bride to be theirs. The bride's head is covered with a dupatta, and she is given things symbolising a married woman- bindi, bangles, sindoor (vermilion) and some cosmetics.

Then was the sagan ceremony where the bride's family gives the groom some customary gifts. Also, asking him to drink a glass of hot milk, topped with dry fruit. It takes a lot of courage to drink the whole thing.

And, then comes the Ring Ceremony. We exchanged the rings, proclaiming the official engagement!

Not to miss the monetary gifts given to the bride n groom for each ceremony (that's the best part... we get rich just by sitting there!)

Wedding Chronicles- II

The next four days saw guests dropping in. Me and ma were busy doing last minute shopping, going for self-beautification(!!) and making arrangements.

It was a welcome relief after those three hectic days and rejuvinating for the more hectinc ones that were just around the corner.

Wedding Chronicles-I

Its been almost a month and a half since I last hit the keys for a post... but guys it is marriage season and when you are attending weddings you are so busy, especially if its your own!!!

Now, that I am back to work, though of sharing some experience. A Punju wedding has so many ceremonies and rituals...

This is the first in the series Wedding Chronicles, with a ceremony-wise account of how I spent an important fortnight of my life.

Ceremony I: 9th November, 2007

This was the Diwali day and also the day we started 3 day Akhand Path, then the kirtan and langar after that. One big function!

All started with Papa and Gaurav getting Guru Granth Sahib from the Gurudwara. Then after ardas the path started. From around 9 am on 9th Nov to 9am on 11th Nov, continuously the priests from the Gurudwara did the path. Finally on 11th Nov we has bhog.

The same day at around 11.30 am, we had kirtan at home, for around an hour. This was followed by Guru ka Langar. The blessings of the Almighty were sought before the commencing the auspicious ceremonies.

Pink all over

I see pink all over today... even I am wearing pink today- my favourite colour. In fact, I feel that when you are happy, you feel all pinky pinky... Pink on the cheeks, pink in the flowers, pink in the air!!!

PS: The photo graphs are from www.bigphoto.com

Shop till you drop

Its festive season. And its wedding season. And above all its my wedding!!! All the reasons to Shop till I Drop. For the last few weeks I have been busy shopping, shopping and shopping. I have shopped in Punjab, I have shopped in Delhi and I have shopped in Gurgaon Malls. And most of the times, by the end of the day, all the fun goes out of it.

But I have learnt quite a few things. I can now distinguish between different types of crepes and silks... Jamawar, Brocade, Tusser, Tanchoi, Tissue, et al. But, so much colour and vibrance makes me colour blind at times. I am just not able to distinguish between different shades of pink or green or blue! Aha, and the jewellery!!! For myself, Ma, Grandma, In laws... Whosoever said 'Diamonds are a girl's best friends' was so true.

For me, it has been an excuse to indulge myself in the luxury of picking up things on impulse. Wow! And for once, Ma has not been after my life for the number of clothes and shoes and bags that I have.

As the weekend approaches, I am all geared up to go on a shopping spree. Yes, yet again!

Rocky, Rocky, Rocky...

On Sunday, I had bought the CD of the 2006 Sylvester Stallone movie Rocky Balboa. For all the Rocky fans this is a must watch. And, believe me it is a treat to watch Mr Stallone as Rocky yet again.

Like all others in the Rocky series this is also about a boxing fight and what goes into Rocky's preparation for the same. But, this one is special, as it has come after a long gap in the Rocky Series. Also, it has an older Rocky coming out of retirement to fight for pride.

I just loved watching Sylvester Stallone. As the crowd cheered, I also chanted "Rocky, Rocky, Rocky...".

The Five People You Meet in Heaven

Just finished reading the book The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom.

A very well written book, I must say. I am no professional critic, but as a reader I enjoyed reading the book. Eddie, the protagonist of the book, puts in some valid arguments which are well replied to. Overall a good reading for those who like self management with fiction.

Festivities are here...

Its the best time of the year for me, the season I love the most. With winters just around the corner and the weather become a little chilly... I like it!

First it was Eid. Then Dussehra, the festival celebrating the victory of Good over Evil was celebrated on Sunday. It was preceeded by Navratras. Hey it is the Festival Season... I had colleagues fasting for nine days and then the Dandiya nights.

Well well well Delhi is already celebrating. Malls lit up. Markets decorated. Gurgaon has swanky office buildings also decorated. Its a good feeling. And shopping in the midst of all... Wow!!!!!

Will post some pictures of the decorated city soon.

I am just waiting for Diwali to come...

Suhana Safar Aur Yeh Mausam Haseen...

This song from 1958 movie Madhumati is what came to my mind today morning, as I was driving to work.

Early morning in September end. The air is a little chilly, reminding that winters are going to 'knock-knock' soon. And then it starts drizzling. The effect is awesome. I just love this weather, though it gives me cough and cold every year!

But as soon as I get going on the road, the effect had changed to impact. Even a snail could move faster than the traffic en-route my office. The safar is not that suhana! The only company I have is the FM radio in my car, with Khurafati Nitin playing his pranks on callers on 93.5 Red FM. And as the chartbusters are played one after the other, I too hum along. Yeah... Bajaate Raho!!!

Only change is constant

Its again been a long gap since my last post. Well well, my coordinates have changed again. And I think this is a good enough excuse. Actually, not really.

I have moved to Delhi and changed organization as well. So, was busy travelling and settling down. All I can say now is 'once a Delhite, always a Delhite', at least I can afford to say this for the moment.


The resolution is back again... to improve frequency of posts. Hope I keep upto the targets!

No Work @ Work

Around three years back when I started my first job, I was an enthusiastic B-School pass out with dreams in my eyes and passion to work and grow in the corporate world. I used to be immersed in work. I changed organization and work fascinated me more. Some times I would just wish and hope that there were no work to do for a few days. It would be so relaxing, I could do so many things, starting with leaving office at sharp 1800 hrs!

I am pretty sure, a lot of the working class feels and wishes and hopes the same. And people, my wish has just come true recently. For the first few months in my current role, I was nose-deep in work. Even working on Sundays, travelling all across Punjab. I must admit that I enjoyed it but silently dreamed of lazing around in office. Recently, my prayers of those days have been answered. For the first few days I enjoyed going to office at 10.30 am, having my cup of coffee, checking e-mails, searching the www for some updates. Gossiping with the team members came next, followed by wishing the Birthday Babies. And, then its time for lunch, followed by another gossip session. A little work to justify my employer transferring money into my bank account every month. But overall a very sarkaari kind of workstyle. I would leave at dot 1801.Wow, how relaxed I felt!

Those of you getting jealous and letting go off your envy full throttle, HAULT! It is not as rosy as it appears to be. Believe me, after a week of this work life you will do anything to get work! Getting paid for doing nothing is not as easy as it seems. The mind starts to rust. How many cups of coffee/tea will you drink in a day? How much gossip will you do with others over days and days? How many hours of wilfing can you bear?

I am still an ambitious worker in a big corporate with big dreams, but having no work at work is a pain in the wrong place! And, it is extremely difficult to bear it. Those who can relate to this scenario, and looking out for remedies, be a little more patient. Soon, I shall be an expert at guding how to cruise through the difficult times.

Getting Wiser

A friend went through my blog recently and commented that I am getting wiser. Every one gets wiser with age, but what was the need for that remark??? Then he pointed at the recent two posts on getting more etiquettes and a better dressing sense!! Well, in that sense I am much wiser, I must admit.

In our routine browsing of the www and while wilfing, all of us come across loads of information. Some flies as OHT. For the uninformed, it means Over Head Transmission (OHT is a term we coined in our engineering days). Some of it is understood by us, we do like it also but, still we do not implement it. And the remaining little, we do understand and implement too. Let me stop beating about the bush. All I want to say is that with the information I have definitely become more dress wise and e-wise. And this information falls in the last part of getting and implementing information.

How I have implemented this info is, one, I have stopped using different coloured fonts in my mails. Its been over a fortnight that I sent a coloured mail! My colleagues will vouch for that.
Two, I have started smart casuals in office, even on weekdays and Saturday is reserved exclusively for Funky T-shirts.

And now, I have another chance of getting wiser, on the spiritual side. Over the last week I have been attending Yoga classes in the morning. Believe me, it has been really effective. Less stress and sound sleep. Wow, I am loving it! Another benefit that I am counting on (literally) is weight loss! I am through with 6 days, lets see how many more days I last in this mission of increasing the Spiritual Quotient. The mission is ON...

Office Dressing- The Code

I had mentioned in an earlier post (E-etiquette Wise) about a gentleman whose e-mail had led me to my search. Co-incidentally (or may be something else) the same gentlemen turned in office this Tuesday dressed in a very very weird T-shirt, and here I was getting orders from my manager, and yours truly was searching on 'Dress Code'.

Well, I had done similar research a couple of years back in my previous organization, and was sure that this one too would be a cakewalk. Though I knew that I would have to tweak few things as per my current organization. As I started checking relevance of my material, I was surprised by the results.

A couple of years back, the dress code for corporates was formal dressing for weekdays and smart casuals on Friday or Saturday, depending upon whether you worked five days or six days. The IT companies, though, were rewriting the code, courtesy the trends in the ITES sector. But majorly, the companies stuck to the formal code.

But now, the rules have changed. Most of the companies today follow the simple code of Dress to chill. Women come dressed in kurtas, funky skirts and wrap-arounds. Business suits, sarees and starched cotton salwar-kameez are reserved for power meetings. Gentlemen prefer the good old pair of jeans, khakis and chinos.

With more and more young blood getting pumped into the corporate world, even the very formal business suits are getting designer. Board room dressing has definitely come of age. Hugo Boss, Armani and other top brands are adding extra punch.

But the old school of thought still maintains that what you see is what you get. A formal attire leads you to behave in a very subtle and elegant manner, while the casual look gives an air of informality and "to hell with rules" kind of a feeling.

The debate is still on, and it depends on where you are working and with whom you are working. But there is a class of workers which chooses the workplace based on the attire it permits! An acquaintance had once turned down an offer to work with a top company just because he would raise brows if he ever walked down in shorts!!!!

As far as I can see, casual's the word. But, people, its safe to keep a mix of clothes.

As for me, I am much more dress-wise , but I could definitely do with some wardrobe tips.

Visit to Wagah

During the month of March, I was visiting Amritsar and had a chance to visit Wagah Border. Though I have lived in Punjab for most of my life, but never got a chance to visit the border. For those who are not aware, Wagah border is the border check post between India and Pakistan. It is around 30 minutes drive from the Amritsar city. I was accompanying my boss, whose friend had arranged for seats in VIP area (One of the many privileges still available in India!)

As we were approaching the border side, I could see the fencing that had been done across the fields to mark the end of our country. I felt an unusual sensation and it was exciting! With grandparents who had immigrated from the other side at the time of partition, I have very mixed feelings about our neighbour country. Nonetheless, I was too excited to visit the check post. Well, it was Sunday evening and we were going to witness the very famous closing ceremony. There were hoards of people on every possible mode of road transport heading towards the border.

As we approached the border and alighted from our vehicle, I could see the BSF and Pakistani Rangers, standing across the fence. Our guide informed us that there were many farmers on the Indian side whose land was on the other side. They have a pass and they cross over every morning, till the land and return at sunset. I had heard and read about all this, but watching those farmers crossing back was something different.

Finally, after various points of checking, we were able to view the 'Point Zero', which marks the end of Indian territory. There is an amphitheatre on both sides of the border. As the time of closing ceremony was approaching, the rush of people kept increasing. I could feel goose bumps on my arms.

People were clicking pictures at the gate. There were loudspeakers blaring patriotic songs on both the sides. One of the many differences that I noticed, on the Pakistani side, there were separate seats for males and females. One side had women in colourful burqas, while the other half had men mostly in kurta-salwar. While on the Indian side there was no such demarcation!

The drama began when a man with a microphone emerged in the centre of the crowd and started urging the crowd to repeat the slogans after him. And he started, "Hindustan Zindabaad" The crowd went berserk (including the two of us!) shouting after him.
Then came "Bharat Mata ki Jai", and the third one "Vande Matram". We have all done that during our school days, but there at the border, my voice had a new enthusiasm. I was experiencing patriotism of a different kind.


Our patriotic slogans were followed by similar shouts from the other side, "Allah o Akbar" and "Pakistan Zindabad", with equal fervor.
After various such rounds, a few puzzled foreign tourists sitting next to me asked, "What are they saying?" I explained to her and with an amused look on her face, one of them asked, "But why do you need to shout that???"

I just could not explain that to her. I feel, no one else anywhere in the world can feel the same way as Indians and Pakistanis do here. I have known people from both nations to be at very friendly terms when together in any other part of the world, but here it all changes!
May be the feeling that comes while watching an Indo-Pak cricket or hockey match, can come very close to this.

Anyways, the wait for watching the very famous ceremony of gate closure and taking down of the National Flags, was worth it. As the sepoy blew horn, indicating the time, the guards from both sides came marching. There feet almost touched thier turbans!!!!!!!!!!! You have to watch it to believe it! And enjoy it!

As the guards shook hands for the last time for that day, and the National Anthem was played, the National Flags of both the countries came down in perfect harmony.

Our visit had come to an end, but something inside me had changed forever. I had heard about it from friends and relatives, who could not explain it, but now I know why they could not. All I can say is that each of the fellow countrymen should visit the place at least once. It is worth it!

E- etiquette wise

Yesterday evening I read an email sent by a very senior manager in the company and looking at the way it was composed and formatted I was shocked. How can people be so ignorant as to use caps and red colour for a very simple sentence?? So, that set me to search material on Email Etiquettes on the www. I did hit upon some very informative pieces.

I must confess here that as a part of my job I send very informal mails to team members using wierd colours/fonts/images, and some of them are toooooo wierd to even think that they can be official! Well, jokes apart, formal mails call for following some basic rules nad norms. And here I was gathering information to educate people in my organization, which believe me is a very tough job. All managers think that they are know-alls! So, the information had to be convincing and yet not rude.

Some of the useful pieces I came across were by The Crabby Lady, at Amit Agarwal's Blog and a presentation by Himanshu posted on CiteHR

I did compile my own list of Do's and Do Not's and circulated the same. But, all that while I was wondering how tiny things overlooked can annoy others. Someone once said to me, "Most literate people are not educated". I could not help but relate the situation with those words. Making old economy or even current tech savvy generations computer literate does not essentially mean that they are now gurus of the e-world.

I have come across old men with laptops who do not even know how to set 'Print Area' in a worksheet! And these are the people who make strategies in the board rooms and play with data!!! I donot mean to be rude here but the computer institutes that have sprung up like mushrooms must also stress on this.

This research on Email Etiquettes has made me look at every email I come across with a raised brow. Well, as for my team members hope they do put the info to some use.

Edible Experiments

Like most working females- my contemporaries- I dread treading into kitchen. But this Sunday, I chose to take 'The Road Not Taken'.

Though I used to share an apartment in Mumbai and dinner used to be cooked at home, I never dared to experiment with dal and sabzi, my role was confined only to Rice and Maggi!

But yesterday, I started my cookery sessions under Ma's supervision. Reality struck me then that cooking is not as easy as Sanjeev Kapoor makes it look like!

The day started with Pyaaz ka Parantha. Though personally I prefer to stick to milk and cereal for breakfast, but as a member of a hardcore Punjabi family, Paranthas in breakfast are a must!!! So, here I was, rolling dough and onions in quadrangular shapes, and finally I succeeded in my first experiment, and it was edible indeed.

Then, it was a little lengthier one, I decided to make Karhi Pakorha for lunch. (I know, a little tricky one, but had to take the risk). Again, under the same lab supervisor (read Ma), I started the process. And, after various stages of experiment, adding more water, then a little salt, some more besan, I finally did reach the desired result. Cooking rice was a cakewalk for me, so would not consider that as an experiment.

Dinner was the last but bitter experiment. Ma decided that I should learn to cook Karelas. Oops! Well, it was an experiment and experiments could fail. So, there was no reason to worry, and I again put on the apron. After rigorous peeling and slashing for half an hour, I could manage to take off the skin and slit to put in the mixture.

I remembered the experiments in Chemistry lab. Even Salt Analysis looked a lot more easier in comparison to this one. We never had to taste the salts ultimately and there weren't three pairs of eyes watching every move! And that too on a super hot, sultry day.

Finally, the experiments concluded. The report card said "Edible". Wow, was I elated!

I had had enough for the weekend, when Ma was already chalking out menu for the next Sunday!

Tears in Heaven

Heard this very beautiful song today- Tears in heaven- by Eric Clapton.
Couldn't help but search about it on the www and Wikipedia threw up some basic info

'..."Tears in Heaven" is a heartfelt ballad written and performed by Eric Clapton about the pain he felt following the 1991 death of his four-year-old son, Conor, who fell from a 53rd-story window in his mother's New York City condominium. By all accounts, the death appeared to be simply a tragic accident, and Clapton was distraught for months afterwards.
Co-written by Clapton and Will Jennings, the song was initially featured on the soundtrack to the film Rush, and it won three Grammy awards for Song of the Year, Record of the Year and Male Pop Vocal Performance in 1993. It was also included on Clapton's Grammy award-winning album, Unplugged. It is #353 on Rolling Stone's Top 500 Songs...'



Here are the lyrics of the song:

Would you know my name
If I saw you in heaven?
Would you feel the same
If I saw you in heaven?
I must be strong and carry on
cause I know I dont belong here in heaven...

Would you hold my hand
If I saw you in heaven?
Would you help me stand
If I saw you in heaven?
Ill find my way through night and day
cause I know I just cant stay here in heaven...

Time can bring you down, time can bend your knees
Time can break your heart, have you begging please...begging please

Beyond the door theres peace Im sure
And I know therell be no more tears in heaven...

Would you know my name
If I saw you in heaven?
Would you feel the same
If I saw you in heaven?
I must be strong and carry on
cause I know I dont belong here in heaven...

iPod's playing this song as I compose this post.

Hmmm it is so touching... I just love it... One of my all time favourites

A journey...

Monday morning I was returning from home and after a long long time had a taste of the legendary PRTC bus. Why I call PRTC buses legendary, ask any Punjabi who has stayed in Punjab.

Monday morning rush and I was running at the Bus Terminus platform... and was astonished to look at the number of people waiting for a bus from Patiala to Chandigarh.

After a wait of half an hour and missing 3-4 buses, I finally managed to get on an overcrowded bus... and I couldn't help but comparing it with the Mumbai locals! Believe me, huge similarity!!

No place to move even an inch...
The stench of sweat...
And above that,
Rash driving...
And, absolutely no courtesy by conductor or driver...

I guess they need a lesson or two in customer service!!

Just wondering how other State Transport buses are rated by travellers.
And I found some interesting information at a blog on busnews.






I must add here that the above two images have been shamelessly copied from the www and I do not have rights for these pictures.

As for me, my mission is to avoid the back breaking rides as much as I can!!!

Mausam Mausam Lovely Mausam...

Looking at the mast mausam today, I couldn't help but sing the song "Mausam mausam lovely mausam..." written by Gulzar for movie Thodi si bewafai.

It has been raining on and off here for the last few days and weather has become amazingly good. Plan to go to Sukhna Lake in this lovely weather, let's see if it materialises.

And, by the way, Kasauli hills are looking beautiful from the office balcony.
Ummm... tempted to go uphills...

From + to -

Yesterday I wrote about my new coordinates, and a fan left a comment asking about my life in Chandigarh...

Well, all I can say is that it has come down by a lot many paces. Let me explain this a bit.
When in Mumbai, my office was about 1hr 15min away... since the time I got up in morning, it used be a race against time to reach the station in time to catch the 9.15 local.... caught it, then mission to catch a seat!!! And the entire journey of reaching VT... queing up to catch the bus to Cuffe Parade... get in bus... run to office building to punch at 10.30am. Phew!!!

After a long day in office, again the backward journey...
It was always run run run and more run... Life was at, say, +100 paces

But now in Chandigarh, office is only 15min away. Saves me full 1hr in the morning, which means that I can sleep that much more!

I get free by 6.30pm or 7.00pm and again 15min is all it takes to reach back to my abode.
Plus, I do not have to taste the fragrance and flavor of public transport, as I commute by my own car (a luxury in Mumbai!)

But sad part is that the markets start rolling down their shutters from 8.00pm and city is asleep by 10.00pm!

Then comes the chutti ka din- Sunday..

In Mumbai, Sunday meant Sleeping, Malls, Shopping and Movies.. a long and tiring day.

Here, most of my Sundays have been lazing around, reading, at home. Sometimes I had been lucky enough to catch hold of a movie ticket with a friend or my bro at the city's lone multiplex!!
(Can you believe it, the City Beautiful with an Open Hand still has only one multiplex with pathetic service!!)

Well, with so much time at my disposal, I have resumed reading a lot, and eating out and sleeping!!!!

So my dear friends, life has come to - ... dunno how many paces. Guess I can say it has come down to -100 here.

And, how I feel now is anybody's guess!!!

Lets see how long it takes to find a place with a comfortable pace of life...
So for me the search is always on!!

And I am Back

A long absence from my own Blog...

Some friends noticed, few complained...
Well I was glad, friends were regularly visiting to check whether I updated or not... Seems like I do have a 'Fan Following'!!!

Some reasons for not posting, more pleasant than unpleasant...
1. Last post was in December first week and a few days later, our landlord asked us to vacate the house!!! Reason- he wanted to shift back! We were shocked, aghast and devastated.. feeling was so mixed we just did not go out of house for one Sunday!!
So here were we in the same house hunting cycle again... Eventually found a much better place in the heart of Vashi (my roomie's efforts were tremendous in this), but...

2. Here comes the pleasant part- before shifting there I got my transfer to Chandigarh! Yippee!!! I was heading back up North and toooooooooooooooo close to home... as close as my office in Mumbai: just 1hr run!

3. I shifted to Chandigarh (and close to home) in mid January. Stayed with relatives for few days, then found a PG and am still in the same place for last 5 months!!!

Lets come back to present...
Between so much things happening couldn't find time to write... finally found a cool restaurant that has WiFi... so I go there, sip cool caffeine and take in carbohydrates and fibre, so as to complete the daily nutritional intake!

And so my dear fans and friends, who missed me on blogspot, I am back (though not with the proverbial BANG!)

As for those who did not miss me, please keep visiting this blog regularly.

And finally as for me, hope to keep blogging more regularly.

See you soon!