Dy$FuNcTioNaL Mu$iNg$

Straight or Not? Still important?

2010-03-30T00:22:00.000-07:00

Today’s a sad day for Ricky Martin’s female fan-following…. He’s finally admitted that he is, in fact, gay! :( Oh how my heart broke on hearing the news… But honestly speaking, how’s a girl to know whether a guy’s straight or not? Now don’t get me wrong… To all you gays out there, I’m with you guys all the way… You guys are really brave and courageous fellas to live in a biased world like ours. Unfortunately there are not enough sweet straight men for us girls to fall in love with, admire, flirt with, etc etc. And the few sweet guys that cross our path (or our “love that celebrity” path) turn out to be gay!

Now what are the tell-tale signs? If a guy is sweet does that mean he’s not in your playing field? A friend of mine told me that “if a guy can move his hips like Ricky Martin, there are chances he’s gay”. So if a guy can turn you on by “Shaking his bon-bon”, does that mean he should be crossed of your “will get naughty with” list?? Where’s the justice in that?! Dance is supposed to be full of passion and chemistry… How can it be that when you share such great levels of passion and chemistry with a guy, that there is a possibility he could be sharing it with another GUY~!!

N if it isn’t bad enough that we have to deal with figuring out whether the guy is straight or not… we now have the “bi’s”! Seriously?! You can now not only be shocked by the thought of your boyfriend asking to have a threesome with your girlfriend but mortified by him asking to have a foursome with your girlfriend AND ‘guyfriend’!!

It’s the 21st century and the world is getting easier to live in, so the scientists say! All the latest gadgets to help you cook, clean and even play…. Where’s the gadget to tell you who to love? And is that really a “modern world”? Or is it just time to ignore gender and go for whoever gels best with you? The latter definitely seems a better choice than waiting for a bot to answer your question “Hot or Not?”!

I guess the time for analyzing whether a person is gay or not, has passed. Thinking of dating someone?? Does he/she like the same things I do? Could we carry on a conversation for over 2 hours and not get bored? Am I attracted to him/her physically? If you can answer ‘YES’ to all the above, I say forget ‘playing fields’… Just go for it! If you think too much, you’ll just end up knotting yourself in the twists and turns of a pretzel!
Straight or not? Irrelevant question! The world is moving on… Are you moving on with it?

Are u blissfully ignorant? Or jus plain stupid??

2010-03-29T03:49:00.000-07:00

Statuary Warning: The above title is a good insight on what the rest of the article is going to be. If you take offense easily, I suggest you leave now. It’s going to be an insult to the ignorant and the stupid.

*Disclaimer: ‘Stupid’ here refers to people with an attitude problem

Well, as I was skimming through my Twitter timeline this afternoon, I came across a very interesting ‘difference definition’. “The intrinsic difference between ignorance and stupidity is that ignorance simply implies lack of awareness about something, while stupidity denotes the inability of a person to understand something due to insufficient intelligence, thus leading to the misinterpretation of a fact.” (Referral link: http://www.differencebetween.net/language/difference-between-ignorance-and-stupidity/) This got me thinking – how many truly “stupid” people do I know? Are they really that stupid? Or are they ignorant? Or are they just feigning ignorance? Now why would anyone do the latter beats me…. But hey! I’m not here to judge! If you feel that you’re too smart for your own good and you have to (N I mean absolutely have to) make yourself look stupider…. Well that’s your call! But stop and think…. How many people have you met that you know for a fact are genuinely ignorant and stupid? N did being stupid get them anywhere?

Easy test….. go through your FB list…. You’re bound to find such idiots there! Well I’ve found quite a few stupid, ignorant people! I know I’ve just pointed out a major difference between the stupid and the ignorant… but I’m compelled to combine the two. The fact of the matter remains that the stupid are not willing to change their idiotic thinking – hence unable to come out of that ‘ignorant’ mould. It’s all just a vicious cycle – can you blame the stupid? It’s an in-built feature, or maybe an add-on (according to them)!

The thing with stupid people is no matter how intelligent you are, you can’t impart any knowledge to them. You’d rather tear your hair out and bang your head against a brick wall than argue logic with them. A logical, heated discussion would require sensible thinkers…. If you decide to argue with a “Homer Simpson”, you’re going to wanna use that nuclear plant to blow the bugger from here to Andromeda probably! (Or transport yourself there…. Depending on the number of “Homers” you’re arguing with!)

I feel sorry for the stupid sometimes… They are always under mistaken impressions… “I’m the best thing that could ever happen to you”, “I’m your only option”, “I’m the only one that can help you” and most importantly “You’ll never be as good as me!” Did it ever occur to you that… that’s exactly what we’re trying to do?? We work hard everyday, slave our asses off, just to make sure that we don’t excel in stupidity like you do! We, the sane race, try our best not to reach the levels of inanity attained by you!

I admire the stupid…. for the same reason! A stupid person can go through his/her entire life thinking that the functioning of the whole universe is based on his/her mere existence! I guess their slogans in life would be movies like “Back to the Future”! Michael J. Fox, as much as I love you(and that movie), I wouldn’t base my life on a movie or character like that…. No offense meant whatsoever!

I envy the stupid…. again for the same reason! They don’t have a care in the world! The universe is available to look after all their frivolous needs. Of course when the universe doesn’t (as is in most cases), they are still under the impression that their needs have been fulfilled – Unfortunately, the universe doesn’t recognize their needs as NEEDS! How can it when the stupid are living in a world of fantasy? So they don't even realize that the gratification process has not come about.

To those who want to banter about my point of view here, I say “STOP! STOP PRETENDING TO BE STUPID AND IGNORANT! You aren’t going to gain anything”. I say it with confidence, cos for the truly stupid, this article is an achievement because it acknowledges their expertise! It’s in their favor and praising them to the skies. They will have no issue with it… THAT is the confidence I have in their intelligence!

What’s all the “Buzz” about?!

2010-02-10T01:41:00.000-08:00

“Kathy found a lonely black cow on her farm.”
“Kathy #1tweetbreakup i think we should start following other people...”
These are just examples of the umpteen feed updates and tweets on Facebook and Twitter respectively. We all know social media has stepped into this big bad world of ours quite sometime back … but now it seems to have found a cozy lil’ niche for itself where its settled quite comfortably. No matter what everyone says about it or how many fingers you wanna point at it, “Social Media” has something to say – And it’s screaming out from rooftops, “I’m here to stay!!” We’ve been through the works; hi5, MySpace, Facebook and the new kid in town, Twitter! But look out everybody, we all know how the famous Eagles song goes: “They will never forget you 'til somebody new comes along…. Jus another new kid in town…” Just as Twitter is peaking, along comes Google… taking a second shot at this new media which has everyone dancing to its tunes.

Google Buzz was launched yesterday claiming to have encorporated a whole bunch of exciting new features. It not only wants to contribute to the "race" of social networking sites… but wants to be at #1 combining features from Twitter, Yammer, Foursquare, Yelp, and the likes. It’s integrated with Flickr, Picasa, Google Reader, and Twitter for easy sharing of your fun moments. What’s more is that it has its mobile app up and running allowing you not only to post status msgs from your cellphone, but also automatically updating your status message with your location! Wow! Google’s back with a bang and they seem to be saying, “We mean business this time”! All the features of Google Buzz are described in great detail at http://techcrunch.com/2010/02/09/if-google-wave-is-the-future-google-buzz-is-the-present/... All thanks to MG Siegler.

Unfortunately, the Buzz is not yet spread all over this little town we like to call the Internet, but I’m hoping I don’t have to keep refreshing my Gmail much longer! Oh, that’s one more important thing I missed out on….. Buzz is available in your very own Gmail account… Jus below your inbox! It’s still in it’s initial stages so there are a lot more features in the “coming soon” phase but we know Google right? They became the #1 Search Engine and stayed there… Maybe they are planning something similar with their “re-try” at Social Media – the Google Buzz. Never know, it may just be the next “buzz” of your life (… as clichéd as that might sound ).

Here’s to Google Buzz – I wish it all the best in its new endeavours (Google if you’re reading this, pls activate it soon on my account); and more importantly, to Social Media – may you never go out of style!

Wake Up Call!

2010-02-06T01:56:00.000-08:00

He came, he saw, he conquered! He flew, he drove and then rode on a local train… thus capturing the hearts of every sweet simple Mumbaiikar commuter! To the Thackerays – Bal, Uddhav and Raj – a wake up call for you…. Wake up and smell the coffee!! Your ‘dadagiri’ and ‘goondagiri’ politics is now a dying ember! The Marathis manoos has grown! Every time you fight for him you are isolating him from the rest of India and the world. He wants to be a part of this great nation! So why don’t you get the bigger picture? Your vitriolic comments only leave a distaste in your own mouths… so stop the wagging and start acting! Actions speak louder than words! When did you guys last travel by a local train? Its not violence that works but charm and charisma! Charismatic people know how to reach out and change hearts and minds! Show us your ‘jalwa’ now! Let’s see what you can do. Even the ‘vada pav’ guy knows that to survive, he needs to sell to a Bihari, Gujarati…. Not only to the Marathi Manoos! Get your act together and stop throwing your weight around! Mumbai is for all Indians in the same way as the rest of India is for you – if only you have the guts and the gall to travel.

The ordinary Marathi manoos wants to be economically sound and not socially exiled. He wants to explore his beautiful country and learn more about it – but apparently, you are trying to stifle him – thus hampering his progress. So how then can you be called the well-wishers of the Marathi manoos? Grow up men! Your violent threats – [which, by the way, you don’t carry out yourself] – are inadequate and meaningless in a lovely city like Mumbai! Rahul Gandhi has played ‘Truth and Dare’ with you and he has emerged victorious!

The “truth” being that you would make his visit ‘a Black Day’ in Mumbai. Well, sorry to burst your bubble – he made it a ‘red-letter day’! And the “dare” being, he entered your bastion – Dadar – and none of you could stop him or make him retract his steps! Furthermore, Mr. Uddhav Thackeray, you said he withdrew money from Mumbai – where do you think that money came from? Do you do anything to earn the money? Check out the pathetic state of your BMC schools – they’re in an appalling, abysmal condition!

And you call yourselves protectors? When you can’t even provide decent education to the economically backward. Go out there and work with the common man and then come and preach politics to the common man! You say Rahul Gandhi thinks Mumbai is a ‘milking cow’! Well well… a milking cow needs to be milked or else, it suffers discomfort. You are so lazy, you don’t even want to milk that cow!

Here’s to Mumbai and Mumbaiikars – let’s stand up for ourselves. Let’s not bow down to weak loudmouths and to Shahrukh Khan, we say – ‘Yes! Great going! Nothing can stop us from watchin your movie'.

To the police and the government machinery – an excellent job! You tried to curb the trouble makers; be there with us on Valentine’s Day too… 'coz the lunatic fringes will threaten, rant and rave again!

Boys & Their Toys

2010-01-06T04:01:00.000-08:00

For all u CS fanatics out there, I know what you are thinking after seeing this pic…. “Time to go kill someone”! Oh God, how I’ve been TORTURED with hidden bombs and bots coming from nowhere and shooting…. Ahh, the good old college days! Now enough with the reminiscing… and those of you, who have not already stopped reading this, to go have World War 3 in Cyberspace; may find this article quite intriguing.

All the years I’ve watched boys play with their fancy armor and weapons (and the few years I’ve played with them myself), I have never really imagined that one day any of these hi-funda deathly machines would actually exist in our little world! To my pure shock, I came across an article today titled “10 Sci-Fi Weapons that Actually Exist by Aaron Rowe” (http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2010/01/sci-fi-weapons/6/). The above picture is one of the examples in that article. Now I’m not going to describe the technicalities of each instrument because Mr. Rowe has done a pretty good job at that. Hats off to him for his detailed explanation. However what really disturbed me was the fact that what was going on in our videogames was now creeping into reality. I’m sure all of us have seen umpteen shows and news tidbits on TV about how a videogame has had an adverse effect on a child trying to imitate the same thing in real life… but have any of us heard or really paid attention to the way cyborgs and their toys were affecting our big boys of the world? Apparently it’s a much bigger cause to worry about.

Don’t get me wrong here… I feel sorry for the kids who try to achieve impossible feats or for other kids traumatized by one who decides to bring a gun to school… but is our world ready for an entire nation or continent making a “flash bang grenade” or a “laser avenger”. These weapons are no longer in our comic books or video/computer games… they are at war – in use. There are no bots controlling them or dying with them – there are real people. Maybe they are terrorists, maybe they are civilians, maybe they are battling for peace, maybe they are children – maybe its your brother, your neighbor, the kid in your class you always secretly admired even though he stole your first place by one mark or the school’s biggest bully… Whoever it is, does it matter?! Does anyone deserve to die this way?

We say we are fighting for world peace – in what way, I ask? By building bigger, better machinery? Each nation is racing to “protect” itself and the politicians can get away with murder now by just using the right words! But the truth remains, it is from us that they get the strength to fight – the intelligence to build state-of-the-art weaponry. We fight and sue videogame developers for developing such games and selling them to the public… who sues the government (of whichever country) for making such machinery? Who sues the developers of these tangible murderers? Do we even know who they are?

At the end of the day, the story remains the same. Boys will be boys and they will always want to build bigger, badder toys to play with – The more destruction their toy causes the more of “a man” they r. But boys, look around you – your playmates are dwindling! We all know, it's no fun playing with bots!

Closure -- The Final Hiccup

2009-12-14T03:59:00.000-08:00

Miss you on a Monday
Miss you on a Tuesday
Miss you every damn day
N it's slowly killing me, day by day

Hate this feeling of missing you
Hate the thought of loving you
But the fact is, I'm through loving you

I've been hurt and burnt many times
But now I refuse to put myself through this pain
I've moved on and you keep trying to pull me back
This time it won't work
This time there is no turning back

So you will always hold a special place in my heart
But that place is now locked with the key thrown away
I've only come to say...
Goodbye... One last time...

LimmerickThis was written while one of our professors was boring us to death!

2009-12-07T03:32:00.000-08:00

There once was a girl full of stress
Who screamt out for help in pure distress
A handsome, young prince came to save her
But then he did nothing but enrage her
So she sailed with him with pretense glee
And then took him and threw him into the sea
Now they say he rests with the fishes
And she roams the land,
Granting the unlucky ladies their wishes

Redefining Love

2009-12-05T02:00:00.000-08:00

Speak softly love – lest they may hear us
And then will begin their usual fuss
They’ll want to know who you really are
Are you a star?
Or did we meet in a bar?

They’ll want to mar this relationship
And slowly massacre this beautiful friendship

Speak softly love – lest they may hear
For they’ll want to rave and rant and jeer

We’ll smile and play and laugh and sway
We’ll share our cares from day to day
We’ll rule our lives with love and passion
And hate and anger, we’ll need to ration

Speak softly love – lest they may steal
And maybe this time the wound won’t heal

They’ll want you just as a powerful accessory
And make you think you’re absolutely necessary

They’ll want you as this gleaming buckle
Till they have that ring round their little knuckle
They’ll kiss your feet and lick your ass
And then curse in dismay when time does pass

They’ll fashion their lives and take my identity
They’ll gleam like knives as a fake new entity

As divas they’ll pose and write crappy prose
And turn their nose at friends and foes
They talk to you in accents so fake
Good God! What really is their take?

So speak softly love – I know you are mine
I do not want them to cry, pine and whine
Together we’ve discovered love’s beautiful magic
But to them it may sound, Oh so tragic!

I’m no sham-glam
I’m no piece of spam
I’m no longer so terse
And have switched from good prose to crappy verse

To those who pose and turn up their nose
It’s you I do love and it’s you I have chose

So don’t get caught up in that world so dark
It isn’t there that you’ll make your mark

It’s out in the sunshine with laughter and fun
Not cutting to size with humor and pun

So take care my love
When push comes to shove
They’ll weave you into, their pretentious world of bling
And make you believe, that one-eyed is king

My 2-Minute Special Sunset!

2009-12-03T20:27:00.000-08:00

As a teen, I was never ‘popular’ or ‘hot’ or the girl whom boys thought as ‘girlfriend material’. The ‘friend’ – well yeah, that was a category I was only too familiar with. Not much has changed till now – except maybe now I’m more mature and all grown up so it doesn’t affect me anymore. I have my fair share of guys interested and that’s more than enough. As a teen though, you’re still young, going through all sorts of emotions and feelings and to top all that, there is that incessant need to fit in. I had changed schools and everyone in the new school, friend or not, seemed to either have a boyfriend or in the process of getting one. Thus, the dream of the boyfriend, the first kiss and everything that follows only grew and got nourished more and more each day.

There is a beautiful promenade-like structure in Abu Dhabi called Corniche. Somewhere down the Corniche is a big volcano fountain with lights n steps to go to the top. I still don’t know if this structure actually has an official name but from childhood till now I have been calling it ‘the volcano fountain’ and shall continue doing so! Well anyway, there was a whole group of us who would go and play on this volcano fountain as kids. As I grew up, it became the perfect place to have a first kiss. As the sun set, the normally harsh sun turned into a soothing, comforting orange ball whose dying rays smiled sweetly on the volcano fountain giving it a beautiful orange shadowy glow. The heat of the day would slowly give way to a cool breeze and those 2 minutes were the most breath-taking part of the day! … All it needed was just a touch of ‘specialness’ added to it… When would that day come?

My dream of my first special kiss remained just that – a dream – throughout school. I finished my remaining 2 years in that school and then it was time for college and to come down to Bombay. I had a two month break between my final school exams and the start of college. Anyone who has done C.B.S.E XIIth boards knows what that feels like and how highly needed that break is! Even for lazy ones like me, who don’t study! ;) By the end of my XIIth, I did have a boyfriend…. Did it still count if we had never met and were in different countries? Is that a real relationship when you’re in your teens? Well that doesn’t really matter ‘cos my boyfriend was coming down for an entire weekend and we were going to have a blast. By this time, I’d forgotten entirely about my ‘first kiss dream’. I was so busy planning the weekend and everything else that when it came to the time of actually waiting for the moment, I forgot about it.

Oh no big deal… In any case there was no one else in the world who knew this dream of mine but me. A trip to the Corniche is always planned in any outing and so one of the days, we went to the Corniche. Now is the part where the dream is supposed to come true you say….. ha! Well, we missed the sunset, we went later in the evening and we didn’t go to volcano fountain! But we sat in one of those “mushrooms” at the Corniche and interestingly enough, ‘The heat of the day slowly gave way to a cool breeze and those 2 minutes were the most breath-taking part of the day! ‘ ;) I had my ‘2-minute special sunset’, my first kiss, filled with all the warm, fuzzy emotions I had imagined minus the picturesque setting!

My big dream didn't go as I had so meticulously thought of… but one thing is for certain, I learned that life isn’t made of dreams but no one said that life couldn’t be just as beautiful when it takes its own course. Sometimes life can surprise you and give you something which a dream never could! Some say 'Reality bites'! – Chances are it only gives the physical ‘soft love bites’!

Serenading Life

2009-12-02T21:13:00.000-08:00

Laugh until you cry – they say
Just like night will give way to day
Well, do you have misgivings
about what life has to offer?
Then why don’t you become
your own life’s chauffeur

Drive along paths that are tedious and narrow
Take all of life’s smiles with sweet chunks of sorrow
Life is about living, caring and giving
And sometimes, it’s also about seething, burning and reliving
But hey, throw open the windows
And see how fresh air blows
Away the darkness and gloom
To bring you sweet roses that are ready to bloom

We, young love the highway
Cause it’s speed on the freeway
It’s broad and it’s thrilling
Which makes life exhilarating
But what’s your need for speed?
It’s like wealth, avarice and greed

Take the turn round the bend
There are fences to mend
You can’t always drive
Like you can’t always thrive
But, of course, you must thrive
To build your world to survive
And flourish and grow
Remembering to reap what you sow

For this, your feet on the ground
And yes, life will astound
For you’ve taken the broad with the narrow
Yes, the hard bone and the marrow

You’ll feel sweetness and calm
And life’s fragrances embalmed
In the corners of your soul
That will make life seem whole

And Oh! The magic will return like never before
From angry, bitter, raging waters to the grounded, practical shore
There’ll be joy, smiles, laughter, mixed with hurt, anger and woe
Cause you’ve learned how to take it – the storm, calm and snow

So when life’s balances trip unfairly
You’ll tackle it calmly
Since life can never be perfect
You’ll willingly eject and reject
the bitterness and animosity
And knowingly inject
enthusiasm, happiness and tenacity
To take all of life’s ups and downs
With more smiles and less frowns
That’s what we call the art of living
For its loving, communicating and believing

Seedy Weedy Love...!!

2009-11-24T00:15:00.000-08:00

Shoulder of steel
Man of gold
Brain so surreal
Is what I’ve been told

He told me he loves me
He told me he’ll be right there
He told me lies
And didn’t care

He plotted and planned
While I held his hand
He didn’t have a care in the world
For, like I promised, I was always there

I was so naïve
For all that I believed
I know now
That the words he said
Were actually meant to be

Shoulder of steel
Man of stone
Brain of weed
And heart always SOLD!

Clean and Beautiful vs. Crowded and Polluted! (My one true love...)

2009-11-19T21:08:00.000-08:00

Today started out like any normal day… Woke up late, got superbly late for work and as usual, reached office about half an hour late! I switch on my PC and start surfing away to pass the newly-discovered “free time” I have! To my pleasant surprise, I found this gorgeous picture of this beautiful, clean city with lovely deep green-blue waters bordering it. This, I am proud to say, is the land of my birth – Abu Dhabi – One of the top 10 cities in the world to visit! Oooh I can’t describe the excitement that was running through my veins! I took a trip down memory lane and thought of all the good times! And then it struck me! Inspite of all these nostalgic feelings and all the good memories, there wasn’t one feeling strong enough to make me want to definitely, undoubtedly go back!

I’ve been playing with the option of leaving good old Bombay and going back to my favorite green city (AUH) for quite a while now and haven’t really been able to come to a decision which I can live 100% happily with! There’s always that nagging “What if?” thought at the back of my head… “What if I get that high-paying job in Bombay itself?”, “What if my old friends are no longer in Auh or things are not the same there?”, “What if I go there and realize there’s nothing like my Bombay?” (Something which I’m already thinking to be a fact… Just need it confirmed by going and living there!) What is it about this city (Bombay) that once it attracts you, it never lets you go? Bombay is like a “bad-boy” boyfriend who you know is not going to change his flirtatious ways but you want to be with anyway because of his sweet, loving nature.

I was born in Corniche hospital in Abu Dhabi (now known as ‘Spooks’) and have spent the major portion of my life there. I have enjoyed life to the fullest – movies, outings, trips to the Corniche, May Queen and Christmas Bazaar (Those of you from Auh will know what that’s like ;)) – I did, indeed, lead the good life. Of course was too young for clubs then, so the nightlife is something which I did not experience. We still had fun night-outs, like family parties on Thursday night which went on till 4a.m., roaming in the malls till 2a.m. during Ramadan…..

While I was happily trotting through my childhood and early teenage years in this pollution-free city, my dad, mom and I would come down to Bombay every year and get the feel of what a completely “opposite” city was like. Bombay was dirty, crowded and polluted and just kept getting more and more so each year. As a kid, walking on the road with my mom was quite an experience! My mom keeps telling me how I used to complain, “Mama, the road is dirty… the cows are walking with me…” I know this sounds whiny but for a small girl who’s not used to even seeing a dog on the road, a cow is a rather BIG surprise!

After a few years, say by my early teens, my mom started taking me to even more places and I got to see a little different Bombay. From complaining, I went to excited exclaiming, “Mama, mama… Look, there are horses going and we can go in the carriage too!” For anyone who has been to South Bombay, mainly Gateway of India, knows that its significantly less crowded than the suburbs and you definitely know of the tourists attraction – carriage rides around the area. Yes, I have a new take on seeing animals on the road – it’s cute, interactive and fun. I started seeing numerous movies (more in holiday season than I watch the rest of the year) and lots and lots of Bollywood flicks – You know the kind where the hero bursts into song each time he sees his lady love! Never knew that my love for Bollywood would continue till now!

Finally, it comes to the point of choosing where I spend my college years – and of course, I choose Bombay! And I’m glad I did! I spent my first year of college living with the greatest friends, watching loads of movies, going clubbing very VERY regularly and experiencing a whole different life! Sure my academic life suffered a little…. But I was always in the “Nerd” category, desperately wanting to get out, so I was more than willing to let that slide!

It's not like I settled in immediately and knew all there was to know about Bombay as soon as I reached. I discovered places slowly and being the stubborn girl I am, had to learn the hard way of course! :) The first time I boarded a bus on my own was also an experience. I had to travel from Andheri to Worli and ended up boarding a bus in the opposite direction, to Goregaon instead!

Today I can proudly say I'm a "Bombay-ite"! I have learned so much about different areas of Bombay ranging from the excessively crowded Inorbit Mall at Malad to the relaxed, leisurely Oberoi mall at Goregaon; from the well-known Lokandwala Shopping Complex in Andheri to the by-lanes and the umpteen shopping areas and dining places in Bandra. Slowly but surely, I learned of theatres in all possible areas in and around Andheri which were easily accessible (and maybe the ones where I can escape the pure torture of the traffic). I now know Bombay so well (at least certain parts) that my friends who are born and brought up here and have spent their entire lives here, call ME to ask ME for directions! Yay! I not only got to learn which theatres were where but I also know their phone numbers by heart! ... Makes life a hell of a lot easier when it comes to booking tickets! ;)

Why, movies is not my only addiction! Food comes first! I have a favorite restaurant or two at every major station in Bombay... and I still have so many more left to experience! Oh n one tip for all the foodies out there... if you're non-veg and like pizza, you should try Joey's Pizza in Andheri West... it's definitely 'Bombay's best pizza parlor'!!

I saw a different Bombay… One where the animals walk on the road with you and the poor share the little food which they have with the animals that are faithful to them…. One where the concept of ‘personal space’ does not exist, especially if you’re travelling second-class on a Churchgate bound train at 9a.m….. One where you’re poked, prodded on, pushed around and at the same time treated with love, care, affection and a genuine need to know all of your activities! This Bombay doesn't have an end... No matter how much you explore and no matter how much you think you know, there's always something more to go see, always some place you haven't been to, always a new good restaurant to go to, and unfortunately, always a new place that will gladly steal your earnings while you're enjoying the high-life!

Bombay has its own life – for those who allow it to penetrate to their souls, they will share a strong bond with it like that between two lovers. You develop a love-hate relationship with the city where most often you hate it for its traffic and pollution…. But come the time of moving out, that’s just not an option! Bombay is my love and I will stand by her side! What is Abu Dhabi to me, you ask? And all those confused feelings and emotions? Well… Abu Dhabi is my childhood crush…. I will always love it and cherish my moments there but I’ve grown-up and moved on. Bombay is my one true love!

Political Schmuck

2009-11-09T22:14:00.000-08:00

I'm a 'twenty-something' girl absolutely ignorant about Politics but I'm proud to belong to the world's largest, most vibrant active democracy -- India.

At school we were often told in Civics class to watch parliamentary procedures on TV -- but what I saw last night was a scene of horror and shame where our so-called elected representatives went on a rampage -- more like a cheap Bollywood flick where "dadagiri" is the key word!

Mr. Wayward Politicians, don't you think you have a huge responsibility towards the people who elected you? Do you think all of them were only the "Marathi Manoos"? Do you think when they were in the process of voting for you they spoke only in Marathi? Do you think they care what language you communicate in? Don't you think that you promised them that you'd settle some of their grievances? Now how do you propose to do that -- out of parliament? Don't you think it's a shame and disgrace that you've made a sanctified political hall a battleground? If all that you guys wanted were to be the big bullies, you'll could have done a better job outside Parliament than within its hallowed halls?

Even in schools, an investiture ceremony, where someone is taking an oath as a prefect, or head-girl of the school, is a moment to be respected and its amazing how you -- "elected MLAs" -- could not respect this moment of swearing-in as a sacred respected moment. You have desecrated this momentous swearing-in ceremony!

I think every citizen in this beautiful country of ours -- young and old -- was ashamed at your irresponsible act of "goondagiri"! I shall not go into the language issue -- the Constitution states "the language of choice of the candidate". Mr. Wayward MLAs -- I ask you -- are you promoting Marathi and the needs of the "Marathi Manoos" in this manner? Look around you -- get the bigger picture!
Maharashtra is a state in our country -- India. The world has become a global village. Take the example of this great Marathi Manoos whom the whole of India admires -- our very own, Sachin Tendulkar. He's a beautiful example of being a global citizen and yet he's a Marathi Manoos. Mr. MLAs, do NOT make this country a small-minded, petty-minded, insular country. Mumbai is a global city -- so grow up!

We, the young people of Mumbai -- India, are global! Communication helps us progress so language is just a means to an end. We, as Indians, will not tolerate this obsession with linguistic issues. Mumbai has so many major issues -- deal with our problems and find solutions! You are law-makers but you've proved you're the law-breakers.
Apologize to the people and don't justify your actions with irrational, illogical explanations!

Adieu -- To Love!!

2009-11-05T00:56:00.000-08:00

Baby, can you hear my soul
in silent communication with yours?
Baby, can you hear my words
express an even deeper emotion?
Baby, do you just hear me
or do you really listen to a mate trivializing?
Yet there's an underlying wish to be listened to
Baby I always hear you
Your call for attention
Your need for sharing
Your sweet loving gentle tones
So baby, have we really fine-tuned to each other?

Yes, baby I'm tuned to your dumb ass ramblings
That get me into chuckles n splits
Your humor n laughter warms my heart
n spring cleans the cobwebs
that sometimes unwillingly appear
But baby, from day one
I've seen you beyond that facade
I've really seen you
devoid of narcissism n egoistic grandeur
I love that real person
But baby, I also see intense moments
of narcissistic indulgence
Baby, do you want me
to behold the physicality n look in awe
or do you want to go past it?
I have loved the real you
Baby, do we need to stop here
so in those narcissistic indulgent moments
you can feast your eyes
on ethereal gorgeous physical beauty?
Baby our visions are converse
So baby, can you see us moving on ahead?

Baby can you see
a heart reaching out to yours?
Baby do you really see me
or do physicalities blind you?
Baby have you really seen me
or are you still looking at the external?
There's a yearning, baby
S'times for a glance,
a look of admiration,
a compliment that stems from your soul to mine
or are we just superfluous?
Baby, do I really see you?
Yes, I really do
Your handsome great looks

Baby, do you feel
the solace n comfort in each others arms?
Baby, do you feel
the intensity n passion of our togetherness
Or is it just fizz
that'll evaporate into nothingness
Baby, do you feel
the yearning when we're apart?
Or do you feel liberated?

Baby, its been years of togetherness
But in retro,
It seems like a lifetime
You've brought joy, happiness, love, laughter, dance, passion into my life
I've lived every moment to the fullest with you
I've had doubts, recriminations, shed tears
And verbally battled n battered you at times
But I've lived through it all

Baby, you've been my friend,
my love, my soulmate, my companion
It's been a wonderful roller coaster ride
Where we've ranted n raved at the bends
But baby, we have issues
that loom large like gigantic waves
Do we ignore them
or when they appear, whip up our surfboards
n skim above them?
Someday those waves may pull us down
N drown us destroying our precious love
Baby, do you want to ride the waves
or tame their ferocity?
Baby I love the real you
but the narcissist I cannot indulge
I need you to understand n comprehend the unspoken
Baby, a million thanks
for bringing me the beauty n simplicity
of your love n friendship

"Where do we go from here, baby?"
Is a question I ask you
My love is unconditional n everlasting

Baby, you strung me along
with a song n a promise
Today I stand at the crossroads
N realize I was so so wrong about your love

Adieu... my love... for your love for me has long been gone!!