Observations...

Comfortably seated in someone else’s place in my office [coz my system has some IC problem already] and no one around to see what I’m doing and no work to do on a Friday afternoon and what else does anyone need to write a blog peacefully….

Not being able to blog frequently I had fixed up that no matter what I have to write at least 1 blog every week, but it is already the 2nd week of December and now this is my 1st blog for this month…:( I’m really really worried for not being able to enjoy like others….especially when I see people writing more than 2 blogs/week….Grrr... Aarthi don’t be like this….you silly…

Now having heaps of things to share with co-bloggers, I’m really confused about which one to pick. Since I’ve already written about my work environment and people here.. I think it’s better I don’t bug you guys with similar kind of stories but with something else…:)

The journey is quite long from my home to my work place and I have been noticing so many things happening around as a routine in people’s life that might be simple but still grabs my attention…might be coz I feel something odd/extraordinary in them. I should say it is a wonderful mix of all kind of human emotions like all existing colors splashed on a white paper- It is attractive.

It starts with the thin old lady with a sad longing face strongly pressed against her balcony grill as if she’s trying to push herself, wishing to get through.. hoping to escape someday and her eyelids seem to be too heavy for her to hold it up and open…then the road side idli shop lady…as fat and fresh as her idlis are.., selling breakfast really fast….may be even faster than they do in Saravana Bhavan…the hot steam from that fresh food makes my mouth water early in the morning. Wish I stop there some day and taste how good those Idlis are…:)

Then comes the gang of girls at the signal with that extra dash of turmeric in their faces which makes them look like they have actually finished 1kg of turmeric powder at one go and that eventually makes them look worse or like people from some other planet!!!

Though it is not a signal it is for sure that I have to stop at least for 10 mins before moving from that place, coz of the excessive traffic [I often doubt whether there is some Tsunami warning and people are vacating the city-Gosh that’s how crowded the roads are!!!!!] I heard a loud frightening shout that made me turn my head towards my car window with a sudden jerk to see what’s happening and that is when I saw that very dark and dirty boy in his late teens with a more dirty shorts.. scratching his head and that loud noise was some other guy shouting at him…for some unknown reason. From then I see that insane guy everyday...wishing to do something to make him sane....but still hesitating….only God knows why…

Other small observations like the school going kids with their parents carrying their heavy bags, bulged bus with few people hanging outside not cared that they may slip out, over-speeding two-wheelers and lorries, guys combing and worried about their looks during traffic signal halts, the pan shop person rubbing something in a cover on a hard surface making me feel he is selling some drug, frustrated yet fresh traffic regulator cum cop, college students talking to themselves...might be revising for their exams and the list goes on…everything interesting in some way or the other and even if I miss out one of them I feel the day strange…

I should actually thank all of them for contributing to make my brain think/work....which is not an easy task and keep me occupied through out my traveling time…:)

Redirected to a New Land

This must be my quickest blog ever, coz I “don’t have time” to enjoy what I write and elaborate all the interesting things that happened in the past 2 weeks. I never thought I would even say these words- “I am busy” or “I don’t have time” in my life.

To my surprise I found it hard to hold on to lengthy blogs!!!! I’m a person who enjoyed reading/ writing blogs and within a week everything changed…though I wish it doesn’t continue for long. Unusually I had to talk family issues with my mum over the phone and had no time to discuss it at home…:(

It was a mix of all kinda emotions-angry, tensed, upset, disturbed, happy, hesitating, confused, doubtful and again these are just a handful of examples. The new place was not very odd; I managed to carry that smile with me all the time, so that people don’t think I’m bad or unapproachable. I should say it did help me. All people around me belonging to more/ less the same age group; were not that similar as I expected to be. More guys and very few girls in our team didn’t bother me much.

My entry into my work place was with my Tech Lead introducing me to my teammates. There were just 2 girls other than me and heard that they wanted a ragging session…thought OMG!!!! Don’t I have an innocent look, why should anyone want to rag such a beautiful and calm girl [And btw if you are confused I’m talking about myself!!!!] Guys were too demanding…. yes I had to pay them to make them smile.

The first day was full of boring meetings-3 in 3 hrs and I was already tired with repeated introductions. Being a late riser, I was happy to hear that I need not wake up too early everyday. I guessed that the work won’t be too demanding [at least not most of the time] but staring at the computer screen all day didn’t please me at all and I’m afraid whether I’ll soon develop an aversion towards it.

I wanted to write a separate blog about this person-my saviour in this new Island-Gayathri. Thank God I was thirsty that day, so I approached her asking where I could find drinking water and she was kind enough to walk with me to show the place and I felt myself very comfortable with her. I know good things won’t last long and as I expected she told me the next day she’ll be leaving soon!!!!! She’s such a sweetheart I must say and I really feel bad for not being able to elaborate on this one.

So many people, each with a unique attribute and I remember each one with one word in my mind [coz whenever I see them that’s what I felt they are], before I registered their original names- friendly but hesitating, wicked smile, rigid face, mr.smart [tries to be so], flirt n troublesome, just mind your own business, oh my god don’t see me, smiley, dumbo, why should I and who are you kind of reactions in their faces.

It has been a week already and I’m happy that I knew all their names and have got a reasonable number of friends around me. Thank God….the only trouble being I’ve already got enough work to keep myself occupied for the next 1 week!!! Got a presentation to do as well...Am I stressed???? Have to hit the sack now and longing for the next weekend already..he he..:)

Hoping this situation is for just this week and after that I get some time to completely get lost in my utopia and enjoy visiting other blogger’s lands. So till then keep smiling everyone.... like I do…:)

Tagged(1)--8 Facts about me

Tagging rules: 1. Each blogger must post these rules 2. Each blogger starts with eight random facts/habits about themselves 3. Bloggers that are tagged need to write on their own blog about their eight things and post these rules. At the end of your blog, you need to choose eight people to get tagged and list their names. 4. Don't forget to leave them a comment telling them they've been tagged and to read your blog.

I was tagged by Shashi on eight random facts about me, long long ago. Sorry about the delay Shashi.

1. Novice-I’m a novice at many things. I’m a bharathanatyam dancer [think I can say so..coz done stage performances] yet to do my ‘Arengetram’ but done with my ‘Salangai pooja’, learnt carnatic music till 'varnams', an interior designer for just my home, amateur writer having bunch of stories to be disclosed and the list goes on. Wishing some day I might be an expert in any one at least :)

2. Short-tempered- Any of my friends/relatives or even people who know me since a week would easily highlight this quality of mine. Trying hard to get over this. There were times when I have even felt proud to say that I’m short-tempered but now ‘no way’ I have to change and I’m trying hard to stay calm.

3. My name- I love the way my parents chose my name. It has a part of my dad’s name and a part of my mum’s name, ManohAR and SumaTHI was made ARTHI. Lovely isn’t it? [They even had a boy baby’s name SUmathi and MANohar-SUMAN.]

4. Cleanliness- I can say I’m obsessed with cleanliness-no exaggeration!! Even a small crinkle in my bedspread would disturb me, so I hardly let anyone inside my room. A bit too stupid…my mum says…:p

5. Things people keep- I have this habit of collecting pretty shopping bags and covers. Strange huh!!?? I don’t remember when I started but now would have around 250 different shopping bags with me. Might be when it reaches 1000 or 500 you can find me in ‘The Hindu’ –“Things people keep” segment.

6. Gadgets- I’m a bit crazy about the gadgets and I have named all of them. My mobile phones-Samsung P300-Sweetoo, Apple I phone-Ice [Donno why I named so..might b coz it is cool], Laptop-Dell Inspiron-Chamcha[It means spoon in Telugu n don’t ask me the reason why I named so coz there is none], I-pod shuffle-Snuffy and I-pod shuffle mini-Pouchy, Sony USB Memory stick-Numo.

7. Fitness freak-Diet, exercise, aerobics, tread mill- people who chat with me should be able to talk at least about one of the 4 topics here, coz I’m so conscious about maintaining myself within the 55-58 kgs limit. Though the graph has never been constant, I can’t sleep until I achieve the target.

8. Aries- I’m an April born and according to Linda Goodman’s Love signs “So you are in love with an Aries women, I don’t know whether to congratulate you or pity you” and I completely agree with her !!!!!!!!

Hope it was not too boring….I tried my level best to keep it short.

I would like to tag

1. Compassion Unlimitted
2. m.flowerr
3. white window/Preetilata
4. curious
5. sandhya
6. kuttibalu
7. Random thoughts
8. Thinking Aloud

Diwali

The festive mood is on and my house is getting filled up with crackers, sweets, gifts, clothes and people. Me always stressing about the cleanliness at home have to take a small break for a week, coz I know I can’t really do it with all the above mentioned things scattered all over the house. Thank God my room is still under my control, coz the keys are with me and I lock it even when I go for dinner to the dining table. Given a 30 secs gap my mum would dump my room with something…

Keeping aside the cleanliness issue I enjoy everything about this Diwali season. I get to do the maximum shopping and this is the only time I totally get satisfied with whatever I buy, be it clothes or footwear or cosmetics or handbags or just anything. Eventually my dad will be the only sad person at home-I heard him saying to my aunt-“En pant, shirt ellam uruvitaanga, idula innum tailor bill vera irukam, I think after that en nelamai Pazhani andavar nelama dan” Me and Mum would laugh at this!!!!

My cousin would always say that the house looks more beautiful with all this mess around. Me and my sis with our cousins, dad with his bros n sis and mum with his bros all at our place…OMG, anyone would prefer a fish market to our house, but I love that non stop nonsense, the get together that brings smile in everyone’s face--no price for that. Dad’s place being Sivakasi and having known most of those cracker factory people, this time there was no place at home to keep the gift boxes-imagine the size of each box which can hold a person in it. Yesterday night I had no other option; I stayed awake till 2 a.m segregating clothes, sweets and crackers for our driver, securities, servant and cook and made sure it was distributed before 10a.m. All were happy with their gifts and I was happy too.

I really missed all this fun for the 2 yrs when I was in Sydney and now it is my sis’s turn to miss this, who is in New York now. I really miss her for not being able to threaten anybody with those ‘atom bombs’ and ‘lakshmi vedis’, my cousins are brave enough to even hold them in their hands, though they don’t do that!!!!

After all the fun and freaking moments comes the unbearable thing-the departure. I really can’t imagine that. Suddenly the house looks haunted with no voices, no laughter and no bursting of crackers. It takes some time for me to get back to normal and this time I’m well prepared for that. So for all my blogger friends-“Wish you and your family a very happy Diwali”

P.S-I had time to write but not to post this before Diwali. Sorry for the belated wishes.

NaNoWriMo

People who read ‘The Hindu’ regularly excuse me!! coz you would have read this already- this is about an interesting article I found in today’s Metro Plus.

So for the rest of you there, let me first chase that confused look in your face [if you have one!!!] which would have made you curious [I wish so] when you saw the topic of this blog, NaNoWriMo, which simply means National Novel Writers Month.

This is for people like me, craving there to write at least one novel in this birth but holding back coz they are very doubtful about their skills, language, etc. Here they give us a month time –Nov 1 to 30 [already 5 days gone!!!] and 50,000 words being the word limit and we can write a novel. You just stick on to this time and word limit and you name your work a novel :) and post your novel for other Wrimos [that’s how they address the participants] to read!!!!

They don’t give any awards or certificates for the best ones but this is just being a place to have a good start. It helps to initiate writing in people, who love to write, but just got stuck up with a starting trouble. Though some feel that lack of judgement and appraisal as a drawback here, the other side says they really don’t mind about that.

Once we post it on or before Nov 30, we can later have discussions in the chat rooms about how to improve and get suggestions from few experts on what to improve. We can even tweak the work later and make it better. So any amateur writers there…think you don’t know how to start the journey…try this one!!!!!

Interested-->www.nanowrimo.org

The Zoology test

We were in class 9 and our gang [SPADSV-mentioned in my previous blog] occupying the last 2 benches, 3 in a bench- me, Poornima and Sush in the last bench and Dhana, Vai and Sheelu in the one before us. Comfortably seated in the last, to do all kind of pranks we still managed to study well [Sush was the class topper] so teachers [except few] never believed when guys complained about us.

Our Zoology teacher had announced a test for 25 marks the previous day. I hardly studied anything coz our gang decided not to study and planned to try failing at least once, just to know how it feels. Even if any of us studied, they won’t be allowed to write even a word in the paper declared Poornima. After the morning prayer we were asking other girls in our class whether they were prepared and all seem to have prepared---at least to pass.

Though we didn’t discuss among ourselves we were getting tensed as lunch was nearing, coz the test was after the lunch break. We knew that anyway we can’t finish studying in the lunch break and were really worried about the foolish thought that crossed our mind the previous day. After the bell the note books were distributed and all six of us were just............... as blank as our papers were!!!
Poornima broke the silence with her whisper- Hey did any one carry the zoology book with you today?
Sush: Ya.

She was the bold one among 3 of us, I mean Poornima, coz she came forward to copy it from the book and we can copy from her notes and at the same time warn her if the teacher is nearing us. Sheela started begging for the book coz none of the three had the book and finally managed to get one by threatening a new comer. While the test was going on, a couple of guys were sent out for copying and again another pair and almost 15 guys were standing out to be taken to the Head Mistress. Sush started shivering and Sheela said that the teacher saw us once and next time if she finds any of our heads going down we will get caught for sure!!!!!!!

The test was over and we handed our note books back for correction and were relaxing with a broad smile when Vai said “I saw her watching us from the beginning but Thank God she didn’t call our names” Sush became furious, “Why the hell we have to decide such a stupid thing, then get so tensed and take such a risk. Next time I’m not going to listen to any of you guys, but do remember our notebooks would look like photocopies and there are still chances for us to get caught” We all went dumb and for the next 1 week we were discussing about how to convince our parents, if at all they were called to meet the H.M----preparing ourselves for the worst case.

The day came; we were sitting holding our hands tight and I could feel the chill in Poornima’s hands. The books were distributed, almost all girls got their books except 6 of us. While submitting we made sure that our note books were mingled with others’ and not together, but in spite of that now, just our books were yet to be distributed. We were almost in tears, when we heard the teacher call our names. We 6 were standing and she was holding our notebooks in her hand, guys sitting beside us were laughing and their look conveying “Enna aatam poteenga..matneengala”

Teacher-Your parents send you hear not just to have fun but to study. How many of you have ever realized that?? [I heard someone among us sob, my face was red and the warm blood was rushing making it more colourful] When people around you can study well, why can’t you? [I didn’t want to see her face so was trying to hide myself behind] Today I’m really proud of these girls standing here. Whatttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttt…. [Did I hear her properly? Yes, coz the other 5 had that confused look in their faces too] After so much of hard work, see these girls, all 6 getting 25/25!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! [All were shocked and we 6 were still unable to understand what’s happening around us] Now every one, give them a big round of applause [And yes it happened, all were clapping hands for us]

We waited to get our books back and everything looked fine and we all breathed normally again. The guys beside us said “Adi paveengala” and we all laughed.

After 11 years we still remember all that happened on that day and this incident would be mentioned at least once by anyone of us during our meetings till date and we would laugh at it rolling down on the floor.

Do you know?

I came across these interesting facts and wanted to share it with you.
Courtesy: Landmark shopping bag

• The highest number of points that can be scored in scrabble on the first go is 126-QUARTZY.-I don’t know what this word mean!!
• 6 out of 7 gynecologists in the world are men. -I have heard people say that women gynecs are a bit rude but this piece of info is really surprising.
• Watching TV uses up 50% more calories than sleeping.-Do we lose calories while we sleep????
• No piece of paper can be folded in half more than 7 times. -Ya, it’s true I tried with 3 different sized papers.
• The bible is the most shoplifted book in the USA-OMG!!!!!
• Fingernails grow four times faster than toe nails.-The only fact I knew.
• If you mouth the word “colourful” to someone, it looks like you are saying “I love you”-Haa ya very interesting.
• Haley’s comet was visible on the day Mark Twain was born and he accurately predicted that he would die the day it reappeared.-………

The following is not a fact, but sure to bring a smile in your face.
Courtesy-The Hindu
“The length of a film should be directly related to the endurance of the human bladder”- Alfred Hitchcock.

We Grow up..Without Realising it

Today after a very long time my best friends Sheelu and Poornima came home. We were schoolmates and though we know each other since class 3, we became really intimate in class 9. We named our gang SPADSV [pronounced as spadsiv] just to get noticed and used to scribble the name wherever we can- in benches, in charts, walls and sometimes in our notebooks too.

S-Sheela
P-Poornima
A-Aarthi
D-Dhanalakshmi
S-Sushmitha
V-Vaijayanthi.

[Highlighted names ->married. S,P n D sorry for declaring this.]

My house always used to be our meeting place and we used have a lot of fun. We were well known for our pranks in the school too. During the end of school days we decided to meet twice every month and no one would wish to miss that rendezvous, coz it used to be so much of fun. We would spend our time going out, talking [teasing and making fun] about our college life, the lecturers, new friends and of course guys.Just the normal things that happen within friends.

After our college days it was really hard for everyone to meet up, but we used to take oaths and one among that was to stay in touch wherever we are, coz people around us insisted that it is hard for girls to maintain the friendship, unlike guys. The obvious thought “When guys can, why can’t girls?” crossed us and the urge to prove them wrong was always in our mind.

Today 3/6 were out of station with just 3 of us left to meet up. We had the same kind of fun, laughing all the time and again this was another memorable day, but i felt a small difference. Both Poornima and Sheelu being married were discussing more about their family, their problems and how to handle it [though in a funny and light way I could understand it was bothering them]. It was really surprising to see my friends who were very dominating and house/group leaders in school to have totally changed. I never knew they could compromise so much, be so polite and adjustable. I felt the strangers in my friends for the first time and when I asked them they laughed at me saying “Hey, just grow up Aarthi or just enjoy being single and you’ll learn everything from your own experience”

I realized that people change-not coz they want to but they change even without realizing it themselves. They become more refined and responsible eventually!!!! We still talk about guys, tease people we know and make fun but this new thing being added in our conversation sounded a bit odd to me. May be I’ll understand only when I face a similar situation…but to be true I really miss and long for those lost innocent days.

P.S-After writing so many blogs they said it is a ‘sin’ if I don’t mention about them here, but have heaps of interesting stories in hold and this blog might not please them. Sorry chweet hearts…:)

It's not shit to spit

I was returning from hospital after changing the dressing in my leg. Doctor said he would take the pin during my next visit “without any anesthesia” and added “Don’t worry it won’t pain”. I laughed thinking, then why did you mention about anesthesia? I was already scared about the pain and was discussing with mum what would be my reaction while he is taking the pin-kick the Doctor unable to bear the pain or shout like a mad beast and threaten everyone and other freaking possibilities.

The car stopped in Thirumangalam signal and I was looking at the platform where there were 6-7 kids following a lady in proper height order starting from the tallest to the shortest. I thought she must be their mum... but for all 6-7 or just few of them? Questioned myself in my mind.

The lady was having her mouth filled with beetel leaves that she was not even able to talk properly with her children. They were about to cross the signal but she was least bothered about the kids following her. She was pushing something in that already spaceless mouth and the red fluid started flowing out. Yaaaaaaaaaaaaak and she did that; She spat disgustingly… that too in the EB box nearby!!!! OMG-Why should she do this????- dump herself with so many leaves knowing that her mouth can’t hold that much and then spit it out? Why can’t she swallow it, its her own saliva…Gosh.. Even before she wiped her mouth the tallest kid behind her spat [though he didn’t have any beetel leaves], this time exactly on the middle of the EB box, happily smiled that his aim was good. Then the one behind him followed it and everyone one after one went
“Thoo"
"Thoo"
"Thoo"
"Thoo"
"Thoo”....
I pitied the EB box that was used innovatively as a dustbin for a short period of time.

When I turned back to tell mum what I saw, she was already watching all that and smiled at me looking the reaction on my face.
I asked, “Why are you smiling at me?”
She said, “Your face looks more bewildered than sickening and that’s funny”
I-“Why do they have to spit that mummy, can’t they just swallow, is it so disgusting for those people to swallow their saliva?”
She just smiled and reminded me Vivek’s comedy in a movie where he asks people “Does any one spit on the roads in America or Australia. This habit is in no other country, why do people have to do that in India , etc?”

Though I have seen that comedy before I just laughed at it but now watching it happen live somewhere that too a series of spitting on the road, Gosh it was really awful. Again I asked mum “Mummy why do they have to spit, it isn’t shit to spit, it’s just their saliva”

Her face turned red (actually pink) and she said, “First stop swearing and that is more disgusting than what you just saw now”

“When did I swear-Is shit a bad word?”

“Aarthi just stop it and shut up” and I turned my face away angrily.

My doubt yet uncleared there was another doubt that rose in my mind and now in total two doubts:
1. Why can’t people swallow it?
2. Is “shit” a bad word?

Time-My Teacher

When I had all the time for myself and never had a chance to say “I’m busy”, I should say it was lovely too. I rediscovered myself again and again for ‘n’ number of times and the conclusion was not a motif thankfully. I identified the oxymoron in me, which I would have denied if pointed by someone else before or at least would have tried to camouflage it, but now I don’t think there is a need for it. C’mon everyone carries a bit of that. I should admit I loved this process of learning, learning me.. myself, though it is not complete yet….

Until this long break I never thought I too can do a bunch of interesting things or I never thought there are a bunch of things that interests me. I developed my passion for dance through aerobics and got obsessed with aerobics. Listening to music tempted me to sing along and I 'boldly' recorded my voice and listened to it and I’m still singing coz I wish to get completely satisfied with whatever I do passionately. I have to say I’m still a novice in all I do, but never mind today’s amateurishness might lead to a future pro!!!!!! I believe so coz I still have the amour and wish to carry it with me forever. I used to laugh at my irritated chweet lil cousin calling me a “perfectionist” when I stressed her about the cleanliness of the room I shared with her. Before I reminisce and get lost from this topic let me list those magnets that made me an iron/nickel/cobalt…fill in the metal u like.

1.Writing-be it blogs, short stories or just anything, I’m more confident now. All these days I never knew writing can be of one’s paramount interest!!!!!!!
2.Reading-I think I can draw equations and correlate my interest, coz ardent reading made me fall in love with my keyboard and pen and thus I’m here with my keyboard again.
3.Dance-I did both classical [I learnt during my school days] and free style and have choreographed myself for 2 songs. Wishing to sell it for school kids…lol!!!
4.Aerobics-Now with my bandaged foot I have invented a new kind of aerobics….might name it-'Hop Aero' [named it to sound something like a Tai Chi]
5.Music-My mesmerizing companion at all times.
6.Singing-Pushing aside the -ves for some time, I’m still enjoying the +ve feedback I got “Your voice is sweet” OMG!!!
7.Cooking-I’m becoming a pudding expert these days.Sticky date and sweet corn puddings being my specialties…yummy….Tell me you drooled I’ll serve you one.

I think 7 might be odd but not a bad count.

Exclamations and Questions

“Go to heaven and send down your brothers to us”-I couldn’t guess anything from this title when I came across this article in Femina. The above words were told to just born female babies before they were killed!!!!! I really couldn’t believe that such things still prevail in India. Though it is not in the cities, people in some rural areas still don’t prefer girl babies and the worst part is they kill them. Gosh…How can anyone do that????? I still don’t understand.

Later in CNN, I saw that heart breaking news, that there were around 20 female fetuses thrown in a well near a hospital in a town called Patran [somewhere near Punjab] and this has been happening since a year. The doctors have been helping the parents who didn’t wish to have a girl child, so they declare the sex of the child [which is illegal in India-haa who cares!!] and helped even to kill them. This was disclosed by a nurse, not coz she had a heart but b’coz she was not paid properly!!!!!!!!!

It is really shameful for us to be among such heartless creatures and we couldn’t do anything about it. I usually don’t dare to see the killings and murders in news, but this time I wanted to see and I was in tears. It was too painful to bear!!!! The skulls were not even the size of our palm and were found broken near the well. It would have been very easy for them to kill those innocent lives but how such …………….[you can fill any bad word in this blank acc to the level of your temper] can be allowed to lead a normal life after the killing. Even animals don’t kill their own babies. I think only in India people worship God in Women form too….but what an irony!!!!!!

Is India a developing country?????????? Does the word “developing” just mean the economy? And is it right to be named so?

The Surgery

It is not really comfortable to sit in my computer chair, with my legs flat on the bed nearby and my torso twisted towards the computer screen to my left and write a fresh new blog!!! Few days ago I thought this was impossible, but today I’m doing it coz I have to. It is v v v v v difficult to kill time, especially sitting or sleeping most of the time and standing hardly for 5-10 mins/day.

I had to undergo a surgery in my leg, last Tuesday 25 Sep 2007. Doctor had asked me to get admitted around 6.30 a.m in empty stomach. I was there on time and was asked to wait in my room when mum was filling up forms and I was signing declarations regarding the surgery. It was 7 and I already felt boring, thirsty and hungry. “Not even a drop of water” the anaesthetist had told me the day before. He was a north Indian in his mid 40s or 50s and was very sweet and kind to me.

I was given a green.. sorry white..oops no it was grey..hmm I’m still confused- let me say a multi-colored gown to be worn. I was really shocked to see even small holes in the gown.

I said “Sorry I can’t wear this, gimme a different gown”,

the nurse said-“Don’t worry it is sterilized and that’s why the color”

I-“Fine even if I don’t mind about the color I’m not ready to expose myself during the surgery, so please gimme a mended one at least”.

Even mum and dad were a bit shocked and mum suggested me to take up the surgery the next day in Apollo.

Dad said “It is ok. Let’s see the gown they get now and still if it is bad, we can talk to the Doctor and get a better one. We have to see the Doctor’s preference for the surgery and not ours, so just bear with all these minor issues”

The bed linens and pillow covers were white turned blue in color. Other than that the service and ambience was good. No strong smelling floor cleaner and the room was pretty big, clean and convenient. My only suggestion in their feedback form was “Please change your launderer”.

I got changed and the Doctor came to the room asking “So, Aarthi. Ready?” I said “Yes, Doctor”. I was smiling unusually, coz till the day before I had all kinds of silly doubts and was very tensed. Though I have undergone a surgery before it was a very minor one and I was very casual until I saw the board named “Operation Theatre” and the sharp glistening blades, knifes and syringes. I was half petrified already but somehow managed not to shout or make a fuss, coz I was worried what if I disturb the surgeon by doing all that and as a result feared that the surgery many not be a 100% success.

This time they said they’ll give general anesthesia and I got many kinds of comments [some good and some really threatening] like,
Friend-Don’t worry you will be deep asleep and you won’t know anything.
MSD [My silly doubts]-What if I wake up in the middle of the surgery.
Mum-Don’t worry there will be one person completely concentrating on you.
MSD-What if something gets complicated with the operation and everyone including the person concentrating on me gets distracted to my leg and I wake up crying/shouting in pain?
Mum-She gave an indescribable mix of reactions and I stopped questioning her.
Friend-They’ll ask you to count 123 and you won’t remember saying 3.
Friend-It will be fun, you’ll feel like you are flying and when you wake up you’ll see your leg tied up with all bandages. You won’t feel any pain.
Friend-Don’t get tensed if they give you enema.
I was like “Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaattttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttt”
Iduku eduku enema, I’m going in empty stomach.
Friend-Just be prepared for everything. You’ll feel like vomiting when they give anesthesia!!!!!!!!!
Me-?????????????????????????????

All these conversations were flashing in my mind while I was getting on to the stretcher tying my hair and putting a cap. I was taken to the operation theatre. All people including dad in the corridor were staring at me with a sympathetic look on their face and I tried not to laugh seeing their reaction. Inside the theatre I was looking for any sharp instruments; Thank God I couldn’t find anything. The anesthetist tapped my head friendly and said “Hi”and I was again smiling and said “Hi”. He took my left hand and tapped the other side of my palm few times and I was injected with a yellow color fluid. Nurse asked the doctor mentioning the quantity of the fluid and he said “Yes” then she said “Given Doctor”. For pulse they clipped my forefinger. The nurse was angry seeing my long enameled nails, coz the signal was not proper or something and Doctor said something aloud in Hindi- I donno whether he was scolding me and I was least bothered about all that, at that point of time. They pasted some round stickers on me, saying it was for ECG. There were 2 split ACs and a small wooden clock ticking 8 a.m in front of me. I felt as if the clock is moving up and down slowly and then a bit faster and that’s it.

When I woke up the anesthetist asked me something and I said “chooffy”…. “Sify” and he said “ok ok”. My tongue was thick and I was unable to speak. My throat was very dry and I wanted to wet it with my saliva but I couldn’t. I felt a bit tensed when I couldn't do this. My vision was not clear yet but I was in the stretcher just outside the theatre waiting to be taken to my room. I felt very cold and was shivering. Nurse took my left hand and placed it slowly on me and covered me completely with the bed sheet making me feel warm. She was shouting at someone for making us wait for the lift. When I was taken to my room I saw mum and my grandpa there. They asked me to shift myself to the bed and I don’t know why…. I cried for some reason. Nurse asked mum “Why is she crying? She was fine till now” Mum “Might be after seeing me”. I was in my bed half asleep. I asked for time and mum said it was 10.45 a.m.

I asked for water and they gave me just 1 spoon. After sometime 2-3 spoons and that’s it. I was famished by that time and was waiting for my lunch. At 1 p.m I was allowed to have lunch. Friends came in the evening and I had a nice chat till 8. I felt tired and wanted to have a sound sleep, but I think I would have slept for hardly 2-3 hrs and I wanted to change my sleeping position. I raised my leg slowly but couldn’t turn myself to either of the sides coz it was hurting. I got back pain since I was lying in the same position facing the ceiling for nearly 20 hrs. I even felt little pain in my hand where they had pierced the needle and then started the pain in my legs.

It was bearable till 4 a.m and after that it slowly became severe. I thought I should bear the pain and should not disturb mum or nurse until they wake up and I controlled myself. I was lying in the bed saying “Hanuman Chalisa” and weeping so that my mum doesn’t hear me. At 5 I couldn’t bear anymore. The pain was EXCRUCIATING. I was thinking about the dressing that will be done in the evening and started to fear already. I have never been so frightened in my life. I called mum and she asked the nurse to give some pain killers. I was praying God wishing the nurse just gives a pill and not any injections in the pierced needle in my hand. I thought “I can’t bear anymore” Thank God the nurse gave a pill and I had slight fever. The whole of next day I was sleeping peacefully. I woke up just to have food and again slept. I felt fresh and better in the evening. The dressing was not as painful as I feared. Doctor asked me to see my leg, but I didn’t have the guts to see the stitches. The next day I got discharged and now I have changed the dressing once more.

It was really hard in the beginning, coz I had to expect mum for everything. Even now I don't say it is not hard but I got used to it. I had to use the wheel chair even to go to my room nearby and I really hated it. I got severe pain twice after coming home and fever following the pain. Slowly I learnt how to keep my legs so that it doesn’t hurt me. When they changed the dressing the 2nd time I saw my leg. It looked bad and I’m sure the mark is going to be obvious. I saw 2 needle like thing, one in each leg, pierced and which created the pain. Doctor said he’ll remove it after 2 weeks and for which I’m already scarrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrred and worried about the pain. I can’t leave my feet touch the floor and neither leave it hanging. My legs should always be at rest and that too perpendicular to my torso.

Only yesterday I managed to walk by myself, of course by holding the wall and other support nearby. Mum watched me happily, like watching her new born baby walking for the 1st time. Everyday I was able to type just few lines and that’s why it has taken so many days [more than a week] to complete this blog. Sorry for this really lengthy crap – you have to believe that I have written just 50% and I’m already exhausted.

My Thanks to

Doctors –you are really doing a great job!!!!! I was a bio student and had cried many days for not getting into medicine. But now I’m happy, coz I realized life is not comfortable watching blood, flesh, skin, knives, parts of human body, pain, cries, etc. So hats off to all Doctors there who really love their profession.

Mum-not just my mum but to every mum is the world, in simple words--Hats off for what you are!!!!

Things I missed a lot (in random order)

1. Blogs
2. Orkut
3. Friends
4. Internet
5. My room
6. Theatres and Movies
7. Gym
8. All my footwear
9. Shopping
10. Restaurants.

Sleepless Nights

The phrase “sleepless nights” often finds its space in a sentence, paragraph or even a book, where the intensity of these words will not be truly felt. We just read it and pass on to the next line. Me, suffering from this trouble now could understand how terrrrrrrrrrible it is.

I am a late riser and used to go to bed late. I usually hit the sack around 12, 1 or even 2 and wake up unwillingly around 8-9. I make sure I sleep for just 6-8 hours and not less/more than this boundary and I don’t like to sleep in the afternoons or evenings. In spite of me being so conscious, for the past two weeks sleep is not favoring me. The posture in which I sleep will be the same till next day morning and I always had a sound sleep, but now I realize I have been turning to both sides so often and when I get down from my bed I feel tired rather than being fresh and energetic.

It is true that certain issues have been troubling me and my mind is always occupied with those thoughts, but I never thought it would affect my sleep. I started blogging, working out and social networking to get out of depression and keep my mind free of stress, but all in vain.

Not having a sound sleep does not let me face the morning with a smile, I walk and brush and do things half asleep. It slows down my pace and I had to skip my breakfast before going to the gym. So couldn’t work out to the fullest of my satisfaction. I had to pass the whole day half asleep, half tired and nothing to the complete. So, by this time you should be “pichifying ur thala”…thinking “enna dan solla vara iva”. Nothing buddy-Next time you come across those lines remember that having a “sleepless night” is not an easy joke. So try to sleep properly and stay healthy.

My Celebrity look-alikes!!!!!

http://www.myheritage.com/collage

Pretty interesting, but hold down your temper, I'm not responsible for anything......:-)

The Guy

It was a sunny afternoon [why should anything romantic happen only on rainy days and that too in the evenings or nights?-I know it makes one feel more romantic, but I prefer to be truthful] - Me and my friend were watching a English movie in a really cozy and fully air conditioned theatre, just to escape the sun burning and tanning our skin outside. There were very few people in the hall, not coz the movie is boring but it was a matinee show on a working day. I was waiting for the break so that I could go and get my favorite choc-coffee gelato ice cream [I often forget the actual name of this ice cream].

I was in the ice cream queue whereas my friend was getting popcorn and some drink for her. The stalls were on either side of the passage so that we were standing with our backs facing each other. Accidentally, I saw that guy standing behind my friend. I couldn’t see his face, but he was well-dressed with a cool blue t-shirt and black jeans. Now and then I turned my head to see his face but in vain. Something was very attractive about him or it would have been just my curiosity-I didn’t know. I was pushing myself to get the ice cream asap, so that I can go to my friend, pretend to chat with her and thus to get a glance of his face.

Wow I did, He was toooooooooooooooooooooo handsome that I couldn’t take my eyes off [I doubted whether he’s a film star, but nope]. He was very casual and normal but very attractive. [Thank God his lips weren’t dark, coz that turns me off-I hate people who smoke and hence the dark lips] I was talking unusually loudly so that he will hear me and turn his head towards me. Everyone in the queue did…….. except him. My friend had a doubtful look on her face seeing my unusual behavior. She came and told me “Aarthi you were a bit loud, didn’t you realize that”. I said “Yes, I did, I did that on purpose. Didn’t you see the guy behind you?” She turned and looked at him.
She said “Wow….he looks awesome”
Me: That’s the reason I was so loud, but he never turned his head. He was too much into his mobile. Must be sending messages to his girl friend. I giggled.
She: Yaaaaa….No girl will leave such a handsome guy to be single for this long. He must have a girl friend by now.

I regretted for saying that and was looking behind to see if any of his friends or girlfriends were with him. He was no longer in the queue. Pretty disappointed I was going inside the hall when my friend pinched me. OMG!!!!!! The guy was walking before us. We both giggled… We walked slowly to see where he is seated. Unfortunately, behind our row. Not lucky enough…., I started eating my favorite ice cream. I could neither enjoy the movie nor the ice cream. I was more worried that he didn’t turn his head towards me. I was dressed fairly well and wooooooooooooow what a coincidence…even I was in a black jeans and blue kurti. I was too excited to tell this to my friend but I know she’ll stab me if I interrupt her now.

After the movie we couldn’t find him and even I didn’t want to look for him anymore-it would be very silly. We planned to roam about in the mall for sometime. I wanted to buy few books and so I was looking for the books and my friend was getting some gift. Since it will take a long time for me, she said she’ll come back to me once she finishes billing the gift. I took the small cushioned stool and sat near the Indian authors section to find some books of my interest. Since there was no one in the books section I made myself comfortable covering the entire pathway when I heard someone say “Excuse me”. I got up pushing the stool aside and saying “Sorrrrrrr…Err..Sorry”. Yes, it was him again. My heart skipped a beat. He was so close and with a cute smile he said “Thank you”. His voice was so manly and blah blah blah. He walked past me and me back in the same position with the book in my hand and my mind roaming somewhere else. I should have talked to him, but what? It would have been very silly and God Am I flirting? No way!!!! I have never done that before and I never wish to do that.

This is not a movie, so started looking for the books again and again he came. This time Goshhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh he came to me-“Hi, have you read Indian authors before” [OMG, OMG…what’s happening]. I stood up like a school kid in front of the teacher and I said “Ya, I have”
He: I have started reading very recently and wish to give a try reading Indian authors, can you suggest me some books.
Me: I’m not a pro, but I can suggest you some good authors.
He: Oh, thanks.
After a few conversations, completely about books he said “Hey, thanks a lot and it’s nice to meet you” I said “Me too”. He was very decent with a very good vocabulary. I wanted to ask him many things like where do you live, what do you do, etc but I couldn’t. I don’t like to initiate any such conversations, if he had at least asked my name then I would have. “Why is all this happening?” I asked myself. Not wishing to stay there anymore I walked to see my friend and saw him again. I turned back to see whether he is seeing me. No.
Again I did. No.
Again I did and Yes, He did and smiled. Opppppsssssssss, I turned quickly and started walking.
Giving a long gap, say 1 min I tuned back again, he was standing very near to me, staring at me with a fishy cute smile and holding few books in his hand. Gosh-he got me. I was really shocked, didn’t expect this, I was almost running when he came behind me “Hey, stop” There were people around, so didn’t want to make it a show there and hence I stopped and turned. He gave his hand out saying “I’m ………” I didn’t hear him. It was something starting with “A”. I was deaf, my heart beat has stopped, not knowing what’s going to happen next, I was blushing and sweating at the same time.
I said “I’m Aarthi”.
He: Nice name.
Me: Thanks
He: Hey Aarthi I have been watching you from the ice cream stall. [Oh God-so shameful, he would have thought I’m flirting] You are really cute.
Me: …………………………………………………………………………………
He: I think I like you.

Mum: “Aarthi it is 9.30 already, wake up”.

I was never disappointed like this before. For the first time I regretted for being an Aerian, coz they dream a lot and they are very passionate lovers-might be in the dreams too.

Fatter side of my story

When people tell me “Hey you have lost a lot of weight?”, “You really look better with this kind of figure”, “Wow, I couldn’t recognize you, you’ve become so thin” I’ll be flying. Today it makes me feel so nice, but the past and the experiences that made me a fitness freak is really hard to digest.

I still remember the guy’s name who first called me “Gundu”-Its funny but I do. I was in my 3rd class then and the guy named Alpha seemed to be the villain of our class. Everyone warned me about him. They advised me to give him my pencil/rubber and whatever he asks for or else he might break my pencil box or will steal my things. I never cared and hence he said “Po di gundu” Giggle...Though it sounds funny now, it did hurt me a lot. I was crying. That’s how it started.

Me and my younger sis used to go for something called the morning practice. It was sports training given by our PT masters in the morning. My sis used to be very thin then. There was a running track on the ground where me and sis had a running race. I was very sure that I won’t win the race but they purposely had it for them to have fun. It was really embarrassing for me in front of more than 30 school kids all big and small and 2 teachers. It happened as I had predicted. I controlled my tears, rushed back home and started crying in my bathroom.

I even remember when my uncle fooled his newly wed wife saying that my birthday was on Ganesh Chathurthi, where his intention obviously was to say that I look like an elephant. I cried the whole day - mum was consoling me and dad scolding me for not being sportive. Irrespective of age and gender people teased and bullied me. :-(

When I was in 8th I was really stout, weighing 68 kgs. Whenever I was called for sports they always compelled me to take part in shot put and nothing else. Once during the usual medical check up in my school I was asked to bring my mum to talk about my weight, the Doctor was really kind and sweet but still I felt very insulted in front of all my class mates. [Thank God!! Guys weren’t there] My parents have never told me to restrict myself on food or to exercise and even I didn’t realize the importance. Only when I saw my class group photo I realized how huge I was. I was really shocked. I was standing behind my class teacher and all looked like school kids except me and my teacher. That is when I started starving in the name of dieting. I maintained my weight to 65 kgs till my 12th, but still I have heard [even] some of my good friends mentioning me as “Gundu Aarthi”-coz we were 2 Aarthi’s in the same class. I always wondered why can’t they call us with our initials like M.Aarthi and P.Aarthi and not ‘Gundu’ Aarthi and ‘Olli’ Aarthi. Criticizing one's physical appearence is the worst thing one can do.

The irony is that the person who called me so, is suffering from obesity now and getting tips from me about how to cut down her kgs. My uncle who teased me, now weighs more than 100 kgs. Today when I told people in the gym that I used to be plump, they refused to believe me!!!!! :-)

After all this, now I feel happy about the way I look, if I had not faced all these comments I doubt whether I would have worked so hard to keep myself fit. So I always take this as an example and tell myself there is no good teacher than our own experiences. So let us learn from our experiences –good or bad and I strongly believe in the words of “Bhagavat Gita” which in simple says “Everything happens for a reason”.

An Error

Desired profile:
Candidate has to be highly assertive, with excellent communication skills. He/She should be able to interact with customers effectively and should have a pleasing personality.

The above lines were the description given in a job search website for the position of an HR professional.

My Experiences:

Org 1- Nokia

The HR Executive welcomed me with a friendly smile. She asked me to wait in a room until the interviewer arrives. Since it was their lunch hour she asked whether I had my lunch and told me that I still have time to grab a bite in their canteen. After the interview she came back to me enquiring how the interview was and how did I perform. This was the first and last time I had seen such a friendly person.

Org 2 (Over the phone)

HR- Is this Aarthi? [No Ms or Mrs. not even my surname]
HR- I tried to reach you a lot of times but couldn’t.
Me- Oh really!! I have been waiting for your call so I returned all my missed calls and I am sure didn’t get any calls from you.
HR- [Not bothered about what I said] asked about my qualifications.
[After a series of conversations] Will call you soon.
Me- After 2 weeks time I called her.
HR- Why did you call me? I said I will.
Me- Ya, but it has been 2 weeks already and that’s why…….even before I finished.
HR- I’m out on a holiday call me back after this weekend.
And it was me who called her after that-always. It was an STD call and she made me wait for more than 5 mins while I could hear her chatting with her friend on some other line.

Org 3

This person was the best-I still doubt whether he knows how to smile. Some questions he had asked me

* What do you want?
* So what?
* Do you drive? [This was totally irrelevant to what we were discussing]
* Do you think you’ll do well in the next round? [In spite me doing absolutely well in the previous round]
* What have you been doing all these days?

Org 4

Monday-After introducing ourselves
Me- This person had asked me to meet you regarding this.
HR- Sorry who?
Me- I repeated.
HR-Just wait for a few minutes.

After 10 minutes
HR- We have certain things to be sorted out between us so you may go now and you have to come back when I call u.
Me- But that person told he had informed you already and all I have to do is just collect the form from you. [I had to travel for more than an hour and just did nothing]
HR- No, I’ll call you. You can come then.
Me- Ok, so when can I expect a call from you and do you have my contact number.
HR-Ya, I have all your details and I’ll call you before this Thursday.

Friday
I called him. I got the number by searching in google.
Me- Hi, This is Aarthi, we met this Monday.
HR- I told I’ll call you, Right. [Believe me it was so harsh]
Me- Ya, but you said you’ll call me before Thursday and today is Friday.
HR- Telling someone’s name-has gone out of station, will call you once he returns. You need not call me until then.

I thought HR executives are meant to be friendly, if not friendly at least not rude, but most of my experiences were very bad. I don’t know why they have to be like this, is that to show that it is not sure that I will be working with them or there is no need/gain for them to be friendly or it is to just create seriousness or they all have never been like that before?????? When I asked my friends regarding this, they said it was very common!!!!! and the best way to handle this is to just neglect their harsh words and reactions.

I feel the graduates who would be tensed already might get more tensed coz of such rendezvous. Eventually, more than the interview and the questions I started to fear the HR people. So, now-a-days I prepare myself to be as friendly as possible and to carry a smile always so that even the most lifeless face can lighten up seeing a smile.

Just compare my experiences[Actual Result] and the lines I had mentioned about HR Executives in the beginning[Expected Result]. I learnt that Error exists when expected result is not = to the actual result. ER is not equal to AR.

How well do you know me?

Create your own Friend Test here

This one is really interesting. I'm jus waiting for all my friends there to take up this test. The questions are very simple so just give a try-pls. Don't forget to leave your comments too.

The IT Park

The day before yesterday I had gone to one of those posh IT Parks in Chennai. I should say that everything was just mind-blowing---the roads, greenery, the buildings, the posh interiors and what not -even the people!!!!!!

I think after 2 yrs I got a chance to be there-I mean not the IT park but the area where it has been put up. I should admit it reminded me Sydney a couple of times –other than that the day was sunny. The roads were so clean and tidy. I was peeping outside my car to find something like bits of papers/dust accumulated in the corner of the roads, but found nothing. Not even a bump, I could comfortably write on a paper while traveling. OMG!!!!!-is this what all have been shouting out as the IT Revolution. Indeed it is a revolution. One should feel it to accept it. I cursed myself for not getting my cam:-(

Near the entrance, I had to undergo all those formalities to get a visitor pass and park the vehicle - all without any hiss. Everything was very well organized and it was a 'no-compromise' area. Rules are rules and I loved it….:-) Inside the building, I found myself in a whole new different world. It was centrally air conditioned. Most people in formal wear and with a professional look rushing around during the lunch hour. There was a hugeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee space for a food court-that naturally grabbed my attention first. It had everything I loved-Gangothree, some Café, Sangeetha, Marry brown…yummy. I wish I had someone with me to share a meal.

It also flaunts of having a health club, swimming pool, a book shop, knick-knack store, medical centre, florist, optical shop, beauty parlor, help desk, travel desk, courier service, ATMs and Forex services. Wow Wow Wow….I should be dreaming. To top up all these different flavoured ice creams there were these nuts and cherries-the people. More than anything I felt the people were very friendly and helpful.

The 'aayahs' were in their uniforms; gray pants and shirts- it was an unusual sight for me in India. Their hair was excessively oiled and few with those orange coloured flowers[I don't remember the name] and other few with jasmine flowers in their hair, which were not even my finger length. More than the aayahs themselves I felt I was more worried about how they managed to keep that in their hair and let it not slip down. I was giggling already….Errrrr I was the only one giggling and I stopped before anyone gave me an odd look. Not just the place even the people were chic and classy….mmm…Chennai Rocks!!!!!!!!! [I wanted to write a separate blog about the 'aayahs' but thought it might be boring for others]

I was about to enter the corporate office and slipped myself. God…..Wished no one saw me….but unfortunately, the lady in reception was already controlling her laughter and was trying to turn it into a smile on her face. Kadavule!!!!!!!!!!!!!! [Inda nelamaila English ellam varadhu].Thanks to those clear glass doors. HMMMMM. I managed myself a smile and went to the lady enquiring blah blah blah blah blah blah, as if nothing had happened.

I was in the waiting room for the person I had to meet, while I noticed another guy there waiting for someone. He was too much into the daily newspaper. He was dark with a very serious reactionless face and was neatly dressed. I could see his uneasiness when I sat beside him. Oopssss!!! I was sitting a bit too closer to him, that if he/me gets up we might stamp on each others leg. He gave a sign of relief after I moved myself away. It was funny-Aarthi this is not the place to giggle –mmm Be Serious. I was picturing how I would have slipped and what would have been the reaction on my face that made the lady laugh….Giggle-ne thirundhave maata. The dark guy gave an uncomfy jerk. Must have heard me giggling. Ayo Aarthi !!! Remembered what my cousin used to say to me-“Aadhivasi Adakivasi” –ok ok . I told myself-“Answer me now-what’s smoke testing?” Kilinjadhu.

Soon pulling me back from my thoughts [Thank God!!-he he he] the person the dark guy had to meet appeared. They were sitting on the other side of the room and I was all ears [what if I get the same questions]. The Dark guy goes “I’m aasdf, did my sghjk, in asdfghjkll….”, like an L.K.G child-“My name is Blah Blah, studying in L.K.G- B section in S.B.O.A Matriculation and Hr.Sec.School, Annanagar, Chennai” Yeppada…I’m far better, so won’t be a problem. He was still continuing “blah blah blah blah blah blah blah …..…My father is an auto-driver and my mother is a……” I didn’t hear the rest of the sentence. What!!!!!!!!!!! Cha cha I would have not heard properly. It should have been something like automotives and not an auto-driver for sure. Towards the end the person asked again-“What’s your father?” He said “My father is an auto-driver”. I couldn’t believe my ears. It was all mixed kind of thoughts into my mind. I can imagine how much this guy would have struggled to get there. I compared myself to him. I told everyone what I heard-Mum, Dad, Poori expecting someone to say something but all were blank like me!!!! I think this was much of a shock for me.

Laughter and Me :-)

I realized how important it is to give statutory warnings, like the one in cigarette boxes and warning for expecting mums and heart patients before watching a scary movie or getting into a roller coaster ride. So it is my duty to give you a similar word of notice [not statutory though] before you go through this blog so that by the end you don’t conclude that I’m a bit insane.

I should have hanged myself to death!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Coz that’s what I told Karthik when he asked me to sleep immediately after my heavy dinner. :-) “I’d rather hang myself than to sleep immediately after a meal”. But that’s what I did today morning!!!

We were chatting till 3 a.m regarding Koundamani and his jokes in Tamil movies. Karthik was quoting all those funny dialogues and me being a professional giggler!! was laughing my head off, holding my tummy trying to stop it from aching. Sometime Koundamani's jokes will be absolutely irrelevant and I feel that makes it funnier. Some of the best ones being

Suryan-“Hello Mr. Vaidiyanathan, namma rendu paerum idhukku munnadi Delhi la meet pannirukkom, appo ongalukku mandaila mudi jaasthi”

Suryan-“Salethla mukkiya premugar kaidhame” and he goes “ En Coimbatore la mukkuna kaidhu panna maatangala?”

I’m not sure whether everyone considers this as a joke; I would say only very few who have keenly noted every bit of his comedy could enjoy his jokes to its best.

I would laugh even for the most silliest of jokes and which had occasionally made me an ‘outstanding’ student in my school and college days. Just when some one goes like- “Aarthi shall I tell a joke?” and I would have already been half way through giggling and just imagine my state by the time the joke would have come to an end.

Actually we started with something really sensible and serious- discussing about our career, interviews, etc and after a while my brain got heated up so just changed the topic to jokes and Gosh if at all anyone had seen me then they would have no doubt dialed KMH [Kilpauk Medical Hospital]-the one for mentally retarded ones. And all this mess ended up at 3 a.m and thought, I should hit the sack or else I might miss the gym the next day-which is a greater sin than ‘sleeping soon after eating’.

“Aarthi wake upppppppppp its already 9…….wake upppppppp…..” not able to bear mum’s scream, I got up. My eyes were burning and I just wished not to open my eyes and sleep for some more time. But I had to go to gym and hence should have my breakfast at least an hour before. It was 9.30a.m - I had finished my breakfast and was literally holding my eyes open to keep myself awake.

Trinngggggggggg Tringgggggggggggggggggggggggg. The usual normal ringing sound was unusually disturbing today. It was like someone sitting on my ears and blowing trumpets, I got up with a jerk. In spite of holding my eyes open, I had dozed off....zzzzzzzzz. It was a call from Mum saying that our driver didn’t turn up today and hence asked me to skip the gym for just 1 day.

Wowwwwwwwwowwowoww. Hurrrrrrrrrrrrayyy !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I got a valid reason to sleep. [If it had been on some other day I would have fought with mum to let me drive myself to the gym]. I have never felt happy if I had to skip my work outs but for the 1st time I did.

At 10 a.m I was on my bed cuddled myself with the quilt and making myself warm on a cold rainy day. I don’t remember when I slept but it was 1 p.m when I got up with my vision clear, brain working and me feeling human. Gosh only then I realized I had slept quite soon after my breakfast…..…just recollected what I had told Karthik yesterday and again laughter!!!!!!!!!! There should be an inseparable bond between laughter and me. Lucky me!! coz laughter is the best medicine. [Giggle!!!!]

Buckle Down Yourself

I should say it was a mega shopping day for me and for the first time in my life I had grabbed so many books in such a short span of time-the count being 15 in 15 mins. I randomly picked “Homecoming” by Taslima Nasreen and I couldn’t resist myself from reading it. Being a very simple book with just 120 pages, it embraces a life in it. I just couldn’t hold back myself about this amazing book I had read.

Kalyani, the heroin of the novel leaves her home town [Mymensingha, Bangladesh] unwillingly, for survival. She comes to a different country [Kolkata, India] and never feels at home. In spite of her detachment, she had to pursue her life in this new land, where she gets a chance to go back to her place after a period of more than 30 years. During her visit she realizes that her homeland had existed merely in her thoughts and not in reality. The author brings out the fate of millions of people who have left their country for another and got lost belonging to neither. Reading through the pages, I was able to feel Kalyani and it brings an unknown burden in the hearts of the readers.

In spite of everyone teasing Kalyani about the accent she carried from her hometown, she always felt proud of it and she keeps emphasizing the beauty of her country-the Brahamaputra River, friendly people in the neighborhood, the land where she had met her first love and people like her friend Sharifa who had fallen on the ground and cried when she had left. She had told heaps of stories to her kids and had even fought with her husband flaunting about her country.

When she visits her country she completely feels out of place, though she knew she’s in the right place- where she wanted to be for the past 30 years. She's taken aback when she finds that even her best childhood friend acts like a stranger.

“Kalyani looked longingly at Sharifa; averting her eyes, Sharifa sat quietly. Kalyani looked at her arms, clasped in heavy gold bracelets. She had gone to the riverside holding those hands once. Kalyani thought, transported to the past”

The above lines are simple yet very cogent reflecting Kalyani’s longing for the love from her friend. One day, she lets her son play with the kids on the roads to get the aura she had enjoyed during her childhood. When he comes back she enquires about the game they were playing and gets humiliated listening to his answer.

“What sort of game is that-I’ve never heard of anyone playing with ants.

The ants were moving in a line up the wall, they were crushing the red ones, letting the black ones go free. When I asked why they were doing that, they said it was because the black ones were Muslims, the red the Hindus.

Kalyani shivered uncontrollably”

Facing all kinds of awful situations she thinks back about her love.

“He had said ‘I can’t live without you’……Everyone says this at one time or another and continues to live. Life doesn’t come to a standstill because another person is not there. …..you might not want to have anything to do with someone you had previously thought indispensable”

It is a blind fact that everyone should accept, are accepting and will accept. No one’s life stops with the absence of some other person, be it one’s own father or mother or brother. A hard truth to digest!!!!

The excerpts from the book have been mentioned here to give you the true essence. I personally feel that this book is a must read for all the people out there, especially for the emotional belt, who try to balance themselves between their hometown and the place where they live with a great nostalgia. Everyone can give it a try, since this book won’t take much of your time. I finished this book in 2 days, hardly 10 hrs totally. So what are you waiting for???Just buckle down yourself with this awesome gift for us from a humanist.

My 1st Day in Sydney

The day I left India I wish to remember everything that was buzzing in my mind and that’s why I’m here writing this blog. I have such a bad memory, so thought of using this space and let me not regret in the future.

30 July 2004- I was in the airport. Dad asked me to check in immediately and assured me that I can come back after the check-in and talk to them. I got the two heavy suitcases-which were for sure exceeding the weight limit allowed by Singapore airlines. Ya, it had 8 kgs in excess-I didn’t want to take anything out of my suitcase-I asked the lady in the Check-in counter-“Can I pay for just 5 kgs?” She said “Yes”…Might be she felt pity seeing the any-time-I might-cry look on my face.

Everything was done and it was time to say bye to my parents. Mum continued her advices, “Don’t worry, uncle will join you in Singapore and you won’t have any problem in your aunt’s house, eat properly and don’t diet. Take care” for the nth time. Archu gave me her expensive watch, for which I had fought with her a week back. The person behind me-some airport staff asked-“shall we go?” Like a dam broke-open and water started flowing… I cried…everyone were looking at me, I didn’t bother. I was holding my mum’s hands and never wanted to lose the hold. But I had to go. I could see them till I stepped on the escalator [turned my head a dozen times before I reached the escalator] mummy and Archu were still crying, craning their necks to see me, dad with a very hard, rigid face and slowly... one by one...they were all gone. I was all alone now in the 1st floor of Chennai International Airport. I was waiting near the gate unable to control my tears-wishing to rush back to my mum and hug her.

The travel was comfortable and uncle joined me in Singapore. We reached Sydney on 31st July 2004. It was late in the night and Tara, my aunt [that’s how I called her when I was small-unable to pronounce her name Saradha properly and now everyone calls her Tara] had come to pick us. It was really cold outside, but I hardly felt anything. My mind was too much occupied with other thoughts. It all seemed to be a dream. Tara was showing me those tall buildings and saying “This is the city, and this is where your Uni [University] is. We are living in a suburb called Cherrybrook. You have to catch a train from Pennant Hills to Central and you can walk to the Uni from the station”. Half getting into my mind and half left in the air, I was looking out. It was very dark on a winter night; I could hardly see anything other than lights. Got home-the house was sooooooooooooo pretty, like the ones I have seen in Hollywood movies. Got down from the car and ran to see my cousins, both were jumping in joy to see me and their dad. Then Tara was dialling my home, I was so excited and picked up the phone,

Me: Daddy the house is soooooooo beautiful, It is really cold here….
Dad: Oh really!! Was your journey fine?
Me: Ya daddy, will be going to Uni tomorrow.
Dad: Ok ra, Mummy was crying through out the night and she hardly slept ra kanna. Talk to her first.
Gosh how did I forget her? Tears started rolling down, weeping loudly I spoke to my mum.
Me: Mummy...........like a little girl streching her hands and calling her mum..
Mum: Dear, How are you? [Kanna, Bagunnava?]
Me: mmm-this was the answer for all her questions after that.

Said bye and slept.

1st of August, 2004, I woke up at 8 a.m. I hardly felt any jet-lag. My cousins were rushing in their school uniforms. By the time I had brushed my teeth they were ready to go. After they had gone I went to have a shower. I loved the shower room and to see the bathroom without any bucket n mugs. I was shivering in the morning cold and Tara said I might feel better after having a warm shower. Opened the shower knob to the maximum and cold water just rushed out of the shower. OOOOOOOOOOFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF the water was ice cold…...I felt like 10000 needles trying to pierce into my skin.. all over my body. Couldn’t even look at the knob to close it…again tears….I was so fragile that every little thing made me cry…Later Tara told me to open the one with a red label first to get hot water.

I was ready and Tara drove till Pennant Hills station, where we got to catch the train to Central. Only then I noticed how mind-blowing the suburb looked, as sweet as the name-Cherrybrook. I would never get a chance to live in a place like this. I still can’t explain the beauty in just one word. It was amazing, awesome, stunning, striking, wonderful, terrifying,……. We reached the station in 10 mins. The two-way train fare was $5.40 [approx 5*35=175] my mind started converting…OMG I need to spend Rs.175 everyday for just commuting….hmmmm.

In the process of getting enrolled I learnt to say few things like “Thanks, Sorry, Excuse me” frequently, which was new to me. We found an Indian restaurant in the ground level of my Uni. [There was a long argument between my uncle n aunt regarding whether they mean floor when they say level 1, 2 etc]. Since I missed my orientation I had to meet my course co-coordinator [oops!!! I already forgot his name]. Heyyyyyyyy I remember now--- Mr.Antony Kadi. He was surprised to see my aunt and uncle who had accompanied me. I felt a bit embarrassed too-I was supposed to do it all alone. While picking up the class timings, most were in the evenings and I remember him asking me “So, if you have to go to the bar on Friday evening then you can enroll yourself for the Monday afternoon session” I gave him a confused look. I told myself-Do I look like a drunkard????. He looked confused too. He was waiting for my answer. I said “No sir, I don’t drink”. Prof- “Oh, then you’ll soon learn to”. It was supposed to be a joke but I was not smiling. Frustrated he continued “Well, that’s all for the day, you can attend today’s class at 6 p.m”. Got up to leave...errr forgot...said "Thank you sir". He smiled.

An Indian guy named Prasad [from Chennai], who had already finished a semester came forward to help me, seeing that blank and bewildered look on my face. We had the 'Technology and Innovation Management' class by Kathy Kelen. I heard students calling her Kathy and not mam/madam-I was able to recollect the way I addressed Mr.Kadi in the morning[Giggle...]. Prasad helped me with everything he can for the next 1-2 weeks. Class got over by 9 p.m and by that time my uncle and aunt had gone home and had come back with my cousins to pick me up from the Uni. Discussing with them what had happened later in the afternoon, we reached home. Before bed I prepared myself to face the beautiful new world awaiting for me.

Lovely Rain

Just had a shower and logged in to check my mails. Inbox (3), opened to see the mails-all three being junk. Go to Hotmail-nahhh…go to Rediff-no use….try ur luck in Gmail-wow 10 mails. Clicked Inbox and all were mails regarding scraps in Orkut….hmm fine…atlast can go to Orkut and reply for the scraps-all done in less than 5 mins. Thanks to the broadband internet.

“Ping! Ping! Open the Door Please”-that was my calling bell- the watchman was with a mail-again not for me….but for dad. Threw it on the sofa and came back to my room and sat in front of the PC wondering what to do. Was a bit hungry, had oats in the morning for the breakfast. I was tempted to eat the chocolate cake and buns mum had got for me, in spite of me warning her not to tempt me with bakery foods. The usual dialogue would be--

Me-Mummy, please ma let me come down to 55-57kgs and then will start eating all this.

Mum-Enough of dieting and exercising. You know something; you look like a duck already, with a craned neck. [I really don’t care-who worries about one’s neck-well, I don’t] And anyway my intention is not to tempt you [Lie!!!!!!!!!]What if you feel hungry sometime when I’m not at home-that’s why got this for you.

Ya mummy you are right, I felt hungry and opened the pack unwillingly, actually willingly…. Thank God-I remembered my cook keeping a bowl of pomegranate in the refrigerator yesterday night. Gosh-I saved another 300-400 calories. Good Aarthi-Keep it up. !!!!!!!

Damaaaaal Dimeeeeeeeeel!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!-ayoooo mummyyy@##$-heart skipped a beat-startled..it was thundering outside, sounding like a bomb blast in the street nearby. In spite of that, I kept the balcony door open-Kolupu di unaku. The wind was really strong and was letting the breeze kiss my face. I could see the clothes left to dry on the terrace in my neighbor’s house. I was waiting for the rain, envisioning my neighbor running and picking up the clothes on the floor and the ones that were getting wet. Wowwww-Rain-yeahhhh it started raining…. Rushed to my balcony…. awesomeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee climate…the next thing I’d love to enjoy after eating chocolate pastry is to drench myself in the rain… if not at least admire it. I ran to grab my digicam and took some snaps…. they were not up to my expectations. Dad…..Grrrrrrrrrrrrr-what happened to the SLR cam I had asked for????????????? How many times should I miss such amazing clicks…:-( :-(.

I loved to see the clean washed roads, hardly few cars and bikes on the road with their lights on [no noise pollution], people hiding themselves under umbrellas, trees and roofs…..the rain pouring from the sky….wow wow wow…and at last the lady in my neighborhood picking up the clothes…..hehehe-idula oru alpa sandoshama…. Actually no-I love, adore and enjoy almost everything that’s happening related to rain-except the thunder and lightening.

If I start scribbling about rain then, I would never stop. Got to study for the class in the evening. It is raining more vigorously now, already water being accumulated in the corner of the roads. Another signal to make me stop writing-lights flickering here, I could encounter power shut down at anytime…so before that, let me bid bye for the day. Do check out the pics in "My photos".

Reading Vs Writing

Reading or Writing-which gives more pleasure? This question has been bothering me for quite sometime, might be from the day I started thinking seriously about writing.

Reading has always been my passion-no doubt about it. My reading habit started when I was as young as my Tin-Tin and Tinkle age and given a chance I would love to read them even now. Now, whenever mummy finds me with a Tinkle, she gives a sarcastic smile, which is stronger than her words, and Dad says “Why don’t you grow up? You have lots more to read and learn in this world.” He would have said this at least a dozen of times and hence I have zero interest to listen to it anymore. I have never shrunk my reading habit to any particular kind like fiction, non-fiction, romantic, etc. Give me any book [unless it has any pages missing/dirty/stolen] and you will see me disappear for the next few days.

Does writing mean the same to me? Well I can’t say a yes or a no, but 'might be yes'. Coz my writing involves others too-people who read them. I realized it is not just the passion that I need to write/scribble, but something more. For example when I read Dan Brown’s “Digital Fortress” and “Da Vinci Code” I started loving the art of cryptography [can I call it an art? Think so..] From then when I come across any word related to it….be it encryption, key, code, cipher just anyyyything….. my eyes goes wider, brows raised and ears sharper-that’s the power I could feel in his writing and that’s the power a writer needs. It is really astonishing that he could make me [not just me I’m sure there will be many] love something, even though I have heard about it before.

The writer’s words are meant to be like a magnet, where the readers being the opposite pole. For that, one needs to have a sound knowledge of the language and the grammar. Though I know 3 languages [both to read and write], for the 1st time in my life, I deeply regret that I’m still not comfortable expressing everything in just one language. I don’t know whether people who read my article are really enjoying it or at least they are getting the essence – something, which I want them to feel. Can I transfer my feelings through my writing? Can others enjoy it as much as I do? These questions are still buzzing in my mind. Writing gives me pleasure-but that is not all I want; I want even others to enjoy that pleasure. So yes I can conclude saying-I love Reading-100% and Writing- 50%...the rest lies in the satisfaction of the readers. Coz 50% I write for my pleasure and 50% to be enjoyed by others.

25th Anniversary

While uploading my parents’ 25th anniversary photos, I thought it will be nice if I could pen down my experiences in organizing the function.

During the month of March people started asking me about my birthday celebration [which was in the month of April] and then about my parents’ wedding day [in the month of May]. Only when they asked about my age, it clicked me that it was my parents’ 25th anniversary. From then I was restless, at least mentally, planning for the special day. I decided not to let my parents know about my plan till the last minute. It has to be a surprise for them.

Honestly, I really didn’t feel comfortable doing all that I did. I did it just coz I wanted my parents to feel happy and special on that day. So pushing my personal feelings aside I started with the budget. It was really funny when I realized that even to prepare the budget it is necessary to have some prior knowledge. So to get a rough idea about all this I had called my friend Poornima and enquired her about her engagement, which was a year ago. With that information I called Hotel Residency Towers [where her engagement held] to check the availability of the hall and the rates. I thought I could just sit at home and make everything happen through just a phone call, but it was not that easy. They had asked me to come to the hotel to have a look at the hall. By then I found the hotel’s website and was having a look at the halls. The halls were of different kinds according to the number of people it can accommodate. I can’t go for a bigger hall if I’m going to have just 50-100 guests. Again I stopped looking at the halls and started to list the people whom I have to invite-the toughest part in the procedure.

It was not very easy to pick out the people I had to invite. After breaking my head for an hour I had 2 lists, one with less than 50 people and another with more than 150. Everything seemed to be more complex now. I really didn’t know where to start and also whether I can spend more if I had to go with list 2. Dad might not like that many people as he prefers everything to be simple, so I was worried what if at last Dad is not happy seeing the huge crowd. For the next 1 week I was just sitting with the lists trying to make a 3rd and final one with not more than 75 people. I really couldn’t do that.

I was feeling guilty that I had already wasted a week’s time, when, I got a call from the hotel saying there are just 2 halls left and rest all booked for the 27th of May. Gosh, in just one weeks time!!!!!!!! My brain got heated up. Without having a 2nd thought told mummy I need the car to go to my friend’s house and was in the hotel in the next 45 minutes. The outside look impressed me. I enquired about booking halls in the reception and had met the concerned person. She told me that among the 2 halls just one is free to have a look at. Something is better than nothing-so said “Ok, can I see the hall?” She took me to the hall named “The Raj”. I remember seeing it in their website and also could recall that it can accommodate a minimum of 50 and a maximum of 100 people. I liked the hall-it was above satisfactory. So I just booked the hall by paying the advance. I asked them to arrange for a cake, discussed with them regarding the seating arrangements and to arrange a garland. The 1st two was ok, but she told me they don’t arrange for garlands. Fineeeeeeeee…I told myself. They gave me a list to choose the menu for the day, I got it and had a glance and told that will get back to them later. At last I’m done with deciding the hotel so now I have to strictly stick on to the list 3 I still had to prepare. I was little bit happy about doing at least one thing on time, otherwise I would have missed this hall. Ironically, only a week before the function I heard through someone that one can bargain on the hall rates-which is actually rated per plate and also it clicked me that I didn’t have any options for myself regarding the hotel. I heard about just one, saw the same one and booked it. Anyway it was too late to regret then-“Aarthi learn from your mistakes, though it costs you something”

Deciding the menu was the easiest part of this mission. Me being a food lover and had tasted almost everything on the menu it was really helpful. Thanks dad and mum for feeding me so well, at last it helped me to do something.

Durga, my family friend-to whom I told about my plans, came forward to help me and she was the one who arranged for the garlands. We both had the same florists in mind-actually they were the only florist I had known. She asked me the color code of my parent’s wear, their approximate height and then arranged the garland accordingly. I was really surprised to see her involvement. She even wanted to pay for this, but I said a sweet “no no” since I wanted to spend every penny for my parents.

Photos!!!-Though the photographer was my dad’s friend I didn’t have his contact number with me. All I knew about him was his name. Again Durga came for rescue and gave the number. I called him and he said he’s sick but will send another person. I couldn’t do much about this but just trust his words and rely on the new person. He didn’t disappoint me. You can see - the pictures were good.

Now or Never-I had to start inviting people, it was already late. I literally had to steal my parents’ friend’s phone numbers from their mobile while they were sleeping. It was really odd to talk to people for the 1st time, though I had known them before I had hardly spoke to them. Few were really surprised by my call, few apologized that they might not attend the function coz of their other plans and engagements and few were not reachable. The day before the function I found there were 50-75 people who would turn up tomorrow-exactly the number I wanted to stick on to. Surprising!!!

I wanted to keep the surprise till the last min but unfortunately my parents were planning for something else, so had to disclose it a day before. They were very happy to know and were really surprised that everyone around them knew except themselves.

All that happened during the function was unexpected-you can see the photos, it tells you everything. All went on fine as per the plan-I thought at least one would go wrong and so I was prepared not to panic and to manage everything till the day ends. People even appreciated me for what I did. Until they did so, I didn’t realize that everyone is not as fortunate as me to do something like this for their parents. Before going to bed I thanked God for giving me such an opportunity and making the day so memorable.

The next day morning Mum woke me up with a kiss on my forehead and with her beautiful smile. Dad came to me saying- “I used to get worried that my wedding album was a black and white one and now you gave us a colored one and fulfilled my wish. All night mum n I were talking about you. We are really proud to have a daughter like you”. They left my room saying this without noticing the tears that were rolling down my cheeks..:-) At last this is what any one would wish to hear from their parents-I never expected to hear it so soon.....:-)