Hammering - Literally!!!!!

One day, I met a very standard looking couple in the elevator, the guy introduced himself as the owner of the apartment above ours and then, after that one single sentence, there was nothing normal about them anymore!

Preceding Days’ Story:

Out of the blue, one fine morning there was this earth-shattering sound from above our house, so agonizing that I, along with my son had to spend most of the day out…at the end of that day when I thought it was over, it had actually just begun!

There were hammering sounds allllllllllllll day to an extent that, even my three year old says “amma malli modalupettaru” (they started again)…In an attempt to be a thoughtful, co-operative neighbor having tolerance to the art of carpentry, we all put up with it in silence….until….

One early morning, as early as 3:30AM, the haunting tak-tak was back! At first, we thought our subconscious got so used to the noises that, it had become background score for our dreams…..but then we realized, it was ACTUALLYYYY happening and at 3:30AM! My husband, A, got furious and walked up to see that, there were loads of people busily moving around in colorful pattu sarees….much to their dismay, A didn’t seem like a guest, so they called the carpentry employment creating owner! When ashish complained about the clatter, this guy asked “now? Or the daily work?”. Seriously?? This guy seriously thought we were up at 3:30AM to complain about the daily hubbub??????

Present Day Story:

But yet, the story continued for months after, when this afternoon it just got way beyond the tolerance levels and it seemed like we are living in joinery workshop…I crashed into their house and yelled at the workers asking if they were building him (the owner) a Taj Mahal, that’s when I realized atleast two workers came out of each room (a 3BHK) and that’s way tooo many carpenters, unless ofcourse they are actually building a Taj Mahal.

I look around and I don’t see a single fully completed box!!!! The house is filled with all types of wood material; saw dust, logs, blocks, racks, sheets and pieces of wood!! In this age of modular furniture, I have no idea what this guy is trying to do, apart from ofcourse creating employment and giving life to dying art forms!! The cutting, drilling, hammering, sawing has been going on for soooo many months now that, with all the wages, the carpenters must be building their own new house!

It is indeed very aptly said that, it is easier to love humanity as a whole than to love one's neighbor!!!

The Phenomenon of Disrememberance!!!!!!

My husband forgot ME – yes, not a wallet, not keys, not a laptop, not some paper but ME, the living, walking, forever talking ME!!! How did this not-so-common marvel ensue?????

It was the last day of our 9 year old extremely lucky and long-suffering vehicle and we were all emotional about its parting, understandably he was much much more attached to it than I was, to an extent that, I had a preview of what could happen if we had a daughter and my husband had to see her off to someplace else!!! So, getting back to why I started……The previous evening we had decided we would drop-off the kid at school and then after a small drive he will put me in an auto to home, as it would be our last drive in our car. So, as discussed we went to school, I got down to drop the kid indoors and talk to the teacher, I waved my little one bye promising him that I would return in couple of hours and I walked out excited to tell Ashish the reactions(as it was still early days in school), just to fathom that he was gone and so was the bag which had my phone, wallet and keys!!!!

I contemplated for a few seconds if I could take an auto to his workplace, but how would I call? If I could take an auto home, but how would I pay? Even if I borrowed the money from a neighbor – how would I get inside the house?

I considered borrowing a phone from a passerby and making a call, but for all the sham requests they get these days, the last thing I wanted then was to be looked at as a faux!! I was hoping for a known face to show up, which happens every other day but then!!! It struck me that I could go back to school and request for a call, but I had to wait for my bawling kid to go upstairs before I re-entered!! So, I finally get to the landline and it is out-of-order, I catch hold of a maid and she tries to dial his number and the key ‘3’ isn’t working and ironically Ashish’s number has like three 3’s!!!!

Finallllllyyyyyyyy I get to the point where his phone is ringing, he picks the call and says “you forgot your bag”!!!! Seriously??? I waited along for him to come back and said “I realized you forgot the bag when, I parked and was glancing at the vehicle for the last time” again SERIOUSLY??????SERIOUSLY???? And then I thought it was time that I break the appalling news to him that  it wasn’t me who forgot my priced possession but it was HE who forgot ME!!!!!! Phew!

Summer Holidays!!

On my way to work yesterday, I had seen some school children rushing in, to make it on time for the school prayer and some very merrily playing around least bothered about the time, some whining kids who did not want to go in but were dragged and pushed by their parents.

I very clearly make my place in the last category mentioned there! I HATED going to school, because my school bus came to pick me up as early as 7:15AM untiringly morning after morning!

The process of waking me up started at 6:00AM. I always wanted 15 more minutes of sleep, after which I invariably had a “stomach ache” and would declare myself sick. My mom would let another 15 minutes pass and would ask again if I my “head ache” was ok and I would always say it’s still there and is terrible.

She would then, immediately drag me down the bed and into the washroom for a shower (it was obvious how “terribly sick” I was with the “shifting” pain) and there were these constant banging on the doors to make sure I haven’t slept in there!

My mom worked on packing my food, dad getting me to eat and my brother packed the bag of books. I lazillyyy walked out of the house five minutes before the bus arrival with a hope that I would miss the bus and could get back to bed. Sadly for me, the bus driver knew the kid count so well and by face that he stopped for me. Just in case I ever managed to miss the bus, there were these group of uncles from my colony (whose kids also went to the same school as me) who actually cared to put me on their scooter and chase the bus dramatically and made sure I boarded it. Back then, it looked to me as if everyone’s motive in life was just to make sure I went to school, by hook or by crook!

The best part I loved about school were the holidays – the summer holidays! They were amazzzinnngggg fun!! We were a bunch of cousins, who spent our holidays together!! Countless games played, loads of masti, surrounded by the family, delicious food, incessant pampering by our grandparents and total attention to our tantrums! Those were the days of childhood when it felt, life is always gonna continue like this – with pains of going to school rewarded by exciting, joyful and fun filled holidays! Even with all this, I possibly still thought it wasn’t fun enough – growing up was more apt an idea of fun!

Then - I grew up and all those years later, I guess I still haven’t come to terms with the fact that, Summer Holidays cease to exist and that they are transitory!!! I have no issues personally with growing up/growing old except that, sometimes it means geographically scattered relations and extinct summer holidays!

Like someone said "If you carry your childhood with you, you never become older" :D

So, I have a brilliant plan - I will become a primary school teacher, relive my childhood through theirs, teach 9 out of 12months and most importantly reclaim my summer holidays - EHAHAHAHA!

Reason? Season? Occasion? Or...

You would be introduced to a person, share a joke, help each other and bid your goodbyes when it’s time to leave. When you meet subsequently, this person conveniently ignores you, you find it funny and rude, but care a damn! For instance, there was this one girl I met at a face painting competition, I helped her when she had her face painted, we joked on how she looked, we were sweet to each other and also said our goodbyes with a note of meeting again. Then, couple of days later, I meet her at the next event and she just walks past me...for sure she didn't manage to upset my emotions of anger or disappointment by doing that! People like these; they are there for an occasion, not a thing more or less – just that – an occasion!!

Some, you meet during a phase in your life, they help you get through it or get over it and then they vanish. Like, last year when I was preparing for my certification, I knew these people, a guy who was giving the exam with me and another, a faculty who taught us – who were very helpful and supportive all through my study. I thanked them after I cleared my exam; spoke to them relatively little after, exchange an occasional hello-hi e-mails and haven't met them again till date. At the cost of sounding self centred opportunist, I would say, we meet such kinds for a reason!!

There are others, whom you would strike a conversation with in a jiffy, continue keeping in touch after you part your ways, you share moments of laughter, which would nurture from acquaintance into an interesting friendship. Sometimes they are there forever and at times they just are not there. In cases of absence, your questions of ‘where were you?’ would be delicately put not to give away the concern and the demanding tone!! For all you know, these are friends for a season – not the fair weather, just a random season!!

Then there are people whom you meet pretty often, but neither would acknowledge the presence of the other. The kind whose very aura puts you off, to whom you would not mind being rude for no reason and you do not, at any point in time, intend or make an attempt to know them. (I have toooo many of them – so chose not to quote either here). People like these are just there – no reason, season or occasion – just there!

Again, there are friends, you hardly remember how you met them, the first introductions, how your friendship grew stronger by the day. It just feels these strong bonds have been there since the day one!! Over a period, you may not meet them day after day but moments spent with them are memories – memories of the crazy, silly, fun, low moments spent together which you reminisce every time you get together. You would know these are people not for a reason, season or an occasion, they are for a lifetime!

P.S: No reference to any instance in the season or the lifetime is a deliberate attempt, in a hope that the crazy people I met through the ‘season’ would be there through the lifetime and for the ones already victimized for the lifetime just don’t need a reference!

F.R.I.E.N.D.S!

After a very long time, I could catch up with some of my friends from college and some cousins. Its funny how with time things change drastically and yet some things stay just the way they have always been!!

So, this friend of mine, who was perceived to be the most bindaas of us all in college, we weren’t even sure he’ll manage to stick to one thing ever in life, is now doing very well (touch wood) in a field he wasn’t even technically trained for (he operates squint and other eye dysfunctions in infants). He has proved to be the most stable and most responsible of us all.

An other friend of mine, who we were sure is a very sorted out person, has still not managed to sort things out for herself.

Yet another friend/cousin of mine, who has an amazing passion for her line of profession, who we thought would always be in the corporate world, climbing up the sought after ladder, is now taking care of an entire household (which is an overtime job) and has a very cute sweet lovely amazing little baby girl (which is wayyy difficult than working anywhere and any number of hours).

I, who always wanted a laid back life, never wanting to do a full time job and was never serious about building a career in the corporates, now find myself in the bestest of them and feel extremely restless when I don’t go out a day and see the busy-crazy human rush!

Today, each one of us is busy in our own ways, yet we find some time to catch up with the other. These are the people who I know will be there for me when I need them, with no relevance to the number of days that have passed without a call!!

Its funny how day by day nothing changes but when you look back everything is different!!!!

Coffee Pot!!

What do you do when you want to...

• SEE people
• DRAW flipcharts
• FEEL important
• IMPRESS Colleagues

and....want an alternative to work???

You do "TRAINING"!!! a national one is recommended!

That's exactly what I was assigned to for a week long!!

So...another co-worker and me get onto a flight to Kolkatta!! Then starts the story!!

One look at the directions from airport to the Guest House (GH) and I was sure, its gonna take quite some time to get there....need an illustration of the precise instructions? here you go...

• White building with green glass on your left side….
• Green building with green glass windows in "front" to your "right"...
• Take the "wrong" lane....
• Pink and Maroon building (apparently our GH) on your right....

Lemme see...err....in an area full of modern time structures, with fancy architecture....are these combinations "one of their kind"??? Saying, there isn't a remotest possibility of we reaching the place (on basis of these instructions) would be an understatement - unless a MIRACLE happens!!

and..... IT happened!

We met two others (potential lost souls) from the other region at airport - talk about advantages of a national training!!

We all set out to hunt for the place, while the three of us were trying to figure out the colors of buildings around us, one guy did the running around to get clues for our hunt – 15minutes go by, we asked atleast about half a dozen people and no one has a clue – where the hell was this freaking Pink & Maroon building???

Then came a ray of hope and we figured out which building it was! Thus ended the adventurous GH hunt!

Day 1:

With a lot of excitement, we enter the training room and a warm gush of strong odor of suffocation welcomes us…. then the historical AC was switched on, it made a thundering effect and we were all waiting with wishful yearning eyes to feel the cold air blowing by….we waited….waited and waited more….but nothing happened!! The AC was not functioning…..Welcome aboard to all new joiners!!!

We go sit on the chairs and realize, the infrastructure was well planned….the chairs didn’t have an arm rest, a deliberate attempt to induce wee bit of discomfort in an already uncomfortable environment..….to ensure the participants are forced to stay awake (I can’t think of any other reason, why the arm rests were missing)!!

We try to lean on the desks/tables and realize, the more we lean on them, the farther they go…I mean, which table has WHEELS??? Especially tables in training rooms, where you are expected to write!!! Wheels???? To tables???? Yet can’t fathom it!

We actually "had" to be alert - why?? all over the floor were extension boxes (live electricity)….plugs, wires, LAN cables etc etc etc., We literally were on our toes all during the session!

Undeterred by the circumstances, we were all trying hard to concentrate on what’s being taught – then comes one of the admin staff and announces that there is a “slight” tornado forecasted – I know we should not panic during emergencies, but what’s “slight” about a “tornado”???

This training was so important we couldn’t let things that are more important interfere with it….So, petrified with our fortitude; the forecasted “slight” tornado shifted its course!!!

Day 2:

I was very very sleepy and it was just not in me to stay awake…I was conscious of being caught by the co-instructor who was much more alert than the one who was putting us to sleep…..during my struggle to pin my eyes open, I realize the co-instructor yawning and trying not to look bored but giving away his feelings!! The instructor, was consistent – irrespective of an attendee or speaker, he put us all to sleep!!

We all talk funnily at times, using drastically contradictory words. For instance, I once introduced my neighbour to a cousin of mine, saying "she is the only neighbour I know, apart from two others"....that's the way we are made, a little imperfect and instructors are no exceptions…so this one says “Sometimes the more less you talk, the better” at the least five times in a day!

The training starts at 9:30 AM and ends around 7:30 PM, we were put up at a god forsaken place, from where it took atleast an hour to reach any civilization, to add on, we were in a city that sleeps early and the trainer (the one who earlier in the day, put us to sleep) actually ACTUALLY asks us (after the session ends at 7:30+) “what’s your plan for the day?” If I may ask you - where’s your logic man?? Or do you think training doesn’t really require using that cell of your brain??

Day 3:

We discuss stuff amongst our group and I realize, not everyone is good at everything, but everyone is good at something!!

Day 4:

All through the days and nights that went by, we played games – simple, silly, interesting and funny games!! We formed opinions, we shared jokes and we had fun!!! Big Time fun!! The college types – free of corporate insincerity!!

Day 5:

We go out, hog on delicious food and we get back to GH……something obtuse strikes us and we decide to stay awake all night and go with the rest of the gang to visit few places next morning and get back before the training starts!!

Day 6:

Our insanity wins! We stay awake all night followed by early morning sight-seeing! We get back to training – rather we sleep walk back to the training!! Not a word of what’s being taught gets in, not a concept sinks in and at the end of the day – we win the group quiz (while 40% of the team is sluggish)!! In that state of trance, we bid good-bye to the dearest friends made in the shortest span of time and set out to leave for home and make it just in time for the flight!!

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For all the guys from the group – I am truly “coffee-potting” all the fun we had!

After all the varied experiences and diverse emotions - the frustration, the fun, the excitement, the boredom – I now know, we treated ourselves to memories, of a lifetime!!

End of monologue!

P.S: “Coffee-Pot” is a verb guessing game. A group (barring one, who is sent out) chooses a simple verb (remember, eat, dance etc.,) the one who was sent out has to find out which is the “mystery” verb by asking questions, the “verb” coffee-pot is provided to substitute the verb. (Example: “Do you coffeepot every day?")

Living life in the fast lane!!!

Its funny how we get so damn busy....there was a time when I used to stop and recollect the fond memories of college, childhood - days when I was practically jobless and ofcourse careless.....I realised just this morning, that it has been ages since I even gave my jobless/careless days a thought!!! :-O
I never discerned the symptoms and the dreadful pattern of activities....everything was just fine and suddenly one day, I was struck with a busy life and I should say, it took me by mixed emotions of shock and surprise.

For all those naive, excited and over zealous souls, keep your eyes, ears and mind open to notice any of the below symptoms....for you may either want to put your foot down & opt to stop/slow OR you may already be running around so much that you will hardly find time to put that foot down - don't bother about the former, its just an eye-wash, the latter is the most happeneing - EHAHAHAHA!!!

1. Your weekend is always yesterday!


2. Your breakfast is skipped, lunch is gulped and dinner is bought!


3. One fine day, you see yourself and notice "I am in shape" (just that its round)


4. You love rain - its just that you say "@#%@&%# how do I get home?"


5. Almost every other day you wonder, where you are getting to!!!

Mr. John Jensen once said "The trouble with life in the fast lane is that you get to the other end in an awful hurry" - Smart chap, I should say!!!!
As for me - When I first heard this phrase, I loveeeddd the way it sounded - I was naive :-|

Ups & Downs!!

Ever wondered why moments of low and high in life are called Ups and Downs? - I did!!

What?? The inner me demanded logic, so I ‘had’ to ;-) !!

I always thought it was associated with the general Up/Down curves we see with the hills/roads/waves….until I went for a brisk walk yesterday did I find an explanation to the simile!!

On the way up – we require a lot of energy, it takes a lot of perseverance/focus and we sweat crazy. We always know it’s gonna be tough, but we choose to do per our own rationale. We crave to have someone push and support from the behind, but we know its gonna be a single-self-effort. Maximum we would have is a company, a person who would walk along, tries to put in the same effort and energy!

Once we reach the top, we are very relaxed, take in all the fresh air possible, pant a lot and cherish all the effort put in. It isn’t that we can stay there for long, to reach where we want to, we will have to take the immediate down and the next up and the next down and so on and so forth till we reach where we intend to!!

While we go down hill, we do feel it’s manageable at the first instance, BUT its here where we need utmost self-balance, grip on our feet. What if we don’t?? We trip over and hurt ourselves reallll bad!!!

As we reach a leveled surface, we are grateful to self that we were balanced!!! In allll this, what matters is the company, try walking alone…hmmm….naaaah the very idea is sad and boring!!

Now, does the simile make sense???? It does to me!!!!!

I do enjoy my walks all the way, the Ups/Downs/Twists/Turns/Trees/Breeze/Sweat/People I meet etc etc and finally getting home and of course not to miss the few calories burnt in the process!!!

Life is exactlyyy like this – isn’t it???