My first tag!

Awrite, just when my blog was idle and people asked me why so, amooma comes in with an answer. :) I've just been tagged by her. And so here I am, after a looong break, writing something on my blog dearest!

I've always wondered what I wud write if someone tagged me. Coz the tags Ive come across so far are all long autobiographies. But thankfully, amooma made things easy fur me. With sumtin simpler.

Here's what i'm supposed to do:

1. Name the person with the link who tagged you.

2. Describe what you are asked to do, in this case publish 5th paragraph of page 123 of the book you are currently reading. (if the page does not have 5th paragraph, take the last paragraph. And if the book doesn’t have page no. 123, take the last page.)

3. Tag five people.

So here goes:

First question answered already.

2. I'm reading the Kite Runner. ( I havent reached the 123rd page!! :( But anyways...)

" Wasn't there some story floating around about Taheri's daughter?"

I said to Baba, trying to sound casual.

"You know me", Baba said, inching the bus along the queue exiting the flea
market. "Talk turns to gossip and I walk away."

"But there was, wasn't there?" I said.

"Why do you ask?" He was looking at me coyly.

I shrugged and fought back a smile. "Just curious, baba."

"Really? Is that all?" he said, his eyes playful, lingering on mine. "Has
she made an impression on you?"

I rolled my eyes. "Please Baba."

He smiled, and swung the bus out of the flea market. We headed for Highway
680. We drove in silence for a while. "All I've heard is that there was a man
once and things...didn't go well." He said this gravely, like he'd disclosed to
me that she had breast cancer.

"Oh."

Hmm, now I'm all excited about reading further. I like dis tag game!! ;) A nice book so far. Set in an afghan backdrop, I am in love with the two kids ( who i think will soon grow to be young men in the book) Hassan and Amir.

Ok, now my turn to tag. Get set guys!!!

1. Umesh! Has to be you. The reason im all alive and kicking here on bloggers! How cud I not tag u?? ;)
2. Rahul. Am sure u'll love it.
3. Mushi. Long time, no see? Where r u??
4. Nariyal Chutney. For that spice!
5. Addicted. One guy I can tag bindass.

Ok!!! Now get to work guys!!!! ( evil laugh)

Freedom of Expression!

The other day, I had one of my usual tiffs with amma. The reason, again, like always, wasn’t so serious. And on the same day, a very close friend of mine appreciated the maturity I showed towards handling a similar, but different situation. Where I could have lost my patience, over reacted and messed things up. But somehow I didn’t.

As I indulged in the sugar-coated words my friend showered on me, I didn’t really relish it as much as I would have normally. And I presumed, it was coz of the episode with amma. Somewhere, I wasn’t able to relate to the reasons that led to both the situations. On one hand, when I took no time to express my edginess by throwing tantrums, on the other I was as calm as a cloud. Or at least, I tried to be.

That’s it.

I tried to be calm. I made an effort to control my feelings. I forced a smile on my face. And so, succeeded in retiring unhurt. And I kinda felt good about it. But not even the thought of trying, passed my mind while with amma. So who am I after all? Or rather, which of these is the real me?

I’d definitely like to believe I was myself when with my friend. But like I said, it was all an attempt. To be nice. Well ya, it is good if you try to be good. It’s good for the society. It’s good for the country. But what’s the point if you can’t be the same when you’re with your own people?

I don’t mean I’m a rebel who tries to prove everything wrong when with my folks or picks up a fight with them for every small reason. But when you try balancing situations, I definitely ain’t as good as I am when out. Natural?

A forwarded email the other day talked about this. About how we need to think about it and blah! The mail was supposed to light up that dark corner of your mind, where these thoughts lay hidden. Yea, right! All it did was strengthen my doubts further. I mean, looks like everyone around the world’s thinking about it. And just continues doing so.

I tried a simple test. It was based on the kind of relationship I shared with the people involved in either situations. And what I found wasn’t really convincing. But satisfactory.

Probably, (the word’s used intentionally) it’s all about taking your own people for granted. In other words, I wouldn’t bother what amma thought about me if I reacted that way. That is, even if she did think badly, I didn’t mind. Coz she knows me better than anyone else, and so, if she thought I was short tempered, she also knew I would cool down soon. She knows I wouldn’t hurt her intentionally. And at the end of the day, she’s my best friend. And me, her lil angel. ;)

However, I’d probably think twice before reacting in the same manner when with strangers or not-so-close friends. Coz it’s not likely that they’d understand why I reacted that way. It might in turn, hurt their emotions. And end up in creating ill feelings between us. All said and done, I don’t think any of us would want someone to misunderstand us just like that right? And also there’s nothing wrong if you are nice to someone.

So again, does that mean that, with your close friends, you have the freedom to behave the way you wish? It’s nice that way, isn’t it? You really don’t have to think twice. Smiles come naturally. You’re sure you can’t hurt her just like that. You say, her specially designed saree looks awful on her, tell her how much she irritates you and she retorts back. Reminding you about some embarrassing moment or by commenting on your weird dress sense. Nothing makes you a bad person in her eyes or vice-versa.

If not, when you really don’t care about someone or wish not to be so nice with someone, you aren’t always your good self. You often just give them a piece of your mind. And you’re hardly even bothered whether it creates a misunderstanding or you hurt him/her. For all you know, that’s all you intend to do too. A very rare case I suppose.

Makes me think if the same applies when you’re in love with someone. Comes down to the question, is being in love with someone equal to taking him/her for granted? How easy is it to just push aside fights understanding that he/she is just being natural and accept them that way? Does it really help? Or does it just become a forced commitment? Now that’s something I still can’t understand completely.

I guess a lot of factors contribute to each of these cases. It’s not easy to define reasons and their consequences in any of the above situations. The bond or relationship you share is just one of them. Perhaps, the most easily identifiable.

Life Styles!

Kochi has been witnessing a sudden swirl in lifestyle. Big names in the fashion and lifestyle sector have entered the city. A welcome wind of change for most Kochiites and of course for the Non Keralite population settled here.

Brands like FabIndia, Levis, MTV et all have begun dominating the retail world of clothing. And not to mention the supermarket chains. Nilgiris, Fabmall, Spencers, and the latest entrant Reliance Fresh. All of these have, in a short span, won over the hearts of most Malayalee families.

Looks like these new entrants have taken their place. And are sure to stay. Those who once went in search of these names to cities like Chennai and Bangalore are now just a few yards away from their favourite brands. And can sure watch out, for bigger players joining in.

No More A Private Affair!

Remember the day you decided to go on your first date? The hunt for the perfect place probably ended at what you would term as a safe and secure ice cream parlour or restaurant. With a very limited seating capacity just perfect for the two of you, and far from the madding crowd, so that you could immerse yourselves in your own world. The bold ones however opted for open parks, which soon became quite a risky game.

Gone are those days. Sadly, the number of such joints is on a decline. With the advent of the modern glass door cafes. Call it modern or trendy or whatever, the lovebirds are not too happy with the concept of sleek architecture.

Today, any new coffee pub or snack parlour seems to be in vogue with their western counterparts, offering the customers a clear view of the outside world and vice versa, where the danger lies.

The ambience, food or service plays no role anymore, thanks to these structures, which prevent the pair from estranging themselves from the outside world and relish the world inside. And of course of their own.

No more do the lovers drown in each other’s eyes. Instead, one of them, especially the girl has hers fixed at the door, with the fear of being caught red-handed. The entire date turns out to be a formality. Unlike earlier, where they spent hours sipping on one glass of fresh juice sharing dreams, hopes and promises.

Amidst these sad faces are a few content ones too. Obviously, those of their guardians. They fear no more of their young wards staying back for special classes, or late visits at a friend’s place. For them, glass indeed remains a boon.

The search continues. With a request to the architects, ready with their blue prints. Please avoid glass doors. It could end up being a bigger barrier than any other.