When Role Models Fall From The Role....

I know it is completely silly at my age and with my experience to actually have role models and expect them to perform a certain role and when they don't - feel little disappointed. Because I believe, by now i have learnt - in life - no person, no relationship, no situation is perfect and there is no need for perfection as well...we are good with our little human errors.

But i do feel disappointed:-(...completely silly!!!

Well it has happened right from the childhood...have seen teachers who were the role models falling from the role...then started looking upto strong, independent women with a career of their choice and a mind of their own...but they didn't sustain themselves for too long. Saw them become weak and embarrassing especially when it came to man (in their life or in their imagination).

But question that comes to my mind is - is it fair to put someone on a pedestal and expect them to perform a certain role specially when they have never claimed that status...sometimes my young cousins or some colleagues try making me one. Which leaves me completely sweating especially knowing the disappointment of role models falling from grace...and ofcourse the un-necessary responsibility and work that it brings in...

So i would say - bad idea it is to make role models out of normal people and expect them to deliver on your expectations...and then feel disappointed too...STOP IT NOW!!!

The Namesake - beautiful story presented beautifully

There are movies and then there are movies...some movies:

- just flow like a poetry...
- have simple characters displaying range of human emotions that make you laugh, hope, fear and cry with them
- just make you want to watch more and more movies
- just reinforces - its human to err...and world is never going to be perfect
- just make you feel wonderful...so much so that you want to become a part of film-making (reminded me of my long cherished desire to become a location manager for the movies - perfect combination for a traveller & manager in me:-))

that's what Mira Nair's The Namesake adapted from Jhumpa Lahiri's book is all about...when i entered the theatre, i had no expectations from the movie, as in coming from Mira Nair's stable - i expected it to be good but not something that I will take back home...but i sure did...

I will not go into the details of the storyline but what i found best about the movie was the fact that it is not a sad presentation of sad people trying to reconcile with their lives in America...and getting confused in the process...it is about normal people trying to make sense out of their inherited culture(Indian)and adopted culture(American)...

More from human emotions perspective...what i liked most is that the people around you, this world, your life...is never going to be Perfect...so it all boils down to how you come out of your Overcoat (or Gogol's Overcoat in the movie) and deal with the situations...

movies are about reflecting reality, presenting emotions, giving hope and that's what this movie does wonderfully...guess what...I am still feeling wonderful...still smiling...still charged up...again thinking of accomplishing my desire to be part of film-making...amen!

Who, where, when???

This is The Wedding Season...people, friends, cousin around me are tying knots...am too all excited to attend all the weddings, all the parties...after all my most wonderful friends are getting married...i gotta be excited...

But But But...being a Single Gal...believe me...it's not easy just to enjoy urself in your friend's wedding. Even while i prepare for these weddings and discuss with people the clothes, the jewellery and the shoes...i get a look full of question mark..."so when are you deciding to tie a knot?", "what about your wedding?", "Is there a lucky one?", "when do we get invited for your wedding?", "Are you planning to reveal a secret?", "Is there a good news on the anvil?" and more and more questions...

No-no, don't get me wrong, i don't get irritated with all this...i rather find it sweet...so many people worried, wondering about me...much more than i do for myself...Guess but would use the space here to tell people...

- i have nothing against marriage
- i think you all are lucky to find your partner and i wish you guys all the luck, love and happiness throughout your life!
- Whenever I will decide to get into it - my promise - am gonna invite each one of you to celebrate the occasion
- Am not worried - am seriously, crazily, enjoying my life, have never had it better...so please stop worrying...(now even my parents have stopped)
- Basically people chill...and enjoy the wedding - afterall

aur bhi gam hai zamaanein mein!!!

New Pinch - When was the last time you used these words???

New Pinch - Thank you!...i heard this exchange between my nephew and my brother in law while visiting sis this weekend and just found it a bit strange, it seemed...was hearing these words after years...

again it happened - i wore something new to work and a young colleague came upto me and said New Pinch and i sheepishly said thanks...i actually didnt know how to accept New Pinch gracefully...

Then I thought of all those days while growing up when wearing new clothes, shoes was so much excitement and more importantly shopping was a family affair...so your family members knew what is new in your wardrobe and wearing new clothes was an occasion in itself...hence a special mention of New Pinch...

In last so many years, things have changed obviously, I have stopped going for shopping with anyone besides myself, so my family wouldn't know what I am buying, whether it is new or not. Even while i was staying with my parents I can't remember the last time when somebody pinched me to say new pinch.

Also unlike my growing up days, now one buys clothes so often (consumerism) that it is no longer an occasion to be pinched (celebrated)...

well its just a thought to ponder...are we getting deprived of small pleasures of life???

What happens when you 30 and single?

Well, i get asked this question hazaar times, everytime, anytime since i turned 30 last to last month...how life changes, do you feel different? etc etc etc.

I would say - things happen when you turn 30...good, bad, ugly things happen but interesting things happen...like

you resume your passion for travel (awesome)

your friends sponsor your trip to ananda (truly awesome)

suddenly an international magazine wants to feature you for -

"Life of a single woman in 30s in New Delhi, India" (very very interesting)
(My 20 something friends would say - why no-one does a feature on single woman in her 20s - because darling you are supposed to Be Single in your 20s)

A famous celebrity photographer does a photo-feature on a single woman in her 30s and he shoots you...(ummm thats really flattering)

Suddenly people want you to model (not bad, interesting)
(now who starts to model in 30s but i guess world is really changing)

you get told that you are a good advertisement for a single woman (nice)

your parents start to reconcile to the fact that you will marry when you will...so why bother (extremely good)

you buy two houses (good)

your parents pay the down payment (wow)

and you pay monthly installments (not so good)

beginner's luck gets over (am not complaining)

everyday you deal with one crisis or the other such as car accident, your own accident, since you live in vasant kunj - water crisis, client crisis, lock crisis(am still not complaining)

guess wat - you stop trying to prove anything to anyone(most wonderful)

And biggest of all - You Live Life On Your Own Terms!

Today is Huppy Frendship De!

Hmmm, so today is huppy frendship de...this i got to know last night when we all were sitting at a friend's discussing my buddy friend A's love life (A's love life is The Most Bizzare, but I will write about that some other time). Exactly at midnight, my cellphone started to beep with text messages, from people who are not even acquaintances, wishing me frendship de.

I am not much of a DAY person - i have never done DAYS - be it a Balentine Day (In my college, my very sweet bihari friend wud say - Huppy Balentine, since then its been Huppy Balentine for me), Roze Day, Father'sh Day, Mother'sh Day, Brother'sh Day, Sibling'sh Day, Dog'sh Day and all the other daysh, thanks to Archies and Hallmark. Unlike most other people, Balentine day has always been a community thing for me - so much red and pink around - would make me nauseated - so just being with good friends made that day bearable...however coming back to frendship de - i replied to some of the messages next day, some i deleted...and so on.

But then I thought - why am i so cynical? why can't i wish my good friends - huppy frendship de. Why can't i tell my wonderful friends, how special they are and how they make life so much more fun...Simple reason - i am not built that way, am not into DAYS. But sure I can use this space here to tell all of u:

Ruch - Not only my sister, My best pal, My alterego, My inside, can't imagine life without u!

D - My cynical touchstone, My best friend, My best fun pal, hope to have those endless laughing sessions all through my life, Love you sweetheart!

R - My reality checker, the person who gives me the most unbiased advice on anything or everything. And accommodates me everytime, we have a late night:-). Love you!

A 1 - My buddy friend, life is a laugh riot with you inspite of you announcing to the world that I am very ugly:-), (I will be writing a separate blog on you, infact on your life experiences, a book can be written), love you buddy!

E - Ohh, my cutest friend whose love for food makes every going out much more fun, not because of the food we eat but the amount of fun we have discussing food. But jokes apart - i am going to miss you a lot darling when you leave:-(

K - Thanks for making me family, you are a very special friend and would remain so:-)

A2 - Ohh cutie pie - you feel very comfotable in my house inspite of A3 not approving of it:-). i love to have those endless discussions with you on career, relationships, life, etc etc...always be around sweetheart:-)

A3 - my bubbly young friend...keep smiling, keep twisting and keep having fun babe:-)

A4 - Anky the manky as i call him, your wit, your sense of humor keeps every party going...none of my parties are complete without you...love you!

G - Another young bubbly friend with the dancing skills which would give complex to Aishwarya Rai...keep grooving sweetie:-)

S - You look very cute when you smile, keep smiling:-) one life, have fun...love you!

There are so many more friends I would want to thank for being around but guess I would stop here and say -

"Some people go to priests; others to poetry; I to my friends," - Virginia Woolf

Aap to dilli se ho!!!

I recently went trekking to Himalayas, my friend E who was with me, was doing her first Himalayan trek. Inspite of that, i think she did pretty well, more to do with enthusiastic spirit of hers than anything else.

However first time in Himalayas, trekking on rocky himlayan trek is not a cake walk by any means. By the time we completed our 13 kms trek for the day, E started to get muscular pains in some or the other joint (specifically thighs).

As we reached our guest house, we met this guy who claimed that he is the best trek guide cum muscular pain therapist (a local garhwaali)in the entire region or could be the entire country. He would go on boasting about his therapy skills and how he is different from local masseurs, how he has a technique and what not???

E in her pain obviously needed therapy, so we asked him, how do you plan to give this therapy - and the guy answered I press cetain points to relieve you of the pain. Ok great...so we asked - and which are these POINTS assuming he is talking about some points on the foot. He answered matter of factly - obviously the points where the pain is (which obvously meant E's thighs). We were still ok and were keeping a straight face. Next question (from us) - Do you use any oil? Yes madam - i have a special herbal oil specially prepared for my therapy to this we said - wonderful - give us the oil and we would do the massage ourselves. Hearing this he went ballistic -

madam kaisi baatein kar rahe ho, aapko kya pata kaun se POINTS hai, aap ko kya pata therapy ka, therapist to main hoon, yeh oil to bahut poisonous hai, agar kuch huaa to meri responsibility ho jaayegi, hum to professional hai, massage hamein hi karne do. Madam kaisi baatein kar rahe ho, aap to dilli se ho!!!

:-) to this obviously our jaws dropped and i quickly hid myself under the quilt to have a good laugh leaving E to deal with the Moron!