after a long time

Well, I know I am posting after a long time. Not my fault. Actually it is my fault, but I am trying to make some lame excuse if I can come up with it.
Anyway, I got lost at the station today. I also forgot where the first class compartment was, so I had to get into the second class compartment. No worries though. Not too many people wanted to get into the train. I guess it was coz it was only going to Dadar.
Anyway, I have noticed that a lot of people carry Blackberries in the train. Nice!
Also, stations and trains seem to be this place where couples meet, chit chat, go for a walk (in the train or station and not the proverbial park). Good for them I guess. This is what space constraints in a crowded city like Bombay does to you.
I have just realized that I haven't written poetry for a long time. A very long time. Sigh. This weekend then. Anyway, my plans for making macarons have been postponed to next weekend since my mom said my ingredients for macarons would disrupt her domestic expense plans. Plus, she doesn't trust me to make macarons. What hard times!
I was watching the top 10 diners on TLC (My absolutely favoritest channel EVER!) yesterday and I realized with shame that I still hadn't completed the list of my top chefs. Sigh. So many things to do. So little time.
I have begun compiling a list of books that I wanna read. The list already runs to some 10 pages long and I am nowhere near completing it. Of course those 10 pages are from my diary, but my diary ain't minuscule, so the list is PRETTY DAMN LONG. (Reminds me of a gossip girl line on PDA, but nevermind.)
Which reminds me its been so long since I have re-watched any of the gossip girl episodes. I wanna, but I am really not sure whether the show is family friendly or not. :P
Anyway, It returns, April 18th I think and Chuck will be chasing Blair. I am so gonna love it!!!!!!

After that digressiveness, let me come back to books. Aren't they the best things ever? I am currently reading One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez and the book is just so poetic. The poverty, the war, everything has a certain... let's say romance in it. I know, the book is extremely sexist. But then, I quite like it. Thank you Rameez for the book!
Anyway, I shall return to watching the match on my new HD TV. :D
The TV is the only reason I am watching the cricket match. I'd rather watch Tennis. Talking of tennis...Somdev Devarraman... good going!
And I absolutely hate Djokovic for defeating Nadal in the finals.:-|
Waiting for Chuck to chase Blair
xoxo
The Rambler

FIGHT!!!!!

I had just gotten off my train at Dadar, when all of sudden, there were these shouts. And I saw these two men hurling abuses at each other. Being the gossip queen that I am (Modesty is a waste of effort here. ) I immediately recognized what had the potential of being an amazing fight sequence. Better than any of the shit Hollywood produces. Much like Hugh Grant and Colin Firth's fight in Bridget Jones' Diary. Part 1 and 2! (sighhhhhhhhhh Colin Firth <3. But more about that later. ) Anyway, just like I had predicted (Damn...why is no one there when one predicts such amazing things. ) the two men started fighting like a bunch of girls. One of them was bald, so sadly there was no hair pulling. Anyway, after the verbal abuse, one of the guys challenged the other one. And the other one must've said "Yeah, I did! SO WHAT?" So, this bald guy went and slapped the non bald guy. And yeah, it was a slap. Not a punch, but a girlie slap. :) I guess, I'll have to agree with Hugh Grant. When men fight, they fight like a bunch of bitchy little girls.
So, anyway, I was on the staircase when the fight started. All of us on the staircase stopped. And all of us on the staircase turned. And all of us on the staircase listened. And all of us on the staircase saw. I guess... you get the idea by now.
Anyway, the people surrounding the two new guys were shouting out loud. But not one...yes... NOT EVEN ONE was trying to break up the fight. I would rather think they were encouraging it.
I myself would've liked to stay longer and observed it. But, sadly I think, a train arrived at that very particular moment and some guy shouted "chalo chalo" Hindi for keep going. So, alas, I had to leave the very engaging scene. And get onto the crowded bridge and make way to the outside of the station.
But fun it was. :P
Anyway, I am sitting here, typing away, drinking sprite and with a presentation due tomorrow.
But I'm happy.
Waiting for my next girlie man fight
xoxo
The Rambler

Lost at Dadar station

Ah well, its 12:07 and here I am. Writing about my train adventures.
Well, I got lost at dadar station today. I was supposed to get down the stairway and get to platform 1. But, i missed the staircase and went to the other stairway which has exits for platforms 3 to 8. But I eventually found my way to the intended platform. I got into my train and made my way to the office. So, all's well that ends well. Anyway, I gotta deal with my parents now since they got all worked up coz I told them that I ran and caught the train. The trials and tribulations of a single child.
My mom has got it in her head to get me married by 26. :-| Being equally adamant, I have decided to marry at 40. And not just that, I shall marry a young guy (Mainly so that I can bully him around :P). Me and my mom are still haggling though. We have currently arrived at 35. We shall resume tomorrow.
I should find some time to read my mails. I have i guess 2000+ unread messages in one mail and 100+ in another. Sigh. The curse of signing up for each and every newsletter and offer that comes across. I know... I should probably have more self restraint. But what the heck. I can just delete all my messages. :D
Which reminds me... My phone's inbox never seems to get full... which in turn reminds me I have kept my phone in my parents room with an alarm at 4:00 am. Now, I would never wake up to that alarm. So, it doesn't really bother me. But I think I should remove it from my parents room. Sigh. I miss hostel life. I didn't really have to worry about waking anyone up. Everyone was such a deep sleeper. And in most cases, people were usually awake at that time. :(
Anyway, I shall go now.
Off to sneak into my parents room to retrieve my charging phone
xoxo
The Rambler

The smell of freshly fried samosas

Today morning the driver didn't show up. So, being the seasoned train traveler that I am, I jumped at the opportunity to travel in the central railway train to kanjurmarg and prompty changed out of my skirt into trousers. I bought a pack of coupons and a smart card. And after getting my right hand squished on the trip back, I am going to get a season ticket for first class too. All this for a trip to Kanjurmarg.
Anyway, going was not too much of a problem. I got a seat and all. So it was ok. On alighting, I got on the wrong bridge. I could see the office building moving farther away with each step that I took, but then, with utmost confidence I continued thinking it must be some kind of a circular bridge and would eventually come back to the building. How very wrong I was. I really should find a hammer and badger this confidence to death. :-|
Anyway, a guy was kind enough to see my furtive glances at the office building (yeah, I was trying to be all clever and pretend that I wasn't lost. :) ) and told me that I was on the wrong bridge. I then went all the way back to the station to the bridge which was at the other end of the station. Needless to say, I was sweating like a pig by the time I reached office. On top of that, I was wearing pink. :-|
Anyway, I finally reached office.
Now fast forwarding to the trip back, I have already mentioned I got my hand squished. Towards the end of the journey, a lady selling hot and freshly fried samosas, placed her basket of samosas right next to me.
By that time I was incredibly hungry. It took all of my will power and some more to restrain myself from buying those samosas. But they smelled heavenly. Sigh...
All in all, a pretty eventful day.
Now I shall go watch masterchef
xoxo
The Rambler

On a sunday

Happy Sunday to everyone out there. The sun is setting where I stay and so are my plans of washing my hair today. Its just too cold anyway. And the tea is making me feel all warm and content, so I really don't wanna mess that up.
Anyway, I was at some lecture today where they were talking about Naxalism and I was so infuriated during the lecture while I heard how even the media was influenced into presenting Naxal supporting incidents. Maybe the lecturer was anti Naxal, but what he said made sense. While the arrest of Binayak Sen made worldwide news, with Amartya Sen condemning it, attacks on trains by Naxals...well I haven't heard them. Have you?
Its quite sad what has happened to a movement that was at one point of time ideological.
The lecture was highly informative. I mean I am from West Bengal. Thats the state where Naxalbari is located, the place where it all started. But, embarrassingly I didn't know much about it. Till today that is.
I learnt about the Sangam and the Dalam and how strong the movement is in Telangana. And why it is not so strong in Rayalaseema. Both in Andhra Pradesh btw.
I learnt about their tactics. Basically about the Mao strategy. Very informative. But it also made me very furious. Thank god, I had the time gap of a train ride back home and some more lectures on the Posco deal, etc. Else this would have been a pretty furious post. I mean, I was really really pissed. But I guess, I am just looking at it from one side.
I don't think I should attend such lectures. Pretty easy for me to get annoyed at people. :P
But the prime minister does say that this is the single biggest threat to India. So, that's gotta count for something.
In other news, I traveled by train today after a long long time. I noticed there are so many women with nose rings or nose studs or atleast have pierced noses.  WOW
Must be a marathi/ gujju tradition. Then it makes sense. :)
I want a tattoo someday. (My parents probably shouldn't read this. :P)
Anyway, I shall return to my interview preparations and brace myself for more rejections. KILL ME NOW ALREADY!!!!
Waiting to celebrate my parents anniversary on Saturday and meet Sneha on Sunday.
Waiting to be finally done with everything
xoxo
The Rambler

Need to remember I have a first class train pass

The other day, I was supposed to go to my office. I hadn't been to my office for quite some days and hence promptly forgot that I had a first class pass to that station.
The going to office train ride was pretty OK. I mean I got into the second class, but I got in at the terminal station, so I got a window seat and all.
But the coming back journey. Oh god...Please don't ever make me forget that I have a first class pass. I got poked and pushed and shoved and I was carrying a heavy laptop!!!!!
I have no idea whose toes I stepped on or who I did all of the above actions to. But then again the very women who had shoved me into the inner depths of the train regretted it (HAH!!!!)
Anyway, I got a seat the moment the train started. So that was pretty cool and I really wanted to smirk and put my tongue out and say "That's for poking me lady"
But being the nice, good mannered girl that I am, I stayed put and tried calling my mom who for some reason kept on cutting my call before I finished saying whatever thing I wanted to say. I know I can be a bit boring at times but NOT THAT BORING! (I found out later, she couldn't get signal, so all is forgiven :P)
Apart from this, train has also improved my hitherto non understandable Hindi. YAY!!!
I bet I can speak better Hindi than Malvika. :P Maybe not as fast, but definitely better.
In other news, Nadal is out of the Australian Open and so are my hopes of seeing a Rafa Slam. Dammit, why did he have to catch that stupid flu... >.<
Extremely depressed I am today. Have been hugging Balloo and Bambi since it happened. Not that I don't do otherwise. Its just that I have a reason now to do so now. :)
Anyway, I shall be off.
Waiting for the Rafa Slam and my next train journey
xoxo
The Rambler

Sadly, the laws of Physics apply to me

Well,
I have started office and I have been busy with work…Doesn’t it show? I have been posting much less lately… Ah well, I ain’t that busy. It’s just that I have been travelling by trains and I get terribly tired.
Anyway, fun things have been happening in my life. And fun things don’t refer to my orange nail paint. It refers to actual fun things. I have been hanging out with my friend Prajju and been going phoenixing. Oh yeah…I am promoting Phoenix Mills. I LOVE THAT PLACE.
And then I went Bandra… but I didn’t go crazy and buy everything I could. Partly because of my awesome restraint and partly because I ran out of money. And then Prajju and I discovered that we weren’t half as bad at bargaining. We got shoes worth 450 bucks for 150 bucks. Actually when the guy agreed, we were kinda taken aback and looked at him questioningly. But hey… we are improving. The other day out with my cousin Mimi, I bought a red pendant with a chain and “I” bargained and brought its price down from 220 to 100. I don’t think I’ve seen my mom so proud. Not even when I stood first in class. :)
Oh, I just read the beginning of this post and I remembered my fall out of the train. My first day on the train from Churchgate to Lower Parel. I was supposed to get down at Lower Parel. I knew about inertia. I understood the physics perfectly in my head. And yet, when I was supposed to get down at the station, I assumed I was immune to those laws. And what was supposed to happen did happen. I fell out. In hindsight the sight was damn funny. But I was soooo embarrassed at that moment. I had this brown white patch on my new Allen Solly pants and I was flat on the ground with a laptop on my back. A sardarji and a lady in the train looking at me and I suppose thinking what an idiot of a girl. You know what, the worst part was that the compartment was empty and I had fallen out of the train because of stupid dreamy me.
Anyway, moral of the story: “DON”T THINK LAWS OF PHYSICS ARE GOING TO BE IMPARTIAL TO YOU”.
Ah well, atleast I wait nowadays before alighting.
I couldn’t even tell my parents else all my train trips would’ve been cancelled.
Gladly, my mom did not notice the stain on my new pants. :)
Anyway, travelling by trains is fun. The other day, I almost witnessed a cat fight between this old lady and a college girl over the aisle seat. I am just happy to get a seat. I don’t care which one it is. I prefer windows though. The wind in your face…too good. Must’ve been a bitch in my previous life. :P
In other news, we have been house hunting. Our landlord’s thrown us out since he wants to sell his house off. He must definitely be crazy. Has he even looked at the house? The view? Moron.
Anyway, so we have been house hunting with “Louly ome”. That’s how our real estate agent pronounces “Lovely Home”. Anyway, the guy is hell bent on us making this old building our new home. I don’t like it. Is too flashy. Looks like a hotel. But, what the hell? I am hardly at home. So it is upto mummy to decide. I JUST DON’T WANNA LEAVE CUFFE PARADE. I like the strong breeze in the lobby. And I like South Bombay. I like Marine Drive and I like looking at the sea and Queen’s Necklace before I go to sleep. And snooty as it may sound, I like saying Cuffe Parade. ARGHHHH.
Anyway, this has been a long post. I should go do some work. There is justin beiber playing at my work place. Someone’s ring tone. Blah. He seems to be more girly than me. Beiber that is. I don’t even know who owns the ring tone.
BTW, Rachana...you owe me two treats :P. And Sneha, Pls get me some gossip. I am dying here!!!!!
Waiting for the new house and a train ride back home
xoxo
The Rambler

The non tourist on the train

Ah well...I went on the bombay local train. Traveled from Churchgate to Andheri and didn't get my hair pulled out or lynched as my mom had feared. So...All in all a pretty successful trip. And OH... I got to see the Tourist.
Two good looking people, Depp and Jolie. But I expected more chemistry. And the story was kinda of predictable. But nevertheless, I didn't start pondering about the loopholes till after the movie.
Also met Raghu after a long time. He's as tall as ever. :)
In other news I have started going to the gym. Not one of my favorite things. Nowadays the only clothes I feel comfortable in are my Pyjamas. Remember girls, It's time to hit the gym when you start spending most of your time in your PJs.
Or you could diet...But that's a really awful thing to do. I guess I think it's awful coz I love eating too much. I really have a hard time choosing between sloth and gluttony. :(
Anyway, to each his own.
I am having two sins keep me company this year end. What about you?
Oh and a belated Christmas.
Till sloth goes on a break
xoxo
The Rambler