Dont judge a book by its cover (definately not in an airplane)

I entered the aircraft and passed down the aisle towards my seat, I passed her--angel looking. Her curly hair bounced off her shoulders and she smiled, she smiled to every passerby. Every person got taken in by the mix of her sweetness and charm. What a bundle of joy-all of 5 years.

All was mesmorizing until the movie 'Bluff Master' on the aircraft began. All the interested put on their headphones, the uninterested continued in the same fashion. Suddenly a high pitch shrill voice began to screech 'the whole thing is wrong bhaiya sabse bada rupaiya'. She sang the whole verbatim including the ooohs and ahhs. Everything disappeared; angel was gone for good.

A young boy of 10, sat two rows behind me began to explain to his mother why the airplane always flew over the sea and then changed direction. I was quite impressed, I didnot know that at 10, hell i didnt even know that when I was 23. Anyway he got a little carried away with telling his mom everything:

'the planes engines have started', ' now the plane is moving in front', 'the plane is turning right' , 'the plane has stopped', 'another plan is landing', 'the planes engines have started again', 'the plane is now building speed'

Uhhhhh, did i say intelligent??

As I took my seat I was disappointed to see an old maharashtrain couple(she wore a green sari, gold and red bangles, big bindi and only seemed to converse in marathi) sitting next to me-that removed any sort of conversation for the flight duration for sure. I was surpised when the purser came the man asked for a sweet martini and his wife said 'ill have the same'. When dinner arrived the man asked for a coke and she said can i have another sweet martini. She was barely 3/4th through her dinner when she asked for another sweet martini to take with dessert!

Post supper she was fast asleep (who wouldn't be after 3 martinis), but at least I was right about the no conversation.

Its amazing how we love

Its amazing how we love life - unconditionally

even though it screws us over and over again.

India Shining?

As I browsed through the pink papers every morning-I realised a pattern:
-J.P Morgan, IDF to buy 20% stake in L&T for 500cr
-Goldman may invest $100m in Pantaloon
-RIL strikes oil 27bn for 15 years
-India upgraded by Standard & Poors (about time-but anyway)

Every morning the papers are exploding with news, one investment being an x multiple of the other. Money just seems to be pouring in. India Shining? Maybe..but really where is all the money? Yes middle class in richer, but the standard of living doesnt seem to have improved.

The percentage of cars on the roads seems to have jumped higher than % increase of the BSE. Im sorry-did I say 'roads'? Infrastructure one of the key elements in the success of economy growth is lacking in our country. Mumbai however rich and however commercial is frankly a mess. I have read extensively about the changes and developments in Shanghai from an untalked of town to now a buzz city, aided by the government's USD40bn expenditure towards its infrastructure.

Dont get me wrong, I am not cynical about India, infact I am very pro it-but I just wonder what is taking them so long to develop it.As a citizen I seem to be able to do nothing about it as well.

And the news continues Beoing to set up a $100mn hub in Nagpur, Citigroup sells its stake to Infosys for $115mn....

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

Sheer brilliance-is how I'd like to describe it. It takes much for me to write about a film, lets say this one just hit a chord.When I like a film, at the end of it-I watch all my favorite parts again, this one-I simply soaked in its brilliance.

When your best is the hellest, and yet after knowing it all, you are ready to go through it again. When the unconscious chooses your destiny.

I cant say Id recommend everyone watch it, for I believe only those that have given up something dear, will appreciate the the power of the film on their minds, because only they can see...what I saw....

eternal sunshine

The swish of the brush

I had a lovely morning--it was spent not in reminiscing good memories of the past nor dreams of the future..I was soaking up the present.

It started with me going back to where I worked, familiar warm faces with genuine smiles and goodness, I could feel the warmth of the positive vibes all around. My manager had cleared his exams and got the stamp of an MBA which in turn gave us an excuse to celebrate with khamand, kachoris and jalebis. I also caught up with a few people I had been meaning to meet-it feels good to be in the company of the people you want to be in.

A trip to south mumbai is never complete if I dont visit Jehangir Art Gallery, my tryst with paintings started a few years ago and has only blossomed since. I got lost in the numerous hues and the swishes of the paint brush, until a truck load of tourists entered,of which im sure not even half knew the meaning of art appreciation. But love is a very overpowering force, soon I was oblivious to the crowd, the noise, and even the existance of another soul in the room, maybe that is the meaning of detached, maybe that is the feeling of fanaah.

I climbed the staircase to a cozy room which I call familiar-I know the terrace art gallery in and out, what paintings are done in which styles, placed where on the wall. As I entered my familiar haven I felt the intensity all around me, and I smiled to myself enwrapped in this feeling.

Caretaker: You've come after long
Me: Yes, true-I dont live in India anymore

I walked up to my favourite painting there,a large canvas:of a boat in the stormy sea,the painting is in all different shades of blue-it reminds of life, how we struggle to stay afloat, to move ahead and to stand tall.

Caretaker: Take it. You've always liked it. You know I would give you a good discount.
I met his eyes and smiled.Next time I visit the gallery,I should be able to take it-for now it was time to go.

Final Farewell

Sometimes when you leave a place...you dont leave just the place
You leave a part of you behind
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Love you Dubai

Intelligentsia

Who is more intelligent?
In the dark, the one that lights the candle but the vision is limited by the breadth of the candlelight? or the one who adjusts his eyes to the dark but it limited by the dull silhouettes?

Freedom

I now am liberated from these buildings
Only to be bound by taller skyscrapers
The paradox of Liberty

I am the future of Freedom

-------------------------------------------------------------------

I had vowed to blog only after I got placed
I had vowed I will fulfill my dreams of working abroad
I had vowed that I would achieve it all
Today......spells Freedom

Cloud Formation

We were walking by the lake, and i looked up at the sky and saw them....
The girl was white, seemed young and her long wavy hair blew with the winds, she was holding onto a long white scarf, tugging at it. He sat opposite her, young man,and the dark night outlines his longish black hair.He leaned towards her tugging the white scarf,fighting the winds.
I could feel their voices, two lovers being torn apart, held together by a thin string of memories.

My companion joined my sight, she avered that the two figures were seated on a magic flying carpet,and i profess i soon began to see the clear demarcation of the tassels floating.

We began to walk against the winds, as the breeze drifted the carpet, and the two lovers to a place of eternal elysium.

Live like there's no tomorrow

That has got to be one line that I dont agree with at all!

To most people-it sounds very cool, but I doubt anyone in the world truly follows it to the core. To the people who can state it so blantantly, I doubt they realise the implications of these words.

If there were no tomorrow, half the world would be howling or crying for starters, another set would be fearful because of the unknown and uncertainty, few would really enjoy their day. Most people would try and spend time with their loved ones, also it would be a record breaking day for the telephone companies.

How can one simply forget their dreams, their purpose, the future. Dont we all live today, to work today for a better future, a secured future. Dont we live today, most of the time-to enjoy at a future date. Yes, one could say why dont we live for the moment, or just enjoy today instead of wasting today trying to have a better day tomorrow?

Easier said than done; how many of us would leave MBA, leave our jobs etc - and simply just live for today?

Take me to a place

Take me to a place…
Where you can see the sun’s reflection in my eyes,
The colours of life form the rainbow’s ring
The clouds whisper in my ear
The rain descends off an angel’s wing

Take me to a place…
Where the grass tingles at my legs,
The bird coo’s perched on the green tree
The pebble creates a ripple wide
And the moonlight on my face glows in peace

Take me to a place…
Where I can hear the wind giggle as it plays with my hair
the coolness of the waves at my feet
And I sink into the mesmerizing sea
The fragrance of freshness, so sweet.

Take me to a place…
Where the sounds of silence can be heard
Where love has always been
Where stillness can be sensed
Where beyond the horizon is seen.

Reminiscing

If you look back, and you havent....

laughed until youve fallen down
helped a friend
been up all night partying
been up all night working
cried for someone
howled for something
learnt something new about yourself
got hurt
moved on
hurt someone
forgave yourself
sacrificed
ate a new cuisine
did something that your afraid of
experimented something new
got drenched in the rain
visited a new city
even better visited a new country
helped a stranger
helped your enemy
increased your knowledge
practised your hobby
done something whacky
read at least 3 good books
set your goals
made a good friend
maintained good friends
took time out for yourself
got space
gave space

then you havent lived it up
Happy 2006

Last night I was up till 3:45 am hearing Arabic music, there is something melodious and intriguing about the language. Its sweetest leaves me mesmerized,

And i floated away...
I was high above on the 24th floor, from where I could see the whole brightly lit city. The innumerable cars zipped below and yet there was no sound. The sweet taste of bitter bourbon. The chilly wind came from beyond the horizon, across the endless sea and hit me.High high above the world.

And i drifted...
I was on top of the sifting dunes,watching the moon as it watched me-nothing but sand around. With alarming speed I dropped as I surfed down the sands and the whole panorama changed-glowing tents, silhouttes dancing to rhythm , and I joined the swirl.

And I whirled away...
Silence had engulfed the night, and the wind was deafening.The wheels sped across the roads, I love the sound of friction of speed.There were no exits,just roads...endless endless roads.

To more Arabian Nights...

Lock n Key

You say you have the key to me,
But do you know what the inside of a lock looks like?

Go Air........Go Away!

Go Air, a no frill airline launched by the Wadia's recently, decided to do their bit towards 'social service'.
They chose to take 42 terminally ill children from Bai Jerbai Hospital-Mumbai, for a short airplane ride. The flight was delayed by 3 hours, for 3 hours these children were at the airport without any food provided by the airline staff. These children, all below the age of 12-had either cancer, were blind or other diseases. To put the icing..the airport did not have adqeuate space to seat all the children, so quite a few had to stand or lie down on the floor.
Can you imagine being so unwell, and then being made to wait at an airport?

What makes my blood boil is not only the ill treatment, but the attitude of Mr Jeh Wadia. On being questioned by a reporter present why the flight was so delayed, the prompt reply was "Its probably the first and last time these children are getting an opportunity to sit in an airplane,whats 2 hours of waiting for them"

Go Air.....Go Away!!!

Home Again

I never really thought Id have two homes,in the beginning one was a house and Bombay was home--now both are homes.

Home-Part I
Ive lived here since 23 years (yeah ever since I was born basically), and what makes it home is definately all the pampering I get- from my folks, my maid, my grandparents, my aunt n cousins. Ready hot meals, the solitude of my room, and most importantly-love. Memories flood this house.
It was simply great being back home for 12 days! Being with family, going out with friends, drives , dinners, meeting up with ex-colleagues, n ofcourse diwali-loads of mithai, fire-cracker lit marine drive, n gambling with family [n I won too :)]
Nothing like home!

Home- Part II
Id give a large credit to my villaies and my friends out there, who make chai for me, make omelette, sit around the table and gossip, take midnight walks, who press my head when it hurts, share my joys, my roomie who hugs me when im upset. In just 5 months such a great attraction to my new home. Ofcourse it has its downsides...but dubai has shown me colours that I had never experienced before and Ive learnt to enjoy.
Now with just 1 day to go for me to be back in dubai-i look at it with a welcoming smile, to be back amongst my villaies, sitting in our favorite position around the table all hogging maggi n chatting away.
Nothing, simply nothing like home.

Life as a SPJCMite

Alarm!!...snooze...alarm...snooze.....(my roomie Mega) "Purnima get up its 6:45 you wanna miss the bus kya?" And thus begins my day at S.P.Jain...

The first thing i do after getting to college is scrounge for a 1 dirham coin to get some chai. The day carries on with more chais and some lectures in between (literally)Check mails...the lectures started-im still checking mails;note: I havent reached the 'replying to the mail' stage yet.
It continues on chai...mails...lectures...chai...mails...lectures.....more chai. Its breaktime and we run to hot breads(some grub to sustain us+ more chai)

The lectures finally end ( by this time ive checked n written mail, blogged, commented on blogs, economic times, on a boring day even checked my horoscope)and its time to start working on assignments, study for quiz+mid term+end term+ comprehensives (all of which occur within 2 weeks of each other). It becomes night and yet loads to do....red bull + another chai...n I fall asleep anyway.

Alarm!!...snooze...alarm...snooze.....(my roomie Mega) "Purnima get up its 6:45 you wanna miss the bus kya?"

The Night

The light of the earth radiates to the moon
And the satellite responds in complete darkness
Every sound reverberates
As silence tiptoes into the world.
The night unburdens me.
Reducing the glare of reality
A feeling of complete freedom
Unbound by the dark skies.
Living up the best part of 24 hours for me.

Last night a meager part around 1 am was spent by the lake near my villa.The lake exuberates some kind of tranquility I cant explain, and the combination of the water and darkness just seems to be matchless.
Completely devoid of people-I find the joy of my own solitude there.

Simply Inimitable.

Jai Ganesh Deva

Ganesh-one of the most celebrated festivals in Bombay.

I remember Ganpati as a vivacious festival, 10 days of songs on loud speakers, loads of traffic, and people swarming around the idols.
Our mandir kept a huge idol every year, the slum dwellers had one at the end of my lane, so did my friend Bhavna's building,which I visited every year. My nani, who stays at Sukh Sagar had the most prominent location to watch all the large ganpatis immerse into the sea from Chowpatty beach. That road is alive, even at 4 am, and since the whole event is covered by IN tv, invariably I could see my nani,at her balcony-giving water and sweets to passerby's .

When I think of Ganpati-I cannot not think of Siddhi Vinayak, my early morning walks with Dela, from Bandra to Siddhi. Going for the aarti, to pray and then whispering into the mouse's ear.To top it all, we even walked back home, just to get the feeling-of complete contentment. The best part of Siddhi is the vibes I feel when I am there-the calm feeling completely encompasses me.

When I came to Dubai, I never thought Id celebrate Ganesh, but my batchmates managed to get a beautiful Ganesh idol! We had kept it at one of our villas-and every early morning before college and night 11 pm aarti was done. We outsourced the immersion part, because if you're caught in Dubai then the fine is dhms 5000.

Last night was the final pooja, we sang bhajans-Jai Ganesh Deva etc and some of my friends(Dharmesh and Chinmay) recited the athrava shastra mantra. As the vibes emitted, the whole place reverberated with positivity and togetherness.

As ever,I cannot explain it-ithe feeling was beyond beautiful. It was spiritual.

My Favorite Drink

It all started wayy before...when i was a kid. I tasted it-and gave up everything else.My mom had to beg me to have milk.I stood there resolute, nothing...nothing besides that.
I would choose it over every cold drink available.

8 year old lil p at a birthday party:
"Would you like to have some nice thanda pepsi beta?"
"Aunty could I have some Chai instead"
"Erm............."
(I think most of you can picture that face)

In school it started with 2 cups a day.
In college it moved on to around 3 cups a day(cutting chai 1/2 glass-Rs.2, full glass-Rs.3)n the days I was feeling rich-tea centre.
Morgan Stanley days it increased to 4-5 cups a day (Thanks to a tea machine and Mannu,our pantry boy)
Sp Jain, MBA days it has exponentially increased -7 odd cups a day,for very apparent reasons

Everyone knows me for my tea drinking habits, my buddies who are making tea for themselves, blindly make tea for me too. My buddies mother's who are making tea, blindly go ahead and make tea for me too.

Chai--defies the mariginal utility theory,beats a high beta stock,epitomizes inelastic demand,and has the highest NPV ever.(MBA gyaan....Non-MBA's forgive me)

For now enough of this blog...until then I think i'll go n have another cup of tea.