Archive for ‘November 2009’

It's been a year to the gory, inhumane incident which shook the spine of the shiny city of Mumbai, opened the eyes of India to what an incompetent and unprepared defence system it has, and worse yet, challenged the our faith on humanity. The media has covered the Mumbai terror attacks enough for you all to know stories - of lives lost - in some cases, the earning member of a family dead, and in some, the earning member lived like the manager of Taj hotel, but lost mouths to feed, people with candles praying, ministers questioned, police officers' deaths, 'Where was Raj Thakrey then?' slogans, heroic sagas and so on.

What I am going to share with you here is a few such stories unheard, facts that happened to friends, acquaintances, people I knew...

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Last year, living in my house were AB, Obi and Paps - all ex-employees of the Taj Hotel and Ally, who was with AB in college. That day when we came to know the news, we were glued to the news channel. The guys started making calls to know if their friends are OK. That sleepless night was a night I will never forget.

Ally's cousin C was working in the Taj then. Ally didn't want to call him in the mayhem, so called his parents and they hadn't heard from C. So Ally called C on his mobile. C picked up and said he along with a manager and some guests hiding in a room, hearing firing noises and had no clue as to what exactly was going on. Ally gave him all the info we had gathered from the tele. Cmade Ally promise to call him every half an hour. He needed that strength as he said he just could not speak to his parents. So call we did, every half an hour throughout the night, half to make him not lose the hope to live, half in the hope of finding him alive when he picked up the phone.

"The police have entered, you'll be out soon" Ally informed him after a few hours. Soon after the police did reach his room.
"A cop has come here man, and he is in a mood to joke! He's carrying an antique gun and is assuring us that he'll save our lives!", laughed C sarcastically in his state of hopeless despair.

The cop started to free all of them, guests first, staff later. Why be so formal? Are staffs' lives not equally important? It's a terrorist attack for God's sake, not a leak in the hotel's pipe! I can understand children, elderly and women being rescued first but customers before staff? Unacceptable. Almost all of them had stepped out safely and the firing started again. C and his manager were pushed back into the room. The cop said he will come for them. They sat there even more terrified, doubting their destiny. Will the cop come back to save just 2 lives?

He did.

At the break of dawn, they were rescued and they came out, physically unharmed. C was overjoyed.
"Did you see me on the TV when I came out?" he'd asked us with excitement!

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Ally and AB had a classmate Y when they were in college. I remember her as this sweet, small, frail little girl with lovely hair. She was working in the kitchen on that fateful day. If you remember, the firing had first started in the kitchen.

When she heard the noise and saw people running, she ran too. Ran hard. Went on running without looking back, until she hit a wall. There was a window overlooking the lobby and the height was as good as 2 storeys. She had no choice, without thinking any further, she jumped. She got up and started running again. She ran out on the streets and didn't stop even when her mind said she was safe now. She ran till she reached home, her safe nest.

Well done girl!

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This particular incident had me thinking for hours. The next day after the attacks, Obi called his ex-colleague and friend X to check on him. X said he and his colleague Y ran from the terrorists to hide in 'walk-in' freezers which were side by side. After a while he heard them coming, heard them open the door of the freezer his friend was hiding in, heard them shut it, heard his friend's mobile ring, heard that door open again, heard bullets being shot, heard his friend die.

He then heard them open his door. Seeing no one they left. They didn't fire in the room assuming somebody could be hiding here as well. It was as if he was destined to live.

Who called his friend Y? Why did his mobile ring? Was it a crying parent, worried wife, terrified child, concerned family/friend calling to know how he is? Or was it a wrong number or a marketing call? He cannot be blamed for not switching off his mobile phone when he was busy running for his life, can he?

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Editted to add - 
This post has been selected by blogadda for their Spicy Saturday Picks!!!

I was sleeping like a baby this morning. There was plenty of time for the alarm to off.

And suddenly I smelled this beautiful aroma, of tomato rasam and beetroot stir fried with plenty of shredded coconut being cooked. In my sleepy state I thought "Amma's making tasty food, wow!". And I smiled.

I think I had this dream because, growing up, I used to get up on Sundays by the aroma of the food she cooked, and wander in the kitchen aimlessly like a puppy opening lids and checking out what's special for Sunday...

I opened one eye, saw a different room than the one I had back home. Confused I thought "Maybe daddy brought me to this place. I didn't know he cooked rasam and beetroot so well...".

I opened both my eyes and realized I am away, no rasam, no beetroot, no Amma, no daddy. I would prefer a nightmare anyday to this dream. That's when I felt like reality hit me hard - "Hungry? Wanna eat? GO COOK!" :-(

I miss those carefree days where one odd day I'd decide to show off my culinary skills and make a simple potato fry but make a big deal out of it and expect the whole household to rejoice in my talent - and they did...

I have been feeling my worst throughout the day :-(

The whole house had been scanned, stuff to throw put in bin bags, cupboards emptied. One of my house mates and a very dear friend Oby left the nest.

After he left on Saturday, I started to clean the mess on Sunday, being alone at home and feeling bored. I threw all the bin bags out (except one filled with papers and books, which was too heavy to push, let alone lift), mopped, cleaned, mopped, cleaned. Then I cooked and started doing the dishes. All the while, I had the TV in a high volume listening to songs. I was so tired that my hands were shivering. I still continued to work away just to finish it off.

Suddenly the TV went silent. I heard a sound coming from the living room, as if someone tip-toed on the wooden floor towards the kitchen where I was doing the dishes. I was not expecting anybody - if it was one of the guys, I would have heard the main door shut.

"Did someone jump in through the window or am I just imagining...", I thought. The sound of the floor was clearer now. Out of a mad instinct I grabbed a butcher knife and headed out of the kitchen, my heart beating in my mouth. My eyes quickly scanned the living room - nobody. The TV showed a blank blue screen. I heard again and felt the tip-toe effect on the floor, this time as if coming towards me, but I could see no one.

"Is this house freaking haunted???", I thought and my throat went dry and a sweat broke on my forehead. I looked down at the floor.

It was that stupid heavy bag I had not thrown away earlier, sliding and shifting it's weight slowly to make the tip-toe effect. The TV went blank because of satellite problems. Talk about timing!

Feeling both relieved and silly about myself, I told AB about this incident. I thought he'd tease me, but he said the guys too had been fooled by similar noises many times in the house. On the contrary I was praised for my presence of mind to have carried the knife to face the 'intruder'.

Don't ask me how I'd have used it though, I have no clue myself! Oh, and I didn't stab the bag out of frustration :-)

My boss D runs a tight ship. But when he is in a good mood, he usually has a good sense of humour.

I got Ceaser Salad for lunch today. As I was relishing it, he came into the room.

D: Salad?
Me: Yup
D: You'll get fat
Me: How come???
D: Even Diet Coke makes you fat
Me: Are you serious?
D: Whenever I go to restaurants I see all the fat people eating either salad or drinking Diet Coke. I'm sure that's what makes them fat (winks and smiles)
Me: Haha (tip: laugh at ALL of your boss's jokes, don't ask me why :P)

:-)

Plastic has replaced metals in the kitchen, cloth for bags, and currency for ease. Did we realize it got into our behaviour, courtesy, smiles, laughter all for the same reason - a convenient alternative?

As a kid, I could easily recognize the plastic smile that my loved ones gave others. I told myself, I will never do that. But hey, never say never! Growing up I realized, I am being sucked into the plastic world whether I like it or not! (Fortunately I have not used it so far with the ones I love.)

Don't even get me started at how many plastic smiles I throw at work everyday - 'How can I help you? Do you want coffee? Good job. Err that's called Object Oriented programming you see' - all with a dash of plastic.

Now, whenever I am cornered with a sticky situation where I don't want to answer or comment, I usually laugh out loud. 'HA-HA-HA-HA-mmmm' is how it goes.
A few months ago I met a distant relative of mine.

Uncle: I remember how little you used to be. Now you are all grown up, working, standing on your own feet.
Me: Thanks uncle
Uncle: So, how much do you earn per month?
Me: (:O) Err, I am not very experienced, but I earn enough to support myself (start looking away)
Uncle: Now won't you tell your favourite uncle the figure?
Me: HA-HA-HA-HA-mmmm
(Favourite uncle? Do I even know your full name? Are you looking for a post retirement job of a 'market researcher'?)

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A pesky neighbouring auntie at a gathering
Auntie: You look so pretty, we have to look for a handsome guy for you, or have you already looked for yourself?
Me: HA-HA-HA-HA-mmmm
Auntie: One can never say anything about kids these days. They don't like their parents' choice at all!
Me: HA-HA-HA-HA-mmmm
Auntie: If you do have any boyfriends or make new ones, don't forget to tell me OK?
Me: HA-HA-HA-HA-mmmm
(Now why would I do that? What on earth would actually leave me with no option but to possibly confide in you? Wouldn't it be a tad bit easy to get a saw and just chop off my hand?)

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My SIL-to-be(STB) over the phone
Me: Did you know 'so-and-so' gave birth to a baby girl.. How sweet! AB told me.
STB: Of course, I was the one who informed AB
Me: Oh great, do you know if they have decided her name then?
STB: That's done on an auspicious day by the child's aunt
Me: Yeah, but these days things ...
STB(cutting me off): I am going to name your kids
Me: ?????!!! (Was there an earthquake just now? Did anybody else feel it? I could imagine a close up of my face shown from 3 different angles with a lightning background score as in the silly daily soaps!)  HA-HA-HA-HA-mmmm

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Gosh, can you imagine how the world would be without it's 'plastic'? Do we really want to live in a completely honest world? If we do happen to, is it good or bad? Wouldn't we end up hurting people for no good reason? When somebody says 'I am very frank', what do they exactly mean?

My darling friend Ally moved in with us a few years ago. He brightened the atmosphere at home. Being a top-notch chef, he used to cook lip-smacking dishes, with his lovely sense of humour, we all were laughing and joking all day long.

He had one annoying habit though. Everyday when I came home, he would ask me for a chocolate. Every single day. When I said I didn't have, he used to say 'Look in your handbag. There might be one or two.' And I used to say 'Ally, how can a chocolate get into my handbag unless I put it in? Trust me, I have no chocolate!'.
And he would ask again after a few hours...

I know girls love chocolate and so do I. But I am not chocolate-crazy enough that I constantly keep one in my handbag. And I don't remember the last time when I bought chocolates for myself... I bought him chocolates many times, but he'd still insist I give him a chocolate everyday after I come from work.

'Do I look like a chocolate vending machine to you?' I'd ask. He still wouldn't stop. Eventually, in the months to follow, he changed his habit. (Now he asks once in a few weeks!)

I went to India after a few months, and visited his mom when I was there. I casually mentioned "Aunty your son is a big chocolate freak, isn't he? He keeps asking me to scan my handbag for chocolates!"
Hearing which tears brimmed her eyes as she said "You see dear, I work in a school. Everyday some kid or the other gives me chocolates for their birthday and I keep it in my handbag. Whenever Ally came home, he would first scan my handbag for them. This has been going on since he was a little kid. Maybe now he is missing me..."

Awwwwwwwwwwww.

It was only then I wondered, do all of us have some silly habit that we picked up at the cradle but would leave us at the grave? Not what we already know, but if we ask our parents/siblings, some really interesting answers come up!
I asked Amma about mine -
"When you were little you used to jump and pat my hair which was tied into a bun high up my head and open it just to annoy me. Now you still do it, and you don't even have to jump!"
And I don't even remember doing the silly thing when I was a kid :P

AB's mom says "Whenever I did 'aarti' he used to fix his eyes on the 'aarti' plate and his head would go round and round. He still does it!".
I noticed it too! He still does it :-)

So fellas, don't introspect, go ask your parents/siblings about yours'! If you remember an interesting habit about your sibling that would do too. And please share it :-)

Editted to add - 
This post has been selected by blogadda for their Tangy Tuesday Picks!!!
I am so glad :-D

Titaxy has inspired me to give Haiku a go :-)
(She has also inspired me to try 55words fiction but I am like a brick wall in it :/ )
Anyway it turns out that I had so much fun, I wrote four!
Thanks Titaxy for introducing this fun way of learning to do something new :-)

Because it's autumn here, all the four are on autumn

Cold wind hugs me tight
Ruffles up the autumn leaves.
Am oh so lonely!

Roads have a mat with
Lifeless leaves of autumn fall,
No flowers at all

The tree stands naked
Lost everything to the fall.
Yet stands proud and tall.

Oh where will it hide
Little bird on the bare tree?
Cruel are you fall!

So what do you think???

My friend E is doing her MBA and wanted to interview managers internationally with some business etiquette questions for one of her projects. I asked my manager if he would like to help her out and he was glad to.

The questionnaire she gave had a question which was 'What is the number and gender of the people you manage?'.
My manager had answered 7 men, 3 women and 4 goldfish.

E met me online later to thank me.

E: Hey why he had written '4 goldfish' as an answer to who he manges?
Me: That was a joke dear. We have a fish tank in the office :-)
E: Oh, I thought 'goldfish' is a code or a slang you guys use for transgenders
Me: !!!

Across the road,
Standing outside my door,
I saw him with heavy pockets,
A kid in the candy store.

Smiling as he saw
Many options more,
Happily confused was
The kid in the candy store.

I checked my pocket
With a heart sore,
I frowned unlike
The kid in the candy store.

There were no coins
But candies four.
All broken, I envied
The kid in the candy store.

I heard mother
Yell out a chore,
So I quit staring at
The kid in the candy store.

With chores I earned
Two candies more!
I thought I'd look at
The kid in the candy store.

He still was there
Trying to explore...
'Any other flavour?' said
The kid in the candy store.

Only then I thought
I had hit a better score,
With satisfaction than
The kid in the candy store.

I don't want more choices
Than I can endure,
Even if life's not as luxurious as
The kid in the candy store!

I am totally nuts about taking pictures. So much that I gifted myself a Panasonic TZ5 last year for my birthday :P With this awesome camera of mine I cannot stop clicking. I take pictures of anything - water, a single leaf, flowers, my shoe strap, bugs, and my present favourite - my fish :)

Sometime ago, AB and I had been to a mini zoo with animals in cages. I didn't like the cages but was overjoyed to start playing with my favourite toy again, my camera!

I took many pictures from many angles. I took so much effort, bending, stretching, getting cramps in my legs to get the perfect animal shots.
Here are a few samples -

Meerkats family photo

Media shy monkey


















Penguin guarding his castle and the king












Otter planning his escape











While I was sweating on one hand, I looked at AB from the corner of my eye. He signalled me to come near him - near the cage he was standing next to.

A leopard was on the back of another - yes-yes, they were errr.... hmmmmm.... humping like crazed rabbits! The one on top, obviously the male, had held her neck with his jaw and happily doing the wild thing (pun intended). And they were not even adults, I would not even classify them as adolescent, they were mid-way between babies and adolescent! That age where you kind of know things but are not sure... Well, we only fished for information in that age, this leopard fished for a partner to hone his skills! Bad kitty... I was just about to take a picture, that he sensed our presence and moved away. Gah! Civilized leopards, don't go away, it's not like I threw stones at you, only switched on my camera...

Well AB took a picture with his phone. Although I feel the picture would have been tonnes better taken from my super-cool camera, he did score more than me (none compared to the leopard's score though :P). After all, photography is not just about the perfect resolution, it's about the perfect timing, isn't it?

I used to live in Chennai when I was little, near the Santhome beach. Back then, we(parents and me) were an average struggling middle-class family and had bought our first flat without any loans. Naturally for a few years before and a few that followed, we were literally living hand to mouth. In those struggling days, is my most treasured childhood memory etched.

During that period, my parents could not afford to take me out to restaurants often. Our basic necessities were fulfilled, no doubt. But we didn't have the disposable income to spend on enjoyment. So what did they do?

Amma used to come back from work and cook dinner. She'd then pack this up in hot-packs. In the meanwhile, daddy would take out a neatly folded bedsheet from the cupboard and pack three plates and spoons along with it. We'd take all that and walk to the beach. The beach was only 5min away from home. Daddy then would pick a nice clean corner, put the sheet on the sand and amma used to serve us food. And in the starlight , cool sea breeze increasing our appetite, we would happily eat. There were no hawkers in the night, the beach was practically deserted and silent except for the soothing sound of the waves.

After eating, daddy and I would lie down with our heads on each of amma's lap looking at the stars. And he would tell me stories - stories from his childhood, flying kites, pranks that he and his twin would play on others, walking 3 hours everyday to go to school which was in the neighbouring village, stealing mangoes, studying in the next street's light and harassing teachers. Amma would tell me about her childhood stories and city life . I would then shoot my random questions at them about life, people, science, geography, anything, and they would patiently answer. If I was in the mood, I would sing
them a nice Carnatic song. After spending an hour or so like that, daddy would buy me a kucchi-ice(ice cream that you get on a stick) or a pot kulfi. But they never bought for themselves. It never occurred to me that they might be deliberately not spending on themselves to save money....

Eating the ice cream, we would walk back home. All those stories, amma's warm lap and the cool breeze would have me ready to sleep as soon as I lay on the bed.

I don't remember what made those nights so special. Amma cooked nothing special - just ordinary yogurt, rice and potato curry or just coconut rice or just tamarind rice. The days they picked to go were not special holidays or weekends, normal week days picked at random and very often. And those stories were probably repeated many times. The ice cream was definitely not the bait as my thatha(grandpa) used to buy me chocolates or cakes or ice creams stealthily very often. Yet when I remember those nights, it makes me happy, lifts my spirits. Makes me feel as though I was a princess....

The rich had reservations and candle light dinners, we had leftovers and starlight dinners.

So what's your most precious childhood memory?

Fadya, my fishie died on Sunday.

His presence in my life was for a month. For a whole month, he gave AB and me a taste of parenthood. We cleaned the tank together, played together, took turns to feed them, every morning, as soon as we got up, we would control our morning pressures and run to the tank to see if all the four were there, alive swimming and happy. For the first few days we didn't even have any other topic to speak to each other. I have clicked 400 pictures of my fishies in a month. Why did he die then? Why did we let him die?

For a few days before he died, other fishies especially Gordon was bullying him, nipping his tummy. Others would just swim around and form a gang. Poor Fadya would get scared - you could make out. I kept the lights off so that he could hide and they leave him alone. That was all I could do. AB would tap the tank to scare the other fish away when they neared him, that didn't help either. Saturday, he looked huge. He had puffed up and couldn't swim. He kept sitting on things, and later that evening, he started to hide and go away from the others. They had stopped bothering him, but he kept away. He was dying. So he secluded himself. Brave fish. And I watched him helplessly.

My only consolation was Govinda. This little baby was a source of our strength. The whole of Saturday Govinda didn't swim merrily around the tank like he does everyday. He was with Fadya. Not poking him, not chasing him. Just sitting by his side. He didn't even leave his side to eat! For some time, I thought maybe he too wasn't feeling well. But he was as fit as a fiddle. He just chose to sit by his dying friend. Fadya tried to avoid him, he wanted to be left alone, suffering. He was hiding and running away from everything and everyone, but Govinda was that annoying little friend who wouldn't let him be alone, suffer alone. The kind of friend who clings to you, glues to you and says 'hate me if you want, but I will not turn my back on you'.

We were surprised to see Fadya find really tricky places in the tank to hide, even more surprised to see Govinda find a spot next to him, just looking at him. After Fadya was removed from the tank, Govinda was relentlessly swimming to the same places Fadya hid as if he searched for him, but didn't find him.

Fadya's loss upset me but Govinda's strength intrigued me, moved me, reminded me of precious emotions often taken for granted. Here's a little thanks for all the gems who have stood by me through dark phases, being my strength and a little wish and a prayer for all of you to be blessed with such an angel in your life and when the time comes, you to be somebody's angel too.