Tag. I'm it!

I decided to tag myself since I've noticed this 'tag' phenomenon on a couple of random blogs that I've seen. I don't want to tag anyone..just felt like blabbering.

7 things I miss:

• Hostel. The late night chats. The ability to walk down the corridor and have meaningful (and at times, totally meaningless) conversations with people you actually care about.
• Talks with my grandfather over the dining table. We used to laugh about it and want to run away while the conversation was taking place..but the thought that those conversations can't take place anymore makes me want them all the more.
• Home. It gets to you while you're there but after some time being out, you just crave the food..people..and the fact that you can sit back, relax and 'be yourself'.
  
• Being a kid. The thought of not worrying about what the future holds for me is very appealing at the moment.
• Coffee breaks during the last sem in college. The spur-of-the-moment plans that we used to hatch.
• Being less cynical about people...or maybe just life in general.
  
• The ability to write and express myself on demand. It takes a hell of a lot of effort these days..

7 things I can't do:

• Public displays of affection..but I'm learning :)
  
• Control my movements when someone tickles me
  
• Get over my need to obsess about random shit that may not be of any consequence.
  
• Understand abstract art..or even abstract thought processes for that matter.
• Read books based on philosophy or fantasy. They're all the same jibberish to me
• Eat a meal big enough for two. My eyes always seem to be bigger than my stomach!
• Understand hypocrites or people who lead double-lives
  

7 things I can do:

• Laugh about nothing in particular until my eyes start to water.
• Write.
• Have a song constantly running through my head but the minute you ask me which one it is..I'll forget which one!
  
• Be mercilessly truthful on demand
  
• Talk to random people about stuff that doesn't particularly concern me
• Irritate close friends with my 'diplo-babble' :P
• Lose track of time when doing anything 'arty' and 'crafty'
  

7 things I plan to do:

• Discover Delhi. I intend to do this on my own..and if I end up having company..then great!
• Find myself somewhere along the way.
• Visit England, Egypt, Israel and Paris. If I could manage to go with my grandmother for a trip down memory-lane in Europe..even better.
  
• Go bunjee-jumping
• Do something totally reckless..and not regret it one bit the next morning!
  
• Live life..yes, just live life and take things as they come.
  
• Smile..and make others smile in the process :)

The magic that was 'Taare Zameen Par'

A lot has been said lately of the movie ‘Taare Zameen Par’ and rightly so. It’s a Hindi movie with a difference. Trust the perfectionist- Aamir Khan to come up with a movie which seems to touch upon so many topics which the mundane movie makers shy away from.

What made this movie so special to me was the atmosphere in which I saw the film. The movie theatre was really a sight to be seen. There were small ones, the in-between ones, middle aged ones, old people..you name it! I guess you tend to notice people around you much more when you’re alone.

I was lucky enough to be seated next to the cutest old couple I’ve seen for a long time. If I have what they seemed to have at that age, I’ll consider myself blessed :) The old man kept on taking his handkerchief out during the emotional scenes, wipe his eyes with it and then would promptly proceed to wipe the tears streaming down his wife's face or discreetly hand it over to her to do it on her own.

This Hindi movie is suitable for all ages. That doesn't happen every day! How often do you see kids going berserk at the sight of the animated fish at the beginning of the movie and people sitting down to watch the credits as if refusing to acknowledge the fact that the movie has come to an end? What I loved about the movie is the fact that there were so many thoughts that you could take back home with you. I like the fact that each person I meet these days seems to have a different take on the movie but are in universal agreement that this movie is 'special'.

It's a conversation-starter, ended up bringing tears to most eyes, a must-see for those like me who love watching movies that showcase the triumph of the under-dog. It made me realise that kids can be mean, that we all have our own role to play in the intrigue and misunderstanding surrounding this disorder, that we can make a difference in someone else's life if we want to, that sometimes just wanting to help doesn't work (you have to just do it), that even a small gesture could mean the world to someone..to name a few!

For those of you who haven't watched this movie, think again. Maybe you should :) If you'd completely written off Hindi movies, this might help put a wee bit of faith back in the system. The show must go on :D

The contradictions of my life

I was listening to one of my favourite songs recently and suddenly it struck me how much the lyrics in the song actually remind me of my own life..and it's present state of utter confusion, chaos and total uncertainty. Hehe..except in my case, I'm usually hailing an autorickshaw or bus :P Here goes!

I'm broke but I'm happy
I'm poor but I'm kind
I'm short but I'm healthy, yeah
I'm high but I'm grounded
I'm sane but I'm overwhelmed
I'm lost but I'm hopeful baby
What it all comes down to
Is that everything's gonna be fine fine fine
I've got one hand in my pocket
And the other one is giving a high five
I feel drunk but I'm sober
I'm young and I'm underpaid
I'm tired but I'm working, yeah
I care but I'm restless
I'm here but I'm really gone
I'm wrong and I'm sorry baby

What it all comes down to
Is that everything's gonna be quite alright
I've got one hand in my pocket
And the other one is flicking a cigarette
And what it all comes down to
Is that I haven't got it all figured out just yet
I've got one hand in my pocket
And the other one is giving the peace sign
I'm free but I'm focused
I'm green but I'm wise
I'm hard but I'm friendly baby
I'm sad but I'm laughing
I'm brave but I'm chickenshit
I'm sick but I'm pretty baby

And what it all boils down to
Is that no one's really got it figured out just yet
I've got one hand in my pocket
And the other one is playing the piano
And what it all comes down to my friends
Is that everything's just fine fine fine
I've got one hand in my pocket
And the other one is hailing a taxi cab

-"Hand In My Pocket" by Alanis Morissette

Tuesday's gone.

[This is something I wrote a few months ago. Thought it was apt to add this to my newly made blog]


Rewind.....9-10 months ago...

Summer's set in on good old Vellore. You can tell by the way everyone avoids leaving their rooms in the sweltering afternoons unless they want to risk complete dehydration and planning their walks around campus based on which building has decent bathrooms or water coolers :P

It's at times like this..that you feel like DOING something. ANYTHING! It must be the heat, you tell yourself..the only solace are the brief food breaks (essential for sanity) and 15 minute breaks in an A/C lab. The end of college still seems eons away. Who thinks about stuff like that anyway?

May 2007

We're almost done. With each passing day, we try pushing it further and further into the background. Nobody talks about it. I guess if we don't talk about it, it might not happen..

But with whatever we did..the inevitable happened. Every day had a new person to say 'good-bye' to. You try and keep a straight face..smile and wave..but even the slightest degree of emotion on the other person's face can make the hardest nuts to crack sob like a little baby when their backs are turned.

It ended with pregnant silences that seemed to leave everything and nothing unsaid (ironic,huh?); hugs with each person hesitant to let go; promises to meet again, to keep in touch, tears. But above everything else, it ended in a feeling of emptiness- a hollow feeling that eventually gave way to the realization that a way of life had just been laid to rest, and that this chapter of our lives had finally come to a close.

Present Day

People have moved on. Conversations only occur when a real effort is made. The old voices never fail to make you smile :) The old pictures now remind you of what seems like a distant memory. You almost have to pinch yourself to feel the pain at times. It feels like that candle has been snuffed out leaving you in total darkness.

There's talk of a reunion. Will that ever happen? God knows. The enthusiasm dwindles. But come what may..you still hope that you share the same magic with those people. That you can pick up from where you left off. That there's something left to rediscover when you go back!

The memories never fail to make you smile :) Those were happy times. The good life. When you could pick up the phone and talk for free! Those long drawn out conversations about some vague concept (which seemed important at the time). It's those memories which we all hold on to. Times moves on. People do too. But nothing can take away the memories of those times :D They did happen..and that small candle blowing in the wind will continue to burn for as long as those memories live on.

A brand new beginning

Loneliness and joblessness are a deadly combination. It makes you do weird things..like start a blog :P I had almost sworn that I wouldn't start a blog. Hehe..looks like that idea has been totally blown out of the water.