New Guy in the City..!

I’m out..Finally am out..I am out of Chennai..Wait wait wait..Dont get the slightest feeling that I am unhappy about my 4 and a half year stay in the city but I am happy that I am out of Chennai for a better and bigger city..The Maximum City—Mumbai..

As the train entered the Chennai central station on the 2^nd of June 2007 I saw the clock and it was sharp ticking 3:45 am..I hated the fact that the train made me wake up for the better part of the night so that I won’t miss my stop of the southern metro..The feeling was good to be able to stay in Chennai but this time when the similar incident happened it bettered the one from 2007..It was the 6^th of December and I was getting down at Thane station (a Mumbai local station) and the as I checked the clock it was ticking 3:45 am..I seem to have a weird fascination about this dot of time in the devil’s hour..

I took a local train and went to Nerul station (another Mumbai local station) where an acquaintance (from college) of mine resided..I was about to stay at his house for a couple of days and then search for a place for my own self to live..It was on this very day that I was going to meet him for the first time and even stay at his place..Rahul Yadav..To better my expectation he had an ostentatious flat which was very very very luxurious and as his flat-mate had gone for a month or so to Delhi so I was heartily welcome there..Rahul’s contact was given to me by a mutual friend of ours, Anuj Vishwakarma..Thanks to him as well for introducing such a good friend as Rahul to my life..He is undoubtedly my first friend in this maximum city..His flat had a very beautiful view of the sea all around and the Palm Beach road was just a stone’s throw away from his place..The view from his balcony was splendid..

On 13^th I shifted over to my new abode..A PG (Paying Guest) facility at Mahim..I love staying here as the place is exactly in the heart of the city..My room has a view of the sea face..I am on the 7^th floor of the building which makes it even more exciting..The lift is a bit cramped into but I am happy to use the stairs..The rest is bearable and the place is better than what I had expected with facilities more than I had imagined..The number of people staying in the flat is more but, considering them all being really good and helpful, it’s worth it..

My long drawn wish has finally come true and now I am staying in the city of my dreams—Mumbai..I had heard a lot about the bad things in this city but I have not faced anything bad as of yet and I hope I never do face anything bad..The city is very beautiful and people are also good..I want to make friends asap here and want to get a job or an internship here..Am trying hard and I hope I’ll crack it through..I am doing a photography course here at the National Institute of Photography and would want to continue over with a filmmaking course from some reputed college..

My long overdue wish is coming true and I hope all pans out exactly the way I have envisioned in my mind..People can say whatever they want but this city is really beautiful..The dreaded local trains are also not that very difficult to get in and get out..You just need to be smart and careful..After all they are the best means of transport available in Mumbai..You may take the cabs or the auto or the call-taxi’s but trains are the fastest ones to make you reach your destination and for all reasons they are far better than being stuck in the traffic for hours..

So now from Namma Chennai its Aamchi Mumbai!!

Jaishree Ram,

Prats..

Chennai Rains.......

If you are in Chennai then there is one thing that you should stay away from and there is another thing that you should not miss even for your life..Summers being the first and Monsoons being the second..

Monsoons have just arrived in Chennai a week and a half back..To all of you who are weak in geography and used to doze off when geography teacher used to teach then here is some little information for you..Chennai has winter rainfall..It rains here in Chennai in the months of Oct-Jan..In Aug you might have the odd shower once or twice for a respite from the trashing heat but real monsoons start now only..

People do complaint that the streets gets clogged and water-logged but I love it when it rains..I have witnessed 5 continuous monsoons here in Chennai and am completely, truly, madly and irrevocably in love with the rains here..Yeah at times it does ruin your perfect outfit that you had worn for going to office/college or maybe a wedding or a birthday party but it provides the much needed respite from the heat of the summers..The summers extending from Feb to Sept is a really long time..The monsoons provide respite from the heat and makes the weather cool and pleasant..The weather in these monsoon months are simply awesome..You don’t feel the heat of summers and neither do you have to wear any sweaters or heavy jackets to keep you warm like in the winters of North/East/West India..So you can easily sport out in a plain pullover and that would be perfect..

The city looks greener..The soil smells awesome..The two small rivers (read: canals) are full of water..And above all the sea looks flooded and amazing..If any of you have never seen the sea during rains, then let me tell you that you are missing a visual treat in life..Go out and enjoy the sea when it’s raining..The sea seems like a raging bull always..But when it is experiencing rains it is calm and serene showing respect to be the power greater than itself i.e. rains..Meanwhile still having the raring to go attitude always underneath the skin and soon as the rains stop its up and away, back to its original bullishness..All in all you would love it..I love it..The sea looks magical when it rains and I can spend hours staring at the sea when it pours cats and dogs..

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!Chennai rains!!!They are so gorgeous, you just can’t get enough of it.!

Jaishree Ram,

Prats..

Indiblogger— we blog, therefore we are!!

Indiblogger on my t shirt

Day before yesterday was one of the best days of my stay here in Chennai..Had a Blogger’s meet here in namma Chennai..It was the first time I was attending a bloggers meet..That too when it was in Chennai itself so I didn’t want to miss it..Met so many friends whom previously I knew only virtually i.e. via blogs only..But I know them personally..Made some really great friends..

HYATT entrance

The day began with me searching out the HYATT in Chennai..I knew the approximate area where it was but had never visited it before..It was grand from the outside but from the inside it was an out of the world experience..I loved the HYATT..It was so beautifully decorated plus the interiors were superb..Now entering the mini auditorium where the meet was held, I could see a plethora of bloggers waiting there for the program to start..I registered myself via my mail id and got myself stamped on the hand and there I was, a part and parcel of the function to be held..

The agenda was simple and clear cut..We started with the basic introductions and that’s how we came to know more and more people..People ranging from guys, gals to elderly people to working people to students like me..It was so good to see people who had similar thought processes like mine..Everyone loved to talk, talk, talk and only talk..It was so like me..

Indiblogger Stamp

We were given the detailing of the TATA GRANDE DICOR, the chief sponsors of the gala event..We were given a discount for people (read: bloggers) who wanted to buy the SUV..The SUV was really an animal as was aptly said by them..It looked wonderful both from the outside and the inside and after reading the specifications of the SUV I was completely and totally fida on it..

Friends

By the time we were asked to head out for high tea I had already made loads of friends and even won a laptop skin..The gifts distributed were so random and did not demand much of you..On one thing I was completely wrong before going to the event..I had totally underestimated the term HIGH TEA..I never knew high tea provided by the HYATT would prove to be one of the best lunches that I ever had..Although there were no regular lunch items and all were snacks and starters only but these were so tasty and mouth watering that I had to fill mu tummy up with them..I had loads of free food, as I term it..

Then heading back to the mini auditorium many people were given gifts whoever posted some really good pics of the events on twitter..Many people won Headphones and many won Swiss-knives..After this we were given a presentation by a theater group, Strayfactory, who had converted some 15 blog posts into a play and which is soon to be turned into a feature film..They were talking about the play which was called Bloglogues..

HYATT

Then came the best part of the evening when we all were handed over a big white sheet and sketch pens to move around and talk to people and meet then and ask them to write their blog id’s and names so that we could visit them asap..They could even write anything they felt like writing on those sheets..Many gifts were there for the wackiest line written on any sheet..Many won prizes in that..After this we were divided into large groups where we could sit and discuss..I group was discussing about how to design their blog better, one group was talking about ‘I Love Chennai’, one group was talking about travel and cars and finally my group which was playing Truth and Dare..It was real fun..

The t shirt on my back

After this we headed over for group photographs and then we moved towards collecting our free t shirts and then we said good bye to friends and promised to meet new ones on blogs and promised to keep in touch with the old ones..

All in all the day was very well spent and all thanks to Indiblogger and TATA Grande Dicor..

Jaishree Ram,

Prats..

Array Poochne mein kya jaata hai……………..??

I guess each one of u must have already seen the Tata Sky ad in which the two guys debate over the topic , “Poochne mein kya jaat hai??”

I have personally always followed this in real life and have had the benefit of it always..There is no harm in asking..The person u are asking may or may not know the answer or he/she may at all not be of any help but that is the later part of the game..What if he/she knows and what if he/she is able to help u out!!Its better to ask and then get an answer as NO rather than not asking and bearing the brunt oneself..

A recent incident happened to me..I went out shopping before the Durga Pooja last Sunday..I had to buy a new pair of shoes as my previous Westsport shoes had torn off from the from..I was really sad about them as I really loved that pair and didn’t want to throw them away..But they had become a social disaster so finally I had to buy..I went out to Big Bazaar, one of the premier most shopping malls of our country who proclaim to be giving goods at really cheap rates..So there I was at big bazaar and I bought a really nice pair of Lotto shoes..Black in color..A shoe that I had always envied in my friend Aditya Sharma..Now I had finally bought them..So I was really happy..

Next I felt like getting some t shirts so entered Westside..While going through the t shirts I came by their customer care service..I thought of going in and asking them whether there was any way they could repair my shoe but I was hesitant and was thinking that I might make a complete fool out of myself in front of the people there..But right then this Tata sky ad started reeling in my mind and without thinking for even a sec I entered the cabin..A beautiful young lady greeted me and wished my good morning and offered her assistance..I told her my full problem and asked whether they could get it repaired..She asked me whether I was a member of Westside to which I answered in the affirmative..Then without a pause she said the most soothing words to my ear, “Sir, U don’t have to get it repaired, we’ll exchange them for a pair of new ones!! ”..I was ecstatic but still to reassure myself and make it very clear to her I said that the guarantee period was over long back as the guarantee period was of one month and the shoes were almost 6-7 months old..She said that it was not a problem and she would get them replaced..She called a person from the shoes department and gave him my torn off shoes and asked him to get a new pair of the same which he got in a jiffy..I asked them to get a size bigger as I was expecting that may be my feet size had increased and that caused the show to tear off..They complied and in a matter of seconds I came out of their shop with a brand new shoe without having to pay and single buck..

Sitting outside and going reminiscent I pondered over the fact that had I not gone in the shop, had I not told them my problem then I still would be wearing those torn shoes and carrying the new black Lotto shows but instead now I am carrying two brand new shoes..

Thanks to the Tata sky ad which reminded me of this small principle which my dad had taught me in the very childhood, “there is no harm in asking” to which my mom had added, “you don’t get belittled when you ask”..Thank you Tata sky and thank you Westside, which is also a Tata brand, for doing something that I had not expected you to do..This incident just proved my strong belief in Tata, its sister concerns and all its products..

Thank you Westside..!!

Jaishree Ram,

Prats..

Life in the city..!

Chennai Central Station

Since the time I returned back to Chennai after my college got over I have been staying out in the city giving a break to my college hostels where I used to stay for the past four years and believe me staying out in the city is proving to be a dream come true..I always wished to stay in a big city and now finally my dream is coming true..Although the people that I am staying with would beg to differ that the PG (Paying Guest) I am staying in is pathetic but I still enjoy living here..Am staying with people who are all working in some or the other company..Only a couple of guys are there who are students and just passed out this year like me and are waiting for their joining dates and doing some part time jobs or internships..I am provided with a room which accommodates 3 other people, has a 1 tonne air conditioner, has a 21” color television which airs only and only Tamil channels and food is provided 3 times a day..The food is bearable..I used to think that the SRM hostel mess used to provide the worst food but I know now that o the PG food is far worse..But I am still happy with it..To top it all from my roof I can see all outgoing and incoming flights to the Chennai airport..I just keep sitting for hours together on the roof just looking at the flights vanishing in and out of the clouds..The experience becomes more ecstatic once the sky is filled with black rain clouds rather than the regular white ones..When there are no flights plying I just keep looking for faces in the clouds..Its proved to be a really good time pass..

Life in the city is full of activity..Early in the morning hundreds of people rush out of their homes in the manner ants do when their nest is broken..Soon the streets are full of traffic..Shops and offices open, students flock to their schools and the day's work begins..The city now throbs with activity, and it is full of noise..Hundreds of sightseeing tourists and others visit many place of interest in the city while businessmen from various parts of the world arrive to transact business..

Then towards evening, the offices and day schools begin to close..Many of the shops too close..There is now a rush for buses and other means of transport..Everyone seems to be in a hurry to reach home..As a result of this rush, many accidents occur..One who has not been to the city before finds it hard to move about at this time..Soon, however, there is almost no activity in several parts of the city..These parts are usually the business centers..

The Guindy Flyover

With the coming of night, another kind of activity begins..The streets are now full of colorful lights..The air is cooler and life becomes more leisurely..People now seek entertainment..Many visit the cinemas, parks, and clubs, while others remain indoors to watch television or listen to the radio..Some visit friends and relatives and some spend their time reading books and magazines..Those who are interested in politics discuss the latest political developments..At the same time, hundreds of crimes are committed..Thieves and robbers who wait for the coming of night become active, and misfortune descends upon many..For the greed of a few, many are killed, and some live in constant fear..To bring criminals to justice, the officers of the law are always on the move..

The city from the top

Workers and others who seek advancement in their careers attend educational institutions which are open till late in the night..Hundreds of them sit for various examinations every year..The facilities and opportunities that the people in the city have to further their studies and increase their knowledge of human affairs are indeed many..As a result, the people of the city are usually better informed than those of the village, where even a newspaper is sometimes difficult to get..

The city could, therefore, be described as a place of ceaseless activity..Here, the drama of life is enacted every day..

Jaishree Ram,

Prats..

Love Conquers All...!

This is not me speaking..This is the Sacred Heart Convent motto..It is inscribed in all their shirts and its mandatory for everyone to have this badge on their shirts..This post is not about how beautiful this logo is designed or how meaningful this motto is, but it’s about the reel and real factor..

The fact is that this motto is supposed to be followed in life by all the girls studying in SHC, but how many do follow this???Ok..Ok..I agree they do follow this with all their heart but how far do the nuns and spinsters follow this???They are pretty aptly called sisters..If the world goes according to their wishes then they would make all the girls in the world sisters of all the guys..

The rules are supposed to be that all girls studying in SHC are supposed not to have boyfriends but thumbs up to the conventine girls that they are written off to be the ones having the maximum boyfriends..The sisters want them not to be interacting with guys and thus they don’t even allow any guys to come in front of SHC gate where they have the bike stand..

I really love the guts shown by the girls of SHC and the confidence they exude is awe inspiring..By this post I just want to thank all the SHC gals who’ve entered my life in these past 22 years of my existence..Thank you for being there for me, with me and thank you for having the judgement of differentiating the good from the bad and thank you for having the guts to tell the wrong ones openly on face..

All in all this motto of convent will always be a mystery as it asks the girls to love everyone as love is the most powerful weapon and it conquers everyone but on the other hand the nuns and the sisters ask them not to be conversing with guys..Ironic..Paradoxical..Moreover an oxymoron of a motto..

Jaishree Ram,

Prats..

The phone..

The phone rings:

“Oh God, cant I even have a moment of peace!!!!”

The phone does not ring:

“Oh God, does no one even remember me!!!!”

I don’t know how many of you have faced this in real life but keep facing it numerous times..I really am not able to understand what people used to do when there was no phones..Forget about telephones what would today’s generation do without cell phones!!Its gives me a scare to even think of a moment without my cell..From the very inception of it in my life it has been more than just a cell phone..It has always been a body part..I can’t leave its sight for even a second..I take it along with me when I am taking a shower, I keep it below my pillow when I go off to sleep and I keep it in my pocket the rest of the time..Over the years I have stopped referring to it as ‘it’ and more appropriately have started referring to it as ‘her’..She has proved to be my most loyal and most long standing girl friend..

She is a Nokia N70m (Music edition) cell phone which just turned 4 years in age on the 27^th of July this year..I have been using her from the time when my friends used to envy me for having her to the time when my friends started begging me to buy a new cell phone..When I got her my friends used to envy me because at that time they did not have a cell phone that had a screen that was even closer to as big as my cell had..But as time passed by my friends upgraded themselves keeping in accordance with the passing time but I stuck to her..More appropriately she stuck on to me..She is so good that she scarcely gets malfunctioning..She has suffered a lot to torture from me..She has fallen from great heights, she has fallen into water holes, she has fallen on the street and has been dragged for a considerable distance like a rolling stone and lastly she has also come under the weight of an ongoing auto rickshaw..But she has still remained as strong as ever..My friends have moved on to cell phones that have screen thrice the size of my cell but I still can’t leave the charm of my beloved black beauty..

The initial mentioned situation happens to me very frequently..There are many days that I feel like getting one more cell phone as I am unable to talk and message at the same time as I have lost my cell ear phones..So it is very necessary that I get another cell..On some other occasions I feel that what do I need this cell phone for as no one even bothers to call me up and talk..Some days there will be 5-6 people calling up at the same time and I won’t be able to manage my calls..I will just keep swapping and talking and put one by one on hold..It turns out to be more of a conference call..On some other days I won’t have anyone calling me up for the full day..Of all the calls that I get there r two people who call me constantly..One is my Mom and the other my Dad..

On some days, when I get calls from lots of people, I completely forget that they are the two who call me always and then I start quarrelling with them as to why they keep calling so frequently.. Those are the days I completely forget that they are the permanent ones and the others are all volatile..One similar incident happened a few days back when I came home completely drenched and they had already called my flatmate as I was not picking up my cell..I was in the middle of the rains so I couldn’t pick up the call but when I reached home and they called up I got a bit angry..I should not have had gone angry..I am really Sorry mom and dad..Just couldn’t muster up the courage enough to tell you’ll over the phone that I am sorry so I thought this was a better platform to say it..I am SORRY!!You both can call me up as many times as you want in the day and I won’t ever feel bad about it..After all its because of you both that I am whatever I am today..You both OWN me..Mentally, physically, emotionally and ethically..I am sorry.!!

Jaishree Ram,

Prats..

Kiss of Mind ---TT6

Jaishree Ram,

Prats..

Kiss of Touch--TT5

Jaishree Ram,

Prats..

LIFE IN THE 1500'S

The next time you are washing your hands and complain because the water temperature isn't just how you like it, think about how things used to be..Here are some facts about the 1500s..These are interesting:

Most people got married in June because they took their yearly bath in May and still smelled pretty good by June..However, they were starting to smell by June, so brides carried a bouquet of flowers to hide the body odour..Hence the custom today of carrying a bouquet when getting married..

Baths consisted of a big tub filled with hot water..The man of the house had the privilege of the nice clean water, then all the other sons and men, and then the women and finally the children, last of all the babies..By then the water was so dirty you could actually lose someone in it..Hence the saying, "Don't throw the baby out with the bath water.."

Houses had thatched roofs, thick straw-piled high, with no wood underneath..It was the only place for animals to get warm, so all the cats and other small animals (mice, bugs) lived in the roof..When it rained it became slippery and sometimes the animals would slip and fall off the roof..Hence the saying "It's raining cats and dogs.."

The floor was considered dirt..Only the wealthy had something other than dirt..Hence the saying "dirt poor.."

The wealthy had slate floors that would get slippery in the winter when wet, so they spread thresh (straw) on floor to help keep their footing..As the winter wore on, they added more thresh until when you opened the door it would all start slipping outside..A piece of wood was placed in the entranceway..Hence the term "thresh hold.."

Getting quite an education, aren't you??

In those old days, they cooked in the kitchen with a big kettle that always hung over the fire..Every day they lit the fire and added things to the pot..They ate mostly vegetables and did not get much meat..They would eat the stew for dinner, leaving leftovers in the pot to get cold overnight and then start over the next day..Sometimes stew had food in it that had been there for quite a while..Hence the rhyme, "Peas porridge hot, peas porridge cold, peas porridge in the pot, nine days old.."

Sometimes they could obtain pork, which made them feel quite special..When visitors came over, they would hang up their bacon to show off..It was a sign of wealth that a man could "bring home the bacon.." They would cut off a little to share with guests and would all sit around and "chew the fat.."Those with money had plates made of pewter..Food with high acid content caused some of the lead to leach onto the food, causing lead poisoning death..This happened most often with tomatoes, so for the next 400 years or so, tomatoes were considered poisonous..

Bread was divided according to status..Workers got the burnt bottom of the loaf, the family got the middle, and guests got the top or "upper crust.."

Lead cups were used to drink ale or whisky..The combination would sometimes knock the imbibers out for a couple of days..Someone walking along the road would take them for dead and prepare them for burial..They were laid out on the kitchen table for a couple of days and the family would gather around and eat and drink and wait and see if they would wake up..Hence the custom of "holding a wake.."

England is old and small and the local folks started running out of places to bury people..So they would dig up coffins and would take the bones to a "bone-house" and re-use the grave..When re-opening these coffins, 1 out of 25 coffins were found to have scratch marks on the inside and they realized they had been burying people alive..So they would tie a string on the wrist of the corpse, lead it through the coffin and up through the ground and tie it to a bell..Someone would have to sit out in the graveyard all night (the "graveyard shift") to listen for the bell; thus, someone could be "saved by the bell" or was considered a "dead ringer.."

Jaishree Ram,

Prats..

50 most Romantic things to do with your Girl Friend..!

1. Watch the sunset together..

2. Whispers to each other..

3. Cook for each other..

4. Walk in the rain..

5. Hold hands..

6. Buy small gifts for each other..

7. Gift Roses..

8. Find out their favorite cologne/perfume and wear every time you're together..

9. Go for a long walk down the beach at midnight..

10. Write poetry for each other..

11. Hugs are the universal medicine..

12. Say I love you, only when you mean it and make sure they know you mean it..

13. Give random gifts of flowers/candy/poetry etc..

14. Tell her that she's the only girl you ever want..Don't lie!

15. Spend every second possible together..

16. Look into each other's eyes..

17. Very lightly push up her chin, look into her eyes, tell her you love her, and kiss her lightly..

18. When in public, only flirt w/ each other..

19. Put love notes in their pockets when they aren't looking..

20. Buy her a ring..

21. Sing to each other..

22. Always hold her around her hips/sides..

23. Take her to dinner and do the dinner for two-deal..

24. Spaghetti? (Ever seen Lady and the Tramp?)

25. Hold her hand, stare into her eyes, kiss her hand and then put it over your heart..

26. Dance together..

27. I love the way a girl looks right after she's fallen asleep with her head in my lap..

28. Do cute things like write I love you in a note so that they have to look in a mirror to read it..

29. Make excuses to call them every 5 minutes 30..Even if you are really busy doing something, go out of your way to call and say I love you..

31. Call from your vacation spot to tell them you were thinking about them..

32. Remember your dreams and tell her about them..

34. Tell each other your most sacred secrets/fears..

35. Be Prince Charming to her parents..

36. Brush her hair out of her face for her..

37. Hang out with his/her friends..

38. Go to church/pray/worship together..

39. Take her to see a romantic movie and remember the parts she liked..

40. Learn from each other and don't make the same mistake twice..

41. Describe the joy you feel just to be with him/her..

42. Make sacrifices for each other..

43. Really love each other, or don't stay together..

44. Let there never be a second during any given day that you aren't thinking about them, and make sure they know it..

45. Love yourself before you love anyone else..

46. Learn to say sweet things in foreign languages..

47. Dedicate songs to them on the radio..

48. Fall asleep on the phone with each other..

49. Stand up for them when someone talks trash..

50. Never forget the kiss goodnight and always remember to say, "Sweet dreams.."

Jaishree Ram,

Prats..

Children's innocent intelligence..!

A first grade teacher had twenty-five students in her class and she presented each child the first half of a well known proverb and asked them to come up with the remainder of the proverb..

It's hard to believe these were actually done by first graders..Their insight may surprise you..While reading these, keep in mind that these are first graders, 6-year-olds..The last one is classic!

 1. Don't change horses..................until they stop running..

2. Strike while the.........................bug is close..

3. It is always darkest before.........Daylight Saving Time..

4. Never underestimate the power of.......termites..

5. You can lead a horse to water but.........how??

6. Don't bite the hand that...........looks dirty..

7. No news is............impossible..

8. A miss is as good as a .............Mr..

9. You can't teach an old dog new...........math..

10. If you lie down with dogs, you'll..........stink in the morning..

11. Love all, trust...........me..

12. The pen is mightier than the............. pigs..

13. An idle mind is.......................the best way to relax..

14. Where there's smoke there's..............pollution..

15. Happy the bride who.....................gets all the presents..

16. A penny saved is..................not much..

17. Two's company, three's.................the Musketeers..

18. Don't put off till tomorrow what.................you put on to go to bed..

19. Laugh and the whole world laughs with you, cry..........and you have to blow your nose..

20. There is none as blind as.......Stevie Wonder..

21. Children should be seen and not......spanked or grounded..

22. If at first you don't succeed...............get new batteries..

23. You get out of something only what you..............see in the picture on the box..

24. When the blind lead the blind...................get out of the way..

     And the last one...THE WINNER..!

25. Better late than.....................................pregnant..

Jaishree Ram,

Prats..