Wednesday, December 24, 2008

I miss you so..

Wherever I go, whatever I do
I still see you and I miss you so

I miss your laughter, I miss your touch
I miss the everyday things we shared
I miss telling you everything that happens in a day
I miss showing you things that I pass by on the way

I miss kissing you goodbye, when you leave for work
I miss holding your hand, when I try to cross the road
I miss being with you all the time, to share your laughter and your joy
I miss finding your eyes across the room, to share a secret thought or two

Everyday with the morning prayer,
I remember how providence brought us together
The rising Sun brings newfound hope, and I start my day with a single thought
Inshah Allah, it wont be long before we are together again

Tuesday, October 7, 2008

Chennai to Bangalore Road Trip

We’ve been planning on a trip to Bangalore since we got married. That is to say, since 2006. There is a reason why I believe this particular plan is jinxed. You’ll know what I mean when I say, the number of times we have postponed the trip is more than the number of governments India has had since 1947. And that is to say something. The last time we planned a trip to Bangalore, I fell sick. We didn’t have it in us to postpone the trip yet again, after all I can sleep well in the train and hopefully feel better in the morning. So we went all the way to the railway station, only to learn the train is delayed by 4 hours and will be in only at 3 am. No, I didn’t have it in me to stay in the railway station till 3 am. And good thing too, because later the train was canceled.

To cut a long story short, on Thursday, 2 October 2008, we drove from Chennai to Bangalore in our Santro Xing. Finally. We started early in the morning from our home in OMR, filled the tank to capacity at Velachery and grabbed a bite at Ratna CafĂ©. H was at the wheel, and I had driving instructions to both the routes to Bangalore. The scenic yet not-so-good road via Chittoor – Kolar and the recently completed Golden Quadrilateral via Vellore - Hosur. We chose the Golden Quadrilateral. No particular reason, just one of those spot decisions.

The drive till we cross Poonamallee and get onto the highway is best left unmentioned. Why relive the horror? Once onto the highway, roads are as smooth as butter. The medians are well maintained with flowery shrubs throughout the length. The scenery on both sides of the road is breathtaking. Our first stop came at Sriperumbudur, where we visited the Rajiv Gandhi memorial. Surprisingly, it was very well maintained. Almost as well kept a public monument as Rajghat and Shanti Van.

We stopped at a TNRDC traveler’s stop for lunch. It was this cozy little haven which was right on the highway, but still managed to cut off all the hustle and bustle of the traffic. It brought back memories of times spent at the Woodlands Drive In on Cathedral Road. The food and the service were good. We passed a number of small towns, but didn’t spot anything which warrented an extended stop. Krishnagiri, mango’s own country, didn’t offer much except for occasional glimpses of green hiltops in the distance. I guess a trip in the summer would have been more “fruitful”. However, the road was amazing, and we had been craving for a long drive, for a long long time.

Next time we do this route, we will definitely include a detour to Yercaud. This time we thought about it a tad bit late.When we passed the road which goes to Yercaud, to be exact. We covered the 350 km stretch in a bit more than 6 hours, including the stopovers. Past Hosur, the roads were yet another nightmare. But I must say, within my limited experience of the Golden Quadrilateral, the project is a runaway success.

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Tere Mere Sapne...

Its been two years since we got married... and H hasn't run for his life, yet.
A song which is special to us...

Tere mere sapne, ab ek rang hai
Jahan bhi le jaaye raahein, hum sang hai

Mere tere dil ka, tay tha ek din milna
Jaise bahar aane par, tay hai phoolon ka khilna

Tere dukh ab mere, mere sukh ab tere
Tere yeh do naina, chaand aur suraj mere

Lakh mana le duniya, saath naa ye chhootega
Aake mere haathon mein, haath na ye chhootega

O mere jeevan saathi...
Tere mere sapne, ab ek rang hai
Jahan bhi le jaaye raahein, hum sang hai

Credits:
Movie: Guide
Singer: Mohammad
Lyricist: Shailendra Kumar
Music Director: S D Burman
Actors : Dev Anand, Waheeda Rehman

Saturday, July 19, 2008

760 - Yippee..!!

Attaboy, way to go !!!
I owe this to my DH.
And a certain someone who has been helping me to sleep all through the half an hour I spend in the office bus getting to work. For all the lessons I skipped, for all the practice tests I took, and for all those that I didnt, Thank you, Kaplan !!

P.S: For the record, only "academic" books can put me to sleep while I am in a bus. It never ceases to amaze me how I find it difficult to fall asleep in the warmth of my own bed, when the fan hums, but sleep like a baby through all the potholes in the Sholinganallur-Navalur stretch, over the incessant honks and the sweet nothings the drivers share when they get into each other's way.

Friday, June 13, 2008

The Flame Tree



As I sped down the dusty lane
The gulmohar caught my eye.
The flame tree, in its scarlet splendour
Waved me a flowery goodbye.

It seems like yesterday
When we had gathered in its shade
In the evenings after school
And on every holiday.

It stood tall and resolute
Weathering rain and shine.
A silent witness to our lives
Laughter, joy and pain.

Early spring burst in bloom
Laden with fiery red.
Come autumn, brown and bare
The very last leaf shed.

It lets go, and tells us too
That moving on is part of the plan.
It is not the destination,
But the journey that maketh the man.

Monday, June 2, 2008

Dinner for Two

June 2 - H's birthday. Brings back fond memories of the first of his birthdays since we got together. His birthday came early in our "face to face" relationship. And I was all set to grab my chance to get things moving. This one is for posterity... and for the English alphabet.

1. G for Generous
I call him up at 12 midnight. Was way too sleepy to wish him properly, but soon learn that Pooja, the *&%#^&*, had called him up at 11 already. Because she's at home (in Barhampur, Orissa - go ahead, look it up), and wont be able to get at the phone at midnight, she went ahead and called him up an hour early. That takes very good care of the surprise element. He knew beforehand that I would call, so didn’t bother to go to sleep...!!! How G!

2. T for Thoughtful
I send him flowers. Or rather, had MC send him flowers (Am yet to pay MC for it. My IOUs to MC calls for a separate post).Was I expecting too much when I thought he'd call up to say thanks ?? Anyway, he sends me an email to say thanks. How T! And so I call him up anyway - to wish him properly, in my full hosh-o-hawaas.

3. R for Romantic
I ask him for a birthday treat, and he says his friends are busy. How R! I insist on a dinner for just the two of us, telling him I will be way too embarrassed if his friends show up. So he gracefully agrees on dinner for two. It was a Friday and I was on production support that day, so I was back home by 5.30 pm. Some hurried priming and preening later, I wait and wait for his call, which finally comes at 9.30 pm. And you know the rest.. there was this problem in office... no-one knows how to solve it...blah blah blah. Its a good thing that he remembered to call me up then. Little did I know that this was just a precursor to the rest of my life with him. Cant say I was not warned.

4. U for Understanding
He says we will make it Saturday night, but also lets slip that his friends will not make it as they are going to watch Fanaa. Whatever happened to "dinner for two"?? Understanding wife-to-be that I am, I ask him to go ahead and watch Fanaa. After all, what’s in a dinner ??? How U!

5. S for Sweet
At long last we meet up on Sunday, at Eden, Besant Nagar, which is the best vegetarian restaurant in Chennai. (According to him. What do I know about vegetarian restaurants ??)Just before I crossed the road to Eden, all the butterflies in Chennai made a beeline for my tummy. And for once I wished I had not asked for a "dinner for two". I just was not ready to meet him alone - I mean, its one thing to write unending mails to a faceless entity half way across the world and another to make coherent conversation across a table while a pair of eyes bore into yours. I was so flustered, my hands were shivering. And I ordered fresh lime juice instead of the sweet lime I wanted..!! In a hurry to get it over with, I give him the shirt I got for him, and Calvin n Hobbes 10th anniversary edition. He loves Calvin n Hobbes. And he likes the shirt too, says blue is his favourite colour. He looks perfectly at ease, as cool as a cucumber, and puts me completely at ease. How S! Teri har gunah maaf!

6. L for Lucky
And then, just when I had clawed my way back into normalcy, lady luck frowns on me, and my hair clip broke, bringing down a cascade of freshly shampooed hair right into the soup (I must mention here that my hair clips have a habit of breaking into two, all by themselves and in order not to let them get the better of me, I carry spare hairclips in my handbag. I am resourceful, are'nt I? ). So I dig into my (universally famous) handbag to get the spare one, which as is wont, broke even before I could clasp it on. So there I sat, my hair falling loose all over while I plough my way through dinner and dessert. At last he gets up to wash his hands (before they could bring on the finger bowls), and I get to plait my hair. I am so darn L!

Phew. So much for "dinner for two"...!!!

Sunday, May 11, 2008

New Haircut

Finally, I did it !! I cut my hair short. And yes, it is a major milestone, one worth a post! Its been years since I wished to cut my long tresses short. I've wanted to do it since I started growing it long. More as a means to escape the endless ritual of oiling, washing, brushing, blow-drying and styling my hair into submission than any desire to look beautiful. I believe there's more to the beholder and her eyes than I can illude by a mere haircut.

My mom was a huge fan of my long hair, the only one that I know of. There is only one reason it took me so long to take the step. And thats mamma. To cut a long story short, I finally cut my hair short. And my mom loved it !!! There's one thing I regret though. I didnt get a "before" picture. Its only after I sent the "after" pic to everyone that I realized this omission. I have searched high and low for a pic that shows my hair in all its lengthy glory, but then, why would someone click when I was looking the other way ?

Wednesday, May 7, 2008

Namma Chennai..

It feels wonderful to be back in Chennai. I hadn't realized just how much I have missed the city. I used to think it was my gang of friends that I missed. Now I realize the place has its own charm amidst all the cacophony of share-rics, MTC buses and bullock carts. The house that we have rented is very cozy, though its nothing when compared with Eden (where we used to live before we shifted to Hyderabad). Nevertheless, after checking out the rental scene at Chennai, I feel a tad lucky to get such a "clean" house. We did see a beautiful penthouse apartment, which had its own private terrace with a beautiful view. On the flipside, it had 3 bedrooms and is a bit too big for a family of two. We'd probably get lost trying to find each other! So its a modest 2 BHK on the ground floor for now.

It does take a little effort to get used to "normal" life, outside the ISB campus. Campus life was so eventful, life outside seems to be in perpetual slow motion. H has a more daunting task, at least I had some taste of life outside campus on a daily basis. Suddenly he has a lot of time on his hands, and literally nothing to do till he joins work. Sometimes I feel lucky not to be in his stead! Its a bit hectic at work, leading a team from a remote location is not an easy task. It gets boring, working without a team here. There are talks of starting a team here in Chennai, and I am pushing with all my might. Lets see where it goes. Life has settled into a routine now. Need to bring in some life, catch up with some old friends, invite them over for lunch some day. After all, why should only H suffer ??!! :) :)

Wednesday, April 23, 2008

Cognizant Makes it to Fortune 1000

Based on 2007 revenues, Cognizant enters Fortune list at 859 - in the 14th year of operation. Way to go..!!!

Saturday, April 5, 2008

Yem Bee Yay !!!

Its D-day. H has realized his MBA dream.. and I, have conveniently pushed GMAT and the official guide to the back burner. For now, I'll bask in the reflected glory of an ISB alumni and stake my claim to fame on a pseudo-MBA.

Tomorrow, we say good-bye to this beautiful campus that was our home for a year, and to the wonderful city of Hyderabad. I am going to miss ISB, my "small" gang of friends, my team, midnight dunking, sizzlers at City Centre, movies at INOX and IMAX, haleem during Ramadan and a myriad other things which may seem trivial but contributed to making the past year the most wonderful and happening period in my life.

It was a steep learning curve, both professionally and personally, and I look forward to returning to Hyderabad, in pursuit of yet another dream... hmmm.. Co2010, maybe?

Saturday, March 22, 2008

Happy B'day to Me !!!

Celebrated my birthday today - with 3 cakes !!! One from H, one from SFA and one at office. Getting dunked first is a privilege reserved for the birthday boy/girl, but I managed to get H dunked first.. It was fun, but I would still rate one of my previous birthdays as the best so far. Simply because I missed having a few of my very close friends with me, this time around.

The day also acted as a much needed "flight of time" check. Its been 10 years since I wrote my Class X board exams. Boy, you sure feel old when you look at it that way! At 25, one would have believed the colorful days of lollipops and balloons are past. Well, I beg to differ.. I am not convinced about the whole idea of growing up. I am not there. No, not yet.

Sunday, February 17, 2008

Mushroom Cloud



The embers wake up
and drink the earth dry
As I lay here
watching time waft by

The silence is deafening
so is the gloom
Death is growing
is there enough room ?

Is it dawn yet ?
Has the Sun arrived ?
Is it time to wake up ?
Have I survived ?

Thursday, January 31, 2008

In Fond Memory Of - CSI

Cognizant has decided to close its CSI facility. Located in the heart of the city, next to the US Consulate and overlooking the Gemini Flyover, CSI "Karunai Kudil" was where Cognizant began its operations. I have fond memories of working out of CSI - inspite of the shoebox lift, the rooftop canteen and the unbearable commute in the city traffic. Close proximity to Landmark, Khader Nawaz Khan Road, Satyam, Ispahani Centre and Spencers more than made up for the sad state of affairs in the office building. I could also meet a number of my friends who came to Chennai for their PAIs and take them to Kumarakom for lunch.

However, the highlight of our tenure in CSI was definitely the cathedral. Many an evening was spent in the sprawling church grounds, watching squirrels chase parrots. The cemetry in the sprawling church grounds made philosophers and poets out of unassuming team-mates. We would then spend a few minutes in prayer and get back to the mundane. And you wonder when work gets done. Must say there were some divine interventions!

As old leaves make way for the new ones, here's in fond memory of CSI...

Monday, January 28, 2008

Sunday, January 6, 2008

In Fond Memory Of - Mambu

Every family has their pet story. Some have more than one.Mine have loads. These have been told and re-told at all those family re-unions, where extended family get together to have biriyani and wash it down with Kawa. This is one of the all-time favs..

The Venue: "Mambu", Mamma's mayka
The cast:
Ikka @ 6 yrs - My brother, 9 years elder to me and the proud father of my 3 year old niece Ammu
Shameer Kaka @ 2 yrs- My most lovable cousin, who got engaged recently to an equally lovable girl
Baappa - My late grandfather, extremely loving but with a very short temper and a voice with a built-in amplifier.
Props - A dark green rotary dial telephone, on a wooden wall-mounted telephone stand

This story is set in the early 1980's when the family was still "joint". Long before cordless phones became a necessity, and phone numbers in Calicut were still in 5 digits, the single phone in Mambu was an object accorded great reverence by the residents. It was placed on a wooden wall-mounted telephone stand, high above the reach of mortals below 5 ft in height. It was a relatively calm evening, everyone was busy - Baappa in his office room, the ladies in the kitchen and the kids in the front yard. "CRASH"..!!

Time stood still, two tiny little hearts forgot their need of oxygen for a second and the entire family converged within seconds, to investigate the racket. Ikka, all of 6 yrs, was expecting a very important call from his friend Vijay at 5.00 pm sharp. In an effort to reach the phone, he had enlisted the services of Shameer kaka and the duo had dragged a chair in from the dining room. The phone being at a considerable height, they could not reach it and they ended up clinging to the stand. Out came the nails and thus the crash. Many a man has been surprised by the ingenuity shown by his offspring. So was Baappa, when he discovered his pet "potas" cowering in front of him, wishing the floor would split open and gobble them up.

Before Baappa could choose expletives suitable to their ages, tiny rivulets appreared on the floor. "Story" has it that no-one has heard Baappa laugh as loud and clear as he did that day. We still hear his laughter ring, whenever we recount stories, inspiring and challenging us to live life to its full, the way he did.

P.S: "Mambu" was sold and dismantled a few years ago, but the wooden telephone stand occupies place of honor in the prayer room of Ikka's new house, holding the Holy Quran.