Superwoman

A very dear friend had guests over for dinner. The Menu:

Starters: Mint chicken kebabs, tandoori chicken, paneer tikka, dahi-vada, choley chat, pappadoms and chutney

Main Course: Peas pulao, plain rice, aloo parantha, dosa, chicken korma, malai mushroom, saag murgh, mutton curry, matar paneer, khatti meethi dal

Dessert: Shahi tukda, apple kheer, barfi, jalebi and rasgulla

Liquids: White wine, beer, mango juice, sprite, diet coke

She prepared everything herself, except for the barfi, jalebi and rasgulla.
Hail Superwoman !!

13th August - 3 years ago...

... on this day, H and I became more than "just friends". The past 3 years have been the most happening and the most wonderful years of my life. I got him a few knick-knacks, one for each year. He got me a Tommy Hilfiger watch in line with the "leather anniversary" theme. I am totally in love with it. To celebrate, we had a dinner date at Benjarong. I stayed home today to work on a very special gift for H. More on that later...

Highlights from our trip to Malaysia

Day 1 - Kuala Lumpur

The Twins:

The Twins at Night:

KLCC Aquaria:

Day 2 - Langkawi Geopark

View from the Cable Car:

Seven Wells Waterfalls:

Day 3 - Snorkelling at Pulau Payar

Sharks:

Day 4 - Relaxing at Rebak Island Resorts

The Rebak Island Shoreline

Open Air Ayurvedic Massage:

A hornbill outside our balcony at Rebak Island:

Day 5 - Free flight aviary, KL

Flamingoes:

Orchid Gardens:

At War, with (the symbol of) Peace

We moved to yet another house. Our fifth one, in 3 years. It is very bright and airy, with two bedrooms, a study and 3 balconies. We wake up to a medley of bird songs, with a lovely breeze tickling the chimes in the background. Sparrows chirp, mynahs whistle, pigeons coo - our own version of the morning raga. Its like living in an aviary. Though I must admit, the novelty wears off fairly quick.

We got used to sending birds flying whenever we open the doors to the balcony. We dont mind them roosting outside the house. After all, we have plenty of space and it is a good thing to share. All was well till one day, a lone feather came floating down into the kitchen. I discovered a pair of pigeons peeping in from outside the exhaust fan, and shoo-ed them away. A few days later, there were more feathers near the sink and some twigs too. Climbing up on the kitchen counter for a better look, I saw a nest. A very rudimentary one at that. Maybe they had just started building it. I had to get them to move somewhere else, so I cleaned the twigs out. The nest was back the next day, only to have me dismantle it again.

I kept an eye on the spot for the next few days and was relieved that the pigeons did not return. That is, until I discovered down in the bathroom. And then the War of the Nest began. Everyday a bloodless battle of twigs was staged in the bathroom. I would clean out the nest every evening, and the birds would rebuild it during the day. The pigeons looked at me dolefully from across the block, but I didn't have a choice did I? Nor did they. This side of the house was perfect for a nest, because it was shielded from the Sun at all times. They were adamant, and did not shift to a new place. Ha, they obviously dont know me well...yet. The war raged all through the week, when on Thursday, just as I was about to grab the twigs, I noticed an egg. $&^$# !!! The birds win.

So now our home has 2 bedrooms, a study, 3 balconies and a pigeon-hole.

In celebration of their victory, the pigeon couple added another egg to the nest.

Bobo goes to a Party

It promised to be a wonderful day, the sun filtered into the little tree house, rays of gold, orange and red. Bobo, the baby panda burst into the room, shouting "Papa, Papa ! Its morning, wake up !". Lala, the mama panda woke up with a start and looked at the alarm clock by the bedside. "Oh!", said Lala, "its already seven !!". She jumped out of bed, and went straight into the bathroom, muttering to herself. Jango, the papa panda grunted, turned on his side and went back to sleep. However, Bobo was determined to wake his father up, and tugged Jango's pyjamas till Jango opened his eyes. The aroma of warm toast, laced with the slight sting of freshly squeezed oranges wafted in and woke Jango up completely.


"We will miss the train, Papa. We are late.", said Bobo. "Relax Bobo, we will reach in time.", assured Jango. They were going to visit Uncle Sikka, Lala's brother. Uncle Sikka lived at North Timberland, with his wife Bali Aunty and their daughter Ila. It was Ila's birthday and she was going to have a grand fancy-dress party. Bobo was going to dress up as a sailor. Jango brushed his teeth and joined Lala and Bobo at breakfast. Lala poured a steaming cup of coffee for him. Bobo drained his glass of milk at one go. Bobo was not allowed to drink coffee, Lala says coffee is for grown-ups. While Lala did the dishes, Jango took care of some last minute packing. Soon, they were ready to go.


Bobo looked very handsome in his all-white sailor's uniform. He even had a sailor's cap to go with it. The three of them set off towards the big banyan tree, where the jungle-train stopped to pick people up. They saw a peacock dancing under the banyan tree. It looked very beautiful, with its bright blue feathers spread out. "I hope it does not rain today. It will spoil the party", said Lala. You see, peacocks dance when it is about to rain. Suddenly they heard a whistle, it was the jungle-train. The jungle-train was green and yellow, with a red engine. It was driven by a monkey, who had a string with a blue whistle around his neck. The monkeys knew each and every corner of the forest, and were best to work on the jungle-train.


Soon they were on their way to the North. The monkey was pointing out interesting things to Bobo. "There, beyond the mulberry bush is the Anthill Colony", said the monkey. Bobo saw a lot of ants marching in a line towards a group of small mud hills. "And there is the rabbit patch", shouted the monkey, pointing at a patch full of carrots and cauliflowers. Bobo looked just in time to see a number of rabbits running into the many rabbit holes. "Do they always run away when they see other animals?", wondered Bobo. He was thinking about the white rabbit he had rescued from a big bird, by the lakeside.


"The North Station", the driver called out. Bobo saw Uncle Sikka, Bali Aunty and Ila at the station and waved to them. Jango and Lala said goodbye to the driver and were busy getting the presents they had got for Ila. Bobo was so excited at seeing Ila, that he didnot wait for Jango or Lala. He jumped right onto the wooden platform. That is a very dangerous thing to do. Bobo could have hurt himself. Uncle Sikka, Bali Aunty and Ila rushed to see if Bobo was alright. Luckily for Bobo, the train was low and he was not hurt. But, Bobo was in tears ! It had rained the night before and there was a muddy puddle on the platform. Bobo had jumped right into the puddle. Poor Bobo. His white sailor's uniform was ruined. The muddy water in the puddle had splashed all over his clothes. He was so disappointed, he had burst into tears. Jango and Lala joined the group and tried their best to console Bobo.


"It is alright, you can take a bath as soon as we are home", said Ila. "Yes, and I will wash your clothes and it will be as good as new", said Bali Aunty. "Meanwhile, you can wear the spare Kung-fu pants that I have brought for you", said Lala. "Will the uniform be ready for the party ? Can I still be a sailor for the fancy dress ?", asked Bobo. Lala said, "Oh ! I am sorry Bobo, but the clothes will not dry so soon". Bobo's face fell and he started crying again. "I have an idea!", exclaimed Jango, and whispered something in Bobo's ears. Bobo smiled and his eyes lit up. They went to Uncle Sikka's house. Bobo went to take a bath and get ready for the party. He did not tell Ila what he was going to dress up as. It was a secret between Jango and Bobo. They were planning to surprise the others.


Soon it was time for the party. Uncle Sikka had invited their neighbours to the party. The kids were all dressed up for the fancy dress. Ila was dressed up as Dora. Ila's best friend, Mini, came as Mini Mouse! There were two Mickey Mouses and a Donald Duck. There was Cinderella, Snow white and Goldilocks. Then there was the Kung-fu Panda. It was Bobo ! He was dressed as Kung-fu Panda in his Kung-fu pants! Bobo went around the hall, showing Kung-fu moves. Bobo's act was the best ever and everyone clapped. Bobo was so happy. So was Ila. What a lovely surprise it was !!


"Its time for lunch", announced Bali Aunty. Everyone had a good lunch of sandwiches, crisps, carrots in honey, blueberries and grape juice.After the lunch, it was time for the cake-cutting. Ila's birthday cake was pink in color. It had "HAPPY BIRTHDAY ILA" written on it with strawberries. It was her 3rd birthday, and so she had 3 candles on the cake. Everyone sang "happy birthday to Ila". They cut the cake and everyone ate big pieces of it. It was a wonderful party.One by one the guests left. Bali Aunty and Lala started cleaning up. Uncle Sikka and Jango went to collect honey from the bees. Bobo and Ila were in Ila's room, opening Ila's gifts one by one. There were a lot of dresses, a building block set and a train set.The most special gift was what Bobo gave Ila. It was a small flip book, which Bobo had made himself. When Ila flipped through the book, she saw a bright red bud blooming into a hibiscus flower. It was beautiful. "It is the most beautiful gift I have ever got. What a wonderful birthday I've had! Thank you, Bobo", said Ila. Bobo was very happy. It had been a wonderful day for him too.

Five Ws and One H

I keep six honest serving-men(They taught me all I knew);
Their names are What and Why and When And How and Where and Who.
- Rudyard Kipling

The maxim of the five Ws and one H is a basic tool used in information gathering. It is/was used extensively in journalism, where a perfect piece would satisfactorily address all these 6 questions.So also in literature, academic research, criminal investigations, technical writing, business analysis etc.

On a more interesting note, the autocomplete on Google's Search Engine came up with some fun stuff. You enter the first word of your query, and it throws up possible search strings. A compilation of strings which topped the list when I typed in the 5 Ws and 1 H:

1. Who wants to be a millionaire ?
2. What is twitter ?
3. When is easter 2009 ?
4. Where the wild things are ?
5. Why is the sky blue ?
6. How to tie a tie ?

So what if I dont know how to tie a tie ? I still score a decent 5 out of 6 !

Cape May and Atlantic City

It was a beautiful, sunny Saturday morning. We started off early and drove down to Fisherman's Wharf, Cape May. I managed to get a few good snaps. Green grass. Blue sky. Fluffy white clouds. Bright orange billboards.

We reached Cape May around half past noon, so we decided to have lunch before we hit the water.Lunch was at Lobster House. This is an establishment with a difference. There is a seafood restaurant for formal dining, next to a bustling fish market. There is a raw bar, and even a coffee shop ! You get a wonderful view of the marina if you decide to eat outside. The sound of the waves crashing on the boulders, and the smell of the sea.An incredible experience. A bit too crowded for my taste though. About as touristy as it gets.We had seafood platters, served with french fries. The crab cakes were by far the best.The seafood was fresh and delicious. The freshest fish I've had in a very long time. The shrimps, scallops and fish were cooked to perfection. The oysters could have been better, but I am not complaining.Right now, Lobster House is at the top of my food guide to NJ.

After lunch, we headed back to the harbor. The tide was out and so jetskiing was ruled out.We found "Hell Yeah Watersports", offering wakeboarding, wakeskating, waterskiing, tubing, kneeboarding, and boogie boarding.Their boat would be back only by 5 p.m. We decided to roam around Cape May and return to Hell Yeah at 5.We went looking for a wineyard, and ended up in a house, with some grapevines fighting for survival in the backyard.There was a board which announced wine tasting, in a small garden shed, with hardly space enough for 5 people !Suffice to say our wineyard experience was pretty sour.

Our next stop was at an Alpaca farm - the Bay Springs Farm, of the Nuessles. Alpacas are South American in origin and produce one of the world's finest and most luxurious natural fibers. The fiber grows very thick and woolly, and the alpacas are sheared once a year. Apparently, the alpacas in the Bay Springs Farm were shreared just the day before. Unfortunately, We missed the Alpacas in all their woolly glory.The fiber is used in a wide range of apparel and textiles, like scarves and sweaters. We saw quite a few stuffed toys made of alpaca fiber, in the small shop set up by Barbara Nuessle in their patio.There were some pouches, wall hangings and table mats on display as well.

On our way back from Bay Springs, we saw a signboard which pointed to Higbee Beach.It sounded exotic, and we took a detour only to reach a dead end as soon as we turned into the side road.There was a small clearing, just about enough for parking 3-4 cars. After the clearing, there was grassland, with a small path leading to nowhere.From the main road it looks as if the sideroad will lead on to the beach, the hedge deceptively limiting sight.Just as we were leaving, another car drove up into the clearing, looking for the beach, no doubt. At least we had company ! We went to the Cape May beach and had a photo session, trying out different settings on the SLRs.

At around 5, we returned to Hell Yeah and rented the boat for an hour. We met Mario,the captain, in the boat. There was also this other guy in the boat, who was giving us the hardsell on Captain Mario and his exploits on water.See it, to believe it at www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-L1C1bHVdYIt was amazing, sitting out on the front of the boat, with the wind sweeping through my hair. The ride was bumpy in patches, when we ran into rough waves at intervals. Then we got into the tubes, which could seat two at a time. And boy, was it fun or what!Mario would whip up a wake and swerve, sending the tube flying over the crests, and plunging into the troughs.It was fantastic. Too soon, it was time to head back. We were drenched from head to toe, but grinning ear to ear.

On our way back, we went back to the beach for another photo session. We also stopped at the Light House. There was a beautiful promenade near the light house.You could spend hours looking out at the sea. It was getting dark, and there was a nip in the air. So we bundled back into the car, steering towards Atlantic City, for my first shot at gambling.We spent the night casino-hopping - Bally's, Caesars, Borgata et al. I even spotted an Irish pub. Though we didnt gamble, it was still a lot of fun watching the tables. There were people from all over the world, from all walks of life.An interesting study for anthropologists. And economists - it definitely doesnt look like a recession.

Phew, what a fruitful weekend.

Bobo and the White Rabbit

The Panda family lived in a tree house in the Forests of Timberland. The tree stood tall, with branches spread far and wide. Jango the papa panda, Lala the mama panda and Bobo the baby panda loved their house and were very proud of it. Every day Jango would go around the house, clearing the fallen leaves and dusting the window sills. Lala would scrub the floors until it squeaked. Bobo also did his bit in keeping the house neat and tidy. He kept his room clean. He kept his toys in the hole-in-the-wall, when he was not playing with them. He was careful not to drop any crumbs when he was eating biscuits or cake. Jango and Lala were very proud of their son.

One day Jango and Lala took Bobo to the lake side. The lake was very far away from the treehouse. This was the first time Bobo had seen the lake. The water was green and there were trees growing along the banks.There were swans and ducks, and when Bobo looked down, he could see fish swimming in the water. Bobo was very excited to be at the lake. He liked the flowing water and the cool breeze.

Jango and Bobo went swimming while Lala watched from the banks. Bobo did not know how to swim and this was his first time in the water. He was a bit scared in the beginning but soon was splashing alongside Jango.He became confident and began swimming in circles, taking care not to go too far out into the lake. After some time, Lala called from the bank. It was time for lunch. Lala had packed lunch - delicious sandwiches and strawberries with cream. She also had brought some orange juice.

They sat under a big tree, and were about to start eating, when Bobo heard a small squeal from above.He looked up and saw a big bird on a branch high above them, a small white rabbit in its clutches. The bird had HUGE wings, and a beak which looked very cruel. The rabbit was squealing with terror. Bobo acted quickly. He climbed the tree with amazing speed, and reached the bird in a jiffy.The bird saw the panda lunge at her, and with a loud screech, flew away into the sky. In its hurry, the bird dropped the rabbit, which fell all the way down to the ground, right into Lala's favourite pillow. It was a very soft, fluffy pillow, and the rabbit was not hurt at all. Lucky rabbit, don't you think?

Jango and Lala were still shocked at the turn of events. So was the rabbit. It couldn't believe its luck! The rabbit looked up at Bobo, squealed "Thank you", and scurried off into the bushes. "Hey, stop ! Wait !" shouted Bobo, but he was too late. The rabbit had disappeared down a hole. Bobo was about to run after the rabbit, when he realized he was high up on the tree ! He could see the forest stretch for miles and miles around him. There was greenery all around. Far away, he could see the green broken by the silver of a river. It was beautiful. For a moment, he wished their treehouse were on this tree. He looked down and saw Jango and Lala looking up at him, and carefully climbed down to join them.

Lala ran over and hugged him. "What a brave little thing to do!!", exclaimed Lala. Jango patted Bobo on his back, and ruffled his hair. "I am very proud of you, Bobo. You are a brave Panda", said Jango. Bobo glowed with pride. He was very happy, but he was also hungry. After a very delicious lunch of sandwiches and orange juice, they decided to take a siesta.While Jango and Lala lay asleep beside him, Bobo was still awake, wondering where the white rabbit had gone. Do you know where the white rabbit went? Do you think Bobo will see the white rabbit again ?Keep wondering, and while you are at it, keep smiling !

Monkey with a Coconut/Bandar ke haath mein nariyal/Kurangante Kayyil Poomala

A Canon DLSR for H's "official" b'day coming up on May 2. Deals dont wait for birthdays, so its an early one. As is very evident from the first few pics I clicked, I have no clue what ISO stands for or what shutter speed means. H is trying to educate me and I have never felt sorrier for him. For all I care, "resolution" was something you thought of at the end of the year and forgot the day after and "noise reduction" was about closing doors and drawing curtains. "Exposure" used to bring up images of a totally different nature. As for the relationship between Aperture and Focal-length, well.. its called an "f-stop" and I rest my case.

Uncommon Nonsense

"Be what you would seem to be, or if you'd like it put more simply: Never imagine yourself not to be otherwise than what it might appear to others that what you were or might have been was not otherwise than what you had been would have appeared to them to be otherwise." - The Duchess

As simple as the Duchess can have you believe that is, its not as easy as a lazy stroll on a soft moonlit night either. To seem anything other than what you really seem to be, needs a lot of seeming than is what is normally considered seeming. On the other hand, being what you seem to be seems to be a much more difficult than it would normally be to be what you dont seem to be. We can't have any of that. No way. Not if I had my way, a way which according to a conversation I had earlier today, is not even really mine. Its always someone else's way, but I am digressing.

Getting back, it would seem that being and seeming to be is very much subject to a question of what is normal and what is not. Someone once said to me that normally the collective human mind has an inherent tendency to "normalize". Seems alarmingly abnormal to me. Why should what seems normal to me seem normal to you ? Or vice versa ? Is it normal for two people to have seemingly the same sense of normalcy? If its not, and normality is really something very individualistic, then how does the sense of normalcy in a society develop ? So now we have more questions than answers.

Its really not as difficult as I would have it seem. Its just different. So it would to imagine yourself as being someone you are not, but would like to seem like is a totally different thing than actually being that someone. Just as imagining yourself to be exactly the same way you are, which is to say the very same way you would want to seem to be, is totally different too. Ah, the wonder that is imagination. If it weren't for imagination, Quixote wouldn't have fought the windmills and I wouldn't have had half the conversations I have had with the moon.Most interesting conversations too. Never mind the other half, for I am digressing again. As for clubbing myself with Quixote, well, now that its a done deed, you might as well move on. I should say that would be the most seemingly wise thing to do under the circumstance.

As for me, now that I have had Lewis Carroll disown his grave and move into his mother-in-law's, I shall rest in peace and turn in for the day. Good night and sleep tight!

Birthday tales...what a joyous day!

It was my Birthday y'day. And Ammu's the day before. And MC celebrates his today. All three of us have grown older by a year, over the span of 3 days.. Hmmm.. not bad, at least I have company. Family and friends called/mailed/sms-ed/scrapped.. Wishes poured in from all parts of the world, from across 4 continents. The other continents are as yet "IT-proof"!

I missed some calls and failed to respond to some pings. Then there were the ones who missed it. And how! Of the lot, MC takes the cake. (He might as well, after all its his birthday today). I get this mail from MC, saying he is sorry about forgetting my birthday. Seems the day before, he had thought of the lunch we had had at Kumarakom, when together MC and I had given the gang a treat. Yet he forgot. I was confused too. After all, it isnt 22nd yet (It was 21st in US when I got the mail). Technically, he can even wish me right back when I call him on 23rd Midnight Dubai time, because it will still be 22nd in US. So he can't really miss it. It turns out that he dreamt it all. He dreamt of the treat at Kumarakom (the treat did happen for real, back in 2006), and that he missed wishing me. He sent me a mail as soon as he woke up, without realizing that it was all a dream. As for me, I think his vacation is long overdue.

We went to Olive Garden in Secaucus for lunch. After lunch, when we were waiting for the check, all the waiters streamed in, bringing me my cake and singing a song in chorus. Just how P managed to sneak the cake in, I dont know. I think I am pretty good at spotting such things, but I admit, this time I was stumped. I didnt quite catch the song they were singing, but later found it on the net. It goes:

“Buena Festa, what a joyous day
Life’s good fortune is sure to come your way.
So come sit back and just relax
We’ll fill your plate the Italian way
We’re so glad you came to celebrate with us today
HEY!”

I am glad we went to Olive Garden too. If not anything else, all that cheese should at least help me improve my BMI!

In Fond Memory Of - O&M

Once upon a time, in a faraway land… that would be about 4.5 years back, in Chennai… I joined Cognizant fresh out of college and had a blast of a time in the 2 months of training at Cognizant Academy. About 200 others joined with me, and the 40 strong MF004 batch was an absolutely delight to be a part of. Some of the friends I made then count among my best. They have been with me through thick and thin, and were always there when I needed them most. I will cherish their friendship forever.

So it was a very pleasant surprise when O pinged me the other day. O was not part of MF004, though a very dear friend all the same. He is married to M, and been in NJ for quite some time now. Its been more than 3 years since I met him, though we were in touch through the occasional scrap. He insisted I meet up with them the very next day. They were going to this Mallu family’s for a get-together. I was not so keen because I just had a very tiring Saturday, out shopping at the Garden State Plaza. Anyone who has been there will totally empathize with me. But not O. And I was smitten by his enthusiasm about driving all the way up to Hackensack from Jersey City to pick me up. I tell H I don’t feel so good about barging into homes of total strangers. H is more practical, and suggests it would be nice to make some new friends and get some good food in the bargain. At the cost of seeming most seedy, I admit it’s the thought of good mallu food that clinched the deal. H sure knows me well.

O picks me up sharp at 2.30 pm. There’s M and a friend of theirs, I forgot his name. We chit-chat all the way to Jersey City, where we pick up another friend of theirs. Must be quite a party, and I ask M if we oughtn’t to get a gift for the hosts. M says gifts are not necessary. And so we arrive at Woodbridge, and meet this lovely couple, K&D, and their cute little daughter. I discover P lives in the same Apartment Complex. (No, P is not famous. I just called him up to tell him I am in Woodbridge, and we discover I am at his place. A different door number though. He says he is in NY. I am not sure if he was in NY or he just chickened out at the thought of opening the front door to welcome me in).

People kept pouring in, and the house became a bit crowded, to say the least. K&D have the home theatre set up, along with a white board and markers. I brace myself for a game of Pictionary and a movie after dinner. Just that I couldn’t smell the dinner yet. And people were is groups of 4-5, whispering among themselves. Have they made the teams already? And then, K&D walk up, and call out for attention. They give a nice little speech, thanking everyone for coming and explaining that their business is doing really good. It is spread across 4 countries and they are planning to expand to Kerala in India. Wow, I thought, I would love to see their business plan. As if on cue, they pull up this presentation on DVD. Welcome to Q*, a network marketing company. I see red and alarm bells in a variety of frequencies are set off.

Just about everything falls into place. The enthusiasm to pick me up, the quite unlikely friends that O made (of the 2 guys he brought to the meeting today - he met one of them at Wal-Mart, the other at the Railway Station), the mutterings, K&D “expanding” business to India through their parents in Kerala and above all the mystery of the missing aroma of the non-existent dinner. The only thing that I still don’t quite comprehend – how could O do this to me?

I sat through the marketing gimmick of following my dreams and being “financially free” in a couple of years. I started off with smart aleck answers, which soon degraded into downright frosty stares and on-the-face sarcasm. I guess the speaker was smarter than I would like to give him credit for, because he soon stopped trying to get me involved in the session. Snacks were served. Q* products of breakfast bars and energy drinks. If only P was home, I would have given them a piece of my mind and walked out. O had to drop me back, so I had to sit through the rest of it too, even after the other newbies left after the "feast".

Once only the believers (and me) were remaining, the real picture was unveiled. The strategy of frequenting department stores and railway stations, of making friends with other Indians simply by starting off a conversation and getting their phone numbers, making use of social networking sites to get hold of “downlines”.. of using as much of their own products by themselves. There was this nutritionist who was selling vitamin supplements, a software engineer who was selling fuel additives, an investment banker who was selling breakfast bars. All in the name of “financial freedom” and “residual income”.

I reach back home by 10.30 pm, and just as I get out of the car, O&M ask me not to speak to H about the “business” yet. I spent half a day with them, and they expect me not to share it with my husband? How can they decide what I should share with my husband and what I shouldn’t? Not that I understand the logic behind that particular request, but it was the last nail on the coffin. Goodbye, O&M.

Its a girl !!!

Akka gave birth to a baby girl today morning. Alhamdulillah..!!!
I am in seventh heaven.. and its been snowing since morning, as Nature celebrates with me.

- Proud aunt of 2 nephews and 2 nieces, all nicely evened out !

FT Global MBA Rankings, 2009 - ISB rocks !!!

The Financial times, London , announced its annual global ranking of business schools today and Indian School of Business is ranked 15! Jumped 5 places ahead from last year's 20...
http://rankings.ft.com/global-mba-rankings

And pray, why am I so excited ??!!!

Here's to the new year...

Despite the worst of starts, I am hoping this one will be the most fulfilling so far. Come to think of it, it promises to be a year filled with dreams come true. As I look over the threshold, I see the comforting familiarity of yesterday making way for an uncertain tomorrow. And I am ready to take it on, armed with faith, courage and perseverence, patience to the levels I am not familiar or comfortable with. But above all, I cling to a gentle but constant hope - to be able to fight against all odds, to push myself to give the best every time, to hold on to the very last thread of inner strength and move on, to believe that its not the end till it ends well.
At the beginning of another year, here's to Happies Endings !!