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...

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.

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.

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!

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 !

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 !!

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

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 Café. 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.

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

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"...!!!

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 ?

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 ??!! :) :)

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.