2012 Reading Challenge

I set out to read 60 books, I ended up with 35 (same as last year!)

Of course I did not finish the challenge. But then I tried and did the best I could to reach the goal. Hopefully I will read the same or even more number of books in 2013.

So here are the books I read this year. (I know its 10 days early and I can still fit in a book or two but I have other things on my bucket list so don't mind spending these 10 days not reading.)

Stats from goodreads widget!

My most favorite books from this year were 'The Paris Wife' by Paula McClain and 'Hi-Fidelity' by Nick Hornby, '1Q84' by Haruki Murakami, 'Pratispardhi' by Kiran Nagarkar.

The most difficult read was a tough choice between 'Cloud Atlas' and 'The unbearable lightness of being'. Though I liked both!

I hope to read much more in 2013 too!

Wish you all a good-read 2013! :)

Standing up

Letting evil thrive : 

from here

I am thinking about the numerous times I have ignored guys (sometimes guy-friends) indulging in blatant objectification of women. I also have close guy-friends using the term 'RAPE' lightly around women. I have ignored that too. Instead of ignoring I think I could have spoken up and shown my irritation/anger over such objectionable behavior. Of course, saying all such talkers are repressed psychopaths is a harsh judgement but not taking anything related to RAPE or women's respect and privacy and space seriously, seems even more judgmental to myself.

I hope we make topics of taboo a point of discussion. I hope no girl sees her any weaker. I hope sexuality is not repressed but willingly accepted. I hope families treat girls and boys as equal. I hope boys are taught to respect women and their space by example. 

I hope the victims heal. But we as people heal better and faster.

I hope we become more proactive and thus have the need to be less reactive.

Showing up

Today I felt like showing up here, so a picture post for things on my mind for the past few days.

Idyllic! Perfect even!
here

My home is going to have this movie-watching-heaven attic!
here

It's easier to recreate the fairy-tale like spaces for day dreaming :)
here

Wish you all a merry Christmas and a grand year end ;)

'This is water'

Because, literary worship sometimes is the only way out to feel sane.

'[T]he real value of a real education [has] almost nothing to do with knowledge, and everything to do with simple awareness; awareness of what is so real and essential, so hidden in plain sight all around us, all the time, that we have to keep reminding ourselves over and over:

‘This is water.’

‘This is water.’

It is unimaginably hard to do this, to stay conscious and alive in the adult world day in and day out. Which means yet another grand cliché turns out to be true: your education really IS the job of a lifetime.'

Taken from - http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2012/09/12/this-is-water-david-foster-wallace/

~nightflier

Name day and the jazz!

Couple of days back I inched closer to the big 30. here 1 inch = 1 year. Strangely I did not have the same old excitement and was more like let's get this day over with. Most of which I spent cooking and cleaning the home after the 2 month long stay away from it. Plus brother is here too! So add a dash of bickering and unexpected gifts, which made the birth day quite complete!

So I was thinking what I should do/plan after this milestone. May be for the sake of it ?
Continuing from the list I made sitting in central park, here's another list for myself.

1. Do not shy away (get bored) from meeting new people.
2. Travel to the secret list of countries you made.
3. Run. 
4. Contribute more to any task you take up.
5. Show up more than expected or usual.
6. Stand up for what you feel. Hold your ground.
7. Being cynical can wait a few more years. There are lots of nice people around. Stay away from the not nice ones. Simple.
8. If someone annoys you put them in the waiting list. If they continue to do so, no reservations!
9. Read. Read. Read. Complete the reading challenge at least this year, goddammit!!
10. Ask questions. Good questions.
11. If you cannot relate with your friends or what they say, nod your head. Nod some more. They will understand hopefully. 
12. New experiences and adventures. Create and share. Can never be enough of any of those!
13. Feel inspired. 
14. Recommend watching Avatar the last airbender (the cartoon) to everyone! (I finally watched thanks to KT and lee!)

A day before the birthday, I felt like getting depressed about the so many important things/people I do not have in life. But then I thought at least I have the brains and energy to tackle through most of the stuff. And when even that does not work, I am surrounded and supported by the most awesome bunch of people. Online and offline. So depression can wait. Hopefully.

And because its also thanksgiving, I think I can never be thankful enough for the above mentioned factors.

~nightflier

New York

How does one come about to write about a city romanced by so many ? After having had the SATC and woody allen influence, its hard not to look at the city through borrowed glasses.

Neveretheless I tried.

I journeyed in Coach USA to get down at port authority of New York and walk down the dreamy landscapes of central park. How can one not love central park! At first sight its kaleidoscope of people, couples, friends, teenagers, oldies, dogs, trees, foreigners, onlookers (like me) hit you like a storm. When you do settle down, there is just scope for being oneself. When the feeling of not belonging runs high, the idea of getting lost in the central park-ness of new york is just fine! And over the course of next 3-4 hours I read a book, walked aimlessly and sat on stones to answer questions about happiness and contentedness to a couple of chinese student film makers. You know I tried to sound profound to those guys. But blurted out saying, I am reading a book I have wanted to for a long time and that to me right now is happiness. Also told them that I was going to meet some friends later, which equated to contentedness. If at all I become a celebrity one day, one can imagine how boring tabloids will sound.

So on so forth. I walked and walked. With the sun going down as my indicator. At one moment I thought I could do this all night and for the next day and the day after. But boredom set in. Was frantic to be reunited with friends. Familiar faces. Took a turn on 42nd Street towards 5th avenue. Times square beckoned. In the wait to meet friends bought souvenirs. 'I Love NY' and the assorted bunch. Some Irish-ness and forever 21 later, I was taken. The glitz, the power, the wealth. It is this which makes people migrate to this city. I found Mumbai-ness in it. Because my liking for Mumbai has evolved over the years, NY liking came by easily. There is just so much to look at and soak in, it was not at all possible for me to remain unaffected. Promise to self - NY on foot and trains and buses. Sometime soon. Oh and a visit to the Public library in the day time. Not just to click pictures outside a closed one.

Taken!

On a slightly tight schedule the next day, Brooklyn bridge visit happened. This was my 4th bridge in the cities I went to in US, I did not feel the excitement. But it got me closer to people I had not really grown apart from. Some interesting conversations later, I thought to myself, may be this is the point of bridges. Literal. Metaphorical. Call me slow.

My most humbling experience in this trip was visiting Ground Zero. I am not sure what I felt, but it felt like a symbol of resilience and not a place of tragedy. The towering freedom towers make your jaw drop and feel small. 

I am awed by cities*. I may be a city-girl even! The most therapeutic thing about them cities is they make you lose you to find your way back. And because one finds strength in this routine. However cliched this may sound.

~nightflier

*Chicago love, you are the most loved!

A Sandy Adventure!

The thing with apocalyptic American movies is it looks really dreadful in the movies and you hardly wonder the 'what ifs'. But then as you all might have come to know, Sandy did happen and wrecked havoc. If you have not heard about it then I will not really judge you. Because guess what, even I took it pretty lightly and went ahead with my plans of travelling to NJ/NY over the weekend of 27/28th October.

My adventure started on saturday 27th when unaware of what was approaching (not unaware but unprepared more like), my return flight to california got cancelled. Panic mode and some frantic calls to the airlines later, none of which went through due to the congestion in the network, I made peace with the fact that I was to brave the hurricane sitting at home. We lost power on Monday evening and then slowly the connection with the outside world was lost. Well we were saving phone battery for emergency calls and messages and the phone signals were also getting weaker.

Ticket to ride to europe! Much fun
when played in candle light.

Thankfully the friend's house had stove and hot water running on gas, so we were not so famished on the warmness and food front. Every day we would divide the chores voluntarily cook, eat, clean utensils and then get down to real business. Sitting idly, trying to read or play boardgames. Playing board games was the real savior as it kept everyone pepped up.

The biggest ordeal for us was accepting the fact that we could not work on a weekday and not feel guilty about it. The other factor for worry was the heat at home. Slowly the temperature inside the home was dropping to a little unbearable values.
By day 3 everyone was desperately seeking to go out, check the damage and get back to normal life.

We headed out to shops where everyone was busy stocking up for the uncertain power outage and the gas stations had super long lines to stock up fuel for generators. We started getting news that some areas were really badly affected with flooding. But thankfully nothing bad had happened where we were staying. So it just meant an extended power cut and  more board games and food.

The power cut officially ended on thursday which to everyone's relief meant no more sitting inside home in layers and be able to connect to the internet and outside world.
To my shock the damage was really bad when we got the gist of all news of the last couple of days.

Well, I was able to fly back on saturday and did start missing the life of minimal interaction with outside world!

~nightflier

P.S. This post is almost a week late. And now there's a snow storm on the east coast. Hope things do not turn out to be as bad.

On languages

Sometimes I wonder what makes me use 3-4-5 languages in the same conversation over a thread of 2-3 sentences. Like when I am super comfortable talking to someone I will use an eclectic mix of hindi, english, marathi, french, japanese, computer (well yeah!), german (whatever little knowledge I have) and talk. 

On the same note if this is how I am evolving as a language user then what will my kids talk in ?

At work the emphasis is on english mostly. But sometimes I blurt into this mode where my mind just cannot express itself in one language. I am thinking this is my inadequacy.

Though I do not hope to become a purist* in terms of using any language, I wonder if this is the consequence of wanting to have too many life experiences (not that I have had many, but then I love having new experiences. get the idea ?) and then running out of resources to contain them.

May be I need to venture beyond the need to express. Whatever that may be.

~nightflier

P.S. good grammar and less typos always pleasing!

cloud atlas

I know there are lots of exciting and thrilling things happening in my life, but I watched cloud atlas last night.
And I am wondering why do powerful emotions shown in movies move me so much. I think the reason behind getting moved by movies/books/nature/art is a void being filled by the creativity of the writer/director/actor/creator.

No wonder cloud atlas is a brilliant movie, as it narrates the very weird, sometimes disconnected and at times connected by the threads of kindness, love, empathy, humanness 6 different stories set in 6 timelines. Of course its a difficult movie to sit through given its length and confusing starcast (same actors in different roles). 

There are movies for the sake of movies and entertainment and there are movies which make you wonder and dissect and ponder. Cloud Atlas unlike the book which is a pretty difficult read proves to be one such film. Its vista is colorful and so wondrous that you would either hate it or love it.

~nightflier

Goodness and kindness

Some of my favorite childhood memories are tied around time spent with extended family. During any wedding the entire gang of cousins would come together. Though who we grew up to become is a totally different story, these are some cherished times I am sure. During one of my cousin sister's wedding I ended up reaching the destination an entire week earlier than my parents on my aunt's insistence. Yeah, despite being a cry baby about staying away from home.

Every evening during that time, we would all play badminton on the street till 11 pm post dinner and then move the party indoors to carrom and ludo. This one older cousin of mine always made sure that in the game of badminton he was on my side and helped me scrape through the rallies with his timely saves. That to me was pure goodness. It still is. Strange how one looks up to a smallest act of kindness as a child.

This cousin passed away today. Last I saw him was probably 3 years back playing with his daughter.

Death. Timely. Untimely.
Takes away so much.
Nothing remains the same.

~nightflier

Argo and random rambling about movies

Yesterday I was generally feeling sad and nostalgic after reading about Yash Chopra's death. (Have watched most of movies directed by him except for Faasle, Parampara and Joshila). The thing is I have got watching movies in my genes from my father. He himself loves watching movies, Dev Anand, Amithabh Bachchan to be specific and he has never questioned my fanfare about movies. Though I am not certain what he enjoys the most about movies in general, but I am sure we all watch movies for a bit of escapism and adventure. As I have grown up, my movie taste and expectations have also changed. Even though I have drooled over sappy, poetic romances our hindi movies normally depicted in my childhood, I think I love myself a '500 days of summer' and 'before sunrise' as well. Having said that the starry eyed teenager in me believed in the super cheesy line 'someone somewhere is made for you'. Almost. Its very hard for me to imagine myself as a person without movies (seriously too many movies have been watched in this lifetime till now and an equally good number still remain unseen!). If books gave me fodder to imagine new worlds, movies made those worlds real and tangible. So I am not going to imagine a life without movies or books. But I will instead talk about this movie called Argo and how fantastic it is!

[if you are planning to watch the movie then my post won't really hurt your plans. But then you might not want to read it]

Its not just true but fantastical that a CIA agent made an entire nation believe that a bunch of American Embassy officers having taken refuge at the Canadian Embassy in Tehran, were actually part of a sci-fi film crew and flew them out of the country. All this happened during the Iran hostage crisis. So this level of make-believe is just so awesome! In depicting the tale, Ben Affleck the director takes no sides, has no bias about motives of the USA or Islamic extremists. He is telling the story of a man on a rescue mission and he does that with flair! The drama builds upto last 15 minutes where every scene is nail biting (or curse inducing, if you know what I mean). This is laced with fine, fine dialogue. And some politically incorrect upfront jokes about political systems, bureaucracy and hollywood. 

Alan Arkin as the typical LA producer is the funny life of the movie. An entire backdrop of a 'fake movie' is elaborately constructed with the help of John Goodman and Arkin. 'The best bad idea' Mendez (played by Ben Affleck) got, gains momentum in true Hollywood fashion. Most amusing is the scene when the extremists at the airport actually get convinced by a set of storyboards about a sci-fi movie. Even they become starry eyed kids who would love them a star wars. 

These and many such moments make Argo extremely human, enjoyable and want you to repeat after Lester Siegel (Alan Arkin's character name) 
'Argo! F**k Yourself!'

To the power of movies and make-believe-ism!

~nightflier

Templates

Some templates refuse to die. The one's created with friends, family, strangers, teachers, work-people, books, the iPad. With oneself.
There were times when I wanted to wallow in self pity. These days that template does not seem to exist. Or may be its just pretending to be gone. Coma may be ?
Good or bad. I always thought self pity in its only positive sense brings me perspective. About life. Things undone. Letters unwritten. Feelings unexpressed and unexplored.

Meeting so many new people. Life flying by you, waving at you, teasing you. That's when self pity seems like a thing from another planet. Where you may just stop by its side and wonder what's this tiny little creature doing in my garden ? Then you delicately lift it up and hold it in your hands, caress it even. And tell it politely to not to be in your garden anymore. You may even help it cross the street and leave it by the bus stop. Go take the road you tell it. And like any obedient visitor from another planet it embarks on its journey. To whoever.

Won't you want to get rid of/recreate some templates ?

~nightflier

P.S. My current favorite songs Hindi Zahra – Kiss & Thrills Maria Doyle Kennedy – The Most Beautiful People Are Broken

Texas reloaded!

2 years ago around the same time of the year I lived in Dallas for more than a month. So when we were planning a college friends reunion and things moved from the west coast to the southern state, I felt a bit reluctant to visit Texas. Again! I mean Austin, Dallas same difference right ? WRONG.

Specially with the 'keep austin weird' thing going on. So anyway, the texas part apart, I did what one can do best in Austin. Eat, binge drink and eat and chill out. To top it off it rained most of the weekend and that just helped the above mentioned activities even more.

my crumpled version of the esther's
show guide :D

Few touristy things like visiting the UT austin campus which is super beautiful and capitol which is the regular state building, also happened. And a sketch comedy show at Esther's was thoroughly enjoyed. My general tiredness and enthusiastic-lady-behind-me's jolly laughter aside. After some pub hopping on 6th street (we went to the east side because we were tired and well we were'nt really following dress code), saturday was called off. Accompanying me in these little adventures were snita, advait, shayok, nikhil and a lot of other fun people (who don't blog/tweet).

The best outing of this trip was getting together at Trudy's over their famous house martinis, served in giant-ass lassi style glasses. The food which accompanied was equally yummy! Saturday afternoon saw us at Able's on the lake, with some amazing grilled chicken salad (tired of wraps/burgers/breads already!) and the famous Texas tea. Perfect recipe for a lazy afternoon. Not so perfect if you have activities planned for the evening.

the pennybracker bridge! from snita's camera

Apart from this Masala wok, Bombay express (Please forgive me pani puri gods for trying a plate in texas, when I can get the real stuff back home so easily.) Taco deli, Amy's and such local eating out happened.

The icing of the trip was the smallish hike to the hill overlooking the 360 loop and the Pennybacker bridge. If I could, I would visit Austin for this part of the town. Just to sit and may be play some chess/scrabble.

~nightflier

CA1 and catching up!

Since I have decided to jot down whatever fun things (apart from ginormous amounts of work, which looks never ending) I will be doing during this trip, I feel bad that it took me such a long time to update activities from last weekend.

Saturday was spent in driving around the scenic beaches of SFO. From Santa cruz wharf to the beautiful CA1 drive till bixby bridge, it was a day well spent taking in nature and its sights. 

from google

The bixby bridge was built in 1932 and literally connected the two regions separated by a valley otherwise. The Pacific looks as majestic as one would imagine it to be from here.

Despite being from the same college I and Neha had never interacted much before and on Sunday I finally met her. Yay!

She was really nice and picked me up from where I am staying and took me to the shoreline lake and cafe. We talked about random stuff over coffee and delish chocolate cake (which Neha was reluctant to finish, so I finished very happily :D)

It was fun to touch upon topics of blogging, growing up in India, work life, cultures and college gossip.

I am really happy that I am getting to meet all the people I really want to meet and spend time with. (not sure if that's the case with them, but I dont mind burdening people with my company for a change :P). I am also happy that even though I am not that mobile (like being really lazy to rent a car or explore the local transport) I am meeting people who are generous enough to let me tag along! I know sucks being an independent woman of the 21st century and blah but hey! whatever :P

~nightflier

getting back to school?

Who wants to study further ? Raise your hands! I see one for sure. Two more including my own are reluctantly jumping, up and down.

Yesterday I visited the Stanford campus. Was there for 10-15 minutes hardly. But just looking at the natural beauty around and the little bistros, cafes and students on bikes, fields, under the trees inspired me! So much that I could not help but think of studying further. Of course not that I aim for Stanford, but getting there would be so much awesome! #WishfulThinking :D
Dear future kids, very unhealthy expectations in terms of where you might get your education from have been set. Please don't blame me later.

Disclaimer: I went right out of office, did not have a camera, so could not take any pictures. Google's got beautiful pictures though! -> 

California diaries

Did a lot of touristy things in LA. (thanks to ketaki and her husband!)
Scrambled eggs in a laidback cafe, authentic Mandarin food for dinner and the most awesome kabobs at a homely Persian restaurant.
Hollywood walk of fame and kodak theatre happened today! My movies crazy soul found a little excitement and solace (I can now die peacefully and all that).
Universal and city walk with hordes of noisy people around happened too!
Also happened my first transaction using #square. Nerdy stuff totally excites me. Boo!

my #beatles tote :D

P.S. Upasna - the pics will be up as soon as I find where my camera data cable is!

Appearances

I read a really amusing and inspiring post here And traveled back in time to an incident when I had my tryst with 'the awesome'.

Since teenage I have been a fan of the Murthy's. Their entrepreneurial success and middle class (not communist) approach to wealth really inspired the idealist in me.

So during one of early training days at India's biggest IT firm (size wise at that time) I happened to stand 4 feet from Sudha Murthy and observe her. She was tiny, hardly 5 feet few inches and I do not mean in a patronizing way. As in she was like a very average Indian if you know what I mean! She wore a plain white cotton saree with red border and had a gajra (flowers) in her hair. My instant reaction was, this lady looks like my mother! Not just looks, but dresses up like a very normal Indian woman.

I was wonder struck. Because, she was not this shoo-shaa image of a hot shot lady, that I had had in my head. That day one of my perceptions about being awesome and still be not very 'jazzy' broke. Shattered if I am allowed to be dramatic, in a good way.

Simple and awesome. Works so well together!

~nightflier

happy friday thoughts!

• What joy when you start your day with the perfect tea! I suck at making my own tea. Everyday, something is amiss or in excess. So I made my own perfect tea today, with the right amount of adrak (ginger), sugar, milk and tea powder! yay! You have no idea how important it is to get your tea perfect, early in the morning.

• Another friend has given birth to a healthy baby girl and I am filled with more joy! Of course, I have to wait for next 6-7 months to be actually able to play with her. Because, I am terrified at the thought of handling infants. I am pretty sure I will hold them incorrectly and do something awful. sigh.

• I learnt and made an amazing new, fun chutney yesterday! A kashmiri friend posted it on facebook (not sure if its a kashmiri recipe though!) Take anar dana (pomegranate seeds), add lime juice, chaat masala, brown sugar, fresh ginger (all based on your instincts and according to taste, its a chutney after all!) and grind them together, till a coarse paste is formed. Add salt to taste. Serve it chilled with a dash of spring onions and cilantro (my addition to the chutney). Tastes yum, looks healthy and appetizing! My version without a mixer here - http://instagram.com/p/OrOAylLv_C/
• Even though this is a happy thoughts post, I will share my latest pet peeve. People/girls/boys who create a physical mess on the kitchen counter and don't give a damn about cleaning it up later! If I leave aside the one or two times, that one may actually be feeling lazy/under the weather to do the cleaning immediately, I don't understand why one would leave things in a state of mess! Again, I know why I am like this! Since bachpan (childhood) I have been taught/trained (later expected to) finish work at hand, including the side jobs. And I have seen aai making sure everything was tidy and in its place in the kitchen, after all the chores were done. (these are remote factors in making sure I completed my studies/courses. Despite the urge to leave things halfway/undone during grad school. Its a compulsive need now!).

• Also everyday my belief in the fact that people who don't know you (or don't want to spend the effort in knowing you) get intimidated easily/talk behind your back easily. I do not mind it. A bit. The only thing I am happy about is, if you do not want to know me and rather be intimidated by me, you should also realize that its beneficial for me, cos I no more have to deal with close minded people (:P) (tanvi has done a super post here on a related note!)

• And how talented is Ranbir Kapoor! <3 <3 

~nightflier

the super star movie experience

I *lurve* watching movies! From the amount of my life I have spent in watching movies, I now have pretty toned instincts about various movies (upcoming or the one's that skipped my vision). By instincts which are toned, I mean I have become cautious with where I spend my anticipation and energy in. Well, that's not really being a 'real' movie watcher, but when you realize you do not really have a lot of time and have to figure out a way to fit in the awesome stuff, then this is the only strategy which has worked for me. And you have to believe me, I have watched really crappy movies. Really really.

Anywho, plus these days its a pop cultural phenomenon, sharing a movie watching experience with a bunch of fans and creating detached shared memories. I have watched chick flicks in downtown Chicago theatre (sex and the city, judge you may, but I had come to liking the series during that phase in life). Recently I caught The dark knight rises in a theatre full of Bane chants and batman tees. (I had missed The Dark Knight experience!). Among many such the only modern day movie watching adventure I had missed was watching a 'Salman Khan' movie. Yes, I missed Dabang and Wanted when they were huge hits here in India. So when 'Ek tha Tiger' first day first show tickets were to be booked, I immediately volunteered for the experience. I wanted to see what exactly happens on the big screen, when Salman Khan takes over.

So if you want a review of the movie, I will not be giving any. Because, this is about the movie watching experience than about how the movie was.
Anywho, my first disappointment came because it was an early morning show i.e. 8.45 am and that's not when really crazy salman khan fans must be watching the movie. The whistles, laughter, claps, uproar etc were down 5 notches, considering only money saving crowd (like me) was present. So tip for next time - watch a prime time show. That's when people have really high energy levels.

I will not talk of any more disappointments, as they deal with the script and how some things were utterly stupid in the movie. The high point of any Salman Khan movie I think is, how he owns the character (not talking about his earlier movies, like MPK, baagi, love, patthar ke phool, when he was adorable and vulnerable). The most cliched thing said about him is how larger than life he is. Apart from that, I admire his nonchalance about becoming a character. Instead he remains himself and lets you think 'imagine so and so is Salman Khan in the movie'. Yes that grin of his or that kick of his or that dance step of him (imagine any way you like).

And another slightly related note, I am appalled at *how much* money is wasted in making our movies. The unnecessary location shoots which must cost a bomb, the poor execution of technology, which is like wasted moolah. Slowly, in my head I am thinking of productive ways of saving/using money for them (:P). 

Anyway, all said and done, its tough being a super star in any field in India. The amount of criticism, expectations, hopes pinned on you, but the sheer pressure of it all! Insane. That's the only word that comes to my mind. Also, my instincts in picking the right movie and time for a Salman Khan movie have been honed as well, so that next time the experience is more enjoyable!

~nightflier

P.S. the last salman khan movie I watched in a theater was salaam-e-ishq!!!

where I think I may need lessons in management

* You know that over drive when your brain is racing through tasks one after the other, so much that you are amazed that how many thoughts your brain can produce and switch context equally well. No not exactly that this is happening with me. But I am at stage one where busy-ness is worrying me and I want to be able to do the context switching smoothly. Alas. But as I was talking to my shrink friend and accepted that since childhood I have been groomed to set stupid expectations for myself and push myself. So yes even if that's true, its always a struggle getting there. There = where need to push myself is lower than the desired result.
Anywho, I have rambled. A LOT.

* Also happening a lot these days, especially when I struggle at work is this ->

Source: marie-lle.com via Tanvii on Pinterest

* When I see people around me swim in an abyss of cliched prejudices, I FEEL anger. It exasperates me. Thankfully I have work to channel it. And also a blog where I can talk to empty spaces. Hmmm.
I pray for open minds. I really do. Heartfelt prayer.

* Well, if its not public then few days back I wanted to marry Kiran Nagarkar. I now want to marry Haruki Murakami. May be I can share time with these crazy minds ? 2-3 months at a time ? I am sure we will work something out. 
Reading 1Q84 has been the best reward given to me/best thing that has happened to me in July-August. It is extremely difficult to try to review a murakami book. But if you want something interesting, thrilling, magical to read then well you have one pick!

* Well, I have already lost a lot of thought threads I had going on inside my mind. And now I am suddenly at a loss of words. But anyway, as I said post some self pushing I will be back at point one and will have lots to write about.

~nightflier

Catching life on autopilot

Howmuchever one is running on autopilot, shifting from one task to another seamlessly, getting exhausted by the end of the day, wonderful love stories always catch you offguard and give a sense of respite and relief.


My friend from grad school met a girl on skype. 
Both really liked each other and continued talking for a year.
After an year he decided to visit her.
On their first 'real' meeting on the airport, overcome by his love, he gave her his family ring and unofficially proposed.
They carried out the relationship for another year, facing visa troubles and travel hassles.
In the mean time she learned his language. He started creating a connected life around her.
Last year in a small family ceremony, they got married, in his town.
Due to some issues, the girl's entire family could not make it to the wedding. Only her mother did.
Yesterday they got married AGAIN in her town, after an year.
And they still look like they have just met, popped the question to each other and decided to get married. So amazing!


Of course you will wonder, this is filmy. Specially the skype and airport part. So Indian right ?
Wrong!
The guy is from Peru. The girl is from Romania.
Now repeat the story in your head again.
So much more awesomeness, right ?


Those two are the most wonderful *couple* I know. Dreading it out, braving each and every hassle. Making a life together.


Toast to their togetherness!


~nightflier


P.S. Also rakshabandhan today! So much fun to be around someone (brother) where I can still make faces and wiggle my tongue and be silly. Happy rakhi-day everyone :)

DEMAND

The world needs better systems where MEN/GUYS/BOYS can understand that 'women/girls/females also work'. On weekdays/weekends.

I think I have been programmed to assume not to disturb/lower my expectations any 'boy(s)' around me when they declare they are working. Why are these programs absent (taken for granted) in the guy psyche ? Not because I am being a feminist here, but because simply if you demand to have a working girl for a wife, I demand for you to understand this.

ok ? OK.

Nightflier

Silence that heals

I spent one day with Upasna (from Someplace Else) and Pradnya (nature's baby) at a forest lodge. We ate, we hiked, we soaked ourselves in the lake water, we followed the lake trail, we chatted (a lot!), we played cards, we shared experiences, we dare deviled the trek to duke's nose and came back alive and a bit tired on friday the 13th.

During all this in a rare moment of calm, we were listening to the nature speak to us, when I exclaimed, 'I think I can bear this silence. But not the city silence.'

Of course the talking did not stop :D

The view from the hill

inside our gorgeous homestay

How fun is the warli painted wall!

~nightflier

Earned distinction!

On a family reunion sunday afternoon, after hogging tons of amazing vegetarian food (kheer!), we sat in front of the tv, watching 'kati patang' anticipating siesta. Who will 'repose' or 'manufacture zzzz' sooner than the others was the topic of chatter over 'how much one ate beyond one's capacity'.  Until I noticed the carrom board lurking in the corner of the hall. No discussion was needed. Within minutes the setup was ready. Boric powder was thrown on the board, magic tricks of distracting the opponent were performed. I teamed up with uncle, whereas father and cousin, both champions in their 'hay' college days, formed the other team.


More magic tricks involving shadowing the board pockets, deliberately talking loudly when the opponent was concentrating, were performed. During all this I was kind of having trouble getting the right finger position to hit the striker. The pain of playing a childhood game after 12 years! I drove my uncle crazy, when he would advise me to hit a particular coin and I would by default do something equally random and particularly useless.


Uncle : beta, try to take that coin (pointing at it) from the corner circle.
nightflier : Yes trying.
(after few seconds of forced concentration and hitting the shot)
uncle : But, we are playing with black coins, not white!!!
everyone around : #facepalm


Then while surfing channels, and stumbling across Vishwatma on TV, waiting for Divya Bharti to start crooning 'saat samundar' I found the finger hold. I am the straight shot types. Baba having observed this, suddenly told everyone, 'that's how my father used to hold/hit the striker too!' There! I am the girl who holds/hits the striker like her grandfather. And grandfather passed away long time back. I don't really have any tangible memory of him.


So I am extremely happy and proud to have earned this 'distinction' with him! Next time I play carrom, will make sure to remember this, lest I forget.


~nightflier

'An overture to illumination'

(Important things first. I want everyone coming to this post to watch the trailer and not miss this gem of a movie. Of course with subtitles. The book by Jonathan Safran Foer is equally read-worthy. Of course, despite the experiments in narration. The characters in the book are so much more than they seem and so beautiful. But the movie is equally quirky.)

Being part of world war II europe must have felt very human. It is during very trying times that we as humans shine or act more human i.e. do things which we never thought we would do. 

Alex does a very human thing by reinventing the past. Safran crosses seas for his coming generations. Jonathan wants to connect the dots. And Sasha would like to 'illuminate' (read find/search) this journey as a job, for his grandfather. In the turn of events they meet Lista, a collector. Of memories, people gone by, places forgotten. Jonathan, does that too. He fears he might forget. Their search for trachimbrod and a past so murky, brings them to 'illumination'. 

Nazi Germany or the anti-semite times and the sufferings of people, have always made me wonder about how those people overcame the terrible pasts and got where they got. 

'You have to begin where you begin, in order to get where you are going'

There is a recurring theme in the book 'One day you will do things that you hate (don't really want to do) for your family'.

May be sometimes in order to save yourself, literally and otherwise, you say you are doing it for others. May be that is utmost human-ness. May be in those trying times it was easier to do stuff, for the future, thinking if you took that terrible but human step, you could reinvent the past.

Lista tells Jonathan in a rather poignant climactic dialogue while giving away Augustine's wedding ring which she buried 'The ring is not here because of us. We are here because of the ring.' 

~nightflier

P.S. A name of the chapter from the book, in the title.

cruising through the western ghats

The role reversals in the family are getting funner. Brother planned all the transport and logistics details, while I fussed over waking up on time, packing enough food/supplies for emergencies etc. While parents watched.
(ok, aai helped pack the picnic box and knead the puri dough, while I deep fried them!)

the temple of wai!

On a certain level calling a day's outing 'a picnic' sounds even more fun! Remember the anxiety with which one used to sleep before a school picnic day and wake up all full of 'picnic energy' ? No ? OK. then you were not the *hyper excited about picnics kid* that I was. Anywho, the point is we went on a picnic with the parents. Wheeeeeee!!!


Starting off with the village of Wai, we took our first halt at the table top of pachgani. <inserts bollywood movies boarding school reference>.  Moved onto eat to our stomach's content at Mapro gardens. <ate the most awesome pizza, better than any 'traditional' pizza outlets> 

<3
from google

Then baba started telling his tales of 'being a roadie' in the 1980s.  He along with like minded friends toured various parts of India on their scooters/bikes. Starting point of all journeys central part of India.
1988 - Jabalpur, Bedaghat on his LML Vespa. 
1989 - Aurangabad, Mahabaleshwar, Goa on his LML Vespa.
1990 - Kanyakumari via Mysore, and other southern cities on his LML Vespa.
Petrol prices were between Rs. 20 to 25 during that time FYI. Also how they would decide on where to halt and the difference between things back then and now, was most fun to hear! Also I think must have been romantic for aai to wait for father, to come home after his myriad adventures! <she would, of course, shy away from these speculations and tell how difficult it got not having the 'husband' around>

picturesque valleys around
mahabaleshwar

Dhananjay, the most exciting and quite experienced driver to have on these ghats, joined in with his tales. To the cult music from the 80/90s playing in the background. 

the entrance to the fort

Aai and baba were really excited to visit Pratapgad. The place where Shivaji killed Afzal Khan using ganimi kawa (guerilla tactics). We hired a guide, Jadhav, who along with some exaggerating insights told us the most fascinating story of the 'kill' and the battle that ensued. 

posing outside a more than
100 years old school
in the hills!

There are still some 84 families living inside the fort. Life full of adventure and mystic!


And if you visit these places and don't eat the typical Maharashtrian food of 'pithla-bhakri' 'kanda-bhaji' 'thalipith' with a light drizzle in the background, then you are missing one of the most *worth it* and *cliched* experience in the world. Every visit to such places and not eating any of those feels almost like a crime!


And the journey wound up, with visits to two more Ganpati temples in Pali and Mahad. With sore legs from climbing the fort and a rejuvenated mind after breathing in the fresh air of the hills, last night was the longest and most peaceful I have slept in days! 


How was your weekend ? :-)


~nightflier