Bappa Moraya!

Am in the Ganpati-mood now. No, not that streetside-dance-thingy. The festival of Ganesh Chaturthi brings with it a lot of mirth and din. I like visiting as many Mandals (just to view the brouhaha within) as I can; though this time, the number was fewer. Nonetheless, here are some pics taken from my visits to various Ganesh Mandals this year. May Ganpati Bappa bless us all, and most importantly - help us to stay content with what he has blessed us with!

Starting with the much-loved Raja - Lalbaugcha Ganpati. Stood in the serpentine queue for 2 and half hours (Byculla to Lower Parel) to get darshan of this famed diety. But in the end, it is always worth it. The Lord always gives you his audience and always listens to your prayers :)

Ganesh Galli Ganpati: This particular Mandal has traditionally been housing one of the tallest Ganpatis in the city. This year's theme was Kedarnath. The replica outside the Mandal was stunningly similar and I felt like I was visiting Kedarnath for the 2nd time.

IC Colony Ganpati: Ah! This is the resident deity! IC Colony is famed for installing beautifully-adorned Ganpati idols. This one's face is angelic!

LIC Ganpati: I've been visiting this Mandal sice I was a kid (since it is bang opposite Gran's house). They always have a theme which has a social message. Lots of oldies gather here and Mom/Dad seem to know everybody who visit this Mandal. Fun stuff!

ITC Grand Maratha Ganpati: Beautiful decorations! I bet the idol won't be immersed though :)

What a Drainer!

They were all over me. Someone was pulling my leg, the other was brutally pulling my arm, someone else was yanking my face and someone had his hands over my eyes so firmly, that I thought I was gonna lose the daylights outta me.

No, this isn't a horror flick starring me as the screaming, high school sidey-heroine (who's about to get her arms and legs chopped gruesomely) and undead zombies rapidly crowding around, all waiting for a piece of my flesh (not that there is much). Instead, this was the plight of my friends and me, at 'Ashray' in Bandra, where we had enrolled ourselves for the 'Teach India' campaign. The moment we entered and waved a friendly 'hi' at the kids, they mobbed us, took us by our hands to the other room where there were more kids, and started reciting their names rapidly (Karthik, Kusum, Vaishali, Tanmay, Rohit, Madan, Karishma, Aditi, Rahul, Avinash.... gosh that's all I can remember!). My memory was put to the test, as I had to say their names correctly when they came asking for it the next time around. After a very confusing round of introductions (resulting in me firmly squatting on the ground, as the children wouldn't let me get up), I finally gathered my wits and stood up clumsily, checking meanwhile if all my limbs were in working condition. They thankfully were, but the kids hadn't even begun their onslaught yet. They were SO energetic and lively!!! They were sprinting all over the place like little chickens let out of their coops and we were, like their poor keepers, in hot pursuit, failing miserably to bring them under control. Finally, I managed to grab their attention by announcing a game ' Fire in the Mountain'. 'Run run run,' they responded, but exactly for 2 minutes. We played Tug-of War too. But only for a few minutes. Then they were off again, running around, engaging in brawls, fisticuffs and random somersaults. They were uncontrollable, abusive and amok; the 3 of us barely managing to keep up!

That was our first, very eventful day at Ashray, at the end of which we were mere shadows of our previous selves. The kids had drained every ounce of energy outta us. The teachers at municipal schools - you have gained my respect. It ain't easy to control these tiny tots. We did manage to do something constructive though, we taught multiplication tables to some kids and the English alphabets to the others. Looking back, I do think I enjoyed myself, especially while playing with the kids. It reminded me of my childhood, spent under the hot sun, playing numerous games with my friends - fighting, screaming, yelling, brawling..... These kids here are reflections of me, only a whole lot younger. This wasn't meant to be a piece of cake in the first place. I was armed with that knowledge before I stepped into Ashray. What I have to do is try my best to gain their trust and their love. After all, it was only my first day. Its only going to get a lot easier from now on.

Right?

Flopshows

Its strange how you're ecstatic one moment and the next moment, all that chirrup is deflated. Here I was minding my own business, running an errand for Mom (beta, get 2kgs home-made chakki ka atta on your way back home), stepping outta my ride and in the process of locking it. Suddenly, a glittering truck arrives with noisy fanfare, laden with boisterous (and perhaps, half drunk) 'dahi-handi' enthusiasts. They're packed like sardines in the truck; there are probably a hundred of them, and they're dangerously close to spilling over, onto the hard gravel below. There are probably a hundred others too on the road I was walking on, but somehow they filter everyone, and spot me. Suddenly, they turn all the more riotous. They start hooting and cat-calling. They cry out some incomprehensibles. I'm not even trying to listen. I have my head stooped low. My anger is simmering. I have half a mind to pick up a stone I have just spotted (providence, huh?) and hurl it with all might at the truck. At the loutish fiends in it. Wishing it hit one of them in the eye and it popped out. However, what's the point? They'll continue doing what they do best. So many women worldwide are victims of eve-teasing. And I'm positive, 99% of them go unchecked, ignored. What fight can you put up, when you're facing a group of fully-grown (and supposedly, mature) men, who are slicing you, demeaning you with every catcall? I felt miserable the whole day. Not because of the rowdy bunch of losers and their hooting at me. It was because I could do nothing. I was powerless. Utterly and completely helpless.

There HAS to be some way to stop such hooligans from displaying such intolerable behaviour. A million women would breathe easy if there was a way to put a fullstop to their public shaming (however minor it may be). I'm not a feminist, but its time such treatment of women as mere objects come to an end. Only then would we able to celebrate true independence. But I'm at a loss - what could the solution be?

Be Happy :)

This is such a lovely song by Snow Patrol. I assured my friends I wouldn't write mushy songs on this blog. But how can you not, when the lyrics are so alluring?? Ode to SP!

You could be happy and I won't know
But you weren't happy the day I watched you go

And all the things that I wished I had not said
Are played in loops 'till it's madness in my head

Is it too late to remind you how we were
But not our last days of silence, screaming, blur

Most of what I remember makes me sure
I should have stopped you from walking out the door

You could be happy, I hope you are
You made me happier than I'd been by far

Somehow everything I own smells of you
And for the tiniest moment it's all not true

Do the things that you always wanted to
Without me there to hold you back, don't think, just do

More than anything I want to see you
Take a glorious bite out of the whole world

Bloody Swine! (No, I'm not swearing!)

The sights are bewildering. Everywhere I go there are people enveloped in extreme paranoia, they are donning huge masks - some are equipped with the pricey N95 and some make do with the poor man's equivalent of it (which is so thin, its a joke) - hoping that the paltry strip of sponge will shield them from the dreaded virus - the swine flu virus. However, it is not the virus itself that has created so much furore and hubbub - the sole point of discussion dominating our jumpy news channels (do they need an excuse to go all berserk? They'll even run a 'breaking news' segment if the local stray dog pisses in a ditch), morning meetings with colleagues & chai-time conversations with friends. The culprit is fear, so much so that it has turned into a contagious mania - an epidemic of fear. Schools are shut, collegians are told to go chill at home, cinema halls are shutting their doors (damn! I SO wanted to watch Kaminey) and the National Health Minister has proclaimed that 1/3rd of Indians are going to be infected with the virus by the end of 2010. Someone should go slap him silly. We have more people infected with AIDS in this gawd-help-us country. We don't need statistics, Mr. Minister. We don't need to hear the death toll every morning, Mr. News Channel Editor. What we need is you to STOP dishing out fear, mania and useless statistics. The virus will run its course, like millions of more dangerous viruses do - it may cause deaths for some or it may wane away for some . All we need to do is stay clean and healthy. But please don't spread fear with this incessant broadcasting of doom and gloom. Leave that to RGV and his factory of frighteningly horrifying films. And you don't need an expert to tell you THAT.

Postcards from Pune

If you want a looooong drive in your car during the monsoons and want a relatively quick getaway - head to Pune. And make sure you hop on to the expressway. It is a glorious 2 hour drive - replete with slick, wide and mostly empty roads (enough adulation has already been given to the highway in that respect); majestic, brown mountains humbled in meek, but pleasant green blankets of wild grass and shrubs; tiny rivulets cascading down hurriedly, and of course, the cloud cover that you pass through. Needless to say, it is a wondrous and fabulous experience to drive through these beauties of nature. Who needs to visit the Alps when its twin is right here in Maharashtra?

Some postcards from my drive are uploaded below, which though were taken 2 weeks back, still stay on in my memories. Most of them were taken with my humble mobile camera, with the car windows rolled up. So, though the quality isn't great, the essence is captured. And I treasure it.

Yeh sooni sooni rahein: The first thing that strikes you 'bout the expressway is its wide and thinly populated roads. No pesky rickshaws/bikers and no BEST bus-bullies. The road is, for the most part of your journey, yours and only yours! Check out the huge, looming clouds above too!

Almost got of my car to climb on one of these mountains. Was restrained in time, lest I slip and break a few bones on the mossy slopes.

Well, couldn't take a hike, but atleast could take some pics! This pic reminds me of Mt. Kilimanjaro for some reason. Only the snow is missing.

I love the crudeness of the truck juxtaposed against the beauty of the mountains. Notice the little streams of water running down the hills, as well as the cloud almost covering the tip of the mountain. Similar sights were prevalent all over the journey.

Tunnels always fascinate me. They lead you into darkness and lead you out into bright light. To me it is the perfect paradox created by man.

Confessions of a Freak

After a tiring & long day at work, I was unwinding a bit, watching TV casually, zapping across myriad channels that were dishing out their daily dope. At 11.30 pm, suddenly, my phone beeps out aloud, startling me outta my lazy reverie. I make a mental note - I must change my SMS ringtone. Its way too loud. In mild irritation, I pick up the phone and read the message. It read thus:

"Pls reach office tomorrow by 9 am sharp as we have an urgent deliverable. Call me as soon as u reach. Will be in Bombay by afternoon. Urgent GN."

Now... wait a minute, I think. My office doesn't function this way. Nor does my boss SMS his employees at late hours, demanding that they come to office by whatever time at whatever place. Most of all - we do NOT use terms like 'urgent deliverables'. We are not a goods-courier company or a maternity hospital. So, this SMS is certainly not from my boss.

Concerned that the message should reach the right person, lest some important deadline is missed, I SMS back to the number:

"You seem to have reached the wrong number."

Behold the impudence of the chap when he replies:

"Is that supposed to be a joke at this hour?? I want u by 9 am."

I am not to be talked to in this manner. And who is this Smart Alec, who thinks he's frightened me enough to dream about the bad-boogeyman during the night? So I reply sternly, but politely:

"Please leave your name."

I then receive a strange, cryptic reply.

"Thats OK. Will discuss in detail tomorrow. No problem, really"

No problemo with me as well. Intentionally omitting to reply back, I fall into a deep slumber. It has indeed been a taxing, bizarre day.

Next day, true to his promise, the oaf SMSes me again!

"Have you reached office?"

I am in the middle of a meeting, and hardly have the time to entertain some queer bird's idea of a noontime shindig. I ignore the intruding SMS again.

Imagine my surprise when the guy actually calls up! It's a sophisticated, well-heeled voice, "Is this Vaishali?" he asks innocently (as if he doesn't know! Two days of constant ignoring of messages, he still expects me to be the one he is looking for!). I was about to lose my cool, but somehow, I calmly say, "No, I DON'T happen to be her. Please do NOT call me or SMS again. And please check your number." I disconnect the line.

When I receive his message again, at 11 pm... I am distinctly amused. This is a prank, for sure. Has to be.

"Pls accept my heartfelt apologies for the faux pas. Appreciate the poise. Cheers"

Compliments now, huh? I decide to play along:

"Will do"

As if this served as a green light, he happily SMSes back:

"Poise, alright! Thanks much"

I am mighty bored by now. The prank has run its course. Someone, somewhere has loads of free time on his platter. I do not reply back, dismissing the entire operation as a failed one.

Eerily, a couple of days after, the jerk SMSes again!!

"Sorry for the bother.. was watching an interview. Gayatri Devi.. you sound so much like her, methinks of course, the poise.. must be similar?? Cheers"

Gayatri she-is-so-freakin-dead Devi??!! WTF??!! I can't decide what I feel more - amusement or irritation. But this has gone far enough now. Whoever you are - friend or foe, this is NOT funny. I will not entertain some goofball who thinks this persistent stalking will make me shit bricks. One more SMS/call from you.... I gonna report you. I have your number, you idiot.

And you certainly won't find anything 'poised' about me then.