Author: mirchiladdoo

mirchiladdoohttp://mirchiladdoo.com

Talaash – In search of a Good Movie

Fantasies have been a way of human beings to escape from the mundane reality since the beginning of the world. From bed time stories told by parents or grandparents in childhood, to comics to books like Hardy Boys & Nancy Drew to the latest fad Harry Potter, growing up to more mature fictions. Movies have also played their part in creating larger than life characters for us to revel in their world.

Every decade has had their movies stereotyped. The current decade is no exception with its mediocre romantic movies, with the typical love triangle & rowdy action movies ruling the roost each vying to enter the 100 Crore club. But nonetheless, just like lotus blooms in a muddy pond, there are some movies who have carved their separate niche. These are made by film makers who are creating their own trail rather than walking on the same old path.

These film makers create movies which are not your typical masala movies, but they tend to a different palate. The taste is to be acquired, just like you acquire a taste for dark chocolate, bitter but definitely better than the sugary bar. The main ingredients of these movies are the script & path breaking actors. They are into films because they love the art & not just to mint money. Together, they take the movie to another level.

Aamir Khan is one such path breaking actor. Post Lagaan, his each & every move has been watched with a hawk like curiosity. And after the tremendous success of 3 Idiots, the hype around him has increased ten fold. So obviously when Reema Kagti (Director of Honeymoon Travels Pvt Ltd & Writer of Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara) announced a movie with Aamir Khan, it was eagerly awaited by all movie buffs. The cherries on top were Rani Mukherji & Kareena Kapoor in the cast, both fabulous & path breaking actresses.

There was a lot of secrecy involved around the movie. The film makers were genius enough not to reveal the plot or genre of the movie. There was no marketing hoopla surrounding the movie. But this Under Marketing did kill the movie it seems. The movie goers assumed that the movie was a Suspense Thriller & went to watch it with much anticipation. Spoilers were being floated to reveal the suspense of the movie while everyone was begging or threatening not to reveal the suspense.

But you know what the real spoiler was? Talaash is not a suspense drama!!! Gotcha. Yes, Talaash is actually an emotional drama film. The track of finding the killer is not the main track. The main track of the movie is Aamir & Rani dealing with the loss of their son & eventually loss of their marriage & how do they come to terms with it.

With all the larger than life movies, we somehow have forgotten to enjoy the simple moments of life. Talaash is a movie which brings that simplicity on celluloid. In this movie, there is no Aamir Khan or Rani Mukherji or Kareena Kapoor. There is a police inspector who fights crime but can not fight his guilt, there is a housewife who is coming to terms with the loss of her son but is more baffled with the loss of her husband, a prostitute who is treated as trash, a pimp who wants to lead a better life & so on & so forth.

Don’t watch this movie looking for suspense, for there isn’t any. Watch this movie to enjoy a story being told. It will definitely engage you & enthrall you.

How to Kill Time!

 

For the Working people, Television has become a major source of entertainment.

But what happens when one day when your TV breaks down & you can’t get it fixed?

Let us see some creative ideas how to kill time & emerge winner!!!

1. Cleaning: Pick up one area in your home. Your wardrobe, book shelf, bedroom, kitchen shelf. Clean thoroughly & rearrange. It’s the best productive way to utilise your time.

2. Reading: People who are fond of reading, collect many books during the course of year but the books collect dust waiting to be read. Brush off the dust on the books & pick one to read.

If you have an internet connection & laptop, you can also indulge your time reading books online, including comic books or even blogs. You can even try your hand in writing a blog, if you are not writing already!

3. Games: Lots of games to be played online from Solitaire, Chess, Farmville & what not. Always keep a pack of cards at home. You can always play Solitaire, if electricity or computer is not available 😉

4. Movies / Sitcoms: Just like books, people also download movies / sitcoms & collect it to watch on a rainy day. What better time than now to watch them?

5. Talk: Call up people whom you have not spoken to in ages. If you are staying away from family, call your family members. It would be a happy surprise for them as well.

6. Walk: Go out of your house. Explore your neighbourhood. Enjoy some fresh air.

7. Music: If you don’t feel like doing anything from the above, there is always Music. Switch off your lights & switch on your favourite music. Enjoy Solitude.

All the above ideas are not exhaustive. When TV is switched off, it is time to switch on your imagination & think of the best possible way to utilise your time.

Enjoy!!!

 

Aiyyaa!!!

 

Rani Mukherjee has always been my favourite actress. After Madhuri Dixit, if I have loved any actress on celluloid, it is Rani. She is a born actor & expressions come easily to her. She is the Queen of Charm, Naughtiness & Expressions. I always look forward to her movies. Though Dil Bole Hadippa was a disappointment, largely because of the stupid dialogue delivery of the movie, Rani still shone in the movie.

When I first saw the promos of Aiyyaa, I was impressed! The song was hilarious, the hero HOTTTT & Rani in a different avatar, yet amazing. I fell in love with the entire music album of Aiyya as well. Don’t remember which was the last album which put a big grin on my face 😉 I couldn’t wait to watch the movie & see how the songs were choreographed 🙂

I have stopped seeing movies in theatre long time back, Shanghai being an exception. I would have downloaded the movie or waited for its TV premiere. But God had other plans 😉 Sunday morning my bestie called me & we planned to watch this movie.

Too many Aiyyaa moments happened. Me watching movie in a single screen theatre with uncomfortable chairs, that too on a Sunday & that too with someone for company. I was not too excited to go out on a Sunday afternoon. Sigh! what lengths we go for our friends 😉

The movie started & I was mesmerised. The dream sequence reminded me of Madhuri & I knew I was going to love this movie. As the movie progressed, the prediction became true!

A truly different story, taut screenplay, awesome actors (not only lead, the supporting ones too) made it an interesting watch!

I would not want to ruin the movie for you in case you have not watched it yet. But still would like to share something about each of the element of the movie.

Romance: The heroine falls in love with someone who ignores her existence. The way the heroine behaves would remind many of us who have been there, done that 😉

Suspense: The Mystery surrounding the hero, the dilemma whether the heroine would chose to go with a guy chosen by her parents or would pursue her dreams are woven beautifully in the story 🙂

Drama: Or should I call it melodrama? 😛 It helps in involving you more in the story.

Comedy: The comic dialogues & situations had everyone in the cinema hall roaring with laughter. By the end of the movie, my jaw had started aching. 😉

Sex: Double Bonanza! You can not get enough of the hero, with smoldering eyes &  an angry young man kind of persona plus a sexy body (shown only in the songs). I want to see the Dreamum Wakeupum song again & again only for him. As for Rani, I have never seen her in such a sensuous avatar. With Aga Bai song, she has proven that she is a true successor of Madhuri Dixit 🙂

Story: The story of a girl who gets attracted to a guy because of his smell & how it leads to the end is quite a unique one. Truly “Different”

Acting: The actors have performed to the tee. You can’t help but relate to the characters in the movie.

Music & Songs: The piece which is played whenever the heroine follows the hero’s scent is very enchanting. Songs are weird but humorous & never feel out of place.

Are you still reading??? 😛 I could go on & on but I think I should put a stop here 🙂 All in all an afternoon well spent!

This post is proof of how much I loved the movie. But I would also add that many people have found this movie boring & not liked it. Watch the movie on your own risk & don’t come looking for me if you don’t 😉

 

9/10/11 – An Unforgettable Day!!!

A chance glance at a blog on Mumbai by a blogger (http://www.bijoy-momaya.blogspot.in) connected three people to him. Me, my bestestest friend Jay (jkhona.wordpress.com) & Nivedita (http://heregoeznothing.blogspot.in/)

I was not much of a blogger back then but Nivedita was already an avid one. I loved her blogs & we connected on Facebook. All of us became quite good friends virtually & were curious to meet each other in real life 😉

And the magical date arrived. We all set out from our respective homes to Nariman Point, our favourite destination..

Jay was the first one to arrive. Me & Janak were the next party. Since Nikki was not so familiar with the area & since she already started late combined with the usual train delays (as all Mumbaikars will know 🙂 ) we were quite worried for her. We marched towards Churchgate station to pick her up in case she lost her way. Jay was having a ball, pointing at every girl saying this must be Nikki 😛

I called up Nikki & guided her towards us. Finally, we met! And she was just as amazing in real life as she was virtually. We talked & laughed all the way to Chowpatty. We all being foodies, it was must to have the world famous Chats, Kulfi & Icecream at Bachelors 🙂 The highlight of the evening was me having the green chilly ice cream at Bachelors. It was hottttt!!!!

Another highlight was capturing Jay on camera (He is quite shy & doesn’t liked to be clicked 😉 )

The day started with meeting of strangers & ending up as best of friends!!!

09/10/11 – You will always be a special date, an unforgettable day 🙂

 

 

 

 

 

Forgive & Forget

Everyone gets hurt by the people they love. Few words said in anger, a sarcastic comment, injustice, discrimination are few reasons which causes us to resent our loved ones. Result? Complete estrangement or a superficial relationship.

As time passes, the hurt reduces to some extent. This is the period where we reminiscence about the good things of the relationship. We crave to have it back in our life. But if we keep on holding to the grudge, we lose peace & be on the see saw of hurt & nostalgia.

What is the solution then? Forgiveness. Yes, forgiveness it is. Forgiveness heals more than time does. Once you forgive from heart, you will feel free. This freedom brings a sense of joy & peace.

It is your life. Your choice. Why not choose a better path? A path of healthier relationships & true happiness!!!

🙂  🙂  🙂

Happy Teacher’s Day!!!

 

5th September always brings sweet memories of school days. On this day, 9th & 10th standard students used to be teachers to other students & teachers’ used to get a chance to relax & enjoy the festivities. It was so much fun being taught by the senior students & we could not await the day to be Teachers ourselves!

For those who came in late, 5th September is celebrated as Teacher’s Day in India, birthday of Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, who was a renowned scholar & teacher. He went on to become Vice President of India.

Once I read a column on Teacher’s day. The columnist was of the view that, since teachers are not of the same quality as they were at the time of Mr. S. Radhakrishnan, we should stop celebrating Teacher’s Day. I was taken aback by the cynical view point of the author.

Indians have always respected & idolised their teachers. The teachers are not just paid employees in the eyes of the students. They are the gardeners who groom the students. They are our guiding light, who contribute to our overall development & not stick to textbook schooling.

Who can forget the teacher who paid attention to a student who was weak in maths & gave special tuition with no extra cost? Or the teacher who identified our talent for debate / drama & encouraged us to take part in extracurricular activities? Or a teacher who inspired us to take on reading & opened a whole new world to us?

Of course not all teachers fall in this category. But do we stop honouring our teachers only because some teachers are rotten apples?

If such is the case, then we need not respect anyone in this world. Not our so called leaders, doctors or even our parents!

What is required is restore the faith of all in the teaching community. Respect them. Give them better pays & better facilities. Remove the Rotten Apples from the basket but also honour the Good Ones!!!

Happy Teacher’s Day!!!

छलावा …

 

हवा थमी सी थी वक़्त ठहरा हुआ था
मैं चल रही थी अनजानी राह पर
कुछ भी तो नहीं था पास
कोई भी तो नहीं था साथ!
सोचती थी क्या ऐसा ही रहेगा हमेशा?
अचानक ली वक़्त ने करवट
और एक तूफ़ान आया..
हवा ज़ोरों से चली मुझे अपने संग लिए…
इस आंधी से उठी एक ख़ुशी की लहर..
सोचने लगी में ये के बदल गए हालात..
अब कुछ तो था पास, कोई तो था साथ!
अचानक हवा थम गयी और रुक गए मेरे कदम..
बादल छंटे तो देखा वक़्त वहीँ थमा है..
सारा आलम वहीँ था..कुछ भी नहीं था पास, कोई भी नहीं था साथ!
और अब जान गयी हूँ मैं ऐसा ही रहेगा हमेशा!!!

पतझड़ !

 

पेड़ की किस्मत है ये

पतझड़ आने पर

पत्ते भी साथ छोड़ देते हैं…

और बहार आने पर पास आते हैं..

पेड़ की है सिर्फ यही ख्वाहिश..

एक पत्ता तो ऐसा हो

जो पतझड़ में भी साथ निभाए!!!

तलाश

 

मंजिल की तरफ चल पड़े हैं

राह अकेली है अनजानी है

अकेले कटता नहीं सफ़र

एक हमसफ़र की तलाश है

कड़ी धुप में जो छाँव दे

उस बदल की तलाश है

नज़रें ढूंढती हैं उसे चारों तरफ

क्या उसे भी मेरी तलाश है?

Live Another Life..

 

There comes a day in everyone’s life..

Where living is a burden, every breath is forceful..

There seems no meaning to this life where we are hurt & betrayed..

It is suffocating to be considered a misfit in society..

There is only one option left – to kill ourselves..

A hope of starting afresh leads us to the path of Suicide..

But wait, stop & introspect..

Can’t we have that fresh start in this life itself?

Give a purpose to your life..

Live Another Life in this Life itself..

Be Happy!!!

🙂 🙂 🙂

 

Fake or Real???

 

Red is the colour of love. It radiates warmth and a strong sense of vitality. And red is also the colour of the ruby, the king of the gemstones. In the fascinating world of gemstones, the ruby is the undisputed ruler.

For thousands of years, the ruby has been considered one of the most valuable gemstones on Earth. It has everything a precious stone should have: magnificent colour, excellent hardness and outstanding brilliance. In addition to that, it is an extremely rare gemstone, especially in its finer qualities.

It is very difficult for a common man to tell the difference between a real & a fake Ruby.

 

 

If you see the above pictures, one is a fake ruby & one is a real one..The colour & shine are almost same.

Of course an expert in gems would definitely make out which one is real in a second.

Most people will never know the difference between Red Glass & Ruby & wouldn’t matter to them what is it that they own…

Some people would know the difference & wish for the Ruby but get stuck with the Glass either because they can not afford the price of Ruby or they don’t deserve the Ruby..Their destiny is to be with the Glass..

There would be only rare few who would know the real Ruby, understand & appreciate its value & provide a perfet setting of Gold / Platinum for the Ruby..to own it & cherish it!!!

 

So what would you own? Fake? or Real?

🙂 🙂 🙂

 

Back to the Roots!!!

 

A typical Kutchhi meal consists of Bajre Ka Rotla (Millet Bread), Odho (A Brinjal Delicacy, also known as Baingan ka Bharta), Garlic Chutney, Jaggery & Chhas (Butter Milk)!!!

The influence is easy to understand as Millet, Sugarcane & Brinjals grow in abundance in this area. Jaggery not only adds the Sweet Rasa to the meal but it also helps in cooling the body. In many households, guests are welcomed with Jaggery water rather than the fancy sherbets for this reason. Chhas is required to balance the dryness of Bajra Rotis & also to combat the heat of the desert. Nothing cools you off like a glassful of Chhas 🙂

How the garlic chutney was added in this meal is not known..whether it was to add spiciness to the food or it had Kathiawadi influence, is a subject of research..more so because majority of the population in Kutchh is Jain who abhor anything grown under ground 🙂

This kutchhi meal is not restricted to Kutcch..All kutchhi families residing in Mumbai are proud to have this meal as their staple diet inspite of temptations in the form of Pao Bhaji, Chats, & recently Pizzas & Pastas..;-)

A spread of Garlic Chutney on the Bajra Roti would make it an amazing Kutcchi Pizza & it would be drowned with couple of glasses of Kutchhi Beer (i.e. the heavenly buttermilk ;-))

So that was the menu of this Sunday!!!

The Garlic stock was empty at home & hence rushed to the nearby vegetable vendor to get some..Then began the humongous task of peeling the garlics..A quarter kg of garlic stared me in the eyes..I wasn’t deterred by those but removed my weapon from its scabbard, i.e. knife from the stand & started peeling off the skin..some of it stuck to my fingers & it was becoming increasingly difficult to complete the task..Meanwhile my neighbour aunty popped in for a chat..she saw me struggling & gave me a tip to crush the garlic with my hand & the skin would be removed easily..& voila flashback time..I remembered how I used to peel garlic…Then the task was easy peazy..;-)

All the garlic peeled & sitting happily naked in the dish, waiting to be crushed & mated with the red chilli powder 😉

The mixie was plugged & while attaching the jar, I realised that the power was off due to load shedding..There were two options: one, wait for the power to return, which would take another hour or use the good old pestle..And guess what? Pestle it was..Though thought to be strenous, I found it quite easy to make the chutney in the pestle..in fact it was quite fun, easy & did not take much time..

In fact this chutney tasted much better than the mixie made!!!

I asked my neighbour to taste it..She loved it so much that it inspired her to make it at her home as well!!!

There would be one more day where I won’t be lazy & cook something interesting again! Till then, keep drooling!!! 😉

A Day in Mumbai!

An Awesome Day Spent in Mumbai:

1. Get up early around 6 – Leave home by 7.

2. Take a slow local to Dadar. Travel in Second Class.

3. Buy tit bits from hawkers selling stuff in train.

4. Start conversations with random strangers (Not so difficult in Second Class).

5. Reach Dadar. Go to Siddhivinayak Temple on foot. Drink in the smell of the flowers coming from the flower market..Don’t be overwhelmed by the crowd 🙂

6. After the Darshan go to Mahalaxmi Temple via Worli Sea Link. Be mesmerised by the beauty & vastness of the ocean..

7. From Mahalaxmi Temple, go to Snowman’s in Breach Candy on foot..Work up your appetite 🙂

8. Snowman’s is one of the first icecream parlour in Mumbai!

9.  Have your fill of icecream & snacks.

10. Walk on to Cumballa Hill, Malabar Hill right up to Walkeshwar.

11. Check out the most famous place in Walkeshwar..yes guessed it right…Teen Batti!!!

12. From Walkeshwar go to Babulnath Temple. After Dev Pooja, time for some Pet Pooja!!! Best place for this is opposite Babulnath – “Soam” It serves the finest satvik food 🙂

13. It should be evening now & you would be tired after walking for entire day.

14. Go to Chowpatty & just lie down on the sandy beach..sea near your feet & blue sky above..

15. After resting a bit walk along the beach..also give your feet a taste of sea water…

16. Must have Pani puri in the Food Plaza & awesome Golas!!!

17. If your heart desires, have a kulfi from the shop near shiv sagar..unforgettable taste!

18. Take the 108 bus & come to CST station. Enjoy the magical view enroute..

19. Board the train for home..

20. Cherish the moments of the day!

A day well spent…Treasure it forever!!!

 

Dad, Father, Papa, Daddy!

 

Come Mother’s Day & everyone goes mushy as to how much they love their mothers. The profile pictures on the Social Networking Sites are changed to suit the occasion, status updated, feelings tweeted. You get the picture, right?

But on Father’s Day there has been no furore! I can understand guys not too excited ‘coz they always share a awkward relationships with their dads (except the exceptions) but what about girls? As far as I know all girls are little princesses of their dads & dads are their heroes, ain’t it?

If we are cheering for our moms, let’s not forget to cheer for our dads too!

This post is a tribute to all the wonderful dads in the world. As rightly said by someone, First Hero of a son & First Love of a daughter!!!

Dad – A puzzled man who doesn’t know how to react when he knows he’s going to be a father.

Dad – Scared to hold you ‘coz he is worried he will hurt you.

Dad – Goes to work to provide for family & misses all the cherishable moments.

Dad – Stays up all night when you are not well.

Dad – Takes up role of mom when she is not around.

Dad – Narrates bed time stories to you.

Dad – Protects you from scary monsters.

Dad – Cooks yummy food for you.

Dad – Holds your hand when you cross the road.

Dad – Becomes your horse.

Dad – Is your friend, mentor & guide.

Dad – Makes your wishes come true.

Dad – First coach of any sport.

Dad – Cheats so you can win.

Dad – Cries with you during a mushy movie.

Dad – Cries the hardest when you get married & go away.

Dad – Is proudest of your achievement.

Dad – Visits your website daily.

Dad – Comforts when you are sad.

Dad – Gives bear hugs!

Dad – I Love You <3 

 

Face your fears!!

Scared of giving a presentation? Of speaking in public? Trying something new?

GO for it!!! There’s nothing which will take away your fears like plunging in it heads on!

You won’t succeed in first try probably but i am sure you have heard Practice makes man perfect? Cliched but as true as 24 carat gold 😉

All the best for whatever new you decide to try!!!

🙂 🙂 🙂

Change your Focus, Be Happier!

From Birth till Death, we face lots of problems, hurdles, troubles.

They irritate us, annoy us, sadden us.

We speak to our family, friends & bosses about the problems we face.

Everyone has an advice to give.

But Wait! You can do better than that!!!

Instead of thinking how many problems you have, why not think how you are gonna tackle them?

We all have the ability to solve majority of our problems. We just need to search within us for the Solutions.

So, WAKE UP & Look Inside. Ask yourself, Answer yourself.

🙂 🙂 🙂

The Lost Phone!

It has been three days since I have lost my mobile phone.

In the age where people don’t leave their mobile phones even for a second, not even in the loo (as per the tweets I have come across on twitter) this certainly seems to be pretty amazing! 🙂

The first thing I do after waking up (My phone helps me wake up too 😉 ) is to login to twitter & read all the tweets I missed during the night. Throughout the day I never leave my mobile alone (except for certain situations, I am too ladylike to narrate those in public 😉 ).  Smart Mobile phone gives you the freedom of being online 24*7 without the hassle of blocked sites in office / plugging the Laptop at home. Plus there is a daily ritual of talking to a certain friend. And now since Mom is away to sister’s place, the mobile was the only way for communication with her.

The phone is not only for internet or calls! It is my mini music system too! On the way to travel from home or office, it helps me keep refreshed with music of my choice!

Alarm / Tweeting / Chatting / Calls to Friends & Family / Music – This guy is quite a multitasker!!!

No wonder I miss it so much.

But should I replace the phone too soon? or should I test how long I can do without a phone?

Will my friends who are used to talking to me, forget me?

I have books to read so travelling without music will not be a problem.

The only thing I would really miss is twitter. But isn’t this a great time to de-addict myself?

What say guys? Please leave a comment whether I should buy a new phone now or wait for one month.

 

Learn to Enjoy!

Does a change always bring the paranoid side of you?

Are you worrying about the struggle it ensues?

If yes, then you need to learn to enjoy!

Changes makes you shift from the comfort zone.

This ensues struggle. But accomplishment after struggle is the Most Satisfactory!

A Beautiful Butterfly is the outcome of a worm struggling out of the cocoon!

Be the Most Beautiful Butterfly!!!

🙂 🙂 🙂

Apocalypse..

Darkness engulfed her, There was no hope of light..

Days passed, then months, then years, But nothing seemed to be right.

Seasons change they say, And night turns into day..

Autumn turned into spring, And sun was shining on the hay.

She turned towards the sun, And it glowed on her face..

She soaked the brightness, There was no hurry, no race.

Gleaming with happiness, Brimming with Joy..

Astounded by the change, She felt a bit coy.

Scared she was, for seasons would change..

Sun promised not to leave & turned a bit orange.

Both were happy, Both comforted..

They would be together & not deserted.

Little did they knew of the looming eclipse..

The sun turned away at the first glimpse,

For her it was doom, an apocalyse.

 

 

Colour Your World Green!!!

 

We all love our parents, our special ones..still we need one day to celebrate the love through Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Valentine’s Day, etc. We not only show our love on this day but also pledge to do more, care more & love more!!!

Similarly we need to do more, care more & love more for Mother Earth as well!

So friends lets pledge our support on Environment Day!

Lets pledge to make this earth Greener & keep it Greener!!! Remove the Black Prints one at a time!!!

Q. Do I need to become an activist?

Ans. No, if it means taking out morchas, etc..

Yes, if it means being aware & creating awareness!!!

Q. I already am swamped with my work & home duties..Where is the time??

Ans. Incorporate some activities in your routine..No need to do anything extra..

Maybe couple minutes more, but as all say, “No pain, No GAIN!!!”

Q. What kind of activities I can incorporate in my routine?

Ans. There are more than thousands of activities. Choose some. Stick to all.

1. Ensure that there are no leaking taps in your home or office. Get it repaired ASAP.

2. Always turn off the switch of charger once your phone is charged.

3. Always turn off the main switch of TV / PC at home / office. Dont keep it on standby mode.

4. Switch off the monitors when logging off for a short while.

5. Do not litter.

6. Use cloth bags for shopping.

7. Preview before taking prints.

8. Turn off unneeded lights.

9. Purchase appliances with the Energy Star Label.

10. Use CFL Bulbs.

11. Reuse & Recycle.

All these tips not only help save environment but also help reduce your electricity bill. Try this & see the results..You will Surprise yourself!!!!

Remember, YOU CAN DO IT!!!

 

Renewing Relationships!

Relationships are the heart of human life…which support us in facing the hardships of life..

A storm of misunderstandings, betrayals, lack of communication can wreak havoc in a relationship..

But what happens once the storm passes through? Do you rebuild the relationships?

Ask your heart!

Do you love that person enough to forgive? Can you trust that person again? Can you forget the past & start anew?

If yes, don’t miss on Renewing Relationships!!! Be Happy! Stay Happy!!

🙂 🙂 🙂

 

Get a New Interest, Be Interesting!

I have seen many people live their life in a very monotonous way.

They don’t live, they just exist.

New Interests don’t excite them. They have excuses for not taking up new things.

Don’t be one of them. We have one life. Why waste it in boredom?

Take up a new interest, meet like minded people, engage in discussions..

And see how lively your life is!

🙂 🙂 🙂

I Pray!

When we desperately want something & things look out of control,

We desperately pray to our God. We believe that he will answer them.

More often than not, our prayers remain unanswered.

But praying surely does help calm ourselves & distract us from our problems.

Make it a daily ritual. Pray for Peace. Pray for Love. Pray for Happiness.

Pray for Yourself. Pray for Everyone!

🙂 🙂 🙂

Do your BEST!!

 

You wake up every morning with new hopes, new strengths & march towards your goal.

Everyday you would find various hurdles, disappointments, criticisms, humiliations.

They will dishearten you, depress you & move your eyes away from your goal.

At this time you need to remember why are you doing what are you doing.

Do not let anything stop you from doing your best! In the end, this is what counts.

🙂 🙂 🙂

 

All the Best!!!

 

Exams? Marriage? New Job? One phrase surrounds you most at these times!

All The Best!!

People think wishes don’t matter, hardwork does.

But think for a moment, so many people wishing you all the best..

Doesn’t it create a positive energy? Doesn’t it make you happy?

Doesn’t it make you work harder & be more hopeful?

So next time someone wishes you, thank them from your heart for their blessings 🙂

 

Love in the time of Monsoon!

 

The tear drops spilled out of the almond eyes,

The scorching heat dried them up.

Still the stain on the cheeks betrayed her lies,

The mascara streaks couldn’t cover them up.

She longed for the monsoon & the heavenly rains,

The rains which would not be like the flowing stream,

The rains which would pour like a glowing dream.

These rains would let her cry & hide her tears,

These rains would drench her dreams & her fears.

And then the day arrived which would fulfill her wish,

The clouds burst, frogs croaked & peacocks spread their feathers,

The trees waved & earth with its green cloak looked quite a dish.

She got drenched to the core & cried with the rains,

And didn’t notice him watching her quietly behind the curtains.

Her tears soaked something inside of him,

He went & hugged her on a whim.

He turned out to be her knight in shining armour,

And she his muse, his princess & his amour!!!

 

Rendezvous with Goa!!!

 

If wishes were horses, beggars would ride goes a famous English proverb. It literally means that if one could readily have what they want, life would be easy & we all know that wishes are not fulfilled so easily! But sometimes they do…A White Stallion comes along your way & you simply have to enjoy the ride 😉

Being a avid reader, I have travelled many places over the globe in my mind but there are some places which I actually want to visit. Beaches have always fascinated me & Goa, dotted with beautiful beaches, has always been one of those places..

A chance discussion between my sister & her sister in law on Facebook led to planning their birthday celebration in Goa.

After my sis had done all the meticulous planning, we were set to Go Goa!!! She had designed a fab itinerary & set our mouth drooling for all the excitement that laid ahead of us!!!

Friday was the day we were to set sail & it was very hectic to cover the day’s job well in time to board the bus for Goa in the evening!

The Joy ride started with playing games in the bus & having mom made sandwiches (None of us had proper food during the day to make up for leaving early & packing hassles). After much rocking & rolling the bus reached Mapusa at 10. From there straight to our resort in Goa. The Resort was pretty & the view from our room was just breathtakingly awesome!

The birthday girls were ready to move to the beach immediately but we had something else in store for them..By the time they got ready, we had arranged for Cakes, Bouquets & Champagne.

The surprised & happy look on their faces was priceless!

Time to move the celebrations to the beach!

The beach was beautiful & in spite of being heavily crowded was surprisingly clean..

After drinking in the view, it was time for some Adventure Sports..

Water Bikes, Banana Boats & Paragliding was the menu for the day…

Water Biking was the most adventurous I could get 😉

After all the fun & adventure, we were famished & went reluctantly to have some lunch..But the day was not over yet. We returned to the resort & headed for a dip in the swimming pool..God had also conspired for us to have good time & showered his blessings in the form of rain..

We enjoyed in the pool till we wrinkled up like a raisin! The only motivator for us to leave the pool was an evening filled with music & dance in the most happening club in Goa!

I was visiting a club for the first time & It was a mind blowing experience! The Music, people, ambience & the dance floor all were an exhilarating experience & inspired a non dancer like me to Twist a bit 😉

The mind was still willing to indulge but the bodies were tired after all we had been through the day. Our sleep was induced with dreams of Sun, Sand & Sea!!!

The next day was for sight-seeing..In a short span of time we covered Fort Aguada, Aguada Jail, Panjim, Dona Paula..

All places were best places for photo sessions & we had a blast taking in the view & preserving it in our cameras..

But the best memory was having lunch at Delhi Darbar. It was finger licking delicious & I simply had to say I M Lovin’ it 😉

For all those who have never been to Goa, I would recommend them to visit the place at least once & for myself can’t wait to have a major vacation in Goa to pack in what we had left behind this time!!!

Till Then – Goa Esperame!!!

 

Ghevar – A La Moi!

 

Cooking is a lot like Love – You need to enter into it with total abandon – half hearted efforts don’t give good results 😉

I have always enjoyed cooking since I was quite young..It was a thing of curiosity, a thing of necessity and always had mystery around it..

And it helped that whatever I cooked turned out to be more than decent, tasty most of the times..& when your labour of love is enjoyed by all, it gives you immense satisfaction!!!

Over the years, I had lost touch with my most favourite activity..yes, I cooked sometimes but it was only when mom was not around to do so..

I had been so occupied with my work that the desire to cook was buried deeply in a box which had been locked for a long time..

The first time when the desire popped its head out of the box was while watching Masterchef India..It was amazing how day to day ordinary cooking was turned into an art!!!

Still, the desire had not made way to action..Lately the fire has started burning & need to put a stove on it 😉

The one dish on MC India that fascinated me was Ghevar, looks so simple yet so difficult to prepare..

Thanks to nishamanjulika.com for the easy to understand recipe, I armed myself with all the ingredients required to make Ghevar..

I was also attempting making Rabdi for the first time, as a garnish to my Ghevar..

So Almonds & Pistachios chopped finely, milk kept on boil for rabdi, now Ghevar time..

A herculean attempt to whip Ghee & Milk to the extent they become one..Note to Self: Need an electronic beater 🙂

Whipping with spoon wasn’t helping & hence had to whisk with hand..At one time i was wondering whether these two will ever come close 😉 He He..

Meanwhile was stirring the milk, so it doesn’t feel unloved..<3

Finally, the milk & ghee relented & I heaved a sigh of relief..Mixed the flour & made a nice batter with perfect consistency..

Now the time to make the Sugar Syrup..

Testing (& Tasting as well) whether it was to two thread consistency was a sweet task as had to lick the syrup off the fingers 😉 😉

Now came the hardest part – making the actual Ghevar..

How hard i tried but the batter refused to create “Jalis” (A mesh like consistency)..Anyway, the taste was quite good (Papa Speaks)..So Far So Good!!!

Well the attempt looked nothing like Ghevar but I did not relent till the batter was quite finished..

Ungarnished Ghevar

I know, Marwaris would kill me to call this a Ghevar, but i would call it Ghevar A La Moi!!!

Garnished with rabri & rich dryfruits did make it look appealing & the taste was yum!!!


Ghevar with Rabdi

Enjoy!!!

 

It is Time!

It is time to break free from the womb of your comfort zone..

It is time to forget your past..

It is time to not to think of future..

It is time to live in the present..

To savour new taste, take in new smells,

To feel new emotions, sense new touches,

To see new sights..

To walk in the new world with baby steps till you are able to fly..

It is time to be that child again..

Nostalgia..

 

Walking & Talking, Walking & Talking till we reached the end of road…

Interesting conversations sometimes, sometimes you just croaked like a toad..

The greens smiled with us, The blues just envied..

I would play pranks while you got livid..

The rain showers drenched us but your love drenched me more..

Seeing you with some one else was just an eye sore..

Every moment spent with you was Utopia..

Now I am left with just nostalgia!

 

New Girl in the Old City!!!

 

Talking about London, Paris & New York, reminded me of one of my most favourite city in India. The city which made me fell in love with it. A city which always will be a Happy Place for me. 🙂

In January 2009, I was shipped to Bangalore for 3 Weeks! My first thought was how I would survive for 3 looooooooong weeks without my beloved Mumbai, & without my Aai 🙂
 
The only comforting thought was that I would get to meet my dearest cousin, my best friend from childhood  & spend quality time with my bua, cousin, sister in law & my cute niece!!!
 
There was also a dream (of course due to the Mills & Boons impressions) that i will meet my special someone in a strange city 😉 Well, it’s still a dream but made my travel light & easy <3
 
I travelled through train & was hoping to see interesting sights on the long journey..However, all the people in my compartment were hell bent on sleeping for the entire duration of journey & I couldn’t see anything beyond Kolhapur..
 
By the way, was very excited to see Kolhapur..Had heard so much about it..Kolhapuri Chappal, Kolhapuri Mirchi & the black sand, etc..I also wanted to have something of Kolhapur, so had a vada pav (Proud Fan) at Kolhapur station..But it was bland beyond imagination..My one thought was no one can beat Mumbai as far as Vada Pav goes 😉
 
Well, then stuffed myself with Bourbon biscuits..Mom had packed some sandwiches but they got stale due to the heat..
 
Off to sleep & M & B dreamland..:-) Till landed at Bangalore City Station.
 
Tired as Hell But Eager to meet team..In the end Rest @ Guesthouse won! I loved my room, It was airy & spacious & had a huge window. And thus began my paid vacation 😉
 
Still remember the south indian breakfast at Sandhya, the awesome sandwiches, Sapota (Chikoo) Milkshakes, continental breakfasts at CCD, hunting for good places to eat..:-), all you can eat buffet at Masala Chowk (Eva Mall) – Had a first look at real Chocolate Fountain! Was mesmerised <3, MTR Ki Coffee, its amazing how they serve ghee in a tiny bowl & the tiny 1 Rs coin sized dalwada are just so yummy!!!
 
Also did some sight seeing on my own..Garuda & Forum Mall, Brigade Road, Lalbaugh Botanical Garden (Was fortunate to visit during the Flower Show)
 
The Flower Show was something.. I just got delirious looking at all the different types of flowers!
 
Weekends were usually spent at my cousin’s place & what a surprise that my NRI, newly wedded cousin, was there too with his wife. Had a great time recreating our childhood by playing silly games & loads of laughing!  

 
Visiting the Banerghatta National Park with them was the best part of my visit!
 
Of Course, I worked too during the week days, in case anyone was wondering 😉
 
I had grown too fond of my team & most of all Bangalore..As my day to return to Mumbai was approaching, I was feeling sad to leave & what do you know? Got an extension of a week to stay!!! Was Loving it 🙂
 
But all good things come to an end! Also, was badly missing mom ke haath ka khana..Thought If I saw Idli for one more time, I would just puke 🙂
 
My Last Day was on Saturday, 7th February, when we were also celebrating Rose Day in the office!!! I was returning back by Flight, my first time ever..
 
I had got a whiff that my team was planning something for me so I had to go to office plus had to do packing & collect the famous Mysore Pak for everyone back home & also get roses as we were celebrating Red Day + Rose Day. My bua had given me shukan money & I got a lovely red top from Revolution to celebrate the Red Day 🙂

When I reached office, a huge white teddy bear was waiting for me on my work station & one by one the gifts started pouring in..I got a Will Miss You card, a handwritten poem, a painting, a pen stand with a barometer & a lovely saree. Also got 6 red roses from one of my team member, a fibre red heart on a stick from another & a yellow rose each from everyone else.

And as if that was not enough, they gathered & sang a Song for me, Chalte chalte mere ye geet yaad rakhna…considering where most of them don’t even speak Hindi, it was too overwhelming…

Then I had to rush to guest house & fit in all the gifts in my bags..:-) It didn’t help that I had a bagful of books, which I bought from Landmark!!! My house mates managed somehow with my luggage & then I left for airport. They had planned earlier to give me Bangalore Darshan but since there was a huge traffic on that day & we were already short of time, just went straight to the airport. My colleague was there till I entered the gate. After that it was a cake walk as my sister & sister in law both had told me what to do next..

I got my boarding pass & a window seat, collected tags, went for security check & then roamed around the waiting lounge..I didn’t feel anything extra ordinary..it was just like walking in a mall..:-)

My seat was in the middle row & there was a wing right beside me so I could not see much..But as I had settled in my seat, I did not ask to change my seat..just turned my head in the window behind me & took in the view..

The view was amazing, specially when we were flying above the clouds & also when we were about to land in Bombay. The view of the sea from the plane was absolutely amazing..

And thus ended my paid vacation, which has left sweet memories to savour!!!

 

London Paris New York

 

Three Fascinating cities. Three Fascinating Nights. Two people. One Love Story.

Before Sunrise. Before Sunset. Hum Tum. London Paris New York.

Different Movies. Same Premise. Makes us believe if you are meant to be, you will be 🙂

Before Sunrise & Before Sunset were sweet & innocent movies. And to know if they would finally be together, we would need another sequel.

LPNY was more nearer to these movies then Hum Tum.

Since its release, I had been longing to watch it. For Paris & for Ali Zafar.

MBKD had made a mockery of Ali Zafar, I wanted to see more of him on big screen & Paris is my dream city.. I would never miss to watch it.

Today, thanks to my dear Tata Sky, got to watch it!

And it was amazing – a true rom com, which puts a smile on your face when it ends…

The script was “Different”, edgier than what you see in the run of the mill rom coms, I specially loved the Paris part.

Acting wise, Ali Zafar didn’t disappoint & Aditi Rao Hydari was a real gem. Sad that the media promotes the talentless Katrina Kaifs & Nargis Fakhris & ignores real talent like Aditi. The ones who have seen her in Delhi 6, Rockstar & Ye Saali Zindagi would surely agree with this, I think.

 And what bollywood love stories would be complete without songs? But the songs in this movie are not for the sake of it, they are woven in the script at the right place & take the story forward.

All in all a superb movie, which engages you right from scene one & you don’t want to live tweet it but enjoy every moment without distraction 🙂

 

 

Material Girl???

Chandelier Earrings dangled,
Where once sweet  nothings tingled..
Kohl filled eyes hid the sadness of the byes..
Lip Gloss shined leaving the memories of wet kisses behind..
Who missed the warm hug?
She had this jacket cosy & snug..
True there was no walking hand in hand,
She had fancy boots where once there was sand..
In the eyes of the world,
She was a Material Girl..
But she knew in her heart,
She was really a Lonely Girl!

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My Own Top Ten Twitter Celeb List!

Much furore was raised on Twitter when Oulook magazine released its version of Twitter Gods.

As my Twitter God says, why make an issue, just look it as the list of Outlook’s favourite Tweeples!

And that made me thinking of my favourite Tweeples, Celebs in their own right!

They are witty, smart, intelligent, humorous & make my Twitter World perfect! A Follow back from them gave me a mini heart attack 🙂

Wanna Meet them??

1. @bizzarebhide: He – My Twitter God. Me – His Stalker 😉 A comment on my freshly created handle, “A Culinary Innovative Delight” made me check out his tweets. I was amazed at his witty tweets & sense of humour. He was the first person I followed on Twitter. His tweets & blogs have made me his fan. 🙂

2. @SirExtraCheese: The first thing I loved about this handle was the word Extra Cheese. I always love extra cheese with my pizza :-). But what I loved most was when I had asked something about baked lays & he replied, “Lets say hi first”. His tweets are nice, sweet, crazy & always make me smile. He writes lovely poems & is a mindblowing photographer. Multi Talented yet so Down to Earth!

3. @mochaccino: She is my dear dear mo & I am her chilly balls 😉 Not just another coffee handle – She is the cutest person I have EVER met. You will surely fall in love with her tweets & get addicted to just like caffeine. My timeline is very boring without her!

4. @HandleNotFound: I met her as @iWritingGirl. Her writing is just WOW! Not many girls/women have guts to write on supposedly “bold” topics. But she does & with such aplomb! She makes my Timeline HAWT!!!

5. @Hitlerbai: She is one bold chick. And funny And cute. I just love her replies to Paulo Coelho’s spanish tweets & also her after sleep plans. I literally roll on floor with laughter!

6. @teraKaminaDost: Though the handle says Kamina, there is nothing kamina about this guy. Share a common grievance of not getting auto in the morning 😉 Roz raat barah baje Santa Banta inhein milne aate hain!

7. @Mindd_it: Our own Rajnikant of Twitter – Mind it! His most famous tweet: “O meri aan, o meri uun” is like a lullaby 😉

8. @pal36: Adi Guru of Twitter. Lord Dattatreya had 24 gurus, he probably has 240+ who tell him what they learnt 😉 His daily question, What Did You Learn Today (#WDYLT) has made me more aware of my learnings of the day & I quite look forward to share it with him 🙂

9. @14_yr_Old_Etard: Followed & Unfollowed him quite a few times due to some of his outrageous views but decided that the outrageous tweets are a tiny fraction as compared to the wisdom he doles out. His blogs are interesting as well. Not 14 year old. Not a retard definitely.

10. @SimpooSir: One handle on which I agree with Outlook completely. His innocent zokes & peezays will definitely make you smile if not laugh. He has answers to all questions including where do you find a soulmate – Mochi ke paas bhai!

Happy Following 🙂