Gallavanting through Gujarat

I have been very long in posting and although I'm quite sure that no one even noticed nor did any one miss me I shall still proceed to bore you with details of my little trip to Gujarat that left me noticeably poorer and fatter.

We were there on an official trip to interview people in one go. The basic idea was to find enough manpower to kickstart the new project. We are yet to decide on the final numbers although we did do enough interviewing to last me a couple of months.

Since Boss lady and Ms. Sunshine were with me went shopping and boy, did I shop! 11 Shirts for myself from the Loot, a brand new bedcover from Gurjari, a new bedsheet as well, 6 Salwar suit pieces for all the women in my life, socks and also pedas from Rajkot.

We also stayed at some of the best hotels where I had the most amazing buffet meals I've ever eaten.

The best was a Praline noughat souffle that I ate at the Azure in the Surya Palace.

the most interesting find was a shop that sold peanuts, 23 different varieties of Masala peanuts - whacky flavors like lime and lemon, onion and even masala noodles! It also had 7 seriously yucky sweet flavors like strawberry and coconut - trust me stick to the masala flavored ones if you know what's god for you. The shop is locate dnext to Fame Multiplex in the only high street in Bharuch.

That's about it though. also manged to see "AVATAR" - in Hindi. Even with that massive handicap, it was still mindblowing!

The best place for neck ties

I've always hated having to buy ties from a limited range. I 've finally found a great store dedicated solely to Ties and cufflinks. ICEGOLA in Grand Mall. They have a great collection. The best part is that they have a number of different sections. Sort of like a bookstore.

I found a really cute tie in the themes section. It was called Murder. It started out white and as it went on it became a light dove grey. At the very end was a drain with a few drops of blood scattered around it. I wonder who would have the guts to wear it though, especially since it was priced at Rs.1199/-

The cufflinks were to die for though. And the solid colors section was straight out of the Tie rack in Kal ho na Ho that Saif's charachter flips through in search of the perfect red tie.

Do visit, even though you might not buy anything. It's worth a look.

Living life dangerously

Dear Reader,

Sometimes you have to trust your fate to take where you never wanted to go. Sometimes it's necessary to trust your heart and let it take you to a place where you wouldn't normally have gone. Even if it's for a little while.

I went on a blind date this weekend and I guess I've found a friend who I can actually talk to. Maybe the healing will take time but I'm quite sure that I will heal.

If I'm proven wrong, I'll just go back to the drawing board, square one, start afresh. But this time, I feel that I can talk. And be heard. That someone actually wants to listen. Is that wrong???????????

Do tell me.

Love,
Nikihil J

Good Riddance to Bad Rubbish

My ex fiancee got engaged to her so called ex boy friend. Reminds of that crappy SMS joke. A hen and a pig went out together. They kissed on the way home.

At the end of the week the hen died of swine flu and the pig died of bird flu. Ajab prem ki ghazab kahani!

I'm a confirmed shopaholic. Shopaholics anonymous is welcome to contact me!

I hearby solemnly swear that I am a confirmed shopaholic. I cannot, simply cannot visit a shopping area and not shop.
I went to the IITF on the 27th with my adopted Mum who is equally hopeless. We barely went into any of the state pavilions and spent most of our time in Halls 18 and 12 where there were stalls from Pakistan, China, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Iran, UAE, Turkey, Thailand and many more countries whose names I shall refrain from recounting to avoid this post turning into a geography lesson :)
The best buys of the day were - Vanilla incense from Thailand, Leather fur lined booties from Afghanistan for my nephew Gupichup, Black vases and a bunch of beautiful paper flowers from China, Jamdanis at throw away prices from Bangladesh, Reebok shoes at 1500 a pair (the ones that retail for 3500 + at the stores), spices from Pakistan, Exquisite blue kurta material from Gujarat, Handmade brooches and saffron from Iran, Embroidered chiffon from Turkey.
In my defense I spent a total of Rs.5000/- net and i look at it as my contribution to the improvement of the world economy. And we did this in just 6 hours. Next year we plan to go for three days :)

I made someone feel better today...

I usually return home in the company cab. Today we were waiting for one of the junior colleagues to come as she had called up to say that she would be a little late. She turned up crying. I don't know why she was crying but I gave her some water and a chocolate I had in my bag. She thanked me when she got off. I felt good because I was able to make someone feel better.

When I reached the head office I found that my boss was in bad shape. Tired and wilting. I bought her a packet of cookies from the cafeteria. She was really grateful. She was even more grateful for my presence when she got a call informing her that her brother in law had expired. I stayed around to see her off.

I'm happy I'm me. I'm happy that I was able to make someone feel better.

Freedom is priced at four lakh rupees, cancellation charges included

The bile is rising in my throat as I write this. A very odd title for a post isn't it? But then this is no ordinary post. It is a post where I freely admit that I was wrong. Wrong about the person that I had chosen to marry a few months ago. And also in which I can safely say without any residual guilt that I was right.
I was right when I decided to end my engagement. She just was not worth it. Not worth the heartache and tears that I went through, not worth the prayers and the mannats.
My Dad went to the hometown a few days ago. The girl's parents went to great lengths to set up a meeting. They wanted reimbursements of all the real and imaginary expenses that they had incurred.
And the worst part is that my Dad paid up whatever they asked for. Four Lakh rupees. Including the cancellation charges for the wedding hall that they had booked. That was the price in monetary terms that was paid for my freedom. Who the bloody hell is going to account for my emotional scarring?

Of this and that and everything in between

My closest family and friends view me as someone who is extremely level headed and analytical. They think that I am instinctive, true to myself, logical, sweet and perceptive. nothing could be further from the truth.
When I look in the mirror I see a cynical, hard-bitten  bitter man. I see a pair of black eyes that are perpetually hurt because some one or the other has walked all over my feelings and made my black eyes blue. I see a pudgy little eight year old who masquerades as an adult and who's seen more of life than most people do in several lifetimes.

Why is it that the people around most often mistake the signs that are so obvious? Why is that when they see you hurt and bruised and smiling they think you're brave when all you're trying to do is keep from letting your eyes betray your verity? Why does it hurt when you're good intentions are taken in a different spirit altogether? Why do you feel that the world has come to an end when a friendship that you always knew was sustained by your incessant efforts to make it work crumbles? Why do I see people beyond their external trappings for what they really are? Why do I get hurt?

It's one of those days.....

One of those days, when the sun comes out but leaves you cold,
One of those days when you have food in your belly and you're hungry for more
One of those days when laughter makes you want to cry and you want to crawl under a quilt
One of those days when the birds are silent and your head is screaming
One of those days when your heart aches and you don't know what for
One of those days when every truththat you had put away comes and hits you smack in the face
One of those days when life is less worthy and your riches true
One of those days when energy deserts you and your solitude bites
One of those days when its not just the sky that's blue
One of those days when I sorely miss u

Here, there and everywhere........

I've been all over the place. Quite literally. I got back from Chennai on the 6th and since then life has been a crazy whirlwind that has simply swept me off in its wake. We landed at the Delhi Airport tired and hungry. Jet lite didn't have enough food to go around. But even in my sleep deprived state I managed to recognise Anita Ratnam. Yes people,the daneuse is even more graceful in real life. She was wearing beautiful fawn colored trousers and the most beautiful chocolate colored shawl that shimmered in the glare of the harsh Airport lighting.
My colleague got her autograph while I managed to get tongue tied and ended up with just a memory. Well I guess the memory is better. At least that's for keeps. Untill age catches up :)
I shifted into my new home last Sunday. It's even more elegant now that I've cleaned it up and bought some stuff and inhabited it. I managed to find some truly beautiful things for the place. An exiquisite black bedspread covered in a mosaic of zari border squares that I use as a rug,a blue and white quilt that is unbelievably soft, a kantha worked bedsheet that I've turned into a curtain, A huge ceramic mug with a daisy on it that does duty as toothbrush holder, four eclectically designed black and white mugs that I use for my morning coffee and a packet of powder blue tealights that once lit release the most sensuous fragrance into the air.
In the gifts department I found a silent cream shawl with biscuit colored squares woven into the fabric itself and a lovely scarf in shades of blue, grey and ice green.
I've filled up a corner of the home with some metal musicians and a staid black and white laundry bag.
It's incomplete, It's small, It has just me for company but it's home and I love coming back. Its one of the reasons that I don't update as regularly as i used to.
I've yet to find a gym. Hope I find one soon......
Happy Diwali :)

Madras Musings - 2

I had another good day today. First I was able to give a good presentation to the junta at the Plant, then Ms.Sunshine went to her friend's place so I didn't have to bother about her.

The senior colleague and I went out. I was dying for another Mocha nut smoothie and senior colleague obliged by driving me to FunkJazzz :)

I pigged out on veggie nuggets, onion rings, doughnuts and a Mocha nut smoothie. We then stopped at Fashion Park in Besant Nagar and bought T Shirts that were as soft as a baby's bottom. God I love export surplus maal.

I decided to treat senior colleague so we stopped off at Cake walk where we had a desert feast comprising of Irish Mocha pastry, carrot and walnut cake, cashew tart and a butterscotch krimpet. Yummy!

Dinner was surprisingly good. The Guest house cook outdid himself and gave us edible dal, stir fried bitter gourd and mixed vegetables. Warm chapatis straight off the girdle were the icing on the cake.

I go back to Gurgaon tomorrow. I'll be shifting pretty soon. Untill then, Au revoir!

Madras Musings

I had a really good day today. As I write this the sea spray is slowly seeping into my skin and the sand from Marina Beach is tickling my toes, but at the same time I have to write about today.

I'm in Chennai or Madras. At the risk of irking the ire of some stupid fundamentalist or the other,(oblique reference to the Wake Up Sid controversy where Mumbai was called Bombay and then Karan Johar apologised to the Thakrey Thugs blah di Blah blah..), i shall now continue to regale you with my Madras Musings.

The day began early at 3:30 a.m.I had to get up early. I had a plane to catch at 6:45 a.m. and I had no intention of being late. Thank fully the Taxi arrived on time bearing my colleague Ms.Sunshine and we got to the Airport in time to grab a coffee and cookies from Baker Street. I also got myself an Almond and Raisin Muffin which was actually teeming with roasted almonds and was worth every paisa.

We reached Madras at about 10:00 a.m. They say that Madras has three kinds of weather Hot, Hotter and Scorching. But thanks to the Judicious use of Airconditioning we were able to beat the trials of the inclement weather.

After a solid breakfast consisting of a perfect omlette and toast, I settled down for a F.R.I.E.N.D.S Marathon on Star world / Zee Cafe. I had lunch with Ms.Sunshine and her friend Ms.Rude and a senior colleague who later took us out in his Car.

Lunch does not bear mentioning. It was the kind of trash that you get when you put a Gujrati cook in to the kitchen and expect him to churn out a South Indian meal.

While S & R shopped in Nallis and then in the GRT gold shop I experimented with street food eating tiny onion filled samosas priced at a rupee each. I had about 15 of them. I then ate raw mango slices laced with chili and lemon. Yummy!And no I'm not pregnant :P

Eating continued to dominate. I had peanut chat and mixed veg pakoras at Mariuna beach and then the most amazing Mocha nut smoothie at FunkJazzz which is located bang opposite Marina Beach. FunkJazzz also has the most delectable doughnuts and a killer Banana Oat smoothie that is simply superb.

We finished off the day with Idlis, Vadas and Coffee at Murugan Idli Shop. R & S lost a little of their bitchiness by the end of the day and I am planning to get a thank you card for the senior colleague tomorrow. I'm also going to go and get another smoothie.

All in all today has been a great day.

My life - the way I wanted it to be.......

My life has changed. I have gone from being enegaged to being single, from being able to talk to my friends and family to being shunned, from professional doghouse to having the time of my life.

I shifted back to Gurgaon.I didn't like leaving pune but then a new job offer came my way that was too good to pass up. I joined the new job with zero expectations. And by, the way things have gone, I couldn't have asked for more.

My new coworkers and boss are essentially good people. My induction plan includes a free 15 day stay at the guest house that is nothing less than a five star hotel. it has a gym, a music room, LCD TVs in the rooms, fabulous bathrooms, excellent staff and superlative service. There's a cab facility and subsidized breakfast and lunch. If I had my way I would probably put it on the best places to work list.

I've even manged to find a place to stay in Gurgaon. A cute little newly constructed 1 BHK on the second floor that includes a sweet little balcony and an even sweeter kitchen.

In short my life is slowly taking on the shape that I wanted it to, I can only hope that my streak of good fortune stays a while....

"Why be happy when you can be normal?"

I did the unthinkable a few weeks ago. Not only did I leave my Job for better prospects I also broke my engagement. It was something that my parents could never understand. Least of all my Father. Papa. Extremely caring and extremely rigid. A man who made his own choices and only at the fag end of his life does he realise that the mistakes that he made have exacted a bigger price than what he was willing to pay.

I ended my engagement not because I suddenly realised that I am in love with someone else or any of those pathetic flimsy reasons but because I realised that as individuals we were only destined to make each other unhappy. We would have probably harped at each other, fought, flung accusations, and wished we would never have gotten married.

She had no interest. In movies, books, cooking, working, studying or in me. She wanted unswavering attention, she wanted to be told that she is the best, she wanted wanted and wanted but she did not want to give. Anything. Neither love, nor support nor a sense of completeness.

To all purposes she wanted to simply float through life on a cloud without any regards to realities or the place that we are in life.

So I took the difficult decision to make life better for myself. I made the decision to break the alliance. In the eyes of traditional Indian society, I have committed harakiri. In my eyes I have comitted the sin of wanting to be happy......

Pune Potterings III - treasure hunting on J M Road

Hey dear readers. I'm back. Where have I been? Nowhere. I've just been enjoying my own company that's all.

I quit my current job. I was relieved on 12th September and my next job is taking me back to Gurgaon. I was fairly happy in Pune but then very practical considerations made the move necessary.

As with any new job I had to go in for a pre - employment check up and the clinic was located on J M Road. Junglee Maharaj Road, if you're a stickler for names. J M Road is a lot like D P Road in Aundh, only more commercialized with a lot more eateries of all shapes and sizes. The only thing is that the SRL clinic is located at the very end of the road and if you want a ride back to Aundh you have to walk the entire length down otherwise you end up paying double.

Since my finances are quite obviously constrained at this point of time, I walked the entire length and at the end I wasn't sorry that I did so because I had found quite a few treasure troves.

The first stop off point was at 'a steamy affair' a small roadside kiosk that sells among other things a killer authentic south indian style coffee. The other highlights are ten different varieties of idli and various types of dosa as well. Everything at rock bottom prices.

My next stop was at Baskin Robbins. I rate it as one of my best Baskin Robbins experiences as I was able to get a double scoop of Banana Caramel which hadn't turned grainy and was quite fresh.

A little later and I was in possession of the best cinnamon roll that I have ever had the good fortune to taste. It cost barely ten rupees and came from a small non descripit bakery called 'Bake house' which is seriously underrated.

I finished my culinary tour with fabulous momos at China gate. Needless to say my weighing scale and my gym instructor both protested this morning but then it was worth it.

And the best part is that almost the Entire length of J M Road is shaded by trees so walking along the road even in a light drizzle is an experience in itself. Do go if you have the time.

A little bit of restless rheumatism in my soul

I'm not well inside. I've got an ache in my throat that refuses to go away. I feel a little bit let down by myself. I'm not able to make up my mind as to what I should be doing? Should let things go or should I continue living what I know is a lie?
I've got a little bit of restless rheumatism in my soul. And right now, I have absolutely no idea what to do. I want to cry, I want to laugh, I want to wander the streets looking for an answer. I have no idea who I am and who I've become. I've changed, inexplicably so. What I really, really want to do is cry. Cry untill eternity comes.......

Pune Potterings - II

Is it just me or is Swine flu a little overrated? I mean I can totally get that its a pandemic and everything but do we need to contribute to the Panic? Does the media have to blow everything out of proportion?
I think it's probably because there are so many MCPs around and they're afraid that they are more susceptible to it is probably what's causing the Panic. What's ur take?

Why I love 'Fashion' (The Priyanka Chopra starrer that was the dark horse at numerous awards shows)

Apart from the bling, the booty on display and the debauchery that has been so successfully put on film? I love it because of the finale. That point where Meghna is poised to go down the ramp for her make or break sequence and she gets a call saying that her friend's dead and instead of breaking down and flubbing it, she walks and boy does she walk! She saunters down the runway like the pro that she is and she rebuilds her career.
That scene had me rooting for Meghna, it was like not only did Meghna's career depended on her walking everyone's hopes did too. Anybody watching that shot cannot fail to be moved by the sheer grit and determination that's needed to make difficult decisions, and not just difficult, but life altering!
Its become my tagline, if Meghna could do it, So can I. Kudos Priyanka and Kudos Madhur. Love ya guys.

Sexism is alive and well, thank u very much for not asking!

And here I thought MCPs existed only within the boundaries of the NCR. I hate to say this but I have absolutely no choice, they exist outside that hallowed territory and boy, do they make their presence felt.
I came bang up against the one of the biggest examples this morning and did I hate it. He parades around in the guise of a benevolent grandpa but underneath that sweet and sunny exterior lies a true blue MCP. In all other respects the man is beyond reproach and has enough power up his sleeve to pack a punch when he wants to but then why did he have to go and spoil his image by behaving like a bloody pack rat? Why I ask you? And when the hell am I going to get out of my habit of putting people on a pedestal?

Polka Dots - Continental Cuisine at its best

Ideally I don't move out of my comfort zones. I usually stay within the parameters of my perphery when it comes to food. But if, like me, u live and work on a bustling high street that doesn't exactly lack anything when it comes to culinary experiences then the urge to experiment takes over and you find your self bending your steps towards the bright lights of some restaurant or the other.

Polka Dots is a fairly upscale bistro/ cafe that serves pure continental cuisine. The chef has a flair for presentation and the Menu is heavy with Non - Vegetarian fare. But the clincher is the desert selection. And what desert.

Butter crumble apple pie that is just right, served with a scoop of vanilla icecream, Pistachio and blueberry souffle, Tiramisu to die for, Coffee and raisin souffle, Philadelphia cheesecake, Death by chocolate and Chocolate walnut pie that simply melts in your mouth.

The Menu has some traditional Indian fare as well but then it doesn't quite cut the mustard. Nothing beats the Vegetable Lasagne with Garlic bread. Authentic Garlic Bread, freshly made. Heavenly!

A Meal for two sets you back by about Rs.600 - 700. Saturdays and Sundays sees the place packed so don't go there in a hurry. The experience is to be savored.

Location - Between Parihar chowk and D P Road, opposite the turn that leads to the Convergys building.

Bon Apetit!

Cafe Rendezvous - a tryst with taste

Tucked away behnd the bustle of McDonalds and the roar of traffic is a little cafe that has bravely held its own in a back corner of Stellar Enclave on D P Road in Aundh. The Cafe is 'manned' by two highly capable female staff who make the items to order, serve, clean and take the cash.
The menu - that's an experience unto itself. Maggi made in seventeen different varieties, Omletes that melt in the mouth, rolls and grilled sandwiches that are non-paraleil, food that is clean, hygienic, tasty and reasonably priced. (Prices range from Rs.15 to Rs.55. )
A veritable paradise for people new to the city and who want a taste of familiarity along with the option of something traditional and inherently new.
If you're craving comfort food there's nothing like Maggi to perk you up. From the days when you'd put in all nighters for the tenth boards to those halycon days of college, when there'd one pan, four spoons and a long night ahead- Maggi probably played a huge role in your life. They've got that typical Maggi but they also make it with a number of different addons. Net result - I had Maggi for 17 days straight but didn't get bored.
Breakfast is truly fun, I had their Poha but their omletes are truly mind blowing. Perfectly cooked with the right amount of spices, their cheese and tomato omletes are to die for. They serve it with eight quarters of exquisitely buttered, fresh white bread that tastes like its straight out of the oven.
Done up in red and black, the ambience is ably complemented by the gorgeous Pune weather.
Nothing beats having a freshly made omlete and coffee as the rain beats down incessantly.
Overlook the place only if you like to lose out on the good things in life.

Pune Potterings - I

Yay! I've shifted to Pune! Why did I do that? Simple - the promise of more cash, more freedom, a better job profile and all that jazz.
I hated my previous job, hated it enough to spend four endless, interminable, mind numbing months looking and looking and looking again on Job Portals, on Job sites, calling consultants endlessly with the specific aim of finding a job for myself. My dear boss turned a blind towards my efforts with the express intention of getting me out his hair. Yes, we had a mutual admiration society going there.
So here I am, with a brand new laptop, a data card, oodles of free time and a love of all things free and fair.
The pathetic politics, the trashy jokes and the sick way that my boss would place his hand on my shoulder when dictating vitreous emails to all and sundry are now gone.
Finding a Job wasn't easy but the day I did I jumped at the chance to move on.
Boss dear gave me the tie that he wore to the office that day as a farewell gift. I wanted to chuck it in his face but restrained myself at the last minute. He asked me in his craftiest manner possible where I was joining but I just told him that I was going back home.
I came to Pune and so far its been good. I've discovered Aundh and the fabulous eateries that it has to offer. I'll blog about each of them in turn. For now, just be content with the knowledge that yours trulhy is now in a better frame of mind.

Boredom and beyond

I'm bored, so bored that the last dregs of interest are slowly being seeped out of my skull by the sheer lack of energy in my life. I mean how did I manage to become so bloody lethargic? Where did all that energy go? I know I'm going to the gym but this is ridiculous.

Somewhere I have lost the will to go on. A kind of frustration is setting in and I'm not able to get what I want out of life.

So what do I do? Stop whining for starters. Start doing stuff I like. Move beyond the last blue mountain and move into a whirlwind of activity that will only take me further than where I currently am.

I woke up this morning with a strong voice in my head that said that I would have to go and do something. I moved out of my comfort zone, finished a book that I had begun a week ago, ate a pastry and a bowl of noodles, looked up old friends and moved through a realm that defies imagination.

I'm still a little bored. But then, depression doesn't go away in one day.