Sisterhood - There is something in it!

I really wonder how my mother can give so much love to me. Love just pours out. I think mothers are made for that; just to love. Dads? I don’t know! I have one dad who has not followed rules. So, I can’t generalize. We will not get in to the controversial area of brotherhood. I am blessed with one of the best, and I am grateful. Obviously, friends are friends. There are Aunties and uncles and they add on colour to life. But, I am here to write about sisters. I want to write, don’t know why.

I obviously don’t have a sister of my own! I mean, not of the same mom; But then, I have some fabulous cousins whom I can proudly say ‘my sisters’. I was wondering how would have life been without the sister. I don’t think anything will change. The earth would have still gone around and life would have been the same; Almost the same. The word ‘almost’ does have a lot of meaning and that is how much my life has been affected by my sisters.

I talk lot! People say I am an otta vaai (Can’t keep secrets!). So, obviously I need somebody to listen to all the non sense I talk; and you know what, there cannot be a better listener than a sister. At least they act as if they listen and that I think is the greatest advantage in having a sister. Friends will put an arm around you and say “ Machan, vidra ava apadithaan! (She is like that!)”; Mom will say how can she do that to my darling son who does not know the right from the left; Best of Dads don’t reply; Brothers advice; Sisters somehow knows the best to react. They really do. If you have not tried before, try telling your sister that the girl opposite door cheated you.

I don’t talk to all my sisters often. In fact we rarely talk these days. Life is too fast for such beautiful relationships I think. But, when we talk, I know how much I love them.

I don’t find a better way to say thank you, than to sit and write about them on a boring Sunday evening. Life without them can never be the same; Never!

Celebrate! India still the greatest democracy!

Alright! The standard and poor have downgraded the ratings; Our economy will not grow at the same pace expected. The country is neck deep in corruption, Poverty was, is and has always been a joke in this country, More than half of the rivers stink, Policing is in the 15th century avatar, Roads are few and far between, Railways was done by the Britishers, Air transport is in a mess, Government offices are a strict no no, and sadly we could count good strong leaders of our country in a single hand.

Things can't be more skeptical. There is a sense of negativity which is unprecedented, and the skeptics are not without reason.  Yet, and of course, yet with a CAPITAL 'Y',  I have reasons to celebrate.

A Russian atheist once visited India and went back a man believing in God. When asked he said, "i really don't understand how a country where none seem to be working keeps going". And that is exactly why i still have reasons to celebrate. We have limped, crawled, have taken deep breaths but never for once stopped; We have been lazy, languid and written off, but have continued in our paths.

In our path to being the greatest democracy of all times! We as people, fret, we yell, we crib, we abuse, and yet the country has taken it all. Never for once it has said no, never for once it has thrown us out! US cannot wipe of guantanamo bay nor their economic problems, USSR split long back, China has never allowed free expression, EU is a mess and the world knows it;

Again I say, there are problems! But, please let not negativity mow us down. We are still the greatest democracy, and nobody can change that.

Tryst with Delhi and life's lessons!!!

If only i could condense in to caption the kind of fabulous fun i had today!

So, i decided to go around Delhi! Wait, did i say, I decided? Some frenz decided and there was I. They also decided i had to treat them for my birthday! Now you got why they wanted me there? Like i said, it was a fabulous day and i will tell you why.

The day started in typical Indian fashion. Boys ready before time, and girls SAID they are ready after half an hour. I understand! the make up part takes longer; I'm learning life's lessons, you see! So we were late by an hour. Indian Standard Time! First stop was Qutub Minar. I really don't find any meaning in building such a tall building, except that he had so much money and no Arnab Goswami to ask questions! Then, this is to admire, not to have any meaning. Lesson number 2! The photo session started! Sam, take a solo picture; Sam, please one more snap; Sam, this place is good to take snaps. Whoever said that boys are good in photography and girls in giving a pose? Even if you don't believe in it, fine. Take the camera and click one more picture. Lesson number 3!

Next stop was the famous lotus temple. It should have been in Pink colour came a sound? Pink? Lesson Number 4! Girls like pink, and if they say pink, never argue! Imagine the entire campus in pink colour? I ve learnt my lessons well, So i say, "Wow";

We decided, No, no, It was decided, that we will next visit the famous mughal tombs. Safdarjung tomb was the first destination and then Humayun's tomb! Mughal kings had this fascination for huge tombs. Alright, they had the money and people. But why tombs? So after walking inside huge campuses and climbing steep stairways, there will be a tomb. Click some snaps! Walk along, climb more steps and there are more tombs! The great taj, the symbol of love, is after all a tomb! Probably, the boys behaved well there; No lessons were taught. Advantage of building tombs? Made even the girls quite:)

Then i realized the reason for the quietness.The hunger pangs have come out! After the usual hungama of going to a hotel with wrongs dishes (Shhhh! actually it was way over my budget) and searching for a decent hotel we had an awesome lunch. It was after all my treat:)

Life's biggest lesson's hits you hard! I learnt it the hard way. Never take a girl and more so girls, for shopping when they are fresh and have had a filling lunch. After 3 hours and visiting 7 shops and having bought more things than what i would have bought in a year, this comment came, " Good, we have not got much, we will come again"; You know what the boys are supposed to do during the entire 3 hours? Stand guard, hold on to whatever was bought, and say which of the two is beautiful, even if you have no idea of whether thing shown is an anklet or a chain, and more importantly remind them that the shops are meant to stay there.

I really thought now that shopping is over, everybody will be tired and so our trip will end there, till Rashtrapati bhavan and parliament came in between. Everybody sprang back to life and photo sessions continued; After Rashtrapati bhavan came Saravana bhavan; 150 people standing outside Saravana bhavan waiting to eat was one of the biggest shock i had the entire day? Is Delhi so short of quality Tamil restaurants?Macdonalds made more sense than standing outside Saravana Bhavan.

It was a nice dinner, especially when you meet some one from your own district in Delhi and more so when the frenz finally decided to sing the birthday song and give a gift.

Sorry, this is a looooong post! It is one heck of a day! Love you all guys! My tryst with Delhi was great and so were the lesson's.

Another year in life! Appy Buday to me!

Well, another year in life!yup, another step in to the late twenties:( Time flies, is n't? Not long ago I was in school, happily living life, with no questions asked for whatever non sense did. Now they ask questions, you see! They say I am responsible for whatever I say, leave alone whatever I do; Suddenly, wherever you go, this question follows, "yeppa kalyanam?"(when is your wedding). Ahhhh! How I hate growing up.

Then, I cant complain. I should not! Life, has been so good. Growing up too! I have met beautiful people, gone around more than half of India, been blessed with wonderful parents, amazing siblings, an extended family that has been brilliant, a huge chunk of ever dependable friends, and some lovely knees that has bent for every problem I faced; I ve had money in my pocket for everything I want, everything I had asked for has been provided, and a body that is fit enough to enjoy every one of life's blessings.

What did I do the entire last year? Looking back is a difficult job and I don't want to do it. It sure was a brilliant year, through the usual failures. My sister usually says, "Sam, God will take care of you", and it is true that HE has been magnificent through it all.

I really don't know where I will be next year! I don't want to:)  I like living like this. May be in Mars or may even be in an old cottage saying 'yes mam' to a wife. who cares? Riding on God's promises, it sure is exciting.

Another year! And i'm grateful!

The Great Indian Train Journey!!!

Most of you reading this know that i traveled last weekend from Chennai to Delhi in a train. I had taken a ten day break from my routine and just freaked out. But then, all good things come to an end and so did my break. I had booked the train tickets 3 months before. For those of you who are not familiar with such advanced planning, try travelling in an unreserved compartment once in India and you will always book tickets early, even one year in advance!

Five other friends also traveled with me; They are all joining a new job in Delhi! So is the custom, every traveler had somebody dropping them off at the station. So, there were around hundred people to drop the six of us. There were tears, smiles, gifts all over! The railway station was a mess, and we added on to it.

The train started slowly and we settled down. The girls in their right fashion got the best seats and asked us(two boys) to arrange the baggages! I really wonder what was there inside such huge suitcases, they carried. I, as usual carried two jeans and some T-shirts! Then, you are not supposed to ask such questions. If they say, push this suitcase inside, so be it; You better do it!

The journey was the typical Indian stuff! None of us cared one bit for the others living around. We laughed, we played, some even fought! Ha, college days! After a 28 hour long journey with small stops in between, where you are supposed to get down and buy whatever is available and whatever is edible and more importantly whatever was asked, we reached Delhi.

The real fun starts here! Except one girl none of us knew proper hindi. I knew some basic stuff to manage. We hired a porter, and three of them came. They discussed the rates and finalised on bara soa (1200!) rupees. My basic hindi brain said, bara sao is 120 and so i agreed on the rates. The three porters carried two huge suitcase each, while the rest of us carried one backpack. Half way through i realized my folly and started fighting. Of course, they would n't have understood half of my Hindi. Who cares! After ten minutes of fighting with them they came down to Rs 600/- I still shudder at the thought, that they took 600/- just to bring the suitcase outside. But, society has always been so cruel to them; and they cheat in return.

Start your fight again, my mind said! This time with the taxi wallas! After some decent negotiations, which of course they refused, we took our last part of the journey in a car that only had four wheels and a chase! I even thought this vehicle could collapse any time. Thankfully, we reached our place with out any such problem.

The great Indian train journey! What fun! What an experience!