Sometimes, all it needs is a dance and a shower

For a long time now, I have been sulking. I have been sulking for absolutely no reason. Life just got a little mundane and I did not like that. Oh who am I kidding, life got TOTALLY mundane. All I did everyday was exactly what I did the last day. Life felt like this merry go round that just kept on going round and round, one day at a time. And I was stuck somewhere on the edge of it hanging on by my fingertips. The worst part was, it was no fun. For a long time I contemplated giving up and just letting my fingers go. God knows that would have been a disaster. I am not really a flyer. Would have landed on my ass, and hurt bad.

As I was going round and round, thankfully the one thing that was good was it got very mechanical. I did not really have to pay too much attention to what I was doing. So I had my mind free to think about other things. And as always, I never let an opportunity to think go. As happens in a lot of movies and novels and fictional stories, the brightest epiphanies happen when you are least expecting them. I realized the true nature of a lot of people around me. Understood the importance of a few people and the sheer uselessness of others. I call a few RELATIONSHIPS useless, not the people. There is a world of a difference between the two. And because I realized that some of the relationships were not helping me, in fact, they seemed more like burdens than pillars, I let those go. Not in my heart, but in my mind definitely. I have stopped thinking about a lot of people that I would normally be obsessed about. And trust me there is no other freedom to match it. TRUST ME.
Alas, in spite of breaking these bonds, I didn’t feel “Happy”. I know I know, I have always held the belief that happiness stems from within, from that special place somewhere inside you that we all call the Self. The only problem was, my “Self” had kind of gotten buried under a few dusty covers. It got lost in the folds of a few miserable times I had allowed to creep into my system and settle there. All I needed to do, was shake up my Self and wash off the dirt. Then, it would be back to its natural “Self” (OK I know I have used the word enough…:P)

The SHAKE UP happened at the Employee Appreciation Dinner (a.k.a free dinner and dance party) hosted by my company, Deloitte Consulting, couple of weeks ago. Now I am not really a dancer. Correction, I am NOT a dancer. I rarely dance at public events (Alone at my house is a different matter). But this was one of those days when I just FELT it. I just wanted to dance. And I did. It felt amazing..no…that didn’t do justice..it felt AMAZING!!!!! One of the best parties of my life ever. I went home utterly exhausted after more than 2 hours of dancing. But it felt Nice…The resurrection had begun..
The WASH happened in the first rains that hit Mumbai sometime back. Let me tell you, there is no feeling like standing in the rain getting totally drenched. There is nothing like closing your eyes, turning your head heavenwards, and feeling the rain splatter your face clean. One of those rare moments when you feel so connected to Nature that you can HEAR it. It was truly a magical moment. It made me realize that I have been cribbing about nothing. There is too much in this world to be thankful for. Too much to like and love. Too much to live for. Letting go was not an option. And it will never be.

Another amazing day was the IMPACT day, our global community service day. I visited the Hellen Keller institute for Deaf and Deaf Blind people. Met some of the most courageous and lively people in my life. It is amazing how they just open up their hearts, drop all inhibitions, and make you feel like you are one of them. I realized that often I complaint about the most trivial of things. I crib about some of the most insignificant details in life that make absolutely no difference to those people. And yet they live life with full aplomb. How? Well I don’t know. They probably know what life is better than I ever will. Thankfully they showed me at least some part of their lives, which put mine into some rather harsh perspective.

As a result of these events, I can safely and confidently say I am HAPPY! Not a happiness born out of certain events or people. Not a happiness because of what someone said or did. But a happiness out of just being here, right now. A happiness out of the full realization that I have a life to live. That I have an opportunity to live in a world where there are people who love me, people who I thought loved me but don’t, people who I will never ever meet but still they make a difference in my life, and above all people whose lives I have the opportunity to make a difference to. I realized, that sometimes to open your eyes, all you need to do is shake your feet and dance a little, all you need is to stand in the rain, drop all inhibitions, drop all care, and just be. Sometimes, all it needs is a dance and a shower…

A Valediction

For the past few days, i have been thinking a lot about some of the people whom I have bid adieu to over the past few years or earlier. Why? Well because I am like that. I THINK about stuff. I analyze what has happened in my life, the events and their effects, my reactions to them. And I learn from them. I am always interested in what happens in my life. It just makes it that much more fun to LIVE it!!!
Coming back, so as I said, I was thinking a lot about some of the people who I have said goodbye to. I won’t say I have lost them, because I truly believe I haven’t. At least some of them. Some of those goodbyes have hurt. Some have made me realize that I never had that person in my life in the first place, hence the goodbye isn’t going to hurt anyways. Some have made me realize the strength of my bond with them, and instilled the faith in me that I will carry those relationships for a long time in my heart and in my life.
One of the first ones I want to talk about, is from the second category listed above. It’s about my Dad. I have never really spoken about him in a public place like this, except for once a long time ago. For some reason, it has just not been worth it. And I won’t mention much about him here. So I lost him about 9 years ago. He died of a third heart attack. Ironically, he was a doctor but a chain smoker (yeah, some people really know how to overlook the reality). Of course, we (my mom, my bro and me) did not live with him at the time, having separated long back. This is why, I never really had a father. Hence, the loss wasn’t so astounding as well. All that changed was that one of the people responsible for me being on this planet was no more here.
I know some of you might think I m being pretty cold about this. But trust me, I never knew the guy. That loss never affected me because I never really felt it. So it wasn’t a big deal, and still isn’t. Over time, I have lost the bitterness I had for him and it has made it easier to just accept it and move on with life.
But some goodbyes are not as easy. One of the hardest things I have had to do was say goodbye to my cousin, Meenu Didi, who died of cancer a few years ago. I wrote a long post about her. Find it here.
As I realized later, I did not have the courage to say goodbye to her. So I never really went to do it. I just knew I would not have the strength. I still sit and think sometimes that I probably should have. She would have liked it. I am sorry for that. Will always regret that decision. As I have mentioned in the earlier post about her, she taught me that you have to be courageous, even when you know what is in store for you. She had the courage to face her unavoidable destiny, and she prepared herself and her family for that. Unlike so many others who lament about it and make it miserable for themselves and others. This absolutely does not mean I don’t admire those people. God only knows how I will behave if I come to know I am about to die (Shudders….)
The third goodbye, was agonizingly painful, it broke my heart when it happened. But I am living with it now. And it has made me stronger and it has turned out to be quite a good thing. I am talking here about my best friend and probably THE bestest friend in the whole world, Mona Chitnis going to STUPID GaTech to do her STUPID MS. (Sorry for the stupids…cudnt resist :P).



Mo (as I call her) and I became friends in college in the 2nd year. We came together in the unlikeliest of ways and became best friends before we could even realize it. I love this thing called fate, it makes u smile at its strangeness, even if that strangeness brings you sorrow. Amazing thing it is.
Mo and I are totally different. In quite possibly every way we think differently. And we have fierce arguments over many things. One thing that is common is that we both have short tempers. And we cannot go 2 weeks without fighting and swearing at each other, and swearing to our friends that we will never talk to each other EVER AGAIN, but coming back to our senses and talking as if nothing ever happened in a couple of days. It is just one of those friendships that has stood the test of time, and some bad arguments.
Saying goodbye to her was a nightmare. It was like having to part form one of the most important parts of my life. I distinctly remember the days leading up to her departure. We met up twice before she shipped off to distant lands. Both those times, we could both see just how sad we were to say goodbye. At the airport, I was studiously avoiding her because I knew it would have been too much to bear. So I just hugged her as she went in, we all stood out waiting for her to turn back once and give us a cute, sad little smile that I love, and go in. But alas, she knows how to make and anti-climax. She didn’t even look back once. IDIOT!!!!
As I sat in the auto to get back home, I think I cried for at least 20 straight minutes. It just hurt too damn much. Why? Well because that is what we are for each other. Rock solid pillars in times of need. A dose of some really idiotic jokes that can make us crack up when we are sad. A dairy milk when we are least expecting it. That is what we are. And I was going to miss that. Or so I thought.
What has her goodbye taught me? That not all goodbyes are final. Not all are bad. Some DO bring you closer. Some goodbyes do make you realize just how much that person meant to you. And they also make you understand that it was your destiny that brought you together with some people. It was NEVER in your hands to control your life anyways. Might as well enjoy the best of it and learn from the worst of it.
It has been 8 months now since she went away. And yes things have changed. We do not talk as often as we used to. I have seen her only once, through video chat. Both of us have gotten busy with our lives. And yet, a lot of things are the same. We still fight at least once a month. We still swear to not talk to each other and then make up in a few days. We still keep aside what we are doing when the other person is really down and needs cheering up, and we both manage to cheer each other up with the silliest of things (I LIKEY!!!!hehe….) Sure, I wish she wouldn’t have gone so far. But it was a choice she made which I respect. And now we are both living with it.
At the end, I just want to say that a goodbye doesn’t necessarily have to be bad. But it is also not always good. What matters, is the faith that you have in yourself and your relationship. You can ALWAYS salvage something from every valediction.
I want to end this with someone else’s words on similar lines.
Don't be dismayed at goodbyes. A farewell is necessary before you can meet again. And meeting again, after moments or lifetime, is certain for those who are friends. ~Richard Bach

P.S. I know this was a lot more philosophical and longer than anything I have written before. But it felt good to write this. I hope you felt good to read it too.

The Blue Window

My First real attempt at fiction...Hope you like it...

He had to remind himself to start breathing again. He felt his legs swaying and before they could give way, he had to steady himself on his old reading desk. He could not believe this was happening to him again. Correction, he did not want to believe this was happening to him again. It just could not be true. The Window was open again.
Fifteen years ago, for Akash, the world had been the cruelest place to live in. He had never been able to understand why he was put on this planet. Was it merely to survive a few years of torture form his parents? Only to outgrow his childhood and then survive a few years of alone, awkward, confusing adolescence? For a long time, he had resigned his life to the fate that awaited him.
When he was 23, he escaped from his childhood and his parents and settled in a suburb of Mumbai. He was working as a receptionist at a law firm. He had placed his reading desk below the solitary window in his one room apartment, which looked out to another building across the lane. The wall opposite his window had exactly one window. It was blue and worn out. And it had always remained closed since he moved in.
One day, he found it open. He wasn’t a peeper, but curiosity got the better of him and he pulled back his curtain to look. Standing inside the room, with her back to the window, was a girl. She was about 5’7” and had long, straight, jet black hair that reached her slender waist. She was busy unpacking a few boxes and arranging her things. Suddenly, she stiffened, and turned around to directly look into his eyes. She had sensed him watching her, and she had a perplexed look on her face. But he wasn’t looking at her face. He was looking into her eyes. Even from 6 feet away, he could clearly make out the dark blue of her eyes.
Suddenly, he thought as if the world had opened up for him. All he wanted to do was look into her eyes and not stop looking. He was holding his breath for a long time, and the dull ache in his lungs brought him back to reality and he took in a deep breath, almost a sigh. Only then did he notice that she was staring at him with the most inquisitive expression on her face. She had the hint of a smile on her lips, asking a question. He quickly lost his nerve and moved out of the window. He didn’t dare look out of the window all day. That night, his dreams were not sweaty nightmares; they were about blue skies, and oceans.
The next few days, she was all he could think about. And yet he never had the courage to go talk to her. He knew he was falling in love with her. He traveled with her every day to-fro work. He would steal quick glances at her but never when she was looking. He was happy to just look at her eyes, they still mesmerized him.
Just as miraculously as she had come into his life, she disappeared. He didn’t see her on the bus one day. When he got home, the window was shut. And for 2 days, it had remained closed. He asked around and found out she had moved out. She was getting married. He sat at his desk, staring into nothingness, mildly aware of the blue of the window in his vision. He started feeling the slow ache in his heart again. And then it hit him. The window had closed on him.
He had no way of searching for her. All he remembered of her was her sweet smile when she caught him looking at her, the dark, deep blue of her eyes, her hair falling around her face. He remembered the last time he had seen her on the bus, she seemed like she wanted to tell him something. He could make out that she was agitated. But she didn’t. Now he knew what she wanted to say. If only he had spoken to her.
Slowly, but amazingly he picked his life back up. He moved to another city and started another job. For years, he could not forget those eyes. But he learned to live with it.
Today, he had come back to his old apartment. Wishfully, he had looked out of the window. And there she was. Sitting at her desk and writing. She intuitively looked up and saw him. She looked different now, older and wiser. But her eyes were the same, deep blue. He looked into them and saw the smile in her eyes before he saw it on her lips.
The Blue Window had opened for him again.

P.S. Thanx to Annie for helping with the editing. :P..You are such a sweetheart!!!!

My Fond Memory!!!

So Valentine's Day huh??
Feels like any other day, when you are single. Actually...that is what i WANT TO believe. But it really isn’t so. This is one day that you cannot help but get nostalgic on. And nostalgia hits me hardest on 14th February only because of the awesome V day I spent 3 years ago. When I was in a relationship with someone.
Let me give some background here first. I was dating this girl at that time, i.e. on V day 2007. Let us call her BB. For more information about BB, please refer here.
On the eve of V day 2007, my gf calls me up and tells me I am NOT meeting you tomorrow, reason? I do not believe in Valentine’s Day. And it wasn’t a “I don’t believe in one day to celebrate love” kind of disbelief. It was a I DON’T BELIEVE IN VALENTINE’S DAY kind of disbelief. So I got pissed, understandably, and did not wish her.
The next afternoon, she calls me up and starts giggling. Now I am thinking she might be drunk. Then her friends started shouting, she is coming to meet youuuuu.. And I am wondering why. Though she did turn up to meet me. Looking cute as hell. We sat in the Dadar CCD for like 2 hours holding hands and looking into each other’s eyes. After which she told me she loved me, I told her I loved her, and we parted. (Yeah…I know what you are thinking..no MASALA here..hehe:P)
Well, as it turned out, it was our last date. We broke up 15 days after that. Why? Well this is supposed to be happy post. So let’s not get into that detail as of now.
For me, it was the first and last Valentine’s day I have ever celebrated. And probably the most memorable I will ever celebrate. Reason? Well she made me feel special. She surprised me, she dressed up for me. I gave her a red rose which she preserved for a long time in a book. (don’t know if she still has it)
Every V day since then, I think about her. Because it reminds me of one of the happiest times I spent with her. And every V day I think of wishing her or calling her but never get down to it somehow. Today, she sent me a greeting. It reads “For the one who gave me the courage to love with all of my heart, to the person who is like no other. Happy Valentine’s Day! Love and luck. BB.” And this just brought back all the memories of those wonderful nine months.
Do not get me wrong. I do not have feelings for her. Often many of my friends ask me how you feel about her now. I always say I still love her. And they give me ghastly expressions at that. But I realized today that it is true. But, I don’t love her in a I-want-her-back-in-my-life way. I love her in a way that she reminds me of one of the most important phases of my life. It is that love that keeps me connected to that time. I feel if I don’t love her, I will lose the memories of what we did, of what we had. I feel that I am absolutely over her. But yes, she still will always remain my first love. Not anything I can do about that. But I can hold on to those memories. Because they still give me comfort sometimes when I am down. The sound of her laughter still makes me smile. Her stupid jokes still crack me up whenever I remember them.
I am sitting here and wondering why am I writing this today. Guess I needed to. Again, not because I miss her, just because it is Valentine’s Day. And I couldn’t help but remember one of the awesomest dates I had 3 years ago.
So here’s wishing all of you a Happy Valentine’s Day. I am lucky enough to have a fond memory of one of these. I hope all of you are lucky enough too.

P.S. BB, if you read this, THANKS!!! For the message and for the awesome times. All the best in life!!!Sincerely!!

The Great Indian Show Off!!!!

I attended a wedding after a long time. Infact, after almost a year. And I tell you, attending a NORTH INDIAN wedding is just awesome. We have all heard/read/seen (Monsoon Wedding) all the fanfare associated with Punjabi weddings. North Indian weddings aren’t nearly as loud or aggressive or full of drunken brawls. But still, we do weddings in our unique style.
North Indian weddings are fun, only because I love watching the way people interact. I mean, I attended a wedding recently where I had never seen the bride before (who is my second cousin by the way), I had never seen more than half the people there. Why was I there? Well because the bride’s father is my Mama, and he invited us. So I went all the way to Delhi for the weekend to attend the wedding. Seems very weird to go all the way to Delhi for someone’s wedding whose name I didn’t know. But that is how our weddings are. You typically go to a wedding not because you know the bride/groom, but because you know their mom/dad.
I remember one day I went for 3 weddings, thankfully all in Mumbai, and I had absolutely no idea whose weddings they were. But yeah, one thing I LOVE about those weddings, the food. I mean, it is AWESOME the variety, taste, fanfare, decoration, it all makes attending a wedding worthwhile, non-acquaintance with the bride/groom notwithstanding. On the triple wedding day, I ended up having starters and appetizers at one, main course at the second and deserts at the third…hehe…ohh what a night!! And of course, if you DO NOT eat at the weddings..its kinda considered like a slap on the hosts’ face..Yes…we have ENORMOUS egos…
So, north Indian weddings are never a one day affair. They are more like 2-3-4 day plans. More like a weekend retreat than a one day picnic. And the last 2 wedding have both happened in resorts. So you go for the weekend, take at least 4 changes of clothes (because that is the number of different functions you have to attend, and you are EXPECTED to wear different and NICE clothes for all), and have a fun party, paid for by someone else. What more could you ask for? And the number of guests, number of items on the menu, amount of decoration etc is proportional to the amount of money the families are willing to spend.
Coming back to the wedding I attended last, so there I was, hanging out with a few people whom I did know, also because most of my first cousins did not turn up. At first it seemed like it was going to be another typical 2 days and a gazillion functions where I would get thoroughly bored because I hardly knew anyone. But it turned out to be a lot of fun in the end. Especially, because the bride and groom’s cousins and friends took a whale of an effort to put together a memorable 2 days for the couple.
It is quite a change these days in weddings from the weddings of the yesteryears (read my mom’s generation). In those days, according to my mom’s stories, weddings were more of a family affair, when all my mom’s cousins and siblings would come together to make it a big party and celebration. And of course, my mom’s family was HUGE!!! They had a huge house, all resources available, they were rich and she had about 20 brothers and sisters!! So it was always a family affair.
Now, things have changed. Now friends are more involved than relatives. At least in my family, hardly any cousins participate in the wedding. They just show up wearing a suit/saree and a glum expression, eat, eat, eat and go away after handing in the coveted and much anticipated ENVELOPE filled with cash measured out considering the closeness of the relatives, relative wealth of the giver and also, on occasions, the warmth between the 2 parties. Now friends are the ones who plan, execute, manage and make the most noise in a wedding.
In this particular wedding, the bride’s little sister turned out to be an aspiring director. She made a 30 minute video about the couple, with snippets from their lives, their friends’ opinions about them, their parents’ wishes and thoughts. It was all very moving and immaculately put together. Kudos to her for making it a memorable night for her sister and Jiju.
I always thought that weddings were supposed to be about two families coming together, and people who are close to them joining in to add to the celebration and the fanfare. But somehow, this was never the case in any of the weddings in my family. They have always been more about showing off your status, position, wealth and ego. It was a change, welcome one at that, to attend a wedding where people actually cared about things other than the paneer tikka or the number of desserts.
All in all, thoroughly enjoyed this wedding. But my opinion about our weddings isn’t going to change so soon. For me, they still remain the Great Indian Showoff!

Wake up SID!!!!!!

NO. DO NOT GO TO WATCH IT!!!!!...OK i have written what i wanted to convey through this review withing the first line. Well now i know a lot of you people who dont trust me or are too logical are asking...WHY???so here goes...

Within the first 5 minutes, there was just one thought running through my mind..more like PRANCING through my mind...WHY was this movie made? What was the purpose of it? Well i know what you are thinking. It's just the start of the movie. Wait for it. I did. The answers never came. My friend summed it up. "Why would i be interested in Siddharth Mehra's life?"

Ok a lil bit about the movie first. It's the story of one Siddharth Mehra (He is the Sid in the title..i hope you guessed that by now.) He is a spoilt brat, rich dad's bigdaa hua beta types. Nothing new. He doesn't know what he wants in life. Except for spending his dad's money, going out with friends and being a total jerk (which he admits to at some point int he movie...YEAH RIGHT..like you din't see that coming)
Atleast he is not a casanova in the movie. yeah maybe that would have been TOOOO cliched.

So as I am sure EVERYONE has predicted the story by now, i won't go into it. He gets kicked out of home by his dad who wants him to learn to have responsibilities. He stays at aisha something's house (Konkona Sen...HORRIBLE acting...ABSOLUTELY). Aisha is from Kolkata, Ambitious, independent, aspiring writer. Complete opposite of wat Sid is.

I think, the director thought, just coz we have two opposites we will have a great movie. WELL WAKE UP AYAN MUKHERJEE!!!!! You also need a STORY. and ACTING. two things that are completely lacking in this one. I mean, for the story, i think i predicted the entire movie within the first 10 minutes. Maybe less. nothing original about it.

Let's come to the acting, or the lack of it. Frankly, i knew Ranbir Kapoor could not act. But what the hell happened to konkona? She has done movies like Mr. and Mrs. Iyer for god's sake. I remember one scene especially. When she discovers she has a rat crawling on her. She is supposed to shreik. But what comes out is a half hearted wail. and my friend's instantaneous reaction was...PATHETIC ACTING...

As for Ranbir. Well he tries. then he tries some more. Then he gives up. He just can not act. And i mean it. He has really tried hard to portray the transformation from a just turned adult who has never had responsibility to a mature and responsible guy. But he cannot do it. Reason? He cannot emote. Most of the times i believe the actors were too confused as to what emotions they are supposed to be showing. And i remember one particular scene in which Rahul Khanna(Special Appearance) is supposed to be sad/happy/surprised..and i think he is ALL of them at once. Which is ABSOLUTELY not possible. And then just when you think the expression will change, AHOA, the scene has ended!!!

There is one particular scene in the climax. The shot is of Ranbir sitting in a window. And suddenly his expression changes to someone who has just had an epiphany, then he suddenly starts crying. then he has wonder in his eyes. and then it starts raining. and all this happens over some 90 seconds. and at the end of the scene i had amazement and hopelessness and anger in my eyes.

The chemistry is just not there between the lead pair. They never look like they should be getting together in the end. All through out the movie somebody keeps calling someone else immature and childish. And then you kinda get fed up of it at some point. I kept waiting for the movie to gather some sort of steam. It did not. Even at the climax.

I will remember this movie only for the awesome music by Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy. really catchy and soulful numbers that you can hum along. Great work on the background score too and the lyrics. Loved Kya Karoon and Iktaara especially.

All in all, a bad experience. Very confusing movie that will leave you as confused. And you will never understand why exactly you came to watch it. You won't knwo when to laugh. And i realised there were a few jokes only because others in the theater were laughing.

Miss it people. Not worth the money.


P.S. I am never watching a FDFS again. DBH and WUS were both flops.

The Kindergarten Couple

OK LONG LONG LONG time no post here...been a long and happy/sad month...got job..got salary...got tired and lost best friend to US..(more about her in the next post..coming up soon)...

This one post has been pending for sometime now...had decided not to write it..but then considering that both the concerned people are going to US and i am in generally a pretty senti mood these days coz of all the people leaving...decided to put it up and finish off the series of posts that i started...don't wanna leave it incomplete..so all the people who were hoping i WON'T write about them...rejoice...I WILL

Mansi Bhagwat and Maulik Mody(i hope u r the one with the y...) have been together for as long as i remember...since first year...and i CANNOT imagine a more perfect match...both physically (there is a reason why we call them the KG couple)and mentally (total kids there also...hehe)

Ok so lets first talk about them individually...

Mansi is CUTE...and i mean she looks FREAKISHLY CUTE!!!truly...at least i find her cute...and well she is rich also...so nice catch maulik..hehe...she is like really short...so short in fact that if i stand behind her i can actually rest my CHIN on the top of her head..and i will still have to bend my knees to get there..hehe...she looks really pretty somedays...though doesn't act so cute..

She has a very low voice..and when she has to talk loud..she really has to SHOUT...and it appears as if she is putting all her energy into just speaking a sentence..almost seems like a struggle...
One particular incident is really really fresh...after the ITA mid sem paper in 6th sem (i think) we were all debating outside that the paper was out of syllabus and all and someone must have told ma'm to put the stuff in paper...K2 instinctively pointed to mansi and said isne hee bola rahega...mansi just took her head up...mustered all her strength...and shouted on the top of her voice.."Maine nahin bola naa ma'm ko"...and STILL we could hardly hear her..lol...she is also an expert in the penguin walk...looks damn cute doing it...

mansi may seem all small and cute but she has one adult(erated) mind...two incidents to prove it

1st sem we r all sitting in ED room...and Divye is describing an incident where he went to the loo...a guy walked in..and even by the time divi finished what he had come to do and was washing his hands...that guy was still standing at the loo and doing something...and i shit u not...the following is wat mansi said:
"Arre toh uska chhota hoga naa..."

we were ALL shocked...i never expected her to say something like this..and she said it so matter-of-factly that we could hardly stop laughing...

second incident was told by Lalit..a few days ago

Mansi Maulik and Lalit were all standing in the quad...when mansi says.."yaar mujhe loo jaana hai..kya pakk raha hai...jaao..kholo..baitho..karo..utho..pehno..haath dho..." and lalit and maulik were only gaping at her for like 2 minutes...trust me...i could not believe my ears when L2 told me this...

Also...she is the proverbial GEEK...yepp...dats wat she is...she WORRIES about every small god forsaken test that happens...worse...she STUDIES for them...during end of semester...she would carry all her books to college, in her hand..as a result of which she would be bent on one side...that has become the proverbial mansi walk..bent towards left...bag hanging on the right...

She has a habit of CONSTANTLY playing with her hair..and i mean CONSTANTLY...she just CANNOT STOP...sometimes when both her hands are occupied we do it for her..hehe...she also HAS TO write all assignments as soon as they r given..which is a crime by engineering standards...that is why we had a joke...for mansi..the way she would be tortured in the movie SAW would be by tying her hands and placing an incomplete assignment in front of her...that would be like total torture for her..lol...

When maulik was hospitalized just before exams in some semester...she would call him everyday..not to ask how he was doing..but to tell him what all zeroxes she was getting for him and wat all assignments he had to write..

Mansi..inspite of her innocent and childish looks...is actually quite mature and smart...also very cunning..knows how to get her work done..and usually does...

Maulik...is a GUJJU.Period. He has all the qualities of a gujju...rich..big house..miser...and also...he lives in South Bombay...so he also has all qualities of a SOBO...fake attitude...vanity(lots of this)...just cannot stop talking about sex for some reason...

He is also a flirt...INCESSANTLY used to flirt with mansi and jas when they weren't going out....still flirts with jas even when he is going out...ass...and talks most of the time like a gujju...i mean..i don't have anything against gujjus...just that..maulik is a TOTAL gujju...he proved it by calling ritesh as..."AYE REEEETESSS" at our recent treat in noodle bar...hehe....

Aside form all this, this guy has something...i dunno wat you call it..but he is nice to be with...though most people who r NOT from SOBO are irritated by him..he is still fun sumtimes..good sense of humour..nice to talk with..and also short in height..forgot to mention that..

Both of these make a PERFECT couple...almost as if they just had to get together...been going strong since more than 3 and a half years now...so pretty compatible of course..also they are PERFECTLY kindergarten couple types(hehe..remember the kindergarten base 5 joke???)

Now both of them are off to US..ok right now Maulik is in a flight and mansi is packing to leave...Won't miss these guys as much..not been too close to them..honestly..but still they were a part of our group for 4 years now..so had to write this post...

To Mansi...hope you grow up..lol...and hope you find amazing things happening to you...and hope you are never too busy to not have time to play with your hair..and hope SOMEDAY you tie me a rakhi..hehe

To Maulik...hope you grow up too..hehe..and hope you take SOMEONE to a badi hotel someday...

To both of you..Bon Voyage!!!!take care and definitely stay in touch...would love to measure your kids' height and be a part of the guinness record for the shortest family..lol

Take Care guys...Love you both...