After a lot of coercion from my parents, I finally, reluctantly, decided to meet a girl. This meeting has opened me into a new world. What happened was weird but … (lets not reveal the suspense) But it made me realize that arranged marriages are indeed fun, specially before finding ‘the ONE’. I felt it would make an interesting collection of memories, something that one could introspect later and laugh about it. I wouldn’t know how the following meetings would go ahead, whether it would be as interesting as the first one, but what the heck, let me begin.
Meeting 1 – S. M. (working as something in some shipping company)
The meeting was pre-decided by the parents. They had already matched the horoscopes. It showed 8/10 on the mark scale. That was great news because I never ever had got anything above 5/10 in my education life. So I felt proud of the marks.
We were to meet at Café Coffee Day. It seems a lot brews over coffee, so it seemed like the ideal place to meet. So the venue was decided to be in CCD at Hiranandani. I reached a bit early as there was not much traffic as much as I had expected. So I ordered for a Latte.
A girl walked in, and she looked around. She saw me and then walked towards me. OK. I told myself, you need to make this conversation simple. She came to the table and asked me – So you are P? The voice had a bit of arrogance. It seemed like she hated me before she met me. Had my reputation preceded me even before I met her?
Are you P? she asked resting her palm on the table and her other fist on the waist, her waist.
My parent’s fault, I said, I couldn’t get to decide my name, so I am stuck with P. I hope you don’t have a problem with that.
No… she replied looking away, sitting down.
What would you like to have?
Coffee, she replied looking away towards the road. The road was dark, so I couldn’t understand what was making her so distracted.
Well, obviously, coffee, its cafe coffee day right! But which coffee? You don’t expect them to serve pani puri! I tried to lighten her up and put her at it ease.
She gave me back a stern look, correction, a piercing look. She murdered me with her eyes. Café Latte, she said.
Café Latte it is, I told the waiter, who smiled as if he knew we were boyfriend girlfriend who had had a fight and I was the guy who was trying to make up with her. How romantic!
So… she stared at me… Ask me your typical question!
Folding her hands as if i was an interviewer and she, the interviewee!
‘Show me your teeth?’ I wanted to ask her. I honestly wished she had less effort in smiling! But I did not.
Why don’t you walk? I told her. Walk! I thought to myself. I wanted to say, why don’t you talk! But that were the words that came out! Why don’t you walk!! And before I could correct her, she got up!
I was shocked, and she started walking. I was amused.
She walked and walked and walked and walked and walked and sat in a rickshaw and I never saw her again!
The waiter came with the Latte. I smiled, had another mug of Latte, and left!
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Monday, November 26, 2007
When did you feel at peace?
When did you feel peace, the last time?
Is there a place when you can feel at peace? Or can you feel at peace wherever you are?
Peace is a state of mind, i know that, but what is it that inspires you to be at peace?
I discovered it when i went to Banganga tank for our project. A place in Walkeshwar surrounded by around a 100 temples.
With a camera in hand, there was no choice but to keep clicking away. It is a silent world cocooned in a noisy world. sounds of vehicles just filter away as you reach the centre of this place. That is where i felt at peace this saturday... Some of the pics embody the feeling of how i felt...
Is there a place when you can feel at peace? Or can you feel at peace wherever you are?
Peace is a state of mind, i know that, but what is it that inspires you to be at peace?
I discovered it when i went to Banganga tank for our project. A place in Walkeshwar surrounded by around a 100 temples.
With a camera in hand, there was no choice but to keep clicking away. It is a silent world cocooned in a noisy world. sounds of vehicles just filter away as you reach the centre of this place. That is where i felt at peace this saturday... Some of the pics embody the feeling of how i felt...
Sunday, November 18, 2007
A Perfect Life
Can life ever be perfect? A perfect question that has a perfect answer – No! or probably the answer is – Yes! Your life is in fact perfect, just the way it is, at this point of time, this moment. The only thing is we do not understand it that way!
There was a little girl, vivacious, pretty, beautiful, a ‘little’ dumb yet intelligent girl who lived in a place lively as herself. She wanted to live life in her own terms, but she was getting old and the parents – older. Her parents loved her very much and was concerned that she found a man who would take care of her. She wanted to find the perfect someone, the one she could spend her life with, share it with him, and enjoy the little joys of being together, waking up on the same side of the bed… very small, little things.
Her parents were concerned. The astrologers had predicted that she should be married before October or she may never get married at all. They loved their child and they could not see her future without a companion. Then one day, she was given an ultimatum, life came to a standstill for her and there was a showdown. She loved her parents immensely, so reluctantly she said yes to the proposal that had come in. The boy was from the gulf, working in a renowned international company at a managerial post. The parents were elated, relatives delighted, sensing the wonderful food they could have at the reception.
Both of them got married. The parents were relieved, the relatives burped and the couple began living their life of togetherness.
A week after she left to the Gulf with her husband, she came back. She felt cheated, she felt ‘f***ed’ up. Her marriage is on the brim of destruction. She is anticipating divorce! The parents are shocked. They said to her – ‘You should try to adjust.’ Her relatives had a hot topic for discussion over tea and coffee. ‘The boy is so handsome and well accomplished. It must be her fault!’
The relationship hangs on a thin thread now. Its like a cricket-match where 50 runs are needed in the last over. The result is known and the next six balls are just a formality unless some miracle happens…But there are no winners in this match.
The guy is gay!
Coming to my earlier question - ‘Can life be perfect?’
Difficult question, and as I consoled her, this was my take on it, my absolute gibberish take.
You wanted to live your life on your own terms. This experience has made you wiser. Parents will always be concerned, that is their job. Relatives will always be entertained, that’s what they are for. But you have to live in this world for yourself. Now you can. You treaded the path you parents wanted you to take. It failed miserably. Now there are no reasons you cant live life on your own terms. Life has given you that chance. Isnt life just perfect?
I guess it is. But it is painful. I admit it. But Life is perfect. In the larger scheme of things, everything fits perfectly somewhere else. Probably the guy might also have been coerced into marriage. He must have broken someones heart before getting married. Damages have been done, people have been hurt. But wounds heal. Time is the best healer. The perfection of life is probably in its imperfection. So gift yourself to life.
Feel the wind from the sea, spread your arms and embrace it. Walk barefoot in the sand. Draw your dreams with your toes in the sand. Love yourself. That’s the companion you have to share your life till the end of time. No matter what!
Love you Pinky. Love your smile. Show it to the world… Charm them, charm yourself…
There was a little girl, vivacious, pretty, beautiful, a ‘little’ dumb yet intelligent girl who lived in a place lively as herself. She wanted to live life in her own terms, but she was getting old and the parents – older. Her parents loved her very much and was concerned that she found a man who would take care of her. She wanted to find the perfect someone, the one she could spend her life with, share it with him, and enjoy the little joys of being together, waking up on the same side of the bed… very small, little things.
Her parents were concerned. The astrologers had predicted that she should be married before October or she may never get married at all. They loved their child and they could not see her future without a companion. Then one day, she was given an ultimatum, life came to a standstill for her and there was a showdown. She loved her parents immensely, so reluctantly she said yes to the proposal that had come in. The boy was from the gulf, working in a renowned international company at a managerial post. The parents were elated, relatives delighted, sensing the wonderful food they could have at the reception.
Both of them got married. The parents were relieved, the relatives burped and the couple began living their life of togetherness.
A week after she left to the Gulf with her husband, she came back. She felt cheated, she felt ‘f***ed’ up. Her marriage is on the brim of destruction. She is anticipating divorce! The parents are shocked. They said to her – ‘You should try to adjust.’ Her relatives had a hot topic for discussion over tea and coffee. ‘The boy is so handsome and well accomplished. It must be her fault!’
The relationship hangs on a thin thread now. Its like a cricket-match where 50 runs are needed in the last over. The result is known and the next six balls are just a formality unless some miracle happens…But there are no winners in this match.
The guy is gay!
Coming to my earlier question - ‘Can life be perfect?’
Difficult question, and as I consoled her, this was my take on it, my absolute gibberish take.
You wanted to live your life on your own terms. This experience has made you wiser. Parents will always be concerned, that is their job. Relatives will always be entertained, that’s what they are for. But you have to live in this world for yourself. Now you can. You treaded the path you parents wanted you to take. It failed miserably. Now there are no reasons you cant live life on your own terms. Life has given you that chance. Isnt life just perfect?
I guess it is. But it is painful. I admit it. But Life is perfect. In the larger scheme of things, everything fits perfectly somewhere else. Probably the guy might also have been coerced into marriage. He must have broken someones heart before getting married. Damages have been done, people have been hurt. But wounds heal. Time is the best healer. The perfection of life is probably in its imperfection. So gift yourself to life.
Feel the wind from the sea, spread your arms and embrace it. Walk barefoot in the sand. Draw your dreams with your toes in the sand. Love yourself. That’s the companion you have to share your life till the end of time. No matter what!
Love you Pinky. Love your smile. Show it to the world… Charm them, charm yourself…
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
My dream house
A little away from lonavala, i stumbled on this place... a place where i would like to build my dream house!!
Monday, November 12, 2007
Its all coming back to me now...
It has been 8 years when i sketched the last. The last i did it was in my final year design paper and i have never sketched ever since. The mouse took away the experiene of the pencil and my sketching floated into the horizon. So when i decided to go to Lonavala along with Kunal and Sasha (a Lab dog), i stole a pen tablet from the office and took it there. We drove around, went to Amby Valley, also stopped for a long time at a place, i dont remember the name, but it was beautiful. The sketches were done later in the hotel room which captured the essence of what i saw, the landscape, people, couples in love, lonely people, all kinds of people.. I had planned to write, but then, words wouldnt come out as i wanted. So instead i opened Photoshop and tried out quick sketching... Quick sketching, essentially is to capture the essence of the scene in front of you in less than 5 min. I was struggling initially, but it is getting better... i hope it gets better! It was a loong long time, but what came out was some things like this...
Sasha, waiting for Kunal, looking at the door to open
A scene from a film on a TV channel
A couple having a silent conversation at the restaurant in the resort
On the way to Amby Valley (The temple on the rock is my addition)
Another couple
Sasha, waiting for Kunal, looking at the door to open
A scene from a film on a TV channel
A couple having a silent conversation at the restaurant in the resort
On the way to Amby Valley (The temple on the rock is my addition)
Another couple
Saturday, November 3, 2007
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