Experience at Prithvi :)

I used to watch so many plays in chennai. I would just keep waiting for August to go watch plays at Chennai for that whole one week, where the best in the country would be showcased.

Fast forward to the present, where I am back to a PhD at Mumbai and with laziness taking over (plus the no money situation), i hardly venture out (This is a big lie)

anyway, just last week a friend and I realised that we should be going for more plays and thankfully we acted on it. Off we went to Prithvi. forget how the play was because according to me plays are mostly great and my focus today is on the atmosphere.

So you reach Prithvi and the coffee shop welcomes you. Someone is playing a flute in one corner. you will even catch a couple of character actors and theatre persons sitting there. And once you absorb it all in and decide to go in...The auditorium is a small cosy place.. Its capacity must be about 150. The plays (i watched 2 in a week) mostly start on time. People who come to watch are most polite and its bliss to not have people whispering or talking amongst themselves or cell phones buzzing in sharp contrast to halls.

Throughout the play, you enjoy the performances connecting with the artists with this whole bunch who came to watch the play with you. It is a great experience.

Once the play is over,the audience claps encouraging the artists, sometimes even giving a standing ovation. people leave with decency, no pushing. Theatre is respected so much here. I love Prithvi and thank god i rediscovered it :)

Different kind of drunks

Crying type:

Yes feeling sorry for myself, very sorry. Feeling everything in my life is wrong and then just crying.


Horny type:

Grabbing/cuddling anything that is close to me.


Happy type:

Ah, singing old nineties songs, laughing hard.


Merry type:

Just a happy high, humming to myself


Silent type:

ummmm introspection


Emotional type:

Hugging/kissing people telling them they are your best friends (which might or might not be true)


Wild type:

Dancing on the bar's table, telling the bartender you have a crush on him

the perils of watching a movie in a multiplex

Mumbai

Movie tickets on weekends especially the night are sky rocketing in Mumbai. For a PhD student, rates like 300 and 350 kill me inside. Why watch a movie on a weekend? Might as well choose a weekday when atleast prices are affordable. Yeah, so Tuesday where PVR gives you movie tickets for Rs 110. Good, at last I have a great deal but well no, because all office goers also figure that out. And so on a tuesday, if it is a good movie you will face full houses and no ticket scenario. Book in advance, suggest many and mind you PVR doesnt even have convenience fee. But where goes the ability to be spontaneous? The best plans in life are random and once that element goes away, something goes missing, right?

the second part is the one where we get tickets and go to watch the movie in the respective hall. The movie starts at least twenty minute later. First i have to look at a Katrina Kaif ad where she plays a cross between red riding hood and little bo peep, eating coconut candy. Then she comes in a Slice ad. Alright, fine. She is a pretty face. but that is not it. Then there is a tobacco is injurious to health 2minute campaign which is well, just unpleasant to watch especially for non smokers like me. "Itna tar, aapko bimaar bahut bimaar karne ke liye kaafi hai" I mean come on man, i am going for a feel good. you just make me feel bad :(

That is not it, now PVR decides that they will show me trailers, which i dont mind.
Very honestly, till date i dont understand the significance of playing the national anthem before a movie. Can someone who gets it explain to me, why? Is this the only time we should feel patriotic?

And if all this is not enough, it is a gamble. The movie might be just something i dont like or detest totally.

And then there are the people. No manners. Either they keep talking amongst themselves. Come on yaar, i paid money to watch the movie and not listen to your background music. Annoying kids more than a few times and yeah people talking on the phone, never keeping the phone on silent.

I love watching movies in the hall but these negative externalities, God please save the movie goers paradise.


Chennai:

well, at least the prices are flat in Chennai. 120 bucks on all days but ninety percent of the janta is a movie buff and hence you will never ever get tickets. you have to plan the movie at least three days in advance. So no room to be spontaneous but movie watching was a pleasure in chennai, now that i think of it. Satyam had screens called spot and the decor was spots, streak and decor was a streak of light. there was something about the multiplex. It also always started on time unlike our PVR at oberoi, mumbai.

Mera India

I love my country but it worries me.

Talk about female rights and liberty: So many rape incidents, rapists going scot-free. Damini in December in Delhi and the myth in my head that mumbai is a safer city. Just yesterday, a photo journalist was gang raped in Mumbai.

Take the rupee, its now about 63 rupees against a dollar.
Onions: they werea poor man's meal, namak pyaaz and roti. I wonder what they eat now when pyaaz is 60 Rs per kg.

Just yesterday Prachi n I went for nariyal pani. the guy told us it was for 30 bucks and we were like "so much?" and he replied "aapne dekha hai pyaaz kitna mehenga hai?" "bhaiya, ek hee de do, hum share karte hain"

And mind you we are the few who can deal with this inflation even though our stipend remains the same. sigh.

and the traffic signals. It will kill you to watch kids begging.
Mid day meals cause sickness. Why would you think that food served there will help these children begging on the street.

the situation worries me. IFMR was my answer to try and do something for a change. Alas, i failed and here i am trying to do research on development areas but to what end?

Even if i come up with policy implications, what will change? what will change in an era of corruption and hoarding. The rich will become richer and the poor will become poorer. Disappointing but true. This is life. Such is life.

Meeting Mr Rampal

It was a Friday and Deepti, my closest friend from Chennai was visiting Mumbai. She called me to Trident, Nariman Point and i was like "dude, i dont want to come in. I am not dressed proper. What shit. you come bahar" She called me from the lobby "sunn bitch, yahan, arjun rampal baitha hai". being a rampal and an arjun rampal fan, i went in. Deepti to me "its probably some italian buddha but i had no other way of calling u in". Me "no, it is arjun and look there is meher, his wife. OMG OMG, lets sit down and watch them"
In the meantime, deepti called mudita, her colleague. Arjun seemed to be in a business meeting. Dressed in a tweed coat, looking as awesome as he does. i cannot forget the 15 minutes i just spent staring at him. Then he got up. Me "no no he is going. lets catch him. So mudita went first, she introduced herself and asked for a photo. Then i went next, "Hi Arjun, my name is Priya Rampal" and he smiled. i didnt stop. "I am from hindu college" "Really?" "yeah and i follow you a lot. i know you were in Jabalpur and my mom is from jabalpur" "oh my god, there are so many common things." "yes, can we have a photograph"
Deepti told him she was from nepal and she was shivering.
He shook hands with all of us. he had a firm handshake. He was so polite, so tall, so good looking. has to be... after all, he is a rampal :) i feel so proud of him. He and I are in my fb profile pic which i just keep staring at the whole day.
He obliged us ladies and took 2 pictures with us. He asked his friend "Will you take a photo?" the dude started looking for his phone. "not from your phone, her camera"
It was hilarious.

the two minutes for him, which he forgot the next instant..i will remember this whole lifetime. i love Mr Rampal. He the best :)

Delhi-London-Oxford-Brighton-Seven sisters-Brighton-London-Delhi

Day 1

Delhi-London

Started on an early Saturday morning in India in AI 115, left from Delhi because it was my first trip abroad in a conference and I kind of knew how excited my parents were, so I thought it would be best to leave from delhi. Got all formalities done and met some people who were flying to Canada. One particular baccha asked me for help all the time. “hun ki karna hai” I spoke to him. He was flying to meet his sister in Canada, basically he had plans of settling abroad. I boarded the flight soon and had a glass of red wine.they served some good food too. I slept through out this flight. I reached London at about noon, there time. I got the oyster card to travel cheap in their tube ( read underground)
I boarded the tube till green park from where I had to change for warren street to reach the YMCA. As soon as I alighted at green park, I spotted my friend Sarthak Gaurav waiting for me.
The tube is a lot like the delhi metro, its underground, overground, on the ground too sometimes. I liked travelling in it. Sarthak walked me to the YMCA where he had booked me in a dorm. He asked me if I wanted to sleep or head out. I wanted to head out 
The dorm was very nice and welcoming. There were 2 beds separated by a curtain and a common bath and toilet right outside the room. So, I took a shower, freshened up and went to Sarthak’s room.
We then started the sightseeing. He took me to a place called Little venice which are the backwaters of the river thames. We walked along the waters as we had missed the boat ride at 2 30. It was a nice walk, lots of flowers, boats, dogs and the general scene just filed me up with happiness. There were some irritating people too. A man in a shorts and always on the phone and talking so loudly. He walked right in front of us. All people who walked in the opposite side had a comment to make on him “oh my god, what a show off” “he is so loud” and when sarthak and I overtook him, we also spoke extra loudly but of course he didn’t realize why we did that. We then walked to Camden market, where there were stalls from all over: Australia, Thai, Chinese, American, sandwiches, desserts. I found the Australian stall rather interesting; there were kangaroo burgers, zebra burgers and what not. So we took the kangaroo burger. It was different and we felt quite full even though we shared one. We also took a round in the stables market.
Later, we walked to primrose hill, which offers a whole view of London: you can see the big ben, London eye, shard and a lot more. We sat for a long time and then took a bus to central London. We got off near Trafalgar square and checked out the Westminster abbey. We sat for a long time at the Trafalgar Square with our feet soaked in water. It felt very nice especially because of the long walk we had taken. I even got a picture clicked with the golden guy 
We then walked towards the big ben but found a bar which we entered. Sarthak got me a cider, it is made of apples and I developed an instant liking to it. So we had a glass each and I was rejuvenated and with new energy, we walked towards big ben.
It was magnificent and I guess that is an understatement. From big ben where I insited on taking lots of photos, we walked to the London eye. I asked sarthak if it was worth going on the eye and pat came the reply “pati ke saath jana” typical. Anyway, we then walked along the thames. There were singers, people playing the guitars. (Of course they expect you to contriobute something to their money collection)
Sarthak and I attended an entertainment show where he juggled, entertained us by riding a unicycle and involving the audience. We walked further. 4 drunk guys were dancing to the tune of a guy playing the guitar and soon it was an all electric pasrty atmosphere. It was difficult to leave but we did. We had some sweetened moongfalis and walked to Chinatown. Sarthak wanted a buffet but for me it was just not possible so we had a subway each and headed home. I was supertired and slept.

Day 2

London-Oxford


I got up in the morning and had to check out. I met my roommate who was a t year old woman. She asked me if I could suggest a suitable match for her. Her parents had married her to an NRI in America who left her soon. I told her I would try.Sarthak had to work today. Yes, don’t ask me why. It was a Sunday but it was good. Because I feel a joy in dioscovering a country on my own too and I had wonderful guidance from india itself. My father had already told me the places to visit and sarthak told me as well. I went to have breakfast at the YMCA and suddenly I saw a familiar face. He recognized me too. It was anant Tyagi. He was one year my junior at hindu. It was such a pleasant surprise to see him. With my luggage and decided to keep it in sarthak’s office.so I visited the LSE, I saw sarthak’s office. I then left for my walk and decided to meet sarthak for a late lunch. I walked rsandomly and soon found king’s college with a picture of aqlumni including a mr Rampahl who was a lawyer. I then entered the somerset house, where there were fountains coming out of the ground and children were bathing. There were a couple of painting exhibitions on display which I visited too. I then walked further down and came across HMS wellington which was open for public on Sunday and Monday so I walked in. (Later my father tiold me that he had lunch at this place with his friend) I then walked further down the river and came to St Paul’s cathedral. I crossed the bridge and walked on the other side now. Soon, I came to the monument which was a structure built in the honour of people who died in a 3-day fire. I now was walking on the London bridge towards the tower bridge and tower. By now I was really tired and turned around to go back. I decided to take a bus to aldwych where LSE was. It was almost 3 and I called sarthak to a place called amici café. I had a full English breakfast composed of 2 toasts with butter, a double fried egg, 2 bacon, tomato, baked beans and tea. It was vey tasty and very filling. I then bade sarthak goodbye and got in the bus to Victoria where I was supposed to get a bus to oxford. From the bus to Victoria, I saw the Westminster abbey and horse guards. I got the bus to oxford. The driver kept my luggage and gave me a ticket and told me for st anmne’s I had to get off at the last stop. It was a clean beautiful landsxcape and the bus ride was very comfortable. I reached oxford and boarded a cab till st annes where I got my room key. The bed looked very inviting and even though I had decided I would go on a walk, I ended up just sleeping after taking a shower and having a cup of tea.

Day3
Oxford


This was the first day of my conference. I wore western formals and went for the registration. I now met Steven, with whom I was in conversation since a few months for logistical support.he was as friendly in person as on the mails. I attended the conference with a lot of interest. I know what work is happening with my data. I also met abhijit, my friend from hindu college who said I should stay in oxford on Wednesday as he would show me around. I had lunch with Jere Behrman and kept bombarding him wioth questions on malnutrition indicators. The confence ended on the first day with a dinner where I met a lot of people doing research in similar fields. Since dinner ended at 10 pm and I had the 8 30 session in the morning, I decided to call it a day.


Day 4
Oxford

I wore a saree for my talk which went well. I thenattended the rest of the sessions feeling quite sleepy to be honest. A couple of people gave very nice talks: Lantt Pritchett, Jere Behrman. The conference finished by about 6 pm. I went to figure out ghow I would travel to brighton and janani booked me in a bus. Then I went on a walk and discovered the canals in oxford. I also saw the houses and flowers at the countryside. I then returned around 10 and frankly was very tired.

Day 5
Oxford-Brighton


Today abhijeet met me at 10 am and took me around Oxford. I first walked to the city centre to meet him. He took me to Christ college. This college has the dining hall of the Harry Potter movies. It also has the Christ church with glass tainted paintings. We looked at the castle, the main structure of the Oxford. The city has amazing flowers, window flowers, where all vibrant colours amalgate to give you the perfect image.We walked on the streets of oxford. Came across the pub where C S Lewis and Tolkein had conversations. I also visited the college where Tolkein wrote parts one and two of the LOTR. And im an LOTR fan so it was a big deal  We went to George and denver which apparently serves the best ice cream in that town.. We visited the sheldonian theatre from where you get a full view of the oxford city. Then abhijeet took me for lunch at his college and had knocchi for the first time in my life. It is a dish made of potato but it tastes like pasta 
We then visited the young lives office (jisse meri rozi roti hai) and submitted my bills. Spent about half an hour in the office chatting with Kate.Then we spent sometime sleeping near the thames after which I bade abhijeet goodbye and went to collect my lunch at st annes.i then walked to the bus stop and boarded a bus to London. It was about 4 30 and I had a bus to brighton from London at7 30. However, there was a huge jam on the highway and I was stuck in oxford till about 6. I was sure I would not make it to London on time. We hit London at about 7 30 and my bus stop at 7 50. The driver asked me where I was off to. I told him I had a bus to brighton. However, I was sure I had missed it. He told me he would drop me to the depot and I would be accommodated in the next bus since it was the buses fault and intimation had already gone to all buses on the status of my bus. That was a relief as my chindi dimaag felt grateful that I had not lost 7 pounds. So I boarded the 8 o clock bus to brighton. I took some photos of the pier and janani met me in ten minutes. We had a burger each and left for her home in Sussex university. I then took a bath, we chatted and slept.

Day 6
Brighton-Seven sisters-Brighton


The next day, we left in the afternoon to visit the seven sisters. We took a bus till city centre and then another one to the seven sisters. It’s an hour long walk to the top and the view is magnificent. There are lambs talking to each other, little ponds of water and greenery. Some people bring their dogs along too. So we climbed the hill. Janni had packed us sandwiches and we had a small picnic on the top of the first sister but it was very cold and windy. So I asked Janani if we could walk back and we did. We then went to the seaside and clicked lots of photos. We then went back to Brighton and janani decided to treat me to Italian for my birthday with a glass of red wine. We had pizza and knocch. She then even took me to a pub where I treated her tyo her favourite drink and myself to a cider 
Peop[le were dancing and someone was singing but as we were too tired we left soon and just crashed at home after deciding that I would leave for London the next afternoon.

Day7
Brighton-London
We got up in the morning and clicked very many photos at the pavilion which looks like designed by a mughal architect. It was the king’s holiday home. We then visited the pier which had casinos, eating places and rides inside. I then said bye to janani and got into the London bus. We reached Victoria and instead of going to drop off my luggage at monali’s, I decided to take a round of Buckingham. So I walked there with my bag and all and luckily for me I saw the changing of the guards. I spent some time at the fountain outside Buckingham too. Then I walked back to take the underground to London bridge. When I reached, monali said she would be done in 15 minutes so I walked around a bit, had coffee at burrough market when she came. Then we headed to the riverside and spent time along the thames. I was a little tired by 7 so we decided to head to chiswick.. it was a long journey and we decided we would order in at home. It was monali’s birthday and we ordered Lebanese. It was rather nice food and she even got me a cider 

Day 8
London-Greenwich-London


Officialy my last day. We got up and decided we would visit Greenwich. It was great to go to the place which is the G in GMT. We visited the university, maritime museum all from the outside. We saw the line…0 degree. We then took a ride on the trolley and saw a full view of London from the O2. We then went to the station and headed to oxford circus. I shopped a bit for home and friends, vsisited waterstones and met sarthak for some coffee and sandwiches at hyde park before heading back to Chiswick where Anupam uncle and indu aunty visited me for an hour. It was great meeting them. All childhood memories flooded back. I then watched some TV and slept after “bandhoing my samman”

Day 9
London-Delhi


I got up at 8 and walked to the chiswick park station at 10. Monali saw me off. I took the inderground to the airport and got security done. I went to the duty free and got some chocolates. Met a sardar uncle aunty who were pretty old and were now settled in UK. I watched 2 movies on the flight and could not sleep this time around. When I reached my parents and sister came to pick me up.

It was a very good trip. Ive still not seen enough due to lack of time. Ive still not done enough due to lack of money. I hope i can visit again.
There are some things/observations which I want to write separately about

When I met anant, sarthak saw me but did not come. When I met anant, I told him that my friend stayed in room 133 and had booked the YMCA for me. Anant said that he was in that guys bad books. He told me he would tell me the story later. When I met sarthak later, he told me anant had told some girls that he snores and therefore wo use chidh gaya. Later I introduced the two of them and anant had another friend who was called kammy. Then when sarthak and I were walkjing to his office, sarthak goes “Annie and Cammy” I said “what?!” “Wo karamyog se kammy ho gya toh tera dost anant se annie..annie and cammy ”

The nomenclature is weird in the UK. So I understood that the underground was referred to as the tube so I took the tube the first day. However, everyone kept telling me that I had to take the tube from London to oxford and I thought that it meant there was an underground. However, tube is the name of a bus service, oxford tube is a bus service.then again, they kept saying for brighton I had to go to coach station and I thought train but it was not a train that people referred to. Coach station was bus stop. So you clarify what people m,ean when they ask youi to take the coach or the tube.

 The older british are much more sophisticated and pleasing than the younger generation.

 The oyster card greatly reduces the expenditures on transport. Can be used in buses and underground.

 People are in general friendly though they might not know what you ask for.

 Every Friday, you can find people with glasses of wine/cider/beer/whiskey drinking on the streets yet it is congenial and nothing rowdy was experienced. They sure can handle their drinks 
 The river walk is one of the most amazing things you can do in London.
 There is road rage too. I witnessed one. The driver apologized to me. He had no need, I am from delhi and have faced the wrath of the blue line conductors and drivers. The car guy who got into the brawl made racist remarks.
Oxford is great for its architecture, Brighton for its pier. London is great for being the hub of theatre, architecture and night life.

They do have a habit of asking “are you alright?” instead of “how are you?”

Its not the BEST, its the BEAST

The lifeline of mumbai is the local, it is a known fact. Aiding the local are also the red fleet of buses aka The BEST: Brihanmumbai electric supply and transport. Ah, the red best buses. Red is also the colour of danger. Know what i am drawing your attention too? These buses ply the roads of mumbai, helping mumbaikars get to office, students get to colleges and school and in general the functioning of society. But mind you, the best as they are called, pay no attention to the poor pedestrians, cars and auto rickshaw drivers (not that i am advocating their safe behaviour or driving. In general, it is my observation that pedestrians in Mumbai tend to be more careless than in Chennai or Delhi while driving and road rage is more pronounced in Delhi.) I digressed in the bracket. My other observations about the best are that given their size, they consider themselves the kings of the jungle and don't pay an iota of attention to us lesser mortals, walking the earth. Just close to my campus is the Dindoshi depot. The best move in and out of the depot. There are 2 gates to the depot and the buses just dont look.In the absence of a traffic light, there are buses moving in and out of the depot at full speed. Its like they are telling you "Look at me. Look at my size. I will crush you." And the message is clear to me. At the 2 gates of dindoshi, i look in every possible direction before crossing it. even my campus, a particular bus has to take a U turn, right outside campus. Just the other day, there were blood marks on the road. A campus guard told me the best had crushed a child while reversing. It was sad especially because this is not even a busy area. How can you end a life on a road where there is usually no traffic? I have had some close encounters with the best myself. I am super scared of them. The red signals danger to me. Cliche as it may sound, it is said that with great power comes great responsibility. i would like to say that with great size comes great responsibility. I wish the best drivers drive carefully and prove me wrong when i say it is not the BEST but the BEAST that plies these roads in mumbai.

old times

It just happened by coincidence. I clicked on the song "don't speak" by no doubt. It was a very popular song during my Hindu days.. The band would always play it. and somehow, now i relate to this song quite a lot. It talks of fading friendships, the hurt they cause. Nice song. You feel the pain even though you don't talk about it and pretend it does not exist. "Don't tell me because it hurts". Maybe inside, you feel like crying but you don't because you have to act mature because this is life.. "as we die, both you and i, with my head in my hands i sit and cry" http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=5ph3Qg9D-gM&feature=endscreen

the medical profession

It would not be a lie if i told you that at some point in my life i wanted to become a doctor, not the PhD one that i still aspire to be but a medical doctor. I had taken the AFMC exam pretty seriously. i thought i had sevabhaav in me and my father would constantly put this line in my ears "do not become someone who will make money out of another man's misery. be a good doctor" anyway, lots happened. I did not clear the entrances, lost interest and started my tryst with economics, which continues till date. And now i noticed the difference, the difference between a good and a bad doctor in the last few weeks. Its not the first time i fell ill. I have had my share of diseases of and on. When i was in class sixth, i had severe upper respiratory tract infection, which was not treated properly and soon became lower respiratory tract infection and later asthma. The doctor prescribed steroids, which led to weight gain. It is no surprise that those medicines taken then also resulted in some hormonal imbalances to haunt me later in life..stupid doctor 3 weeks ago, one of my friends fell on my knee. there is some inflammation and an irritating pain through my knee. walking is an issue. A week after the injury, i visited a doctor who prescribed an X ray and an MRI by just glancing at my knee. Now, an MRI is a big deal and i hated the fact that i had to get it done. So i waited 2 weeks as advised by my family doctor and then thought i should get a second opinion. The doctor i met today was in sharp contrast with the first doctor. He heard me out, examined me by bending my knee in various positions, told me that in all probability i had a meniscus injury which would take about 6 weeks. He taught me some exercises too and told me to be back in 15 days in case i was not better. I dont know how long it will take, but meeting this doctor instilled a hope in me. A hope that there are still great doctors around and the profession is not a business for some of them :)

Samples on Shadi.com

The first guy that I was supposed to hook up was a certain Mr AM. I refused to meet him because he was 34 years old, stayed with his family and earned about 11 lacs. Money wasn't the criteria but My point was that my peers earned 11 lacs pa when they were 27 and it didn’t make sense to me to settle in a joint family. Plus there was the added pressure of him being from my brother in laws family. And a six year age gap. . Maybe I was not ready. . But I have been independent for too long now. I just couldn't see myself with him. The second person I met for matrimonial purpose was Mr AS. A lawyer, by profession. He seemed decent to talk to. And I did believe I had found someone really nice. However, he stopped calling, messaging back. In fact our parents were in conversation but when the time came to meet, Mr AS simply disappeared from the scene. Then my parents found Mr VS who according to my father was extremely cute. But he wasn’t somebody I could get married to. He did not speak well. He did not want to meet me to get to know me well. He was okay with finalizing everything with my parents. That was not acceptable to me. Later I registered on jeevansathi.com, where I met more samples. Mr VI, who expressed interest and then insisted he wanted a working wife. Mr AJ, who was a divorcee and a classic bodybuilder. All he did was talk about weight. How would he understand what a researcher did? Mr M who kept calling, messaging, telling me I had beautiful eyes and then two days later said it was all a joke. A certain Mr R called me once. He insisted on talking while in the local. The first thing he wanted to know was my caste. It pissed me off. He called me at 12. 45 am again to find out what I liked in his profile. I gave it to him for calling me at an odd time, for asking me my caste and for not going through my profile before making a call. I told him I wouldn’t marry him if he was the last person on earth. This is the story so far. I may find someone, I may not but it is certainly entertaining to look.

A funny comparison

We have a very cute professor at IGIDR. He is brilliant starting most conversations with "I dont know much about this subject but....." and then he goes on to tell you stuff you had no idea about. He knows everything. But he is a little absent minded, like most brilliant people always are. For instance, just this one time, he walked into the CC and picked up R's register and started flipping through it. He always does that with books because he always wants to know what everyone is reading. I caught him. Me "Sir, you can't do that. " He "ohohhoho , i didn't realise, Priya. I am so sorry" Me "yes sir but you never know what is written, its personal". "yes yes" and then while leaving "I didnt mean to read it" So you get the kind right. He is so wonderful. He is in charge of the seminars that happen at IGIDR. Just today a speaker didn't show up. He met us at the cafeteria "I feel like someone who has been stood up at a wedding". Me "no sir, its not that bad". "you must have seen that movie, what is it?" and i thought runaway bride or something. he went on "the one with ranbir kapoor and minissha lamba" me" oh yes, the three heroines" he, "yes, i feel like bipasha basu in bachna ae haseeno"

IRONMAN

I love robert downey jr. And i love Ironman. I am not sure if i love ironman because of robert or robert because of ironman. but watching ironman3 was a perfect break on a hot sunday when i had made the journey from goregaon to chembur and back. I was on my own and it was becoming very difficult to resist ironman's charms so i got off at hub and bought a ticket for the 3 30 pm show. Watching a movie alone is a different high altogether. It gives me a strange sense of independence and empowerment (however lame it sounds) And then started the last part of one of my favourite series. Tony stark with his one liners, his coolness. And this time, there are panic attacks too, making you realise that even cool people have their weaknesses hidden somewhere. Insecurities that come out like this. there is women empowerment too. An intelligent woman, who tony had slept with in 1999 has created a superhero, who actually is the villian.And Pepper fighting the villian in the end. Eiffel 65's blue, right at the introduction stole my heart since the beginning. I loved the movie and will recommend it to anyone but then again I m a Robert Downey jr fan and this opinion could be biased. the movie is paisa vassol. I can go again :)

the whole fiasco about tying the knot

Once you are in your late twenties and are still figuring out what to do (even though you kind of have an idea but are still not sure), for instance someone like me, who is doing a phD at 28. I dont make money. I dont have a career yet...though i can see myself rising in a year from now with loads of money and a great job (one that i love and that is why the decision to do a PhD).. anyway, money is not that important else i would have never left CIRM. Anyway, the point of this blog entry is the pressure that i feel as a 28 year old... First, is the pressure i feel from my parents, especially my ma. Well i probably have no reason to complain because i feel this when i am 28 while most girls give in at 22. The pressure of getting married, of finding someone. "Oho koi khud kyun nahi dhoond liya?" "har ma-baap chahte hain k unki ladki ki shaadi ho jaye" "jeevansathi pe paid account lo" "tum toh website check hee nahi karte" Second, the peer pressure, what with all of them tying the knot. I am not lying, im genuinely happy that they are finding good people to settle down with and what with sitting on a table where everyone goes "congratulations" and the response is "same to you" and to me "when are you tying the knot?" i would rather wait for the right person than compromise. and well, you are my friends, be supportive, don't act like my parents. don't add to my grief. Third, own pressure: I have a lot of expectations from myself. Now i am not saying marriage would tie me down but it might if its someone who doesn't understand me, my priorities, i would just be in an unhappy marriage and that is certainly not what i want. Add to this the misery of finding someone on jeevansathi: people i like will never get back(they reject me based on looks, non existent salary, location maybe) . people who like me? well, none have met my standards so far. and thank god i have standards. this is actually the perfect place to start losing your confidence. A younger cousin is engaged, adding to the family pressure. Anyway so here i am at this juncture in my life where my parents have decided that my marriage is the only thing that will lead to their happiness.where everyone wants me to hurry up to find my Mr right so the younger cousin's marriage happens after me. I have so much to do in my Phd. so much to analyse, write, discover. So much to rise for, so much to shine for in this life but nothing seems important to my family except shaadi. why cant i go on with the things i like doing and hoping i would find someone on the way. and if i dont, am i not happy with myself? This is an unnecessary pressure , an unnecessary grind. And my happiness is a function of my family's happiness. And so either way i lose. This is a losing battle. I just hope i dont lose my confidence or self esteem in the process though it happens time and again. One of my friends had mentioned to me that she is scared of a vision of her, old and surrounded by cats and it scares her. She is thankfully committed now. But somehow i dont have such visions yet, it doesnt even scare me... My only fear is that one day it might scare me. I can be alone but i dont want to get lonely ever... Actually the real fight is once i get married, then it'll be "when are you planning a baby?" but lets leave that for another blog entry...

the kitten

Yesterday night, R and I saw a kitten at the stairway in campus. Not moving, not responding. It was 3 am. R quickly got a utensil to give it water. Unfortunately we didnt have milk with us. So we crushed some biscuits and tried to feed it but it didnt eat. I then remembered that i had a packet of cat food in my room. I got a shoe box and made it cosy with some clothes inside and put the water bowl, cat food and the kitten in the box. I decided that i would take it to the vet the first thing in the morning. I woke up at 9 and went to check on the kitten. It was alive thought he breathing was slow. As i went back to change and returned the kitten had passed away. Utter remorse is what i felt. At least, we tried our best to make its last night comfortable :(

Kite flying should be banned

Yesterday, i went to visit Upasak in the hostel so we could watch a movie. He stays on the third floor. He was smoking when i went and he pointed to a poor pigeon who was stuck in the manjha on a tree branch. The poor bird was struggling so hard to rescue himself but in the whole process he kept getting entangled in the manjha which is known to cause the deaths of many birds. I felt various emotions at that time and first came out anger "A life is ending in front of you and you are smoking a cigarette. Go get Rajnish, get Sanchit." He went off to find Sanchit. In the meantime, i found a pair of scissors and tried to pull the branch closer to myself in the balcony. I could also cut a little bit of the manjha though the bird was still stuck badly. I only felt the desperation in the poor bird and its natural instinct to save its life and i could not control my tears. Upasak and Sanchit returned soon. Sanchit is a tall guy and an animal lover. At our campus, we have the clothes stand in the balcony too. this was a deterrent in our bird saving project. Upasak had to hold the clothes stand. I pulled the branch closer to us and Sanchit started cutting the manjha. It was not very easy because the pigeon was scared of us too. It would flutter even more as we tried to help it. However, soon we managed to free it from the branch. Sanchit could hold it and put it on the balcony. One wing was severely damaged and the bird could not fly. It could however walk. We gave it water in a bowl and some bread crumbs. The bird was very very scared and probably also in shock. We also got a cardboard box for it but we could not make it sit in the box. We kept checking on the pigeon through the night and gave it some sprouts too. In the morning, i called many helplines to save birds. In the end, i found one at Goregaon west who said they would come and pick up the pigeon by afternoon. At about 4, a certain Hasmukh bhai came to collect our pigeon. He removed the remaining manjha stuck in the bird's wings. He put the pigeon carefully in the box we had ready, recited the gayatri mantra and then took the bird for treatment. He told me that the NGO doesnt have many funds and it is not registered. I donated some money towards the cause and will visit it too in the near future. It felt nice to be able to help a life which was suffering in front of us. Kite flying is enjoyed by the human life but its repercussions on the avian life are too harsh. Kite flying should be banned.

The muddle

One of my friends, who is a little forgetful had returned some purchase on 13th Jan and received a credit note. He had to make use of it in a month's time. Obviously he had forgotten. Wonders of wonder, i had a moongfali packet that we purchased on the same day in my bag and i thought i would have a sbnack yesterday. So i offered it to T, who has very sharp memory. T asked me "Has A made use of the credit note. It was about a month ago?" Me " i am not sure. But how are you so sure?" to which T replied "We had gone on makar sakranti, exactly a month ago. Call him" I said ok and forgot all about it because i started chatting with U and S. When i returned to my desk, coincidently A had pinged me. So i reminded me about his credit note and he asked me if U, T and i would accompany him. U and I had plans of walking in the evning and U had a music class. So i told A to give us a call when he left home because he is always late. A called me to say he was ready to leave and we should meet him at the gate. Knowing his ways, U and I decided to walk and have chai and samosa. Wonders of wonder when he called in 5 minutes to ask where we wetre because he was already at the campus gate. So i called T and he said "aa gaya hai?" with such surprise! So we left for the mall in A's car. U got off for his music class and T, A and I reached the mall at about 8. A looked at T shirts and narrowed down 3. He then kept asking for his size to each salesman. He then came across some shirts and left the Tshirts in favour of the shirts. He picked up about 5 and again kept asking the salesman for the size. Mind you, in the time of a sale, you or the salesman would take equal time in finding the size because everything is just thrown on the display tables. And thats what kept happening. But he did it 5 times to different salesman. Ultimately he picked up 2 shirts by 9 15. He then went and confirmed if the credit note was valid and it was. At this time, T had found and tried some shirts too. So then we went to find A who had suddenly found cargos. So A tells us "I have always wanted cargos" Me "so what about the one and a half hours that we spent looking for shirts?" A, "nahi, hum jab se student hai, cargo ka shauk h". He dropped the shirts right there and went with T to pay the bill. And guess what? The credit note was nowhere to be found. It was not in his wallet, not in his pockets. So i went upstairs to the person he had confirmed with about the credit note. I asked him if A had left the credit note by mistake. The guy, "no ma'am, he enquired about it but didnt leave it here". Me, "ok, thanks" I went to tell A who decided to request them to consider it valid since they had seen it. In the meantime, T and I went to check the place where he had dumped the shirts. We checked the shirts, the display table. suddenly T saw an old piece of paper under the table and asked me "wo hai kya" i said, "nahi, that looks so old". However, i picked it up and it was the credit note. We then called A and paid the bill. Phew. When i narrated the whole case to U, he said "oh, thank god i had music class. I love my teacher "