There is this friendly security chap at work who is friendly with everyone more so with Bongs since he is familiar with the language. I believe that I posted about this person earlier as well.

And I am trying to be compassionate and patient with this friendly busybee.. I do like him since his very positive attitude makes it very nice to get inside..

So when I step out of the lift a very cheery good morning greets me.

Aesheco Didi ?? ( so you have arrived)

Then as I happen to step in or out. He cheerfully shouts,

Take this lift !

Take that lift !

Oh this one is almost here !

OR

Wait that one will come !! 

I Go inside my head:  EEEEEEE STOP STOP STOP :) )

Yours truly gets really confused with many options so while he is going this and that, my brain just shuts down. And whatever task I am about to do, gets totally forgotten..

I know he is trying to be helpful.. but it would help if he let me choose which lift I want to take and sometimes, I wait for a lift deliberately as I am organizing my thoughts to take the next step… Sigh !!

Every time, he shouts cheerfully, POP goes the map of my mind to a bleep.. And I have to re think all over again..

I do take the stairs most of the time.. but well its those times, when I have to enter the lifts, it gets to me.

So I like coming in when the office is very quiet so that I can organize myself before the actual crowd drops in..

Thats not the problem  !!

The problem is when I arrive a little late by my standards..

and he goes !!!

Aajke late hoyegaylo !! ( today you are late!)

Ki holo?? Didi Aaj ke late ??? ( What happened Didi/Akka ? Late today ??)

And variations of the above..

At first, I would reply in a non commital manner..

Slowly the replies have turned to mumbles to a dignified nod.. hahahah !! ( I feel so snobbish but I just dont know what will keep him quiet without me being impolite)

I mean I do want to respond since he is such an enthu cutlet.. but seriously..

MORNINGS ARE NOT MY BEST TIMES specially if I am late.. .hahaha

As it is I am rushing in and ignoring the guilty me inside trying to reproach me for being late and I do not need Mr Friendly to lay it thicker GAH !!

I happen to have to work at two workplaces so I take off to the other workplace sometimes, after half a day and finish my work at the other workplace..

So if Mr Friendly happens to catch me step into the lift. .. somewhere in the middle of the day.. .or late morning..

Eto taratari jacho?? ( Leaving so early ??)

Bari jacho ?? ( going home ??)

Kothai jacho ?? ( where are you off to ?? )

And more.. Sigh…

And I have been replying that I am going to other office but the repetition gets to me..

And I can only vent to you dear blog… .

So I am trying the mumble + Dignified Nod and a cool smile..

It keeps the questions at bay for a while but it does not stop..

NOPE !!

Today he was excited about the new tea machine which would provide human made tea rather than the awful machine tea. So he was super excited while I was still waking up as usual and was pouring hot water for my green tea as usual.

And he went …

Didi Didi.. !! Ajke theke notun machine esheche.. and amra ghora banano cha khete parbo.

Cha neben na.. nen na nen na… !!

(Didi, From today we have this new vending machine which will give us home made tea ?

Try this, you have to try this.. and he went on with the try )

I smiled and said wow !! but it took me a while to tell him that I am drinking green tea..

Sigh…..

Its like I have a personal manager to manage my every coming and going.. and drinking.. eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

I know … I am making a big deal but I am so not used to being dogged even in a friendly way..

I think I am being punished for some unknown sins I have committed and its like a punishment of the sweetest kind.. where you cannot do anything but bear it.. since its just no fault of his..

I did ask around if he is friendly to more people or was it just me ??

I did get confirmation that he was a very friendly person by nature.

So I just go about my business and will go on since if I look at the big picture I do find his qualities very endearing.

• When he is saying Hello, he is welcoming me.
• When he is pointing to the lift, he is saving my time with waiting for lifts.
• When he is asking me why so late, he just might be reminding me of office timings.
• When he is asking me if I am going early, maybe in his own way he is showing concern …

Every behaivor has a positive intention.

And he is a very helpful and a very nice soul and brings in a lot of positivity with his enthu cutlet attitude so well bless him !!

I on the other hand, muddled with day’s activities, need A LOT OF PATIENCE. Its all about my perspective.. Rest is fine..

So I cope on !!! …. hopefully with more tolerance and really seeing the good intention and not letting it get to me.

God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
Courage to change the things I can,
And wisdom to know the difference.

Image via Wikipedia

Yeah I love the WordPress update, Fullscreen and all.  Now I can focus on writing without thinking so much on the accessories

Thank you, WP.

So this time I have a pet peeve I have to write about my dearest husband Rocks.

Rocks is a very process oriented soul. Everything has a purpose, plan , a start and an end to all his mode of thought and actions. And well me I am just the opposite of that a soul thriving between options and process and let there be love all around… kind.. LOL…:)

In my house,for me, tea has lot of meaning. I associate and Rocks knows this that I have strong bonding with self and family and I dont know its the ultimate comfort zone in my area of existence.

A cup of tea can mean so much …

Sometimes, I just connect with myself and nature.

A book seems more exciting with a cup of tea.

A chat seems more in depth with tea.

A friend seems more dearer when we share a cup of tea…

Morning tea makes me just slowly rejuvenate time and again with life… it calls me to live and live well.

And yeah, I create so many wonderful stories and daydreams for my imaginary book with every sip.

I also ramp down my stress mode and get some perspective when there is a strom brewing and crying all around me.

And lots more…….

So TEA is a very important part of my living… as I associate a lot of positive modes of operation with it.

Now tea can be just green tea or masala chai or any form.

The hot brew kadak chai is my favorite.. when I am in the thick of things.  ( mind you I am not addicted but it just feels like my mind gets sharpened)

For Rocks it is something we have as a routine so he lovingly makes tea for me when I am tired and I am really grateful that he does that. Yes GOD ! I am a grateful soul..

But, Rocks has this idea of a scientific lab when preparing tea. ( at least thats what I am imagining ….LOL..

And he knows it just how I like it…

So one day I plead with him to boil me a cup.

And he goes in and he is making the tea and making the tea. I wonder what he is doing.

He makes everything ok but then for some reason adds cold milk to it and brings it to me with lot of enthusiasm because he made it in a “different” way. Ok I am getting it that he is rediscovering or customising how its made…. but WHY… .

He tried some options.. but I pleaded with him to keep to the normal method.. And we were back to normal.

yet another day he decides to prepare red tea for my Dad with lot of love.  Now red tea is simple. Boil water, infuse the tea leaves and thats it. Dad does not even take sugar. He just likes it to be a particular depth.

Rocks in his science mode.. ( I think something unique happens to him when he sees tea leaves)

He makes the tea with milk and then uses the same tea leaves to try and make red tea.
How can we make red tea with already boiled tea leaves.. to it he again adds fresh tea leaves.. when he does not get the tea color or fragrance he wants.

I spy this and am watching what he is upto and gently try telling him that it will not work..

and he in his teacher manner tells me : Wait and watch this will work… the color will come.. and it will be a good drink.

As usual, I ignore this… since I know, only if he sees the result he will believe the same.

And well to add a long story short.. Dad sipped this and PSHEW screamed :  What WAS THIS CONCOCTION ?

I opened my mouth to “tell” him about the special tea  while Rocky pinned me down to be quiet… realising his mistake.. .. LOLOL

Well… I just hope the tea saga does not repeat… I cannot take much of this experiment … hahahah !!

If there is something I like, its my tea, just the way it should be.. and so does Rocks..( wonder why then he keeps doing this)

Sometimes I think how his map of the world would be a mini science lab with varied procedures…. for every little task… LOLOL..

Adorable… man that he is… this tea experimentation is getting to me. LOLOL

I missed S who has migrated to the US. We had formed a tiny ritual of always meeting on our bdays and showering each other with not one but many silly gifts. Its not about the gifts but the love with which both of us took the pain to get for each other and both of us would find something special which we always wanted.. I have not found that in any other friend but then we are kindred spirits … yes we are… so well, she not to be outdone by distance like me, made it a point to make her presence known via online gifting service, who called me several times….

From the signal opposite my workplace, 3 times,asking me to come and collect the gift, leading me to a wrong place to collect it and then finally having me give up and asking him to come over to the 5th floor at work.. GAH..

When I saw what he got, I immediately knew it was none other than S.

Well, bless you !! I never missed you more… but I could feel your love all the way from Dulles.

Yeah the card with lot of writing is pending.. She always makes it a point to give me a card writing out her thoughts which I have kept across the years… And yeah I do the same, even when I am lazy, she makes sure I do the same… since I also like it that way..

So S, I really was warmed by your touching me from so far across.. with cakes,flowers, gifts, teddy bear.

A and family, I thank you for your cakes and flowers as well… Love to the little one.. I remember you doing your bit to cheer me up last time in Old Magazine House as well.. appreciated that.

So as I am driving from one office to another, bliss in my mind, generally happy, I take a uturn and there is this young somewhat goodlookin cop who stops me and shows me the No Uturn board.  Sigh.. ‘

I had an empty wallet and when he asked me to pay up, I said I did not have money. He did not believe me and out came the Inspector from a funny hiding place between two posts. I waited. This was a typical fight or flight situation. I decided I will do neither and settled in for inquisition and negotiation.

Deep breath In : Deep Breath Out and with the best helpless yet positive and honest smile that I could manage, I greeted the Inspector.

Inspector (mumbling) : So Madam !! you see you have to pay 100/-

Me (showing him an empty wallet) : Look Sir, no money. Do you have a swiping machine via which I could pay ?

Inspector (looks at me weirdly) : No machine but you have to pay 100/-

Me (again showing him an empty wallet) : its the end of the month and I really have not gone to the ATM to get cash. Look sir, I am  not lying. ( all the time smiling sheepishly)

Inspector (scratches his head): He peers into my car and sees that my car does not have any elements he can flick. ( I keep my car pretty functional without any knick knacks. ) He peers out and peers in again.

Madam : Give me your license. !

Me : I give him my license. Sir, today is my birthday and I am on my way to the office. You see roses and sweets..

Inspector : Smiles . OK OK…. So Madam, where are you from. Pallavi Bhaskara. (Ok I have been called Bwawa, Baruca, Brawa, but well, yet another version of my title Bhaskara for Baruah : And my ID is bold and big for them to read)

Me : I am from here. ( it was on the tip of my tongue to correct him but what the heck !! I played along)

Inspector : Where is Bhaskara working ?

Me : Bhaskara is working here.

Inspector : (Pause) So…… you a Mallu.( my Mallu friends were teasing me that maybe Mallus are damn care drivers, so the assumption)

Me (without blinking my eye) : No I am a Kannadiga and Bhaskara is also a Kannadiga.

Inspector : Good good. Ok Madam you have to give 100/-

Me (tapping inside my brain for patience) : Sir, I have flowers , please take them. I dont have money right now. ( I give him the flowers)

Inspector (jumping back) : No No !! ( well it was just flowers.. !! :O ) then another Pause… peers again inside the car. Ok Madam !! give me your phone number .

Me ( hesitant and tempted to give a wrong number but does not) : I give him my phone number. He immediately calls up and my phone rings. He looks to verify.  That saves me. If I had given the wrong number, it would have worsened my case.

Inspector Ok Madam, I will call you.

Me What is your name Sir ? 909283283 is your number ?

Inspector Wait Madam, you are too fast. Yes thats my number and my name is Manjunatha.

Me Ok Manjunath, please call me and come by and pick up your 100/-

Inspector yes madam, I will call you..

Me : I start my car and they suddenly become very enthusiastic and wish me loudly

HAPPY NEW YEAR HAPPY NEW YEAR …HAPPY BIRTHDAY !! ( Happy new Year ???? )

I drive off with a smile interested to see what will happen next…..

2 days Later : I get a call from this cop. Madam, I want to meet you ( I was like : Well thats a good start) I ask him if he wants the money. He says yes. I tell him that my Husband and my father were waiting to give him the money and call him to a particular landmark. He reaches the Landmark and does not come further. I tell him to come by so many times, but he wants me to meet him. In that pull and push conversation, I tell him to come to my office the next day.

I think he got scared when he heard my husband and father were waiting for him. Funny how some lines can mean a threat even without meaning to.

Well, I am still waiting with 100/- and waiting for him to call.

If he is smart, he will realise that to get that 100/- he is having to spend more than that.. LOLOL.. Poor guy..

Depends, how much 100/- means to him..

Moral of the Story : Honesty and flowers helped me get away without any guilt. So it pays..

But well this started with my husband receiving calls from somewhere around North Karnataka. Now don’t ask me what kind of cosmic connection Rocky has with North Karnataka, but there you go. All the numbers who misdial are from that side.. having similar denominations.

Typically, Rocky being used to many wrong number calls, he starts off responding to Kannada Dialect with his Assamese dialect and typically, the person on the other line disconnects coming to the conclusion that it is not his number.

What is more interesting that we have had our numbers from past 10 years and have not changed it and well the spate of wrong calls have been increasing for the past year.

Case X :

This caller turned out to be more painful than the others…

Day 1 : Caller ( an old lady voice )  calls and Rocky responds in his Assamese dialect. Caller drops the phone.

Caller calls again …. and again…. and again… after a spate of about 15 minutes.

The “you speak your lingo and I speak mine” obviously did not work.

Rocky puts this number in his address book addressed as “@(&#^ moron” and we forget about it after having a short laugh.

Day 2 : Caller ( the same old lady voice) calls again and says .. Hella!!Hella !! Helaaaa !!! ???? Yaru ( In Kannada : who is this) !!!!!

Rocky keeps talking nonsense in his lingo and well she puts down the phone.

Day 3 : Day 4 : Day 5 : This keeps on repeating.

And to add to it, the first call would  be this old lady and after that she would call her husband or son to make the call again.. maybe thinking that a male voice would scare Rocks.

But Rocky  being Rocky undettered , sometimes puts hard rock or the radio near the phone sometimes generally talks whatever he feels like. I can see Rocks getting pissed with the Hellaaaa !! bit..

I am meanwhile watching this without much reaction.. to see who will give up first..

But Rocky keeps trying to invent creative ways to make them drop the phone.

Day 6 : while we were having tea, in the morning, suddenly this number calls again… Fed up of this, I pick up the phone and tell them in Kannada that its the wrong number and why dont they stop calling ??

Caller sheepishly apologizes and drops the call.

Every other day, the caller keeps calling and sometimes, Rocky just keeps it on silent but then otherwise, he ignores it.. sometimes, he really gets irritated…

One day, I see Rocky searching You Tube for some Kannada Dialouges.. funny dialouges to spout when the caller calls..

I still very much ignore his efforts.. To me, I know till Rocky does something crazy to have his anger satisfied, he will not stop.. and its fun actually watching him come up with newer methods..

Day N : Caller again calls Hellaaaa !!! ???? !!

At this time, I think I was working with some music.. it was evening time… and while I was key banging in rhythm with the music, the living room had its light dimmed…

Suddenly, I hear Rocky skipping on alternate legs, dancing and singing.,…. loudly to the phone….. Helllaaa ??? Hellaaa !!HELLA !! LIGHT FORCE !! K&N …Helllaaa ??? Hellaaa !!HELLA !! LIGHTFORCE !! K&N …Helllaaa ??? Hellaaa !!HELLA !! LIGHTFORCE !! K&N …Helllaaa ??? Hellaaa !!HELA !! LIGHTFORCE !! K&N … ( by the way, if you are wondering what Rocky was shouting, he was randomly shouting the names of some car accessories brands.. )

with the now not so soothing music.. .. .

I was like :O :O :O …

Rocky does not sing… so seeing him jumping around and singing to the phone was a sight to see…

I was rolling with laughter… till tears came out of my eyes..

Suffice it to say, the calls stopped for a while…

But I have to update saying that after that while, the calls still continue… now, we just keep it on silent, praying that it goes off..

Caller refuses to believe that our number is the wrong number..

GAHHHHHHHHHHHH !!!

I was going to spend time with a soul friend…

Everything was ready, my backpack was ready, my book and music added, my checklist ticked, alarm set and ticket “assumed”.

Typically before any journey, I have this muted excitement which sends thrills of anticipation of discovering new bits and pieces or revisiting old bits and pieces when one travels..

Being up early in the morning, I was ready an hour early. My train to Coimbatore was at 8:00 AM. With lot of love and kindness, my mother-in-law and Rocks decided to drop me off.

We reached the railway station and I was in the frame of mind to hop on and get into my drifting space of travelopia.

I took out the ticket to check the train number and GUESS WHAT !! my train had already left for Coimbatore at 6:15. All the while I was referring to the return ticket.. GAH !! I was ashamed when the enquiry guy looked at me as if I was stupid to enquire about a train which already left..

For the first time in my life I MISSED MY TRAIN. Rocks was boiling and slowly fuming.. I did not know what to say… Well what do you say ?

Its no use bemoaning the fact that you have missed the train. I just smiled and laughed it away. When I called my friend, she also laughed out loud.. and well I was happier to hear her laugh and my world was better again..

By now Rocky also swallowed his ire and patiently started driving back murmuring under his breath that I could cancel my ticket..

I was keeping my pleasant attitude about this and did not point out until later that one cannot cancel the ticket once the train has left. Ha ha !! But he was only trying to be a man and help me out so I smiled again.

Its no use cursing yourself.. well then I thought to myself… I think I will end up chilling at home which was also fine.

Then suddenly I thought of trying the bus and fortunately, there was only one counter open and Rocks patiently waited till I found one lone old man chewing on tobacco half asleep.. blearily asking me where I wanted to go..

I said Coimbatore and he did say that there was a bus at 12:30 PM. I was thrilled. He suddenly woke up and skipped and crossed the road. I skipped behind him to go to another counter which was also the only one open and got myself a ticket to Coimbatore.

Rocky drove us back home and on the way back we had some freshly made dosas under a huge tree.. and generally enjoyed ourselves… mother in law was very encouraging about the situation and though I was embarrassed… I was feeling better that I would be going on that trip anyway.. and it was about a few hours late.. well all was well.

Rocky kindly dropped me and saw me off from the bus station at 1:00 PM, this time making sure that I left with the bus and not without. Typically IST wise, the said time and the actual time differed. No surprise there..

The bus was comfortable and since I had Seat no 1, I was pretty glad that I could have a wide view of the drive and what was in front of me..

Well the bus started with some nice Tamizh songs. Which was fine. They are pretty cool with fancy DVD with some MP3 CDs ready to be played for the traveler’s hearing pleasure.

Suddenly I was jerked by a song which sound like TITANIC many a times in the lyrics.. It was funny to say the least but I was bright and happy.. so it did not matter.

We stopped at the Bharat Petroleum Eating joint after Krishnagiri. And it was late afternoon. After a quick bite and an empty bladder, the bus started onwards. The handyman very enthusiastically, took out a 5 in 1 DVD and switched on the DVD.

And on came RAJANIKANT with his different expressions and that sultry look of his chewing on his trademark ciggie.

There were some mythological characters, Rajani in modern clothes and role and Rajani in a villager role. As the movie unfolded, I was zapped, sitting in silence, trying to focus on the nature passing by but forced to watch the movie and got caught up in the story which was totally ludicrous to say the least but totally entertaining..

I watched disbelievingly at Rajani making an entrance on a motorcycle with smoke billowing behind him chewing on his ciggie trying to block a truck on the highway at night.

Then he starts beating up people right and left and the fight scenes goes on and on.. Rajani with his white shirt and pant and him beating up some 10 -20 people without his white shirt getting dirty. WoW !!

Then while Rajani is fighting for his life.. in the fight scenes, we have Sheeba ( the somewhat known and forgotten Bollywood heroine) shouting.. “ippdi” !!! ” Sooper ” Soober man” And mimicking her arms boxing the air.. “adi adi ” “Sooper.. ” Then she throws him a flying kiss and Rajni in the middle of the fight, has the time to look sexily at her and take out his distinctively pink tongue and looking at the camera and lapping the flying kiss up like a puppy.. and then goes back to beating up the goons… I was like GAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH and that was supposed to be a hot moment…. GROSSSS !!!! I was having a quiet stomach ache laughing my head off. Oh and lets not forget some 2-3 song and dance routine with him in his white dress and shoes and lots of extras jiggling around with Sheeba and then some more fight scenes.. which made no sense…

To continue and make this short, Rajani gets killed and he floats around in heaven with three guys, one of whom is Chitragupt the divine bookkeeper of karmic accounts or whatever.

Cut to Rajani doing his role as a village bumpkin and prancing around with a village belle. They sing and dance and Rajani gets beaten up by his uncle by a whip and gets poisoned for his property. Then we see the floating Rajani with his heavenly companions waiting for the village bumpkin counterpart to die. Once he dies, this modern Rajani gets transferred to the village bumkin’s body and then he proceeds to do some impossible things like beating up his uncle and aunty with whips, wearing modern dresses and still romancing the village belle. Then he comes to town and somehow gets found by Sheeba and he romances her too.. at the same time.. with the village belle.

And I am not saying anything about the 10 odd songs in the movies which sometimes is close to pornography by their very movements.. and no I am not shocked.. just an observation. At one time, I noticed Rajani just stiffly moving his body while the females falling and touching him all over… to make a dance… GAH !!!

I was also somewhat disturbed by the scene where Rajani does not only beat up his evil uncle with a whip but also his aunt. So well as per the movies, its ok to beat up a woman with a whip and so what.. if she was evil.. That is good punishment..

Well anyway, I will not be surprised if the public ( the mango people) believe this to be true and had a justification in beating the women up in the household..

My head was not making sense at all.. yet I was forced to watch it.. I tried and close my eyes but it did no good.. The driver had pulled a screen down half of the front window so that the passengers do not have a view of the outside and can ONLY watch the movie and clap their hands when Rajani does the beating up or cheer when something happens.. which makes them happy.

Anyway, the movie goes on and on… and many impossible feats later which defy science and gravity, he is left with the two heroines. Then one of the heavenly companions whisper in his ear. He whispers back in two of the heroine’s ears and they both get to maul Rajani at the end and he has a satisfied smile on his face.. This Chinese Whisper session is the climax of the film and I get to see the credits..

I sigh in relief.. but no my pain knew no end… my torture was beginning.

DVD 2 – The tamizh version of our bollywood remake Ghar Jamai. – suffice it to say that it did its work on having my ears and hair stand at my end.. the script defies everything in the name of films..

By the time this movie ended, I am going bonkers.. and just when I think I can breathe, Than tha naaaaaann !!! up comes yet another movie..

And to top it all, everytime some dialouge comes up, the driver repeats the dialogue along with Rajani.. I did not know what to do.. I was I think ready to puke on the drivers head.. or whack him with something.. I had SOOSOOSOSO lost it..

I had to vent it out. I called Rocks up and swore and cursed about the torture and after seeing my wild and mad behavior and hearing the words torture couple of times.. the driver instructs the handyman to switch off the movie.. ( Rocks on the other side was laughing his head off)

BLISSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS !!!

But the next hour is full of loud radio music.. which I was ok with and also sang along with some popular Tamil songs.

I am also embarrassed by losing my temper.. and cursing so badly.. which I usually refrain.. but the human mind can only take so much..

By the end of it all, I was zonked out.. and eagerly counting kms on the board till I reached Coimbatore.. 140, 67, 35, 28, … it blurred and I started staring into space and just thinking nothing.. so much was I lost that I did not realize, we had come to my stop… if my friend would not have seen me, or I would not have spied her, I would have moved on to god knows which destination.. and ended up screwing my day royally.

But thanks to all good things that make life easy, my friend called me down and we finally reached her place..

It took me a cup of tea and a good bath to wind down.. and start my weekend…

GAHHH GAAHHH and double GAHHHHHHH !!!!! to crazy movies !!!

I must say that we have to upgrade to headphones connected to the bus TV which allows us to watch or ignore a movie and journey in peace..

Or maybe I should invest in some noise reduction headphones.. the next time I take a bus..

So well, I am fresh and rejuvenated to start another week and looking forward to the usual stuff that happens in a week and another travel.. coming up this time some family time in the forest..

So hopefully you had a lovely weekend.. Have a great week ahead.. It’s a wonderful Tuesday today..

Ode to the man himself.. :

The THOTHKUT

On Friday I had an urgent appointment I had to go to..and well, since it was important, I thought I would take the good old auto rickshaw. Driving to this unfamiliar area would take up time and stress and well taxis are expensive.

So I came to work, and while I was entering, I saw this kind of old man sitting by his auto and told him to wait as I would need his service.

This man was very glad.. and well I was glad too since I got something so fast.

I walked quickly and boarded the Auto. And I repeatedly told him where to go. I had to go to Place A. And I had been given specific directions. Once I told him, I sat back thinking about the appointment and generally trying to get by the day in my mind with the list of pending tasks.

After a while I saw that the auto took a completely opposite direction to what I had told. And I have decided that no matter what I will not lose this this time and going forward.

So I asked him : “Sir, where are you going ? I have to go the other way.”

Auto Driver : Nods and tells me to wait by showing the hand and I keep silent thinking there must be a way which I did not know and who knows I might Place A faster.

I sit back and relax. Then I see we are going further and further away from the route that I had to take.

I am a wee bit apprehensive but I let it go since I am reading in Buddhism content that one has to let go moment by moment by moment.

Suddenly the traffic stops at a red signal and I slowly and softly ask him not intending to offend him. Since I would also personally not like being asked so many questions if I would be driving through a busy route. Suddenly he turns and says with a toothless smile and with lot of patience.

Madam, thith ith tthe thothkut. I am thaking you thuu the thothkut. We ahn here. You wanth tho gho there. Ith is 5 km away from here. I thake you thuuu tha thothkut. I thow you a thothkut.

Me : OK OK, I am new to this area so I will trust you.

I smile at him telling him that he can go on. But I did think that it was the other way.. if there was a shortkut, well all the more better. (in my mind praying that whatever cut it was and whichever way I went, I would reach on time )

He takes me through some “THOTHKUT” and though the road was good, we came out through an opening which was way way ahead of Place A.

And incidentally, all the landmarks near Place A matched this place but my instinct and my little knowledge ofthe route told me that we had gone to a different place.

And meanwhile, the auto driver started pointing out big buildings to the left and to the right.. and well I let him think that I did not know anything and was grateful for the extra knowledge.

Auto Driver : Ttheee madam, thith is ABC, here all young people come and thudty. Tthee tthee madam, here is the hothpithal you said. But oh no, no pethol bunk

Me ( as patiently as possible) : See Sir, we need to go back and figure out the hospital and petrol bunk.

Auto driver : Buth madam, you give me wrong address then. I thake you thuu thothkut and you tthell me thith road..

Me : Ok. I did tell you to go the other way. You came this way.. now alls well, its all fine and see you showed me so many new buildings. Please take me back this route and get me to Place A.

Auto driver ( appeased by the fact that I praised him): Thanth you madam. ( big smile) I thow you more. Then you thee whith ith your building. ( very happy )

Me : Ok lets go.

And finally we reach Place A. I had asked him to take me back as well so he did and he never missed one single landmark giving me explanation of what happened where.

Chrith College : bhery good college

Follum : thith ith a mall. loth of thops.

Dially Thirtle, kollamangala, Thaint thojhns.. : thith a big hothpithal.. you come here ??? You muth come here if you are thick.

I thanked him and gave him more than was required because he was so patient in explaining so many different parts of bangalore. Also he was kind enough to help me cross the road thinking that I was a helpless female.. in need of help.

May God bless him.. and keep him free from suffering. I had a smile on my face the whole day.. remembering the kindness of this guy and well thanked God that inspite of the Thothkut, I reached on time.

Goes to say, that if one just enjoys the moment the moment suddenly flows and becomes very easy to bear.. and in fact one ends up feeling good about that moment.

At the movie theatre :

Standing in the queue for the ticket to Kaminey.  Just one guy with his wife ahead of me. I am getting impatient as the movie is about to begin in 10 minutes.

Guy A with Wife talking very slowly : Madam……… do you have tickets for movie abc……. ?

Ticket counter Woman : Yes sir, please tell me how many tickets you want and for what time ?

Guy A talking very slowly :  Madam……… ( taking out some card from his pocket)  Madam………. I want to pay by Axis Bank Card……….this ……….this card has 30 percent discount on tickets…… Pause…….. I have a debit card…. Pause..

I donot have a credit card…….. but I want to pay by this card only…….. ( then his wife nudges him tells him something which he takes another 2 mins to talk) … madam… I want… I mean … I dont have cash… but I want to buy ticket by this card only……….

Me : ( GAHHHHHHHHHHH )  trying to signal the woman at the counter to give me two tickets fast….the woman also responds..  and before she starts, I get a ping from two gentlemen who want to sell their two tickets since their friends could not make it..  Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeee !!!

And I leave the guy A saying … But … Madam…… Axis Bank card….. madam………..  …………..  ……..  ………….

And Than tha naaaaannnnnnnnn

Kaminey.. happened… and let me say that the movie was not outstanding but it was a good timepass entertainer.. you would not give acting credits to anyone here.. it was teamwork… the scene, the dialogs..

I loved the Fha… dialogs.. How Fweet !! hahahah !!

Lunch at Kobe Sizzlers

• Location
  Kobe Sizzlers
  15, 5th Floor, Garuda Shopping Mall, Magrath Road, Bangalore, 560025
  +91-80-41124363
• Hogged on some amazing sizzlers at Kobe’s.
• Good for once in a while..
• The food is good if you like sizzlers.
• Go early to get a seat.
• One plate is more than enough for one.
• You also get hamburgers.
• Ambiance is ok ok.. not that great.. if you are hungry.. you will not notice it..
• Service is somewhat slow.. but look at the menu to see the time for your dish.
• A meal for two with sizzlers (mixed grill and pepper steak)  and lime soda came upto 800/-

Hope you have a great week ahead.. !!!

Image via Wikipedia

Walking the path of a mind quest from a very early on, there came a time when I was drawn to a particular Buddhist deity . I started to follow on the information and started to search for a master who knew more about this.

There are certain phases in my life where different energies have drawn me for different purpose and off I went attaining some kind of mini realizations.

My big picture was to bring all the same into practical life which would help the people connecting with my being  into getting some of that and practicing it in the same way as breathing.

Well I have not found that ease of practice for everything  and I dont think I will in this lifetime but I am still journeying and I am happy with the baby steps I make.

I was somewhat familiar with the idea of Buddhism but had not gone too deep since I was working with different energies and techniques and it held me quite steady and still does depending upon who needs what if they are guided to this little ol’me. This time I wanted to delve deeper with human emotions and also enhance what has worked for me and just like an answer, Tushita came along.

I really liked what I saw and as usual something told me that I would at least start to find some source of what I was looking for.

My quest was to understand the delusions of life and also to work with attachment with worldy dramas which our human mind is so accustomed to and so much relish in it.

Here I was all set to start my spiritual retreat. My goal with some questions in my mind, I planned my trip meticulously all the more so, as I was setting off on my own and it was extremely personal trip as well. I had a feeling that it would not be easy but well who said anything in life is easy ??? Specially if you are on any kind of a spiritual quest. Well at least that’s how it has always worked when I got into the next practice of learning something on the path always. Its like as if I am burned by the actions and memories of a many lifetimes and the suffering and pain always brings forth some profound realizations. I call it the rising of the Phoenix everytime I go through this.

The journey and the experience started when I reached Delhi. Was to go to Palika Place to wait for the bus. It was pouring like it was nobody’s business. I had to walk with my suitcase and my bag which became heavier and heavier. I walked for a while to see where the bus point was. It took me a while to find out since I don’t know Delhi well. Thankfully, in the midst of all that, I remembered to see the ticket and called the bus guy. He came there shortly and told us to wait at a point. I did not want to miss the bus so I stood near the pavement.. Silly of me I know but well I was too tired to go anywhere and it was better to stand in the thick sheet of rain waiting for it to abate. Even the umbrella could not shelter me.

A bus came along and though the people were kind enough to invite me, I decided to wait till others came along and then boarded. But it did not seem the end. It was full of travelers from abroad and well I was wondering if I was in the right place. Then it was announced that this bus would go to Manali. And this would just go to Majnu Ka Teela to transfer us to another bus. My ticket was for AC bus. Well I kind of just thought that any bus will do as long as it took me to Mc Leod Ganj. I was pretty peaceful.

Patience.. and lots of perseverance. I was focusing on my goal. To reach Tushita safe and sound. We boarded the actual bus and by this time, finding the bus was manna. I could already see that the bus was leaking. I somehow bargained for a seat that would be relatively less drippy. Outside the rain had stopped but I somehow knew it will catch up with us soon. I settled myself in and prayed that we started on time and reached at a reasonable time in Tushita. It was tough trying to sleep with a constantly rocking bus but well the destination was important.

I think there were loads of lessons in patience for me. And acceptance and making the best of the situation. It was 2: 00 AM when the bus stopped. I was having an urgent call of the nature and well so did some of the passengers. The toilet was far and it was dark. I realised that when the nature calls, no matter how far and what time, a good toilet keeps the fear away. Hahaha.. Looking at moi, some ladies followed me as well. There were no lights but Viola !! there was the torch.. My ultimate savior. Who could stop me ??

Anyway, I came back with a relieved empty bladder. The driver and the handyman were having a chai. Some passengers were stretching their legs. On asking the driver, he said we have 4 to 5 more hours to go. I had hot chai breathing in the relatively cool weather. After that we were back on the road, jittering, shaking and lolling this way and that on the bumpy road.

After sometime, it did not matter, the rain, the cold, the jerks, everything, it was as it the mind shut down and I woke to a very cloudy morning at Mc Leod Ganj. A fellow retreater was in the bus and we shared a cab to to get to Tushita. It was early morning and Tushita had not yet stirred. We went to the dining hall which is near the reception and it was time to wait. I put my head in my hands and went to sleep. I woke up time to time and then saw my colleague reading and then he too slept on one of the benches. It was breakfast time soon and then lunch. I paid about 90/- for the lunch.

Registration started at 1:00 PM. Finally !! I thought.. I waited and waited and waited between sleep and waking up sitting on the bench. Finally, they set up the tables to call people. The room was full of people from all over the world and well at first, I was stumped. Suddenly it was like I was in an alien country or something. At first, I could not believe I was the only Indian woman on this course. There were three more Indian men and well, I saw that the third man, was too shocked and left in a very short time. Time ticked on one hour, two and my name was not called. I waited and something in me told that my name was not there.

There was a little flutter of panic inside me. I had booked this course so well in advance. And, my name was not there in the list. Well, I calmly asked for them to write it down. By this time out of some 48 people, only 6 were left. But hey there is always a reason why something happens. We were all given Karma Yoga jobs as per our registration calls.

Karma Yoga jobs were part of our stay. We were each given a Karma Yoga job to do which could be cleaning dishes, sweeping the monastery floors in different areas, sweeping the monastery ground of the debris, cleaning the showers and And since I was so way behind, I could thank the Lord that I was not going to clean the toilets. Well at this point it was all about me and my happiness of course.

The ego of making the self happy was predominant and I rejoiced in that fact that I was happy since I had to sweep the corridor of one part of Tushita and clean the basins. Which was better than cleaning toilets. Well well well, little did I know how humbled and appreciative I would be of the same by the time the course ended. Right then, my main priority was to get myself to a dorm.

This body and mind just needed her butt to be settled somewhere before she could think. The international colleagues had a fixed price. But Indians could give some donations and get a seat. I decided to go for the 5220/- dorm with 4 occupants. I am led to about three levels up and I wonder : Good heavens, I have to climb up and down all the ten days even to go to the working toilets which were three level down. Sigh.. Well so be it.

By this time.. I am kind of in a state of acceptance, my main thought being: At least I will not be cleaning toilets… ( sheesh, how selfish could I be !!! but huh I was being human and honest to myself) We had to report back to the Gompa by evening so that we went through the introduction and the practicalities of what went where and the rules.. I entered my dorm and I saw that there were already two occupants there.

Sharyn, a beautiful Irish sprite who first gave me the impression that I have known her before.. and it was a happy connection. Anna, a polish lady living in London. And later the last occupant was Kaitlin, an Aussie working as an English teacher in Abu Dhabi.

I was happy that there was a good vibe in the room. Sharyn told us all upfront that she talked in her sleep. Kaitlin said she spoke too but in foreign language. Anna was quiet. I shamefully burst out that when I was really tired I would snore.. (blushing) But I saw that we took it very humorously and had a good laugh. We did chat a while introducing each other and some inconsequential stuff. We knew we would be in silence the next ten days. The room was comfortable and it was a cozy one. I rushed down to the Gompa and without thinking tried to appreciate the view before we went inside, I sat on a chair to relax.

And EEEEPSSS.. there was a pool of cold rain water which totally wet my backside to my skin.. I was like ARGHHHHHHH.. It was evening and I had just changed.. I felt like jumping up and down.. I tried to sit on a stone to dry myself but the weather was very damp and well no way was I going to sit in the Gompa with a wet backside.. I rushed upwards and changed again and by this time we all quietly went inside. On entering the Gompa, I felt a feeling of stillness and immense dedication to the retreat that I committed myself to.

I just knew that my purpose of coming here was very well connected and it was time for me to be here and I was beginning a new path of many many realizations in my life.. which would open up slowly but surely.. So all the chaos that I went through from the time I reached Delhi, the bus journey, the registration, being the only Indian woman there, the dorm distance, my wet backside… et al… ALL was forgotten in that moment.

I was content and I realized I had no regrets.. I was finally here and looking at so many intent faces around me, I was happy I was part of a group.. We went through the introduction process and we were told to select our meditation cushions and Buddhism has a comfortable way to meditate I must say. They have all kinds of cushions to make the sitting easy. I was glad for that. I chose a cushion next to the wall somewhere in the middle row and soaked in the atmosphere. The Gompa was in itself a beautiful place with old cupboards.. and we faced the 8 medicine Buddhas looking serenely at us. It was a place of the divine energy and it brought in a lot of stillness to the mind just by being there. We had dinner which was Tibetan Thupa.

We had an introduction to meditation in the evening and retired for the night.

I was at peace.

Mostly, it would contain what I like to call as “Baruaisms”

It was not some time back that Rocky finally gave in to his fascination of the Mosquito Bat. We are not that great mosquito net fans. So after much bzzzzzzzzz and red welts due to mosquito bites inspite of the mosquito mat, Rocky decided to get the ultimate weapon THE MOSQUITO BAT.  This happened while he went to get a gift for a little one’s bday. Along with the gift Rocks very excitedly displayed the bat and declared that we are coming to an end of the battle with mosquito critters..

Anyway, like any typical absent minded wife used to her darling’s moments, I nod my head in the general direction and do my usual oooh and aaah and WOWs..

Rocky proudly shows me that the bat in question comes with a torchlight as well… ALL THE BETTER TO SPOT the mosquito, he says.

I nod and nod some more. And just like any wife, I think we are getting somewhere with this..  )

The first few days, Rocks awaited in anticipation to use the shining bat. Much to his despair, he could not find a single mosquito to use it on. I slept and snored while he waited for the mosquitoes to bite the bat.

ONE Fine day, he finally got the chance to swipe at the bugs with his bat. And true to the bats deal, it went PZZZT, PZZT PZZZZT as if something was roasting at a superfast speed.

Rocks was tremendously happy.  Now this bat becomes his best friend. He keeps it by his side and swipes it now and then when we are relaxing or talking together and we see  the bugs..

One night, it was some 3 AM or so, and as usual the mosquito critters were at their active best.

I am deep in my world of dreams dreaming of all the good food I am eating and doing all the things one does in dreams.. Suddenly, I hear from a far away land… PZZT PZZZZT PZZZTTTT….. PAUSE …PZZT PZZZZT PZZZTTTT…..PZZT PZZZZT PZZZTTTT…..PZZT PZZZZT PZZZTTTT….. PAUSE  PZZT PZZZZT PZZZTTTT…..PZZT PZZZZT PZZZTTTT…..

I come back to the reality super fast and blearily squint in the darkness and what do I see.

Rocks,  sitting and reaching this side and that, on the bed, swiping hard at the mosquitos.
Well… I am too sleepy to react and I fall back to sleep and try to find continuity in my dreams..

After some more attacks like this, it no longer bothers me.. 2 AM, 4 AM, 6 AM, I have Rocks … swiping the bat.

Just like any human habit.. now, Rocky keeps the bat by his pillow and automatically swipes at the so called prey  with closed eyes.. WHOOOSH WHOOSH and then PZZT PZZZZT PZZZTTTT…..PZZT PZZZZT PZZZTTTT…..PZZT PZZZZT PZZZTTTT….. WHOOSH WHOOSH and then Silence.. Again.. .SNOREEEEEEEEEEEE

And then WHOOSH WHOOSH and then PZZT PZZZZT PZZZTTTT…..PZZT PZZZZT PZZZTTTT…..PZZT PZZZZT PZZZTTTT….. PZZT PZZZZT PZZZTTTT…..

After few days and nights of this, I could not stop. I had to just laugh it out and I  laughed and I laughed and I laughed.. and I told him to beat it and sleep and forget the illusion of power one got by wielding a bat with light..

We finally decided that Mosquito BAT be Put to rest and Mosquito NET be allowed to keep away the pests.

Why reinvent the wheel.

And to end it all, Rocky proudly with a wicked wink, starts singing the fast version of

BATMAN…BATMAN…BATMAN.BATMAN…BATMAN…BATMAN..BATMAN ( fade out)

And I heave a sigh of relief…

MORAL : MOSQUITO BAT does not work.. it just is a good play toy for all of us. Buhahahah !!