Wednesday, May 28, 2008

Driver, gaadi lao!

I've bought a new car and it should show up on my driveway later this week. For lack of choice, I’ve settled on a colour called wine red, but it’s actually a pretty regular maroon. If you spot a better colour, tell me. It’s not a sports car, so no yellow; it isn’t a merc either, so black is out. The shade of red they offer is just a bit too tart–like. Caribbean blue sounded promising, but I no like. And the lack of colour in these nail-polish type names they have (pearl silver) bores me. They look ancient, dull, and common. So wine red it is. I’ll put up a picture or something. Or maybe stick to offering mithai to parking lot attendants.

In other matters, I’m hooked on to Prison Break. I saw nine episodes at a stretch two days ago-- season two. Eight cons broken out of Fox River prison. Lincoln Burrows, on death row for the murder of Terrence – brother of Caroline the President of the United States. Terrence, in reality, before he shoots himself, was locked up in a solitary bungalow somewhere in Montana. Linc’s brother, Michael, is the mastermind and a once super cute architect. Exciting stuff. I’ve got dialogues and jail blueprints swimming through my head. That’s one mangy lookin’ paw ye got there, Slimy. Says bad cop to clever pedophile con who keeps smacking his lips when he sees little girls. Of course, viewer discretion is advised.

Remember the days of Star Movies when they had a two-digit figure near the logo to indicate at what ages the movie is ok to be watched by innocent bachas? Yes, so same for Prison Break. Twelve might be a good age to know about homicide.

Back to car, I might be more excited about it once I smell the insides and know they’re new. I’d rip off the plastic wrap immediately. Upholstery could wait till next month’s salary, but I could add a CD player at once, or I could let summer wear out the tapes first. Alanis lies undamaged in the glove compartment, Streets of Philadelphia and Lauryn Hill could be re-heard; All Time Greatest Movie Songs - I want to spend my lifetime loving you. Tina Arena and Mask of Zorro. At the beginning of which are sounds of Church bell gongs, swords being drawn and accelerated horse hooves.

I could get something to dangle on that rear view mirror peg; a friendly little dragon called Nessie, perhaps? We used to have teeny boxing gloves hanging on the old amby. Nothing thereafter, nothing on the white van -- that ugly breadbox with jammed rear doors, the horn of which was distinct, and you had to thumb two bleepy buttons that looked like grey Kit Kat wedges to hear it.

I improved my raw driving skills on that van. Successfully navigating the Dhaula Kuan roundabout was an accomplishment early on in first year college, the occasional times I’d drop myself to the U-special stop, and a kind parent would drive it back. Now of course, I just fly over because no roundabout remains. I’d miss my sturdy diesel engine, but new car is new car. It’ll make me go slowly over speed breaker for the first few weeks. And I’ll mourn the first scratch, and tell every friend who sits in it for the first time to say something token nice. I’ll even remember the license plate number, maybe feed it into phone book under N Car or something. And if I lived in a whiz-tech-gadgetry type movie, I could have my license plate on speed dial and if anyone tried to steal it, sirens could dance wildly, alarms would go off, my cell could ring, and I would be in the know. How cool!

I’m telling you, watch Prison Break.

Thursday, May 22, 2008

Run

Nice things it is then.

She sweetly passed it on.

In keeping with which, lets refrain from -- or at least keep the bitching short -- about how absolutely not engaging it is for me to watch a bloody football Champions League Final. No herd mentality to cheer when friends cheer. I find it awfully dull to muster up the energy required to bellow during these penalty shootouts. So some Ma-ke-le-le guy in blue bounces a ball off some other Vidic chap's head, and referees wear fancy blue tooth microphones. So what! These are an hour and forty minute long matches that carry on till late at night, for which people remain consistently charged up -- clapping, abusing, screaming and exulting throughout! FUCK.

And it's the same for cricket -- the disinterest.

I've obviously got the girl-not-into-sports stereotype down pat.

Monday, May 19, 2008

Glorious gelatine goodness!

At ten this morning, my friend who we’re calling S. Vardhan, woke me up to ask if I wanted some cheesecake. Oh yes please! I would definitely be interested in having some dropped off on your way to work, thank you very much! He’s a good neighbour. And evidently a friend who pays attention when I talk -- among other things, about dessert. So, to friendships, and wholesome breakfasts that comprise only cheesecake!

Read his blog. Newbie writes rather well.

Wednesday, May 14, 2008

Kingdom for a clove

In the last 24 hours, besides having snatches of that song Challiya from the movie Tashan stuck in my in my head..

(Nasheela nasheela tera naina
Cho raile humra chaina
Ab humre dil mein rehnaaaaa.. )


..I've been dealing with the mother of all toothaches. Wisdom's been acting funny, and I refuse to go to a dentist because they're no fun, and I have terrible memories of shiny implements. It's not just me, but check (more so) with kids who had braces, and were warned against biting off a chicken leg directly. One had to instead "pluck with your fingers and eat". And chewing sugarcane could just be forgotten about for as long as you had metal in your mouth that was then held together with two retarded coloured rubberbands.

Even my gtalk status is a disguised crib. One good thing though, and freak coincidence at that, just yesterday I spotted a new flavour of Orbit (gum): clove. Who'dhavethunk! Ten bucks for nine in a strip (as against the normal six), with red packaging -- it's a way better flavour than cinnamon.

And then I lost my lenses yesterday. One lens, rather. God lone knows how. Fact is, I'm blind now. I can't wear my shades, and am hidden behind my geeky copper frame, that I quite like but the power of which is a little last year. Also, I'm trying to be cool with office people telling me to please get rid of this hideous chashma. Double sob.

Oh, but in spite of all this petty shit, and because I slept for some fourteen hours last night, I was in a perfectly chirpy mood subah subah; fantastic rain-cloud weather, parents out of town, anda bhurjia for breakfast, tava toast to boot -- I luuuhrve tava toast, and friends to meet later in the evening.

I think it was mostly the weather though -- for I remembered when we were in college, my best friend and I were convinced that radio stations played good songs only at night. Or when it rained. Yes, that was our consensus.

Anyway, idea germinated, and trigger enough, I messaged Sarthak my nano tale ( 9871959595, I hopelessly pimp), where Sarthak = that cute sounding 95FM RJ guy whose "cow" Adam needs a more variety into his bellow-y "moo"s. So I was on radio this morning reciting my six-word story about how carbohydrates had indeed conquered my soul. Much pausing for dramatic effect and all!

No gift voucher, no song dedication, but having crossed the fence, I am now "one of those" who call up radio stations and receive, in this case, a generic polite applause. Before I went on air, and right after Sarthak called back -- (notice the frequent first name usage) -- boyo ran out of the house to the car park so he could listen to me on the car radio. I thought that was very sweet. Of course, when he came back inside, and in true mother-in-law fashion, he had to remark, "I see you'll try your witty-flirty thing on just about any guy!". Yea yea, but who cares, I sounded sweet on air, and said to Sarthak most enthusiastically, that I luhrrrved the weather.

That's about all. Tooth has ceased throb-ation for now, am still pretty damn blind, but the moment is being fully savoured.

Sunday, May 11, 2008

Season

Cloudy sunday morning

south Delhi, 6 a. m

Amaltas = Laburnum


Didn't always know

A bougainvillea would've looked quite nice here


And gulmohar never hurt


But I like this yellow

=)

Friday, May 09, 2008

Ingredient trade off


James is off to Phoenix
Pretty boy will soon be gone
Away for a month in all
Girl's feeling a tad forlorn

Trotting about in Vegas
Weekending in New York city
I'm happy for him, I am
Discount the minimal self pity

Wasting my life in office
I'm told in so many words
Bid ratty cubicles bye bye
Show enterprise like fellow sirds

Lets open a jam factory
My cronies on g talk I ping(s)
I don't much jam, one cries
Its all a bit God o' Small Things

I shall meet James in the desert
Swoon and idly daydream
Frolic skimpy in hotel pools
On water beds take to whipped cream

But distant is the possibility
Imaginations do somewhat stretch
On realities I zero back in
I wonder how many he will and lech

A matter of few weeks it is
But do behave yourself, he goes
My devilish mind he can read
Smirks renew insecure lows

Staying in girlfriend confines
Will do me a breather and good
Distract myself otherwise
And lead on no other dude

Easier said than done
Such is the constant grouse
Why don't I just hang up my spurs
Vegetate home like a louse

Sulks and spats apart
I owe him my shopping list
Goodies he'll happily buy
Caveat: no other boy be kissed

A fair trade off to me it seems
Victoria's Secret and Ferragamo
I'm proud he's earning so well
Sans a degree from Bits Pilano

Come back soon, you little wretch
To fidelity and trips cut short
Will fetch you from the airport with
Whipped cream in my bag along brought

Tuesday, May 06, 2008

Congratulations, but what do I DO?

Fun predicament -- whose wedding to attend when two of my friends are getting married on the same blessed day. Both shaadis in Delhi, both good friends.

One hitchee is my boarding school bum chum. Dormitory stupidities gave way to us writing long detailed letters, and sending birthday-new year cards: Rush to/ zoom to, and then the address =) -- yea yea, convents dumb you down a little. But then we lost touch, and stayed out of it till after college, but we share a comic wavelength, and there's been mad fun since the grand reunite. We were supposed to rent a place together, first in Delhi, then in Bombay, both plans didn't work, and now its too late because she's coming to Delhi, and will have to live with her IIT-IIM-karaoke singer-golf-playing husband, I'm guessing.

Hitchee number two is college first year friend. Second week of college (so, August), we speed walked to her nani's place on Mall road, had nimboo paani and lunch there, walked back to college; because you see, we were unlike other wilt-y girls, had great stamina, and fancied ourselves immune to heatstroke. We even took the U-special back to my place, and then hung with the desert cooler. Migrant bird subsequently flew the coop, but we stayed in touch. Lovely alcoholic, the only woman who doesn't start giggle-crying after four of her preferred Jack and cokes. One night, two Augusts hence, and after a clumsy break-up (mine), I was over at her place. Some four of us were sitting on her terrace -- 7Th August becoming 8Th -- I'm crying/ laughing/ drinking/ crying/ involving bougainvillea plants in our conversation..and this woman's telling me to shut up and get a grip.

Four years on, every one is getting married!! Never mind the I'll-die-a-spinster panic buttons which are mostly exaggerated, this isn't a very easy decision. I have no choice but to auction myself to them IPL style, screaming bid for me fools, bid!