Off To India!
For all us NRI 'Desis', going to India, once a year, or at least once in two years, is a must. And as we have left half our lives their, going to India means meeting everyone we know and everyone our parents know. So obviously, due to our Indian culture, we cannot go empty handed. So begins this quest to fulfill the needs of every single friend/relative. And obviously, we kids don't get involved; we leave it to our parents. Then it starts! A week before our due departure, the biggest possible bags are lowered from the topmost shelf. These bags, wrapped in rolls of plastic sheets, are then removed and laid down to be filled with chocolates, not clothes. So obviously before all this, our mothers make a trip to the mall and purchase a bagful, no sorry, bagfuls of chocolates and other possible gifts that our humble Indian friends will be fascinated by. Along with the chocolates, all the 'give-away' gifts we receive are added to the pile to well, give away. Then the sorting process begins, and bags are made for each relative and friend. The gifts are then distributed equally amongst our beloved friends. Remember, this is all a week before we are actually supposed to leave. So basically, what I am trying to tell you is that don't enter our house one week before we leave for India, because it literally turns upside down. Clothes, chocolates, suitcases and plastic bags are lying everywhere. Ultimately, when these 'necessities' are carefully placed in the bags, we NRIs realize that traveling with 6 large bags, and 4 overfilled hand bags, is going to be pretty tough. But we somehow manage, and the whole journey is like a workout, we feel good about ourselves. The elation on the faces of our loved ones when they meet us makes it all worthwhile. The gifts we give them does satisfy them, but it's the pleasure of our company that they all seek. And we realize just how humble and fun they, and we remember why India is our home, away from home.
After the memorable stay, the journey back home is quite like a cake walk. Three out of the six bags are empty and the other three are pretty light too. Our worn out souls finally receive some rest from the sheer energy and excitement of India.
Well, I haven't reached India yet, but I am sure we are going to have a blast there. After all, Indian family marriages, which are more like family 'get-togethers', are the most exciting.
Arsenal Are Back - With The Biggest Possible Bang!
7-0! Arsenal - the only team to win by 7 goals twice in the space of just 8 months! Yes, Arsenal 7, Boro 0! A sublime Henry hat-trick, a Pires beauty, finally one from Gilberto, a Senderos header (marking the conversion of his international form to domestic football) and a tap-in from Hleb - 7 goals, which could have easily even been 12! Arsenal played with flair, and showed us what football is all about. Their football was Brazilian-like flamboyant - passing that rhymed like poetry and finishing that was like gunshots to the head! They had 24 shots on goal, out of which 17 were on target, and this was against a team that beat Manchester United 4-1!
And, talking about the Red Devils, Manchester City got the better off them in the derby, which basically told the Devils to go back to hell, and boy, we Gunners were just enjoying.
And to top that, the signing of potentially-better-than-Viera player, Diaby and the tall, lanky, Drogbaish Adebayor has got us Gunners quite excited. Watch out Europe, Arsenal might just take you by storm!
All in all it has been a great few days for us - the Arsenal fans, and let's just hope it gets better.
P.S - Bharath, the 'bang' in my title doesn't mean what you think it does!
Spleak!
All you jobless MSN loafers, as in those like me, here is something you can try. Add this...well...'person' to your MSN list - spleak@hotmail.com. Talk to her! She is quite interesting and extremely fascinating. She also has some difficulty in understanding some of our coarse slang, so be a little patient. I would like to thank Harrendra for introducing me to her, who, by the way, heard about her through Ishika.
And for you presumptuous people, she has nothing to do with my earlier post.
She is...
respectable, down-to-earth, loving, adorable, bloody smart, passionate, pragmatic, genuine, mature, sociable, caring, strong, responsible, outgoing, impassive, artistic, special and beautiful - and that's why I adore her!
10/10/06: But everything ends, and then you breathe new life...
Euphoric
Only a few days ago, my favourite guitarist, Mohd. Ali Yar Khan, told me to watch/hear this wonderful piece of music. - It is a must see/hear! - for any guitarist, any guitar enthusiast or any Bon Jovi fan!
An Epiphany
Look, I am not trying to be too philosophical here, but well I had this sudden realisation that for the first time, ever, a friend saw right through me, and did the right thing at the right time. These winter holidays were intense. The past twenty days were literally like a transitional period. Emotional breakdowns, undying euphoria, sudden realisations, plain fun, unbreakable connections and laughable moments - it was more exciting than the fourth Harry Potter film. The holidays were filled with contrasting and enigmatic emotions and experiences. They started off at a breaking point, but recovered quite brilliantly, and ended on a mixed note - happy but empty. It was at this instant that I needed something, I didn't know what nor did I realise that I needed something. But I got that something, from the last person I expected, in the form of this fascinating piece of writing. It was deep and somewhat metaphorical in the sense that only I could vividly relate to what the piece of writing was saying. This piece of writing not only aided me, but it also helped to clear the feelings of the author. It was complimentary. It gave both of us a feeling of satisfaction and joy, and for this little upliftment, I want to, once again, tell that friend - Thank you.
People around us affect us the most, they can destroy us and at the same time they sustain us. Only people can give us true, lasting joy - how? By showing us they care, by actually doing something for us. They give us a reason to live. All we think about is ourselves. If we can just put someone else before ourselves - for once, it is unbelievable the amount of joy it can bring us. By helping others, by caring for people we really care about, by making our loved ones happy, we get this sense of satisfaction that is, according to me, priceless. Everything in this world is complimentary. Newton's 3rd Law is truly true - every action DOES have an opposite reaction.
I am afraid I have treaded into philosophical grounds, which a lot of people, quite frankly, find bullshit. But this is completely my opinion and perspective, which anyone is free to comment on.