The White Tiger - review

A very frank and plain representation of the present state of India seen from varied angles. The narrator is a common man who is proud of what he has 'achieved' over the years despite being born in a poorest of poor families. Very fast moving book written in simple English. There are many instances where the author has portrayed things very innocently, mostly by ignorance. The comparisons and perceptions are written in a fresh new style. On a whole, a good to read book - which you can carry for a one day trip :)

And thanks to the book, I didn't know what's so unique about a white tiger....

PS: I'm aware of the fact that I didn't start my post with a preface explaining my hibernation. That was intentional coz i have no excuse ... I was just lazy!!!

I'm tagged!

Thank you Commni for tagging me. I love tags, but I always love reading the answers that people write, let me try my shot here…
So here goes my first tag post

1. What is your current obsession?
Walking and jogging… Can’t believe I have become so health conscious.

2. What are you wearing today?
One of my Salwar which is 4 years old and looks brand new even now.

3. What’s for dinner?
Dal, Roti, rice … the usual stuff :(

4. What’s the last thing you bought?
North Indian non veg meals from my office cafeteria

5. What are you listening to right now?
Keyboard strokes

6. What do you think about the person who tagged you?
A girl with great sense of wit and amazing writing ability, Communi, having said this, I also have a suggestion, forget your CAT/MAT and join Creating Writing Course in a good university.

7. If you could have a house totally paid for, fully furnished anywhere in the world, where would you like it to be?
Thripoonithura, Cochin :)

8. What are your must-have pieces for summer?
Lot of water, fan, sunscreen lotion, wet tissues, a dim lit room in the ground floor of any building with proper ventilation, umbrella.

9. If you could go anywhere in the world for the next hour, where would you go?
Swindon

10. Which language do you want to learn?
I wanna learn to write my mother tongue properly first. Rest all can wait.

11. What’s your favourite quote?
I never let schooling to interfere with my education – Mark Twain

12. Who do you want to meet right now?
Etta

13. What is your favourite colour?
Green. I have joined the ‘Go Green’ initiative

14. Give us 3 styling tips that work for you.
1. Never take too much time to get ready for any occasion. It’s always better the natural way, 2. Hair and foot speaks a lot about one’s personality (This is just my observation, I got a very unruly hair), 3. Dressing decently is more important than dressing stunningly

15. What is your dream job?
As a senior secondary school teacher in an international school which has the best bunch of students and faculty very near to my home. Of course the pay does matter!

16. What’s your favorite magazine?
I don’t follow any magazines. I read anything that comes handy.

17. If you had $100 now, what would you spend it on?
A high heal black cut shoes for myself, Birthday gift for my sis and dad, Head first series of SQL, a corduroy blank pants for myself and a small gift for etta.

18. What do you consider a fashion faux pas?
Body piercing

19. Who according to you is the most over-rated style icon?
Freida Pinto

20. What kind of haircut do you prefer?
Would like to try curls but knowing my hair, I would stick to normal U cut.

21. What are you going to do after this?
Grab my bag and run to catch the bus back to office

22. What are your favourite movies?
Tough question, Of what I can remember now – Manichitrathazhu, kadhavasheshan, Shawshank Redemption, Pretty Women, Jab we met, Anbe Sivam, Kannathil muthamittal, Cast Away ….

23. What inspires you?
My failures

24. What do your friends call you most commonly?
Just my name; it’s too short to be shortened further

25. Would you prefer coffee or tea?
Tea… Can’t live without it a day

26. What do you do when you are feeling low or terribly depressed?
Keep myself busy with things of my interest.

27. What makes you go wild?
Hunger

28. Which other blogs do you love visiting?
All the blogs I'm following.

29. Favorite Dessert/Sweet?
Payasam (Paalada)

30. How many tabs are turned on in ur browser right now?
I use IE 6, so only one tab

31. Favorite Season?
Rainy season

32.Whats ur current facebook status msg?
I’m not into facebook!

33. What is the right way to avoid people who purposefully hurt you?
Ignore

34. What are you afraid of the most?
Staying away from home

35. When you looked at yourself in the mirror today, what was the first thing you thought?
My eyes were red like a cherry in the morning

36. What brings a smile on your face instantly?
A sight of him ;)

37. A word that you say a lot?
Hello

38. Tell us a bad PJ u heard recently??

Once there was a bus conductor, who was very rude to his passengers.

One day a beautiful young girl, of around 18 years,tried to board the bus, but he didn't stop the bus. Unfortunately the beautiful young girl came under the bus and died on the spot.

Angry passengers took the conductor to the police station, who in turn took him to the court.

The judge was not at all impressed with him and gave him capital punishment.

He was taken to the electrocution chamber.

There was a single chair in the center of the room and a single banana peel at one corner of the room.

The conductor was strapped to the chair and high voltage current was given to him! .

But to everyone's amazement, he survived.

The judge decided to set him free, and he returned to his profession.

After a few months, this time, a good looking middle aged woman tried to board the bus but the conductor didn't stop the bus.

Unfortunately, this time also, the good looking middle aged woman came under the bus and died on the spot. Again angry passengers took him to the police station, who in turn took him to the court.

The judge took one look at the conductor and gave him capital punishment.

The Bus conductor was taken to the same electrocution chamber where there was a single chair in the center of the room and a single banana peel at one corner of the room.

He was strapped to the chair and high voltage current was given to him.

This time also to everyone's amazement, he survived.

The judge decided to set him free, and he returned to his profession.

A couple of months later, an elderly gentleman tried to board the bus.

This time the Bus conductor, remembering his earlier experiences, stopped the bus.

Unfortunately the elderly gentleman slipped and died due to his injuries.

The conductor was taken to the police station and then to the court, to the same judge.

Though he hadn't done anything wrong, but considering his past record the judge decided to set an example and gave him capital punishment.

The Bus conductor was again taken to the same electrocution chamber where there was a single chair in the center of the room and a single banana peel at one corner of the room.

He was strapped to the chair and high voltage current was given to him.

This time he died instantly !!!!!!!!!!!

The question is why didn't he die on the first two occasions, but died instantly the third time??

Try to solve it yourselves. This is rather interesting and answer is perfectly logical.

If necessary read the puzzle once again.



Still you couldn't, Then see below...



Think hard



Tired????



Wanna know the answer ????

Answer :

During the first two times, the conductor was a Bad Conductor, therefore electricity didn't pass through him.

But during the third time, he was a good conductor, electricity passed through him freely and he died!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!! !

Ha Ha Ha ha !!!!!!!! Obviously you gotta revise your science chapter on Electricity? ?

39. What's the last book that you have read?
Cloud nine minus one- Sangeeta Mall

I'm tagging Saravana, Jithu and Arjun. Let me see if you really reveal anything :)

On a serious note :)

Long time no see.... I know it has been really a big gap and the biggest thing that I regret about is that I broke the resolution of mine to keep posting something in my blog at least once in a month.. now thats bad ... chalo better late than never. I'll update two posts this month and that'll do the compensation :)

It has been a happening 'era' for me and I feel a 'little' grown up. I have heard that marriage brings with it so many responsibilities, but for me it meant a lot more recognition - a new identity.

This is my first post as Mrs. Jayakumar and yes, people give me some respect, I'm married now...

I'm loving my work now. It's really good to work with people who know what they are doing and are logical enough to justify why they are doing that. There are a few freshers in the team and one can feel the difference when we are with them in their energy and enthusiasm.

They are not very keen to check their mails every 10 minutes and don't have an alarm set for 'tea time'. They are proud to display their ID cards and payrolls. There is no cribbing about appraisals and no one bothers about maintaining the hours in office. They are eager to meet their pals and weekends mean more than long hours of sleep. No manager is bad and no question is silly. They are here because they deserve to be here and I just hope that they are given enough chances to prove their mettle, at least to start off in a way they like.

I got a new friend, a Sports Instructor, although with her tiny frame no one would guess it. She came to me to help her create a resume. I got interested as I was filling it up. She was doing the job because that was the thing that she was interested in. She knows what she wants and she can tell you with confidence where she will find herself after 5 years. She understands her weaknesses and is sensible enough to refrain from doing something just because she has to do it.

Okie, enough of my philosophy. Coming to some of the things that I did lately, I read KamalaDas's 'My Story'. It was a book that I wanted to read for a long time just because of the controversy surrounding it but the book didn't come to my expectations maybe because I read the English translation, I couldn't feel the real beauty in her language but I liked her poems. I somehow felt that the story is made up... a little too much of added masala than what an autobiography should contain. Although the plot was OK, I felt that there is no story as such in 'her story'. Her thoughts as I could sense from the book were the same in her 40's as it was in her teens. May be she never grew up. I felt the dissatisfied tone in everything she did apart from writing.

I heard from a friend that her son, M.D Nalapat writes nice political reviews ... however I haven't come across his articles yet.

That's it for now but watch out, I got unlimited internet access at home and all the time in the world to keep jotting something... See you later!

FWD : Avatar compared with Vietnam Colony

Outstanding observation.... I got this as an email FWD and thought of sharing it ....

What is the Talk of Town now? Whats the whole world is talking about? Be
it Media, Newspapers, Tv, InfyBlogs, BB, your friends circle, everybody
is talking about one and only one thing. - A V A T A R

I had been to bangalore for the weekend and saw this Ever hyped picture.
Avatar is named as the "Movie of the millennium" and the top ranker in
imdb list. Even the critics are all praise to this movie. Each one is
praising cameroon to the sky. But would you kill me if i say AVATAR is
the hollywood version of an old Malayalam Movie?

Yes. Avatar is the hollywood version of an old malayalam movie. A
Mohanlal starrer, Siddique-Lal directed, movie called VIETNAM COLONY!!!

Now wipe out the "What the Fa" expression from your face and lend me
your ears.

After 15 minutes into the movie i relaized that, AVATAR is VIETNAM
COLONY RELOADED


To start of with, let me give you and Intro about Vietnam Colony, if you
have no clue about it. This is an old malayalam movie which was released
when i was a kid. The story line is based on a colony named as Vietnam
Colony, where only gundas, goons, and below poverty line people lives.
This colony is situated in the centre of the place and a construction
company owns this colony. But the residents are not willing to vacate
the place as they dont have any other place to go. Then the company
makes a smart move by sending one person (Mohan Lal) to the colony, to
be one among them and to tactfully vacate the people. But knowing the
reality and by empathizing on the poor residents over there, the Man who
was sent by the company, stands for the colony people and fight back
against the company.

Striking something? Not Yet? Now replace the Vietnam Colony and the poor
residents as the people in Pandoras World. Replace the construction
company folks as those scientists. Replace Mohanlal as the Hero of
Avatar. Now you got it.

In Avatar, the hero (sorry , i dono his name) goes to Pandoras world
standing for the scientists and be one among the residents. Later on he
realizes the value of their existence and fight back against the ones
who had sent him. There are plenty of scenes matching with Vietnam
colony.

In the begininng, grace would tell the hero that she was looking for his
brother and have no confidence that he would finish the mission.
Similarly, in VC, Construction Company first doubts about the talent of
Lal and worry if he could evacuate the gunds and other localites from
their place.

In VC, When Mohanlal Reaches the colony, at first, he would have an
argument with the Auto Rikshaw guy regarding the fare. The Auto guy
tries to indulge in a fist fight with Lal. Then the Main Rowdy of
Colony, Rauthar, comes and stand behind Lal. Seeing him, the Auto guy
would flee and Lal thinks that the Auto guy got scared of him only and
when he turns back, he would see the gunda standing behind him.
Similarly in Avatar, when they are in the pandoras world for the first
time, an Elephant kinda creature tries to attack the hero and flee by
seeing a much bigger animal behind him. Hero thinks the elephant got
scared by him and when he turns back he see a much more bigger creature.

In VC, the person who had been sent by the company falls in love with a
girl of the colony. Similarly in Avatar, he fall for a girl from the
pandoras world. At one point of time, the slum people realize that he is
a person from the construction company and attacks Lal. Then the girl
comes for his help. Similarly in Avatar, tsu tey tries to kill the hero
and its the girl who saves the hero.

In VC, during the climax, Lal gets back to the company and tell that he
is no more working for them and then the company people comes to the
colony. At the climax, Lal is fighting against them along with the other
Colony people.In Avatar, along with the hero, whole community is
fighting against the villains.

There are much more scenes which Resembles the old Malayalam movie. I am
not saying Avatar is a remake of Vietnam Colony, but i am saying Avatar
is the Hollywood version of VC. Cameroon has added lots of stuff to the
western audience as well as to other viewers that you almost forget this
point. Now that is an Interntational Talent which makes you forget about
the original Plot. If Cameroon again take AVATAR after 10 years, i am
sure he would add in essentials so that no one would notice that its
still Avatar.

There are lot of wonderful scenes in AVATAR and Graphics is at its best.
Those wild creatures and the flying dragons were too good. I would want
to get rid of my RTR now and need a personalized vehicle like the one
Hero captures during the end.

While coming out of the multiplex, the first thing that came to my mind
is that instead of spending 500Rs at PVR Cinemas, i could have easily
taken the dvd of Vitenam colony for 15 Rs and could have enjoyed it once
again. This is James Cameroon's most hyped movie and the film after 11
Oscar Award winner TITANIC. It tooks 11 years for cameroon to make this
movie, a reality and now i wonder if Cameroon was watching the DVD of
Vietnam Colony throughout these 11 years :-)

Who would have had a hearty laugh watching these? None other than
Mohanlal and Siddique-Lal. Or would siddique-lal have felt bad after
seeing that their plot has gone international and have renowned
Worldwide fame? It pains you know. Even a chotta psychic blogger like me
felt bad when i got the articles which i have wrote in Infyblogs as a
forward to me. (Now stop laughing loud and making fun of me. It has
happened)

Well, If you havent watched Vietnam Colony, then you are Lucky. Avatar
is a new Experience to you.
If you have watched Vietnam Colony already, and dint even recognize this
until i wrote here, then praise the perfection and technicalities.
If you have watched Vietnam Colony and Already found out this similarity
in the theatre itseld, congrats for your out of box thinking.

New Year Dhamaka 2010

To begin with, I wish all my readers a very happy and pleasantly happening New Year. The start was great for me. On 31st night I ate till I felt that my stomach will burst if I try to stuff in more. And the last weekend, I saw two incredible movies one after the other – Avatar and 3 idiots.

Of course Avatar is a super duper hit; but I didn’t know anything about the movie before watching it, except the name, the blue- black posters, and the director’s name of course. In fact I never bothered to check on that since I was not all the way excited about animated and unrealistic movies. But this is not like that, it has that girly touch to it and the movie gives due importance to emotion. Believe me or not – this was the first time I was watching a 3D movie. I was excited when I got the big 3D spectacles and double checked it with Ettan’s before choosing the best one. The actors were not popular ones (Point to be noted: I cannot identify more than a handful number of actors when it comes to English movies). But that really didn’t matter since I loved the Navis (The animated characters) better. I should admit that I was watching the movie for its colour and charm and didn’t pay attention to the technical details. It was a fairy tale for me. I did jump out of my seat a couple of times and leaned over sometimes to touch the flowers of the Eywa (the sacred goddess of Pandora). The dialogues are written beautifully – simple and just perfect to strike the chord especially when it comes to humor. The location is too good. I would love to go there once the way they flew over on those huge bat kinda creatures. The climax (The final shot I mean) is just awesome.

I was still roaming around in the fancy land when we started to watch 3 idiots the next day. I should say, it’s a must watch kewl movie. The movie is all about fun, fun and fun. It’s like a nonstop entertainer from the beginning to the end. Hats off to the crew – the movie rocks! Much much better than the book which the author claims that the movie is based on. In fact there is nothing to compare since they are way too different. Except for the basic plot – the campus, 3 crazy guys, a padakoo professor and his beautiful daughter, and some stray scenes here and there, there is nothing common between the book and the movie. There is no need for such hype about giving credit, copyright or whatever to the author. Every youngster will be able to relate to the movie at some point or the other. It’s another Aamir film as such since he rules the movie end to end. Sharman supports him and as expected he just lives the role – a character made for him. There was nothing outstanding in Maddy’s cast but he did carry around with ease. The all popular jokes like ‘Induction motor starting like vroom vroom vroooooom’ is being used but it really didn’t look outdated – all credits to Sharman Joshi!
After watching these two movies, I felt this weekend to be just perfect to start the year.
Since this is my first post for the year, I’m here to recollect the happenings of last year. I had always wanted to write diaries but I never had the guts to expose all my thoughts in a book, which might come handy to anyone at home ;) Why knowingly put yourself in deep trouble? But I used to write for every New Year. This year, being the last spinster year, I have mixed feelings. I’m excited about marriage, but although I don’t believe rather don’t want to believe that I would be restricted after that… No, that won’t happen. People say that these kind of scary thoughts are common for girls but generally don’t come if the girl has been staying out of home for a long time and it’s even rarer if she already knows the guy. Now if you say 4 years is long, then I’m away from home for quite a long time but I’m still homesick and these days it’s crazy. I’m visiting home every alternate weekend making any good convincible reason. Making people at home aware of this would be the last thing I wanna do now. I was prepared for getting married from a very long time but when it’s nearing, I kind of feel scared. I find myself uttering the aamir slogan – “all izz well” these days.

Last year was kind of dragging for me. Everything was as usual. But yes, we went for outings – Wayanad and Coorg. Office was boring to the peak… thanks to recession. At home, it was fun after Vishu. Actually when I’m looking back, nothing is striking me. Altogether not so good but yet trouble free year. This year is crucial. My status gonna change from single to married. New home, new relations – I know everyone but still it feels strange. I may have to shift my work location … hmm its gonna be a hectic year … but looking forward for it … eagerly with my fingers crossed J

Another Milestone!

My last post dates back to 4 weeks back from now. Bad!
Actually the reason is that when I come to office in the morning, I make this plan – today I’ll write about ---- but what can I do? Writer’s block you see! (Can I use such words or is it patented only to big writers?)
I’m bored to death. Office is too boring and I keep saving up little bit of work left so that I can do it the next day to keep myself occupied. Now, if you think that it’s great to laze around in the office, I would like to correct it – It’s really not when you have the constraint of spending 9.5 hours in the office and especially when all your friends are either in a different tower or on leave or gone onsite or are pregnant! ;)
I met Rahana after 2 years when I was going back from office one day. The same as she was in college. After our 10 minute long discussion, I realized that people are really keen in settling down. So many of my classmates are pregnant and many are mothers by now. Life seems to be running off like loose sand. Guys are picking up as well. What I fail to understand is the differentiating factor that we have gained in the last 4 years after college. Except for a well paying job and stay outside home, I don’t find any significant change. And I was thinking till a few years back that 25 is old. It looks like yesterday when I was running around for Nani’s marriage and that actually is 8 years back. At this pace, I fear that I will remain confused as my kids grow up and suddenly when they are over 20, I will sit and think of how I got married as if it was yesterday. Is it the effect of the place where I’m or just the age. I don’t know the reason; all I know is that I do not like this pace. Enough of philosophy, let’s get to more interesting things – I’m getting married!
Marriage – one time in a life time. You have all the liberty to plan and splurge money to your wish – that’s Nami’s advice. Good or bad, I’m spending enough money and time for planning. And that’s what keeps me occupied all these days. After Sreeja left to Mexico, I have all the time in the world to do whatever I wish. Last time when I went home, we finished the most dreadful and painful part (Gold shopping). After that we thought of going to Coimbatore for checking out Sarees. It was a Tuesday and I suppose it’s not a good day for people in TamilNadu to purchase silk. Good for us, we had at least 10 sales girls around us for our assistance. We chose Ganapathy silks and thanks that we did, we have no regrets. It was like a mall with 5 floors. I have heard my friends say that they have sarees of regional taste more but I don’t agree. They have everything, mostly in silk. Only thing is that you have to specifically ask for, sit and choose. What I was amazed at was the price range. You ask it and you get it. You can go to the shop with just 1000 rupees and yet return back after shopping to your hearts satisfaction. Tamilian’s are known for their hospitality. When we were done with the shopping, they kept the sarees for Puja and gave us a big steel thattu with manjal and kunkumam, also a discount of 1000 rupees. And when I was waiting for acha to get the bills cleared off, I had a chance to meet the owner. I was amazed at the way they managed the store. They have fresh stocks coming every week; they have only one branch and 1500 people working in various shifts in the same shop. They have policies laid up clearly. The employees get PF, performance Bonus, they get salary from ATM’s, they have a clear count of Annual and Sick leaves and what not. I admired the owner and the management there as I heard all this from a sales manager there. We had to admit the difference in experience – the previous day, we shopped for lacks in a Jewellery shop and it looked no better than the street market. No matter how high the gold price soar, the place for the yellow metal in a typical Keralite family is very big!

Things that I like in TamilNadu
· Chettinadu cuisine – Non-veg in particular. They are just so spicy.
· Silk sarees – nothing to match the rich colours and intricate works in Kancheepuram silk sarees
· Jasmine flowers – They wear it for all occasions and when it is unadulterated with orange and green additions, they smell so good and are nice to see (Only if they wear it after taking bath ;) and trust me the reverse is not very rare.)
· Their hospitality
· Respect for women
· Their readiness to change and develop
· Their anklets – Only thing is that they end up wearing it for wrong occasions, a client meeting in office for example.

What I dislike
· The turmeric, which is the all time hit moisturizer there.
· The climate

I started with something else and ended up analyzing TamilNadu … great!
I’m waiting for comments…yes yes go ahead ….!!!

Hobbies - Then and now

This is a write up I prepared for a competition in WOW(Women of Wipro). That's a crazy link they provided - I'm not able to submit it ... Despite cutting it short to fit their word count. Baad mein jao competition, here is the complete article as I wrote in the first go.


When does a person actually take time to sit and think about his hobby? Frankly put, I would say when he has to fill up any application forms, and mostly that will be tailored to sound just perfect for the post that is applied for. The hoppy thus becomes professional! It loses its whole definition (The dictionary defines hobby as an activity or interest pursued outside one's regular occupation and engaged in primarily for pleasure). Looking at the fast pace at which the world keeps changing it’s a fact that when people get stuck in the rat race of moving on, they hardly find time to keep track of their interests. The struggle for existence takes priority over ones passion. Hence he has to actually think hard before answering that tricky question – What’s your hobby?

That’s the generic way of putting it. Talking about me, my interests are short lived which I justify as an invincible element of growth. There was a time when philately, currency collection, why even empty matchbox collection fancied me. My day was done if I manage to do a high profit exchange with my classmates and trust me that would be a serious affair and we used to have mediators for each transaction. After I got into my high school, Nancy Drew, Hardy boys and Famous Five took most of my time. That was like an addiction for me. Thanks to my school library, they had the entire collection. My college curriculum put a big loud full spot on my reading. That was when Music fascinated me. I had a brand new CD player and good huge speakers at my disposal. I liked to roam and my two- wheeler gave me all the freedom to roam around in town and most importantly, come home late. Soon after landing up with a comfortable job, my culinary interests took over everything else. I used to spend a lot of time thinking of what to cook in the evening. The liveliness and colors of a big city lured me and I loved going out to eat and shop. When I was suddenly left with lot of money and ample spending options for the same, the shopping freak in me gets all what’s needed. As time passed my definition of travel also expanded its boundaries. I got chances to travel in and out of the country both officially as well as personally.

Now that I have spent four years here, I feel that I have outgrown many of my interests. And as my age demands, I started paying more attention to my fitness and weight. I was never so keen about maintaining good physique but as the saying goes, necessity is the mother of invention. So I spend a good amount of my time exercising which I enjoy doing. Since I chose aerobics, I don’t feel that as a compulsion. It’s good to move to the fast rhythms and nice to see quick results. And most importantly it’s not an individual item. When coupled with simple yoga postures in the end, it takes care of you mind and body as a whole. It’s not about losing weight, not even about becoming trim – it’s just a feel that you are healthy and fresh. At the end of a session, you feel light and if you take a brisk walk out, it’s just perfect. Every day in the morning, you don’t have to spend 15 minutes of your time juggling in your wardrobe trying to decide which dress to wear for the day that will make you look slim and hide your tummy. After all it’s nice to have a hobby that you love doing with great rewards as bonus.

Apart from that there is one thing that has caught my attention lately - photo collage. I take time to get the pictures printed out, arrange it in stick albums or get it framed with nice tags. And since that has become my gifting trend to almost all the occasions to anyone I know, I get teased enough by my friends. No matter what, everyone will enjoy those rare moments of theirs to be framed. And although it’s a habit with me, it’s always new and special to person receiving it. It’s like going back to your school days when you work with glue sticks and paper cuttings.

Moving on to my next pastime, I have suddenly become a cleanliness jerk! I have always believed in a little amount of mess. When my mother used to scold when I was a kid for not arranging my things properly, I used to say that I love to place all the things messed up around me. It was usual for me to pile and push all my clothes into the wardrobe and close it with maximum pressure before anyone comes to my room just to hide him/her from the horror of the first-look of my room. But things have now started changing, maybe again as I believed, part of growing up. I take time in cleaning up my room, arranging things in place. I love to play the perfect host for a dinner with neatly kept curtains with the guest room spic and span!

I feel that the remnant of a good reader is still in me and I have started to pen down my thoughts in my blog. I update my blog more frequently these days and with more sincerity. Although I started it just like an email-ID, it has more or less become my identity. My readers count has increased and I treat it like a personal diary of mine.

Thanks to my fiancé, I have now started to appreciate some of the all time classics of Hollywood. I was always a passive movie watcher, and the very thought of watching an English movie continuously from start to end without missing a dialogue used to make me feel bored. I started to watch the most popular of English movies and should say, couldn’t just help appreciating them. So these days, I love to spend some time to watch the evergreen classics from time to time.

Apart from all these, I love to walk and to observe people. I no more complain about bus not being on time or the busy traffic since the place around never remains static. The street vendors, the aunty sitting next to me in the bus, the nasty motorcyclist, the unruly rikshaw driver – all become the characters of my instant play. I have overlooked the beauty of all other places, with a simple self judgment that no place can match the beauty of my hometown. Not that I have suddenly changed my mind, but I have opened myself to explore and admire the intricacies of my surroundings.

Above all, I believe in activity. I feel that one should be always busy to avoid any tensions. Choosing a hobby is a personal taste. But to make a healthy individual, one who is physically fit as well as mentally stable, there has to be something happening around him. Each individual has to pursue a hobby of their interest different from their work on a routine basis to maintain the vigor in life - That spark that keeps him going!