Scary New Year!!!

New Year has always been special, fun filled. Last year I enjoyed with my little girl, and at evening, went to the park and then for a dinner with my better half. The year before was even more fun filled, as it was associated with the house warming of my Uncle’s new house. We all cousins and kins had a real good time.

This year too it was special, adventurous, more precisely scary…

My New Year rituals include a temple visit, which I never missed. Even while in Japan I remember having gone to some Zen temple. This year too, I planned to go with my girl. Along with New Year it was also Vaikuntha Ekadasi, a very auspicious day for Hindus. So By 10 15 my husband on his way to office, gave a ring and told, it’s too crowded and the queue to enter temple is stretched till the bus stop. I thought will go by eve.  Had a sumptuous meal- Chicken Biriyani… Me and Janvi enjoyed it with raita. Then had a short but sound nap… Around 4 30 she woke up and woke me up too… We were hungry, ate some biscuits, had cakes and we were thinking of what next and just kept watching cartoons. By 5 30, I told her to get ready for temple… She was excited… I gave her a shorts and T shirt. She was completely annoyed and started crying for her paavadai… (Full Skirt and Blouse). I literally got irritated. I knew it will be difficult for me to walk around with her in Skirts. But she was stubborn. I dressed up and tried compromising with her. She didn’t give up. So I had to keep searching.

In the meantime my husband reached and he too put his hands for the search. Finally we succeeded in finding her favorite set of clothes. So by around 6, I and Janvi started for temple. We left for the temple in my two-wheeler. She was all excited that as soon as I parked, she got down lifted her skirts and started walking. We were surprised to see the crowd. I lifted her and stood in the queue. In another 10-15 minutes, we could get inside the temple. It was crowded inside. We moved along with the crowd. Somehow managed to get the prasadam (holy offerings); both of us gave our offerings and came out. She was happy to have received Tulsi leaves and sandal paste bindi. We were about to go back home when she insisted me to go back to the temple and sit for some time. She wanted to spread her flared skirts and enjoy. So we sat for around 5-10 minutes and then we started back. Then came the toy seller who aims at each and every kid coming to temple. She refused to come with me. She wanted a Chotta Bheem balloon. I had only 20 ₹ with me and I was persuading her to come along, she didn’t even bother to listen. I had to go with her and asked the vendor to give me a balloon. She was somehow happy that she got a Red Balloon.  

We wore our slippers and instead of taking a roundabout of the temple to come out, I took a quicker way, but had to cross some concrete pillars. While crossing them I happened to look onto a biker and saw him looking at me as well. I thought just a coincidence as it happens with everyone. Janvi wanted to walk, so I held her hands and let her walk. She was very careful with her steps. While going towards the parking, I saw the same bikers having stopped a little forward. The one behind was speaking over phone and the one in front was staring at me. I ignored thinking a New Year eve teasing. We went over to our vehicle, Janvi occupied her position and then we started. I was a little irritated to see that bikers over there. When I crossed past them, they started their vehicle as well. Now I was literally scared and confused. I thought I just felt someone is following me, after all I never thought people will hurt a 3 year old kid. I put on my indicator to take the right turn, fearing in case they increase their speed, I shouldn’t collide with them. I increased my speed, but Janvi started shouting as her balloon was flying off. So I reduced the speed to 20s… They were still following me with the same speed; we drove for around 300 meters. I had to take a sharp left turn, but this time however I didn’t want to put indicators. However, they still followed me. I was very much scared by now. When there were few people on the street and there was a speed breaker, I completely slowed down. I expected that the bikers will overtake me and they did. I was so relieved and for a moment I felt bad for having suspected them. They had gone away from my vicinity.

I maintained the same speed; the road too was not that great. Finally when it reached somewhere near my flat I was completely shocked. The particular street that leads to our apartment does not have a street light. I was completely dark. The adjacent lane has street lights, but there were teak trees (around 100 of them) in between the roads, that keep the other street complete dark. The guys had stopped their vehicle perpendicular to the road, blocking me from entering the road. I felt scared. Still I put the indicator and took a turn. All of a sudden the guy sitting behind got down and tried snatching my chain. I was expecting something of this kind. Somehow I managed to hold my neck in one hands and cuddle Janvi with other hands, and we both fell down. We had fell onto dried grass, and she fell onto me. Even when the guy approached us, Janvi was crying very badly, even I was howling mad, completely scared out of the situation. Hearing our cries, they guys sped away. I was wearing a collared dress that prevented them from snatching the chain. But I still have got the scratch marks on my neck and it’s painful. After getting up, I asked Janvi if she was alright. She was completely fine, but was wondering why they pushed us. My vehicle was still lying over the grass. I was shivering and iced and didn’t have the slightest courage to lift the vehicle. I had kept my phone in a small bag hooked to my vehicle.  I quickly made a call to my husband and asked him to come down. Before he came, a car with a political party’s flag came and stopped nearby. I stepped back. I was completely scared. He told me not to get scared, n asked what actually happened. He lifted my vehicle, told me he’s a local in that area, and needn’t worry at all. I explained him what happened. He waited for my husband to come. They spoke for some time, and he told that he personally knows the ward councilor and he will speak to him about the street light once again, which they have been requesting for a long time.

My husband asked me to take the vehicle home and told he will come with Janvi. I didn’t have the courage to start the vehicle, but didn’t have any other way, Janvi was completely shaken, and I dint want to walk alone with in dark. I came in and told my security of what happened. I could see my security from the spot, but he didn’t even realize that something happened, because it was at most dark.

By the time my husband reached the apartment gate, our neighbor with his family was there. He told him the happenings and they went to the police station. After sometime they came back with a constable. She enquired on what happened, if I can recognize them and if I noted the vehicle number. I didn’t see any of those. However I can recognize him in any crowd. I was hurt that bad.

Hundred thanks to neighbor Saumya who gave me and my daughter company when my husband was away to the station. Janvi was quite OK after she started playing with Tanvi. Usually we go for a happy New Year dinner and that also had to be dropped because of these idiots. We planned to get parcel for dinner. My husband asked my little girl if she wanted to accompany him for getting it. She refused blankly saying, the uncle wearing green T shirt will come to push me down. I won’t come. I was very much scared if she would be affected badly. But she’s recovering. I couldn’t sleep properly yesterday. Was in full fear, the scene of the guy trying to snatch away my chain was keeping on flashing resisting me from sleeping.

I had bruises all over my legs, feet, knees, wrist, shoulder, and scratches on neck. Even had few blood clots spread over thigh. But my little angel didn’t even get a single scratch! I thank God for it. 

I hope with time, I will get back to normal. And this was also a caution to all other ladies over there who takes that path to grocery shop and early morning walks over there. I was completely scared and my whole body was terribly paining that I too had to compromise on my today’s morning walk. I just thank God that he helped me out and prevented anything further bad from happening. Many other things too could have taken place. They could have attempted robbery even after I fell down. They could have kidnapped my daughter; they could have raped or even killed me. One million thanks to God, the almighty for keeping us safe and sound.

Tsunami and Earthquake

I have faced this question in many interviews. any unforgettable day in your life, so far I answered, not yet, but now for sure I would say , its 11 march 2011. Its over 1.5 years here for me and 3 plus for Vineeth @ Japan. Before he brought me here, he had warned me about the quakes here, and he being experienced with those minor shakes comforted me when i experienced those and soon me too became accustomed to them. So far so good, lovely place, lovely people.
But yesterday was totally different day, woke up as usual, cooked food, blogged, ate lunch, studied for sometime.
These days I don’t know f its laziness that’s inviting so much sleep to me, but I feel a lot tired and Sleep like a pig! Yesterday too, around 2 pm, I sent message to Vineeth to call me by 3 pm, since I wont wake up without his call, and I had a lot to study. Lazy me, put on the blankets, turned on the heater, and started sleeeeping!
All I could remember is something shook me, A sleepy pig like me, to wake up so fast, it sure is a big shaking. I looked up at heater , half sleepy and found it off, neither Vineeth had called me, But the lamp above me was swinging, I could hear the fusumas(sliding doors) hitting each other and making sound, The glass panes shivering, Everything happened altogether and I just ran out of bed.
I wasn’t even able to balance myself, it was shaking terrible, I could figure out its something serious, Went and took hold of "Vilakku"(lamp) in hands and sat at a corner. Heard many hings falling down, I didn’t know what from where,For a moment Kith n Kins faces came in front of me. I cried and prayed. I had my mobile in my pockets, I tried calling Vineeth, but call was getting disconnected.
All I could see around was the walls shaking terribly and the hanging lamp swinging with full force, I was even scared if it might come down n knock my head.
 It stopped for a moment, I managed to open window n see if anyone is running out, but ppl who were walking did gather at places apart from buildings n no one was running out. Vineeth had warned me before itself not to run out of house in case of quakes, cos house is the safest area.Dont know if its cos of fear, but i felt like peeing! and rushed to bathroom only to get scared more, the water was dancing inside. My lord, What the hell! happened to looks at laptop, just to know the news, and realized no power, no net, total disaster. Everytime the quake slows down, I would think oh, this is over, im safe, and try calling Vineeth, but no use, and then it would shake again! I even looked out through my window to see if my hubbys office building is safe! lol hes more important than my life for me, And when I see it I feel relaxed.
I was always scared of roller coaster ride and always took a ride after Vineeth forcing me, n I either sit with my eyes closed or would scream like a kid for 2-3 minutes, But yesterday it was more or less 1.5 hours of roller coaster ride. I didn’t scream for sure, I was rather confused, Many faces came in front of me, I called many gods name, I was praying for life.Time never pass on so fast like yesterday! Scary moments, shaking surroundings.
It was when Vineeth reached back home, I realized what all happened around, He asked me to call home and inform that we are safe, we tried and tried and finally got connected to my dad and they were so relaxed after hearing my voice. The medias as usual exaggerating news had created real panic in India.Yesterday 7 hours it was full terror and anxiety, and finally when power came on we were much relaxed, but when we switched on TV we were again tensed!
But was really happy to see messages and mails from friends and relatives asking about our well being, its really nice to know people do care us!
Yesterday sleeping was also a bit difficult with quakes following in and above 120 shakes following the major one did really bring headache and I wasn’t even able to figure out if its me or earth shaking!
Today too we are experiencing some minor quakes, but all is well, Life getting back to normal, still tension prevailing in mind.
Hope God saves each and every child of his from disaster, Prayers for all the souls who lost their life in Th Tsunami Hit yesterday at Sendai Coast.
Million Thanks to God and all who prayed for people at Japan.

Chilly weather and photography

Saturday wasnt a very cold day here, After a pretty long gap, we sw the temp around 15 C and were quite happy. We are both travelling freaks and was totally restless since 3 months in a row. We made up our mind, put on our lightest jacket,hoping the tem wont go down and started off to Odaiba/Daiba. Th place is near Tokyo bay, with wonderful shopping malls, a dirty beach(LOL), and lots n lots of hi-fi buildings,which lits too beautifully at at. The main purpose of my outing was posing in front of camera(I love that since I got him as my photographer, hes quite a good one at camera), and if possible eaing something from outside(I did love breaks from my kitchen at time, though I love cooking). Before starting from home, we had nearly 30mins of phooshoot! haha, I enjoyed posing n he too.
We started off and got into the wrong train! the negative impacts of not travelling fo a long time showed up in us. The journey hich should have minimum taken 20 mins now turned to a 40 mins one! But we had our seats n so relaxed and I was almost asleep1
We enjoyed moving around daiba shore, where there were lots of lovely Japanese kids, wh more or less resembled apples. They ere playing in the sands, and parents were having a very hard time controlling them. Me ust kept watching all those lovely sights, while he was busy clicking buildings and the sun.
Mr. Sun was about to take leave for the day
The climate was too pleasing, atatakai climate or very warm climate. We had been there couple of times before too, but this time, it was a twilight expedition. Just remember the clock chime at 5 and then the temperature started dropping off suddenly. No muflers, no caps, no gloves, no shawls, only light jackets!
Oh me, I couldnt believe I survived those. I was like come on lets go home now, I cant stay anymore, as my photosession wa over, but he was still waiting for mr sun to vanish completely, clicking every moment of it
For my skae he took some shadow clicks with sun too, we enjoyed posing, and since it was getting cold, there were only a very few ppl left around. So we didnt have any embarrassment at all! just kept clicking, but again when he stopped my clicks, it was chilly for me. Felt like I should have atleast worn a better jacket. Then comes he next probem. He wanted to go to a point  exteneded in between the bay to click pics. I had to accompany him and I felt my skin was tearing off. He too was shivering and had his tripod on. He clicked some beautiful snaps and I too felt happy for him. Around 6 30 he was done with his photography, since it was completely dark and all the buildings had lit up!
Now it ws my turn to demand, I am hungry, I will die of hunger! Well my sweety took me to my favourite McD and bought me chicken strips, tat was all wat I needed. Done some wndow shopping and then hurried off to home. Back home, seeing the excellent clicks, I was soo happy or him, well it was worth the wait in the chilly weather! he as usual tld me, you need to develop your patience, LOL!

Am I seriously Lazy?

Well this is one of those questions I have been asking myself a lot these days. Am i Lazy? My husband says no, cos he gets his food at the right time! But I am not doing any productive work. Its almost a year now, I resigned from job, stopped freelance activities, even painting.Lol seriously I am lazy. In between started learning Japanese, and that period I think I was not lazy, cos I cleared the tests with pretty good marks, but what after that? I did stop my usual walking exercise, dropped on my usual diet and started having lots of biriyanis, my God, only when I write these, i realize how lazy I am getting on. Well they say "Have a break, Have a kitkat", but for me it was more than that. A long break with lots of much more interesting items. Whatever, I resumed my blogging after a pretty long time, i.e, 2 years,  am happy with that, also started a new blog with my culinary expertise, rather experience. I am simple loving that, its just awesome, eating new new food everday, hubby darling too enjoying it, These days his slogan is " I love you only when you cook new dishes to e" like the boy saying" I love you only when you make cookies or me"! Nothing matters, he is happy and that's all what I want. Again started my exercise from yesterday, Previously where I used to walk 10 kms a day, I reduced it to 3 kms, hoping to increase the kms in a couple of days, After all I need to shred 4 large Kgs! Early morning walks here is truly awesome, u get many dog friends, waving their tails to show love and respect(that's what I call). I myself is longing to have one, but the money problem!!! Keeping a pet is not at all economical here. Well will get one, when back in India, he have promised to do so. Another interesting one is small kids staring at me, well after reading lots of Manga(comics) books, they might be thinking I am an alien! God only knows. But some tries to smile ta me, fearful, but I returns them too, cos I love kids a lot. Ohh, no, I have dragged myself away form the topic, Am i Lazy, seriously am i Lazy? I try pretty hard to concentrate studying Japanese, but this laptop of mine does snatch away my concentration, not browsing, but playing stupid games, I know they r stupid, bu addictive! Yesterday I have asked my hubby to delete all those default system games and also lock the laptop since I may browse online sites to play games. I don't wanna be a lazy bone, but I am. I do not want to. Having a lot of extra energy in me, I just want to spill them out. Hope in a near future, I will stop thinking that I am lazy and would spend time more productively. :)

No more bonded labour!!!

29th Jan 2009, today I complete my two years at Satyam. This is the place where I commenced my career from. Looking through the days two years back, it has been quite exciting, there were obviously some scary moments and now some unpredictable events...But the journey continues.
I was a bit disappointed when my Joining date got postponed. I wanted to escape from my home ASAP since some marriage alliances were going on and I didn’t want to marry anyone other than my Love :-). Daily I start my day at temple praying to lord for the new joining date, finally on a fine 25th of January we were supposed to gather at Masha Allah building in Hyderabad for our joining formalities. My parents and brothers too accompanied me over there. From that point onwards, my journey was with my colleagues. We were taken to a five star hotel, Hotel "The Manohar" for our joining formalities.All seemed to be quite tensed. All freshers, very few familiar faces, new surroundings, new city, and totally new role. We were all students and now we are professionals.
We completed our joining formalities, had a sumptuous lunch and by evening all formalities got over and we headed to our new home. Next three days being holidays we had our induction on 29th Jan at STC (Satyam Technology Centre), Bahadurpally. Here we start it. Obviously in a huge crowd one would surely look out for a familiar face and we too did the same, fortunately I had two of my friends of school over here and we 3 occupied adjacent seats. But the authorities asked us to mingle among ourselves. Hmm, finally we were seated like gal, guy, gal, guy n so. We gently introduced ourselves to others who were sitting next to us. I think that was the first and last time I have been so polite :-P. Lol. Though the induction was good, with many seniors giving out their speech, in between, I felt sleepy. We were divided into group of 30 and luckily I got my friend also in my same batch. But for our training 2 groups were merged and we constituted some 60 people, yes here the batch 677-678 was born.
Our training phase was divided into 2 phases; who cares about that, anyway its training, the right time to sleep. We had tests(OLA-Online learning Assessment) almost every week based on the topic that was taught and we need to secure 70% marks for a pass percentage. If one fails to clear the test then they will be given the certificate of “LOC”; it’s of course not” Line Of Control”, it’s “Letter Of Caution”,to alert one that he/she is below the company standards. Hmm we had some 8 OLA’s during our training period. And many many LOC’s floated in air. To add spice to the training schedule, and to enhance the interactive capability of associates, we had seminar sessions each day. It was almost like “news reading”.. We enjoyed all these and the best part being the "break" between the session when we fought near the vending machine for our turn. We had formed a “Mallu” group among us, and we used to gather together for evening snacks and no doubt, snatches food from each other’s plates like mad wolves.:-) . We all showed off our talents on our spotlight, an event filled with fun and enthusiasm, songs, dances, stage shows, it was really amazing.
And our daily trip from the city to STC was hectic. We had training during the noon shift and we use to board our bus around 12 30 -1 pm and the noon journey that too during summer was pathetic. Still all of us successfully completed our training and were then benched, but for a very short time unlike others. In a month or two all of my batch mates got into projects, we moved on to different locations, different group of people. Met many civilized as well as uncivilized people, indeed we had fun.
And I did enjoy my career expect the relocations. Hyderabad to Chennai, then to Bangalore and finally Pune. Had bench experience as well as project experience and currently having a very tough experience.
Being here I faced the fear of being fired from the organization too. But now the situation has totally changed. Of course these tough times have surely made me much tougher.In between my marriage too got fixed with my love and now I wait for the 2 lakhs deposit I kept with Satyam(I had kept it as deposit ,basically to escape from marriage for 2 years, lol!!!)
Although it’s not a very good time for all Satyamites, on completing my 2nd anniversary here, I do take a chance to thank this organization and the people around me who helped me “build” my career. We are on the process of coming out from a deep gorge, can’t predict what will happen tomorrow, But hope keeps our spirits alive. Also I am more happy today as I completed my 2 years bonded labour (of 2 lakhs INR)with satyam :-) Like all my other batchmates, now I too waiting for that cash!!!. I would say we are now independant here. Till this day we 677-678 people were together, but now on our destinations may be different,whatever it is, I hope all my batchmates would surely remember the place,from where we commenced our career from. All the very best my dear 677 678 guys...

A face to remember

It was indeed a wonderful trip, this was not the first time that I am boarding Raj National Express, it’s the third time, and so with the some good expectations, I booked tickets with them. This time too, as usual they didn’t keep their timings, but the good thing is the seats are having a leather cover, and so need not be afraid of bed bugs! Lol, I had enough biting from them even in Volvo buses :-(.
Reached the boarding point at 7 15PM, pick up van came by around 7.45PM , it was supposed to take us to the bus, and to my great disappointment I noticed that they wasted their diesel by making a round of the city, while the bus had stopped just next to the Raj office.. May be they wanted to prove the Earth is round.
But things were totally disgusting when I got into the bus. Having prior experience in travelling with raj, I was shocked to see the bus condition; any child will have a doubt if it’s a Volvo bus. My brother even asked me to check if there is any Tata label below the Volvo label he he…
And I noticed a guy sitting on the adjacent seat of mine n I grew more desperate.. I prefer travelling with females for many reasons. But couldn’t find a place to shift. But once the bus halted for the dinner the girl who sat on the same row of mine asked me ” are you comfortable sitting with a guy”
Me “No, actually I thought you are travelling with that guy”.
She “So do u mind exchanging the seats?”
Me” No issues”
There was around 5 more minutes for the bus to leave from there and we both started talking. We were speaking about the bus condition and even she had the doubt if it was a Volvo bus. And also we both discussed on how tiresome the journey between Pune and Bangalore is; it’s a long 16 hrs journey in Bus. She asked me if I work here in Pune. I also told her that I work with Satyam and we both shared our views regarding the satyam scam. 2 total strangers who met just minutes before, by this time had started talking nonstop. When the man sitting next to her came, we gently requested him for exchanging the seats and he agreed with that. Journey continued and we expected the bus people to keep some movies to entertain us in this pathetic bus conditions, but it remained a mere hope, no movie.
Being seated in the 7th row on board, we could count each and every lovely pools on the roads, and sometimes I felt like I was flying from my seats. To add spice to this the man sitting on the next row was snoring to his best. It is a real talent to sleep amidst of all these shakings. We (me n the girl sitting beside) continued our talks, she said she is married and husband at Bangalore, so she travels most weekend down to Bangalore to meet him. I told I have many friends there, so it’s a long weekend, so planned to enjoy there and so on.
Journey continued. We found it a lot disturbing to sleep. It seems the bus counted each an every pool on the road.hmm... Disgusting!!!. Time elapsed, a dreadful night passed along, we both thought the bus might have moved at a great pace at night, so only had to count the pools, but we were wrong. It was 3 hours late from the scheduled time. I knew it when the bus stopped at a Motel. I had been at this place before, while travelling with the same travels. So I knew how far Bangalore was from that place. I wanted to reach little early, but now I knew it is not at all possible. Hmm… fate, else what.
Both of us had cold Badam Milk for breakfast, she bought Orbit for both of us. We had a small stroll outside and finally got into the bus. She had asked me the previous day itself if I was from Kerala; I look like a typical one. And I knew from her that she was from Jammu. We got into the bus as journey continued. We were chatting on how dreadful the night was and she said that she had framed her certificates and painting and have kept on the upper draw of the Bus and was wondering if it would have broken. I was searching a for a place to frame my paintings since a month and I got to know from her , where in Pune I can get it framed. She gave me the address of 2 places.
I asked her if she got married recently and she asked me if my marriage was fixed, I told its fixed and she asked if it was a love or arranged one. I asked her the same, hers was an "arranged with fun" marriage in her concept. She told me she had refused for marriage with the guy who is her husband now and so on.
She asked me what field I’m into and same thing I too enquired from her. We shared snacks which we had in our bags. And in between I had kept my mobile for charging with the bus driver and she kept reminding me on the same. How sweet. And when we finally reached Bangalore (@ Majestic) by 11AM, I helped her take her paintings from the top.
Bus stopped I waived her bye, she too did the same, I got down from the bus, and took an auto. I realized something then, I had been talking with this girl for more than half a day but we both didn’t ask each other’s name!!!. But still we didn’t find it difficult in talking to each other. What lies in a name? It’s all how you deal with others, it’s all up to an individual’s attitude, and frequency of thoughts of the duo .
Though the journey was a bit tough, I enjoyed her company, hoping that I will meet her again to share more jokes and matters on life. She too is my friend now. She is someone special for me. I still remember her with her cute smile. :-)

Fun @ college

School life and College life, the most enjoyed period of an individual’s life, mine too. Laughter and chatter everywhere, While school life confined mainly with books and games, college life is something different, a feel of being free, gossiping, playing pranks, bunking classes, its real fun.. each and every where u can find a immediate joker.

Here I mention few of those jokes during my college life:
1. A group of girls, of junior batch of mine at college called themselves “LEPROSY” .Hey they are not patients , but they named it with all of the members first letters in name. So it became “LEPROSY”. One of my batch mate a poor silly funny fellow, too innocent asked me one day while those girls strolled near us” Da, those girls are “CHOLERA” na??? Ohhh God!!!!

2. After seeing this girl, at the very first sight itself one would feel that she has got a nut loose. Unfortunately I got into hr umbrella on a very sunny day as to escape from sunrays. Guess what happened? She closed that umbrella!!! Felt so embarrassed. Not this, on rainy days, she will fold her umbrella only after reaching her desk!!!

3. A teacher of ours is so fond of the usage of ”Due to” that we finally renamed him “due to” sir. We used to count the number of due to he use in a single hour, and it would be better if I don’t mention them

4. A super senior of mine proposed the beautiful roommate of mine like this “You are very beautiful and I am in Love with you”. Guess what my roomy replied???? No? Can’t make a guess?? "Thanks"!!!!

5. During one of our elective session, my classmate came late into the class (late in the sense, late by 20-25 minutes).Sir asked him “Are you in this class” He just looks around and replies “Ya I am in this class, I think u r not”!!!

6. Q/A session after seminar got over.. Sir asked the presenter: Mention the major factors affecting so and so… Reply he got: There are mainly 4 factors, viz, first: ---------------------, second: ---------------------, third: ------------------- and last: sorry there were only three factors!!!!

7. There were also very much irresistible moments on our college day, when my batch mate who was totally drunk climbed on the stage and hugged and kissed the singer (lol he is a male singer)

8. A teacher who was a rank holder asked us to give feedback on his lecturing skills and one guy gave it like this" Sir, you ask for feedback, but I cannot feed you back, You a rank man, But we poor student"!!!

9. A quite cozy lecture was going on, and this girl was busy talking on phone lying on her desk. Suddenly her best friend sitting next to her said to her "Sir is asking the question to u". Our girl stood up and asked "Can you plz repeat the question, I couldn't get it". All in the class sat with their mouth wide-open, since there was no question being asked. Hmm I was fooled by my friend!!!

10. Above all there was a poor girl who always drew diagrams on the board when the teacher requested, and alas she failed in that paper for university exams!!!!! That was none other than me :-).

These are all very few instances from college life.. have a lot and lot, but I want to wind up here, else you will get bored :-(, now don’t say you got bored already..plz….

"VadaPav"

It’s not a long time that I’m into this city.. And to be frank I don’t find anything much exciting here. Within two years this is my 4th location. Started my journey from Hyderabad to Chennai to Bangalore and finally here. Had different experience from all these places, met different sorts of people, different food habits, Hmm that’s a long story to say about.
Before coming to Pune as usual like all others, I too had many questions- how the climate is over there? Will it be hot or cold, what will be food style? Since I’m from Kerala, my friends told me I would starve form here because I won’t get anything of my taste... Things will be having a “northi” (north Indian) taste. But it is life, it is my career, so had to be here.
Didn’t find much difference from other places, can say a mix of Hyderabad and Bangalore. Climate is 99% similar to Bangalore, and 1% bit cooler, and traffic its almost like Hyderabad, but a little lesser. Thank God I dint find anything similar to Chennai here. And people do take bath and its a clean city.The one and only one thing I found strange here is is the"PMPML", the public transport. Having a look at some of them one may feel the body parts may come out and so feels safe to keep away from it.
I see everyday nearly 6-7 board where it is written”swach Pune sunder Pune” (clean Pune beautiful Pune”). Ya indeed it is clean. Every day I walk 2 kms to catch my office bus, but it was never tiresome for me cos its cool in the morning, and the roads are all too clean, and u don’t find dogs shitting on the roads as in Bangalore or wastages on roads as in Chennai. Lol!!! That’s the worst part of my life I spent there(@ Chennai).
But lack of a friend that’s sure a big problem, and that’s what I’m facing here in Pune.I do have friends here but they are all too far away from my place. Being a big chatter box it’s very difficult for me to keep my mouth shut for a long time and from here I am having headache cos my mouth is shut most of the time :-(. But since I am staying in the heart of Pune city (MG Road), I always get a chance to make a stroll at weekend evenings and that keeps me a bit energetic. And a person with no identity here it’s safe to roam here and there.
During one such evening stroll, I came across my favorite place. The “Vadapav” stall. It’s typically a roadside stall. But the Vadapav over there is famous all over and people come there right from morning 10 till night 10-10.30. It’s crowded almost all of the time. Still I decided to have a munch of this stuff. If so much of people rush over to this spot just for Vadapav, I too must taste it right? So finally I went in through the rush and murmered very softly” Bhaiya 2 Vadapav” (brother two Vadapav). Because of the strong aroma, I felt like eating 2 instead of 1. Bhaiya: “parcel ya idhar khane ka” (parcel or to have from here).Me: ”parcel”. I felt so happy at the moment; I paid him and then came back to room happily. When I saw the Vadapav I didn’t feel much strange. It can be called as a previous version of the modern burger.
Its Vada (something like cutlet made up of potato, chilies and all similar stuffs) kept in between a Pav (a cubical bun). But the taste was amazing!!! Our modern burger we get in McDonalds is nowhere near the taste of Vadapav. Hmm….. What to say; now I am a big time fan of Vadapav, every weekend I buy 2 Vadapav. :)
I am not sure of getting this month salary, but that can’t stop me from eating Vadapav :). My fiancée use to make fun of me like he will be the first husband in the world to divorce his wife for eating Vadapav!!! Whatever I love Vadapav.
I had been for a short vacation last month and know what happened when I came back? As usual I was at the Vadapav stall, and when I asked for 2 Vadapav the vendor asked me “Madam, chutti pe thi kya”(madam, were u on holiday). My happiness knew no bounds, because I realized the fact that there is someone in Pune who recognize me... lol!!! It may be a business trick for him, but for me it was something too much….
Hmmm there continues my Vadapav story. I am sure when I leave from Pune the Vadapav will be the one n only one thing I will miss for sure.Cheers to Vadapav!!!

"Green Valley"

Hmmm... Green Valley.... The name itself brings freshness to our minds... On the very first day of my college life, I was taken here, with great expectations and much fear, I was taken here.. My favorite college hostel :-)
We often called green valley "desert valley", cos there weren’t much greenery except we few greenies inside :-) All strange species existed there, some who rarely open their mouth to some who never cares to shut their mouth(like me), it was really funny to spot them all together. Birthday parties, Christmas friends, New year gifts, all still remains fresh in my mind.. sure it’s the same with all others too…
Not many rooms.. it had just 11 rooms, but jam-packed with 5-6 in a room. And some rooms like 101 and 111 with 9-10 members!!!!
The best part of this hostel is our “tring tring” machine. Unfortunately we rarely found any mobile coverage in our hostel, funny na… haa our college was on a hilltop, but hostel in a deep gorge, so no network coverage.. For the same we showed much respect to our “tring tring”. From 5pm to 11-12 our “tring tring “remains busy… I still remember my parents have asked me if I’m staying in some telephone booth or what??? And the gal who answers "tring tring" was supposed to call out the name and room number of the person to whom the call was intended to, and many times when peopel in room nos 110 and 111 received calls we could hear "Ms S,room no: 1010(one not ten) or room no: one not eleven!!! We did all sorts of mischiefs from our room, our favorite being dumb charades, and me being the main actress. I loved doing this. Mr.S, Mr.R,Miss R were our favorites.
And it was no less than jail in case of food….
Trrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr... goes the bell and all runs like mad wolves to the kitchen, but we were obedient, we stands in queue peeping out what’s there in stock for us today (no more fodders plz.. had enough of them).and the second bell also goes as a warning that no more food will be supplied if not reporting in another 5 minutes…. But on the last Monday of the month, never the second bell rings, 'cos all will be waiting eagerly for their biriyani :-) (note: this is the only day we eat food, rest all days it is fodder). The tea we get from the kitchen is that awesome that we call it"Kaadi vellam"(The drink we give to cow mixing the cow feeds)!!!
But one final day, our enjoyment came to a big halt. Miss Warden came with a rule, no fun after 8 since many wanted to study ( I still don’t know exactly who those dumb people are, I never saw anyone studying form my hostel). And all must be confined to their own room after 8, no changing rooms at night... (lol, she misunderstood us!!!!). And at last Mr. Tring Tring can rest now. Only two calls per person that too lasting for 5 mere minutes. Someone should take care of that and also mark it on a sheet pasted on the wall near tring tring. :-( Poor we, how will our boyfriends sleep now..? But still some crazy fellows managed to make their partners happy, they use to mark their call against some others name in the sheet, good idea Na, and for the same I missed many many calls. I know who did it; I am waiting for a chance to punish them.
When our frequency crosses the walls and reaches Miss Warden’s room, she starts for a round, but we never know it. One such day when she was entered my room, all expect me saw her… I was mimicking our dearest Mr.S and I didn't notice her, felt so embarrassed when i spotted her and to cover it up, can u guess what I did? I jumped down from bed :-), all got surprised with my behavior; even Miss Warden couldn’t help herself from laughing. Hmmm…..
We had our immediate seniors also in our hostel and it will be injustice if I don’t mention those moments.
During our first few months at college, we pretend to sleep early just to avoid getting assignments; seniors gives us to write their assignments which will be some 20 pages long :-( , we had to sacrifice our sleep n write those :-( . Moreover it was a strict rule that we juniors are not supposed to sing songs from bathroom or corridor, but those donkeys brayed as they wish (forgive me sisters for these usage, now I am not scared of you)
4 long years in the hostel and the final year when we got a chance of ragging our juniors.. it was a real fun, and that was the first time when someone told me that I look beautiful :-) he he, she meant it or might be scared of me. Still I believe the former one.
But apart from all these there was a terror over there….. Keep following to know the terror... "Terror" wont forgive me if i qoute about her at the end..... :-)...

A tribute...

God’s creation, they are real wonders, in fact no one can dare to compete with his creativity. Some can talk some cannot, Indeed we are really lucky to be born as Humans, we express our feelings, we cry, we laugh, we speak, also does understand the feelings of our dear and near ones, not just humans, but also our pets.
They never talk the way we do, may be they talk on their own, I don’t know if they talk???Do they??
Not many but I am sure they are a plentiful of people who loves animals, at least give a nod to the animals as I do.
I love animals, may it be my pets or others. I am moving on to a world a few years back………..
I always fought to keep a pet… I used to hear stories from my mom about her childhood when she had lots of pets... not one or two... but many many…
She tells me she used to do make ups for hers pets… hens, cats, dogs, cows... funny??Even I felt so until my pet cat “Malu” came to my life… he changed my life altogether … he took me to a world full of love and happiness…
I was in my twelfth standard then… Too busy with studies and preparation for engineering entrance examinations… It was my younger brother who took Malu to our home. He saw it somewhere near our house crying, I saw him as a tiny creature, with fluffy fur as white as snow, with a very thick furry tail. He was very thin and I thought he’s not gonna escape. Initially, even my parents didn’t like us keep him, but we (Me n my bro) went on. We took out a coconut shell, filled it with milk and gave him, In a fraction of second, he finished it off!!! He was that hungry, and his behaviour with us was as though he had been with us for years… brushing his head on our toes, licking our fingers, we enjoyed it really and we decided to keep him. He was well behaved and this made my parents’ keep him at our home. I have seen many of other pet cats behaving odd, in front of guests and all, but my little Malu was descent, at most modest, he loved welcoming guests :). He accompanies them from gate till our house and meows continuously that the guests needn't ring the bell!!
Often remember having got enough scolding from my parents for wasting my studying time to play with Malu, he slept with us, and we fought for him at night, I remember, I had kept open my bros bedroom window open so that Malu escapes from there n comes to sleep with me :).
I used to put make up for him, keeping bindis on his forehead, making small chain with pearls for him, tying ribbons for him, n use to put rings on his long furry tail :), I believe he too enjoyed it a lot, cos he seems so cozy those times…I remember having put a Band-Aid on his hands too when he got an injury :).
He loves sleeping a lot, I had read once a house cat sleeps for 16 hrs a day, I wondered how, But after being with my Malu I understood it is true, we used to “transfer” his sleeping place while he sleeps; still that never bothered him, he just continues to sleep :), he cuddles down whenever he get a chance, if its my lap or bed or sofa, he never gets disturbed.
One thing Malu hated like anything was newspapers, He knew we won’t care for him while reading newspaper, So he just tries to jump onto our lap and make to and fro movements so as to disturb our reading till we finally keep down the newspaper :) , we need to wait for him for his breakfast time to read newspaper.
Once he fell into our well!!! Oh God I still remember how panic me and my brother was. But somehow we managed to take him up, he was shivering with cold, I took him in my lap, brushed his fur with hair dryer, gave him hot milk and kept him under blanket for sometime, after two-three hours, he came back playfully as though nothing had happened.
Time passed, I became his pet!!! When I feel sad, I used to make him sit with me and tell him my sorrows, I felt he understood everything :).
I feed him in his mouth rather than plate, plays with him, pampers him as though he was my baby!!!He sits on my lap when I studies, he cuddles beside me when I sleep, our relation grew, with no barriers in between we were like mom and son, when I leave to school, he takes up my bed, welcomes me with his meows when I was back at eve, eats with me, watch TV with me, and so on….
Not just me he cared for all, He knows the time my parents come back from office and he will be eagerly waiting for them, to know what they have bought for him as a small child use to do, and keep on meowing and jumping from one place to next when they get down from car. And indeed my parents took care of him and so they bring fish and other parts for him and boil it and give him :). He was that cute enough to impress all.
But he do fight with other cats who enters our compound :). He was a king inside and didn’t like other cats entering in. He stopped them all. He fought with them , And finally comes and stand in front of us with his head lowered; for he knows we hated him fight with other cats, what can he do, obviously he need to keep his prestige ...
Some how, I missed him very badly when I had to move to a college hostel for my studies, not just me; he too missed me. Mom says he cries like anything going to my room and when he gets no answer sleeps on my bed. Once in a while when I drop at home, I felt his happiness and love for me every time, he meows and runs around me welcoming me, brushes his body on my foot, jumps on to my laps, what else he doesn’t do. Hehe!!!!.If I didn’t see him at home I call out his name loudly and wherever he’s he comes running to me like an obedient son :)
Days passed years passed, this became a routine for him to miss me and finally got adapted with it, In meanwhile he became a father too :) And you know what I called myself grandma… Oops … Funny?? Now I too feel so, but then I used to feel so proud, he had a daughter and I named her “Kitty”. She too was like him furry n snow white :).
I passed my engineering, had to finally leave my home town to a different place, for Job. By now Malu had grown up into a big cat, but he still had that cuteness in him and also played the pranks to his fullest. He was now above 5 years, he was our dear one for 5 long years, not just mine, but my entire family admired him, his smartness and obedience. Even my friends knew how crazy I was for this pet, and they called me “poocha mummy” meaning cat mom :) (poocha=cat).I used to bring chocolates for him, and many times my friend teased me like they wished to be my cat at least in next birth. Cool right?
The first thing I used to ask my mom n dad while making phone calls to them was about how my Malu is doing? If he’s fine there, if he is having proper food and all, If he’s obeying them, he plays prank on them again and all, and at times when Malu meows, my parents’ do make calls to me to make me hear his sweet “meow”. I tell my parents then that he’s calling mom n not meowing, I bet I was really crazy for him.
But it happened one day, like it happens with everyone , He left us, still don’t know where he went, If he’s still alive and all, and my parents told me he might have gone for pilgrimage in his old age :)
I too thank God for this kind of partition, even though he left us all, he didn’t make us cry a lot, we can still hope he’s alive somewhere, I still hope the same, he’s always alive in me, his pranks, his joyful movements, the scene he makes after a fight, his sweet meow, everything. Even he loved us so much, else he wouldn’t have left us this way. Even in case he’s no more ,we didn’t see him motionless, that would have been even more painful.
Just love him a lot, a lot and lot, he was wonderful in everyway :). Wherever he’s now I pray for his happiness and wish he comes back to me again, if not this birth next birth :) …
Love you Malu…