"Kooky"!!!

The other day, well friday actually, i was sitting with Boy and Boy's family and enjoying a nice quiet dinner. 'S' called from 2 houses away and insisted on going out that night. Since I love 'S' almost as much as I love Boy, I couldn't say no, even though I was rather comfily sprawled with a satiated stomach and it was about 10 in the night. Anyhow, I got Boy to come along and since we couldn't get anyone else at the last moment, S, Boy and me headed out.

S had been suggested to visit a place called Kuki. When she told me I first wondered if the place was called "Cookie", coz that was a warped name for a night club. Then i wondered if it was "Kooky" coz that didn't inspire too much confidence either. Finally I was told its spelt "KUKI"I was appalled. I would rather it be called something else, coz "Kuki" sounds like a boisterous Punjabi auntie. I wasn't too sure if I wanted to go there, I knew for a fact that boy didnt want to, considering he doesnt drink and/ or dance. (sometimes I wonder what he's doing with me, but that is completely separate post altogether)

So the three of us went up to kuki. The location, polite valets were all very impressive. So we didnt think too much about a 2k cover charge redeemable against drinks inside. When we the entered the place, I knew it should've been called Kooky instead. 3 floors, placed one above the other with an open space running through and through till the ground floor. 4 clusters of seating arrangements with white leatherite, no backrests, abysmally small centre tables and really warped interiors. Note to interior designers here: You appreciate that there is a very fine line between making a place look chic in red and making it look like a brothel. Kuki, unfortunately almost made it to the latter. Trance music was blaring from all corners with white smoke billowing out of a smoke machine on the first floor. A red butterfly motif suspended down the centre of the place completed the look.

We all tried rather hard to conceal our disappointment/ disgust but failed miserably. Alcohol was the solution and just when we had our hearts set on some nice cocktails, we were informed by an ill mannered, uneducated, ill informed server that the cover charges did not apply to cocktails. we then moved on to good ol Grey Goose, when the waiter told us that this too would not be covered and the charges were redeemable only against IMFL. Of course, needless to add, IMFL's were not being served that night. When S looked like she was gonna pounce on the waiter and kill him or storm to the guy who conned us outside, the poor waiter hurriedly agreed to serve us cocktails.

Slowly a bit of a crowd started trickling in. But either the place was hosting a costume party or a homo sexual party of sorts coz for chrissake one weirdo weirder than the previous one was walking in. Boy, S and I sat back, looked around, shook our heads in absolute disbelief and buried ourselves into our respective drinks. Then some vague magazine was hosting some warped event there (probably the Costume Party) and the "Event" was being covered by a vaguer news channel. As if the psychedelic red lights weren't bad enough, we now had to deal with glaring yellow lights and flashbulbs going off in our faces.

S decided to order some food, since the alcohol didnt seem to be doing too much for us. we ordered for some chicken on skewers served with hummus. The menu priced it at Rs. 450/- exclusive of taxes of course. When the dish came, it had 3 skewers with a cumulative of six pieces of chicken. S looked the waiter in the eye and asked him if he was kidding with us. Now i am not someone who always goes for food that gives value for money, but even I was scandalized. This place was a bloody joke.

We paid our bill...exited hurriedly and swore never to come back again.

S feels guilty as hell..with good reason if I may add, but real culprit, the one who's idea it was to begin with and who suggested the place to S is sitting far away, unafffected by the traumatic effect that one evening had on all of us. I think vendetta is in order!!!

Kuki has gone completely Kooky and its best if its rechristened.

"Well-in-time" Day

The brouhaha surrounding this occasion is unbelievable. One half of the city has gone berserk in outdoing its better half at buying expensive presents, one fourth is in the doldrums bemoaning their single status, one fourth is up in arms against the "westernization" of our Indian culture and the remaining one fourth are the florists who are on their way to deposit doubloons in their swiss bank accounts, pointing fingers and laughing at the miserable lot who they ripped off on this dreaded day.

Boy and I spoke about this a few weeks and then again a couple of days before the 14th. We mutually agreed on not to celebrate it, not to buy anything for each other and generally treat it like any other day. We both walked back home relieved and being able to afford a decent meal at the end of the month. When the "V day" arrived, I weakened. I did not want to succumb to the insane pressure building up around me, but I did want to buy Boy something just to show how much I appreciate him being around and spoiling me rotten. So I managed to surprise him with a very nice present. Except that I gave it to him in the car and he had just unwrapped it when his phone rang. I have long accepted the fact that his work takes precedence over everything else, including me and for my own respect, I shouldn't even try and compete.

So there I was holding his semi wrapped/ semi unwrapped present and he is on the phone and after a 4 minute long conversation, he turns to me and proceeds to tell me, in great detail, the intricacy of the problem faced by the caller- his client. And I was just sitting there with my jaw all but hitting the floor, aghast at the way Boy was reacting. I dont expect him to do a jig on being given a present but an acknowledgment was the very least I expected.

So Boy went on and on and suddenly, probably on seeing the tears well up in my eyes or the dumbfounded gaping mouth of mine, he snapped back to the present (present/ present..ha ha funny na? thank you) He fell over himself apologizing. But the damage was done. The day was ruined, I had started bawling (I know, sorry, its a very chicky thing to do but sometimes when I get REALLY angry and cant do a thing about it, the helplessness of the entire situation makes me cry) We did go on to have an excellent dinner and I did genuinely have a great time but at some level I am still a lil upset. Well more worried than upset. But right then in that car, I swear I could've killed him.

In other news, on a local radio station on V Day, a guy was offered a chance for a weekend getaway to holiday destination. When quizzed as to who he would like to go with, he named X. Immediately his wife spoke up at the other end of the phone line, live on air and what followed was truly hilarious since X was his Secretary and his wife was Z. May his soul rest in peace, though I have a sneaking suspicion its resting in pieces)

hope your valentine celebrations were better.

All work and no p(l)ay.

Did, in former college lingo, an "all nighter" the other day. Before you start getting any whacky ideas in your head, an "all nighter" refers to a situation when you ending up studying/ now working for the better part of the night. I did one in office the other day and at the risk of sounding like a workaholic, it was great fun. There is something fascinating about staying up late in office, munching on a slice of the dominator pizza while palpitating over when you'll be able to wrap up work and head home. Since I am now almost a veteran at these all nighters, I now know the best way to deal with them and ensure that work's done. First I calmed my colleague, who is a rookie and this was his first all nighter. Then I ordered in pizza, enough for all of us. BTW, pizza is a great motivator to get the sluggish office staff to double up the photocopying. Then came the gentle cooing and egging on for rookie colleague and office support staff and then came the military rule. It was awesome. Poor Rookie was so thrilled at the prospect of putting in so much work one night and coming back early morn for a conference on the matter that he could barely contain his excitement. what was particularly funny was how his friends refused to believe that he was in office and when word spread in his circle of his hard work, they offered to bring him coffee, smokes and the like. Two of his friends even turned up to offer him moral support. Rather sweet. Funny, but sweet.

Then came the early morn meeting, which was hell. Was hoping to glide through the day in a stupor, instead, I was alert as a hawk. Seriously, man I too am surprised. probably it was the adrenalin that kept me going, but the following day was a charm. I was supposed to catch up with S and her boyfriend in the evening but was scheduled for another partial all nighter. G (S's boyfriend) finally told me that maybe I required "intervention" the Alcoholics Anonymous variety and all I could ask was "legal or divine?" At which point he gave up on me and told me I needed professional help to wean me away from my work. I dont think so. I love my work, et all, but I do have a life away from it. I mean take this for instance. I find time to wrtie, sparingly, but I do. Also, check out the contents of my posts, do not all of them include some details of an outing or a date or something? I think G's just too hard on me!! Sniff sniff.

In other news, I am taking a week off in the end of February for a few weddings. I am so looking forward to shopping, dancing, mehendi and making merry. Some good old fashioned bollywood, dhinchak bhangra and vodka :) Ah what it would be to have a glass of wine right now.

This, that and the other

Happy New Year to everyone!!!! I know its rather belated but since this is my first post this year...Happy Nu Yr to all of you. I am assuming by this time most of you would have broken your new year resolutions already. If not, Bravo!!!

I have actually had to sit back and wonder what I am going to write about and in keeping with my randomness, I shall jot down a few more vague ideas floating around in my head.

New year's eve saw me having a quiet celebration with some friends on someone's terrace. Nice quiet evening, lots to eat and drink, good music, a bed all to myself and Ogden Nash!!!!!!!!

Here's a prime example of his literary genuis:

"Baby:
A little talcum;
is always walcum."

Here's another one:

"candy is dandy;
but liquor is quicker."

and my favourite,

"Behold the duck;
it does not cluck.
a cluck it lacks;
it quacks."

Do you see it??? Wasn't the man absolutely stunning? I first came across Nash's work back in school when I read the poem "This is going to hurt just a lil bit." Made me hate dentists with a passion but also adore his poetry with equal fervor. Reading Nash on new year's eve was bliss. If you have the time, please lay your hands on this book called "Candy is Dandy" and check out his work. One of his more memorable works is "The Common Cold".

Then a few days ago I reread some of Sahir Ludhianvi's work. The song "Chalo ek baar phir se, ajnabi ban jayein hum dono" is unbelievably romantic. heard a few more songs by him like "abhi na jao chord kar ke dil abhi bhara nahin" and all his work in Pyaasa and Kabhi Kabhi. This of course was back in the good old days when Kabhi Kabhi was spelt like K-A-B-H-I and not Kabhie Kabhie. sigh!!!!! mush!!!!

Umm...what else.....well i managed to get completely sozzled at an office party and throw up. Mercifully it was in the confines of the ladies room and not in public view but i dont think too many people missed out on the fact that i was conspicuously absent. grief!!!! I am such a duck!!!

the new year heralds tonnes of tough decisions and lots of work!!! Am not looking forward to one of those things..and I love my work!!!!! Sigh!!!! Am depressed now.

really scared too!!

Off the top of my head!!!!

These are a few of my favourite things. (In random order)

1. The winters are here. I love the winters. A chilly wind-enough to give frostbite to the healthiest human beings, foggy grey days-that depress mere mortals but bring inexplicable joy to me, zero visibility-that makes commuters grit their teeth and lose their cool but makes me smile like the Cheshire Cat, gentle rays of the sun- soft, heady, intoxicating, lighter hours at work, more time with Him, weddings, fresh veggies, I FEEL ALIVE!!!!!

2. I met a few of his friends yesterday. They are over from the US for a short trip here. One of them told me, at his insistence ofcourse, how much she cried when she saw Kal Ho Na Ho, even though she does not understand the language. In between my guffaws, she also told me how both her boyfriend and she cried when they saw it together. He too doesn't understand the language. I was about to launch into fresh peals of laughter when i saw Him tenderly reaching out to comfort her. At that instant I knew why I loved Him. My laughter mellowed down to a tender smile as I remembered all the times both of us had understood emotions perfectly without the need for any words, without knowing each other's language. He is a good human being, not an ounce of malice in his bones, he is a good son, brother, better friend and the best better half ever. After having been hurt once long long ago, I never thought I would ever have the strength to fall in love all over again, to make myself vulnerable. But here I am, completely defenceless, shorn of all pretence, hopelessly in love, even thought I know we can never be.

3. Tears of joy.......I recently rediscovered them. Thanks to Him and with a lil help from the gusty icy winds.

Please help me, I sound soppy!!

Waging War

The Battle of the Bulge, The Battle of Sex(es), The Battle of my Back..I seem to be indulging a lot of warfare of late. Some of them are interlinked, but these days life seems to be one long drawn battle.

Step by step you say, awite...As a kid, i managed to injure my back about a decade ago. The fall out of that is that whenever I exert myself, my lower back swells to twice the size of texas and there is diddly squat that I can do about it. My love for the outdoors and sports of course, in no way helps the issue. So basically, for the past decade or so, life has been one long struggle between the desire to play and nursing an aching back for 2 days thereafter.

Then comes the Battle of the Bulge.Well, obviously, since my back does not allow me too much physical activity, coupled with the fact that my job is more or less a sedentary one, I have grown. Thats putting it a lil mildly. But please could we just leave it at that?? Please!! So for the past 5 years, since I've been on a "watch my weight" spree, I'm waging war against my back to get that perfect coke bottle figure....the one litre bottle mind you, the hourglass figure is a thing of the past..sigh!!!

That leaves us with the Battle of Sex(es)...you think with my rotund belly and broken back I would be getting any action????? Geez, you do live in a dream world, dontcha?????

I am sitting at my desk right now, sipping coke (must remind myself to have diet), wearing some lumbar support and fantasizing about a boy!!! Must stop drooling!!! Must also stop fooling myself!!!

So basically...life is war, consisting of a fresh battle every single day!!!

Together

She went over for a cuppa. They hadn't met in a bit. She was glad to have wrapped up work early and at the cost of standing up a client, she played hookey from office. She was on her way to meet him. Him who was such an intrinsic part of her that try as she might, she couldn't bear to part with him. The 2 of them had tried, so often, to head their own separate ways, but somehow, they always ended up bumping into each other. She smiled as she heard the song on the radio, he loved to hear her sing. She knew she didnt sing well, but she always did sing and he loved to hear her.

She rang the bell to his apartment and was greeted by a stranger. She was a little taken aback but she was used to seeing new faces in his place every now and then. He was quite the host and his apartment, quite the mess. But she knew something was seriously wrong the moment she set foot in the house. The lights were dim, he was lying curled up on the couch and the presence of their other friends told her that something was amiss. Noone dared to look her in the eye. Cautiously, she made her way across the hall to him. He didnt look at her either. She sat down next to him and hugged him, not knowing what was going. That one gesture was all it took. He clung to her and cried. His body wracked by sobs. She didnt know what was going on, what to do, but the sight of him crying was enough to for her tears to fall too. She was so scared.

He refused to calm down and she looked at her friends helplessly, seeking for an answer, an explanation behind what was happening. Finally Sam pulled her away and led her to another room. Thats when he told her. She froze. Her legs gave way and she was sitting on the cold floor. She sat there for a bit, Sam was as lost as her, he tried to pull her up. She waved him away. Took a minute, rose from the floor and walked back to Him to the couch. She flung the blanket off him. Forced him to his feet. Kissed him like she had never kissed him before and held him close. The organizer in her took charge. She snapped orders at her friends and arranged for Him to be taken for a second opinion. Sam was assigned to the computer to read up all he could in medical literature about His illness. A hot cuppa was finally shared with Him and he even smiled at her stupid jokes for a bit.

She tucked him in for the night and headed back home in a daze. She's been sleep walking through the day ever since and doesn't know what to do. She knew that them being together meant a long drawn battle against family. This battle against a life threatening illness is not what she had in mind. They would finally be together, but this was not how she had hoped for it to be.