Rare weather, coming home and corn on the cob

1. The weather in Nagpur is perfect right now - its cloudy, pleasant and breezy. Grandma and I sit on the swing on the terrace, gently rocking and chatting about nothing in particular. I'm happy to let her ramble on, telling me about the new neighbours and the birds that visit her bird bath and the flowers. Its a lovely morning.
2. After lunch, I plant myself on my mom n dad's bed, fighting for space with dad. It's good to laze around, doing nothing, being the kid and getting pampered. This is what I came home for - for what else is recuperation?
3. The best bhutta in the world can be had at the stalls outside VNIT's gates. The one's available in Pune seem rather poor fare, with their garnishing of salt and lemon juice. Here, there's butter and green chilly chutney (the kind that makes you go sssssssssssssss) to go along with it. Seriously, no one makes corn on the cob the way these guys do. We even got one home for grandma, and can you believe it, she ate it! She's 90!

No mess, take care and rain song

1. Taking the effort to put things where they belong and to smoothen out the covers and straighten the cushions. It's good to see the house look habitable again.
2. Massaging foot cream and then slipping on a pair of socks. It'll stay for the night.
3. Listening to the soft fall of rain while lying on my bed near the window.

Home cooked, song recall and bed time

1. For the first time in the entire work week, we've been able to come home at a time that allows us to cook dinner. The bhindi ki sabzi, the kasoori methi flavoured daal and the soft warm rotis are so immensely satisfying.
2. An unscheduled and unexpected short drive in the middle of the afternoon brings an unexpected pleasure. There's an unfamiliar voice on the radio and she plays a lovely old hindi song that I'm sure I haven't heard for years - O Sajana Barkha Bahar Aayi. I'm quite surprised that I not only recognise it from the music at the begininning, but also sing along quite effortlessly, as if I have been hearing it very often. It is strange, this ability of the brain to retain the words and the melody of a song and to bring them forth at the right moment.
3. It's bed time, I'm sleepy and there's nothing to stop me from cuddling up in my soft and warm bed and sleep peacefully.

iPod touch, cool headed and Dimple

1. I'm posting from my iPod touch since yesterday, since my PC refuses to boot. I'm thrilled by this piece of technology and how it integrates almost seamlessly with all the stuff I want to do. It's still a bit wanting in formatting etc. and I miss the good ol' copy paste, but being able to blog from my iPod easily beats these inconveniences. Perhaps someone out there has figured out how to copy paste on iPod touch?
2. I've washed my hair just now at night. There's a delightful coolness spreading over my head right now.
3. Dimple Kapadia is so stylish in Saagar, she seems of a different age altogether, much ahead of her time.

Light headed, gifts I like and objection sustained

1. A head massage. And a shoulder massage. And warm, fragrant massage oil. And the way my head feels so light afterwards.
2. It's so difficult getting birthday gifts for guys. Finally, I find what I want to gift Sriharsha and Kris. Sriharsha gets Anurag Mathur's The Inscrutable Americans and Kris gets Miss Shumway Waves a Wand by James Hadley Chase. Both are books I have enjoyed immensely when I read them many years ago and was quite happy to find them on the book shelves at Crossword.
3. Tanmoy has taken strong objection to the fact that his name is not in 'My People' here on this blog.

Jingling bangles, my day and aroma

1. There's a wedding to attend in the morning, so I get to dress up a bit in one of my better Salwar Kameezes. Its also an occassion to wear bangles - something I don't usually do, and I kind of like the way they jingle on my wrist at the slightest movement. And the best part is that I get a ride to the wedding - Suresh Kaka and Bharti Kaku pick me up and drop me home, so I don't have to worry about the traffic.
2. There's no where to rush to and no time table to keep. I put on soft cotton socks, get under soft covers and go off to sleep in the afternoon. Its my day.
3. Holding a steaming mug of soup in my hands, I take a deep breath.

Looking nice, company and the sound of music

1. On a day when I haven't taken any trouble to really dress up and am sub-consciously convinced that I'm looking 'just ok' and perhaps a tad fat, I get a compliment that I'm looking nice.
2. I've slogged through the day but its been one of those days when getting even the simplest thing done requires herculean effort. Driving back home from work really really late, I'm tired and cranky. At such a time, I'm glad of Arminder's company as she joins me in cribbing about the how badly people drive in Pune. Its so much better than driving home alone when you really want to rant about stuff, but have no one to listen to you.
3. I finally find the drivers my PC needs and install them. The sound's working now! Yay!

Swish swish, thanda thanda cool cool and living up to its reputation

1. Wearing my olive green cotton skirt. It's of a handloom material with block prints on it and has a very earthy, 'India' feel to it... the cut is straight, but at the bottom, there's a flare which swishes as I walk.
2. Its sweltering in the afternoon and we're sweating profusely... suddenly, there's a cool breeze which says that it's rained somewhere nearby... it goes right to the roots of my hair and my head feels cool...
3. I drag Soumitra to Side Walk Cafe promising him the perfect coffee and excellent snadwiches. The cafe doesn't let me down...

Hot shower, one mad girl and smiles

1. Because its slightly chilly these days, taking a hot shower after gym is a pleasure once again.
2. Pallavi gets the chocolates we sent her for her birthday and goes into a hyper-happy wild screaming state. The chocolates have fulfilled their mission, though I wish we had a way of witnessing the celebration they caused.
3. Feeling good at the end of the day... like there's much to smile about... life ain't THAT bad..!

Saturday, rain and old friend

1. Reaching saturday after a long and exhausting week. I thought it'd never come. I sleep in till almost 11 a.m...
2. Sitting in the balcony with a hot mug of tea watching the rain... There's something strangely tranquil about watching rain... I wonder why
3. Meeting Shenoy... he's changed so much after marriage... but it is good to sit down and talk and gossip... and discover its still just as easy to talk to him even though I now don't see him for weeks at a stretch...

Taking charge, Papa's car and taken care of

It's Papa's birthday today, so all my BTs are for that one awesome person who I can always look up to, and fall back on - my father.

1. Catching a glimpse of Papa as he walks towards me on the railway station before he sees me. And then, a minute later, letting him take charge of my suitcase.
2. Driving Papa's car for the first time (other than for driving lessons, that is...). He's nervous, and keeps giving instructions, and I keep telling him not to, but at the end of the short drive, he accepts that I don't drive that bad. Maybe there'll be fewer instructions next time...
3. My right arm is stiff and has been aching for a couple of days. Many inefficient massages later (that I give it with no appreciable result), Papa gives my hand a very comforting massage, and it really eases the pain.

And really, these are only 3 of the numerous beautiful things this day had to offer... who keeps count of those that a lifetime contains?

Cool, connected and Uncut

1. Sleeping with the cooler on... while the world outside burns, it's cool and pleasant inside the house
2. Finally my mobile phone has been activated, and for the first time since I'm back, I can make calls without any effort
3. India Uncut. Where does he find these things???

Jaccuzzi, Chamomile anyone?... and family

1. Relaxing in the Jaccuzzi at the hotel. As the water jets gently massage my back, all the tension seeps away into the warm water.
2. Trying out Chamomile tea... I don't like it that very much, but at least now I know what all those fashionable women in novels keep drinking!
3. A long chat session with the everyone back home. Jui and Pallu are both in Nagpur, and there's much excitement... the call lasts for a good part of the hour. Its so good to hear all their voices and the familiar chit-chat

Fresh n fragrant, nostalgia and evening nap

1. My clothes that have been laundered here at the hotel have a delightful fragrance that fills the wardrobe... and when I use the fresh towels, or put on one of the blouses or T-shirts over my head, I like to take a deep breath.
2. Seema Tai, one of my cousins who used to be in Jerusalem very many years ago is thrilled by the pictures I send her, and writes me an email saying how she is reliving all her old days through my pictures.
3. I come back to the hotel early today, because I have a headache, and catch up on some badly needed sleep. I wake up feeling much better, and then have some hot lemon tea... the vapours waft through to my nose, and it feels so good on a chilly evening.

Guides, cool and ghar ka khana...

1. Natalie and Galit keep trying to help me find out places that I can visit on my own during the week.
2. The temperature that had soared in the past few days comes down a bit and in the late evening, the breeze is actually quite cold... pleasant days are back again :-)
3. I make khichdi in the little microwave in the hotel room. Somehow, it feels so good to eat Indian food after so many days! There's no doubt that the food here is very tasty, but I guess one craves for the food one has grown up on, and however simple it might be, there's a certain contentment in it...

Lazy, cool and steam

1. An easy, relaxed day at work. At my first weekly status meeting with the new team, everyone seems a lot more interested in discussing when and where to have a dinner party than anything else...
2. As I leave for home, I'm greeted by a cool fresh evening, which promises a pleasant drive. My first thought as a I step out into the open is a smile.
3. I vent out steam about something that has been bothering me and feel a lot better.

Wanderlust, tailor-made and warm

1. Shenoy takes out some time and helps me plan the Karnataka trip. As the plan unfolds, it looks more and more exciting. We'll go from Pune to Gokarna, Murudeshwar, Maravante, Karkal, Kaup beach, Udupi, Mangalore and then back. All of this in 3 1/2 days! Whew!
2. I find a tailor who'll hopefully stitch my salwar kameezes well. As I talk to him about the patterns and he takes measurements, I have this feeling that this man knows his business, and I'm satisfied. And I'll have two new dresses next thursday!
3. Coming to a warm and cozy home from a bitingly cold night, and then taking a hot shower... warmth slowly fills me up and makes me drowsy

Crisp, Superest and warm feet

1. As I open the balcony door, the crisp cold air hits my face and as I take it in, the hesitant morning sunlight attempts to warm my cheeks.
2. The Superest. They're just mind-blowing super brilliant. If you haven't see this before, do start from the first hero.
3. Remembering to wrap a shawl around my knees as I sit down in front of the PC, so that i'm warm and snug and can surf and chat and blog uninterrupted...

Winter, doc and it's up, look!

1. Finally, winter lives up to its name. It's cold and its fun to wear sweaters and shawls, and stand in the balcony, basking in the soft winter sun.
2. A doctor who inspires confidence. He explains and answers questions.
3. Ashok Mama calls up to tell me that the painting I got for him is up on the wall, and I should come see it. My day is quite packed, but suddenly, Prashant Mama turns up, and he's going there anyway. I tag along.

Gossip, warmth and plans

1. Smita and I have a long gossip session over the phone. It's so good to talk to her after such a long time. I really should take out more time to call her up. We reminisce about the old times and bring each other up to date on a lot of news and gossip.
2. Sips of warm water through the day go a long way in allaying the pain in my throat.
3. Planning! There are so many vacations to plan... one to Rajasthan with friends, another an overnight trip with the office folks and a third when we go for Shenoy's wedding... It's going to be a rocking couple of months for me... maybe I can sqeeze in a fourth short trip home in between?