Saturday, November 28, 2009

Paratha and Metro Delight...

I am not able to come out of the hang over of today’s team lunch for which we were planning for last few months. As the team was anxiously waiting for the delhi noida metro to start so that the teammates staying in dwarka and other parts of delhi can avail the metro boon and don’t have to drive for 4 hours a day. But due to some or the other reasons, the metro got delayed and so the plan for the tea going to parathawali gali in chandni chowk in metro .

As usual the opener batsman of our team, dearest SG initiated the program and circulated the mail last week for the lunch and collected the contri money. This time, GG was the treasurer- the real baniya of team *grin* The team was in real high spirit on the friday morning and nobody was willing to work as we all were desperately waiting for the system clock to show 12:00 so that we can leave. Thanks to the onsite lead for postponing the conference call of E2E team as he was also busy in thanksgiving parties at onsite *grin*. We 12 left the office at 11:30 itself as the call was cancelled and we didn’t have any reason to sit in office. We went to the Botanical Garden metro station and parked the cars there. SG and GG the organizers bought the tickets and distributed one each. In the meantime, we started the counting to make sure that none of us is left behind, That reminded me of my college days when we used to go to Jaipur with the classmates and warden and we used to have this counting around 20-25 times in a single day :D

Anyways, we had to wait for around 10 mins on the platform as the frequency for noida metro is quite low. Some of my teammates were traveling in metro for the first time but we all were equally excited like school going kids :D As the doors opened, we all rushed inside the metro and jumped on the seats. SG looted a whole seat and invited some of us to sit on it. But then as 3 ladies came near the seat, SG and 2 other teammates thought that it’s a ladies seat but soon realized that it was a general seat only. Watever, we got a joke to tease them *devilish grin* Seeing Akshardham temple on the way was equally exciting. Finally we reached CP and changed to the yellow line. After almost 45 mins, finally we reached the famous Chandni Chowk and got this warning from DG before stepping out to take care of the wallets and purses. But after few mins only, RK realized that he has lost his cell phone in train; yea some pick pocket had stolen it *sad sad*. After walking for 7-8 mins, we reached the famous paratha street and looked for the shop for which we had got good reviews on net *the techies* :() The shop was full but still the shopkeeper somehow gave us 2 tables and we squeezed us into the little benches. After some time the fellow customers left but we were not allowed to occupy another table as as per him 12 ppl deserved only 2 tables *smart shopkeeper.. uff *

The list of parathas displayed a huge variety of parathas, rite from the usual stuff like aloo, gobhi, mooli, gajar, paneer to the rare stuff like mirchi, nimbu, karela, bhindi and can u imagine rabri, kaju, badaam and kishmish as well. Unbelievable man!!!

We ordered around 24 parathas in first round. I had ordered the nimbu one as suggested by my frnd who had been there earlier. Soon we got the order and we attacked the parathas. It was awesome!!! I really wonder what the hell they have added in the stuffing for that yummy sour taste. Ultimate!!!! The lasssi and the sabzi and pickle and chutney added unbelievable delight to the parathas. In the next round again we ordered some exotic ones like karela and bhindi and yea mirchi which made us mad. It was really hot. We all were doing see see after eating it but still we were eating it. Crazy!!!!

There were pics of Akshay Kumar sitting in that shop and eating parathas along with the MTV ppl also. I believe that was not the paid advertisement!! They must have actually visited the place. I really feel pity for me that I had not been to such an ultimate place till now. Yea you have to be extra careful with your belongings in the narrow streets of chandni chowk but it’s the real heritage of Delhi. We cannot get this flavor in malls and the expensive resto bars we visit mostly!!

As usual we 3 girls wanted to stay there and do some shopping but the selfish boyz of our team didn’t give any time for it *sob sob* And then the way back to noida, when everyone was feeling damn damn sleepy due to lassi and overeating. Ha ha ha. All of us wanted to go back to home and sleep but …

Overall it was an awesome experience. It will be a sweet memory in my mind always. Whenever I will hear the name of Chandni Chowk, this day will definitely pop up into my mind!!

Thanks to SG for initiating and everyone for participating*smiles :o)*

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Chetan Bhagat Inspires...

Like millions of Indians, i had also become a big fan of Chetan Bhagat after reading Five Point Someone. Though my craze faded away after reading One Night At Call Center as the only good part of it was the love story of the young couple and absolutely no entertainment otherwise and the 3 Mistakes of My Life which was more like the same old FPS in new apparel :D

But the bigger achievement of CB is introducing the habbit of reading in the masses. In today's date, I thnk every literate person has read atleast FPS. It has become very much like Harry Potter series increased the habbit of reading among children of UK but CB series encouraged indian masses to read more *grin*

Though now I dont find anything exciting in his books but I love reading his blogs, speeches and articles as they are very motivating and close to reality. So quoting one here which I got today in email:

Speech by Chetan Bhagat at Symbiosis ...must read...
Don't just have career or academic goals. Set goals to give you a balanced, successful life. I use the word balanced before successful. Balanced means ensuring your health, relationships, mental peace are all in good order. There is no point of getting a promotion on the day of your breakup.

There is no fun in driving a car if your back hurts. Shopping is not enjoyable if your mind is full of tensions. "Life is one of those races in nursery school where you have to run with a marble in a spoon kept in your mouth. If the marble falls, there is no point coming first. Same is with life where health and relationships are the marble. Your striving is only worth it if there is harmony in your life. Else, you may achieve the success, but this spark, this feeling of being excited and alive, will start to die. ................... One thing about nurturing the spark - don't take life seriously.

Life is not meant to be taken seriously, as we are really temporary here. We are like a pre-paid card with limited validity. If we are lucky, we may last another 50 years. And 50 years is just 2,500 weekends. Do we really need to get so worked up? ................ It's ok, bunk a few classes, scoring low in couple of papers, goof up a few interviews, take leave from work, fall in love, little fights with your spouse. We are people, not programmed devices........." :) "Don't be serious, be sincere."!!

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Age Blues...

Was just checking out my album on orkut last sunday. Was a bit surprised to see the album of good old days which had some memorable moments of my initial days in the IT. The big group of friends, the tension free days, trips to shimla and rafting, diwali celebration, my cousin’s wedding pics- everything sounds like it was a part of my previous birth. Life changed so much in last 3 years as I grew up from a girl to woman.

Am not getting nostalgic but just trying to accept the fact that I am in my late 20s now and after a couple of years I will be 30+. Shittttttt. I really hate this. I will not celebrate next b’day. Why shud I celebrate the day which makes me feel old.. sob sob. Hmm but I cannot run away from the dark circles under my eyes, the fine lines on my cheek and the mature look on my face which I felt after looking at my 3 year old pictures.
When I was a teenager, I always looked forward to my b’days and wanted to grow up quickly and earn lot of money and become independent but now I feel jealous of my 17 year old cousin who studies in class 12th and have the worries of only his pocket money, impressing the fellow gals n school exams but I have all the tensions of job, onsite, marriage, investments. All this makes me crazy. Really envy him.

But as they say- If you can’t change it, accept it!! I should accept the fact that I am growing old, since I don’t have the magical crystal ball which can help me in staying young always. All I have is Kajol’s Olay 7 Effects Moisturiser :D

Latest Craze: Ajab Pre Ki Gajab Kahani- Fell in love with the movie after watching it last Saturday and already seen it 3 times in last 5 days. Was already mad for the music and now the movie. A good comedy and healthy love story after a real long time, may be after Jaane Tu Ya Jaane na. Ranbir and Ketrina really make a great 21st century couple.

Tu Jaane Na…
Milke Bhi Hum Na Miley.. Tumse Na Jaane Kyu Milo Ke Hain Fassle.. Tumse Na Jaane Kyu.. Anjaane Hain Silsiley.. Sapney Hai Palko Taley…
Kaise Batayei Kyu Tujhko Chaaheyy…

Monday, August 17, 2009

Love Aaj Kal...

Finally the post on thee much awaited movie. The movie whose music had made me crazy and the movie I was really really dying to see, of course because it was the sequel of Jab We Met.

Although the expectations were very high from the movie, specially because of Jab We Met and somewhat because of the good casting and music but the mixed type of feedbacks which I got from my friends was making me even more restless to watch the movie and decide myself. Alas, the movie didn’t turn up the way I had thought. I found it just ok ok types.

Noooo, I am not at all biased because of JWM/ In beginning, I had to push the pre-quel out of my mind a couple of times but then I totally forgot about JWM, as my mind got occupied with all the loopholes of LAK *grin*.

The starting itself was awful- the practical Deepika and the usual cpnfused commitment fearing Saif were not looking like lovers, rather looking like make out buddies with absolutely no chemistry between them.

The old Rishi Kapoor is looking cute but Saif playing the young Rishi Kaoor is looking equally iritatinf. The role of a turbanded sardar can never suit the choclatey Saif and of course no question of looking a khatarnaak wala sardar as Rishi Kapoor calls himself in his younger days. I really wonder where are all the beautiful Indian models and actresses are gone as the director had to select this Brazilian girl for the role of Harleen Kaur. It was pathetic to see the artificial looking girl dancing stupidly on the lal al al al song. Ufff!!!

Initially the 2 symmetric stories of Jai- Meera and Veer-Harleen looked untolerable. Something was definitely missing because of which the past and the present was not able to blend properly. Of course everytime the editing cannot be as good as Rang De Basanti and Rock On where we don’t really feel when are we taken into past and when we are back into present but this one was actually below average. May be Imtiaz Ali is not that experienced with this type of direction.

The music which was making me crazy, was not at all justified by the picturisation of the songs in the movie. The senti and melodious song- Dooriya was murdered by adding it in the initial 10 minutes of the movie- at a time when there was no story, no depth and no momentum in the movie!! Though it looked excellent when the 4 lines are played at the end of the movie when Deepika comes down from the ladder and Saif looks at her with the affection in her eyes. I really wish they had added a proper situation to do justice to this lovely number.

The chor bazari video is still ok if we forget that its supposed to be shot in Delhi (oops- dilli :D). But my favorite song – Aaj Din Chadiya, the innocent lyrics I loved is not at all taken seriously in the movie L

The story is not bad but still too much for Indian audience. The broken marriages are still not happily accepted by masses and hence Deepika kind of betraying poor Rahul Khanna only because of her confusions is not a good idea to show. Had it been their engagement in place of marriage, it would have added more sanity to the movie *grin*

The only 3 scenes I liked in the movie- firstly, the phone chat between Saif and Deepika when she is in flite. Hey, she has copied this from me. This is my style- to keep talking on phone while boarding the flite and hanging up only whne the air hostess pats on my arm with a smile and tells me to switch off the mobile. Copycat!!! The other scene I liked was the one Deepika getting married and Saif’s speaks blah blah blah- knowingly unknowingly he speaks everything in his heart but shows as if he is trying to convince the girl though he is actually trying to convince himself. Poor guy!!! And last and the least, the end sequence- right from Saif asking out Deepika, Doriya song and Neetu aunty’s entry. Only Ranvir Kapoor was missing from the complete family as the bahu Depika was already there *grin*.

Bus aur kuch nahi tha movie me- no good humour, no good costumes, no good story, no good dances, nothing yaar!!!

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

All Junk And No Gym Makes Appy Look Fat And Ugly...

Till 10 yearbs back when I was in school, I was very slim but after going to hostel, I don’t know why but I started putting on!! Though not very fat but I became a bit chubby!!!

And now I have this tendency to put on weight. I really put on if I dont go for walk or work out. . Well thats one of my favorite activity- walking with the goodie songs playing on the headets plugged in my ears. I can walk for hours in a cool night with the show Purani Jeans playing on Mirchi. Exactly what I used to do on the terrace of my PG when I was in Gurgaon and that really helped me in maintaining my weight.

Even 1 kg increase or a tiny tyre is enough to make me tense as I really hate those extra unwanted kilos on me.
But the hectic work schedule in Singapore made me come home late and left me with no time to go for evening walks and eventually led to putting around 7 kgs. Yeagh I was pissed off like anything. I was ashamed of facing my old friends and the most painful thing was to buy new clothes as my old jeans and trousers used to trease me .. sob sob.

Thanks to Shalini who motivated me to utilize the office gym for getting back into shape and we both started going to gym in evening. It was not tuf as work schedule was also not that hectic/. We both provided each other a very good company and the support b/w us helped us in going to gym regularly and I lost around 4 kgs in 2 months... yiipppeeeee

But thenn came this USA trip where i tried to maintain my routine of going on morning walks even in the snow but my teammates scared me of the high crime rate in and suggested me not to wander outside alone. As a result once again I putted on and the ugly tyres started apperaring again on the waist... reallly hate them !!!

The poor client didnt provide any gym to its employees and oince again the hectic schedule prevented me from joining a private gym. Thankfully the trip was short and I was able to join the gym in my new office once again but now this hectic schedule and deadly deadlines are once again becoming a hurdle and making me regularly irregular in gym :D

I love working out in gym. Whren I run on tread mill, it feels as if all my stress is flowing out as sweat. Its not only to loose weight and stay fit but my stress buster also. Alas there is no instructor in the gym but I am trying to learn more about working out with the help of google and some freiends who are motr experienced in gym.

I really wish the coming milestone date to cross quickly so that I can get back to my schedule of gymming once again :)

Tuesday, August 19, 2008

Bachna Ae Hasino/ Ipod Nano…

Saturday: Saw this latest movie of Ranbir and Bips on Saturday. Second day Night Show – not bad if I manage this in Singapore. But tried a new movie hall this time; just opposite to my apartment. I was not aware that there is a Golden Village opposite to my apartment which shows selected hindi moview also – what a jerk I am to go to Bugis everytime to watch a movie. This Golden Village was exactly like PVRs of delhi/Gurgaon. Multiplex – audi look and feel – sound system – picture quality – even the advertisements – everything reminded me of my fav hang out – PVR Cinemas. Though Jade Cinemas in Bugis where I used to go can be compared to Chanakya Movie hall but still there was no tension of catching MRT or night rider since we got late in night.

Oops – I forgot that this post is about the movie and not the movie hall *grin*. Ranbir Kapoor is improving in his looks as well as acting. Looking cute though has to learn a lot. The killer as he called himself was too choclatey to be a flirt. Breaking the hearts of sweeties like Mahi and Bips and then falling for Deepika. Story was not too strong but still the presentation was good and interesting. The best part was the exotic locations of shooting. Hats off to di dost who knew most of the locations shown in movie – hmmm she is watching too much of travel and living these days *grin*.

First half of the movie was very interesting and fast but the second half was slow and boring at times. Chalo atleast Mr.Killer realised his mistake and dared to apologise to the gals he dumped otherwise people are not that courteous today. I liked the music as well splly the title track. Will download the music as soon as I complete my LLD document and get some time *tired smile*.

Sunday: Hey the more rocking news is that I bought my dream product – the gadget I wanted to buy for last 3 years and requested soo many of my frnds to get it from all the corners of the world- US/UK/Sweden but nobody did. So here is my iPod Nano 4 GB. The piece of my heart is silver in color with pink cover which adds a pink tinge to it. See I didn’t go for a pink ipod – only bght a pink cover – m trying to change my pinky image *good attempt appy puppy*. I don’t understand why these apple ppl don’t load iTunes in the iPod. Because of this I wasn’t able to try it y’day. Had to wait till today when downloaded the s/w and then installed and loaded the songs tonite only. And skipped the dinner meals for 2 consecutive days as this cutie pie is much much more exciting than going into the kitchen, cooking something and then eating it too *ok but plz don’t tell this to my mom*.

Am too excited for my new iPod but wished it had FM also so that it cud have been more useful after going back to India. No worries – will update it with the latest songs. But this postpones my plan to buy new cellphone. Ok will buy another pair of headsets (have already bought a dozen and lost/broken them) and get it repaired as soon as breaks into 2 pieces this time*hey never buy a phone with 2 flaps as its not that robust*.

Its 1 at night but I don’t want to sleep. Just want to listen to my fav numbers in the ipod *sweetie smile*.

Wednesday, August 6, 2008

Hapy B'day Di Dost...

Di Dost thats what I call Rajyashree as she is my elder sister cum best friend in Singapoee. The huge age difference and her mature nature makes damn caring towards me and our similar likings and tastes makes us best friends.

I will never forget the office apartment which I shared with 4 other HCL girls in Singapore. Since all of us were far from our motherland, we shud have been close and helping to each other but the scene was totally different. Actually all 5 of us had different natures and routines. Though we were equally sharing the groceries, we were not able to share the responsibilities and everyone thought that she is doing the maximum work and the other 3 are doing nothing. And becuaes of all these troubles, 2 of my flatmates had a big row one evening. Since I have always been blessed with good friends, the incident was very disappointing and I decided not to be very friendly with anyone.

The next morning when I was cooking my breakfast, somebody knockedte main door. I opened the door, it was a new girl coming directly from airport with her huge suitcases and bags After a formal introduction she asked me the usual basic queries like how far is the train station, frm where can be get the sim carda dn all. From the first talk itself I realisedthat she is quite mature and a frequuent traveller hence confident. But I decieded to stay away from her as wella s I had lost the hope of getting a gud frn in Singapore. We stayed together in that flat for around 20 days but I didnt get much time with her. Though Vandana got quite friendly with her and I talked to Rajshri a couple of times only bcoz Vandana was the only girl I liked talking to. So by law of transitivity me and Rajyashree became frnds. Then we all moved to our personal rented accomodations.

And started meeting on weekends. All 3 of us freakies hanged out in whole singapore and didnt leave any place to visit except the bird park [:D]. Within some time we got so close that could not miss even one weekend without meeting each other. Our weekend GTs were the best stress buster for us as all 3 of us were not at all happy in ou new houses and missed each other.

In may we travelled to Malaysia. Indeed, Di organised the trip, made all the bookings and took care of both of us like her kids on the trip.Rajyashree is a perfect person whom anybody and everybody will adoreHer. Good looks, intelligence, professionaism, caring attitude, sensible
thinking, matureness - everything is perfect. Though her cooking and communication skills are even beyond perfection [:D]. I like her shopping spree and the way she enjoys her life - shoping, travelling, spending on her looks, everything is admirable.

Di, u dont have a hint that how good you are. I am really blessed to have you in my life. You have always been with me in all the good and bad times in Singapore. I can never never forget how loving and caring u have been with me. I know I can depend on you as u take care of my every little need.

Had I been a boy, I would have married u no matter how old u r bcoz u r the bestest person in this world. I mean it!!!! I wish you loadz ofgood luck in ur life. may bhagwanji bless u with choicest kindness and all ur dreams come true.

Loadz of luv to u on this special day. Keep smiling alwayzz. Puchiii [:)]