MystiqueSpeak: friends

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Thursday, 30 December 2010

#2010Memories

I suppose it has to be done, yes? And if I must do it, I might as well do it full justice, with photos. Instead of 140 character updates on Twitter.

So we begin at the beginning. What my feeble memory discloses to me.

January begins with play rehearsals, walking around chor bazaar looking for props, and then finally, The Night of January 16th, by Ayn Rand, staged in college, on, well, the night of January....15th. Too bad. But wonderful it was.

Then there was the after-party, and all the debauchery that went with it. And then there was the re-telling of the stories, by the girl who sat curled up in a chair all night, watching everyone.

February went by in a flash, studying...er...trying to study. After the Kala Ghoda Art Festival, that is. My first. :)

February, I believe, was also when Nam and I started the writing threads. Some very awesome, creepy, and awesomely creepy things have come out of those threads. Feb was also the month of the slash. Sigh. Feb had one 70's party to its name, courtesy M, and a bboy battle event the day after, where MuSick debuts. The beginning of something big.

Exams were in March. After which I rushed home to see Chikki off...a two-night send-off, as it were. Lots of laughter. LOTS of fun. Much love for Chikki and all the boys.

Call them the LMAO nights, yes. March was also when I started the internship at The Week, in Muscat.

April blurs into the beginning of May. The internship made sure I actually woke up in the morning, as opposed to 1pm. Good fun, good work. A few movie reviews, with byline. Invictus with Sruti, Date Night, with Nam as company, and of course, Clash of the Titans. Nam, Liz, Vee. The brus. Slushkaz!!

Camping on the beach with the parents. Calm, serene. Lazing with the cats at home. Hanging out with Aarushi.

May was, well, Singapore! Kay, Bhai, tiny shorts, MANY malls, rollerblading, Bailey's, the metro, Universal studios, HRC, yada de yada. Forgetting the camera memory card at Jurong bird park, and being caught in the rain for an hour, with pretty owls to stare at. Spectacular walks at Singapore zoo. And a final flight back home.

June and July, traipsing around college. And all the wonderful Twitter people I met. E, Piu. Ladies' Nights, Azbaz. June was a green-streaked fauxhawk and a week in Pune, July was Burger & Beer at Woodside and the fun that followed and the people I met.

July and August, I assist Annie with her MA project on Dharavi. I did more photography than assistance, really. But it was wonderful. Profoundity, opinions, a new outlook, and the best chai ever. And, of course, seeing Annie, after SO long.

August, later, was the EA bake sale, where we positively raked in the bucks. And WONDERFUL brownies!

August, also, Olio and all the fun and stress that came with it. Likla was a nice dragon.

September was when I was introduced to fire theater, with Nikhil. Mesmerising. Absolutely brilliant stuff.

Sept was also the month I got sick. Food poisoning, I say. I was down and out for two weeks. Sigh.

It's all downhill from here...October was mad study, exam mornings at CBTL with Ankiet, exams, a birthday post-exam lunch with Ankiet (his birthday, not mine), exams, and then Muscat. Lazing with the cats and dad. Chilling alone on the beach. And of course, the Canon EOS 50D and what I did with it.

Then back to Bombay with the parents. November would have been a trek in Nepal, but that got cancelled, which meant I was 'on vacation' in Bombay. Which I haven't really been since I moved here, so it was quite nice. Much roaming about the city, talking to the mother, TTS launch, and Garudmachi. Dad and I escape to the hills for two days, where I am in absolute bliss.

Also, I hit the beautiful rock-climbing wall there, attacked each face of it, and was left with beautifully sore muscles for the next two days. Such utter bliss.

November was also my first Diwali in India, Irish coffee, getting DRENCHED in the rain with Nikhil, cursing all the way from Dadar station to wherever we found the cab.

Also, Elephanta.

November was the beginning of another play, (Two plays, actually, The Boor, and The Proposal, by Anton Chekov) 8-hour rehearsals, and the month ended with my 19th birthday. Bringing it in with another birthday girl at Krish's, then lunch, then rehearsals, then E & Nam, and then Janata, and the wonderful fire-spin night (where I did eventually fall asleep), fire wielding, and Marine Drive at 6 am on a Sunday, with Nikhil and Bidi. Dosas at the lovely Ram Ashray at 8. UnderDog Kombat Anniversary battles in Andheri, in the evening, me with the camera, happy.

December, rehearsals, rehearsals, falling asleep in rehearsals, bad music (HOW CAN SHE SLAP?), good guitar playing, inside jokes, McDonalds, Subway, pizza, all kinds of junk, all ordered in, and then, showtime. And quite seriously, after that, it's just been a countdown to the week off college (which is right now). Global Fusion lunch with Dad, who was here, one fun birthday/christmas party, bike ride on Marine drive, bringing in Kutt's 19th, all of that. It's a countdown to tomorrow and to the 1st of jan when I'll be on a plane, heading to the parental and feline abode.

So yeah, it's been an interesting year. With much love to the Bombay people, R, Datta, Nikhil, Ankiet, Radhika, Kutt, E, who, well, make me feel loved. Goodnight, 2010.

Tuesday, 30 November 2010

One Random Memory. Some updates.

Once, I was given a butterfly.

It must've been four years ago, maybe.
I was waiting for him, in an empty school. Perched on the bar of a free-standing basketball hoop, a few feet above the ground. A couple of small girls chattered away by my side, I was supposed to be watching them.
Suddenly, I'm shoved in the back. I involuntarily jump off the bar and turn to see him. standing there.
He grins at me, his fist is raised.

The fist opens, releasing an orange butterfly, which flits away.

In the background of my mind, I hear the little girls chorus "Ewwwww!" but I'm too busy smiling.

To date, that remains the most unusual thing anyone's ever done for me.
But then again, he was never a conventional guy.

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I know I haven't written in over a month. I haven't been feeling it. I've been low, and I've tried to raise my spirits. In many ways.
A large part of my Diwali break was spent chilling in and around Bombay. I got a new camera. It's my baby. I'm delighted, yes.

Another birthday has come and gone. It started well, and ended better...thanks to my lovely, lovely friends. And in the middle, I had to attend college. The night, well, it had flames, and it had cake. And wonderful people.
I don't feel any older or wiser, really. But age, it's in the head, isn't it? I feel ageless.
I am ageless.

Monday, 9 August 2010

Play Cool.

http://issuu.com/startmag/docs/issue1

Pages 16 to 20.

Someone who reads this blog contacted me out of the blue, and said she's starting an E-zine featuring young artists from over the country, and would I like to be featured in the first issue? I jumped. Above is the link.
I'm rather happy right now.

Also. I've been traipsing around Dharavi with Annie, who's filming her MA dissertation there. Stories have been heard. Interesting ones. Touching ones. I can't really give a positive or negative opinion...I can just say, it's a place everyone living in Bombay should visit. At least once.

Tuesday, 27 July 2010

Reductio Ad Absurdum

Thanks to a friend, I stumbled across this book, which I am currently reading. What the poet does is quite simple and awesome: he picks a page of the New York Times and blackens it with a permanent marker, eliminating the words he doesn't need. The result is something that is art, poetry, and a tinge of humour.

Quite an interesting concept of creation. More than creating, it's eliminating, negating.

I think I shall try this.

Saturday, 10 July 2010

I like to be gone most of the time.

It feels like I've forgotten how to write. Or read seriously, for that matter. And since I am currently inarticulate, I can't express just how big a tragedy that is.

I was in Pune a couple of weeks ago. Fun was had. My cousin has not so recently acquired a ridiculously cute looking daschund pup, called Coffee. Look at her, the sweet little thing.

She hated me. At least, I think she did. After the first day of loving shyness, she attacked my knees every time I went to my cousin's place. *Sigh* I wonder what she smelled on me. Or my jeans.

In other, quite random, news, a friend wondered about Hippo. Why would anyone market a snack as healthy and baked, and then call it Hippo? (she said) Turns out Hippo cares about our hunger :|

I'm not too fond of monsoon. Mostly because of the rain. And the humidity. And those days when a cab ride that should take ten minutes, takes forty. So you're claustrophobic and nauseous and bored.

To conclude, not that I had much to say, on 2nd July 2010, for reasons best known to myself, I looked like this.

A very epic day that was.

SNam is in Bombay and I am initiating her. Well, somewhat. Today, I took her to the foodgasmic wonder that is Theobroma. Next week, we shall tackle the Western Railway. And the suburbs. More chocolatey goodness. And then I'll have stuff to write about.

Cheerio.

Friday, 14 May 2010

Bad Luck, Good Luck.

What to do when going to Jurong Bird Park, Singapore: Take some money, a bottle of water, and a really good camera, with a zoom lens if possible, with charged batteries. Wear REALLY comfortable shoes.

What NOT to do when going to Jurong Bird Park, Singapore: Forget the memory card of the camera.

Yeah. That happened. We reached Jurong yesterday, I turned on the camera and it said No Card. AND I'd forgotten my ixus. We survived the rest of the day with a Kodak disposable film camera, and my cell phone cam. And every pretty bird we saw, we mourned our stupidity.

AND, about fifteen minutes in, it started PISSING rain, and we had to wait it out for an HOUR.

But after it stopped, the park was beautiful, and so were the birds.

Today, however, more than made up for yesterday's malheureusement. Singapore Zoo is beyond beautiful, so much that it doesn't feel like a zoo at all. It's a lot of walking, but we got some excellent photos out of it, and even though it rained for a while, it was so pleasant, walking in what was basically a misty rainforest. It did turn humid-as-hell, though. But Kay got some beautiful shots of a white tiger swimming, and some frolicking ducks, and I snapped a Capuchin monkey as he and Kay made faces at each other. (Photos to come soon)

On my last night in Singapore (The flight doesn't count) I finally had one of those specialities: the Singapore Sling. Quite good, mixed too darn strong though. As for the other two specialities....I'll try and have chicken rice for lunch tomorrow, and I can't have chili crab because I don't eat seafood.

Remember when two months weren't over yet? Now they nearly goddamned are. Only two weeks left and my lovely vacation will be over. I've had SUCH a good one this time, I'm almost dreading going back to college. Those two weeks better be the longest, funnest, craziest two weeks of the vacation. I know classmate reunions will happen, and hopefully some good times with the rest of the crowd too.

I just...want those two weeks to last forever. Go on another vacation. Why not?

Sunday, 9 May 2010

Travelogues, vignettes, I love airports.

Right now, I'm sitting in Kay's hostel room, listening to thunder, shuddering, watching her pack, so that she doesn't have to do it later in the week. Our plans to go rollerblading on the beach have been foiled, at least put off by a couple of hours by the thunder and the rain. Hmf, this is like being in my room in Bombay, disgruntled with the downpour.

Snippets from the past three days...I wrote mostly at the airport. I like airports, you see?

Written 7th may, 7.00am local time, Abu Dhabi Intl airport.

Airports are wonderful, I've always loved them, if for nothing else then the sheer people-watching potential. Look at people, burly sporty types with backpacks and tattoos, a mother with her young son who insists on eating pizza at 7am, bored-looking woman at the table next to me, interesting couple with backpacks playing UNO. Accents and languages blend in a murmur with the sound of cash registers and clinking coins, people come in, walk through, walk out. What I really want to do is pull out my camera and capture.

Written 9.15 am, Abu dhabi intl Airport.

After a 40min phone call to Chikki, and about ten minutes at a free wifi terminal (I think these are very cool) I'm sitting at gate 33, with an 8-hour flight ahead.
My vacation is nearly over! I'll have only 2 weeks once I get back, there better be a lot of fun nights!

Written 10.15pm local time, Changi Intl Airport Singapore

Flight landed 20 minutes ahead of schedule, so no Kay yet. She left after I called her. I'm people watching, looking at many pretty girls in TINY shorts and long tops. I think i'm going to like it here.

I could swear a man just JOGGED past me, in running shorts and a vest :|

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That was when Kay arrived, looking very Singaporean indeed, with a denim skirt, black top, pin-straight hair and a huge smile. I'm happily shocked at how well she blends in. We cabbed it to the hotel, where Bhaiyya was waiting. Happy times with good food and stuff. We got BACK to the hotel at...what, 3?

Ah yes I DO like it here.

Yesterday, I shopped. Girls, read on. Guys, go away if you wish.
I didn't buy much, but I did squee a lot in the 4-storeied Forever 21 (I shall never stop calling it that) where I bought a skirt and some tank tops. I don't have the courage for the uber-sex lace skirt yet, I'll buy stockings first. Orchard Road, you see huge signs for Prada, Louis Vuitton, all the usual suspects. I grinned at the thought that was just the WRONG person to be here, Ankiet, SNam and Chinmoi would KILL to be here, and have the cash for it (ofcourse I don't have the cash for hardcore designerwear, but I don't want it either). I did go to Charles & Keith, and got a beautiful bag, and shoes. For the interested, black peep-toes with crossover straps. Ankiet, are you listening? Be proud.

Quote of the YEAR: Arvind - Is that Britney Spears being sung by a man?
Kay - That's Savage Garden :|

The rain has stopped, so I'm off to the beach. Later, peeps.

Sunday, 28 February 2010

Procrastination. Cyberspace discoveries.

Ah, well. I have finally cracked my psych textbook, though I am making absolutely no progress. And it's all thanks to something I'd never thought possible: Fanfiction.

Actually, I'm done with the fanfic, now it's just me being lazy that stops my progress.

But seriously, after the Harry Potter series was complete, there was a void. In my life. Our lives. Everyone's lives. For some, that void was filled by the Meyer-menace called Twilight, others turned to fanfic.
At the onset, I resolved never to set eyes on these, but then I started reading SNam's work. And it is GOOD. The problem? It's not just fanfic, it's Harry/Draco slash fic.

*mutters to self*

Blasphemy, yes. Well written, yes. Want more....quite possible.

And so SNam, who's currently in India, and studying, and a tad bored, vowed to convert me. By sending me the link to the Shoebox Project. Notes, photos, letters, from the Marauders. Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot and Prongs. And the making of the Map. In the authors’ words: “The Shoebox Project is a series of stories (of sort) written by the fabulous Jaida and Rave in the Harry Potter universe. It contains photos, notes, and stories, written about the Marauders (James Potter, Remus Lupin, Sirius Black and Peter Pettigrew) during their time at Hogwarts. While the story mostly takes place during their 6th and 7th years at Hogwarts, there are also tales of the Marauders younger years. While focusing on the mischievious Marauders, it also touches on the relationship between James and Lily Evans, the rise of Voldemort, and a relationship between Sirius and Remus (which is in the last few parts).”

I fell in love...with the writing, and more than the writing, the art. Oh, the beautiful beautiful art...I want.

See what I mean? This is NOT the best in there. By no means.

In other news, I have also discovered Community Queer, a blog written by 'Scudder' and 'Finn', from my old home, Muscat. This interests me because, well, the LGBT scene in Oman is so underground/closeted, you don't even think about it. Sure, you do hear the occasional rumour about that hairdresser at that salon near my place being gay, and having a boyfriend who went to one of our rival schools, but no more. I personally knew no gay boys at my school or any other, and I always wondered what would've happened to anyone in my school who chose to be open about their sexuality.

So yeah, I found Community Queer. It's kinda like a solidarity thing, I guess. And, it was in the (Omani) news, a bit, because the site was blocked by the service provider a while ago (the Government of Oman owns 70% of their main ISP, and thus chooses to block any sites that it finds to be...unsavory? While this includes all pornographic sites, and sites with sexual content, I once tried to venture into a website featuring tattoo designs and found it blocked.) and then, somehow, they realised that everyone had a right to free speech, and unblocked the site a few days later. In the words of Scudder and Finn: We have started something here, something that cannot be blocked or censored, something that will not go away, because people believe in it. We believe in it. And you seem to, as well.

I'm quite proud, I gotta say.

Meanwhile, it is with a slight exasperation that I announce that I have succumbed to Twitter. Hooray. Another way to waste time. Like I don't procrastinate enough already *shrugs shoulders, gives up*

I notice that my writing capabilities are deteriorating. How tragic. I haven't written any actual fiction in a while.

But I have been taking photos. I leave you with this, for now. Taken yesterday, at Worli seaface, with Datta bowing bubbles, attempting to get back some childhood joy, even as we slip out of our teens.

Damn, profound much? Screw that, man. Bubbles are happiness, don't let anyone convince you otherwise.

Saturday, 16 January 2010

Slices of PentHouse Legend.

If you like these....I'll put up the rest.

Wednesday, 9 December 2009

F.O.P.E.B.S!

That stands for Full On Post Exam Beach scene, as coined by Krish. The plan? Gather a bunch of people, rent a bungalow on Mandwa beach for the day, and CHILL. And that is exactly what we did.

We got to gateway at 9.45 am and took a ferry to Mandwa. Forty minutes sped by on the waves...and then we were on the beach. Mandwa...well, it's on the mainland. Serene, and deserted. The house Krish rented was perfect, no more than a tiny room, a bathroom, a kitchen, and a huge patio with chairs and beds, just right for a day trip.

It wasn't a party. It was an awesome day of relaxation, music, lazing, and frolicking in the water, and then more lazing. And posing, let's not forget. A wonderfully mellow day, the serene spot, the company and the music all added up to create something more awesome than each of them individually.

We caught the 5.15 ferry back...and it was unimaginably beautiful, with the sky glowing vermillion over the sea and seagulls escorting the boat halfway across the trip....

And I, listening to Floyd, blissed out.

Wallet cleaned out, I trudged home. Happy.

Thursday, 3 December 2009

Miss Independent

I packed a fast bag after my first paper on the 30th (so fast, in fact, that I forgot to pack in my underwear and had to return for it the next morning before my paper) and went to meet KayDee at Dadar.

Yes, Kay's in Bombay, on a 10 day stopover between Singapore and Muscat. I spent my birthday with her, actually...(The birthday itself was not as blurry as 18th birthdays should be, but what can one do three days before the exam? I DID however buy some awesome headphones and a Bob Dylan tantra shirt. And I did all this in an awesome dress and heels. Mehh.)

So. We cabbed and rick-ed it through to Thane, where Kay's parents have a flat. The flat is a little more spartan than I remembered it, in some ways, but it IS impressively well stocked. The fridge is loaded with spices and I even found a jar filled with chocos. I finished the Chocos.

As for the actual living...well, Kay's used to it, having lived alone for quite a while now, but for me, it was a little strange not having an adult in the house. Then again, it was an awesome kind of strange. Plus, I'm an adult now, I suppose. More than that, it just feels liberating and quite normal, really, to do exactly what we wanted (she lazes around, I come back from exams, laze, and try to study, and watch movies), go out and come back at our own will. We reached home from grocery shopping at 9.30 the other day, and it didn't feel too late, but that's really relative isn't it, late and early? Depending on which relative setting your curfews. Sigh.

This feels so right, living alone. I should really start looking for cheap studio flats with decently sized kitchen spaces. I might be learning a lot from Bombay, but living alone will be the big lessons : Independence and...how not to be a bitch.

It's tragic that rents are so high.

Friday, 6 November 2009

Days go by, past my window.

Yesterday...

I got fined in a train.

I spent the day with one of my favourite people.

I had lunch at Theo :D

I shopped.

Today, dance class, again. It feels SO good to be back!

Exams in....3 weeks.

*panics, runs away.*

Monday, 12 October 2009

Mascate

Clean roads.

Half empty streets at 10 am, then again, this city wakes up early.

Solitude.

Did I mention clean? And bright? And sunny?

Empty, so drastically empty.

Meeting the friends was awesome, I went to school. No one except Chikki knew I was in town. So I got a whole bunch of :

"What're you DOING here?"

"Oh my GAWWWWD"

*Startled looks*

"your HAIR!"

Quite surprisingly, people seem to have missed me. And not just my heroes, or my teammates. Even the wonderful people whose bras I have messed with, seem to genuinely have missed me.

As Chikki says "people seem to like you this time round"

Huh.

Sunday, 16 August 2009

And Just when I needed it most....

I went home. To the place I've called home for the last 17 years.

Swine flu holidays and the ongoing teachers' strike put me on a plane to Muscat on Thursday...and now I'm home. My bright flat with my white cats. Who managed to remember me within two hours of my arrival.

Just being here makes me feel good. More than being here, I think it's being with my parents, and my mom's excellent cooking. And the white cats. I woke up to Maheen-cat biting my ankles. *Happy sigh*

Kaminey was yefterday, and after that movie, I have a newfound refpect for Fhahid Kapoor. A double role with TWO fpeech defects if no eafy tafk.

Today we gave Basu a farewell, well a kinda pseudo farewell, it just ended up with a bunch of us in his complex pool, buoyanting, as we call it. Truly awesome to see these guys again, these guys I love so much, after so long. Today I learnt to always keep camera batteries charged. I learnt that the element of surpise, and some sentimentality is a good thing to have. (SLK, LOL.) I've been spanked multiple times today, and pushed into the deep end of the pool. Which I enjoyed, even though I can't swim too well at all....

Very cool. I love being in the water though. Feels nice. Not too nice after I get out, like a drenched cat, hair all frizzy.

I learnt...that a few people don't forgive easy and there's nothing you can do about it. And I know my Muscat friends love me, and home will always be home.

For Once, I'm happy about this strike bullshittyness.

Sunday, 12 July 2009

Urgh.

I woke up yesterday morning on a blue mattress in the bedroom of Ani's flat. Turned to see Ani fast asleep next to me. How'd I get there? Last I remembered was the living room.....

Ani's surprise 21st birthday party was something we'd been planning for a while. It didn't end up exactly as we'd hoped it would...mainly because she had no idea and had invited everyone for a sleepover the next day. Silly girl.

But yeah, when she showed up, there were 7 of us there, and 21 gifts arranged in the middle of the room. And yeah, she was pretty surprised. And happy. And a wee bit sentimental.

More people showed up later....After she'd inspected all her gifts, and hugged everyone, and been sentimental. We had music, we had people, and we had champagne. And later, rum. And a LOT of biriyani.

It was a good party, yeah. We played 'I never'. And laughed a lot.

And I woke up yesterday morning with the worst headache ever. Staggered out into the living room to see the others who'd slept over....And I was told the stories of the night before.

Conclusion: Myst will stick to two drinks. No more. I don't think anyone who was there is ever gonna let me have ANY anyway.

Many hours later, most of which I slept through, I was relatively better. I will hopefully never be in that state again, because it does NOT feel nice. At all.
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Annie Sharma, I love you very very much indeed. Also, Jai, Nikhil, Aaku, thanks.

Saturday, 27 June 2009

The stress of moving to a new city had been getting to her.

She needed an outlet.

"Maybe it would help if I started smoking," she mused aloud, "But I shouldn't."

"Really?", asked her best friend. He moved his half-smoked cigarette towards her mouth temptingly.

"Screw devil's advocate, call me...Satan"

She looked doubtfully at the stub in his fingers

As the smoke blew out of her mouth, she could have sworn she saw his eyes glint red...

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ReLAX. I haven't started smoking. Not happening anytime soon. But the devil's advocate line was pulled on me. By Satan, hah.

Monday, 22 June 2009

It RAINED. And even though I live on the main road in urban jungle, I could smell that smell, the smell of freshly rained-on mud. Bliss.

Of course, it wasn't so blissy when I had to go out and the rain got at my feet and it was all icky and muddy, no, that part I'm not used to. Yet. It will change, I guess.

I'm loving this wonderful breeze though.

Things are looking up, I'm super-psyched about the BA at Jai Hind, because I have THE best subjects. English, french, psych, Literature, Philosophy. There is nothing there that I don't want. Nothing at all.

My best friend is back in Bombay, which means that I once again have to carefully watch my words for latent innuendo. Sigh. Can never drop my guard with him around.

The pissing off part is his Vodafone numbers been deactivated and I'm supposed to meet him today. Sigh.

So yes, life is definitely in an upward direction now....

Mom says I'm much calmer than I was when she first got here. Maybe I am, I suppose. I've been through a lot in that month I was alone here, learnt a lot. And come out a little wiser. And, well, happy, I guess. I'm 17 and right now it fels like I'm on a cliff with the whole world in front of me. I have no stories to tell...yet.

But I will soon have them.

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We were invited to dinner by dad's IIT friends yesterday night, and from yesterdays conversations I conclude thus : All IITians have the same sense of humor. Sigh. And it IS hereditary.

Friday, 29 May 2009

Perfection is what?

Perfection is Truthful Chocolate Cake at German Bakery and the stories it brought out.
Perfection is making plans, and then saying "screwit" to go back home and crash.
Perfection is a great nap cuddled close to those whom you love.
Perfection is a long night filled with conversation.
Perfection is sleep on the trip home.

Ani, Zaiu, you're the best friends a girl can have. Rads, you're the best sister a girl can have. Thanks for making my Pune.
I love you.

Thursday, 21 May 2009

A buch of Bombay updates

I'm learning....
To shorten the strap on my jhola so that it hangs at my waist and not my butt.
Which side to get off the train at Andheri and which side at Dadar.
To cross roads like a mad mosquito.
To wake up late.
That listening to music on the road will one day kill me.
To always, always keep change on me. Always.

It drizzled yesterday. You can't even call it rain. First drizzle. Hit me in the face as I hung out of the train on my way home. That's my nightly pick-me-up...I hang out of the train, as far as I can go, and I sing to myself. The tunes meandering around my head find their way out.

I've found waves and rocks. In Bombay. Bandra bandstand, sitting on the rocks with a friend, gazing over the panorama and the sun shining onto the waves. Crash. Couple haven, how many? Kids. Cat. Crowd. Nowhere close to my bliss-point wall at Shatti. But for Bombay, it's great. And it's close to home. I will be back there. Soon.

I've finally got books. I purr in contentment.

My results are out tomorrow morning. I am trying very hard not to think about this. See, ideally, I wanted to be sloshed the night before the results...but it doesn't seem like that's gonna happen. Tomorrow, Facebook statuses (statii?) all over are going to be either triumphant or defeated, shouting out numbers to the multiverse. My boards passed in a numbness, the moth after that was the most alive I've been. I'm Very Happy now, and I badly want to stay that way.

Sunday, 17 May 2009

She befriended him the way she befriended most new people, a Facebook message saying "I love your work, Hi."
They became close thanks to a mutual friend.
A week before she first met him, she realised that he'd entered her life at exactly the right time.
Two days before she met him, she realised he was a godsend. A blessing.
The first time she met, he hugged her like no one had, she closed her eyes and realised they had a bond.
The next day, when she asked him out and he kissed her, she knew the nature of that bond.
And the day after, as they sat reading in a bookstore, ignoring killer looks from all around, she knew they were in love.

And today, when she was oh-so-late but still didn't want to leave him, she knew she'd probably always be.

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A bit of fiction. Inspired by something a dear friend wrote.
I'm loving Bombay. It kills me by the end of the day, but I get by... with a little help from my friends.