My journey into the world of books… (Part 2)

I got more to read at this stage. I started reading Agatha Christie’s novels and also tried a hand at P.G. Woodhouse ( I had to sit with the dictionary for this). Agatha Christie, just like Enid Blyton became a part of my daily life then. I started thinking like her and then the medical mysteries which she used to mention in her books took my interest towards biology. That was my field. I had decided and today I am very happy for what I have chosen. In the 11th and 12th we had to study Shakespeare again. We had ‘The Tempest’ and along with that again a series of 15 short stories and 20 poems. We had writers like, Anton Chekhov, Isaac Asimov, Guy de Maupassant, Saki (Hector Hugh Munro), and Ruskin Bond, Alfred Tennyson, W. B. Yeats, W. H. Auden, Sylvia Plath and some more.

I did not have Hindi then but I used to follow it from my friends. They had to study, ‘Nirmala’ by Premchand ji. I continued reading novels but there wasn’t much time. I had to give time to my course books more at this stage. I kept writing as a result I had also 20 pen-pals. I got remuneration ranging from 20 to 50 rupees. It was something that boosted my morale. I was a normal writer - NONE TOO EXTRAORDINARY. There were people who wrote better than me. I used to bother about it a lot as I never made it to the first position in any of the ‘Creative Writing’ competitions. This still continues because no matter how much I write or whatever I do to change my style I never have a luck to earn a prize for myself. I get dejected at times but slowly started coming out of it. I realized that I was writing for myself and no body else. No matter whatever I write I had my own style which was something very ordinary but I got the biggest prize for what I was doing. The BIGGEST AWARD I got was the appreciation from my friends, my parents and my readers. This is what that continues till date. It is my biggest encouragement. After my 12th board exams I started reading books by Arundhati Roy( God Of Small Things), Vikram Seth( A Suitable Boy) and I wrote my first English story in the train. Then I came to VIT and explored something new from my side. I started writing poems and also kept writing in Hindi too. My friends were very supportive. I got a platform like the, ‘Splash’ magazine of my college and then I wrote more and read more. I got many people who could get me many novels and there were many avid readers in my group. I came to know what the Youth of Today read.
It was taste of Dan Brown, Daniel Steel, Jeffrey Archer, Margaret Mitchell, Robin Cook, Vikram Seth, Chetan Bhagat, Robin Sharma, Paulo Coelho and more. There is so much more that is left. I haven’t read many which I would like to but because I am a slow reader. It takes time for me to read and I am not a person to stick to books always. I need my own time to finish my book.

Hindi novels became my interest as I read ‘Gaban’ and ‘Seva- Sadan’ by Premchand ji. There were more and I also liked the magazine called, ‘Meri Saheli’ and ‘Sarita’ which my mom reads often. I wrote my first Hindi story, Naina in college. It was my love. ‘Naina’ gave me what I had not fathomed. It is not a prize that I am talking about but I got something which cannot be valued. It is the most precious gift from God. I started writing in Hindi as well as in English continuously from then. The passion continues and I still have lots more to read. Each new thing I read, I get inspiration and if this continues I will also be able to finish my book soon.

After giving her piece of advice in the 2nd standard, my mom did not have to speak a word after that. She left me to dive into the ocean of books and I learnt to swim as years passed. This is a never ending journey and will continue till I breathe last. Till today my mom gives this advice to those little kids who need to be guided at the right time.

My journey into the world of books…( Part 1)

For every person the journey with books begins right from the kindergarten days and it continues forever because be it ant stage we do not stop reading. It might be a bit or piece of news too at the age of 85. I have seen my grandpa do that. He loved reading, be it a novel, a book of a 2nd standard kid, about income tax or spiritual books (barring all language restrains). He has been a great inspiration for me and even my mom got this habit from him.

My mom used to tell me in my school days, “Keep reading. It is the best habit one can inculcate.” It was of course something which she wanted me to do apart from my course books. I
n my school days when I used to come home after school, my mom used to forcefully put me to sleep in the afternoon.
I used to always crib saying, “Not feeling sleepy ma.” On hearing this she would say, “Get some book and read. You will get sleep in not more than five minutes.”
As an obedient daughter I followed suit. Slowly this became my regular habit and everyday it took me more time to sleep as I had started reading more and more.

I was introduced to small comics first like- Champak, Tin-Tin, Tinkle, Panchatantra, Jataka Tales, Noddy, Chacha Choudhary and Sabu. It was a mixture of Hindi as well as in English.
I used to borrow books from my school library as well and my level rose a bit as I had started reading short stories. This went on till the third standard. Those days we were not in a level to read the books which a kid of 3rd standard would read today. The progress was slow. This was my best pastime. I also started writing my diary from this time. I collected articles, jokes, pictures of Donald Duck and Goofy, Mickey Mouse, Chip-n Dale, Tweety and what not. Everything that seemed colorful went into my diary.

I was still a bit behind as my friends had already begun with some novels for kids. Then I got introduced to Enid Blyton my all time favourite. She is one such writer, who reaches across the kids. It was the correct age that time to start with her series. The language was simple, matter was imaginative. As used to read her stories, I started imagining what all was written there. It went on like a movie. I liked her series of Adventure, Fairy tales and so many short stories. I can say in standard 5 and 6 I did not read anything except her books. This also continued for a while till 7th but I did not feel like getting those books in front of my friends, as I was worried about my reputation. It was high time I stopped that read something of my level. I had one thing in mind that I will complete her series as soon as possible and I did it. I used to borrow 2 books at a time. I used to burn my midnight oil and read and read. I started following the teenage trend of Sweet Valley. It was good but somewhere I did not enjoy much. Still, I read. I had become a slow reader after this as I did not find much interest in all that. My geography book looked more attractive to me than Sweet Valley. I was more into maps and those rivers and desserts. Again, it was COLOUR, which attracted me more. I loved my Geography teacher (Mrs. Pratibha Doshi) and she taught me geography till the time I had to study that.

It was the 8th standard. I had to study more and more of books as in ICSE and ISC the level of Language (Hindi and English) is too high. If one has to score well in the board exams this had to be the right time to start. Every now and then it was drilled into our heads that we had to perform well as our percentage would soar up if our language was strong. Our marking system included languages compulsorily. We were not given marks at all. The more I tried, my essays used to got that bad and boring with loads of mistakes. Well, it was pretty normal at that stage as it was my learning period.

I decided that I had to do something different. The trend in school was Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys. I liked Nancy Drew. It has mysteries and the series were quite good. Apart from these I started reading the short stories by, O’ Henry, Rabindranath Tagore, R. K Narayanan (Malgudi Days) and more. We had some short stories in our course book so the interest started developing automatically. Even I liked reading the short stories by Munshi Premchand Ji, Mahadevi Verma, and Jayshankar Prasad. The level went quite high. There were 20 short stories in Hindi and 18 poems and 5 plays for board and the same was with English. We got to study ‘Julius Caesar’ in the 9th and 10th standard. We started reading poems of William Wordsworth and Keats. It was mugging up as well as understanding but I did not realize then that I liked all that. I cleared my board exams well and my languages were on top. I got what I wanted.

During this course I had of course wonderful teachers in school and also there was a sir called, Mr. Vellapani who mad me fly on the wings of my imagination. He let me open my vision. I continued writing and now I had attained a level that my articles started being published in magazines like ‘Gokulam’ and my school magazine itself. I did not restrict myself. I also wrote essays in Hindi as well as in English. This was a turning point in my life.

Did you know?

With the advent of these ‘Talent Hunt’ shows we are able to see the budding artists. They have got a platform to showcase their mettle. We have heard the singers like Abhijeet Sawant, Amit Sana, Rahul Vaidya, Prajkta Shukre, Sandeep, Vinit, Nihira Joshi, Ishmeet, Raja, Poonam, Ujjaini, Himani, Karunya, Debojit etc etc... the list goes on… They all have been a part of the singing talent hunts like Indian Idol, Sa Re Ga Ma Pa and Star Voice of India. They all got a chance to make their own music albums and some were lucky enough to get a chance for playback singing in the movies.

Like Abhijeet got his first break in Aashiq Banaya Aapne (Himesh Reshammiya) with the song, “Mar Jaawan….”
Amit Sana proved himself in the movie ‘Kalyug’ with a duo with Anuradha Paudwal.

Rahul Vaidya and Prajkta Shukre in the movies Shaadi No . 1, (Anu Malik) the song called... “Hello Madam... I am your Adam….”

Nihira Joshi, who has been my favorite, got a chance to hum ‘tin-tinak-tin-tin-tin na…..’ that comes in the beginning of the song “Dhadak dhadak…” in the movie Bunty Aur Babli (Shakar- Ehsaan- Loy). Then the same music director gave her a chance to sing with Shaan in the movie ‘Salaam-e-Ishq’ for the song “Mera dil dil mera…” She was also asked to sing for Aadesh Shrivastav’s music in the movie ‘Alag’ for the multi starred song – “Le ke dil lamha tanhayee ka…” along withShaan, Kunal Ganjawala, Hemachandran and Ujjaini from Sa Re Ga Ma Pa again.

There are upcoming movies with singers like Raja also coming up. These were some of the talents who were giving the maximum chance and have come to lime-light.

Let me tell you about the talent hunt foray into the field of acting. It was an initiative taken by Zee TV which organized the Zee Cine Star ki Khoj Contest. This has happened just twice so far. The second one wasn’t so successful but the first one was the best. It started off from the scratch of acting, dance, music, modeling and everything. There were three judges, Satish Kaushik, Mahesh Manjarekar and Ken Ghosh. They were the best ones there to judge and the man behind the whole thing, Sudhir Mishra himself. It was a promise made by him to the two winning stars that they would be signed for a movie soon. There were hundreds of contestants who were called to Mumbai and then every week the scrutiny continued. It was a place where they were taught as to what must be done to look like an actor on the silver screen. This went on and on and was also very interesting. There were some 15 contestants left. They were of course not less than anybody as they had come till the last stage. I must say that they have all got a good chance now in the industry. It was a talent hunt conducted in 2004-2005.

- To begin with the winners, Aditi Sharma and Sarvar Ahuja who were the winners of this show. Aditi Sharma made her debut in the movie ‘Black and White’. Sarvar is yet to be seen.
- The runners up Shraddha Arya and Mohit. Shraddha has been seen in many Ad’s like Scooty pep and she made her debut in the movie ‘ Nishabd’ as Amitabh’s daughter. She was also seen in Debojit’s debut music album. Mohit is still invisible.
- Then came the beauty and the queen of hearts, Yuvika Choudhary who has been in the cover pages of various fashion magazines, has been a part of music videos, Ad’s , serials like ‘ Astitva- Ek Prem Kahani’, recently seen as Dolly in ‘ Om Shanti Om’ and now her full fledged so called-her debut movie- opposite Sikander Kher is ‘ Summer 2007’. The music seems good as there is also a female lyricist called Ujjaini Roy who is into light.
- In the same way the others like, Preeti Amin has been seen in the daily soaps and the famous video album of Kailash Kher, ‘Teri Deewani....’
- Amrita Khandvalkar in a daily soap that used to go on in Star One.
- Abbas was seen in Astitva again and also in ‘Mohalla Mohabbat wala’.
- Abhishek, the so called boyfriend cum choreographer of Rakhi Sawant has set his life rolling.
- Sudeepa Singh has been a part of serials again. These were some who have been spotted but I feel after 3 years they have got something. No body from the top 15 has been left unnoticed. All have been a part of this industry. After seeing this I felt that this was one talent show which genuinely brought out talent to the platform and paved ways for them. They all have a long way to go still!

I read...

" You find comfort in anonymity,yet yearn for recognition........"

This was the line quotes by 'Manil Suri', a new writer in the limelight, with his book," The Age of Shiva" and " The Death of Vishnu".
I feel any writer would want this only. Something which was rightly said by him.

प्रकृति के साथ

हमेशा से मेरा प्रकृति के साथ काफी लगाव रहा है. प्रकृति में जो भी परिवर्तन आता है उससे में काफी प्रभावित होती हो हूँ.

शाम का समय था , अभी जमशेदपुर में गर्मी का इतना प्रकोप नहीं पड़ा है. बारिश की फुहारों ने तापमान को सामान्य रखा है. आज भी वैसे ही , धीमे से ठंडी हवा चल रही है. में अपने बगीचे में कुर्सी लगा कर बैठ गयी.यूँ तो रोज़ मैं अपना बगीचा देखती हूँ पर आज न जाने कैसे, मेरी आँखों में एक चमक सी आ गयी. आसमान साफ था. बिलकुल नीला दिख रहा था. मेरे चारों और रंग ही रंग था . संसा लगा की में जिस चोटी सी दुनिया में बैठी हूँ वहाँ भी मेरी " रंग- भरी " दुनिया दिखती है. उसमें कहीं सूरज मुखी का वो पीला रंग, जीनिया की रंग बिरंगी क्यारियाँ, चंपा के फूल, जूही की मन मोहक खुशबू, पत्तों का हलचल, पक्षियों का कलरव सब कुछ मुझे मानो मंत्र मुग्ध कर गया हो.उसमें सूरज मुखी मुझसे नज़रें चुरा रही थी. ऐसा लग रहा था मानो एक नयी नवेली दुल्हन अभी-अभी थोडा शर्म त्याग कर घुल-मिल रही है. थोडी सी झिझक और थोडा सा खुलापन. मुझे तो बहुत मज़ा आ रहा था. इतने में , आम का एक पत्ता मेरे ऊपर आ गिरा. मेरी नज़र ऊपर पड़ी तो देखा की एक कौवा टहनी हिला रहा था. बड़ी मुश्किल से मैंने उसी जगह पर गौर किया और देखा की एक छोटा सा आम वहीं से लटक रहा है. "आह!! एक आम तो दिखा," मैं मॅन ही मॅन सोच कर मुस्कुरायी.. वरना इस बार तो हमारे पेड़ में एक भी आम नहीं हुआ. उस एक फल को देख कर मैं खुश हो गयी. मुझे आम जितना खाना पसंद नहीं उतना पेड़ से तोड़ना पसंद है.

घास पे चलते हुए एक कीडे को देख ही रही थी की अचानक मुझे अपनी दुनिया में वापस आना पड़ा.मेरे बगल वाले घर में एक गाना चल रहा था-
" यूँ ही चला-चल रही, यूँ ही चला-चल राही,
जीवन गाडी है समय पहिया ......."
क्या सटीक गाना था मेरे लिए. पता नहीं इस इस समय में यही गाना बजने का मतलब क्या हो सकता है? लगता है, ईश्वर की महिमा है. मुझे एहसास हुआ कि इस बगीचे के चक्कर में मैंने अपने पैंतालीस मिनट बर्बाद कर दिए. मुझे कुछ पढ़-लिखना भी था. प्रकृति का तो यही खेल है. उनकी ज़िन्दगी वैसे ही चलती रहेगी और मेरी भी चलती रहनी चाहिए.
पर जितनी भी देर मैं वहाँ थी, मैं एक दूसरी ही दुनिया में थी. एक सुकून सा मिला मुझे. प्रकृति से प्रेरित हो kar मैंने ये लिखा है. ऐसे तो बगीचे और फूलों कि बात जब आती है तो हरीवंश राय बच्च्चन जी कि कविता- ' जो बीत गयी वो बात गयी ', कि कुछ पंक्तियाँ याद आती है-
मधुबन के आँगन को देखो.........
...............................
पर देखो इन सूखे फूलों पर मधुबन कब शोक मनाता है?
जो बीत गयी वो बात गयी.

Jab We Met

This is not a movie review that I am going to give but I am going to tell about a movie that I ‘love’. Basically, I am not a person who will love to watch all the movies but if there is good company I can watch anything and yes, provided I have time to pass. There are many movies which I have liked a lot and they have good lessons to be taken from them but this was a movie which I love. It is the only movie till date that I have watched more than 10 times. Yesterday the count went to 11 as I watched it again with mom.
This movie has got a lot in it. It has got simplicity. That was the best thing in it. It reached through the people. I learnt so much from the movie. This movie has also got some other instances which make it all the more close to my heart. The music is awesome. I didn’t hear it before watching the movie. It was only when my friends told me did I hear the song, still I didn’t find it so interesting at one go but when I saw the movie, I liked it. Soon the songs were at my tongue tips and then my favorite was “Tum se hi…” A beautiful song sung by Mohit Chauhan . It has got life in it. Tears of happiness trickle down my eyes when I listen to this song. It’s not only me but I have observed many when they hear this song. They go to a different world. The characters are practical. You can of course find such people around.

Yet another thing I found out about this movie a week ago that the director Imtiaz Ali is a native of Jamshedpur, another hidden talent from the Steel City. He was honoured here last month for his wonderful debut movie.

I think all must have watched this movie at least once. If not then please do watch it. You’ll like it.

Check this out. It's my fav.

अभिव्यक्ति....

दूर हो कर भी पास हो तुम,
एक अनछुआ एहसास हो तुम;
अदबुध से तुम, नटखट से तुम,
जैसे भी हो सबसे ख़ास हो तुम.

जाएँ तो कहाँ जाएँ?

आज कल कॉलेज में दाखिले की इतनी होड़ लगी है की मैं क्या बताऊँ? हर जगह यही आलाप , जाएँ तो कहाँ जायिएँ? ये बड़े शहरों में तो इतना नहीं दिकता पर छोटे शहर के बच्चे करें तो क्या करें?मैं अपने शहर जमशेदपुर की ही बात कहती हूँ, यहाँ बारवीं तक तो पढाई बहुत अच्छी है पर उसके बाद सारे बच्चों का दुसरे शहरों की और पलायन हो रहा है. XLRI , NIT के अलावे यहाँ और कोई अच्छे कॉलेज नहीं हैं. सारे अड्मीशन के चक्कर में इधर उधर की परीक्षा दे रहे हैं. मैं भी इस भीड़ में शामिल हूँ. ग्रादुंअएंशन ख़त्म हुआ तो क्या हुआ , आगे के लिए भी मुझे इधर- उधर भटकना पड़ रहा है. ऐसा सिर्फ यहाँ ही नहीं बल्कि उन तमाम छोटे शहरों में है जहाँ उच्च शिक्षा का कोई अच्छा सा माध्यम नहीं. ऐसे ही ज़िन्दगी चलती है और दिल मैं कुछ कर दिखाने का जज्बा लिए सब अपनी किस्मत आजमाते हैं. भगवान् करे इन सब का भला हो क्यूं की इन सब परीक्षाओं में क्षमता से ज्यादा किस्मत रंग लाती है.

बस ये सब देख कर एक गाने की दो पंक्तियाँ याद आती हैं :
" छोटे-छोटे शहरों से , खाली भोर-दोपहरों से;
हम तो झोला उठा के चले......."

Which one to watch?

Hmmm.. Confusion.. I have been a fan of Reality TV shows from the time the trend actually started. There are talent hunts. Earlier it was confined only to music and dance as seen in the popular shows like Sa re ga ma pa( Zee TV) , Antakshari ( Zee Tv) and Boogie- Woogie( Sony TV). Slowly the trend improved and then came: Indian Idol, Star Voice of India, Zee Cine Star ki Khoj,Nach Baliye, Kaun Banega Crorepati, Kaun Banega Crorepati 2, Mtv Roadies (1, 2, 3,4) , The Great Indian Laughter Challenge.
Now it is the time for more shows... These have increased so much that I don't know which one to watch now.
Let me start with the oldies, Sa re ga ma pa ( be it Challenege 2000's or Li'll Champs), they have their TRP's UP. Inidan Idol4 will be soon there along with Sa re ga ma pa. Though both are yet to start.
Apart from this there's a line of talent hunts...
- Ye Shaam Mastani( Sony tv)- an evening with the greatest singers and listening to them share some of their touching moments with us.( THIS IS MY FAVOURITE).
- War Parriwar( Sony tv)- a musical competition between families.
-Chakh de Bachche( 9X)- singing cum dance performances by kids.
-Yeh Hai Jalwa(9X)- dance comeptition among the dance troups with actors from the daily soaps.
-Ustaadon ke Ustaad( Sony tv)-The creams of all the talent hunt shows. The best among them stands out in their field. Be it, dance, music or comedy.
-Dhoom macha de( NDTV Imagine)- The well know singers have to compete among themselves in a reality tv show. It just shows that singing has no end to it. You keep doing better and better. All are learners.
-Jo Jita Wahi Superstar(Star) - One talent hunt where all the singers who have been the creams in the various Singing talent hunts have been chosen and put into categories. It will bring out the best from them. Yet another indication , that the struggle is still on. - IT'S SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL. You get to see the old favourites again and also get a good demarcation between those chosen merely on the basis of votes - public sympathy-and not so talented. The best one will win.
- Rock 'N' Roll Family( Zee tv)- It is fun and as the name suggests, it's for the family.
-Rock the Dhunn( Zee tv)- Here there are no judges but the audience rates the singing talent and thier performance.
- Kya Aap Paanchvi Pass se Tez hain? - You'll surely doubt your intelligence after watching it.
- Mtv Roadies.5- It's actually going to end soon .
- Get Gorgeous and Channel V in search for the top 2 models who'll make it to Paris.
- Comdey Circus( Sony tv)
- Naya Roop Nayi Zindagi(Sony tv)- As the name suggets, you get a " naya roop" and a " nayi zindagi". It'll bring tears to the eyes.

So you see, there are so many shows that, one will forget about the daily soaps. Whatever it is, just have a look at all of them and take your pick. The whole week you'll be engaged and at the end of the day you'll have something to look forward to on the television apart from music, daily soaps and news.

The crime cases of today- How far justifiable?

To talk about the recent crime cases here, the recent Aarushi murder case. I really don’t understand the truth behind the alibi given by the suspected, including the parents. Sometimes it’s kind of harassment for parents to be questioned like this whose only daughter has been killed. How would the parents’ feel if their child has been killed? On the other hand how can someone deny the proof that has come up by the probe conducted?
These cases also throw light upon the insecure feelings that still prevails in the teenagers. Parents need to be there for support and guidance and ignorance in such cases can at times lead to such cases coming up frequently. At times I shudder thinking of the girl. She had hardly started living her life and she had to face a brutal murder. Not only Aarushi but there are many more who live in an insecure world. What is their fate! I can just say that the media has got another case to be showcased for the coming days. Most of it seems a gossip than reality. God knows what’s the truth??

Good things come in small packages!!!

This is a general saying. Isn’t it?
Practically this is also applicable. Doubt it?? Look around, you’ll get an answer for everything. What is needed here is just an ‘eye’ to look at those things.

Okay! Now, let me tell you something from my observation.

Let me begin with the trivial things. We prefer any food stuff, cosmetic, eatable or anything in a small package. Go to a shop and we get attracted towards the items that are packed well and if they are small they look all the more cute and attractive as well as handy.
For example: Chota Maggie pack, Ponds Dream flower talk, Perk mini…. Etc... Etc...

In the same way, people who are short generally have a complex at times but…have we realized that the most successful people are short. I mean, they do not stand out (where height counts). It has been also said many a times on television and the Silver Screen itself is a big example.

Let’s take Kailash Kher, Rani Mukherjee, Aamir Khan, Satish Kaushik and Saroj Khan, Bappi Lahiri, Shankar Mahadevan, master blaster, Sachin Tendulkar, A.R. Rehman. These are some personalities that I can remember now. Each one is on top in their field. They STAND OUT. Just think and find out more. There are many around me also who are like this. So if at all some of you consider that you are short and have a complex regarding their height, don’t you, worry! Just try finding out something unique which you have. Well, presently seeing some of the people around that is my friends and even my mom I can just say, “Good things come in small packages.”

Jharkhand....going down!!

Don't know what's happening to the state affairs here. It has been three years that I have not been able to spend time in Jamshedpur properly. I come as a guest and go. This time, when i came home I was shocked to see the newspaper and also the local news channel- ETV Jharkhand. There have been so many fights, processions, the so called-" danga-fasaad"in the colloquial language. It has been alomost 15 days that I am at home and in this duration there have been, ' bands', thrice. People have been charged by the police who were responsible for violating the decorum of the respective cities in the state. After the formation of Jharkhand there was a ray of hope regarding the progress of the state but now, it seems to be coming down to where it was before.

The other day I had to go to Ranchi for my JNU entrance exam. One day before I read in the newspaper that there was going to be, ' Jharkhand bandh' on 18th. How would I go for the exam?? I was so tensed. Just to avoid problems I had to start off at about 4:AM in the morning but fortunately there was nothing of that sort. I came back safely.

The next day morning when I was hearing the news I found that there was so much of commotion in Ranchi on Monday. There was firing and also many women were hurt who were involved in the procession. I didn't feel like reading the newspaper after that. Every morning I get up and see THIS............

Don't know what is going to happen??

The irony here is that, with all this happening, there are a handful from Jharkhand who have qualified in THE UPSC examination by securing good ranks this time!!!

Jaane tu ….ya Jaane na....

Of late, I don’t have much time to watch television. If at all I do, it is just for some songs in MTV “KickAss” mornings or some songs in the recent Hit list. This song… “Kabhi Kabhi... Aditi hans de...” from the movie Jaane tu... ya Jaane na... is something that I loved at first sight. The video is cute, the song is also good. The music is by the great A.R. Rehman himself and I have good expectations form the others too.
I just can’t keep my eyes off the video. On the whole this movie is something which I will look forward too after long. May be it doesn’t run in the Box office much it will be something I will like.

It somewhere seems to close to my heart. I see my friends there. The punch line that says-“So when do you know its love?” is also considerable. Does anyone know when actually?? It is “Love?

Me and my weirdness

Some of my close friends’ say- ‘I am weird.’
My choice is unique and which something normal people don’t like. I don’t know how many here with have such choices like…

- I love Tropicana orange juice
- Glucon-D orange flavor (it’s my favorite drink) I prefer this more than Coke or Pepsi.
- I like Nimbu pani with extra salt which is generally given to patients.
- I like watery khichidi.( again it’s only meant for sick people)
- I like to mix Coke and fanta and add salt and chaat masala to it and drink. ( which generally normal people don’t like)
- Idli with tomato sauce.
- Karela with dahi.
- I am great fan of Aishwarya Rai and I think people generally don’t like her except for her looks.
- I have this habit of Sleep- Writing.
- At times I cry in those scenes in a movie where people don’t find any emotion like that.
- For e.g.: I like the movie “Kyun! Ho gaya na? It’s not for the actors or the whole story line (by the way there was no story in that) but for something I don’t know about. I am saying this because I was seeing it for the 5th time and still I didn’t feel bored and I don’t even have much time that I can waste it watching a movie like this for the 5th time. Still, I did watch it!!!
- Colors… at times those flashy colors seem to attract me... Like fluorescent green, orange… though they are not a part of my daily usage neither my favorite colors. I get attracted to them.
- I love Multi-tasking. This is an art which people learn because it is essential to manage many things at time in this competitive world.
- Most of the things I do are by ‘taking tension.’ Don’t know when I will learn to be calm!

I don’t think it’s that weird as I feel there will be at least someone who has such choices.

People around me also think that my choice of the so called
‘Special friends’ is generally weird. I can’t say much on this as certain people whom I consider a lot turn out to be ‘The Weird’ ones in the eyes of my so called ‘ Normal friends’.
Some call me an ‘Alien’ also as there are certain feelings which ‘Humans’ don’t have.

Contradicting all these views I still feel that I have my own unique choice and they turn out to be the best in some way or the other but if I put myself in the shoes of the others I think I can call myself weird. It’s actually exciting for me as it is another discovery that I made. I got a reason that I can laugh thinking about my own self.

But… as the saying goes...- “Beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder”. My choice is beauty to my eyes.

I think you would all agree to it. Everyone loves their own style no matter how much we try to improve ourselves or try to even copy someone.

My first crush…

If someone asks me who was my first crush ; I need some time to think as I really get confused as to when I realized that the feeling I had for someone was just a “ CRUSH”.
I was watching a T.V show- “ Ye Shaam Mastani” in Sony where Shaan was singing all his favorite numbers; right from his debut movie album – “ Pyaar mein Kabhi Kabhi”( Musu Musu haansi…) and Woh pehli baar.. These songs were my favorite since then. It was then, when something clicked. I realized that Sanjay Suri was my first crush. I started liking him after watching this movie. Of course he is still one of my crushes (long lasting crush). He made his debut in this movie and also my favorite singer Shaan. There was yet another thing I found out, the music for this movie was given by Vishal of the ( Vishal- Shekhar ) duo who happen to be once again one of my favorite music-directors’. It was Vishal’s debut music album too. Now, this was a perfect combination. These 3 still happen to be someone who can drive me crazy.

Am I obsessed???

Er...er...er... There’s nothing much to worry. I’m neither obsessed with someone nor with love.
I feel that I am OBSESSED OF WRITING.

Anywhere, anything...When, my mind works. I generally carry a pen and paper with me wherever I go; if I don’t have I manage to get one. It is based on what’s going in my mind because I can’t keep things inside... it has to come out some way or the other. Either I talk or I write. Writing helps me when I don’t have someone around who understands me. If not a pen and paper then I have my mobile in hand. If not a write-up then possibly a ‘Shayari’. Of late this habit is becoming too much I feel. Even if I have a small chit I need to write something in that. Be it the library, railway station, hospital or in the auto rickshaw. People watching me were wondering as to what I was writing so fast. It was just that I was getting so much in my mind at a time that I needed to write.

I was in the hospital with my grandmother for 2 days and I started writing there too. People around kept looking at me quizzically and someone even came and asked me as to what I was writing. I didn’t know how to explain? I just said, “I am studying something.” Even my mom wonders what I write but never bothers to ask me much. That’s how she is as she has been seeing this since when I myself don’t know??? She keeps kidding and says one thing, “What do you write so much I don’t know? If you go at this rate you can write a thesis I think. Interested in doing PhD?”

Seeing the way I write, I remember my school days when we had to write at least 4-5 pages for an essay or a story. That time I somehow managed to fill those pages and reach the word limit. 4 pages seemed such a big thing for me. This was my condition when I was in the 11th and 12th standard. I used to feel bugged while writing. Even in board exams I felt bored but now these 4-5 pages seem nothing to me.

That’s another progress in my writing skill and I have got people who encourage me to write. As a writer I can write well in English and Hindi only but I would love to learn some more and write, at least start writing in my mother tongue which seems to be a very difficult task for me even now.

Writing is my passion and my latest obsession… Hope this passion remains alive forever as it is my savior in times of distress.

Set on yet another journey……..

It was 10:PM. I was in Chennai Central(6-5-2008),standing outside my train. I had arranged my luggage in my place and had come down to have a cup of coffee. As soon as I came down I saw many VITians , all familiar faces moving here and there searching for a good place to eat. Whoever passed, just smiled. One of my juniors asked me’ “ Kya didi? Ho gaye na 3 saal poore?? Masti na??”
I just didn’t know what to say. I caressed her on her head and said, “ Meri padhai abhi poori nahi hui . Mere liye zindagi ke aur kayi mushkil padaav hain.” I spoke these lines and I realized how difficult it was to accept this. I was going to miss everything… I had already started feeling a lot. May be I land in the same college but the same atmosphere won’t be there. I might be walking past the same road, same corridor but without my friends, who made my 3 years so wonderful. I had learnt so much, come up as an individual, as a human being and I had got to learn the way to live life.. There is yet another journey ready for me.

Since then I started feeling that every little thing I do, I feel like expressing it. I was listening to songs , watching T.V, observing people and the very next moment I would think of sharing it with my close friends but none of them were around. It was just distance. Every moment I remembered them. Each one for his/her own way… It was very difficult for me then… Movies, music, gossip, my information which I used to share often with my friends, everything seemed so much within me. How could I share everything with mom and dad??? God!! Three years of college life… It was terrible to be like that. I tried to keep myself busy but those golden moments brought tears into my eyes. I was just quiet. I knew I had to accept all this and life will move on but how could one stop thinking of someone who changed my life???? People come and go but there are some who have a great impact in our lives that we can’t stop thinking of them.

I was missing “ My Angel in Disguise”.

I had a whole lot of topics which were occupying my mind. I didn’t have time but whenever I felt like expressing I did. I had no other platform except my pen and paper. My diary that would be so handy . It was something that would be there with me always. Something I owned and a place where I could say anything.. Some form of support in those times when no one was around. I just heaved a sigh of relief. I was feeling a lot better after writing and I just Thank God for giving me one such way of expression which gave me confidence. There are so many who can’t express their thoughts and find it difficult when they do not have someone around but I am still so lucky that I am able to express myself. This is my biggest asset and God’s Gift!! Thanks to my mom and dad and all my teachers who taught me to read and write…. It’s a privilege .

Sleep - Writing.

Ah!!! The topic itself sounds funny. All must have heard of sleep- walking, sleep-talking but no one has heard of sleep writing. Well….to make it clear, this one of those unique qualities which I discovered in myself. It was the second semester in college... we were having the Molecular Biology class (Dhanashekharan sir) or D.D as we used to call him used to teach us. I, Aashi and Mayu were his favorites. We were made to sit in the first bench in all his classes. Somehow, we enjoyed his teaching a lot. The amount of knowledge we gained from him still accounts for my strong base in Mol Bio.

We were being taught about the Loop/ Rolling Circle mechanism of Replication and he was teaching about the (Single Stranded Binding Protein or SSB). I was damn sleepy that day and it was the morning class. We’ve heard of students sitting and sleeping in the first bench but my case was different. I was sitting and sleeping in the first bench with my pen in hand and it was also moving. Somewhere a faint voice of D.D sir was ringing in my mind while I was sleeping and my hand kept moving. I didn’t know what I was writing and what I was listening. This was such a slow and calm process that I didn’t realize that I was actually writing in sleep.

Suddenly, I was woken up by Mayu and Aashi who just brushed their elbows on my shoulder and said,” Archu, get up. Uth jaa . Sir dekh rahe hain.”
Ah!! I was wide awake, I just woke up as if I was out of some dream. I had had a good sleep. It can be called as a mini-nap also as it lasted only for 3-4 minutes. Then I saw that these 2 girls were laughing at me pointed towards my notebook. I rubbed my eyes and took a closer look. I had actually written what all sir had taught but the funny part was, nothing was proper. Three lines were written on top of the other and then I had written Single Stranded Bus Stand in place of SSB protein. After that my pen had stopped at a point. There was a dot with scribbling on the same area. My pen had moved just like the patterns shown by the heart beat recorded in an ECG. This was amazing!! I had never experienced this … I joined these 2 girls and started laughing. Sir had left class by then. It was a matter of fun for everyone in my hostel.

Things were pretty normal after this incident. Each semester there had to be one class where I used to do this “ Sleep-Writing”. It was nothing decided but very spontaneous. The same thing happened in the next semester in Clinical Bio Chem. class, 4th semester in Genetics class, 5th Semester ( Nothing. Thanks to the faculty)I didn’t sleep, 6th semester in the Environmental Biotech class. My notebooks are still preserved and I cannot do away with them. They are worth a hearty laugh .

My sleep writing habit continues and I generally do this sitting in the front bench when I am right in front of the teacher. I can write the craziest things when I am sleeping like this. Should I call myself asleep, awake in the mind or half asleep…??? I don’t know!
Must ask a psychologist…but must tell u it’s a great part of my life. What I write when I am in such a state is generally something out of the world and irrelevant to the topic of my concern.

It is not restricted to writing alone but also seen in text messages(SMS). I have typed all weird things and sent. My poor friends who had to bear with my, while-in-sleep messages. The next day I get up, check my sent message box…. I laugh at myself and also get embarrassed. Then I realize that I’ve got great friends around who bear with me and the one who gets to see this the maximum time is all greater!!