When The Going Gets Tough, The Tough Go Shopping

I get on high on shopping. It’s what weed is to its addict. Okay not exactly but somewhere close. It heals your broken heart. It’s a good way of dealing with your mood swings when PMSing. Most importantly it makes you happy.

My Dad knows me very well. He has the magical power to decipher my tone and voice over the phone. And once he guesses that I’m upset or am missing home he takes no time transferring extra green paper to my a/c ( thank you SBIOnline!), followed by a BBM ‘My Gudiya should always stay with a smile. Go shop for yourself’. And in no time I’m ready for shopping with that golden weapon in my bag.

I don’t really think people around me can happily tolerate me while I’m on the shopping spree. There are only few people who can. First, Daddy, he has the energy to come behind me and bring out finest stuff to my notice and they always suit my taste. Second, my elder sister, she has the ability to give her expert opinion and cut-short my drama. Third, my driver, who is just missed call away and a religious question he is sure of ‘Madam ji next kidhar jaana hai?’

Apparently the sales girls in these malls and retail stores (read: Juhu, Andheri Shopper’s Stop, Zara, Malls in Surat) aren’t really fond of me. Judging by the expressions of few I guess they actually hate me. I am also a pro at digging out small stores of export rejects and bargaining to no core. The usual conversations go this way.

Me: ‘Bhaiya, ye kitne ka hai?’

Shop fellow: ‘Madam ji, 700’

Me:’Aur kitne mein doge?’

Shop fellow: ‘Kya madam ji aap bhi’

Me:’Kya bhaiya aise kaise 700 laga rahe ho. Hum kya Alibaug se aaye hai? Aap humko mat sikhao. Yeh cheez ka main 400 se zyada nahi dungi’

And though I end up paying 450bucks, I love to bargain. I do too much drama while shopping. I humbly agree. “This isn’t looking good na”, “but this won’t go with this na”, “don’t you have this is this colour or this in this pattern” blah blah. And I am grateful to the ones who tolerate me.

But at the same time I’m not someone who spends thousands and thousands mindlessly every month. Shopping is my escape route only when stress takes a toll or when I’m upset cz home seems too far. I know where to end the fuss. I’m decent that ways. But I can shop and shop and shop without worrying about the aching foot.

Friend: What’s up?

Me: I’m out shopping.

Friend: Thank God you’re your Dad’s problem.

- Poulami

Ravings of a Lunatic

‘Blabbering’ is my super-power. I’m unbeatable at that. If one can, then one should. And so, I will. I will blabber my way out anything and everything. Just because ‘The Noise of Silence’ is based on silent thoughts rumbling in my head doesn’t mean I don’t have endless, baseless and useless blabbering.

I like to crib, rant and ramble. I crib way too much about the drama that happens to occupy a huge section of my grey matter. I rant to no core. I am annoying when it comes to ranting and by annoying I mean A-N-N-O-Y-I-N-G.

Blabbering is an essential aspect for the survival of the fairer sex. And also to stay fairer (:P). Okay, so I need to have my daily dose of blabbering (read: raving) for my soul to survive and for my face to glow. Adding to the usual ranting is tinge of swearing to make it…you know a bit more…satisfying!

Surprisingly, I’ve people who patiently listen (or at least pretend to). Such people make my day.

For a woman, there should be a man (not necessarily a better-half) to handle the endless drama. I too got one, K. That man has the ability to handle me even when I blabber about love, life, studies, college, friends, ex, seasons, music, food, family et cetera et cetera like there’s no tomorrow. A patient listener is someone who gets words out of you and that’s exactly what he does. Being at the ‘hearing’ end of all that out-burst of pain, anger, agony, happiness, nuisance isn’t really an easy task (Ask him). Had it not been him, I would have been undoubtedly slapped by others whom I would have yelled at or tried to.   

The best part behind all this angry tongue-lashing that he faces, he manages to teach me something from my own nonsense. How? That’s still a mystery.

p.s Can’t thank that Retard enough for handling my verbal diarrhoea. Cheers! :D 

Ignorance is bliss. Oh! Really?

We people have a simple funda to get out of any damn circumstances – ‘Ignore it’. If something doesn’t bother us – ignore and if it bothers us – ignore it too. We have surpassed all limits of ignoring things around us. I-don’t-give-a-damn attitude is good but in this century it has clearly taken a toll over us.

I wonder how we manage to put up a cold and indifferent front and pretend to be oblivious of the things around us. We don’t just neglect our duties (read responsibilities) towards the environment, the society or our family but also ourselves. On seeing a fellow who has met with an accident the first thought that comes to our mind is ‘Choddo na yaar, police k lafde mein kaun padega’ (Let it be. Let’s not get into such matter). A girl is being molested and harassed but we quite coldly disregard it. The nation is falling off a cliff but we are more interested in IPL matches.  Injustice is being done to someone but we are least bothered.  But have we ever stopped and thought that we could also be at the receiving end of any such situation and what if people throw a cold shoulder at you then?

How many more blasts will it take to bring the nation together? How many more natural calamities will take to make us realize that environment needs us like we need it? How many more bravehearts need to sacrifice before actually ensuring safety in this country? What will it take for us to come together and build an ideal nation which runs on humanity and peace?

p.s There is no ‘I’ in this post. Its only ‘we’. I’m not perfect either but my thoughts couldn’t be hidden within.

Indebted We Are. Thankful We Should Be.

I've fallen off a flight of stairs, I've rammed my bike in to a two wheeler, but of all the pains I know I've seen the worst. Seeing my parents grow old is the worst pain I've been through and as a matter of fact anyone else will. Not being able to express it has just added to the misery.

The tough shoulder of my Dad that I sat on all my childhood has grown weak. The soft and tender hands of my mother which fed me have begun to tremble. With every passing birthday of theirs it makes me sad. I make my effort to make them happy with gifts, balloons and words, but their happiness lies in those untold words and emotions they see in my eyes.

With great patience and compassion parents bring up their child. But as they grow old we forget to express the same patience and compassion towards them. We children rarely want to know what their parents want and to the contrary they gave us everything even before we actually asked for it. Our endless demands, mindless rants, hopeless cries and spineless attitude they tolerate it all with a broad smile on their face. Much to the irony, we grow up to miss out on fulfilling their needs and requirements. On the run to make a career for ourselves we end up forgetting their contributions in making us what we are.

I feel blessed to have such loving and caring parents. Trust me, its a blessing. I agree we fail to realize but sooner or later, time makes sure we realize the fact usually the harsh way. Consider yourself to be lucky if you have a family to fall back on after a tiring day, a family to support and guide you through all your decisions, a family to stick through thick and thin.

To the countless number of lessons they bequeathed to me, to those nights that they stayed awake when I was unwell, to the pain they took and drama they tolerated, I promise I shall do my best to keep them happy and love them and keep them with same patience and compassion

"For all the love and care they have shown till date
I'll give them their deserved happiness before its too late"

The Happy Bong Family

Ode To Ye Love.

They both are what Daya and Abhijeet would mean to ACP Pradyuman, what Gauri and Karan Johar would mean to Sharukh Khan. Actually they mean much more. They are the two strongest pillars of my life. My day started and ended with them. School life would have been incomplete without them both. They taught me somethings which I don't really think some else could. They were there to listen, to scold, to tease, to teach. They are not just friends they are family. They praised me when I was good, bashed me when I was terribly wrong. They helped me realize stuff I didn't want to. They brought the Me back to me. They are not just good at pep talks but they said the truth no matter how much it hurt. I could be at my great or worse mood when with them. They are those who deserve explanations but never ask for it. They are those who have the right to shout but don't(well at times they do). Them I love to love.

Now that we are parting to follow our dreams it's a different mixed feeling altogether. Though one of the two will be in same city as me but she will be caught up in her new life. There is a fear in my heart, a fear without definition and far beyond any explanation. I wonder how our relation will grow over the years. Will it require our efforts to continue the friendship or will it be untouched by all evil and non-evil forces? Will the relation change or will it stand strong over the years.

Many questions there are. Unanswered they'll be. Time will answer if it's supposed. All I can wish is that still when we meet we laugh like idiots, behave like retards, act all stupid no matter how much life have burden ed us. All I can wish for is that our maturity and sensibility leaves our friendship unaffected. All I know is together we are and together we are supposed to be.

"When the sun shines we'll shine together 

Told you I'll be here forever 

Said I'll always be a friend 

Took an oath I ma stick it out till the end" - Rihanna (Umbrella)

- Poulami

Kevi Rite Jaish - How Can You Not Go For It?

'Kevi Rite Jaish' happens to be the first ever Gujarati movie that I've seen till date but it manages to win my heart anyway. As the poster claims, the movie definitely is "an Urban Gujju movie". The story is of obsession - of a typical Gujarati family of Ahmedabad - of sending their son, Harish (Divyang Thakker) to the U.S. The head of the family Bachubhai Patel(Kenneth Desai) is desperate of sending Harish to the U.S, well quite literally. Also the movie shows Anang Desai(known as Ishwarbhai Patel in the movie) as a global Gujarati who Bachubhai envies and hence dislikes. He takes the lead and makes several attempts to try and stop Bachubhai Patel and Harish committing the mistakes he did years back. Newbie Veronica Gautam(Aayushi Patel in movie) is introduced as the daughter of Ishwarbhai Patel, who though has been brought up in the States is shown attached to her roots, her country, the culture and the values. The first half talks about the n number of attempts of Harish to get a U.S Visa. And as predictable it can be, Harish happens to fall. He happens to fall for Aayushi much against his dad's wish and also happens to fall in the trap of  fraud visa agents. The film is about Bachubhai's family's journey replete with conflicts to make Harish migrate to the U.S.A. 

The main player though is a new comer but surely didn't seem so. Divyang Thakker's acting is commendable, as he manages to woo the audience to a great extent. And the female lead slowly started getting hold of her character.  And whenever the debutantes missed out, the veterans stepped in to lend a smooth sail to the movie . And quite impressively words like 'Lala', 'Daphor' etc have been used. The crispy dialogues and gujju terminology turns out in their favor to attract and sustain the youth audience. The theater was abuzz with applause, laughter, sobs and high fives.

The soul and the essence of the Ahmadabad city is well brought out. Also the editing is quite laudable. I also happened to like is the music of the movie. Especially 'Pankhida' - first ever rock song sung by Suraj Jagan has become quite a sensation. The song successfully depict the emotions which the music directors Mehul Surti and Vishvesh Parmar wanted. 

The main player's gang of friends and the over-obsession of Obama and America of the Patel family add the comic element. Another scene where in Harish's elder brother chooses a Chinese Porn instead of a Russian one because they're to the point  filled the theater with a loud thunder of laughter. Rakesh Bedi playing a Sindhi visa agent wasn't really a surprising element for me. He was his best from his first shot to the last frame.

Being a Bong I thoroughly enjoyed the movie with an Odiya and a Telegu friend. Any gujju is bound to like it. Gujjus and the non-Gujjus go for it! I mean 'Kevi Nathi Jaish tame?"

- Poulami

I Lost Myself To Find You.

I lost myself to find you.

I lost myself to find myself in you.

Faithful even more than my shadow.

Supportive even more than my mind.

You make me the good I am.

You love my heart for what it is.

You're the god in me.

You are my love, my pride.

My high and my low tide.

Stayed loyal to my heart.

Stayed loyal to my soul.

Stayed as a fuel, for all the battles I won.

You the peace to my whirlpool.

You, the peace to my storm.

You stood as a wall to support me.

You stood as a shield to protect me.

My smile is you and always will be.

Close we're and always will be.

With you half my life is lived and 

With you half the battle is won.

I lost myself to find you.

I lost myself to find myself in you.

- Poulami

Father's Day Special - A poem for Daddy.

DADDY! :)

You are the pillar of my life
You are the fuel for my journey.

The Backbone of my life.
The energy to my journey.

For all your love I thank.
For all the support I thank.
You help me get all good rank.
And whenever wrong I got a spank.

Wish I can live up to what you expect.
And want you by my side in all my conquest.
Wish I can make you proud always.
And want you by my side in sick and happy days.

Hope you stand by always.
Hope I belong to you always.

Will pray to the Almighty that you stand strong.
Will pray to the Almighty that your stars never go wrong.

I'm glad to have you.
I guess you know it as it's nothing new.

-Poulami

A New Life. A New Beginning.

So one week from today my new life starts. A new place, new environment, new people and everything else new. The question is should it be the old ME or a new ME instead. I should be excited, but for some reasons I don't know I'm not really. People have been telling I should be excited. Few of my friends are hell excited when they heard about it. Not like I'm not ready to stay in a different place or away from home. those all things have been sorted by myself in my head. I'm cool with it. Maybe I'm just nervous about things which shouldn't bother me. Maybe it's not that easy to move on. I'm definitely eager to meet and know new people. But that excitement is lost somewhere. Last year all I dreamed about was moving to Mumbai and when I'm so close to my dream the excitement has lost it's charm. Or maybe it's too much that I'm numb to feel any of it.
Whatever it is some part of my heart is thumping hard and wants to live the new life. Maybe I need to be patient and wait for the week to end. Maybe I need things to seep in. Whatever be it, it's going to be a roller coaster ride for me.

- Poulami