Of cricket... fame... and other things besides.

The IPL fever has the country in its grasp and doesn't seem to be letting go anytime soon. And though I'm not the greatest cricket fan out there, I'm sure I am as acceptable as a normal twenty three year old can be. (the normalization of that demographic puts me in the waning side of the curve actually but well within it.)

And it just occurred to me. This format of the game makes heroes out of ordinary people and I'm wondering... why is it that we as a country are so drawn to this sport? I can feel a few growls as I raise this question and I should clarify. I understand the fervor that grips people of different cities as they see their team play it out against another team. A sense of universal brotherhood is prevalent as we see players who would be rivals in any other tournament enjoy a sense of camaraderie that is hard to come by in the other games. But still... it is a little overwhelming seeing people soar into the skies when they perform well and then plummet to the ground after a bad patch. The fans are sometimes (more often than not) cruel. And I feel sorry for the players.

This brings me to the next topic that's buzzing around in my head. Fame. There are very few who're immune to its effect. And those few are never known. How easily do we fall for the spotlight? How easily do we forget the hard path that we traversed to get to where we stand? And along with the path, the people who helped us in the dire times of the past also seem to slink into the darkness as the ones who now stand around us dazzle us with their radiance and the glitz of success blind us.

I've known a few of my friends who've fallen for the entrapments of success and I mourn for them. If it means that one would change into what a few of them are now, I don't think I need another degree behind my name. I'm happy being the oblivious person that I am, capable of bringing cheer to the very few who look up to me. And sometimes I wish the cricketers that I see being coronated to the status of gods would cease to be so swayed by the euphoria.

How else would one explain leaving a wife and family who'd been there with them through the tough times when someone younger and "prettier" and more comfortable in the "arc-lights" turns up? I don't say I hate them... hate is too strong an emotion that ought not to be used at all. But I am sure the ones you left behind... they would be crushed. And all those misdeeds need to be annulled somehow. So, beware!

Having said that, I must also say that there are a few who're extremely humble and level headed even in the midst of all this chaotic pandemonium. Hats off to ye and do rub thy wisdom on the lesser fortunate ones around you. :) 

Happiness is a warm puppy!!

I've always been an avid animal lover and I've brought home more number of malnourished strays than I care to count, only to let them go when they're treated and healthy. It always saddned me that I wasn't able to hold onto them, thanks to my Mom and Granny screaming in fright everytime a puppy runs towards them wagging his/her tail.

Well... so far, I'd been the one to go towards the pups. This time, I had one come to me. It was well nigh one in the morning and I was breaking my head over contour integrals and matrix diagonalization when I swear I could hear a shrill bark. It sounded too young for the dog we have right now, another stray to whom we'd become family. I had to wait till morning to find out who the brave little warrior was. And to my surprise, I found myself opening my front doors to a wee little puppy. He must be just a few months old, just having weaned from his mother's milk and utterly lost. Infested with ticks, dirty and very very malnourished - that described the little one perfectly.

Well, half a day later, I should say he looks much better already! He drank an entire glass of milk and a few doggie treats to boot and has some of the natural brightness that hunger and suffering stole from him return! And it seems he considers us his family already! :)

So, give it up for Tsuyoshi - the newest member of our family, folks!

Tsuyoshi (毅) in Japanese means "Strong". And he seems just that! The little one climbed a foot and a half high fence to come towards us once we were properly acquainted enough! And this is from a month old puppy who hadn't eaten in days! Oh, and our other dog, Tsume (爪) seems to regard him with a bit of wariness. But she hasn't attacked him yet and wagged her tail when she sniffed him for the first time. Hopefully, they'll get along. But Tsume-chan is an intelligent canine, so I'm sure my worries are misplaced! :D

Psssst: If you didn't see the Japanese connection coming, I'm guessing you're new to the blog! Yay for 日本国! :D

Thanks a LOT, people!

Today, we'd gone out for dinner to McDonald. And though I hate the place, I decided I wouldn't make too much of a fuss as the rest of the family hated my choice of restaurants. And after the meal, we were still left with two spare sodas from the order and we decided to bring it back home. No sooner had I gotten out of the place, soda in hand, I was surrounded by two very scraggly looking kids who literally begged for the soda in my hand. And I must admit I dumbly handed it over to them. It didn't hit me then that this would lead to a heap of problems and hurt emotions later on.

My Mom had noticed the missing soda and asked me about it. When I told her what had happened, I expected her to be a little irritated. But instead, she became enraged to proportions hitherto unreasoned! Add to that my darling grandpa who's always under the impression that I am not smart enough for surviving alone, yelling again, telling me how I could be so stupid as to hand the soda right over! Suddenly, the tirade is diverted to how I didn't appreciate the amount of effort my mom put into making sure I was well provided. Somehow, I never thought I was that inconsiderate. And then, my grandpa went on to say how naive girls were raped by criminals in the same vein.

Seriously... handing out a glass of carbonated cat piss would mean I'd get raped in the future? Seriously?

I know I shouldn't complain much...I never do... It's just that... sometimes, I want to leave all this shit behind and go... just go away and never return. But then again, where would I go? I've been famous for driving friends away with my rants on my life and that has actually helped me keep a better watch on what I say and to whom. But I was hoping at least my family would understand. i guess I was wrong. Keh... and people wonder why I have an imaginary character for a boyfriend!

The Little things that matter.

"I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." - Mary Angelou

Today, I realized the truth behind the quote above! My family has always seemed more conservative than we're actually... sure, I don't go to parties every weekend! Heck... I don't leave home much. But that's not because I'm not allowed... merely because I don't prefer to. I've had a few friends who still think I'm being held "hostage" by my parents most of the time. LOL... But I wouldn't change a thing about my parents... My mother is probably the best friend I've always wanted. And the way my parents and I talk, it's more like being in the midst of friends than in front of parents! And I cannot thank God enough for such a wonderful family I'm blessed with! =D

And so, today, as I was browsing the net just like that, I stumbled upon some song from the eighties titled 'Cars'. This was when I remembered something my mom had told me ages ago... some eight to nine years ago. She had said how she really loved a particular song "Fast Car" by Tracy Chapman. I guess I wanted to bring a smile onto her face and so, I decided to hunt the song down for her. A few frantic clicks later, I managed to find the video on YouTube.

You should've seen the look on her face when she saw the video... It was something small.. heck! It was nothing compared to what people gift their mothers! But somehow, I knew she would love it... It would take her down memory lanes... back when she was young... back when she didn't have to worry about a family... back when she was a bit free! And when she told Dad on how I'd searched for a song for her and having remembered it even after all these years, I couldn't miss a hint of pride in her voice... And that, my dear friends... that was more than what I need to keep me going. God, I love them! =D

And here's the video from YouTube...

Reflections from ages past...

I am sick... and I don't mean it in the emotional sort of way! I am sick as in, I am sniffling and coughing my way to glory here and if that's not bad enough, my time in front of the system is being cut short a little because of this. Not that I'm complaining... staring at the screen when your head feels like it's at the center of the Earth isn't the best feeling, let me assure you that!

And so, you ask me why I'm writing an entry when I'm feeling so bad? Well... sometimes, there are things you wish to share with the world and sickness or physical incapacity hardly is an obstacle.

Image by 27147 via Flickr

Yesterday, when I was off visiting a relative with my entire family (and when I was a little better), we had to stop by a bakery store to pick up something for the hosts. And so, my grandpa and I got off the car and walked into the store. This store is near my old school and so, there were so many memories that washed over me as I walked along the same road I had used for nearly twelve years of my life... As soon as we got inside, I saw cream-buns stacked in rows, inviting those who saw them to buy them.

As soon as I saw those delectable pastries, unbeknownst to me, I smiled as I remembered how as a small girl of seven, I would travel with my darling grandpa on a journey from my school back home... a journey that would have been a trivial one for anyone else... but for me, it was something that was a magnificent thing in itself... the sights and the sounds of everything around me, holding onto my grandpa's hands as he led me through the dangerous roads, my young eyes taking everything in through the glasses that did little to hide the world around me... only making it clearer... And then as we passed the pastry shop, I would involuntarily stop and tug at my grandpa's hand and he would stop and turn around to see me stare at the cream-buns...my eyes wide with excitement as I would imagine their sugary taste on my tongue. And my grandpa would smile as he would oblige my unspoken desires and get me a couple of the coveted pastries and all would be well in the world as we'd trudge along again, with an additional spring in my steps as I would try to make the journey as short as possible... I needed to eat the cream-buns as soon as possible!

And now, as I turned to watch my grandpa ask for what he wanted to the shopkeeper, I couldn't help but notice that his face is more lined with wrinkles of the ages that has passed since I was a little girl of seven. He can't walk as fast and somehow, everything about him has taken on a slow pace that belies his age. But I could not help but smile... as I smile now, typing this out in my room....I love my family! It's an emotion that I cannot completely display... In the little things that we do for each other, I can see my love clearly reflected back to me. And for that, I am thankful!

Happy times at the beach!

Today, we went out to the beach with my Uncle and my niece! It was an awesome way to spend my Saturday! Here are some snaps that I managed to take!

My Niece - Varsha


Mom with Varsha. Dad's somewhere in the background, glaring at tiny crabs! =D


Random Photographer being photographed!


Dad, still glaring at the crab!=P


Random people at the beach


A log floated ashore and suddenly, a lot of Nikon toting dudes were almost lying on top of it trying to take its pictures!


Uncle dearest and Varsha


Daddy (finally let go of the crab ne!), Uncle and Varsha


Mom, dad and Varsha


Random kite flying so high.... *dreams away*


"The Log" that traps unwitting photographers to snap a picture of its magnificent self! Who was I to resist?! ;D


Magnificent Horses that won't take you places!


Samosa Channa! YUM YUM!

Kintama! ROFL


Chili Mala!


Playtime!


The sunset in Marina


Daddy contemplating how to get the car out from behind fifty rows of parked vehicles!

All in all... it was a wonderful trip!