Where opposites attract...

I've been in this city for a week now and am somehow (apprehensively) trying to acknowledge a long lasting relationship with it. I dont really hate Bombay, but am highly intimidated by it. At the risk of sounding silly, I might have to confess that Bombay scares the living daylights out of me, for reasons unknown! :)

But without an option for shrugging or complaining too much, I kept confronting this city and always felt little less lost each time. I think it is the people. Walking across the Dadar station, I was simply thinking of how many people actually live in this (so-called reclaimed) piece of land? If you took this city, turned it upside down and shook it a little, you will be shocked at the number of people that will fall on you. It will be pouring people and no umbrella will save you from the infinite 'rain'. :)

But today I was getting back after shopping in Bandra, as an outsider I could not help but notice the opposites this city offers. Everything you see or experience here has an exact opposite that you will invariably come across. From enjoying free space in a grand black and yellow Fiat taxi to getting squished and smashed on a Thane local from VT at 6pm. From emptying your pockets for Rs. 3.50 vada pav for a fulfilling evening snack, to spending half your paycheck on fancy delectable doughnuts or gourmet gellatos, you do everything here... everything opposite.

Somehow come to think of it, I am not game for such a life. I am spoilt for choices and freedom that Bombay is a far fetched reality for me (fingers crossed). I know I am not cut out for the motley mix here, but at the same time I stand outside, my mind blown away by the character of this place.

25 things to do before I say bye!

In just exactly 25 days from now I am going to be leaving the amazing city of Madras, lock stock and barrel. The city is of course, extremely close to my heart; from the most awesome moments to the most embarrassing ones and even a whole bunch of scary, boring, memorable, creative, lonely, futile, fun, exciting, meaningless, weird and hilarious flashes, the city has treated me grandly and now I have to say goodbye and leave! :(

As I clear my stuff and put them together to be taken off, I actually feel strange about not having anything left behind here. Something about the city makes me feel so comfortable, that I think I am going to leave something behind for the people who move in; maybe my pillow or my most favorite book, so I have a reason to come back sooon!!

But yeah, just 25 days left... makes me want to do 25 different amazing, typical things in this awesome city. Here is my list...

1. Buy little temple jewelery knick knacks from Sukra
2. Filter coffee in Ratna Cafe
3. Meals in Karpagambal Mess
4. Catamarine ride in Kovalam
5. Shopping in Mahabs
6. Tibbs Frankie from Bessy
7. Cast my last vote in Tamil Nadu
8. Cheesecake from Jelly Belly and Winners' chocolate tart
9. My last IPL match in Madras
10. One awesome, soul stirring kutchery
11. Balloon shooting in Bessy
12. Just sit and watch the full moon at Thiruvanmiyur Beach
13. Climb the darn lighthouse in Marina
14. Alone time at Broken Bridge (at least this time)
15. Wait in an endless queue for Kuzhi Paniyaram in Grand Sweets
16. Go on the MRTS (parakkum rayil, lol)
17. Night show in Satyam
18. Look for all the books on my long list in Moore Market
19. Get the Jhakkamma lady to predict my future with the wand in her hand (or kili josiyam, maybe both!)
20. A day in Auroville (maybe)
21. Mulberry-banana smoothie in Fruit shop
22. Take one long ride on my bike
23. See the Adyar Banyan tree (I have no clue where that is)
24. Bead shopping at Bessy
25. Watch a thiruttu DVD movie

Just some 25 things I can think off my hat, however I realized, the truth is I can never say bye to Madras!

I haven't written, but I din't stop reading!

To blog for a blogger is something that is so inbuilt; just like for Barney Stinson to be awesome! But of course, there are some little breaks that veterans take to laze around in the name of getting inspired ;) and my stint has just come to an end. Been away, had a blast; but never stopped reading my favorite blogs.

Backpacking Ninja

Indian by Design

Brass Tacks

Alicia Souza's Blog

Bawa Dinesh's Blog

Without sneaking into these lives, a day doesn't come to an end!

Three days of utter bliss

I went on a holiday, came back and somehow for a long time now, I have not had that ever lasting smile on my face; the smile that is so splendid that goes all the way from one ear to the other...

It was absolutely not difficult for me to get it back and stick it on my face; all I needed was three days of Rajima narrating the best story ever, Srimad Bhagavatham. Well, ideally I should have known a dozen of those stories since when I was a kid itself, but somehow I missed those crucial tell-tale sessions with my grandparents. But thankfully, I did not find it all that tough to catch up with the others around me.

For me to talk about Bhagavatham is almost impossible in a blog post; this ancient text is unfathomably profound and absolutely mind blowing. Everything from the beginning of the world to glories of the Creator to the magnificence of the Destroyer and the dexterity of the Protector and of course the acumen of those spectacular risis ; is simplified to such an extent that you are most likely to have an ever lasting love affair with the Divine and will want to go on these 3-day dates quite often. Undoubtedly, I was head over heals in love with none other than Him at the end of the tale which traced through all His grand incarnations.

Leave alone the story and the fantasy it left in my mind; the lessons I drove back home have been deep; something that cannot come across through a simple virtual bundle of text. My Bhagavatham hangover made me dwell further deep...

People around me were rather wonder-struck at me going sitting through long sessions of 'discourses' over a weekend especially; but take my word for that weekend being the best I can recall in a long long time now. The most fulfilling, the most smiling and the most fabulous weekend, that too right in the beginning of a brand new year.

Let me take the liberty of declaring, if you do take the time out for a Bhagavatham session, your life will change, dramatically. All the effort that you have to take is enjoy some fun and lively Bollywood style Bhagavatham hours with the most dynamic and awesome Rajima. Yes, you heard that right, at perfect situations, Rajima will burst out with an amazing Bollywood number that will help you further romanticize; quite the role of a situation song; certainly not that trivial and needless though.

Trust me, you are never too young for cool stuff like this; so keep your eyes and ears open and be waiting to chance upon 2 dinner and one lunch date with the Man in Blue!