Mumbai skies

Everybody is talking about the monsoons and about how suddenly the city has transformed from a dull and dreary place to a place full of spirit. Mumbai is enthralling during monsoons, especially during the first few days of shower, after a long and patient wait for the skies to break, the clouds to growl, the balmy breeze to blow and those sweet little drops to fall upon the ground bringing smiles to millions. Yes you heard it right, millions!!!!

But did you ever wonder how the sky looked like a day or two before?

Well, here's a peep.

The clouds were playing with me for over a week. It'd be overcast one day, sultry the other. Just when you thought it'd rain, they would simply swagger by, not a hint of shower.

One regular evening, my father-in-law suggested we go upstairs to the terrace and click pictures. 

I had no idea what I'd witness. 

Everything looked normal when we reached but just as dusk began to fall the sky went through a transition of colours, as if somebody started splattering colours on a vast canvas. It was unbelievable!

A thought crossed my mind as I stood there admiring the beauty of nature, a silly thought of course! 

How many of us might have been lucky enough to have the time to be a part of this phenomenal performance by the vault of heaven. You gaze at it everyday maybe, but you seem to have missed the climax, when they come alive; the clouds bursting into a gracious dance of their own as the fiery sun throws a magnificent ray of light at them, and right there at the backdrop, the sky stands still, blue as ever! 

I'm glad I had the time to hold my gaze, right till the curtains fell.

The confused bride

There are many things in life over which you have no control at all. Marriage is "not" one of those things. You choose to get married or you don't- it's solely your own call (or at least that is how it should be). However, it's not as black and white as it looks like. There are times when you have no idea what it's all about, to be married, to take this giant leap of commitment and faith, to suddenly become a part of this whole new family, and yet you put all your confusions aside (perhaps for the time being) and gracefully plunge into this unknown thing called "marriage".

Yes, I belong to this weird confused category and it wasn't until I got married did I understand what it's all about.

It was the 5th of February, 2015, Thursday. 

They said it would be cold in Allahabad but it wasn't (thankfully), so when everybody was done smearing haldi on me I ran to the bathroom for a grand shower (unlike the usual reluctant winter showers). It was my big day after all. 

I was a little weary from the previous day's event-tilak-cum-engagement-cum-sangeet, all in one evening...

...so I decided to take a quick nap before my make-up session began but couldn't. Too excited! This reminds me, they also said anxiousness level rises sky-high on your D-day. I was anything but anxious. However, I was bridezilla like hell! There must be a limit to being bridezilla, some limit (I guess, I hope), and I shattered all of it. 

Nonetheless, as afternoon approached and as my dear brother, Ron arrived, all bitterness was forgotten and I was swept over by a cheery feeling, which lasted almost all evening (will get to the night later). And that was precisely why I got late for my make up, I was so glad that the family was complete that I didn't want to leave, ever! 

I wonder if anybody ever panicked as much as I did for their make-up. I mean of course it's that one thing that freaks the shit out of every bride but the way I created a ruckus I'm surprised my make up artist didn't stab me with a knife or anything. I must have repeated it more than a zillion times- "Please don't put too much makeup!" and there she was dabbing one thing after another on my face. Finally, I decided to trust her.

So, make up was done, hairdo complete, lehenga and accessories worn-and-I was late, terribly terribly late! Calls were coming from everywhere asking where I was, the baraat was almost at doorstep! However, somehow none of that mattered to me any more. There was never one single time in life when I wasn't late (except movies- I'm never late for movies! Ever!). Late for classes, late for office, late for bus, late in assignment submissions, late in collection handovers, late for make-up and now, late for my own wedding! Everything was just perfect! (I know it wouldn't make sense to you but in case it did, you know me well enough!)

I heaved a sigh of relief after my car crossed the baraat without anybody noticing me. And as it entered the gates, I can't tell you how amazing it felt to see all my close friends and family, everybody together.

I knew nothing could go haywire now! Not today! 

But alas, I was wrong!

As I walked down the aisle towards the stage I heard a shrill voice say-"WHERE IS THE JAIMAAL?" and then I hear everybody asking one another-"Where is the jaimaal?" The jaimaal had gone missing, and the worst part, it was handed over to someone in the bride's side. I later found out the real story and let me tell you, it's hilarious.

So, everybody in my family went berserk looking for this thing called Jaimaal, a term not very popular in Assam. This cross-cultural difference led to another problem, they were all looking for something they had no clue about. By the time they figured out what it was, the panic attacks had spread far and wide and where was the jaimaal? It was nicely safeguarded by one of dad's acquaintance right next to the stage. He was trying to make sense of the commotion but since he had this one important task to take care of the jaimaal, he didn't think it necessary to go and find out.

I know it's too crazy to be true but at last things were sorted and there I was, on the stage, exchanging jaimaal with Milind and flashing my best smile!

This went on for about an hour, followed by the couple shoots, an extravagant dinner and then- time for the real vows, the real marriage.

Dunno what it was, but by time I changed into my wedding dress (mekhela sador), I kinda lost it. Everybody banging at the door and yelling that it was getting late. Oh c'mon! Gimme a break! I'm tired of all the running around, and now I cannot even wear my mekhela sador at peace! 

But fact remained, everything has it's own time so-reality check-I hurried to the mandap and as I was walked (almost sprinted) down the aisle, they said- "Walk slowly. Brides don't walk like that!"-and that was when I completely lost it! 

I thought I wouldn't recover from it any sooner but I did and thank God I did.

Well, it was a quick marriage- something I always wanted!

I left to change into my vidaai sari while Milind struggled with my cousins and friends as he bargained for his shoes. I like this "juta-chupai" custom. 

What next? It was time to say goodbye and that was quick too, but this time it was on purpose. I have a tendency to run away from  emotional situations but as I reached the car that'd take me to my in-laws, I realised that there they were, my mom and dad, my brothers and sisters, and all my cousins, all together after a long time, and I couldn't be with them any more. I had to go! 

It took me a while to close the car door. One last glimpse and that's it! But it wasn't enough. My ma was crying and I had to leave her just like that. 

Yes, I had to.
SLAM! Door closed!
As a drop of tear ran down my cheeks once inside the car, it hit me that I'd meet them all in just 4 days! Then why the heck am I crying? And why the heck are they crying? I tried to make practical sense of it and I found that there was nothing to cry about. It's all the same, I just have another new wonderful family to share all my good and bad times with. So if there's something I should do, it's- CELEBRATE !!!!

Alright, alright! Celebrations apart, did I tell you how I came to understand what marriage is all about?

-No! 

-Am I going to tell you?

-No! 

-Why?

-'Cause there's nothing to tell. It's not some (as one of my professors used to say) rocket science that you read and learn about. It's an endless learning process and for me it's just been over a month of experience.

Too many times in my life I've heard people say this to me (for obvious reasons)- "Why are you so lost and confused?" 

First, it was my teachers at school, then professors in college, bosses in office, some unimportant acquaintances, some important acquaintances and now, some more important and unimportant acquaintances. Well, I know for a fact that I'll never get rid of this daunting curiosity amongst people about my forever-lost state but I'm glad I know the answer, not for anybody else but for myself. And it is as simple as it can be. I'm lost because that's my nature, that's who I am, and as long as I don't have a problem with it, I doubt anyone else should.

Am I deviating from the topic in a colossal way? I guess I am. So back to topic!

Well well well, you can be confused about everything "BUT" it's absolutely essential to be sure about one thing-the guy you're marrying; that that's the guy you'd want to stick around with no matter how unbearably irritating he gets, no matter how overly sweet he gets, no matter how insanely mad he gets, no matter how foolishly romantic he gets, no matter how unduly demanding he gets....NO MATTER WHAT! Rest everything will just work out fine :)

Hence, it's not always bad to keep your apprehensions aside and just go with the flow!

And hence, it's not always bad to be "The confused bride!" (wink!)

(Photo credits: Crafting Emotions-Piyush Tanpure)

If not now then when?

It was the 2^nd of May, 2014 Friday.

I was sitting in office, my travelling instincts tickling dangerously, and texted my good old friend Divya, who was equally interested in a spree outside the city that we could go to Coorg. Had heard a bit about it but never really cared to google on it. In fact, the very first time I typed “Coorg” on the search bar was to check for the bus ticket availability after Divya gave a thumbs up to the plan. Only a few seats were available so we quickly booked the tickets, took a shower, packed our bags and hopped onto the bus which was at 10:00 or so in the night.

Once in the bus a realization struck us both, what now? But as awesome as we are, we decided to rather sleep than to rack our teeny li'l brains on it. That we could do even the next day.

I slept like a dog. Divya was wide awake all night long.

Next day we reached Madikeri, Coorg at 5 in the morning and it was pitch dark. We started walking aimlessly when we came across our life saviour- the hoarding of Cauvery hotel. I noted the number and from there we headed to a dhaba for tea and then I called up the hotel. They said we could come over and the best part was, it was just around the corner.

The attendants there had just woken up (guess it was our phone call that had acted as an alarm clock) and we requested them to let us use their common toilet. In less than half an hour we were fresh and hungry at the same time. Breakfast and taxi would be available only after 7 am so we asked them if there was any place nearby where we could go for sight seeing. They gave us names of these two places, each in one kms distance from the hotel but on opposite directions. So we started strolling down the streets of Coorg like wanderers, asking whoever we came across for direction.

The townies were very helpful, I must say.

Omkareshwara Shiva temple

Our first destination, the Omkareshwara Shiva temple (I didn’t know until I came back from Coorg that it’s as old as the 1820’s). The best part about visiting temples early in the morning is you have it all to yourself, no outrageous crowd, no unnecessary noise, only peace, serenity, gentle sound of the bells ringing and the nice sweet smell of agarbatti.

Streets of Coorg. Divya and I gave each other a high five and proceeded to the next destination.

Raja seat

Raja seat. Technically it means seat of the king so I kept looking for it. Divya even pointed at an arbor saying it was the seat but I royally ignored her and, if I remember correctly, even made fun of her but later it turned out that she was right. Duh! 

Anyways, while we were there, I wished I could go to one of those hills.

Well, let’s see if we made it or not.

A breathtaking view from Raja seat.

Well, we wasted a bit of our time trying to find some suitable tours and travel packages for our trip for the rest of the day but since it seemed a little overpriced we headed back to Cauvery Hotel. There we booked our taxi, had our breakfast and off we went.

 Just an interesting hoarding.

Abbey Falls

Abbey falls. It was good but I’ve seen bigger, cleaner ones. Nevertheless, it’d been a long time since I saw a waterfall so was excited with that as well.

Cauvery river

On our way to Kushalnagar the driver asked if we wanted to raft. We thought it'd be those wobbly water rafting but after we paid and everything we came to know that it was still water rafting. Dunno why but we even had fun in that. Maybe cos the guide who accompanied us was enthusiastic and humorous and made sure we never got bored. 

Needless to say that he clicked this picture :P

Elephant camp

I didn't like that place. At all! Elephant camp. It was crowded, dirty and you need to wait in the queue to cross the river for almost half an hour to see this---chained elephants and that's it. We didn't waste time waiting in the queue that takes you back and crossed the river ourselves. It was shallow and full of rocks so that wasn't very difficult and turned out to be the only exciting part about our visit to this place.

Namdroling Monastery

The best place ever; popularly known as the Golden temple, this is a Tibetan monastery with interesting architecture and interiors and I'd never seen such huge idols of Lord Buddha ever. I was deeply awed by the elaborate and intricate designs in the structures. Marvelous!

I didn't understand a word of what these monks were chanting but it made me want to stop by and listen to it over and over and over again.

Nisargadhama

It was okay. I mean I never really expected anything much from this place but our bus back to Bangalore was at 11 or something in the night and we had to kill time. It was kind of a zoo, a forest area converted into tourist attraction. Natural setting would have been more exciting.

Way to Talakaveri temple, Bhramhagiri hills

Well, here starts our roller-coaster ride! 

First, we had a lot of time until our bus arrived and we didn't know what to do. Second, our very humble taxi driver turned not-so-humble when we asked him to take us to the very popular Bramhagiri hills. Apparently, his time was up and he'd charge more if he had to take us anywhere and especially Bramhagiri hills since it was quite far. We bargained and bargained and finally a moment came when we realized that he wouldn't budge any further so we agreed on the quoted price and started our journey to the hills. Then came our third obstacle. The car broke down while taking those precarious turns in the hill. Diesel was down! Our driver called up an acquaintance who'd get diesel so he asked us to roam around the place till our rescuer arrived but warned us not to go very far since it was a jungle area. It was there that I came across this very interesting bi-colored frog which was hopping until it's attention turned to me and it took an alert position, trying to camouflage to it's surrounding. 

Talakaveri temple

It was completely covered in mist and we were just on time since the temple was closing.

The view was so darn beautiful that we didn't feel like leaving. But alas we had to. Time constraints you see. 

And, it is noteworthy to mention here that it was indeed one of those hills that I was staring at in the morning from Raja seat and wishing to go to. Woppie !!! ^_^

So that's about it! 

It was time to head back home. On our way down the hill Divya a I did something we had never done together in our life before. We sang. An aural assault to the driver maybe but the two of us thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it.

Before catching our bus we made sure to have dinner in Cauvery hotel and thank the people there for their courteousness. 

A lesson for a lifetime that we took back with us from this journey was that 24 hours is a hell lot of time. We strolled downs the streets of an unknown town, came across beautiful temples and monasteries, rafted in still water, stood in a queue for ages to see elephants, went up hills and passed jungles, sang like morons and met some awesomely charming people..... 

.....all this in just one day!

The unending downpour

It's the 2nd of June, 2013, Sunday.
5:44 P.M. to be precise.

God my last post was in October 2012. That's a long long time ago. My life has changed drastically ever since. Switched job yet again, moved into an apartment.........well let's not bore you with all the details as there's too much of it.

It's been raining like mad here in Bangalore. They say it's the heaviest downpour since years. Dunno 'bout that but it's really driving me bonkers. In the evening, if you're out, you'd definitely get caught in the rain and heaven knows when the traffic'd break and you'd finally reach home.

But on days like this, when you have nothing to do, nowhere to go, you could just lay back and enjoy every bit of the overcast day. It's already pitch dark outside. And the cool breeze has promised itself not to disappear even for a short while. I think today is the very first day I'm actually enjoying the monsoons this year.

One of my flatmates is obsessed with gardening and I realized that it's not at all an easy job. You really need to love plants to grow and maintain them. This was captured weeks ago. Right now there's not a single bud in the stem. Waiting for it to grow back again.

I've been feeling kind of nostalgic the whole day. Must be the rain. Or maybe it's 'cause last Sunday at this very moment I was surrounded by my good ol' friends while today I'm sitting all alone on my warm and cozy bed.

After college I was the only one to get separated from all of my closest friends since I had to move to the south for my job while the rest were lucky enough to be together in NCR. However, gradually everybody moved away. Nevertheless we'd find a reason or another to get back together and relive those amazing college days.

That's almost all of us from our trip last weekend to Lucknow for an alumni meet. From there we headed to Raebareli to visit our college. Believe me, even after two years, it was magic!
(Left to right: Divya, me, Mansi, Monica, Aarti, Harshi)

Oh oh and it's my dear friend Aarti's birthday today. Happy birthday soul roomie (A cute-stupid name we came up with back then. She was my roomate for 3 years in college and she survived me- ME!).

Well, when I started writing this post it was just mild drizzle outside. It's almost 8 P.M. now and a torrential downpour has started. Like I said, I don't mind you today, rain, but tomorrow you better behave yourself  as I have long day at work.

Happy Monsoon!

Wild Peace

It was the 19^th of September, 2012

I always knew Ganesh Chaturthi is huge here but it was only when we arrived at an absolutely empty camp in the Bannerghatta National Park that I realized that it is indeed pretty huge. Who'd waste time in the jungle when it's time for endless fête and fiesta out there in the city.

Well, we did and gosh the “royal treatment” we relished for being the only guest in the Jungle Lodges and Resorts. Apart from a particularly paranoid friend of ours, rest of us were savoring every bit of the solitude.

Hallelujah!

There you go. That is indeed a bison right outside our camp. No kidding bro'! We were actually into the wild.

It was mid-afternoon when we reached our destination (an hour late from the allotted time. Expected!) so as soon as we arrived, it was lunch time. And although I know people usually (not usually, always) do not take my comments on food seriously, trust me when I say this that the food was excellent. My taste buds were rocking and rolling.


These are the lodges...where we didn't stay. We went for the tents instead. Cheaper and wilder.

They'd put up hammocks in front of our tents and at once I jumped into one with some help and assistance from my friend (it was too high for me or probably I'm not used to hammocks). 

Ah! This is one inexplicable moment.

Sunrays peeking through the tree as I lay lost in a whirlpool of thoughts.

And I had problem sitting comfortably in this tire swing too. Guess I'm no longer as young and wild as I used to be and just in case that made you happy, I was only kidding.

It wasn't long after we had our lunch that the safari van arrived. With my camera safely around my neck I was all set for the most awaited jungle tour. The only problem was, I'd left the battery for charging in the tent. Had I realized it in the jungle while spotting some cool animal I would have killed myself. Thankfully, just when I was about to climb the van the thought struck me. Thankfully!

I know this is not the best picture to put up but how often do you see a bear showing his butt to you and defecate. A rare sight I must say.

 It was strange that this pride of lions was trying hard to climb the tree considering there wasn't anything enticing up there. As far as i know, lions usually don't climb trees. It was only later when my friend mentioned that these ones have been rescued from the circus that my confusion was cleared.

A gorgeous sight. Tigers are exquisite. A beautiful painting of God. Orange with a hint of white here and there and ah those perfect stripes.  

A white tiger taking a nap in the shade.

After the jungle safari we were dropped at this butterfly park. Never had I seen so many different varieties of butterflies, all at one place. It was a treat, coming here. 

You can even see its eyeball (or whatever they call it). Crystal clear!

An artificial stream inside the glass house.

From there we went to the zoo. I don't like zoos. But we couldn't avoid it because my friend, the scary pants one, wanted to check out some alligator or something. Can't remember what. A bad idea let me tell you.

From there, we headed straight back to the tent. 

In India, monkeys are no less than thieves. This pack of biscuit that the monkey here is so proudly eating from had been stolen right from our room. I wonder if that deer was also craving for it. Deers eating biscuit. Haahaa! Something about that is funny. Ain't it?

A lit up tent in the evening. 

At night, they made us a bonfire and although it wasn't cold (at all) we were sitting around it like morons. But then somebody suggested we could play musical chair and Gosh how badly I fell this one time while claiming my chair. It was hilarious! 

This one was a pet. He kept roaming around the place all the time. We fed him leaves the next day when we spotted him in the morning. A friendly little creature. 

All of us woke up quite early for trekking. 

The guide told us that a few months back a bison had killed a tourist who tried feeding him something. Poor guy! I'd like to add here that hearing this dreadful piece of information our scary pants gave a nervous giggle and tried one last time to convince us to go back to the lodge. Guess the rest!

Trekking through rocky forest path. Felt like I was in some National Geographic expedition.

A herd of wild ducks making their way through the lake.

An abandoned watch tower. The view from up there was enthralling but alas I'd given my camera to the guide.

Turning road. 

That was it. The trekking was just a wild walk through the jungle. But that doesn't mean it wasn't fun. It was enticing to climb those rocky trails, walk through those choppy roads, gaze at those beautiful lakes and, in other words, to be so close to nature.

Wild peace it was.