The Waiting Room

The waiting room is a place where time slows down and you seem to have developed a gift where you can actually feel every second of every minute passing by ever soo slowly.  I had to travel interstate and had to take the train .  Five minutes before the scheduled departure there was an announcement - the train was going to be late by FOUR HOURS!!!! I cringed at the amount of the time to  kill (I'm not at all patient you would know that if you had read this old post).  I could have slept a little longer but only if I knew.  I headed toward the waiting room while pulling my luggage reckoning how painful and agonizing.  I'd rather walk around the place than sit at one place and wait for hours to pass by.  But I HAD to wait in the waiting room because the baggage was a bit to heavy to carry around.  

The waiting room can be a good place for people watchers those individuals who like to observe fellow homo-sapiens.  There's someone brushing their teeth, another reading a book, a group of youngsters just sitting around playing cards or simply gossiping.  I see a lady who has been walking around with a toothbrush in her mouth for the last 10 minutes (Yucks!).  Makes me wonder what is the ideal duration for brushing one's teeth.  I generally finish brushing in 2 minutes, some people can really brush for 15 or even 20 minutes! That lady was brushing her teeth so rigorously that it seems like she wanted to polish them - with that much pressure she could just sculpt them (LOL!)

There is also a couple - seems like newlyweds from the way they are behaving; one is too concerned too much about the other.  You can tell they are newly married because the concern seems newish and fresh.  There is also a lady with a sleeping child.  The child keeps waking every 15-20 minutes (may be is sick).   An old lady who has also bee watching this mother and child walks toward the young mother and advises her...Wait its more like a lecture seems to go on for minutes. The young mother just listens and smiles.  The child wakes up once more and is now crying the mother picks up her baby and tries to sing and swing it to sleep in her arms.  The old lady quietly walks back to her seat - may be her advise was not applied :P

There is also a couple of bickering siblings - 2 sisters.  Can't tell what its about but its just loud noise once in a while and one of them storms out of the room.  Another couple enters the room with their two kids - a boy and a girl.  Looks likes they are twins both are crawling + can standing by holding on to something.  The father puts the bags and the kids down.  As soon as the kids are put down one of them stands up holding the fathers leg and looking up at him as if to say pick me up :)  Makes me wonder if the child was thinking 'Pick me up oh great giant into your strong arms' :P 

I just constantly keep looking at my watch hoping the time will pass. Did not want to play music for the fear of running down my battery before I got onto the train - I get really nervous even if its down by one bar! I had a book I tried to read but I almost dozed off - Sleeping in the waiting room can be a bad idea, my worst nightmare is missing a train because I overslept! I had sent a text to a few friends about the train delay and couple of them called back.  Something annoying about this waiting room is that there is no reception an I had to walk out of the room but still stay at the door so I could keep an eye on my luggage.  The only good things about the waiting room is  think there is an expiry to the time we wait there.  The excruciating (largely exaggerated I know but it seemed so) four hours were finally up and I felt this wave of happiness  come over me as I stepped out of the room and little bit closer to my destination.

A Different World

I was a NCC cadet during my college days and that introduced me to a different world. NCC stands for National Cadet Corps.  Being a cadet taught me some of life's lessons - survival, time management and people skills to name a few. I'll share some interesting stories; stories that I have shared with a few of my non-NCC friends :)

I think only NCC cadets will ever fully understand what is it to be a part of this world where we march most of the times, what it means to wake up in the wee hours, queuing up outside a telephone booth during camps to call home, the camp food :D, the meaning of  the words night sentry duty, the hierarchy from Senior Under Office to a Corporal and running around with rifles and even being able to shoot at targets. The Republic Day Parade in Delhi, the passion and the struggle it takes to get there. Thal Sainik camp, NIC camp and so many more terms! :)

For those who weren't a part of NCC here's some info: There are three wings of the NCC much like our armed forces - The Army, The Navy and the Airforce.  This is sort of to have a trained pool of trained people who can be of help in times of emergency (I think).  There are a lot of things that cadets do besides marching around in the sun.  For me it was a passion, the most memorable moments of my college life were spent in camps.  I met most of my closest friends in NCC camps or parades :)  Here are a few of the lessons I learnt at camp.

Lesson 1 - No Think, No Smell: I was a part of the first batch of the girls NCC unit in our college and it was our first NCC camp. Usually cadets are given two pairs of uniforms but since ours was a new unit all of us only had one pair of Khakis (I was an Army cadet).  The camp lasted for 12 days and all of us had to make do with one uniform - imagine this now we were made to march the whole day under the sun and made us sweat a lot and we used the same uniform for at least 8 days before washing it on day 9 or 10 I think :P.  What's interesting to note was nobody complaint of body odour or smelly uniforms :) All of us hung the uniforms on hangers and sprayed deodorant on them :D  and the next morning they would be just OK :) That was the first NCC camp I ever attended :) 

Lesson 2 - Re-arrange Tasks, Make Time: The first morning at the camp and I realized I should have woken up early - there were long queues outside the bathrooms and toilets! Somehow managed to get ready and make it in time for the morning exercise.  That night I showered at night and went to sleep wearing the morning exercise dress. Saved me a lot of time next morning - all I had to do was brush and do my hair - tying two plats in the figure of 8 :) This habit stayed with me for a long time even when I started my new job I had a morning 6 AM shift so I would follow the same thing then too - showered at night and just brushed and dressed up in the morning.  I got ready in 10 minutes! :D

Lesson 3 - Keep it Simple Silly: There used to be long queues outside the telephone booth.  Cell phones were just launched that too the black and grey screen ancient ones, few people in camp owned them.  I wasn't so talkative those days (I'd like to think so ) when it came to calling home I would tell the girls ahead I would take just 1 minute and they would let me cut the line.  I communicated what my mother wanted to know in just in minute or less.  The conversation would mostly just be " I'm fine here, the food is OK, people are fine too.  What else you want to know?" she would just laugh and reply nothing else and I'd hang up :D What else do mothers want to know besides knowing how their child is :)

Lesson 4 - Ask and Only Then You Shall Receive: Its a bad world and one has to fend for oneself no matter how many friends or relative one has.  One must learn to defend and survive independently, want something then learn to ask.  Self service first is the number one rule of the jungle don't expect anyone to wait on you or to take care of you.  There was this very helpful I knew at camp which lasted almost two and half month.  She would help the other girls and share her stuff if anyone wanted anything.  Once she ran out of lip balm (it was winter and lip balm was a very important item) she asked this other girl if she could borrow her's.  Now this other girl was a meanie and behaved as if she didn't hear what she said.  But my friend was persistent, she had once helped this other girl and now she would not going to be ignored.

Lesson 5 - Life is not always Fair: I participated in the Republic Day Parade camp and this is something the cadets will ever understand.  This was the only time I ever wanted to go to Delhi just to participate in the Republic Day Parade.  Its the mother of all camps, the cadets go through series of  mentally and physically excruciating camps. The reason I went for it was to challenge my physical limits, to see how much could my body take.  It seemed all good fun at first but as we advanced the levels so did the number of eliminations happening.  I was eliminated at the third last level of the camp which was almost two and half months of camping in that year.  I didn't think I was bad but it was a numbers game and mine wasn't called out.  That hurt and it was a little depressing but well life is not always fair. But as long as you look at the bright side you will be fine - learn the lessons.

Two years after this camp I was working in a new city and doing odd hours of shift.  The lessons I learnt in camp seemed like a preparation for this new phase of life that began after college...

The Samosa Quest

If I had to choose to be any food in the world I'd choose to be a Samosa! I can never ever get tired of eating samosas.  Its one of my 'Happy' food! This article is just to proclaim my love for this food... No stories :P

Today as I left home to go to work as usual but soon as I got out of the building compound I thought I could smell samosas. I looked around to see if there was a samosa vendor nearby.  There's a school next to the building where I live and sometimes there are people who sell junk food / sweets, etc. to the school kids during recess or when they leave. No matter how many years pass there will always be these people outside the school who sell these things :) - I remember the man who sold samosas outside out school.  there was another who sold different flavoured ice-creams and kulfi.  Then there was a lady who sold a sweet (buddi ka baal :P) and sometimes cotton candy in a packet.  During the rainy season there was a man who sold sweet corn / bhutta (fried corn on the cob) and another who sold Guavas with a masala powder. There also used to be a Bhel Puri cart outside school... hmm those were some days! I was a road side foodie since those days (:P hehehe). 

Coming back to what happened today... So I was trying to look if I could spot the samosa seller and couldn't see outside the school but I was getting the aroma... they had to be around me somewhere! I spotted a boy carrying a tin dabba on his shoulder with a paper covering and I knew that's where the samosas must be! :) He was walking ahead of me about 12-15 feet away and I could smell the samosas! :P It was like the samosas were calling out to me much like the aroma of cheese pulls Jerry such that he almost floats toward it :P ... only I wasn't floating but you get the point :P

Since he was walking ahead of me I decided to anyway follow him and see where he will be taking the samosa - probably a shop to sell; they smelled really fresh and crispy I had to get one now! So I was walking behind wondering which shop he would enter to sell the samosas, I was getting hungry.  I realized he was taking the same route I do for the train station and was curious which shop he would turn to.  He did not go to any shop.. but he walked onto the station bridge I was wondering if he was going to the other side and wondered if I should still follow him.  What if he was going somewhere a little too far I could miss my train.  What to do.. samosa or train? While I thought I was stuck in a dilemma I noticed he was walking down onto the train platform.. phew! I thought if wasn't going to sell them is any shop I'd just buy them from him before he get's onto the train.  I saw him walking to a stall on the platform and he handed over the samosas to be sold! :) the moment I had been waiting for... I walked up to the stall and bought one (yes just one).  Nobody knew how long I had longed for it and since I had been following the aroma :D the quest finally ended and that samosa brought me a little bit of peace :)

I love food even otherwise but nothing can bring a smile on my face as a fresh crisp hot samosa I absolutely love it! :D I could never ever get bored of eating samosas. Doesn't matter even if I'm on a diet the Samosa goes on the exception list :D Its one of the items I cook well (ofcourse! Just had to learn to make this) Doesn't matter what kind it is - Samose ke maamle me koi bhed bhaav nahi, punjabi samosa ho ya patti samosa sabka swagat hai :)

Soul Food!

My New Sony Cybershot

I've got a new camera! Yes! Its a brand new super awesome Sony Cyber-shot DSC W570.  Its a lovely shade of Purple isn't it? This is my second camera - technically my third because the first camera I bought was an Olympus (it was terrible never buy Olympus).  I was not at all happy with it and hence returned it within days and bought a Nikon S3100.  It was a really nice camera and I was totally in love with it... until one fateful day when it fell out of my hands and died! If you hadn't read about it previously here's the link. Since I had blogged about that I thought I should also share the good news that I'm in love again! :P

It took me some time to get over my Nikon but...hmm now that I think about it that was just last month! Anyway, so I had to buy a new camera because my phone camera despite being 5 MP was just OK.  So one fine day as I was out on a stroll I just impulsively walked into the electronics store and decided to buy this beautiful piece.  

It was love at fist sight! This was the first model I saw when I walked into the store and it was almost what I wanted - 16.1 MP, 5x optical zoom, very light point and shoot camera and its a Sony Cyber-shot (bas naam hi kafi hai :P)... I say almost because I did buy this one is a bit of a hurry and had not really checked all my options.  What can I say love is blind! :P Minutes after I bought this one I thought about the Nikon S6200 its a camera with features similar to this Sony Cyber-shot but something that clearly sets that apart is it had 10X Zoom!!!! Would have loved to have that one but one friend I consulted about this said the camera I bought is good too, just that I won't be able to spy on people :P heheh made me LOL! He was right I guess.  But yea.. I really really like this new camera :D and I'm super happy again :)

Indian Speaks - The Rulers of India

Most youths in the metros don't have an opinion when it comes to these supposed 'Leaders' of our nation who are actually more like rulers.  They don't really lead - they just feed! Unless there's some personal gain the youth don't  involve themselves much - I hate politics and I'm not interested is what they say.  Even I said that! Its not because we find it boring but its because we feel its hopeless to even express it (though there might be few who are genuinely incapable of thinking about things beyond themselves) I know some people who don't even vote - What's the point they say. Even the news seems the same, a new scam - another added to the pile of scams. Murders / criminal cases that are not solved unless the media person or politicians are involved in.  There is a 'chalta hai' attitude among the public - not because they are alright with the things as they are but they don't think it will ever change.

After the politician slapping incident quiet a few people I know had updated status messages on the social networking and micro-blogging sites commending and appreciating Harvinder Singh (Sher da puttar) - The man who slapped and attacked the veteran politician.  Most 'normal' people feel Harvinder has acted on behalf of all the frustrated and angry Indians including me! When we saw the video clip of a sikh man slapping and attacking the Indian King of Corruption a little bit of our mind felt calm almost as if to say atta-boy! The reason I said most normal people is because there were people belonging to his political party who seemed to have taken it personally and stirred up a little riot in some parts of this state.  I really pity those who took to the streets for their so-called beloved Minister.  They are poor people who do not fully understand  the service he has been doing to this country (he's excellent at self service!).

For those of you who  don't know Sharad Pawar - he is the current Agriculture minister he is also the Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution.  He also served as the chairman of BCCI.  He is infamous as the most corrupt politician in the country.  You can read a lot of detail on his profile on this Wiki link which I think is still a quiet modest description. Here's a look at him.

Doesn't he look eternally slapped?

His entire family has been initiated into the political business. Politics for the likes of these is not a job but a family business.  What is India after all? A country which is free for all except for its citizens.  Its free for the rulers because they make the rules and they don't pay.  They get paid for making thsse rules for just 'turning up' in office. They don't pay their full taxes, some of them don't pay their electricity bills, phone bills, water bills anything! The public - the aam junta pays for it - we pay taxes on our income, road tax, house tax and all other types of taxes.  Sales tax which even the beggar pays! 

Did you know that in history India has never waged war against any other country? India is called the tolerant country.  Before its alleged freedom it was attacked and ravaged by many raiders and thieves from different countries.  They looted and plundered and left us a reduced, destitute and in a pitiable state.  They left this country in the hands of the then looked upon the first political party - the Indian National congress.  It's been 62 years and the country is 'Still' developing! Really.. Does it take that long?! After the old rulers left these new 'rulers' took up the vacant seats.  The laws and constitution were lifted from the left overs instead of creating new laws for their own people.  Nothing has changed except the rulers.  Today its the politicians filling their pockets and looting the country. 

All that is said above is what all the citizens know but still nothing is happening.  The slapping and booting incidents are just small ripples in the ocean but it sends out the message - we are angry. Majority of our people live in rural areas but the rulers live in the most urban places.  Did you see the new update of what Rahul Gandhi said when he went to UP for his election campaign? - Vote for Congress and we will change the state in 10 years! Yeah right! The country is still developing and he goes there and tells them 10 years? Even in a city like Mumbai the Bandra-Worli sea link which was planned and budgeted to be completed in 5 years took 10 years (amazingly well planned huh!) he says he will build a better state.. an entire state in 10 years? Really Rahul go back to the uncle who wrote your speech and tell him it needs to be more realistic. I pity the poor people of Amethi - who think about The Mahatma Gandhi and cast votes for these new age pseudo Gandhis. 

The Rupee is getting devalued, inflation and food prices rising, farmers committing suicide ... People are getting angry and frustrated and its only a matter of time till another Harvinder Singh will not just slap but may be even do much greater harm to the corrupt clan of India .  And if these numbers keep going up we could even be heading for a civil war - I think its a possibility.  Where is the Jan Lokpal bill? Even though it does not guarantee the end of corruption till the lowest of levels but at least for starters we have hope that these bigwigs will be going down first.  There's a reason they are afraid.  There's a reason why the millions of Indians came together for it... Its time the bill is passed, change does not just happen it is 'Brought In'. Lets go Anna!

Its Been a Year!

My blog is one year old today! <Applause> Last year this day (few hours from now) I had posted my first ever article into cyberspace.  Its definitely an achievement for me because its one of those few things I constantly keep at.  I can tell you about some things I tried my hand at but it was because either I was busy or due to bad luck due to which I failed

Here’s to name a few:

Learning Japanese – I love to learn languages and when I started working 5 years ago it was for a Japanese process.  So I wanted to learn the language.  One of my friend is a freelance Japanese translator and also teaches the language! (Lucky me huh!) So yea She agreed to teach me and said if I study hard I could answer the level 4 exam – There are 4 levels of Japanese  Language Proficiency Test (there are 5 levels now but there were 4 back then).  Level 4 being the lowest and level 1 the toughest.  Things with me is I get really excited and agree to do things when they sound do-able.  My friend lived about 11 stations away from my house (this is not too far if you get on to the Mumbai Local) that is about 25 min by train. So the excited me was all set and attended the class for the first 3-4 weekends.  Japanese is a really interesting language (and I wish I had pursued it) I’m a visual learner and Japanese words are actually drawings that describe the word.  I still remember the word Water – pronounced Mizu in Japanese.  Below is the picture of word in Hira-gana (one of the three scripts used in Japanese writing.  The other two are Kata-kana and Kanji) on the right.  The way my friend explained it is – it looks like a drop of water splash – Indeed doesn’t it? The language is mostly drawings... almost!:P

Mizu  - Water

I guess it was because of her teaching method I still remember the few things I do.  So the question why did I not complete it? I think because I was lazy and partly also because my friend got married and moved to a different city. So that was the end of learning Japanese.

The Violin Affair – I just love the sound of violins and its such a beautiful instrument. I love everything about it! One of my favourite musical ads is of the blender's pride music CDs (the ad where the guy first keeps playing this one tune and towards the end his girlfriend gifts him a violin and learns to play the same tune herself)...ever listened to it? At times like these I wish I could read and write music.

Its a thing of such beauty!

So once upon a time, I enrolled myself in a music class (this was almost 4 years ago I think).  The first day was exciting.  I learnt to play the DoReMi chords :) and dreamed that someday I could attempt to play a Beethoven or Bach (Yeah, I'm a hopeless dreamer :D) . I guess it was the class timing (and me being lazy) did not attend more 6 classes :(  A real shame! Even today I feel guilty because I just gave up.  Now I’m just buzy and work timings are a challenge for this sort of thing. But maybe someday I would go back and learn to play... or if I don't I know I will definitely buy a lovely violin for keepsakes :) (When I have my own place and won't have to worry about space management)

Un Sueño Español (A Spanish Dream) – I was keen to learn Spanish because after Japanese this language seemed a lot easier. For starters they used Roman alphabets. Quiet a few words is Spanish are  similar to few words used in Konkani (my mother tongue), Hindi, Sanskrit and has common words used in Portuguese (I don't know Portuguese or Sanskrit but know a few words from here and there). 

So I joined the class, got the books and was super excited to learn the language in the beginning.  I learnt the alphabet and numbers :) Every day I would find a word that had a similar meaning or sounded similar in some of the other known languages. The reason I gave up was... hmm, now that I’m writing this I realise is because I was lazy.  The class was in between workplace and home - usually this is a good thing. But the problem was I had to take the bus to get to class and the buses in this city.. and that's a whole different story. I had to wait for 25-30 minutes for the bus if you missed one you would have to wait for sooo long! Taking the auto-rickshaw was not a economical option for everyday travel... The wait was killing. So I gave up and wasted a lot of money - guilty again. This was about 3 years ago. I like to say I've learnt from these experiences... and now I don't enroll for any class :P - kidding :) Early this year I signed up to learn to drive and I completed the course and I now have a driver's license :)

I guess if I was really determined I would have been able to achieve all of the above... I remember this quote by Swami Vivekananda – "Arise, Awake and stop not till the goal is reached."  Determination is the key to success... This was years ago and I have learnt few of life’s lessons through the years.  I have learnt that one needs to be relentless if we really want to make things happen. Another quote I'd like to mention is "Failure will never overtake me if my determination to succeed is strong enough." (Don't remember who said that).

So yes... completing a year on the blog is a BIG deal for me because its one of those few things I am able to check off the list - not really going to check this one off.. yet!  Looking back and seeing 40 articles in a year, liked and commented on is not too bad I guess ;) It was a a wonderful 1st year of blogging.  Hope the inspiration continues and may my Muse watch over me :) 

I would also like to thank those who read these articles / stories that I post - Thank You! It is knowing, somebody somewhere is reading and appreciating my effort that has sometimes inspired me to write and share :) Please continue commenting, sharing and liking :D Your feedback is very much valued!

An Evening at Masjid Bunder - Mumbai

I was at Masjid Bunder yesterday helping my aunt with some grocery shopping.  For those of you who don't know Masjid Bunder - it is know for being a wholesale market and the second station on Mumbai's Harbour Line.  It is the second station after Chatrapati Shivaji Terminus.  (That's about how much I know about it :P)

Every time I'm here I feel like I'm walking in the streets of the old Mumbai - the Mumbai of the Mills Era.  There's trucks to hand drawn carts being used in this area to transport good from place to place.  Here I am reminded that Mumbai is a place where people work really hard.  See the picture below,  Its an old man carrying 2 pitchers of water.  He was so old and still carrying that much load.  I'm sure we wouldn't see any youngster in the city carry the pitchers this way.(Click on the images to view the full size version)

Its not just this man but anybody you look around will be buzy carrying something to someplace.. I think this the busiest area of the city :) Here's a look at a few people I spotted.

He's not a beggar...

Everybody is carrying something

There was such hustle buslte in this part of town I even saw people pulling hand carts but couldn't click a picture because I look like a tourist - clicking away while they were all working.

Most buildings and some shops have this really old era feel to it.  There were some shops where they lined the spices out in small trays for samples. Liked the colours... notice the shades of red?

Turmeric and Chilli powders with different spice limit :)

Other Spices

There were quiet a few shops that hung a sign that read - We take old notes... don't know what its is about them but I like :)

This is just fruits after the vendor had just sprayed some water on them. Not that I had not seen this before but... just went click :P

Fresh Apples

Take a look at this fruit seller.  He sells 5 peeled oranges for 10 rupees! They are small Oranges but still.. makes the point - Most people here work hard to make a living.

I spotted a toys shop that sold smiles by the pack :D... If only it was that simple to buy smiles :)

A pack of smiles

Something else I find in this city - Mumbai.  There are a lot of kabutar-khanas.  People here like to feed the pigeons and there a LOT of pigeons!
Here's a small Kabutar kahan in Masjid bunder and Pigeons :)

Pigeon Picnic

That was one evening in one of Mumbai's busiest markets and thought of sharing what I saw :)

An Unmarried Girl

What is the problem if girls my age are still not married? Really why do some people have to exclaim when they hear I'm single.  Today I'm narrating an incident - a first for me. 

I happened to run into this distant relative of an aunt today.  There have been too many accidental meetings with her this year and she has been progressively becoming more annoying than the last time.  Since the last three meetings she had been asking if I my family was looking (for a groom), if I'm getting married soon or if I'm engaged.  So here's what happened today.

The bell rang and I was the one who opened it.  What a surprise, there she was - lets call her aunty Elly - with her daughter and  niece I presume. We exchanged the regular pleasantries (inside I cringed - oh why today?).  She settled in and was speaking with uncle while sat with my laptop, browsing and chatting with friends.  She looks at me smiles and asks 'To kahi baat pakki hui beta?' I smile back and reply in negative and try to hide behind the laptop! (ugghh really why IS SHE bothered?).  she goes on as asks "Are you working or playing a game?" I reply "I have to finish some urgent work" (on my personal red laptop :P). She goes back to chatting with uncle. 

Five minutes later she asks me "How old are you?" I'm a little annoyed at her question but reply - 25.. She still wants to confirm so asks me which year! My uncle replies "She is 86 born same year as my elder son" She is now calculating and says " So you have completed 25 and running on 26..hmmmm" I usually don't care when it comes to stating my age but the way she said it felt like she was disrobing me :(...  I wonder when she will leave. Elly is relentless.. she seems to have made up her mind to get as much as info about me today.  She asks me about my star sign, horoscope details! There seems to be no end to it,  I feel like a victim. Pause.  She is now back to talking to my uncle. 

Then she asks me "So what kind of a guy are you looking for?" I'm surprised and dumbfounded at this question.  I stumble and just able to  react with ''huh?!.. Why... What do you mean?"  She asks "What are your expectations? a Doctor, Engineer, Professor?" I reply "I don't know" and go back to starting into my laptop praying God let this be over soon.  And then another question "What's your height?" I tell her I'm 5ft 4in.  She goes on... "So will you be fine with a 5ft 5in tall guy?" OMG she had someone in her mind already!!! I'm quick to reply with "NO, The guy has to be minimum 5ft 9in... I wear heels you see and some are about 4 inches high" (I'm just ROFLing inside) 'Elly had crossed over her boundary of the regular nosy relative and walked in to the role of a matchmaker and couple of steps too close into my personal space.  I wish I could just walk out right now but can't look rude.  I'm praying someone just calls me.

"Oh!" She exclaims and continues "Well you know wearing heels is not good for health.  There is a Orthopedic I know and he advises that girls should not wear heels at all.  I know it looks good but in the long term it causes back ache" after intruding my personal space she is now acting as my health instructor. She then asks how many siblings I have and what is my educational qualification how long have I been working. By the end of it I was sooo annoyed and tempted to say Thanks very much but I love wearing heels and I don't plan on getting married at all.  

This was my first ever experience with a nosy relative.  Makes me wonder why can't girls be single and happy? Why do people expect that after a certain age we have to get married? I understand marriage can be beautiful if you meet the right one but it can be totally opposite if rushed into.  From where I'm standing right now its - Better alone than bad company.

Rupee Devaluation - Size Matters

I usually avoid writing about politics and politicians because the subject is so vast and there is no end to how much the common people can crib.  I have been observing - what I think is the deterioration of the rupee.  A subject which has been playing on my mind a lot lately.  The Rupee seems to have lost so much weight owing to the diet of the politicians. While the Aana and Paisa has gone out of circulation the Rupee coin has become lighter and smaller. Wonder what is the reason? I recently happened to have a lot of change in my purse and found some old and the very recent rupee. See for your self (click on the images to view the larger than life version :P).

I noticed the latest one rupee coin is the same size as the 50 Paisa coin or slightly smaller! They have incorporated the new Rupee symbol on the coin alright but why make it smaller and lighter? The design I most hated was the one with a thumb on it...Thenga!! Its like they are mocking the person holding a rupee! What was that designed for, the illiterates? Are they acknowledging the illiterate population of the country!?

Here's a look at 2 Rupee coins.

The second coin seems like its bigger in size but its thinner and lighter.  Also again I'm glad they stopped the one with the two finger impression on it!

The latest  2 Rupee coin is the same size as the old 1 Rupee coin. I have got confused at times and handed out 2 rupee coins instead of one rupee. 

Wonder how the blind catch up with all these changes.  Earlier the coins used to be distinct and even the blind could tell the value.

Do you remember the days when you saw fresh and crisp five Rupee notes? They introduced five Rupee coins, again it started with a heavy fat coin that lost weight over the years. (I just gave away a latest shiny five rupee coin and could not include it) After seeing the illiteracy-special coins I thought the five Rupee coin might have a palm (also the symbol of the ruling party) on it.  

Heck! They even created 10 Rupee coins! People who got their hands on the coins first decided to keep it.  I have one too.  The minting factory tried to make it look like a Euro with dual metal thing but look at the size when I compared it with a Two Rupee coin made in 1999.

Utterly Shameful! I don't think any other country in the world has ever devalued their own currency at this rate and this low! The Government might blame it on the ever rising inflation (which they are suppose to manage) the Rupee strength reduced to almost like a leaf in the wind.  I don't understand the economics but as a commoner / part of the Aam Junta I feel the slap as inflation rises.  I am assuming the govt needs the extra metal to satiate the corrupt and hence trying to lighten our currency.  

Imagine how this will ease them in continuing their corruption - If there are notes / coins for higher denominations its easier to fill up bags and carry them around.  Do you know one Crore Rupees easily be packed in a duffel bag thanks to the thousand Rupee notes.

Another thing I would like to talk about is the picture of Gandhiji on notes of all denominations.  Now I understand he is the father of the nation and all that.. but he was not the only man responsible for the independence our country.  We have so many brave freedom fighters who gave up their lives fighting for this nation and all that they have to their name are few pages in the school history text books.  Again I think ours is the only country that has just one man on our money.  Why not Bhagat Singh, Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel - The Iron man of India, Veer Savarkar, Chandra Shekar Aazad, Subhas Chandra Bose or our scientists even?  I think that is because of the way the ruling party wants to use the Gandhi name to their advantage. Do they think - Show Gandhi and people will vote for Gandhi? Digressing a bit away from currencies even the bridges, universities and roads are named after the current Gandhis who are in no way related to the original Gandhi. There's nothing personal against them but really aren't we paying for their Z security and for what? What have these new age, so called youth icon Gandhis done actually other than walk among the people around elections and try to show they understand what ails the common Indian.

Other countries who have fought for their freedom have the names and pictures of the martyrs on the different denominations, streets, universities, etc. Those who were always free have their scientists / politicians (good ones!) or Royals printed.  Ours I have to say is a very poor and sad state of affairs.

Just FYI on some know foreign currencies.

• The highest denomination note printed in the US is the 100 Dollar bill. (Imagine packing a million dollars in a duffel bag)
• The hundred Dollar bill has the US President Franklin on it while the one Dollar bill has George Washington on it.
• One Euro weighs 7.5 grams and the design hasn't changed since it was introduced in 1999 (I think so).
• The Arab Emirates Dirham notes have different motifs as per the denomination.

There's a lot more information out there.. but I guess you get the point. 

Why Do Cockroaches Fly?

This is going to be the most random article I've ever written.  I couldn't sleep and when I went to get some water saw a cockroach.  The instant reaction was trying to kill it but just as I was about to... It FLEW!!! I just hate it when they do that!!

Why did God create these six legged tentacled creatures? So we appreciate those creatures that are not creepy and make you want to kill them!? The thing is creepy as it is why give it wings?  It reminded me of the Peacock somehow (I know weird) because even though some of us think the peacock does not fly, it does when it needs to I guess (I've seen seen it!).

Now the Peacock is a creature of beauty and it look amazing when it flies - more like glides. From the trees / roof to lower ground, it can't fly like an eagle or a pigeon. May be it does I've not seen it - must do may be how does it get into the trees / on the roof then.  Hmmm.. I've moved on to a beautiful creature.  I tend to digress when I'm talking as well and it reminds me what a friend said to me "You have a wavering mind!" :P I start at point A and end up at 4th cross road Martin street heheh (I just did it again :P) .. Coming back to the point... why do they have wings? They have 6 legs to carry them faster.  Those 2 antenna thingy to warn then of direction / find food I guess... but they should not be allowed to fly! :( its just a little scary sometimes.  If they did it everyday like they were flying insects would be fine.. but they do it occasionally. It should be simple either fly or don't fly! They are like the amphibians - we learnt in school animals that reside on land and water.  So this is a pest bordering on flying and what is it they do..crawl, run? There must be a word for it :P

Here are a few facts about cockroaches I know thanks to some e-mail forwards and Google :D

Kill it before it flies!

A cockroach can stay alive for a whole week without its head -  A true pest huh! This makes me wonder what kind of a weirdo must have beheaded a roach and observed it for that long time to come to this conclusion.... Also, this is why we need to squish them - no amputating! :P

Cockroaches have been around since the time of Dinosaurs! :-O - They should be declared kings of pests!!

Some female cockroaches only mate once and stay pregnant for life! -That is just abnormal to think of... does the baby roach take birth when the mother dies then? What happens to it? Imagine what would happen if that happened to humans... errr lets not... creates a very disturbing image!

The next 2 facts really made me LOL! :P

Cockroaches can run up to 3 miles an hour - I imagined a roach on a treadmill and a guy (same one who beheaded his friend) with a stopwatch (heheahaha)

Cockroaches can hold their breath for up to 40 minutes! - Roach under water :P Some person must have had a lot of time to get to these facts! :P Must be people who are really curious about this and do a lot of Research! Poor pest had to suffer such harsh testing - would have been so much better off if it was killed instead :(

We consider this creature a pest because it lives off our food and also give off a terrible odor.  If it brings along family we call it an infestation... What is it's role in the food chain? eating scraps / garbage?  There must be a reason for it's existence... So if the worlds a stage then the role of this little thing must be to play the pest.. Doing really good pesty! :P

Some Interesting People

Disclaimer to Friends: If I haven't mentioned you in this article it does not mean you are not special to me. You must already know I don't have the patience to write pages and pages.  May be someday when I think of writing a book on the people in my life I will count each and every single one of you. This post is to highlight people I met through uncommon and interesting ways.  Also I shall not give out proper names - for your privacy ofcourse.. but you should know when I'm talking about you.. hopefully

I have to say I have a good memory (most of the times). Today I was going through my friends list on a social networking site (I know that you know that I'm talking about Facebook) and remembering how we became friends. Some I share some interesting moments with, some through a common friend only to realise how freakin similar we are and then somehow we ended up becoming closer friends than with the one who actually introduced us. I'd like to narrate this chronologically.

Some how I don't remember the first friend I ever made - probably because it was an entire class I saw (getting a feeling I'm rambling now... May be writing in the reverse order is better)

The most recent friends I made were two people (RK and JK) with whom I had interacted only through this blog.  How I met them was because of another common blogger friend (BM) whose posts I much love to read  and the people I met were also his fans :P... now what's special about this is I don't really go about adding everybody who follows this blog :P I had added BM on FB after reading his articles. The plan was to meet up with BM because he was coming to this city but eventually ended up meeting RK and JK  and also a new unexpected friend JM. RK was the 1st one I saw and just behind her were JK and JM.  We met at Nariman Point and it was a totally fun evening!

Another friend I made thanks to blogger and I intend to meet as well is SDR.  I really like reading what she writes.  Her post Perceptions, Vegan and Boyfriends is one of the best articles I've read!  Hope someday we are able to meet in person too. 

SB is another really really sweet and extremely fun person! She is my office best friend's (DS) childhood friend.  I added SB on FB after hearing all her stories / praises  from DS.  We had a common best friend but I think we mostly bonded over heavy issues.  Something peculiar about her is she is quiet a lot like me - soo talkative (sooo much more than me - I don't get to talk when she is talking!), extremely fun, very straight forward and we have realised over time that we have a LOT of similar likes / dislikes!  I call her the comic strip lady, she has a lot of potential to write (sadly she does not believe this) and those who know her can get to see this side of her if they are friends on FB or around her when she is in that mode :P hehe. I am yet to meet her in person, another person on the list of people I want to see :D

SC was a girl from the same college as me.. She was a year senior to me though.  (I'm not sure what impact my revelations will have on our friendship now but since this topic is such.. heregoes!) This happened about almost two years ago.  I received a call from a girl and she said she was in the same college as me she was my senior and had got my number from a common friend CS. She was working in Bangalore but was in Mumbai on a business trip and wanted to meet up.  She added me on FB and we had tons of common friends (the entire college crowd). Now there was something about this person.  I clearly remembered her name and also that she was my senior in college but the thing with the brain is when you remember names it also does a lookup on the face.  When I went through her profile on FB there was no flashback! She called again the next day - it was the weekend.  she had to do some shopping and also was keen to meet up.  Now I could not tell her that I did not remember her face, I thought may be if I met her in personally I might remember her.  So I did, but still nothing! That was really weird because I claim to have a good memory but I just could not remember her! It was like a whole person was wiped out of my mental records.  But yet I did not tell her that.  The whole time we spoke of college, work and the kind of people we meet, life, etc. in the background my brain was desperately  trying to get a match. That whole evening I spent getting to know this person I had once known earlier.  Till date I am unable to recollect how she looked like in college (unless she dressed up like a Hobo or had a undergone plastic surgery or something - which I know is not true or possible!) That day I made friends with a person allover again whom I knew once upon a time and for some reason - which I still wonder - I'm unable to recollect! Bet that has never happened to anyone!

AS and I met in a camp in Dharwad, Karnataka in the summer of 2005.  We first met in the summer camp and then in the subsequent Pre Republic day selections camps that happened that year.  I was an Army cadet and she was a Naval cadet. Initially we did not like each other at all but it was a session of 'face reading' that brought the walls down :) After that we became really good friends and still are. I'm glad we met AS! On second thoughts the whole group of faces was really special!

DM is a friend I made 9 years ago! Way back in 2002 Yahoo chat was a rage like FB is now-a-days.   There used to be real people to chat with unlike today where chat rooms are full of predators.  Through the years we have stayed in touch somehow while not constantly being connected but catching up now and again.  I think it is an achievement we are good friends till today is because through all those changed numbers and e-mail addresses we still managed to be in touch.  We finally met in the real world about 2 years ago before that we had not even exchanged pictures or anything (none that I remember)!

So these are some of my friends.  From the above listed interesting people I think SC story tops the list... Unless someone tells me that is normal :P

The Wait

The one skill I need to acquire is PATIENCE - not that I'm perfect otherwise. I think I'm one of those almost perfect people and I'm glad to be almost perfect instead of totally PERFECT else everyone around me would be soo jealous LOL!! (OK I'm digressing now :P back to the point) The toughest part in life is the wait, learning to wait.  

I think wait can be a silent killer or may be its not the wait but the anticipation of what could be.  I felt it would take an eternity to grow tall when I was little.. hmm now that was a random sentence (I've decided I'm not going to cancel anything I write and think aloud in this one) so yea, coming back to the point of waiting and anticipating.  I'm very impatient when it comes to the verbal hook (I just can't solve those funny riddles, I'd rather pester the person to give me the answer! :P)... and the friends who know that use it against me sometimes.  A friend sends me a text 'I need to tell you something'... Well Seems like she wants to check if I have the phone handy so I immediately reply 'Tell ME!'.. I mean why can't she just text me what it is.. why the I-have-something-to-tell mystery? 

Another friend of mine (now this is just for the pleasure he gets out of making me wait.. and I get soooo mad at him, I Can't describe!) so he calls me tells me 'There's something I have to tell you' and I say 'Yeah????' and he says 'I'll tell you when we meet in person' (Isn't that totally annoying!? I absolutely hate it!) I never annoy my friends like this because I understand the pain ( Pain? :P LOL) I think we humans love to create suspense and drama (why am I even surprised!) Why do you think Daily soaps are such a hit.. I think because people are nosy :P they want to know whats happening in other peoples life.  Then again the wait... the soaps make you wait and you wonder what will happen (do you even now-a-days? I think its totally predictable).

Another random thought about the waiting process - You know what I don't like about waiting too long? Its the fact that after you know you have waited for way longer than you should its making the decision to move on.  Just because we have invested that much time waiting of something to happen / appear you feel you can just put in a little more time.. it then sort of becomes like quick sand pulling you in deeper and deeper (that is the worst part). Its like waiting for the Buses in this city, after you have waited 30 minutes you know you will wait for another 10 minutes, but then even after another 15 more minutes there's no bus and you get into a Rickshaw... and soon as you start moving then you see the bus arriving (you feel worse when you see how freakin empty it is!!) Its just best to move on sooner if you don't find something than be stuck in one place because of the time already invested.  Moving on is good, change is always good. (did that sound like something from the book Who Moved my Cheese? Its just common sense I think but then that is so rare! :P)

They say the wait makes things seem worthwhile and if it weren't that we'd get bored even sooner. There's a lot I could write about this subject but I've run out of patience! So ending with quote I really love  :)

                 I am extraordinarily patient, provided I get my own way in the end.

- Margaret Thatcher

P.S.

I don't think I'm too impatient either.. I get like this when its gone beyond my patience limit :P

What Was Your Dream?

When I was young (like 5-6 years old) I hated it when people asked me this one question "What do you want to become when you grow up?" I those days there were just a couple professions I had heard of - Doctor or Engineer! I would say Doctor only because most of my classmates said that. I knew I did not really want to become a Doctor or an Engineer but I was not aware of any other options.  I thought may be things will change and I will do something different.

Sometime later when my Dad and I used to stargaze and Mum told me about the man on the moon (Neil Armstrong and Rakesh Sharma the first Indian in space ) I dreamed of becoming an Astronaut. I actually  had dreams of floating among stars and walking on the Moon :P I remember there was news of UFOs and I wondered what would happen if I were ever kidnapped :P  Later I learnt that Astronauts need to have a strong mathematical base - I really HATED Math so much that I changed my mind and gave up my astro dream.

When I was 10 I attended my first proper science class.  I liked biology and wanted to become a scientist. Around the same time I used to watch Captain Planet - it was a show that taught kids about pollution and how we can save our planet (Click This Wiki Link to know about him). I was totally into it and learnt the title song.  I think I still remember it - Captain Planet, he's our hero, gonna take pollution down to Zero.  He's our powers magnified .... something something and then ended with We're the Planeteers, You can be one too. 'Cause saving our planet is the thing to do Looting and polluting is not the way, Hear what Captain Planet has to say: "The Power is Yours!!" :D and even made notes of all the GK they shared (I actually wrote down the points!) that was a really good show and I miss it sometimes. So yeah, I wanted to do something for the planet and dreamt about inventing something that will save the world from global warming. Here also again.. Science students were required to be good at Math! So numbers made me change my mind again.

When I was about 12 I wrote my first poem and wrote about 49 more! :) Yep.. I wrote about anything I remember I had written one about the seed germination process.  Then something bad happened, I had a made a book of my poems and given it to someone to read.. and they lost it! Can you believe it!? They just LOST it!! That hurt me so much I had written soo many poems and this person just loses it! I cried for days over it and then decided I will never write again (Well I'm still writing now! So something nice happened and I later changed my mind  :D) But around this time I realized I could write and thought of becoming a writer too.  

When I was preparing for my board exams I had decided I would be going for Arts and majoring in Literature and Psychology (Yes I'm serious!) I wanted to be a Journalist or something to do with Psychology (I was interested in reading people).  I had even bought the admission form of the Arts college. Now, my Mum was sneaky - she asked me one little question "Do you like to write short answers or lengthy ones that span pages and pages?" I said Short ones.  She explained that arts students have to really write pages and pages for their exams while Commerce students just need to create one balance sheet or solve a problem and they get full marks.  She also said its not like Math and I would be fine. Well, that was all it took and I eventually ended up in a Commerce college and specializing  in Management. I had no idea then as to what I would be exactly doing for a profession.

When I was in college I came across this one Astrology book by Cherio and for some time I even thought about Astrology (nice substitute for not making to Astronomy :P) but this was short lived again due to all the numbers and calculations! I have a mental block around numbers.

I dreamed about a lot of things as a child but today I find myself somewhere else.  I hated math and numbers and avoided it so much that the course of my dreams changed and today I'm working for a financial company :P I don't regret it though. My work is nothing to do with numbers :P :D - I love systems and people interaction and my current job gives me that.  I think I am one of those people who are happy with with their job (most of the times :P)...

But, Zindagi abhi bohot baaki hai :) My love for writing is alive (I like to think) through this blog :) I guess somehow through all the things that we dream of the real passion stays alive no matter what. 

An Unlucky Day

Sometimes I wonder if there is anything like a bad omen or is it something we notice when things don't work for us.

It was bright and the noisy the traffic woke me.  I tried to look at the watch see what time it was and it looked like it was 10 am! I was suppose to wake up at 8 am!!! The phone alarm did not ring? No time to think had to quickly get ready.  I rushed in the shower and realized i had oiled my hair the previous night and it would take atleast 45 min to get ready to leave! Damn why was I late today!! I was out of the house by 11 am.. I was walking toward the train station and I see a black cat cross the road.  A thought corsses my mind - really!? Is it really true what they say? Nah! Its just superstitions. 

I reach the station and see the train leave.  I just missed it, just then there is an announcement the next train has been delayed by 15 minutes.  Its times like these when time seems to really really slow down! Grrr.  Tried listening to some music to take my mind off how late I was running today.  The train finally arrives, I'm just able to make it to work at the usual time 12 .45.  Its Monday and I had to finish somethings before the day could begin.  I'm hungry and decide to get some quick lunch I have just about 15 minutes before Monday fever grips me. 

There's a long queue for the full meal, so quick sandwich it is.  The sandwich people have a grill which they use and it was not working today.  I'm not surprised today! I asked for the cold sandwich to be packed and race to my desk... all the time to check out what to eat or not to eat has taken up 20 mins! I log in and see a meeting reminder pop up.. 10 minutes overdue and its a meeting with Boss! He is someone who hates latecomers.  Really! There's nothing worse than turning up late for his meeting.  This was the 4th time I've been late! This is just perfect for a day like this.  I quickly dial him and apologise for being late.  I'm able to finish lunch in between the call while on mute. Its back to back meetings till about 4 in the afternoon. The To-Do list just keeps getting longer :(

Its one of those days when you wish you had stayed in bed that morning.  Did the cat have anything to do with this? Was that really a bad omen or just a sign of what lay ahead! :(

Then something happens - I was in a meeting my phone begins to ring loudly... Its the alarm tone.  I tried to shut it off and it falls down (all eyes on me...) Just when you think the day could not get worse, it does! I look for it under the table it just keeps getting louder by the second.  I look at the time its 8 and its ringing I'm desperately trying to shut it off but nothing seems to work.  I can't see anything but the screen of the phone.  It has alarm bells dancing on the screen. Oh God the noise... make it stop! everything seems to disappear and all I can see is the phone ringing in my hand.  When I finally am able to stop it I realise its eight O'clock and Monday morning.

It was a dream and I'm glad I woke up! :) Had a good day at work, tasks right on schedule and left on time too :)

My Nikon!

My beloved camera is now no more.... I might sound silly to you if you don't know my love for pictures.  But what happened is truly heart breaking (for me atleast!).  I carried it around with me everywhere I went - everyday I took it to office in my bag in the hope that I might see something that is worth capturing.  And well I was able to get some really nice shots. I had bought it from Dubai after exchanging it for a really bad Olympus cam (it had terrible clarity and I will never ever buy an Olympus).

I had clicked about 2500 odd picture in a span of 2 months.  2500 is not much is it? Well I was travelling and seeing lots of new things so I was lucky to have Nikon with me.  Let me tell you about my Nikon: It was a Coolpix model # S3100, 14 MP cam with 5X zoom and a slim cool blue  body.

Isn't it gorgeous!?

I don't think it's silly to cry over a broken camera. Anyone who love's camera and owns one will understand.  Especially if its a 2 month old baby and after just 2500 clicks! Ye bhi koi uamart hoti hai aisa kuch hone ki? I captured some funny, random, really good moments thanks to Nikon. One of my friend consoled me saying 'Smile, you know your Nikon loved to capture that' That did bring a huge smile on my face :D (LOL! Yea I can be soo dramatic sometimes hehe)  Well I get attached so those few things which I have with me. I'm a click-happy person and well.. that hurt!

Here's the last moment captured on my Nikon.  

Moments before the tragedy. How happy we were.

If you are curious how a brand new cam broke, well here's the story.. so here we were clicking pics about some nonsense argument happening (was funny - see our faces!) another friend was clicking the picture so I decided why not keep it on timer and everyone can fit in the same frame. so was trying to balance it on a CPU on the desk...Switched it on and the lens was up and awake ready to shoot. I set the timer and was about to let go... and somehow I did not completely.  I brushed against the cam and it fell on the desk, bounced off and fell on the floor! :-O (Yeah! was an OMG Ouch! moment) The lens was still out and it got stuck.. something inside had broken and it would not click or close! :(  I broke it... yes ME!! Guilty me! 

Are you wondering why I did not repair it? Its because the cost of repairs would have fetched me a brand new cam! :D

May my heart rest in peace and move on to a newer cam :D I'm all ready to fall in love all over again thanks to all the support from my friends and family during this trying time :)  I'm Cam hunting again :D

Update: I bought a new camera in November 2011 read about how beautiful it is here

The Apple

She hadn't eaten anything for two days and was feeling weak from hunger.  There were days when she did not get anything to eat or just one meal a day.  This was one of those many.  Her father was the apple seller and a drunkard. Her mother had died 2 years ago, she was just eight then.

Today she was sitting at the bazaar selling apples. Fruit prices had really increased and her father had invested the little money he had to buy apples to be sold.  Oh how red and delicious they looked .  If she could have one little apple... just one apple.  Her father had told her they were bought to be sold. He had counted them all and warned her not to eat any.  "I will sell them at more value" he had said.  It was afternoon and he had gone to get his daily dose of venom.  She hated it when he got drunk.  He had no friends and got into fights every evening. She would have to go hungry when he forgot to buy food.

She couldn't stand it any longer, the beating she would get seemed like a small price for one apple.  She picked up the one closest within her reach and took a bite... and another and another.  The fruit was finished before she knew it.  She wanted another she did not realise the taste of the first because she gobbled up most of it. She already had one might as well have a second she knew she was going to pay for it.  The took a bite off a second and paused for a moment... oh how sweet it was! She almost finished the second, she had savored every bite. 

Suddenly she felt a cane hit her arm.  She turned around and saw him standing, his eyes red and he had been drinking.  She cowered and tried to explain how hungry she was.  Before she could say a word there was a second blow.  The cane felt like a whip of fire burning every time it touched her.  It was raining fire.  After some minutes she felt nothing just her body was moving and she could see her father beating her... but she felt nothing. There was blow after blow and then it became dark and she could not see or feel.  She felt at peace thinking how sweet the apple was.  She was just a child, a hungry child...

Note: This is fiction based on a true story I read where two poor girls were beaten to death because they had eaten some fruit.  they were hungry for days but the seller did not think of it they were beaten mercilessly till they were no more.

Office Mug Noodles

I love food and everything about it. I need to have my food dabbas full of food at all times. I can get a little insecure when stored food levels reach below the re-order level or if there is nothing to munch on. I have food stocked up not just in my  room but also in office :) Of three drawers one drawer is dedicated only to food :D It has everything I need; from salt, pepper to soup, noodles, tea, fruit and biscuits :P 

Click to maximize :)

These are not the normal cup noodles that you get but the packet ones.  I'm not promoting Horlicks Foodles but these are some tasty + healthy noodles which are better than Maggi because they are made from Wheat and other mix of flour instead of the usual refined flour (so they say on the packet).  Usually you would need fire to cook these but there is a fireless way to cook them too.  I shared it with couple of girls in office and they quiet liked it.  So thought of posting it for the benefit of those workaholic gastronomes :)

 Step 1: Buy a packet of Horlicks Foodles :)

 

Step 2: Before opening the packet crush the noodles (crush them lightly, don't turn them into powder).  You need to do this because you will be making them in a mug.

Step 3: Empty half of the crushed noodles in the mug (for convenience I make only half a packet at a time).  Pour boiling hot water on it just enough to soak them.  If you put extra water it will be soupy. Also  make sure the water is extremely hot so the noodles can sort of cook.  If you use only warm water then you will just end up with wet noodles (its a waste!)

Step 4: Put a lid on the mug and let the noodles sit in the hot boiling water for full 5 minutes.

Step 5: The noodles must have turned nice and fluffy now its time to add the tastemaker / Masala.

Step 6: Stir the noodles well.Viola!Yummy and healthy noodles ready to eat :D

 This is perfect when you have back to back calls and don't find time to go get something to eat.  If you think this is too much of efforts you can always keep biscuits, etc handy :)

For the love of food I wish you never know hunger pangs and ever face food shortage.  Happy Eating!