I am very finicky about starting a week well. Hence I always plan a proper 8 hrs of sleep. In fact post my Engg days, I have always made it a point to try and get a proper 8 hrs sleep thanks to the mental food angle. Unfortunately this was the Sunday I decided to hog on Nirula's hot chocolate fudge (HCF) sundae, which meant a walk after dinner and sleep a little later. All this was after returning from a visit to Kolkata to check out my brand.
It was around 2330 when I got a call from Gurtashika my friend and colleague at GSK who lives in the same building as my guesthouse. Gurtashika is like this Punjabi reincarnation of fearless Nadia, so it was quite a surprise to hear her voice all scared and hassled at the other end of the call sounding all apolegetic saying that she was really sorry but she needed her help because there was a bat in her house on the 16th floor and she needed me to get the watchman up to her house.
The rushing off to the watchman and getting him to the 16th flr was quite uneventful. But then we reached the 16th floor with a very worried Tashi standing outside her house looking in through the door into a house all bright and lit up. Which is when I suddenly realized that I had no idea what we were going to do there.
See the first thing about being courageous is knowing what to do in a situation. I have seen bats in batman movies and at a distance in the dark hovering around trees, but never one on one and had no idea what to do to get it out. So there we were standing outside the door. The watchman being probably the only guy who knew what to do walked in most cautiously and we stood outside with Gurtashika standing behind me, which made me realize that I really didn't have any where to hide. Hiding behind Tashi not being an option considering my rather healthy form.
The watchman spent 5 uneventful mins inside which gave me the courage to walk in too, stepping most gingerly expecting some creepy bat to jump out from behind a sofa. A few minutes of investigation and I decided that the bat just went out the same way he came in and suddenly got my courage back. You know that nervous laughter which comes out when a potentially scary scene in a movie turns out to be something harmless came out and I even suggested to the petrified lady that she was probably halucinating which got me a stare back in return.
The watchman then checked all the rooms and proclaimed that there was no bat which seemed quite obvious when just as a check he looked into the 2nd bathroom which had the door slightly open, turned to me and said 'Saheb, yahan hain'. My life in MR has revealed to me that what people dislike most is information which makes life unpleasant for them. 2 mins back I was at my cockiest best planning to go back to my house and shut out of my life all unpleasant thoughts for a wonderful 8 hrs and here was information which had to be acted upon.
I suggested he close the door, which he did and then he suggested that he would have to kill it off, which seemed most unnecessary to both of us F types, so we registered our protest in the most feeble parliamentary (which nowadays isn't all that parliamentary) manner. The gentleman then proceeded to dispose of the animal which anyway had stopped flying.
Knowing the bat was gone, I then proceeded to quite bravely check every room knowing fully well that the probability of finding 2 bats was near impossible. God forbid, if even a lizard/cockroach had jumped on me at that time, I'd probably have died of a heart attack.
The outcome of my hand in getting the bat killed was a very bad stomach infection on Monday which probably was a result of over eating at Nirula's though the doctor attributed it to some water borne infection.. The week did go off uneventfully, other than for some bad tummy cramps.
Anyway decided this saturday was the day to recuperate with a movie + lunch plan with Tina and Tashi. Tina is an ex - colleague who is an ex-colleague of Tashi who is now my colleague and we are all friends working in Gurgaon. We watched this movie called LSD, which was short and hard hitting and which in an hour and 45 minutes said more than 5 hr movies do.
The movie was raw, very realistic, with a most interesting concept picturised through the camera lense. It is hard hitting, at some points a little gruesome but really shakes you. Each character, probably because you have never seen before seem perfectly casted. The movies is full of dark humor and is quite cynical but definitely worth a watch.
Post some shopping and gym evaluating (I plan to get back to my flat tummy days :D)Came back home and was watching this Angelina Jolie movie Changeling set in the 1930's which was really awesome. Suprisingly never heard about it before. This too was quite stark, but softer than LSD.
Eventful week this which started with a desire to get 8 hrs of sleep.
Never a dull moment,
- Pranay
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Ki hollo
Kolkata is the lockmakers city what with all the keys and Key hollos. Kolkata always is this place teeming with human bodies. The number of people/sq feet must be amongst the highest in the world. I have stayed in Kolkata for 2 years and yet the huge difference between Gurgaon and Kolkata really hits you. Gurgaon is this symmetric city full of glass and concrete and planned roads while Kolkata.. Kolkata is just Kolkata, unorganised, noisy, dirty and yet strangely beautiful, a city with a heart.
BTW watched KKR Vs DC last night. The last time I saw the 2 teams playing was in Kol at the Eden which was the first and the last cricket match I've watched (prefer soccer anyday) and had all the drama you can imagine. Details in my post Day and Night T20 at Eden Gardens. BTW I must be the lucky mascot. Cause they won when I am in Kol again.
Watching DCH. The movie which everyone watched and loved. All of us had a favourite character in the movie which we identified with. For me it was Aakash. Must be because I am an ENTP. Actually in the words of the counsellor I am an ENFP who has learnt T skills. For the uninitiated, it is the result of the MBTI test which is most interesting and quite accurate. Though how it helps anyone is debateable. We had a field time discussing each other's profiles and dismissing differing traits which really was not the aim of the exercise :).
BTW just watching the scene where Samir is practising to propose to Pooja. Vintage Saif this. The movie is still one of my all time favourites provided the Akshaye Khanna part is fast forwarded. Subodh (remember the timebound boyfriend) has just entered and in Saif's words 'Lagta hain iska bathroom jaane ka time huaa hain' :). Awesome movie this.. Let me watch the movie and enjoy.
Till next time.
Luv,
Pranay
Sunday, March 07, 2010
The heinous crime aka The hand that rocks the ladle - II
He never knew what was going to happen to him as he lay in absolute peace confident about his status as the king when out of nowhere he was tortured on a flame stripped down and massacred.
It started with the menu of the guesthouse where I am currently put up. The cook I believe must be one of Inzamamam -ul-haq's (inzie) biggest fans. Why? Because he is totally in love with Alu. The only thing on the menu is Alu. There's Alu Gobi, Alu mutter, Alu Jeera. My previous experience with Alu dishes happened in the Hastings guesthouse where Mr Kailash (Remember 'The hand that rocks the Ladle - I') used to cook Alu only to increase his ROI (Alu being a relatively - with due respect to inflation cheap vegetable). So I told the gentleman to cook Baingan ka Bharta.
Baingan Bharta for people who like brinjals is this preparation of Brinjal which is quite tasty though not the easiest thing to manufacture. Baingan Bharta in fact had this quite long stint in Hindi movies where the mother tells his son that she has made him his favourite Baingan ka Bharta which probably affected my impressionable mind. Anyway the cook with absolute (Haryanvi) confidence convinced me ki ho jaayega. The reason I say Haryanvi confidence is because of the absolute confidence which the people in Gurgaon have on getting anything and everything done.
The poor Baingan meanwhile never knew what was coming to him. The Baingan Bharta involves this very braveheart style torture of the Baingan. In fact it would be probably the cruelest veg dish made. The poor Baingan is literally burnt alive till he gives out this awesome smokey taste which is then enhanced with some seasoning and yes most importantly the pinch of salt.
Discrediting a cook's culinary skills is like saying Jack and Jill knew nothing about rolling down the hill. So with a heavy heart I must say that the guy literally raped the Brinjal. There was enough salt in the dish to give the dead sea a complex. Though however he was kind enough to give me dal with Zero salt (must be all those healthy ads on TV).
Having been taught as a child never to waste food I found an easy way to make the entire lot palatable by mixing the dal with the bharta. I did after the dinner however mention to him quite apologetically that he had messed up feeling quite guilty because after all it was my idea.
I am yet to see anyone get so worked up about constructive criticism, He felt most annoyed that the salt dish did not appeal to me and then quite sarcastically asked me how come I had had the entire bowl to which I equally sarcastically replied that I mixed the dal to match the salt levels.
Anyway post some muttering and alu muttering and gnashing of teeth, he settled down and then told me that alu was back on the menu to which I readily agreed believing the alu would at least take the edge of the excess salt and we settled down to some peace and another discussion on hockey of which he has become quite an expert courtesy yours truly.
In memory of the happless brinjal.
Luv,
Pranay
It started with the menu of the guesthouse where I am currently put up. The cook I believe must be one of Inzamamam -ul-haq's (inzie) biggest fans. Why? Because he is totally in love with Alu. The only thing on the menu is Alu. There's Alu Gobi, Alu mutter, Alu Jeera. My previous experience with Alu dishes happened in the Hastings guesthouse where Mr Kailash (Remember 'The hand that rocks the Ladle - I') used to cook Alu only to increase his ROI (Alu being a relatively - with due respect to inflation cheap vegetable). So I told the gentleman to cook Baingan ka Bharta.
Baingan Bharta for people who like brinjals is this preparation of Brinjal which is quite tasty though not the easiest thing to manufacture. Baingan Bharta in fact had this quite long stint in Hindi movies where the mother tells his son that she has made him his favourite Baingan ka Bharta which probably affected my impressionable mind. Anyway the cook with absolute (Haryanvi) confidence convinced me ki ho jaayega. The reason I say Haryanvi confidence is because of the absolute confidence which the people in Gurgaon have on getting anything and everything done.
The poor Baingan meanwhile never knew what was coming to him. The Baingan Bharta involves this very braveheart style torture of the Baingan. In fact it would be probably the cruelest veg dish made. The poor Baingan is literally burnt alive till he gives out this awesome smokey taste which is then enhanced with some seasoning and yes most importantly the pinch of salt.
Discrediting a cook's culinary skills is like saying Jack and Jill knew nothing about rolling down the hill. So with a heavy heart I must say that the guy literally raped the Brinjal. There was enough salt in the dish to give the dead sea a complex. Though however he was kind enough to give me dal with Zero salt (must be all those healthy ads on TV).
Having been taught as a child never to waste food I found an easy way to make the entire lot palatable by mixing the dal with the bharta. I did after the dinner however mention to him quite apologetically that he had messed up feeling quite guilty because after all it was my idea.
I am yet to see anyone get so worked up about constructive criticism, He felt most annoyed that the salt dish did not appeal to me and then quite sarcastically asked me how come I had had the entire bowl to which I equally sarcastically replied that I mixed the dal to match the salt levels.
Anyway post some muttering and alu muttering and gnashing of teeth, he settled down and then told me that alu was back on the menu to which I readily agreed believing the alu would at least take the edge of the excess salt and we settled down to some peace and another discussion on hockey of which he has become quite an expert courtesy yours truly.
In memory of the happless brinjal.
Luv,
Pranay
The first flight
It seemed just yesterday that he had broken his shell,
And now he stood at the branch, ready to soar.
His mother steeled her heart and nudged him.
For her little hatchling, she wanted more.
He looked back and smiled impishly,
For his nervousness, she could never know.
The sun had just risen, the sky was lighting up,
To see his first flight had come the morning glow.
He held his breath and spread out his wings,
Stood up on his little feet and jumped into the blue.
His mother let out a gasp, as her son headed to the ground.
She wondered whether it really mattered if he ever flew.
Her maternal instincts battling with her maternal dreams,
She reached the edge of the branch and looked below.
She saw his little body flapping his wings with all his might,
His movements were shaky, his reactions were slow.
And just as she was about to fly down to his rescue,
His little body straightened as he began to actually fly.
He chirped in delight, A chirp of exhiliration and sheer joy.
No longer was he a little bird, but the king of the sky.
The sun smiled as he saw this unfold before his eyes,
Even though he had seen this happen a million times.
The drama of the moment still got to his old heart,
And he cheered when he saw that the little bird was fine.
He saw that the little hatchling was now a magnificient bird,
Each time he saw it, it remained the most wonderful sight.
The element of drama, he knew was Mother Nature's little touch,
To enhance the experience of the once in a life first flight.
- Pranay Rao
And now he stood at the branch, ready to soar.
His mother steeled her heart and nudged him.
For her little hatchling, she wanted more.
He looked back and smiled impishly,
For his nervousness, she could never know.
The sun had just risen, the sky was lighting up,
To see his first flight had come the morning glow.
He held his breath and spread out his wings,
Stood up on his little feet and jumped into the blue.
His mother let out a gasp, as her son headed to the ground.
She wondered whether it really mattered if he ever flew.
Her maternal instincts battling with her maternal dreams,
She reached the edge of the branch and looked below.
She saw his little body flapping his wings with all his might,
His movements were shaky, his reactions were slow.
And just as she was about to fly down to his rescue,
His little body straightened as he began to actually fly.
He chirped in delight, A chirp of exhiliration and sheer joy.
No longer was he a little bird, but the king of the sky.
The sun smiled as he saw this unfold before his eyes,
Even though he had seen this happen a million times.
The drama of the moment still got to his old heart,
And he cheered when he saw that the little bird was fine.
He saw that the little hatchling was now a magnificient bird,
Each time he saw it, it remained the most wonderful sight.
The element of drama, he knew was Mother Nature's little touch,
To enhance the experience of the once in a life first flight.
- Pranay Rao
Tuesday, March 02, 2010
Life in Arcturus
Arcturus is a star which receives mention in the Star Trek series as a planet which is on the borders of the Klingon, Romulan and Federation which serves as a black market for all 3. Arcturus is actually a desert with dwellings. Each dwelling is self sufficient and protected by a force field which protects the inhabitants. However leaving the forcefields is fraught with danger due to the sudden storms.
I believe it was the shock of realizing that my first vehicle would have a Haryana number which probably numbed my senses. Otherwise I wouldve realized sooner that I would be residing in earth's very own Arcturus. Just think about it. Gurgaon is this dusty place which has climate that alters between 2 and 52 deg celcius. People mostly live in complexea and each complex has it's own power back up and loads of security guards. The odd chance you walk out for a stroll you could be frozen/burnt or robbed or maybe all three :D.
Anyway Gurgaon has been kinda nice to me courtesy the time of joining which happened to be right between summer and winter. My weekend plan for Gurgaon was to head out to Shimla/Dehradun having friends in both places. So I was naturally elated to be in Mussourie for this group building exercise in GSK my new organisation. I didn't click too many pics but made some new friends and really enjoyed the natural beauty.
BTW the best reaction of my transfer came from my aunt who really couldn't understand the big deal about me going to Goregaon(which she thought was Gurgaon) :D.
Life here is going to be interesting.
Luv,
Pranay
I believe it was the shock of realizing that my first vehicle would have a Haryana number which probably numbed my senses. Otherwise I wouldve realized sooner that I would be residing in earth's very own Arcturus. Just think about it. Gurgaon is this dusty place which has climate that alters between 2 and 52 deg celcius. People mostly live in complexea and each complex has it's own power back up and loads of security guards. The odd chance you walk out for a stroll you could be frozen/burnt or robbed or maybe all three :D.
Anyway Gurgaon has been kinda nice to me courtesy the time of joining which happened to be right between summer and winter. My weekend plan for Gurgaon was to head out to Shimla/Dehradun having friends in both places. So I was naturally elated to be in Mussourie for this group building exercise in GSK my new organisation. I didn't click too many pics but made some new friends and really enjoyed the natural beauty.
BTW the best reaction of my transfer came from my aunt who really couldn't understand the big deal about me going to Goregaon(which she thought was Gurgaon) :D.
Life here is going to be interesting.
Luv,
Pranay
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