Sunday Lunch

This was probably my last Sunday at home before I start for MICA and PGP2. Probably the last academic year of my life, awaits me there. I wanted to make this day special for the family, and hence what was only a common discussion topic finally happened...I prepared a full-fledged Sunday meal for everyone, and boy! Did it turn out well? :)

Sundays at our place, are for indulgence and heavy lunches are a given. The menu was decided a day in advance and after the lot of contemplation over my limited cooking skills and family’s limited endurance, the dishes chosen were:
- Tandoori Chicken
- Grilled vegetables
- Salad
- Chicken curry
- Rotis
- Jeera Rice
- Ice-cream

After going through the latest updates on Shiney Ahuja’s case and BMC’s plans to protect Mumbai from monsoons, I entered the kitchen. The mum teasingly asked if my plans for the BIG SUNDAY MEAL are still on or if I wanted any help from her. An emphatic no and with a dirty look for doubting me was enough to silence her :P

Anyway, then came the toughest part...you know the one where one needs to actually PERFORM to silence those critics and all. Our Sachin Tendulkar does such a fine job at that, but now it was my turn to prove me mettle! I started confidently, making the marinate for the chicken and the veggies. Since I hate following recipes to the tee (How can I trust someone who measures ginger in centimetres?) I decided to go on with my intuition and what would suit ‘swad anusar’. (Years of watching Khaana Khazana was now coming to some use.)

Once the chicken and veggies were left to marinate, I moved on to the curry. We Shindes love our curry in the same typical style that has been passed on from generation to generation. Ofcorz, no one makes it like my grandmom – she is the family authority on chicken curry and sabudanyachi khichdi!! U better her rendition and I would gladly give away half of my jaidaaat to you.

It was then that my mom who was banished from her own kitchen, could take it no more. Women are like that...very giving and generous; unless it comes to their paithanis and control over the kitchen. Then you have had it, even the meekest of the lot fires up to become a modern-day Hirkani :D Anyway, since the lady of the house started feeling a tad bit insecure, I decided to delegate the chicken curry to her and yes, she did a good job at it too, under my able guidance, if I may add so ;)

Meanwhile I got the dining table ready – a special meal requires a special ambience! The curtains were pulled down and dim lights were put on. A lacy tablecloth, table-mats were pulled out and bone-china crockery was laid. (Much to my mum’s chagrin, understandably, since the maid is on leave)

Then comes the toughest part – where one has to bribe the sistah to go get the icecream. Yes, there is screaming involved – from both the parties. One tries requesting, cajoling, coaxing, emotionally blackmailing and finally, when all is tried and failed – moving the matter to the High Command – the father. The trick is to sound like you are the aggrieved party in the whole deal and how insensitive the opposition is being – to all the effort you are putting in – adding just the right touch of emotions – that all the toiling in the kitchen since past 2 hours is after all, for the family! And then the case is won!! Of course this doesn’t always work – and then one is left with no option but to use the ultimate weapon - *Sniff! Sob! And sob some more* But beware coz this can be a double edged sword! One needs to grab the First Mover’s Advantage! And yes the performance must be sympathy-grabbing! Turn it into a wail and the High Command loses his composure unleashing his wrath. (Have some respect for the poor man’s nerves – he bears 3 women in his life, all by himself!)

So once the ‘get-the-ice cream-ok-as-you-say-for-the-last-time-ever!’ was done with, I turned my attention back to my chicken and veggies. The microwave was warmed and in went the chicken to be tandoored. Yes, I said my morning prayers then. After excruciating 15 minutes, I opened the microwave and let out some seriously mouth-watering wafts of chicken tandoori. (And men say women don’t understand how it feels pacing outside the delivery rooms! ;)) It looked purrfect!! The colour, texture and smell – all seemed so fabulous, all but the final test of taste remained!

The family was finally invited at the dining table; never mind that the sistah appeared to be suddenly overtly interested in Geography lessons and claimed not to be hungry (Well a little firing from the High Command is known to result in temporary loss of appetite :P) But finally the sight of roasted tender chicken was enough to melt her anger. The rice was put in the microwave just when the starters began at the table (What impeccable timing I tell you!)

I stood at the table anticipating a fierce criticism from the miffed sistah and the always-difficult-to-please High Command (the dad), but surprise surprise!! With subtlety, the father conveyed that he likes the meal :) the sistah actually grabbed the camera phone and clicked pictures as a testament for the future time! The mum gushed over how much she loved the meal and I happily bloated with pride :)

It was one of those good days today – we didn’t not lock ourselves in different room, with dad busy with TV or my being stuck to my laptop, my mom wasn’t slogging it out in the kitchen for a change and sister wasn’t studying alone in the bedroom. We were together – not just physically, but emotionally as well. Without anyone having said it – we enjoyed that rare ‘We-are-family!’ moment.
I hope and pray that we have more of these :)

Lifting the Purple Haze!

For a person, who vehemently hated technology, having summers at Yahoo! served as a perfect antidote. Not that I am cured of my Technophobia (Yes, it is a word..go Yahoo! Search it ;)) but I have started respecting techie-toys with each passing day. But no such attitude change towards the techies though! I still think they are the laziest of bums who hate their coding jobs and refuse to admit it. Yes, and they copy the codes from the web too!
*****

The Yahoo! experience has been an awesome breakthrough so far. The learning was immense (and I am sounding like a typical MBA!!) Sales is a tough place to be in when the entire world is sinking in the storm of recession. Ad spends are few and far between and Internet (with its measly 5% penetration in India) is the last media to be considered for advertisements and the first to be thrown out in case of shrinking budgets. But the online media industry is optimistic and unlike print, the only way it is headed is skywards.

For the first few days..the processes, the jargon and everything about this corporate culture left me dumbstruck. I moved around like a zombie having an out-of-body experience (now whats the chances of having that!) But slowly, it all started seeping in; it soon became a way of life.

The people at my workplace are a really wonderful and talented bunch. Very young. Very humorous. And the best part, great foodies! Yay!! Atleast once every week, someone in the team would put their foot down and declare 'nishedh' for the canteen food. Reasons would range from 'Yaar! Aaj paneer nahi khaana' to 'Aaj sirf pizza ki bhook hai'. Never mind the fact that the rest of the team loved their paneer - they are staunch believers of 'All for one and one for all'. And so the purple people not only help run Yahoo! but also contribute immensely to the revenue generation at the nearby Dominoes and Subways. Not that I ever complained! ;)

But then my revelry just doesn't end there! Roaming around in South Mumbai - admiring the Gothic architecture and wishing I had time for the run-down cafes was always a distant dream. Sales helped me do both!! I just didn't admire the grandiose stone buildings, but had jaw-dropping experiences when I found them even more beautiful from inside. What did I do then? I promptly lifted my jaw, appeared to be all sophisticated and pretended to be not at all awe-struck by the grandeur and went on to have meetings with the CEOs/Marketing Heads. Ofcorz! I was no more important than a board-room fixture in many of those meetings. But the fact that I was there, getting to listen to all those successful and established men and women was the most fulfilling part of my internship.

Ofcorz coming to the food part of it - well my boss V is one heck of a foodie. The fact that he is a vegetarian gujju never hampered the my eating-out rendezvous. He took me to swanky places, regular, popular cafes and even run-down Irani hotels adding awesomeness to the experience. From 'Stadium Cafe' next to Churchgate Station to 'Cafe Crystal' at Girgaum Chowpatty. Not to forget that 'ugaach-asach bhook-nahi-tarihi' Shri Krishna's Vadapav, Kothimbir vadi and Sabudana vada. The Goan food at 'How Fishy!' and the birthday treats at Tunga Paradise. Yum!! These past 2 months were indeed a great gastronomic experience!

Now as I wrap up things at my workplace, I feel extremely proud to have spent time with the Yahoos. They have a way of life and they have fun living it! For a fresher like me, this corporate stint was the perfect start. I hope my next workplaces match up to the high standards of expectations I would always carry along post-Yahoo!

P.S: Tomorrow is the final presentation. Pray for me! The best part - my team is taking me and the other intern for an overnight picnic to Alibaug - as a farewell!! Ain't they sweet? the Yahoos!

Cheers - to new friends and good times ahead!
-Rutuja

A love like that...

I saw them again today. That makes it thrice in a row. Its always the same place..that bent in the road, under the street light in that calm and quiet Officers’ Colony. She is in her late twenties, looks a lil’ overworked, yet elegant in her own simple ways. He is in his early thirties with years of struggle and pain bringing in a maturity usually reserved for much later. Two very simple souls. Almost alike in their backgrounds and modest upbringings. Yet a big difference making them a world apart.

She stood on the pavement just below the street light, leaning gently on his scooter. Yes, he on his scooter. A specially designed one for the physically challenged individuals. A few passers-by notice that which she chooses to ignore. Her face is lightened up, looking into his eyes. He is engrossed in sharing the irrelevant details of his day. Smiling and listening…she continues to do that to her heart’s fill, never mind the second looks of those around. A serene peacefulness – almost nearing bliss seems to have enraptured her. I am sure she must be feeling a hundred emotions that moment. Fortunately sympathy for him doesn’t figure in that list. More importantly, he knows that too.

Just an average regular couple. The sharing and caring, the sweet nothings and the unnecessary fights. I wonder if their life is just as normal as any other couple’s. I pray it is. But somewhere, in that small moment, I felt a much stronger understanding and maturity that must be strengthening the bond with each passing day.

We don’t often see miracles around us. Or is that we don’t want to anymore? Miracles are seen by those who believe. You don’t really have to wait till Christmas for that..some times, the simplest and commonest of things in life are also the biggest of miracles for mankind.

Random ramblings...

The other day, Babdu - my cousin, asked my age casually. Now I being of an age where I don't have to lie as yet, pat came the reply '23'. He teasingly replied that at this age his mom was not only married but was also a mother!
Hmmph! Such dialogues always leave me stumped!
Yes, I know, girls of my generation are highly career minded and a post-graduation is not deliberated any more in family meetings but generally assumed and even socially expected! But then whatever happened to mental and emotional maturity?
Even though the average marriage age has gone up for girls, it makes me kinda wonder if the emotional maturity level has taken a downward dip. I some how believe that even at say 27 I would be as silly and immature as I can imagine by 22 year old aunt to be at the time she got married.
Has today's 'AC classroom' education taken away some of life's real experiences? Or that life itself has changed so dramatically that it longer offers us a chance to face the heat and tan a little?
Anyways, it is a scary thought that someone thinks I should have been married by now!! Gotto avoid social functions and weddings with vengeance now...never mind the yummy food at TipTop Plaza!! The fact that someone inquired if Dr. Shinde's elder daughter is up for marriage has petrified me to bits!

5 things I like about myself

Very often I have questioned myself as a person. Doubted myself, criticized myself and relaxed only after I found a few hundred faults in me. But I never took time to actually think nice things about me...criticizing oneself comes so easy, treasuring oneself is so rare.



Watching Jab We Met right now, Geet’s “Main apni Favourite hoon!” somehow touched me. It takes a lot to be one’s Best Friend...but you would never be alone once you are friends with yourself.



So, here it is...I m gonna jot down 5 things that I absolutely adore about myself. Will try to keep the CV points off this list..though might be a little hard to resist the temptation of writing 1st prize in Kalavikas Mandal’s English Elocution in 3rd standard..I still adore myself for that, but will try to keep this as genuine as possible.



1.Being my expressive self

I cry at the drop of hat, talk loudly when I am excited and yell when I am pissed. Although this has been the reason for many a public embarrassments for my family and friends, I still adore that fact that I never put on a garb of diplomacy, societal etiquette or even the tag of being ‘mature’ to hide my true feelings.

Crying litres of tears in Chitra theatre when DJ and Sukhi die in RDB, talking so loudly in CCD that the guy on the next table is kind enough to offer me advice with my problems have been a few incidents to my credit. Kya karein, control hi nahi hota yaar!! :D





2.Being the risk-taker that I am

I thrive on the adrenaline rush that unknown situations present me with. Taking up French when my entire gang of girlfriends took Sanskrit in 8th std meant having to spent the most crucial years of school life – the higher secondary years, in finding new friends, adjusting to them and yet making those years memorable without letting old ties go loose. And I did that. Quite inadvertently. And I am proud of that.



3.Getting along with one and all

Now this trait is something I am terribly proud of...whether its my friends’ moms and dads or even grandparents or complete strangers that I met online or in journeys, I have this knack of striking a conversation that lead to well-meaning friendships. Of course, the chatterbox that I am, once I am friends with someone, they have to make special efforts to be heard or to have their say.



4.Getting bored easily

I simply can’t keep doing the same thing over and over again! That should explain the Pharma to Management leap. In fact it also explains Bharatnatyam, singing, dramatics, swimming, trekking, cooking, reading, writing, sports and blogging! No, not a quitter if that’s what you are thinking but yes, definitely someone who has an eye for adventure and seeks new horizons.

Yes, badly want to get back to Bharatnatyam though! :(





5.The decision-maker

I am blessed with parents who always thought I was old enough to take my decisions ever since I was five. It may sound scary now but back then it was the most natural thing for me to decide which dress I wanted to buy or what I should order in a restaurant. 11th std Ruia College, UDCT for Pharma and MICA for MBA were all my decisions. My parents had an opinion but were never the decision-makers. Hell, my dad even raised an alarm when he came to know that I am going to a B-school named after a mineral ore but I guess it was too late as his daughter had decided she had a mind of her own.



Ok! I know the bargain was for only 5 things that I like about myself but me being so adorable, I can’t help but write a 6th one too.



6. I like love the fact that I am very, very lucky!!

How many people in this world can boast of having won a SONY music system and MARUTI 800 car in the lucky draw of a TV show? Well, I can :) How many people can explain admissions to prestigious institutes after having bought the form in the last hour of the last day of form distribution? Yes, you are right, I can :) How can one explain the return of a folder full of ORIGINAL certificates earned till date that was horribly forgotten in the train? Well, yours truly can. This list is endless, so let me just say that maybe, just maybe I am one of Lady Luck’s favourite child :)



Done!! So now I pass this tag on to 5 people..who have to shake off their boredom, get their lazy bums in front of the computer and finish this tag for themselves. Do it for yourself guys..thinking good things about yourself doesn’t really hurt.



Here is the list:



Siddhesh – coz I don’t know you much, so this could be a good start and because you appear as a very private person.

Viraj – coz I know you well, but would like to see how well you know yourself.

Abhijit – coz I knew you well once upon a time, but would like to see how you have/have not changed in these few years.

KK – coz I always feel I don’t know you well enough.

Aditi – coz I find something amazing about you each time I read you blog/talk to you; just wanna know which of those amazing things mean the most to you.



P.S: A tag means that the ones tagged have to write a post on their blogs on the same topic ie..they have to write what are the 5 things they like about themselves. I hope its clear now!!

Snippets..the good, the bad and the ugly.

THE GOOD:
The much-awaited Yahoo! goodies have finally made an appearance.
A Yahoo! bag, a few Purple pens and a Yahoo! diary.
Do not question my mental state, yes, any free stuff still excites me enough to blog about it!
The best one so far - My very own, very first Business Card!! Two boxful of them!! The joy of seeing my name on a company card (ahem, a c/o with great brand equity, if I may add) was incomparable. Some higher intelligence tells me that more than clients, its my relatives who are gonna see more of those of cards.

THE BAD:
In other news, life has become mechanical.
Get up, get dressed, go to work, work, come home, have dinner, sleep - are the only commands running my life these days. To add to it, weekends are even worse. Any suggestions for getting back some fun?

THE UGLY:
This is very difficult for me to put in words. Last week saw the end of a 2 year relationship that I was in..tears, memories and broken hearts..the whole gamut of emotions to add to it - anger, hatred, dejection, sympathy, love and loads of numbness.

Friends are our greatest support system - I realised once again. What needs to be realised is 'I am my own best friend!' :|

Being a Purple person :)

Its been 3 days and I am glad to say that I have survived well. Yahoo! India decided to adopt me for a summer and no hell broke loose over them (as yet!) God bless them :)

So now begins the first corporate experience of my life. It feels weird (Okay, lemme admit everything is mostly 'wonderful' or 'weird' for me...every new experience being weird and its pleasant repetition being wonderful, once in a while there are also these 'wretched' moments, but its wonderful to be able to describe life in 3 Ws :P )

Okay so this is where I become my immodest self and begin to show off.
The office is at Andheri MIDC. Crappy area if you ask me. Too much travel from my place. But then again, my place is far from almost every other place on the planet with the sole exception of Mulund :P

But the office is damn cute. Pretty neat. The decor plays with the basic theme of Yahoo! Purple giving this place a vibrant look. Hierarchy in ranks is almost invisible in the seating arrangement..an example of this being me and the other intern are to the right and left of my boss!! The only downside to this being my restricted usage of Gtalk during office hours. Not that it is blocked, and one can always find me online all day long, but a little loyalty must be shown towards that one benevolent company who employed you during recession na?;) But otherwise, there is full on freedom in terms of work...the boss is really keen on us learning new stuff on the job and delegates responsibility only after our approval. He's actually a sweetheart. One of those really goodlooking Gujju guys who happen to be good-natured too. (No, I am not typing this coz he's looking at my laptop screen :P)

Food is good. There is this sweet canteen boy Tarun (who btw has 3 years work-ex here, more than most of the employees) who asks if you need breakfast, juice/tea, snacks more frequently and sweetly than your own mom. More importantly, its all free :) Today I had chicken and I am still burping happily, not that you asked.

Aah! Now the most boring topic..Work! Well thats the best thing about it..its not boring!! Well, today it slightly is..coz my cute boss is out of town and I am jobless. He basically wanted us interns to get acclimatized to the place, the systems and different processes. I read that as a day full of blogging, chatting, making farzi questionnaires and excel sheets and acting impossibly busy doing that :D

Oh! You can even play music loudly..but social decency has prevented yours truly from taking that step..but yeah, the above has been approved..nay, infact suggested by the boss :)

As for me, I am still my lukkhi self albeit for one big difference! Within first 2 days itself I have understood the importance of formal behaviour at workplace, something that my friend Kaustubh has been trying to knock in my teeny-meeny brain for past 2 years :P I still dont quite agree with the strict discpline that he advocates but yeah, I do kinda get that one needs to behave differently at the workplace.

This summer, the concept of 'vacation' has been twisted 180 degrees and I am made to work instead of getting up late, watching movies, having good food and lazying around. Wait a minute, didnt I do just that for a year at MICA? :P This new routine of getting up early, dressing up in formal wear, leaving home on time to be in office on time, spending the day in learning some fundoo stuff and going home tired (err..tired due to travelling, not work) and being served hot dinner by a mother who lovingly thinks that her daughter is the most hard-working employee at Yahoo!, is actually a welcome change from my earlier life :)

I hope I dont get too used to this life coz MICA is awaiting to spoil me all over again. But till then, I am gonna enjoy this till it lasts. I hope it is a 'great learning experience':D

Oh btw, I have:
My own desk (waiting to be personalised)
A new lappie (provided by office)
A direct phone line
A business card (yet to be received)

..Simple perks of being one of the Y!Purple people :D