When I met Mahendra Singh Dhoni

One of the advantages of being a minion in a Daaru company (or Alco-Beverage as the HR guys pitch) is that alcohol is very easy to come by. In the sense that while you work at the multiple events they have, you stand & watch as the alcohol comes and goes by, while you wonder if the lights are working properly, if the promoters are selling instead of drinking, and if you'll ever get to suavely slide a drink down to the chicks at the party while no one is looking.

Or rather when everyone is looking and there are spotlights on you.

The other advantage is that you get to meet with Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

An Open Letter to all Open Letterers

Dear open letterer, and open letter Fanboi's,

A long long long time ago, in a faraway galaxy (Goregaon East, probably) one girl dared to write the world's first open letter on the internet. Before the rise of common sense of this age, it came as a shock to many that a girl would dare and venture to do something as brash as voice her opinion, and that too about a boy. 

*collective gasp*  

However, and you may not know this, but I consider "An open letter to a Delhi Boy" and its subsequent replies to be one of the most interesting moments of internet literature that I have ever read. The outrage, counter letters, postcards and general talk has been a revelation into how jobless and racist people really are. If only the letter had some sprinkles of saffron in it, or claimed that we had actually landed in the moon a long time ago circa Ramayana, it might as well have become a contender for a nationalist letter of sorts in the current government. 

Anyways, 3 years hence, the internet is abuzz with thousands of open letters today:

An open letter to my Dhobi. 

An open letter to the rickshaw driver who did not agree to drop me to Chakala.

An open letter to the Prime minister about my neighbor who makes fried dry fish on Sunday noon that stinks so bad that you should ask them to build our next generation of toxic chemical weaponry. 

Any person who is any person worth his QWERTY Keyboard + Facebook post has written an open letter, each letter vying for its share of the social media glory. I mean who wouldn't want to value their human lives in likes and shares?

It is therefore not surprising that YOU, dear open letterer would obviously resort to an open letter as a means of revolt and general displeasure to anything ranging from poor water supply to Ramdev Baba's soft porn yoga moves. It's a different thing that you do not see the need to do anything about it yourself, and find it apt to put it out there on the internet to see who would take the bait.

*Open Letter to my maid who forgot to put the garbage out.*

These mass open letterers are the same people who would not think twice while giving up their Facebook id and password to watch a non existent video titled "OH MY GOD YOU WONT BELIEVE A GIANT SHARK EATS A NAKED LADY IN MID AIR ". Post which the aforementioned site proceeds to spam all of your friends with ads for Kent RO Water Purifier (The one where Hema Malini just repeats the same thing for years and mind fucks the water into purifying itself) or expensive iphone 6 card boxes from Snapdeal.com 

I mean seriously, open letters? Did you ever even write an actual one on paper? The good old way of taking time to pen down your thoughts, and not the verbal deluge of bullshit that it has become today? 

But enough is enough. 

*drum roll*

As the self appointed representative of  the people of Mumbai (or the allied states of Andheri, Malad, Ghatkopar and the union territories of Bandra & Colaba) I, in my innate wisdom have decided that this open letter has to be written to ban all open letters. Enough is enough. For long have we suffered the pain of poor language in the guise of a rant. For long have we had to watch idiots write open letters to random people like Obama to help a leopard in Sanjay Gandhi National park. 

*You think he is bloody zookeeper of America or wat?*

I demand that henceforth , you will stop this open letter nonsense, and instead re word your titles to more appropriate headings, like "Man I really need to crib about these people" or "Why the hell do I get pimples on date night" and "How to promote a movie by raising controversy" etc. I also hope that you will encourage your immediate fellows to do the same, and to refrain from using the hideous "Open Letter".

If you fail to do so...

Cheers

M

The Great Mumbai Traffic Show

My last post was in August. Its not that I felt bored or got a life, but it was all about a lot of false starts. Pretty much like this "Acche din aayenge" philosophy that's been doing the rounds of late. My draft folder is filled with many such false starts, which I have been really struggling on. After twitter, I think its getting impossible to keep my mind to one continuous train of thou...Oooh Butterfly!!!

The Birds in my life

Hello dear digital content consumer,

Something tells me I've been doing it wrong...

August seems to be a good creative month for me. Even in the midst of mind numbing stupidity from our news channels and the general religious trolls on Social media, my mind has been abuzz with questions and thoughts that could change the way humanity would function forever. Like - how much time would I need to train a dog to fetch Beer from the Fridge?

Anyways, while I have this going, I want to write as much as I can. I've not been an avid bird watcher in any sense of the term, which of course either way could have taken away my glorious singledom. It's very difficult for someone of my XXL size talents to stay single. *insert universe face-palming emoji here*

The Rakhi System

Raksha Bandhan to me has always been an alien festival. Partly because I've spent most of my time as an unknown entity at Boarding school, followed by religious abstinence in the guise of a paying guest, followed by self imposed one girl only philosophy (which in hindsight was a terrible idea at age 12). And the rest of the time honing my "awkward" skills in general public, and of recent on twitter.

The only Rakhi I remember then, and recently has been one of dearest cousin sis who judiciously couriered it across to someone who could get it to me. Of course now that I'm in Mumbai I just go over. (vs. a phone call ten times in 2 minutes reminding me of who's boss - my nieces) I might not say it, but beneath this tough looking exterior lies a sucker for these kinda things. (sniff)

But this post is not about the beautiful relationship that is the crux of Raksha Bandhan. This is about the School version of Rakhi.

Weekend Getaways: Udaipur

The Glory of Udaipur. Seen here - Jagmandir, Taj Lake Palace, Fateh Prakash Palace, Oberoi Udai vilas, Lake Pichola

Hello you marshmallows.

How are you doing? Hows the weather? Is it raining heavily? Is it getting all foggy? Do you feel that the general public's notion of monsoon being romantic or being perfect for a cuppa coffee or tea, is a little too much?

Let me say a bit here. When the British left this country, they handed over a Mumbai that was equipped with drains. However, they obviously weren't clear in their bye-bye notes, because somewhere down the line the municipality, in keeping with our new traditions (the one where test tube babies were made in India, circa Ramayana / Mahabharata) decided the drainage was a waste of time, and water should be allowed to run along, like the force of nature that it is. So our roads are basically waterways and what you call potholes, are rather strategically placed markers that are used as a rating system for general incompetence and to direct the flow of water across roads. What fun.

My Tree of Life

Image Courtesy: www.osnatfineart.com/painting/5907-Tree-of-Life

It's been a while since I wrote. Writing to me is a way of expression, and my friends would know me to be an expressive person. Combined with the attention span of a kitten, and the enthusiasm of a jack in a box, I can be quite a challenge to any 5 year old.

If I look back at my posts over the last few years, I think I've written most when  my expression was constrained, bottled up in a pressure tight worldly container. In this period, I was under the misconception that I wrote to keep in touch with my creative side. I now realise that it was an escape for my soul that cried out for help, to get back to what came naturally to me - fun, happiness and goodness. The fact that I have not written for so long, in the above context is actually a good sign for me personally. 

Flying in Indian Skies

(Language and content warning.)

The first time I took a flight, or to be put more appropriately a wailing me was buckled down in the seat, was when I was in the 4th grade. Well, that was the first time I remember it at least.

It was Gulf Air, with pretty air hostesses in golden scarves who handed out toys to kids and took some of them along to the cockpit to meet the captain. This was of course before Laden and his cronies decided to fuck up everything and the chances of me ever getting to accomplish my wishes in this lifetime. (No, Not meeting the captain, the toys.)

Toys are now called collectibles when adults buy them. FYI. 

Elections 2014 - Dark Horse on Pink Elephants

There are 4 characters in this story. The Dark Horse, the Pink Elephant, The White Fluffy Rabbit and the Journalist.

* * *

This is an interview between the Dark Horse on the comments made by another political heavy weight, Pink Elephant.

Who Should you vote for?

Before we go ahead in this post, I would like to make it clear that I had actually written a very elaborate, serious post on what I "really" think of our political options in the current scenario. The result was that none of my views could be substantiated without an absurd amount of research, to which I was not enthusiastically inclined. I also realized that it would be literally impossible for me to hold my ground against any "tard" (Please add political party as required) because I had written about all our political parties. Which made me prime fodder for social media annihilation.

Also Arm Chair Activism Rocks.

A guide to the Auto Rickshaws of India

What a fantastic start to the new year. A lot of new records. Am sure you all saw or heard the interview of the year on a leading new channel a few days ago, or as I like to call it - "Papu panchvi class se thej nahin hai" with Arnab. This was also accompanied by the shortest overnight Dharna involving a CM by the AAP, and of course the highest number of  "Bhaiyon Bheno" speeches by the party that cannot be named.

Miu - The Cat

A couple of years ago, I wrote a post on the loss of Jimmy. The puppy eyed fellow who loved playing hide and seek around the kitchen.

Today I write about a sneaky, cute, skinny, hungry, bully, cat called Miu.

Inspiration writing - Jan 12, 2014

One of things I want to do this year is to write. Irrespective of the number of likes or shares, or fans knocking down my door, or being mobbed in the street or even if I have to keep my superhero identity in check, I will write.

The thing am trying today is to be inspired by the moment. Here goes.

I'm sitting in Costa coffee right now, and looking around I feel comfortable. In Bangalore I used to hit the Indiranagar Costa every Sunday at 5 for my favourite Caramelato and the book of the week. (Just as I was going to say its peaceful, a bunch of guys have landed their behinds on the inviting couch on my right. Not so peaceful) 

Today am here, reviving this long lost tradition. Hot chocolate has replaced the Caramelato, largely owing to a temporary craving. Am in those nice wooden sofa chairs which have those striped designs. The sort you would see in old clubs? But once you sit in them you realize its narrow at the base, so your ass feels like its being sucked in. There's also a small round wood table, A light bulb shines above it and am in the corner from where I have a view of the whole cafe. I've used my wallet to prop up my ipad mini, while my phones are on the left. 

A different New Year

I did something very different this year around. Apart from sticking to a home celebration in the company of my awesome self, I decided to make a good start. Usually I'd wake up on the first, wondering where I am, and continue sleeping till the noon.

This year however, I decided to accomplish all those things that I'd hope to do this whole year. It went far better than I expected.

1. Got up early and did a little MJ style dance to some music (I call it Andheri-pot-hole-road-walking) 

2. Talked to the parents and chaddi buddy

3. Cooked a healthy breakfast ( Sweet cream soaked grain with dry fruits, simmered to a consistency thats rich and melts in your mouth, you'd probably know it as oats in milk with 2 almonds)

4. Stepped out and went to Marine drive, strolled around, meditated to the sound of waves

5. Took the camera along, got some pics

6. Had a nice meal in a restaurant by the boulevard

7. Helped random person to read a message on the phone, since their glass were missing.

8. Went to Oberoi mall, roamed around, took random photos, checked out the gadgets and gizmos

9. Came back home, went for a walk

10. Went to the Andheri sports complex, started process to sign up for swimming

11. Came back, played a few games, watched TV

12. Spoke to friends

13. Wrote on the blog ;-) 

14. And finally will sleep before 12 tonight

So broadly that covers family, friends, food, travel, photography, writing, excercise and health. (Notice how I avoided mentioning Dance, I'd be crazy to dance like a inmate at the Big Boss house). This year I've also read the least number of books, and the least number of posts on the blog, which I hope to change. 

Social media will be something that will be a key hobby. I am active on Instagram and to some extent on Pinterest. A little on vine too. (Follow @2emkay I have cookies) but clearly it's an interest area I don't want to give up on.

Its been an extremely tough year, professionally and personally but that's done with. I am looking forward to this year, the key word being to work on self respect. If I achieve it this year with improving my health, I think I would have succeeded in moving miles ahead. 

Wish you all a very Happy New Year. Keep smiling :-)

M