Whiff of Winter...

The aircraft pierced through the thick all encompassing fog and lined up with the runway last Thursday. As it undertook a rather smooth equipment assisted landing I braced myself for the horror stories of the cold in Delhi that I'd been hearing for a while (Am on a flying visit to Delhi to catch up with my latest niece - she's very cute, thank you :) ).

Well, spoilt in Bangalore's rather temperate weather the maximum defence against the cold that I could muster up at 4 in the morning after returning from office at 11:30 the previous night was a thin jacket - and I duly zipped up the jacket upto my neck. But nothing prepared me for the sheer wall of cold that struck me as I stepped off the aircraft.

And the thing is - I loved it!

As I saw the steam rising in my breath, so many memories of the winters I spent in Delhi came rushing back. From getting up shivering to catch the early morning school-bus to the late night chai and maggi in college to driving through fog and sleet to the numerous walks taken with the refreshing crisp air rushing into the lungs to reinvigorate you.

I just love the Delhi winters. And food plays a great part in most of the memories associated with this brilliant season. Now I'm not a big tea drinker, in fact my mum still gives me a glass of milk whenever I visit home, but we've had so many expeditions to get chai in the crisp evenings.

And of course the samose and pakode along with the chai as a bunch of you sit hunched up around in multiple jackets and sweaters, not even daring to talk for fear of the cold winds getting a chink in the armour to run their icy fingers in. Is there any better camaraderie?

And then the hot paranthe that I used to get for dinner in the dhabas outside my B-school. Is there any better survival food?

And and, sitting in the thick quilt and munching on peanuts watching TV. Is there any better family bonding?

Now that I've experience the Delhi winters in all it's glory, the temperate Bangalore weather is feeling a bit insipid :(.

Sigh, Delhi winters, brilliant (chattering teeth)

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Niece, twice over :)...

Just wanted to give a quick good news to people who stay in touch by reading my blog. I am the proud uncle of a second healthy baby girl today!! My sister and the baby are both doing fine.


Went out to this nice Italian place called Vicky's La Terraca with DU (who I was meeting after quite a while) to celebrate. Pretty good mediterranean setting - almost Olive Beach-ish in ambiance. And really good food.

I'm SOOOO relieved and happy that didi and the baby are well...

Give her blessings you folks - with me as her mama she really needs all the wishes she can get!! :)

False start 2010...

The new year has started on a really foul note. A conversation I had last evening has been playing incessantly in my head and is actually affecting my whole mood and demeanor. I've been low since last evening and only I know how I've gone through the entire day at work.

Sometimes you don't realize that the air is not as clear as you've lulled yourself into imagining and that there are just too many things floating around. Expectations, priorities, self-illusion, suppressed thoughts - they all come together and really give you a sucker punch in the solar plexus that blows away all the wind in your lungs.

I'm just going to brood if I write anymore. I just wish I could remove the negative thoughts from my mind. It's really affecting me.

Anyway, you guys have a great new year...

J'taime Amelie...

Saw Amelie (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0211915/ , http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amelie ) a while back on TV.

I know, I know - a bit late considering that the movie came out and made waves in 2001. But somehow, mysteriously, I always associated the movie with Run Lola, Run. Don't ask me why, but I don't have any desire to watch that movie. And by sheer association I never got down to watching this one.

Right, anyway. I loved Amelie! There is an inherent sweetness in the movie which is just right. It's not sappy and it's not sallow - just perfect. I can't put a finger to it nor can I remember any one scene that was really really good but somehow all the pieces came together and I got up after watching the movie with a nice smile on my face and a warm glow in my heart.

There isn't much more I can say about the movie but the simplicity of the main protagonist and the finely etched characters surrounding and affecting her life in subtle ways. The sweetness of the girl covers her childish naughtiness which covers her shyness - a beautiful character.

Ok, ok I'm just gushing now. Can't blame me though, it's been a while since I've seen a movie from start to finish on TV (I even stayed through some of the intervening advertising breaks to make sure I didn't miss the movie).

If you haven't yet, go watch it

Limitations of Lazing...

Most people I know have been hyper about their Christmas and New Year eve plans for a while. I've seen people with dreary eyes, dark hollows beneath their eyes running their fingers with a nervous twitch through their already frazzled hair murmuring "where do I go, where do I drink" in low yet persistent undertones since the beginning of November.

Staying in Bangalore, Christmas has suddenly become a very important milestone in the year. I mean, don't get me wrong, I love the fat man in the red suit as much as the next guy but since my MSM days Christmas has never really been a great festival to be celebrated boisterously. But in the heart of IT country where all clients in the US and Europe go on vacation in this period, this festival is once again a joyous occasion for finishing off your non-carry-forward-able vacation time and put up your feet. But if you happen to be in town then there are a lot of cash-depriving stresses involved. Everyone you know seems to be willing to spend atrocious amounts of money just to be out somewhere partying, and then running helter skelter when they realise that the cops have spent the twelve months since last Christmas stocking up on those breathalysers that can discern the subtle whiff of that mild Vodka that you took 'for the road'.

Now I usually stay clear of these parties in hotels but have always managed to be at some or the other house party celebrating in the occasion. In fact I've also hosted some pretty interesting Christmas parties. Videos from such parties exist, but have safely been forgotten till a time comes when one of those who attended hits the big time and I can retire on the blackmail money alone. I am referring of course to the awesome Christmas party of 2007 that RB and I organized at Club 108 (our house number was 108). I could tell you more about it but it'll kinda defeat the chances of getting a good blackmail return when the time comes. All I will say is - I know where all of you are, and I'm following your careers with a LOT of interest :)

Anyway, this year a lot of my friends have been away and the long Christmas weekend has gone by way too lazily. Except for a nice Christmas special buffet at the Chancery Pavilion the remaining hours have been spent in the close vicinity of my house. In fact I can recall the number of times I've gone out of the house to 4.

And that's quite sad.

Though it has it's good points.

The weather has been very nice. Just that perfect bite in the air that needs a mild blanket to make you snuggle in for hours and hours. And that's what I've been doing - brilliant afternoon naps which transcend the universally accepted definition of 'nap' through sheer number of hours alone. Getting up, switching on the bedside table lamp, reading one of my two light books for the weekend, gently reaching that somnambulant state again when all you can manage is to turn off the light and slide away for another couple of hours. Ah Bliss.

But the human mind is such a strange object. Two days ago this seemed like a perfect state of affairs but today after my last afternoon nap i'm actually feeling a bit sad about this weekend. Completely bored by the lack of human interaction.

Yes, I will get up now, go out the door, meet people, see the world, enjoy myself...

Or, you know, if I can reach that switch again I could slip away for another couple of hours...