Weekend headaches!

My college conducts an annual intercollegiate event called "Jhankar". This year jhankar theme was comic-on. This is the only moment my college looks like co-ed. So, there will be lots of events, competitions, music, stalls, advertisements, gossips, etc. Unfortunately, I did not have the freedom to choose the event I want to attend. My department made my class people to sit for a classical music event yesterday and said it was "compulsory attendance" So, I reached college with disinterest, music was banging through the speakers, girls outside the college waiting or checking their phones furiously and I was searching for my classmates to ensure whether I am the only soul who ended up sincerely to the event. Then, I gave my attendance to my faculty and walked to fifth floor using stairs. The stairs are normal, simple, and easy to use. But when it comes to reach 5th floor using stairs it is like a task which I would trade for anything. 

I was tired as hell after reaching fifth floor. There is this tiny auditorium into which I entered. I sat in the last bench where my classmates were seated behind my faculty members. Even though my faculty sat on the last corner of the auditorium, they made us to shift to the front. And I ended up sitting in the front middle side where there will be constant eye contact from contestants on the stage. Then they took some roll call of the contestants who were present. To my surprise there were only 6 contestants who participated. I am neither a fan nor enemy of carnatic music. So, I don’t hate or have interest to listen to them singing.

All of them brought a shruthi dabba (Music box), adjusted the microphone, some did mike testing and then sang. One contestant sang a Telugu carnatic song in which a phrase had this word "Bro" in it. This word was so funny; I and my friend could not control our laughter. I tried to bite my tongue, close my mouth with hands, close my eyes, etc nothing worked we were smiling like idiots throughout her song. Then the judges came and announced the winners. Hearing Brahmin slang of Tamil after long time is divine. Later, I went down to ground floor by stairs. Going down the stairs is the easy part unless you get slipped and get hurt. Then, my friend gave me a ride back home. 

I was so happy that the session I wanted to miss ended soon and I reached home to take lots of rest. My Karma had another plans. My aunt from U.S. came to India after a long time to see her sister (My mom). Suddenly, I had to be adhering to etiquette and all. My mom and aunt decided to go somewhere outside. They discussed for a while and thought of going to Besant nagar beach. Guess who ended up going along with them? "Me!" My dad was busy with his shop, my brother had tuition and I had nothing to do. So, we all walked till the bus stop and took "5E" (Bus number). I had a distant memory that this bus goes to Besant nagar beach. I took three tickets to Besant nagar and waited for a free seat to sit. Then, we reached the church area of the Besant nagar. We walked towards the beach, ate panniyaram/puluntalu/ Fried fermented rice batter with coconut and tomato chutney. They both gossiped for a while. We walked in the sand and came across fish stalls. We ordered a plate of Nethili (Fried spicy fish). 

Again, we walked for a while saw the waves of the ocean. Then, we all returned to the bus stop. We waited for so long that we believed that we were on the wrong bus stop. My aunt and mom were so tired they even went to take an auto but the auto people charge too much amount. We waited and waited at last the bus arrived. People were cramming to get in and get out of the bus due to its delay. We got in and were wishing the bus moves soon. I was glad that my mom and aunt got seated. I wanted to get down of the bus as soon as possible. There was a drunken man seated in front of me, a guy shouting about his life blunders, etc. We got down thankfully without becoming retarded. 

Today, I had Interdepartmental event for Jhankar. I helped my friends who were participating in the Junk art. My department theme was superman. So, we were thinking ideas how to portray superman from junk. 

This was the one they presented in the "Junk art" competition

We saw the judges dancing for a song. The day went well. I took a bus and reached home to a view of intensely conversing sisters (my mom and aunt). Now, ended up with Headache due to lack of rest and change in my routine weekend life. Headaches can be normal or special or uninvited. But weekend headaches are the worst. Hope you guys had a nice weekend!

Unusual Department events

Today at my college, I gave my name for participating in an event conducted by my department's club. So, it consisted of free BMI (Body Mass Index) check and free Zumba class. So, during the break I went to the O.A.T (i.e. open auditorium not oats which was near the college parking space). One lady from one corner gave a tiny slip which I had to take to another opposite corner to another lady who checked my weight and height. This filled tiny slip had to be given to another lady who were in another corner which was not adjacent to my surprise. They entered my data into the laptop and calculated my BMI value. It seems I have a Normal BMI. A simple Horizontal set up was what I expected. But it turned out to be a Bermuda triangle in order to find my BMI. They informed me the next part of the event which is Zumba session starts by 12:30 AM. I had 2 more hours till the session starts. 

So, I went to check on my best pal who was having a bakery stall with some group of people. We spoke about her journey towards Canada for her further studies. She leaves Chennai on May 25, 2016. It's a bit sad to know I may miss a person in the future with whom I had tremendous fun for the past three years at the college. Then we spoke about couple of baking stuff. Then, some friends came who started wearing make-up and taking selfies. It became 12:05 AM like a flash of lightning. Talking to a friend does make the time goes faster. I dragged the selfie queens along with me because I like company and I don't want to end up for a new session alone. 

I discovered the Zumba instructors were my own department juniors. Well, the Irony of the situation got personified. So, we all assembled into rows and columns. And the girl/instructor showed the moves twice and asked us to observe carefully. Another girl played the song for Zumba and we started doing the chaotic version by imitating the instructor’s dance/aerobics moves. We jumped, clapped, squatted, waved, bend, twist, moved in all ways which was similar to a clothes getting washed in a washing machine. 

The odd thing was I enjoyed it even though it was done among a group of people around me. I sweated faster than an Ice cream during summer. Then we did some relaxation exercise for which they played "love me like you do" song by "Ellie Goulding" which was pretty much distracting than tranquil. Many of us were lip syncing to the song than calming ourselves during this particular exercise. Well, I could feel small aches from my bones but still the session was worth it. I had fun. 

But Aftermath of the session was not fun. I had long walk towards the bus stop and i was too tired to step any further. But I still waited for the bus. The bus arrived late, I took it and reached home. Then I found my long time no see friend whom I always miss so much - my bed. I rested my back and felt instant euphoria. There is something magical about getting a good, cosy rest after an intense workout. 

Republic or Responsibility?

January 26, 1950 has been regarded as republic day. Every citizen of India is imprinted with this data in their brilliant minds from school days. So, it happened 66 years back; still India is in developing status. Yesterday an unimaginable incident happened at my college. That changed my whole perspective about the people. The lab assistant in my college came and was doing her work as usual. Suddenly concentrated acid from an apparatus got splashed onto her face. I didn’t saw the event personally but I heard about it. There were petrifying black marks on the lab ceiling where the acid got splashed. So, I could see that the accident happened was not a rumour but something serious and real.

There was no first aid kit, compact fire extinguisher, liquids for eye care, burns, injuries, etc for sudden unexpected causalities at the lab. The lab assistant lady has to be rushed to a nearby hospital to get treated. I hope she gets well soon. Nowadays, education teaches values, science, maths, languages, History, economics, etc. It forgets or fails to teach the main things and requirements in life. They never try to teach how to open a bank account, how to pay tax, what is Aadhar card, how to use fire extinguisher, what to do when there is a natural disaster, how to help an injured person, etc. These essential things are not included in our education system and when these school children become big individuals they tend to forget the necessity and importance of these things. This leads to negligence and we tend to prioritize to the things which we learnt and remember alone.

Most of the people who evaluate the standards of educational institutes only inspect the educational profile of the faculty, availability of equipments, achievements gallery and the mere unnecessary outer make up that the institution shows off. They must also evaluate the safety measures available at the institutions, psychometric state of the faculty, knowledge of the faculty apart from studies which can be about first aid, usage of fire extinguishers, counselling of students who are suicidal, depressed, etc. I feel every individual needs to know and grow their knowledge in order to reduce most of the blunders in India. Until then, sorry we will become underprivileged country from developing country. 

Let’s make a responsible change in the way our India works. So, it’s a not so happy republic day from my side! 

Please see: This is my personal views of what the current India needs to be changing. Also, I have no Intention to blame anybody, I just wish all who reads my blog take this message in good spirit and try to gain whatever view I have presented above in optimistic manner.

The Co"incidence!"

Recently at my college there was something called a finishing school happened to me. During the three days session of the finishing school, I and my classmates learnt/realised a whole new version of ourselves. At first we were all sceptical about the sessions because we thought they might be boring, illogical, time wasting, and money scavenging sessions. But it was nice to have a literate, sound minded person to handle us. 

She gave lots of activities, new horizons of thoughts and about life. We came to know about lots of psychological terms, tests, studies, self improvement techniques, conflicts, gratitude, anger management, etc. After the last day of the session she ended with a thought provoking thing for us to know about gratitude. She mentioned we all must be thankful to everyone who made it possible that we got everything we wish for. We must not take it for granted instead appreciate it. We must be thankful for getting tank full water at our houses where there is still women who buy water for 7 rupees per bucket. We must be thankful for having a roof above us where there are people who are unable to have 3 meals daily. She also said when we visit an orphanage or meet a disabled persons, our way of thinking about life can change. 

So, today I had to take a bus to go to college. I woke up early, brushed my teeth in cartoon motion, and changed my clothes. I was half-awake and half-sleepy like a sloth. My brother was sleeping happily. I had to bring a great amount of cheers like “You can do it!” “Come on!” “It’s only a walk towards the bus stop, catch a bus and walk again towards the college where you have to cross 3 roads. So, simple” Yet that much complicated it is. Then, it went on like “Okay first eat something and go! You don’t want to embarrass yourself by fainting on the road!” 

I stepped outside the house by 6:00 A.M. The weather was horribly cold. I was walking and noticed the sky was getting darker. “Oh My God. What if it rains today? I don’t even have an umbrella with me. You dumb brain why can’t you remind me about the umbrella like you reminded me the food” I was in such a state I was scolding myself for being dumb and forgetful. I was waiting for the bus for a long time. I even caught cold. I was thinking why I am suffering so much? Then finally I got a bus luckily less crowded. 

I took a ticket and sat on the only empty seat available on the bus. There were two passengers seated in front of me. At first I thought they were crazy then I recognised they were talking in sign language. Whoa! from weird actions to being curious to know what those hand movements meant. Well, what a coincidence within 24 hours of the session at college I met two deaf people who were really fascinating to watch the way they were conversing. Even I never had such a deep happiness and smile when I was talking with my dear ones. The way they were eagerly waiting and giving respect for each other’s reply was something we all need to learn. Even the deaf people are better at listening than some of us who can hear and knows how to respond properly. 

I don’t want to be mean, but in my life many people blabber but never felt the necessity to listen instead of blabbering so much. Maybe the person who is listening might also want to say something give them a chance to speak too. The lady at the session also mentioned that “Small minds talk about others, Average minds talk about events and Great minds talk about ideas” So, which one you belong to only you can know and maybe you can bring a change to yourself and become great minds. Even though I felt horrible about forgetting an umbrella I was totally immersed into the way the deaf people made me realise a point without even speaking but with their mere joyful actions.

Luckily it didn’t rain, too! Life is not 100% sad after all. We need to enjoy whatever life throws at us.

Shawarma cravings and friendship!

My first shawarma eating experience was during my childhood. An Arabian cuisine related eatery was newly set near the neighborhood, which served delicious shawarmas at affordable price. My dad who used to buy chocolates every week started to bring shawarmas instead. 

Sometimes, I wish I could advice people that the solution to all your problems is one yummy shawarma! It is a delicious delight to taste its rich creamy layer of mayonnaise, crunchy sliced vegetables, and the cooked spicy meat pieces wrapped by soft roti all at once. 

After few years later, the outlet suddenly vanishes out of sight and here I am ended up with shawarma cravings. I don’t remember when I have mentioned my profound cravings for shawarma to my good friend at college. She was so sweet and took me to an actual restaurant to buy me one. Yeah, I am grateful to have a friend who doesn’t think I am crazy and takes care of me like she’s my guardian angel. 

So, back to the restaurant scene; trying to see the menu and we ordered what we wanted – “Shawarma!” The twist in the plot was the guy who takes the order said they don’t serve it until 5pm. *KABOOM* That moment the heart wrenches. Then, we decided to buy some other dish as parcel and waited. There we spoke about life, took Selfie, etc. 

Even though I didn’t get shawarma I got a friend who would buy me a shawarma when I just utter about it! So, I guess I am satisfied beyond the cravings. 

Hope you also get friends who never judges you but appreciates and happy being under your companionship.

Pongal 2016!

Boghi!!!

The end of marghazhi season and start of celebrations about farmers, agriculture, lives, etc. Living in urban area means less chances of viewing actual Pongal celebrations in my neighbourhood. Usually, the only way of enjoying Pongal for me is through watching Television, celebrations at college (for some their schools or offices), messages to greet the near and dear ones. But this time it was something different.

Boghi is a festival celebrated by throwing old things from the home into the fire set up using fuel/oil and few sticks of wood. On the day of Boghi, I woke up to the kaleidoscopic view of smoke. Which was something new and I have never seen my house filled with so much smoke. For a while I enjoyed the way how the smoke moved. It was like watching the movement of clouds with greater speed. It was astonishing to know that smoke is unpredictable but still makes a move. Even though obstacles like walls, doors, windows, objects were present the smoke somehow manages to move steadily. It felt like a life lesson. Our thoughts, aims, efforts should be like a smoke; it must be spontaneous and constant. Even under difficulties or arrival of obstacles one must never get ceased but to overcome/tackle them.

I had college that day. So quickly, I snapped out of the smoke admiring moment and started to get ready for college. I picked my bag and was walking on the streets of my neighbourhood to reach the bus stop. Every porch of the house had colourful, intricate designs of kolam and rangoli. The view of the street was a mixture of smoke, fog, amber streaks of sunrise, and bonfires at each house. After, a long period of research works at college. I got really tired. I slept like anything.

Pongal – O – Pongal!!

Well, my family are not that much into celebrations. And floods made further damage to their tiny celebration spirit. I for one always love to take part in any activities related to festivals. But today I was too tired. Kids outside my house were cheerfully shouting Pongal-o-Pongal. I greeted back to all who showered me with their creative and happy Pongal wishes. I am glad festivals are a reason to evoke people into greeting and remembering they have human friends other than their gadgets. I took some chalk pieces and drew some amateur patterns on the porch in an attempt to draw a kolam. My brother started nagging that a 3 year old can draw better than me. Well I don’t care if they are imperfect patterns, as long as it makes me happy and hurts none; nothing wrong with doing it imperfectly.

My kolam/ Rangoli/ whatever it is that made me happy!

So, that’s how Pongal 2016 began for me.

Hope it is a prosperous year ahead for you!!!

Wish you a Happy Pongal!

Masinagudi trip pics!

Me!

Unusual flora

Monkeys!

             

                

       

This bird came to the room every morning

 

spotted a peacock!

Our room at masinagudi

Took pics of whatever that moved in the jungle!

the stream nearby the room

wild bison

A walk. Because we got bored in early morning

 

                                                                                           Lion tail monkey

Jeep safari

The pigs which ate the leftover elephant's food

Deers!

view from our compartment

tired/sleepy elephant

The beautiful lake

yeah we spotted many more bisons

Elephants in mudhumalai jungle

Ariel view of the place

honey bees

Camp fire

Touch-me-not plant with it's flower

tamed elephant

Inside the museum

Scenery:

                                      

For the story behind the trip see my post "My Last college trip-2015"

My Last college trip-2015

I am a travel fanatic. I absolutely love travelling and explore places. This could be because my family tours a lot at least once a year. It is kind of a routine till I joined college. So, after college begun my life activities altered so much it felt like my life does not belong to me anymore. One fine day my faculty asked my class to choose any one place for college trip. The options given were Munnar (Kerala), Avalanche (Tamil Nadu) and Masinagudi (Karnataka). All are tourist spots, offers great accommodation, etc. So after a big discussion of comparing the places we all got confused instead of coming to a conclusion. 

Somehow, after a series of events the place chosen was Masinagudi. I had no clue there was a place with such a tongue twisting name existing in South India. I started to think... Why does the name of the place is weird? How come it is not a famous tourist spot in South India? Is the tour operator making us spend piles of money for some deserted place? Maybe there is no such thing as Masinagudi. Thanks to internet all my queries were almost answered. Even though I was a bit sceptical about the place I had no other choice this was my last trip together with my college pals. So, my trip to Masinagudi was confirmed, train was booked and itinerary was provided.

My journey started when I reached the Chennai Central (Train station). The art of finding the right coach where you get to be seated is a talent. Because I and my mom were walking around the station for a while to discover the platform we needed was right before us when we first arrived. My enthusiasm got exhausted until I saw my friends standing with their dear ones. There is something about certain people that can make you smile; like the flame, lit the lamp. We greeted laughed and cherished the moment. 

Until, my classmate who arrived late started to have seizures. 

I didn’t saw but my parents did and got too worried. They described every detail like how blood came from her mouth, how she could not stay stable, how weak she became, etc. My mother instead of telling me take care or be safe or call me; She said never forget to drink water. I understand water or H2O is important for body metabolism but how is that an appropriate thing to tell to a daughter who is going to a college trip. Still, she’s my mother so I had to obey her wish. 

After all the scary stuff happened, we were informed that different kinds of creepy people might enter the train so keep yourself and your belongings safe. After such a statement, who can sleep peacefully or enjoy the train ride. But the thought faded away as soon as we started to play songs, gossips, etc. The morning I woke up to the scenery of fields, crops, ponds, etc. We reached Mysore and had our breakfast in the bus. The breakfast items by kannada people are delicious. It was given in a plastic boxes containing sambhar, chutney, idly, pongal, masala dosa and kesari. Early morning hunger games satisfied. 

Then the bus journey started; the old buildings in Mysore are delight to the eyes. The irony is Masinagudi is a place that is in Tamil Nadu but can only be reached faster from Mysore. The resort was a fantastic place. All the gangs got their room key but we were requested to wait i.e. stranded in the lobby. After a long wait the hope of getting the keys was gone until we saw them. The entrance of the room was cool we all got mesmerised by the view. The room was beside a stream; calm, tranquil, and peaceful. The floor and roof was made with terracotta. The whole place was literally surrounded by bamboo trees. We all freshen up and relaxed for a while. Some of us were in awestruck by the room we got. You know what teen girls do when they see unbelievable stuff happening they scream in joy, that’s exactly what happened. 

The evening we hopped into a jeep and went on a safari. We spot wild bison, Lion tail monkeys, birds, and a beautiful lake. On our return from the safari we took some spooky pictures of ourselves on the way to the resort. The next day we all visited Mudhumalai forest. It had a tiny museum/ info centre where we saw embalmed animals, photos, etc. We waited for a while for the bus which takes us inside the jungle. We spotted herds of deer, elephants and a few peacocks. Later we saw a place where tame elephants were kept, feed and taken care regularly. There were few pigs nearby the elephants which ate the food that was leftover.

Elephants are big creatures with a childlike behaviour. One refused to eat the food, one was eagerly waving its head and one was too sleepy to even chew the food. I could relate myself with them. Later, that night we had campfire partially ruined with number games conducted by the resort fellow. The next day was just relaxation time. We walked around the resort in nomadic manner, took pictures, spotted monkeys, and ate breakfast. another fun activity was to touch the touch-me-not plants. The breakfast was the time I discovered orange marmalade. I have never heard or ate it before. My friend told me that it is delicious and I should try some. I tried it. Trust me orange marmalade is solution to half of the problems. The tangy taste is absolutely divine and you must also try it at least once in your lifetime.

Then we all packed our bags and said our good bye to this place. We then came to Mysore for shopping. My college people were so careful they did not included Mysore palace, Mysore zoo, etc into our tour schedule. Only shopping; which I can do in Chennai itself. We roamed like anything into the streets of Mysore and then hopped into the bus to reach train station. That’s how my last college trip ended. Altogether we all had a good time.

The bazaar/bizarre experience

The entrepreneur development cell of my college conducts an annual event for its students to showcase their business talents/tactics. Every year I used to think of participating but back off. But this time I wanted different experiences to remember my college days as my last semester going to end soon. So, I pushed my comfort levels and attended the meeting regarding the bazaar. The first thing required was forming a team. I wasn’t serious about keeping a stall until I spoke with my classmate about the details. The next thing was to choose what to sell at the stall. (I kept a food stall.) Delicious as it sounds keeping a stall that have perishable or requires purchase of many materials and cooking of those materials in bulk is not a fun thing to do.

After registering our stall, we get to sell tickets for the event. Let me give an important piece of advice from my ticket selling experience. Never feel sad, afraid or nervous while selling tickets; trust me that never work. At the same time, you need to analyse the body language, attitude and emotional state of the buyer because come on they are also common human being just like us. So in order to sell a ticket think like a buyer, think what you will offer along with the ticket, grab or provoke need for buying the ticket, etc. So, ticket selling was hard still the feel you get when a ticket gets sold is something you can brag about.

Due to floods in Chennai the date was postponed to December 26 & 27, 2015. Christmas night was a horror time for me; I started to think that I made a huge mistake investing in the stall. On the day of the event, I and my team members arranged all the required things on the table. Food stall gets crowded at a particular time and during some other time no one even gives a damn to at least see the menu and offers a food stall has. So, if any of you thinking of keeping a food stall the only mantra that helps is “Patience”. But still you can use other strategies like dragging known people and make them buy from you. Even though, I wasn’t astounded with my first stall experience still some new experience is better than nothing to remember 2015.

Belated happy new year!!