The world this week!

Remember this series that used to be aired on DD when Pranoy Roy became the first celebrity TV news reporter and went on to even bigger things. But every Sunday (?) night we waited for him to come and SHOW us what has been happening all over the world where even one week old news was breaking and incidentally useful or interesting!

Well, this one isn't to go on a DD nostalgia trip, its just about OUR world this week. It's been a pretty interesting week when Friday the 13th decided happen on Thursday the 12th instead!

Yeah yeah! You heard me right! I had a small accident with an auto guy hitting my bike on my way home Thursday. It was almost totally my fault since I was in a rush to get home. Thankfully it happened really close to home and it wasn't much. Some scratches and muscle ache, most of which is OK now. I worked half day on Friday and chilled at home for the rest.

Before that one of the days we went to watch Aamir at Fun Cinemas. Dinner happened a cute l'il place called Orange Peel (previously known as Zync Cafe) on Hospital Road, just off Safina Plaza at Commercial street. The menu is continental and food was really yummy. Cubby was ofcos on his worst behaviour and insisted on not eating his food prophaly and throwing all his toys around! He was OK by the time we reached the theatre and slept through the movie! The movie AAmir is really over hyped. It's a tad too slow and though trying to address a sensitive issue ends up being predictable. Can easily be watched on DVD. M kept giving me dirty looks and sunaoed me for god knows HOW long after that! Sigh!

Saturday we had invited a cousin and his family home for dinner. Cousin has two adorable kids, a son (who is insanely jealous of Cubby) and an adorable elder daughter who is around 10! We cooked up a quick Thai red curry and steamed rice and fried some ready to cook starters and everyone settled in our small balcony / landing taking in the fresh breeze and uncluttered view with kids weaving in and out every now and then. LOT of attention and energy was put in saving precious crockery from destruction with Cubby's improved mobility! :D Next time it's paper plates! Hehe!

By the end of the evening l'il nephew V had made friends with Cubby and was asking me sweetly"Can we Please Please take your baby home?!"

Sunday we went to Shopper's Stop to use up some gift vouchers we had. I finally got meself a new handbag!! Pretty different from my usual humongous bags (hubby fondly calls them jholas) to something l'il smaller and hopefully feminine. :p Cubby sat in the pram for first time out there and howled till we showed him it moved WITH him. Even then his patience ran out pretty quickly and we were back in godi!

Evening we decided to go and SEE Lido mall with no better plan in the offing. We reached almost at closing hour and were quite impressed with valet parking and double parking system with cars lifted on top of each other and all that jazz! Rest of the mall was pretty unimpressive. They do have lot of really high end (read EXPENSIVE) brands like Guess and Body Shop etc. The sizes of all clothes seem to have shrunk even more and I felt like one old and fat aunty.

"I felt so unhip that I am surprised my bum didn't fall off!" - Phrase twisted courtesy The Ultimate Hitchhiker's Guide to Galaxy (the 2nd book precisely (The Restaurant at the End of the Universe) which I am in process of reading and thoroughly enjoying!).

We thought of having dinner at the mall, but then decided to go to Indiranagar Dhaba instead. It had been ages and it was such a regular haunt till about 2 years ago! We were glad to find Danny Lamba da Dhaba as is with rickety metal tables, plastic chairs and mosquitoes! The menu card came slightly newer with fewer spelling mistakes, but the plates were still misshapen melamine! We ordered chicken bharta and methi kofta in palak. First bite and we thanked god for not letting danny lamba change his cook or the recipes! :p The food was too good to be true and we all hogged on the food sipping chilled Sprite while trying to keep Cubby sitting on his chair! He loved being in open air and it wasn't too embarrassing when he dropped the finger bowl because on mud it really doesn't make a difference! ;)

M asked Papa if he wants to have ice cream or something and we said Yes!! Then began race against time. It was almost 1045pm and we had to reach an ice cream parlour before the dreaded Cinderella hour that comes an hour earlier in Bangalore. :( Thankfully we did find a Corner House open and had a delicious Cake a Mocha which had bitter coffee flavoured ice cream with warm brownie and hot chocolate sauce! Perfect end to a fun weekend!

How was your week?

Not so quirky!

Emaan's mommy tagged me a while ago to this tag!

These are the rules:1. Link the person(s) who tagged you…(done on top!) 2. Mention the rules on your blog (here they are!) 3. Tell about 6 unspectacular quirks of yours...4. Tag 6 following bloggers by linking them…5. Leave a comment on each of the tagged blogger’s blogs letting them know they’ve been tagged..

So here I go E ki amma.

I LOVE bournvita even now. And I can have it ONLY cold! L'il warm and it goes in the fridge!

I still can't use fork and spoon properly or fork and knife... together! Villager me!

I don't remember my dreams!

I cannot sign the same way every time! (yeah that scares me!)

I cannot apply nail polish OMO. Or even eyeliner!

I can't resist moving when there is dance music on. Least my feet will be tapping!

Is that quirky enough? Well they are supposed to be unspectacular quirks!! So its OK I guess!

I tag The Gypsy Mumma, JLT, Whatsinaname, DDMom, K3 and Snippets

ps: Thanx ~nm for teaching me how to do this linking bit! :D

'Surprisingly' difficult!

Haven't you watched it in innumerable TV serials and movies, when a person enters a dark room feeling all lonely and wondering why is no one talking to him/ her? There is click of the lock and as soon as they enter, there's lights, pretty decoration and smiling friends and family screaming "Surprise!!!!" The person being surprised (surprisee??) screams too and says "You guys!" with teary eyes!

Well, it has never happened to me! That is OK! But I can't even get it right when I am planning it for someone else!

First time attempt was M's birthday coupla years ago. Called his friends, got confirmations, got permission from boss to leave early, called the maid to come and help me, gave a buddy a shopping list, another was to get the cake, planned the menu (pav-bhaji!;)! Phew! I mean there i was, right on track, eh?!

Guess what I decide to do next?? I forget to take the keys to home!!!! AArrgghhh!! This means the key has to come from M, the surprisee! Sob! I manage to ask the buddy with shopping list who works near M, please get the chaabi. I get questioned about why do I need it early. I say I have just invited S n N for dinner, so I need to prepare. Sigh!

Sweet M as unused to surprises as me, believed my story. When we were chilling with S, he said I wish M n her kid were coming. He says it and they walk in within 5mins with a big cake. He keeps mentioning names and they keep walking in! :D He was so kicked and so was I with the pseudo-surprise party!

Next, it happened just yesterday. M was coming back from his trip and I decided to surprise him at the airport. He had luckily sent me the number of the taxi guy supposed to pick him up. I call him and request him to pick us up first. AS luck would have it his cell phone battery dies by evening and we are all dressed up, with nowhere to go. I was pacing up and down, muttering under my breath about stupid people, when the cab arrived all apologetic about his cell getting switched off. We are on our way! I smsed M saying his cab guy had called saying his cell is dead, but he will be there for sure to pick him up. Guess what M says?! He smses after landing saying "If he doesn't pick up my call, I will just book a taxi inside and come" EEPPPSS!

I was left with no choice but to tell him, please don't we are waiting outside with your cabbie! :( Even then, M's expression was priceless as he told me "Woman! You are crazy!" And I know he meant it affectionately! :)

Cubby was also thrilled to see his papa after two whole weeks and within no time we were back home, tired but too excited to sleep! :)

I know I have these flop surprises, but like we all like to say 'It's the thought that counts'!

And what came out of M's suitcase? That's for another time!

What's your favourite SURPRISE!!!! story?!

seeing i to i

Whatsinaname tagged me to do this. As if you actually wanted to know more about me! But hey me like talking about meself! ;) So, here I am!

I am: a happy soul who loves to love and be loved!

I think: that most of the thinking we do is completely pointless!

I know: I need to lose weight so that my back strains itself l'il less!

I want: another baby and ability to forgive and forget... always!

I have: everything I could have ever wanted.

I wish: for happiness in everyone's life!

I hate: people with no civic sense of any kind!

I miss: giggling fits with girlfriends!

I fear: i might become cynical some day.

I feel: happiness is a state of mind and if you have it everything else is a passing phase!

I hear: Cubby babbling and waiting to hear him say Mommy!

I smell: baby powder, poo and Cool Water.

I crave: chocolates!

I search: for that elusive smart outfit in big size!

I wonder: can a relationship indeed be so comfortable and warm!

I regret: not having done a "dekhne-dikhaane" ka programme least once before getting married to my sweetheart of 7 years!

I love: my family, friends and the fact that my smile still reaches my eyes! (modesty?)

I ache: for anyone going through hard times esp children

I care: about environment and the fact that each ONE's action affects our future.

I am not: organised!

I believe: in God and Humanity!

I dance: to all dhinchak hindi numbers! danced too much even at my wedding much to the shock of Northie sasural! ;)

I sing: not too badly! Love the vamp's songs more!

I cry: at drop of the hat! :D more at happy things that fill my heart with so much emotion that i have to cry! weird!

I don’t always: smile! people get shocked when they see my cry the first time! YOU?? Cry?? hehe!

I fight: rarely! When i do its mostly auto waalas with bad meter! ggrrrrrrrr!!

I write: to make memories and have fun!

I win: rarely!

I lose: but I am ok as long as its been a fair play!

I never: manipulate!

I always: am looking for new restaurants to try!

I confuse: huh? what? ;)

I listen: TO my heart!

I can usually be found: smsing or talking!

I am scared: of losing things that matter! and my signature NOT matching when it matters the most! it's horrible not be able to sign consistently! know any classes?

I need: to just be myself!

I lack: ambition

I am happy about: having a guardian angel looking over me all the time! He/ She is too good to be true! :D touchwood!

I tag Bangaloremom, Puja and ~nm

thankee ji! :D

I finally have a new and very very cute look for my blog! Well, I have been told modesty is thing of past, so will just praise it myself! :p

Of course the credit does not go to me at all. It's just one of those things that happen which make you feel incredibly lucky for having such amazing people around you!

~nm aka Betu's mommy is the one to whom i owe a BIG thank you for so effortlessly accepting to do this adorable piece of art and having it all ready for me within a days time! hat's off to you lady!

It all started with Swati's blog having a new header made by Aryan's taiji! We discovered Taiji is NM and a casual comment saying can taiji do it for us and i got a comment saying mail me. So I did. She asked me what do you want? What does Cubby like? I drew a blank and said kuch bhi chalega. Inspite of such silly jawaab the lady got to work. Next day morning I had a sample of the header to look at! I was excited like a baby! I kept asking for small changes till i made her go Oho! :p

Then comes a mail with steps in detail and I am even more stumped! I was really scared of wiping out my whole blog. I sent her a SOS saying can technologically handicapped people attempt such a serious thing?

NM was verry amused to say the least and sent me her number saying Call me! Her wish was my commend by now and I called her. I must say she has a gorgeously sweet voice! :D

Then like a small baby, she took me through the steps answering my complete Duh questions with amazing patience! Header she would say and i would go Uhhh! So now you know HOW duh! :(

Within minutes it was up and I sent the link to M who is ofcos in deep slumber being in a different time zone. As soon he was up, sms pestering did you see my blog kept flying! Then he saw and sent me a sms saying it's just awesome! He was so jealous! Hehe!

So big hugs for you NM! This has been one of the nicest things someone has done for me! :)

the darker side of desire...

Oh well! The secret had to come out sometime... like most secrets do! As hard as we try to control our desires and kill that basic instinct, it brings up its deliciously sinful head up every now and then and you have no choice but to give in... Time to come out of the closet and tell the world!

Dark Chocolate!!! My biggest weakness... the chink in my armour! ( Had you women started whispering"She didn't seem that kind, no?!;).

I don't remember when this love started, but it has grown with my size (sigh!) . I guess the only dark chocolate made in India earlier was Amul in its dark brown pack. Then came Bournville from Cadbury's. As luck would have it, my mausi shifted abroad and every time they came to India, came a pack of Club dark chocolate. I would ignore the hazelnuts and coconut flavoured chocos and just shower all my love on Club. We would eat (dad and bro are fans too!) one piece a day to make the pleasure last longer.

By then Mocha had opened in Mumbai and my pal took me there to experience the Chocolate Avalanche! Imagine a big bowl filled with chocolate mousse, brownies, ice cream, chunks of chocolate and topped up with the rich, brown sauce! Gluttony has always been my biggest sin. It followed with trip to try other stuff there like the Vertigo, a layered dark chocolate cake that would make you head spin or the Lindt Shake! Oooooh!

We got married and M changed jobs. It involved LOT of travelling. Imagine poor M's haalat when at every duty free shop he had to scour for dark chocolates, resolutely ignoring other interesting looking stuff. From Hershey's dark which isn't all that dark to Guiyame or some such who made 75% dark squares of pure fantasy! From one which had liquor filled centres to the ones with tangy orange flavour to them, each one fueling my obsession just a little more.

Last time M bought some really interesting ones which had a dash of pepper and other spices. Imagine the flavours you taste one by one as the chocolate melts in your mouth. First its the rich chocolate - l'il sweet, more bitter and then suddenly spice that surprises your taste buds thinking spicy chocolates! Absolute bliss. I would have never imagined lemon and chocolate going together and creating a sensational taste! Ghiradelli makes such yummy squares and I share them only with the closest!

I have long given up on Hershey's and Dairy Milks of the world. I won't touch a 5star with a foot long pole. Basically I don't bother with sweet, milk chocolates! After discovering the sinfully sensuous and so to say darker side, I just can't come back to the sweet side.

M will be back on Sunday and I am already rubbing my hands in anticipation wondering what pleasures are yet to be experienced?

Come home soon, will ya?!

May be...

The month that last one has been! May! With a tentative name itself, obviously nothing was planned and done and things happened. Mostly good! Touchwood!

So warning - SUPER long post!

17th May was my Kaka - Kaku's anniv. (Uncle and Aunt would be the apt translation.) Of course that;s what the family tree makes them, but they are lot more than that. Both of them have always been around in good and bad times in the family. Kaku fawns over Kabir as much as my Mom if not more. You should have seen the way she geared up to prepare for the baby as soon as she knew. From gorgeous chaddars to little clothes to tiny woolens for Cubby. She really pulled all plugs and pushed herself hard. No words can ever thank her for such genuine affection and love she gives without any expectations! Kaka too makes it point to be around for all important occasions even if it means travelling six hours for a 3 hour get together. They were the first people to come and stay with us in Bangalore with the intention to just meet us and be with us! Thank you both of you for being such a solid and loving support! Hope to see you here for Cubby's first birthday! :)

22nd May - My parent's anniversary! What do i say about these wonderful people? Words fall short when i try to describe how well they brought us up. I also don't know what to say because they made it seem so effortless. I hardly remember them ever being preachy and yet they taught us so much! From my mother I learnt how to support your family, be strong in times of crisis, how to be adjusting without compromising on what you believe in! I am still grappling to manage time as awesomely as she does (she multi-tasked waayyy before the term became so hep!) and to cook three fresh meals a day like her! Hats off to you Mom! It's from seeing you that I was confident I could be a working mom and do a good job of it! I love your free spirit, your will to stand for what you believe in, not just for yourself, but others too!

My dad is mostly what I am even today. He taught me to be positive. He told me life is not always fair and yet managed to imbibe that there are more good people in this world than bad, and that's why the world still continues to exist. My faith in humanity is thanks to seeing him in action with people at every level. I have learnt that at times I might get cheated, but a good deed is always returned! If not from person you expect, then from someone else. So keep doing good work and life will be good to you. Dad I admire your never say die attitude, the way you always have listening ear and sensible advice. I get my habit of shedding tears at drop of the hat (esp at happy things) from you! :D I guess I get whatever bit of my writing skills also from you. It's absolutely no surprise that you are loved and respected in whole of our family!

And together both of you showed me what a good marriage is all about! I am glad I married a little later in life and got my basics right! Thank you for respecting my decision, supporting it and being there always sharing the joys of my married life!

Love you MOST!

25th May - M's birthday! :D What do I say about the joy of my life? After a almost non-existent courtship (the courtship was zero!) period of six and a half years, I managed to blackmail this guy enough to marry him. To his credit, he did not run away from the mandap! :p Married life started with some rocky patches and setting our expectations right. Once we got settled into the groove that's when our courtship period actually started. From after work 'dates' at Cafe Coffee Day to watching every new movie that released in the first week! From learning to cook together and having dinner only by 11pm to depending on Maggi to sail us through the lazy weekend. Everyday was filled with love and laughter. And it has never stopped being like that. Of course we fight (which couple doesn't), we slam doors, say hurtful words we wish we could take back, but through it all, we know we are imperative to each others happiness! We kiss and make up and the days are beautiful again! M is patience personified and I manage to test that as well. Yet, he forgives me graciously, until I manage to upset him again. When we found out I am pregnant, M was even more caring. We went to all our favourite haunts in Mumbai. I just had to ask for something and it would be there. He even got me the last Harry Potter the day it released, pleading not to read in the hospital! :D Our innumerable scrabble games and DVD shopping jaunts to Majestic to actually agreeing to NOT having cable at home, we have been equal partners in every decision we make. M treats my family as his own and he is adored by everyone. He is magic with kids and equally popular with the oldies. He can have you laughing in minutes with his brilliant sense of humour!

M you are indeed in every sense of the term my better half. I am glad you took a chance to find happiness with me and I hope you will never regret this decision. Thank you for being the perfect husband, the best father and an awesome son! Life just wouldn't have been the same without you! And i mean it only in a good way! :)

And last but not the least! My darling l'il brother who is a whole six and half years younger than me was going through a tough phase! He is studying in the US and was trying hard to get a summer internship. Apart from a chance to earn good money, it also means a chance to land up on a good job later. With US economy slowing down, no good news came for over a month. Being the cynic that he is, he worried and worried, ruining his health on the way too. I so wished I could just go and spend some time with him. Few days ago, phone rings midnight with his name flashing! I obviously get worried till I heard "Yohoo! Sis! I got through Yahoo!" I was sooo kicked and happy. He said he didn't wanna disturb Mom-Dad and HAD to share the news with someone! I felt SO proud and touched. Now he has offer from another good company as well and things are looking up! You rock brother! I just KNOW you gonna be SUPER successful! Am so proud to have the brain of the family as MY brother! :p Though Cubby could do with spending some time with you (you were so good with him), am sure you will make up for it. I also look forward to some EXPENSIVE Raksha Bandhan gifts! ;)

All in all a month where some of the most special people celebrated some special occasions. I am really lucky to have all of you in my life!

Always, be there, will ya?