Bored Beyond Belief !!

Yet another day at work…

Varshita — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 10:09:13 +0000

A half empty or a half full bottle of water on the desk
strokes of an irritable hindi song in the background
people ready to rust in their chairs
time seems to have died in our neighbourhood today

Anticipating a brighter future
angry with the stale present
floating in the daunting memories of the past
dreams seem to have broken in our neighbourhood today

Staring at the to-do list in the diary
struggling to keep the eyes open
forcing a polite conversation
enthusiasm seems to have dried in our neighbourhood today

Post 588 - Living in Mumbai

Varshita — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 08:53:59 +0000

Why this peculiar post name?

Well thats how this post was saved in my drafts for a very long time and I am feeling too lazy to change it to anything else now.

The post earlier had a list of movies I had seen in theatre ever since i moved to mumbai. But I guess it got too much for me to update. The list is pretty long now…

I dont think I have watched as many movies in my life as I have in the last one and a half years. Well thats what your mode of entertainment really boils down to every weekend when you live in a city where you have no family but a handful of friends.

Life has been busy in Mumbai. And before you jump the gun… let me clarify that this is not just another ranting session about mumbai…its actually much more.

I have been here for a few months short of two years now and I havent really had a day where I feel at peace in this city. While I do agree there are a few things that I LOVE about this place (dont be too quick to smile) but it loses on the balance handsdown to the things I HATE about mumbai.

Let me put those things here for your to understand where I am coming from…

Things I love:

Security: I had heard about it but now I completely agree that this place is safer for Girls… atleast in comparison to Delhi. No matter what time it is, you can easily find a rickshaw/ local train / cab without the fear of being raped / abducted.

Professionalism: Worklife is much btter here not just in terms of money and opportunities but also in terms of people attitude. No nosy colleagues / bosses.

Late night joints: This city never sleeps and you never go hungry out here. Be it vada pao, roadside pao bhaji, cheese toast, juices or shakes, idli/vada/dosa, or local pizza… anytime anywhere its available!

Weekend getaways: At times I think its only cos this city is so maddening that these weekend getaways make so much moolah. Lonavla, khandala, alibag, panchgani, mahabaleshwar, pune, chiplun… all within the reach of 5 hrs drive.

Privacy: Its a double whammy here. Firstly since everyones so busy, the neighbours dont really know eachother or even bother to care. Secondly living here alone with my spouse gives me ample amount of space in terms of doing / wearing what we like.

Things I hate:

Traffic: You can never really enjoy driving in Mumbai. You never find empty roads, other than at 3 in the night. And i m not even talking about the size of the main roads here. Did I mention the pot holes?

Food: If you are a foodie and you have been lucky enough to have tasted some nice Mughlai / southindian food in your life, mumbai is so not the place for you. Everything you eat out here will either be sweet (thanks to gujju // marwari influence) or chilly. Ever heard of making the food spicy? Also you can never find butter chicken with bones here!

Malls: Everybodys favourite destination on weekends. You cannot yes you heard me right, you cannot shop on weekends thanks to the footfalls. You literally have to push or be pushed around if you have been courageous enough to make a trip there.

Clothes: Every shop selling indian wear is influenced by Saas Bahu serials.. So its either too garish or if its simple.. you will find everyone wearing the same.

Movie ticket prices: Are way too much ! Our house hold expenditure is high thanks to the amount we spend on watching movies. Even the early morning show costs a minimum of 100 bucks while I remember in delhi it was just 50 bucks !

Pigeon houses: Ten steps any direction and you are bound to hit a wall. Yes thats the size of a house an average middle class family can afford… or even worse in some cases. The concept of balconies is alien. And even if your builder has been insightful enough to keep them, you would either find families covering the area to create another bedroom out of that space, or putting grill all around the balcony to make it look like a domiciled version of Jail.

Parking: When you cant find space to live, you cant only dream to find space to park. Strange parking rules allow only one car per apartment to be parked inside the society. So the other needs to be parked on main road.

One way conditions apply: Yes conditions apply. When you are in a one way, dont be to happy and increase your speed, infact be cautious cos you never know when a BEST bus will come from the opposite direction. Apparently BEST busses are allowed even in one ways … wah !

No Family: At times you really wanna eat your moms home made food… which you just cant get here. Leading to more expenditure either in terms of entertainment to keep depression at bay, or flying down to delhi to pacify the taste buds… either ways… loads of kharcha !

I am sure there are many more I can talk or let me correct rant about… but like I said earlier I am feeling very lazy today. Hence the first post from office
Chao…

And Shiney is back !

Varshita — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 14:51:23 +0000

Yes… you heard me right. Shiney Ahuja is back in B-town.

And in case you are wondering how the hell do I know, well well, did I forget to mention earlier that he stays in my complex?
Well ….ok now I just did !

Saw him last night strolling in the compound along with his wife… couple looked quite lovey dovey.. have no comments to offer on the case though…

One shall only wait and watch !

Happy New Year guys !

Varshita — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 20:13:37 +0000

And another one goes by… but this one just flew…
I dunno whether its married life or this city that you feel that lifes zipping past you.

Loads was done, accomplished, learnt, felt, regretted…last year.

Hopefully this year too there will be new learnings, new mistakes and new milestones.

But one thing I definately want to do this year is to dedicate some time off the week to the blog. Have had some interesting stuff to blog about but havent really gotten myself to sit and type.

So i guess this year we shall get to see some meaningful blog enteries… specially on travel and restraunts since thats a huge chunk that I want to write reviews about.

Blog entry on trip to goa…. coming soon !

Diwali in Delhi

Varshita — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 19:31:53 +0000

Its that time of the year again…post diwali depression setting in.

What intrigues me though is the sheer fact that inspite me so looking forward to this trip… it didnt quite match up to its expectations.

But what did definately … was the ever so awesome delhi food.

There is no denying that Delhi belly is far far superior and tasty than Amchi Mumbai…

I so miss this food in Bombay (boo Raj Thakeray!!)… and ofcourse the family too !

Ajj din chadeya tere rang varga lyrics

Varshita — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 04:13:49 +0000

Ajj din chadheya tere rang varga
Ajj din chadheya tere rang varga
Phool sa hai khila aaj din

Rabba mere din yeh na dhale
woh jo mujhe khawaab mein mile
usse tu lagade ab gale
tenu dil da vaasta

Rabba aaya din yeh yaar ke
saara jahan chod chad ke
mere sapne sawaar de
tenu dil da vaasta

Ajj din chadeya tere rang varga

Baksha gunaho ko sun ke duwao ko
rabba pyaar hai tune sab ko hi de diya
meri bhi aahon ko sun le duwao ko
mujhko woh dila mene jisko hai dil diya

Aasmaan pe aasmaan usko de itna bata
woh jo mujhko dekh ke hase
pana chahoon raat din jisse
rabba mere naam kar usse
tenu dil da vaasta

Ajj din chadeya tere rang varga

Maanga jo mera hai jaata kya tera hai
maine kaun si tujhse jannat mang li
kaisa khuda hai tu bas naam ka hai tu
rabba jo teri itni si bhi na chali

Chahiye jo mujhe kar de tu mujhko ata
jeeti rahi saltanat teri
jeeti rahe ashiqui meri
dede mujhe zindagi meri
tenu dil da vaasta

Rabba mere din yeh na dhale
woh jo mujhe khawaab mein mile
usse tu lagade ab gale
tenu dil da vaasta

Rabba aaya din yeh yaar ke
saara jahaan chod chad ke
mere sapne sawar de
tenu dil da vaasta

Ajj din chadeya tere rang varga
Ajj din chadeya tere rang vargaaaa…
Din chadeyaaaa..

Reliance lifetime validity expires?

Varshita — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 04:03:12 +0000

Well I guess it does…. atleast mine did.
But what I wasnt able to come with terms with was .. how can a lifetime validity expire?
But as the executive at the counter tells me that there is a **conditions apply** to that.

Now thats news to me !

What do i do?

Varshita — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 18:18:30 +0000

…or should I say what can I do?

My boss just told me today that she is quitting in a months time.

Its a loss, both personal as well as professional. I think I will just leave it at that.

Happy break-up song: Chor Bazaari

Varshita — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 10:52:57 +0000

Chor bazaari do nainon ki
pehle thi aadat jo hat gayi
pyar ki jo teri meri
umr aayi thi woh kat gayi
duniya ki to fiqr kahan thi
teri bhi ab chinta ghat gayi
tu bhi tu hai, main bhi main hun,
duniya saari dekh ulat gayi
tu na jaane main na jaanu,
kaise saari baat palat gayi
ghatni hi thi yeh bhi ghatna
ghat-te ghat-te lo yeh ghat gayi
chor bazaari do nainon ki
pehle thi aadat jo hat gayi

Tareef teri karna
tujhe khone se darna
haan… bhool gaya ab
tujhpe din mein chaar dafa marna
pyaar khumaari utree saari
baaton ki badli bhi chhat gayi
Hum se main pe aayi aise
mujhko toh main hi main ratt gayi
ek hue the do se dono
dono ki ab rahein bant gayi

ab koi fikar nahi
gham ka bhi zikar nahi
haan…hota hoon main jis raste pe
aaye khushi wahi….
azaad hoon main tujhse
azad hai tu mujhse
haan…jo ji chahe jaise chahe
kar le aaj yahin

laaj sharam ki choti moti
jo thi dori woh bhi kat gayi
chowk choubare gali mohalle
khol ke main saare ghoonghat gayee
tu na badli main na badla
delhi saari dekh badal gayi

ek ghoont mein duniya-daari
ki main saari samjh nigal gayi
haan.. rang biranga paani peeke
seedhi saadi kudi bigaad gayi
dekh ke mujhko hasta gaata
sad gayi yeh duniya sad gayi

~ OST Love Aaj Kal (Singers: Neeraj Sridhar & Sunidhi Chauhan) ~

And it rains again…

Varshita — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 18:26:32 +0000

Boondein jo maathe ko choom hothon se gir gayi
ek lamhe mein bachpan ki yaadein taaza kar gayi

Its been raining non-stop for more than 12 hrs now and today after a long time I got drenched on will !

I cant remember when was the last time i enjoyed getting wet in rain…. the faintest memory I have would be of the time 15 years back. When the house was not reconstructed… when grand ma was still alive… when the mango tree had not been cut.
That memory became fresh today… vinnie, me and mom… standing in the verandah, getting drenched in rain…with my grandma watching
Actually today a lot of them came back afresh…

The days when we wouldnt have school assembly as it would be raining. Playing basketball during rains… the so called “gola” shoes getting all wet…with water inside them… but it didnt matter. And today it hurts to get your catwalk sandals ruined.

Dad getting samosas and jalebies…. Mom making pakodas and coffee…ummmmm

That sound of the broken viper, splash of the bus, water logging on corners, struggle of the cycle rider, sale of the tea stall, cricket match of the colony kids, drops of water running down my hair, and someone to give me company on this walk while I struggle to manage the flood of memories.

Felt good to revive the old kid in me… after a long time !