happy friday thoughts!

• What joy when you start your day with the perfect tea! I suck at making my own tea. Everyday, something is amiss or in excess. So I made my own perfect tea today, with the right amount of adrak (ginger), sugar, milk and tea powder! yay! You have no idea how important it is to get your tea perfect, early in the morning.

• Another friend has given birth to a healthy baby girl and I am filled with more joy! Of course, I have to wait for next 6-7 months to be actually able to play with her. Because, I am terrified at the thought of handling infants. I am pretty sure I will hold them incorrectly and do something awful. sigh.

• I learnt and made an amazing new, fun chutney yesterday! A kashmiri friend posted it on facebook (not sure if its a kashmiri recipe though!) Take anar dana (pomegranate seeds), add lime juice, chaat masala, brown sugar, fresh ginger (all based on your instincts and according to taste, its a chutney after all!) and grind them together, till a coarse paste is formed. Add salt to taste. Serve it chilled with a dash of spring onions and cilantro (my addition to the chutney). Tastes yum, looks healthy and appetizing! My version without a mixer here - http://instagram.com/p/OrOAylLv_C/
• Even though this is a happy thoughts post, I will share my latest pet peeve. People/girls/boys who create a physical mess on the kitchen counter and don't give a damn about cleaning it up later! If I leave aside the one or two times, that one may actually be feeling lazy/under the weather to do the cleaning immediately, I don't understand why one would leave things in a state of mess! Again, I know why I am like this! Since bachpan (childhood) I have been taught/trained (later expected to) finish work at hand, including the side jobs. And I have seen aai making sure everything was tidy and in its place in the kitchen, after all the chores were done. (these are remote factors in making sure I completed my studies/courses. Despite the urge to leave things halfway/undone during grad school. Its a compulsive need now!).

• Also everyday my belief in the fact that people who don't know you (or don't want to spend the effort in knowing you) get intimidated easily/talk behind your back easily. I do not mind it. A bit. The only thing I am happy about is, if you do not want to know me and rather be intimidated by me, you should also realize that its beneficial for me, cos I no more have to deal with close minded people (:P) (tanvi has done a super post here on a related note!)

• And how talented is Ranbir Kapoor! <3 <3 

~nightflier

the super star movie experience

I *lurve* watching movies! From the amount of my life I have spent in watching movies, I now have pretty toned instincts about various movies (upcoming or the one's that skipped my vision). By instincts which are toned, I mean I have become cautious with where I spend my anticipation and energy in. Well, that's not really being a 'real' movie watcher, but when you realize you do not really have a lot of time and have to figure out a way to fit in the awesome stuff, then this is the only strategy which has worked for me. And you have to believe me, I have watched really crappy movies. Really really.

Anywho, plus these days its a pop cultural phenomenon, sharing a movie watching experience with a bunch of fans and creating detached shared memories. I have watched chick flicks in downtown Chicago theatre (sex and the city, judge you may, but I had come to liking the series during that phase in life). Recently I caught The dark knight rises in a theatre full of Bane chants and batman tees. (I had missed The Dark Knight experience!). Among many such the only modern day movie watching adventure I had missed was watching a 'Salman Khan' movie. Yes, I missed Dabang and Wanted when they were huge hits here in India. So when 'Ek tha Tiger' first day first show tickets were to be booked, I immediately volunteered for the experience. I wanted to see what exactly happens on the big screen, when Salman Khan takes over.

So if you want a review of the movie, I will not be giving any. Because, this is about the movie watching experience than about how the movie was.
Anywho, my first disappointment came because it was an early morning show i.e. 8.45 am and that's not when really crazy salman khan fans must be watching the movie. The whistles, laughter, claps, uproar etc were down 5 notches, considering only money saving crowd (like me) was present. So tip for next time - watch a prime time show. That's when people have really high energy levels.

I will not talk of any more disappointments, as they deal with the script and how some things were utterly stupid in the movie. The high point of any Salman Khan movie I think is, how he owns the character (not talking about his earlier movies, like MPK, baagi, love, patthar ke phool, when he was adorable and vulnerable). The most cliched thing said about him is how larger than life he is. Apart from that, I admire his nonchalance about becoming a character. Instead he remains himself and lets you think 'imagine so and so is Salman Khan in the movie'. Yes that grin of his or that kick of his or that dance step of him (imagine any way you like).

And another slightly related note, I am appalled at *how much* money is wasted in making our movies. The unnecessary location shoots which must cost a bomb, the poor execution of technology, which is like wasted moolah. Slowly, in my head I am thinking of productive ways of saving/using money for them (:P). 

Anyway, all said and done, its tough being a super star in any field in India. The amount of criticism, expectations, hopes pinned on you, but the sheer pressure of it all! Insane. That's the only word that comes to my mind. Also, my instincts in picking the right movie and time for a Salman Khan movie have been honed as well, so that next time the experience is more enjoyable!

~nightflier

P.S. the last salman khan movie I watched in a theater was salaam-e-ishq!!!

where I think I may need lessons in management

* You know that over drive when your brain is racing through tasks one after the other, so much that you are amazed that how many thoughts your brain can produce and switch context equally well. No not exactly that this is happening with me. But I am at stage one where busy-ness is worrying me and I want to be able to do the context switching smoothly. Alas. But as I was talking to my shrink friend and accepted that since childhood I have been groomed to set stupid expectations for myself and push myself. So yes even if that's true, its always a struggle getting there. There = where need to push myself is lower than the desired result.
Anywho, I have rambled. A LOT.

* Also happening a lot these days, especially when I struggle at work is this ->

Source: marie-lle.com via Tanvii on Pinterest

* When I see people around me swim in an abyss of cliched prejudices, I FEEL anger. It exasperates me. Thankfully I have work to channel it. And also a blog where I can talk to empty spaces. Hmmm.
I pray for open minds. I really do. Heartfelt prayer.

* Well, if its not public then few days back I wanted to marry Kiran Nagarkar. I now want to marry Haruki Murakami. May be I can share time with these crazy minds ? 2-3 months at a time ? I am sure we will work something out. 
Reading 1Q84 has been the best reward given to me/best thing that has happened to me in July-August. It is extremely difficult to try to review a murakami book. But if you want something interesting, thrilling, magical to read then well you have one pick!

* Well, I have already lost a lot of thought threads I had going on inside my mind. And now I am suddenly at a loss of words. But anyway, as I said post some self pushing I will be back at point one and will have lots to write about.

~nightflier

Catching life on autopilot

Howmuchever one is running on autopilot, shifting from one task to another seamlessly, getting exhausted by the end of the day, wonderful love stories always catch you offguard and give a sense of respite and relief.


My friend from grad school met a girl on skype. 
Both really liked each other and continued talking for a year.
After an year he decided to visit her.
On their first 'real' meeting on the airport, overcome by his love, he gave her his family ring and unofficially proposed.
They carried out the relationship for another year, facing visa troubles and travel hassles.
In the mean time she learned his language. He started creating a connected life around her.
Last year in a small family ceremony, they got married, in his town.
Due to some issues, the girl's entire family could not make it to the wedding. Only her mother did.
Yesterday they got married AGAIN in her town, after an year.
And they still look like they have just met, popped the question to each other and decided to get married. So amazing!


Of course you will wonder, this is filmy. Specially the skype and airport part. So Indian right ?
Wrong!
The guy is from Peru. The girl is from Romania.
Now repeat the story in your head again.
So much more awesomeness, right ?


Those two are the most wonderful *couple* I know. Dreading it out, braving each and every hassle. Making a life together.


Toast to their togetherness!


~nightflier


P.S. Also rakshabandhan today! So much fun to be around someone (brother) where I can still make faces and wiggle my tongue and be silly. Happy rakhi-day everyone :)

DEMAND

The world needs better systems where MEN/GUYS/BOYS can understand that 'women/girls/females also work'. On weekdays/weekends.

I think I have been programmed to assume not to disturb/lower my expectations any 'boy(s)' around me when they declare they are working. Why are these programs absent (taken for granted) in the guy psyche ? Not because I am being a feminist here, but because simply if you demand to have a working girl for a wife, I demand for you to understand this.

ok ? OK.

Nightflier

Silence that heals

I spent one day with Upasna (from Someplace Else) and Pradnya (nature's baby) at a forest lodge. We ate, we hiked, we soaked ourselves in the lake water, we followed the lake trail, we chatted (a lot!), we played cards, we shared experiences, we dare deviled the trek to duke's nose and came back alive and a bit tired on friday the 13th.

During all this in a rare moment of calm, we were listening to the nature speak to us, when I exclaimed, 'I think I can bear this silence. But not the city silence.'

Of course the talking did not stop :D

The view from the hill

inside our gorgeous homestay

How fun is the warli painted wall!

~nightflier

Earned distinction!

On a family reunion sunday afternoon, after hogging tons of amazing vegetarian food (kheer!), we sat in front of the tv, watching 'kati patang' anticipating siesta. Who will 'repose' or 'manufacture zzzz' sooner than the others was the topic of chatter over 'how much one ate beyond one's capacity'.  Until I noticed the carrom board lurking in the corner of the hall. No discussion was needed. Within minutes the setup was ready. Boric powder was thrown on the board, magic tricks of distracting the opponent were performed. I teamed up with uncle, whereas father and cousin, both champions in their 'hay' college days, formed the other team.


More magic tricks involving shadowing the board pockets, deliberately talking loudly when the opponent was concentrating, were performed. During all this I was kind of having trouble getting the right finger position to hit the striker. The pain of playing a childhood game after 12 years! I drove my uncle crazy, when he would advise me to hit a particular coin and I would by default do something equally random and particularly useless.


Uncle : beta, try to take that coin (pointing at it) from the corner circle.
nightflier : Yes trying.
(after few seconds of forced concentration and hitting the shot)
uncle : But, we are playing with black coins, not white!!!
everyone around : #facepalm


Then while surfing channels, and stumbling across Vishwatma on TV, waiting for Divya Bharti to start crooning 'saat samundar' I found the finger hold. I am the straight shot types. Baba having observed this, suddenly told everyone, 'that's how my father used to hold/hit the striker too!' There! I am the girl who holds/hits the striker like her grandfather. And grandfather passed away long time back. I don't really have any tangible memory of him.


So I am extremely happy and proud to have earned this 'distinction' with him! Next time I play carrom, will make sure to remember this, lest I forget.


~nightflier