The power of friendship

I spent a weekend away catching up with my gang from the USofA. It was a reunion in Pune, my dearest roommate flew in from Kolkatta and me and another friend headed to Pune from Mumbai. Pune is where our couple friends stay now. 1 was missing - presumably enjoying another onsite stint. We were meeting as a group after almost 3 and a half years. 

I've spent 2 absolutely amazing days reliving the memories of the past, reveling in the warmth and affection of my dear friends, laughing till my stomach hurt, plotted and planned and conspired while playing UNO, took countless auto rides, pigged on fabulous food, prayed at a lovely jain temple, made some (pretty awesome) chai, lay down chatting into the night and sleeping only when we couldn't keep our eyes open anymore, was treated like a princess by our fabulous hosts and felt bad when I had to step into that bus and head back to Mumbai. 

I've spent 2 days not thinking of the future and where and when we'll have these moments again, though I know I've created some very special and beautiful memories for the future. Once again, I feel blessed to be surrounded by amazing people - who in their simplicity, genuineness, affection and warmth, have shown me the true power of friendship.

Crazy about the movies!! Part 1

I enjoy rom-coms, so much! They're my favorite genre of movies. I caught the last half of "He's Just Not That Into You". Strictly average, it actually started depressing me in parts. However, what did it for me was the last quote in the film. It is beautiful.

Girls are taught a lot of stuff growing up. 

If a guy punches you he likes you. 

Never try to trim your own bangs...

And someday, you will meet a wonderful guy and get your very own happy ending. 

Every movie we see, Every story we're told implores us to wait for it, the third act twist, the unexpected declaration of love, the exception to the rule. But sometimes we're so focused on finding our happy ending we don't learn how to read the signs. 

How to tell from the ones who want us and the ones who don't, the ones who will stay and the ones who will leave. And maybe a happy ending doesn't include a guy, maybe... it's you, on your own, picking up the pieces and starting over, freeing yourself up for something better in the future. 

Maybe the happy ending is... just... moving on. Or maybe the happy ending is this, knowing after all the unreturned phone calls, broken-hearts, through the blunders and misread signals, through all the pain and embarrassment you never gave up hope.

Wishing you lasting Friendships

April's bought a sultry sweltering summer. The wish calendar has everlasting Friendship's for you!

May the sun shine bright on your windowpane

May the rainbow be certain to follow each rain

May the hand of a friend always be near you

Music for the soul Part 1

Music has always been my friend, one of my best friends in fact. My sister is largely responsible for introducing me to excellent music growing up. Over the years, I've had friends who've introduced me to various genres of music and help build my collection to I must say "Ahem - quite an admirable collection of music". I'll forever be in gratitude of these people for having introduced me to some amazing melodies. From my heart and soul, Thank you...

A recent song that a friend made me listen to is called Constellations by Jack Johnson. Its a beautiful song. Love the lyrics as well.

The light was leaving

In the west it was blue

The children's laughter sang

And skipping just like the stones they threw

Their voices echoed across the way

Its getting late

It was just another night

With a sunset

And a moonrise not so far behind

To give us just enough light

To lay down underneath the stars

Listen to papas translations

Of the stories across the sky

We drew our own constellations

The west winds often last too long

The wind may calm down

Nothing ever feels the same

Sheltered under the Kamani tree

Waiting for the passing rain

Clouds keep moving to uncover the scene

Stars above us chasing the day away

To find the stories that we sometimes need

Listen close enough

All else fades

Fades away

It was just another night

With a sunset

And a moonrise not so far behind

To give us just enough light

To lay down underneath the stars

Listen to all the translations

Of the stories across the sky

We drew our own constellations


Listen here - Jack Johnson - Constellations

Cricket World Cup 2011 Mania!!

I didn't see this coming. I followed the Cricket WC 2011 very, very, veryyyyyy closely. Now this is worth mentioning because I'm someone who generally ignores cricket and anything to do with cricket. I never did enjoy the game and its nuances. Nor did I feel the need to stay posted on cricket to make conversation in social circles or at lunch tables. A lot of my dear friends are die-hard cricket fans - they breathe, eat and live cricket. To each his own I'd say and happily tune out of the conversation when cricket crept in.

And so when I found myself discussing matches with my friends at the lunch table, I too was surprised. A friend patiently explained to me what a powerplay is and who's who and what's what and what's important to do and not to do in the world of cricket. I can't call it world - its a universe of cricket. We are after all a largely populous country and cricket is almost a cult and we are well, 1/6th the population of the world so doing the math, it deserves to be called a universe :D

And then cricket mania took over me as well - I cheered India in every match. Yes, I did maintain a stand that its rigged. I still do feel that certain elements of the World Cup are tweaked/adjusted/rigged, but only after a wise friend told me (and convinced me) - "It may not be the entire match that are fixed, but just elements of it". So be it. But when I saw the India-Pakistan semi-final, all doubt flew out of the window. For all I believed in, I was cheering hoarsely for my country.

I stayed back in office to watch it with a very enthusiastic crowd in the office cafeteria. 2 snowy TV's and 1 clear TV aired the match live. Account managers, Project managers, leads, team mates, Cafe service guys, cleaners - all were one. It was euphoric winning that match - most of us believed that even if we didn't win the world cup, we'd already won it with that stunner of a semi-final. However, were we proved wrong or what! 

The final at Mumbai, Wankhede became the most watched telecast on TV that fine Saturday blistering noon. My dear friends living in Gurgaon actually wanted me to fly up there to watch the match with them since I "As it is, wasn't watching the match at Wankhede where I should be". I watched it with my building junta on a big screen. I groaned with everyone when SL made that almost impossible 275 runs to chase. I stopped watching in between when Sehwag and Tendulkar (a.k.a. GOD) lost their wickets. But I went back after a few overs and was I glad I did or what! 

As Dhoni downed that winning 6, I realized that I'd bitten half the skin around my nails, had a back ache with sitting at the edge of my seat most of the time, had sore hands with all the clapping, a sore throat with the cheering and I didn't care a damn. We won! The euphoria, the madness, the giddy high at watching the Bleeding Blue Indian team win the world cup after 28 years was worth it! I stood through out the ceremony post that coz after all, these guys deserved nothing less than a standing ovation!!! Congratulations TEAM INDIA - you guys did us proud - very proud.