F.R.I.E.N.D.S

This is a kind-a mushy post (its been a while :P )
Recent past was not what I would call, a fairy tale. New Year's was lousy. I was home answering calls. Then in quick succession the mum and the bro fell sick, succumbing to Ross River Virus (It has traveled all the way from Australia, I read, and it is a HORSE disease!) Then I failed to get through two dream companies in the campus recruitment. I had this big plan of moving abroad, which crashed down. And more recently, a very very strained relationship with another special friend is adding to the woes.Well, you get the general idea, don't you? Barely twenty days into 2010, and me no liking it at ALL.
But things seem much more bearable and nicer now because of these wonderful people around me, whom we carelessly categorize as 'friends'. It's way too simple a term!

 This post is for all these friends of mine :)

For Hari, who knows things are not okay from the way I 'hello' him on gtalk,  who puts away aptitude test prep and job applications to make international calls to make sure I smile :)

For Roo, who underplayed her I-got-a-job elation, for my benefit and cribbed with me. (yeah we crib and crib and suddenly we feel better)

For Badri, who threw his ego to the winds, and was there when I really needed a shoulder :) (and fuel for the bike) :D

For Ram, who has, as always been the rock :)

For Ragavan, who knew what had to be done to get me all cheery again -Domino's and BR and some snow too! :) (heard of the term 'binge'? In moderation, it actually helps)

For Sandy, my partner in all things good and bad, plotting and scheming, laughs and tears :)

For Ravi anna, who sacrificed a lot of sleep to put some sense into me :)

For Jen, for all the ego-boosts :)

For Arjun, who is currently warring with me. I'm going to miss you, idiot.

And for Chris, for helping me find 'answers'.

Things are actually looking up now!! Landed into what I would call my 'dream project' with Parry ;) Having a lot more time to catch up on my 'reading' ;) . I want to write a book next (heh heh). A few new clothes can do wonders to your morale :D. I guess the first stage had to be traversed to reach this, and I never could have, without you people..You guys rock!
*hugs*
:)

One bike, two cops and a three minute drama.

I drive a Scooty Pep Plus, and it’s like one of my best friends. I love my bike and I don’t know what I would do without it! Yesterday’s paper spoke about global surveys that proved that a woman would rather lose her boyfriend, than lose her mobile phone. I attach about as much importance to my bike. (But of course, priorities would change if the boy friend can buy me a bike himself.) Well, women ARE materialistic. You just need to accept that.
Now I shouldn’t be saying this, but I (like many, many people out there) don’t have my license in hand. I keep filing for an LLR (I’ve done it thrice, already) and wake up only when the validity is over, and then I need to file it again. And I am NOT proud of it. Last week, the insurance papers were overdue too. Vulnerable prey for the cops-hawks.
So my bro and I are on the bike, bro driving (“NO WAY I’m sitting behind when a GIRL is driving!!”) and he happens to be my flesh and blood, so he doesn’t have a license either. Now there are certain things you learn when you drive without a license:
1.Never look scared. If a cop is looking at you, you defiantly look back at him. Then he’ll think you are clean.
2.Signals are dangerous preying grounds. Regulate driving speed and make sure you zoom away when the lights turn green.
3.Always wear the helmet. It’s one reason less for them to swoop down on you.
4.Never break the law.
5.If caught, never act smart. Act sorry; plead (Self respect or bars?) If you are a girl, cry. Or turn on your charm. Whichever you are good at.
6.If you are ever caught, discreetly empty the cash off your wallet and stash it away. Just keep as much as you are willing to donate to the cops in the wallet. Make sure you stash the credit cards away as well. Once, long time back, this cop saw the cards peeking out from my almost empty wallet and drove with me to the nearest ATM and got his due.
7.If you know some big-shot in the hierarchy, you don’t need to worry yourself with the six points stated above. Just make sure that person’s mobile number is always stored in your phone.
I have given this gyan to my bro many times, but one look at the cop’s face, he simply forgets it all. So we are caught in the signal, and bro breaks cardinal rule #1. He gets all sweaty and is like “Iyo..he is looking at us da..I think we are done”. Sure enough, the cop scans all the faces and picks the one that looks most guilty.
“License irruka?”
Blank stare. Metamorphoses into scared stare.
“Va va, oram kattu vandiye.”
Then the cop turns the ignition off and takes the key with him.
Now bro regains his senses, and he is opens the wallet, and takes extra cash out and puts it inside his pant. (snigger*) My wallet now had a fifty, his had a hundred. We pull the bike toward the cops. An equally hassled crowd stands there. Either they are making frantic phone calls or bargaining.
Cop turns to us.
“Enne pa, license illeya? 500 rupees fine. Enne, fine kattreya?”
I think when caught, we should cough up the cash, atleast for the savage satisfaction that none of it would go into the cop’s pocket. But almost always, we never have THAT much dough to spare. And think of all the things that you can do with five hundred bucks.
“Ille sir..avlo money ille sir..sorry sir..” We are taking the road most often travelled.
“Evlo money irukku?”
Then I go enter conversation, “Sir, neengale paarunga sir, only fifty” Thrust the purse into his hands.
“No no, fifty pathadu..two hundred rupees.final.” It was like bargaining on Pondy Bazaar.
Then a senior cop enters the scene. (With a bigger moustache. And an even bigger paunch. I think an increase in these parameters is directly proportional to raise in ranks)
“What is the problem?” He smiles at both of us. We smile back. (The charm, remember?)
I say, “Sir, sorry sir, Fifty than irukku...”
The two cops have a hush hush conversation. Then the senior one looks at us again. Nods. “One hundred and fifty.”
I still have faith that we can get away with fifty, when my bro hands over his hundred.
“Indanga sir.” Idiot.
Then some more hush hush. Then the senior cop says (this is the best part),
“Seri seri, one hundred koduthutu ponga. Inde ponnu naale unne vidren. All educated people. Looking like college students. Get license soon”
(I shall translate : Because this girl is with you, I ll leave you this one time) Haahaahahah :D
My bro gives me one long glance. Sardonic contempt mingled with gratefulness. Signs the receipt. And we are off.
My bro tells me then, “Thank God you were with me. Or they would have put their hands inside my pockets and all and checked for money.”
Jeez!
And we look at the receipt: Crime-Obstruction. Fine:Rs Fifty. So the other fifty is for his generosity.
I mean, we ARE wrong. Maybe if all the motorists out there had their licenses in hand, these guys wouldn’t be able to make a business out of this at all, would they?
So now my mum has put a ban on the bike. We are allowed to use it only after we both get our LLRs. Blah.

Chennai Stalkers Inc.

Something happened today.I am confused as to how I should classify it-it was equally funny and harassing as well.And every girl in India or I must specify, Chennai would have more than one first hand experience like this.
I was at Kilpauk. I had some work near Pachayyappa's College, and after I was done with it, I was walking to the bus stop, when Mr Hunk comes by. Now I wouldn't call myself very very great looking, but I can look reasonably good when I want to, and today was NOT one such day. You can picture me, after 8 hours of college and 2 hours of travel. My hair was a mess and with smudged eye make up, I was looking pretty yuck. I was wearing normal clothes-denims and a white kurta, AND a stole. I mean, how 'provocative' could that be?? I'm explaining in detail because I'm trying to analyze what makes these guys act so weird at times.
So this guy comes along in his bike.I think it was a Bajaj Splendor. He had this unshaven look (turn-off No.1),dirty clothes (turn-off No.2) and well..turn-off No.3 is something that Im unable to find words to explain..maybe I should say his demeanor was sort of..scary. Whatever.
This guy drives his bike close to the pavement, and says,
"Excuse me,miss..miss".
The goose that I am, I stop and turn and say,
"Yes?".
Hey, I thought he wanted directions!
So he goes,
"Can I drop you?"
I mean, he said that!Just like that!! No I did not make eyes at this character. I did not even look at this guy!!
But with politeness that I cannot rid myself off, especially in such occasions, I say,
"No, Thanks" and continue walking.
But hey, we are persistent, aren't we?
The guy drives his bike at speeds ranging from 10kmph to 40kmph (It was varying proportionately with my walking speed), he multitasks.
Driving,Smiling and saying,
"Please ya, let me drop you ya, please ya" (repeat repeat repeat)
Now, I'm afraid and humoured and frantic and scared I'll burst out laughing. Oh, AND I'm looking beseechingly at any human being in the vicinity who is a spectator to this scene. Unfortunately, they were all men. You cannot get any help there. And any girl will vouch for this too.
I stop and tell the guy, "See.I DONT want a lift!!!"
And I amaze myself at how demurely I said that. I have a dictionary of swear words that I have picked from my brother and when I needed them, I went blank!!
It reached the next level, where he goes like,
"Please ya, I beg you ya, please, Im begging you"(repeat repeat repeat)
This tiny voice in my head, also called the female intuition, is asking me to run. But where??Then the one way road proves a blessing. I turn 180 degrees and walk away, to fading yells of "Please ya,come ya".
PHEW!!
I call my brother and the moment he hears me stuttering and stammering he arrives quicker than usual, and only when I sit on the bike, I feel safe.
This might seem humourous, I meant it to be that way. But as I sit and type, I realise that a lot of other things could have happened too. This is not a take on the stalkers of Chennai. Or on some characters who seem to achieve some sort of gratification in giving lifts to unknown females who don't want them. It is more of a voice to the mute spectators who stand and watch while these things happen, and sometimes, they keep watching until it is too late. They have this notion that, when they don't know the harassed party, they don't need to bother. Wrong notion. Next time you do see something similar, Do speak up!! Who knows, you might become some distressed damsel's hero :)

Girl-Rantings..

It all started when I was a kid. Say around 5-6 years of age. The boys in the flat would play the royal Indian game- Cricket in the compound, and the girls would cheer. Note that I had no idea what the game was about. I only knew that when the ball came at you, you hit it hard. One day, I walk to my friend Karthik and tell him that I want to play too. He sizes me up and says no way. After a lot of cajoling (which involved giving up a few WWF cards and other things that I don't remember now) I was allowed to field.
"You stand here ok. When the ball comes, you catch it and throw it to me, ok? You must not move from here ok?"
The buggers made it look like fielding was the most important thing to do, and I lapped it up. And the ball just wouldn't come my way, and eventually I got bored of it and called it quits. If I still harbour hatred toward the game, it is because of this.
Then I do the schooling, and they teach us - Boys play with cars and wear pant-shirt. Girls play with kitchen sets and dolls, and wear frocks. Daddy goes to work and earns the bread. Mummy stays at home and cooks food. Brothers pull sisters' pigtails. Sisters always cry.
Through junior high, after heavy doses of Nancy Drew, Famous Five, Secret Seven and other similar books, my friend Anisha and I were convinced that we were 'Tom Boys'. We would play punching games, wear only shorts and tees, stand in the tables in the class and touch the fan, crop our hair real short, play with the street dogs, pooh-pooh at dolls and call the girls sissys. But we were still girls. We couldn't understand why then, but eventually we did, and became normal.
We were doomed to be girls for life. (realisation->horror->acceptance)
Fast forward to today.

"Ma, Ill be back by 10."
"Alone??Get someone to drop you!!!"

Peak hour traffic and the car is not doing what it is supposed to do-move. My brother gets out to push it. I get out too. And get blasted for it. "Are you crazy??You're a GIRL!Sit inside."

All of this is reasonable! But what got me worked up was the following incident.
Final Sem MBAs sit for campus recruitment. A renowned UK based MNC wants to hire students for the post of Area Sales Managers. 6 boys and 2 girls sit for the job. Aptitude test- cleared.
GD-cleared.
Personal interview goes thus:
Questions about the GD.
"You like bird watching? You know what is bird watching?"
"You are good at debating? How about an extempore?" Which included further cross-questions 'Oh so you have a Boyfriend?No?Why did you say you did?I can read emotions yaar!'
After a few more cases, the guys say they like me.(HA!!)
"But..The job is risky, it involves long hours of travel, deadlines..stress..you game for it?"
What do you think?Of Course!
The good final list has my name, along with two boys' names.
Elation. Publicize it. Fix dates for treats. Its the joy that you experience when you are told you have clinched the job..You should be there to experience it.
The week end passes in bliss.
Following Monday, the Placement co-ordinator summons me.
"Gitanjali, These people called me up..They say they dont want a girl for that position."

Saying 'bye bye'..our way!

I was talking with Sandy on the mobile phone when the battery killed itself (not being able to withstand any more 'mokkai'..goes without saying).

So I reached for the land line, to 'say bye'.

Me (G):Hi de..it got cut, so I called to say bye.
Sandy (S): As usual, you and your mokkai phone di (giggle giggle)
M: Ye right (grunt) Sandy I dont know ANYTHING about Strategic Management de..We ll clear na?
S: Chi its very easy de..Learn Competencies and Comparative Advantage and crap around..42 pages..chill!!
M: I hope so di..oh oh oh! Sandy!!!!
S: Enne di????
M: Are you online??? (giggle giggle)
S:Aama sollu..fb eh?
M: (heh heh heh) this guy has commented on my status de!(gloat gloat)
S: Ahem ahem .. wait Ill go check.Aah (giggle giggle)
M: Macha we are SO hopeless.
S: Adha pathi nammele sollikirom (giggle giggle)
M: Ye right..oooh hey how is that IIT guy de??
S: He is out of town de..worst po!
M: Free free..see see Deepika Padukone splits with Ranbir Kapoor
S: About time de...But I liked Wake Up Sid!
M: That guy is just so GAY Sandy!
S: (laugh laugh laugh)
M: I mean..What DID she see in him??!!
S: (laugh dying)Hey girlie..see this..jog openings in Trent !
M: What Trent?(totally clueless)
S: Tata Trent de! (exasperation) They own Westside...those people!!
M: (WOW!) Oooh whats the profile??!! Something to do with Marketing eh?
S: Yes yes..we ll get free kurtis too!(giggle giggle)
M: (More WOW! WOW!!!) I am Liking this de!!! (giggles)
S: Seriously de..we could ask them for final year project! We can do something in CB concepts!!
M: At Westside? Like..what colours are the 'in' thing in which season?
S: Ye..something like that..why not de!Sounds nice!
M: Ah I dont know Sandy..so how are those baby pigeons in your balcony?
S: They are SO cute!Hey animal girl..you could still do a CB project on something to do with ANIMALS!!
M: Uh huh..?Like?
S: PEDIGREE!!! (in all seriousness)
M: Erm Sandy, they sure will have animal experts for THOSE! And I DID NOT do an MBA to taste Dog food!!(GRR)
S: (loud loud giggles)
By the way, those giggles are pretty loud, my mum hears them.
M: yes yes ma, Im just saying bye..
S: Yaeeesss aunty (giggle) say hi to aunty de!
M: huh huh (weak grin and vigorous noddings at mum who is pointedly looking at the timer)
S: Ooh girlie, Im joining a new gym!
M: Woo!! Why? Whats with the old one?
S: This has a better deal de..
(mother clearing throat very loudly)
M: Okay macha I got to go now de..My aatha is giving me the looks..
S: (giggle giggle) ok ok de..chal, ciao, bye bye!!

My brothers mobile phone kills itself.So he calls to say bye next.
Bro: Dai macha, cut aaiduchi da..seri vera prechane na sollu, paathukalam da..mm, bye dude. (hangs up)

Cheers..to all of us!

Looking back, these two years would have just swooshed past, but right here, right now, it seems so strange that we have just a week of classes more to go, before we break for the exams. It is a mix of emotions- happiness, warmth, elation; for having met some of the finest people I've ever known; and this heart-tightening feeling...that most of us will not have as much time as we did for others, or be as close to one another as we have been all these days!
And thus, since August 20th, 2008, we have come this far ! Made friends, teased, fooled around, became 'best' friends, fought with one another, all the hostel masti, the sleep-overs..combined studies, class bunking, getting blasted by faculty members,standing up for one another, 'being there' for each other..Growing Up!! Each one of my 58 classmates- friends.. Every single person has made such an impact on me, I will miss each of you very much!
This is my own personalised way of saying it; so.. here goes :) (p.s-There is no particular order I'm following)
Swaroopa (Roo) - One of my bestest friends here :) She taught me how it is possible for a happy-go-lucky kid to actually top the class- hard work always pays!
Deepika- My room mate and good friend :)She taught me how important friends are, how much miracle a hug can do :)
Nisha- what the word 'lady-like' means..she personifies it :)
Badri Another of my very close friends..on what it means, to just 'be there' for friends..no matter what, this guy is one person I ve been able to turn to, at any hour of any day :) thanks bum :)
Ramnathan- Another very close friend .. On the power of 'never giving up on friends'.. he has been the 'rock' :)
SandhyaAnother super cool friend :) On how, when you want to change, and make an effort, and eventually do, the world gives you a standing applause, and there is nothing better than that :)
RagavanOn what the term 'genuine concern' for friends means.. this guy .. guru ;)
Preethi On what is.. Unconditional love .. love u Pt :)
PriHow.. Smiling through your tears, colours a different picture :)
Priya(=Chess)How humble can an International CHess player get? Not more than this girl!
VigneshOrderliness=super marks!! His Exam answer papers are fit to be worshipped!
ShankeySensibility, how much more a person can achieve, by talking so much lesser!
ArchanaThe Mother Teresa of our class.. She would help anybody in distress!!
AravindOn how to affirm and re affirm one's view.. Stand by what your heart says!
DavidWho knows the greatest one-liners and the 'timing kalaichifyings' , who makes you feel so special..David, you rock :)
RameshMy jogging partner..Smartness personified! And the venn diagram has another circle eh, Ramesh?;)
SwethaTime manager! This woman.. has time for everything!! TT, books..and major roamings!
BalaOn hard work :)
SaiJananiMiss Networks!!
AbhishekOn how to say .. NO!!
SuriaCreativity .. Personified!!Keep doodling, dude :)
AndalOn family, loves and the 'i CAN do it' attitude :)
ShobanaThe cherub of the class :)A good heart is all that it takes :)
SubaOn what it means to be a 'friend in need' :) I ll never forget that weekend da :)
KarthikaOn how exactly a girl should behave.. modest, calm, no-noise types :)
SelvaThe knowledge bank of the class.. How important it is to be well read :)
JayaOn smiling through everything :)
KarthikDignity, Diligence, Leadership personified :)
RoopashreeThe most self-confident girl Ive known here!
Saravanan SrMr super-smile :)
Saravanan Jr'Possessiveness' ;) How hard good friends are to keep!
RekhaThe most photogenic girl here! :)
ThivagarOn how much fun a student can have sitting in the last-row :P
Ramya Another mix of brain and beauty :)
Lakshmi NarayananOn how, with a little confidence, a man can do anything!
RajanOn how, anything can be thrown away, for achieving your dream in life!
SyedAnna paasams :)
SumanaOn how a cute smile can make your day!
SuvarnaThe perfect, docile girl-next-door :)
HarishThe computer wizard.. 'use your strengths, and use them well, help all with them' :)
Suganya On how one can get places by minding one's own business :)
SriniWho does the best in all that he does, and eventually IS the best in it :)
SrideviWho can have ultimate fun and still top the class..anything is possible!
SripreethiFirst row damsel, most sincere girl I ve known :)
KamalFrom whom I learnt what it means to 'command respect.. it is not demanded, it is obtained' :)
GBWho has mastered the art of winning ;) but those who ve seen him practice for it will know how :)
BiswaThe guy who brings the best best lunch!!!
LawrenceMr Gold Medal :) stormy beneath the surface.. You should hear him in his 'kalaichifyin' element outside class ;)
PavithraThe head strong girl, another good friend, she can defend her stand , in ways nobody would ve known existed!
SinthiyaMiss Hairstlye ;) now that is important too!
RajiMeow! The girl who introduced me to blogging :) taught me many lessons on diplomacy :)
Praseelawho proved the proverb.. 'God helps those who help themselves'
DurgaOne of the most diligent students :)
AnanthuMaster of Multitasking ;)
BanuMiss Pretty pretty eyes!!
AbiramiWho believes, 'wherever you are, do best what you do' :)
Kumar KannanUsing your means to achieve ends.. :P He uses his 'finance boy' status..for what not ;) but thats a secret :P

Love you, all you guys!! :)

The week that was...

Last week had so many things happening..and suddenly..it was over!! And now I look at myself-suddenly, a teeny bit more sensible, mature, wiser..a summary and..the learnings:
* Started off with me, having the worst-ever attack of cold, a horrible shoulder sprain, and a huge task that I had volunteered to do, for the class (ie the placement brochure), and a deadline for the same. Now visualise this: Im stuck alone in the hostel. Almost everyone has left for the weekend. And there was a LOT of work to do..Now I have this thing about asking people for help. But this situation was too pressing. It was like I was inside this cube that was pressing on me from all directions. Awful.
Learning: The world is full of nice people :) We just need to look out for them :) Suba, my classmate ditched her Sunday plan, sat up with me through the night, and helped me through. Harish drove all the way to college, on a Sunday, again, as soon as I made this, frantic, desperate phone call, and we DID finish it!! Love you guys!
*Over a 30 minute lunch, I learned one of the most valuable lessons for life. We have all heard it.. 'Give everything your best'.. But only when we hear it at the right moment, from the right person, it hits you in the head, and you go, ' Ah.. This was what everybody meant!'
Learning: No more resentments. No more, 'Jeez what am I doing here????' Its all a waste of time!
* One of my closest friends left India to go abroad, to study. It was like, suddenly, everyone close to me was leaving! It was downright depressing. Saddening. And even though I tried to act grown-up and everything, it plainly was not working. Distance..is bad. You cannot meet up as often, you cannot talk as often.. And more than anything, there was this nagging question; 'Will this be the end of everything?'
Learning: 'If you lowe someone dearly, let them go..If get back, they were always yours; otherwise, they never were!' And anyway, thank God for the Internet :)
*We had a MAD session in college.. Make A Difference :P We invited all our faculty over, and we took turns and spoke a few words about each of them, and trust me- we were so happy talking about them, they were so happy listening to us; it was all smiles.. *sigh* :)
Learning: To MAD in someone's life, everyday :)
Thinking about all this, I felt so alive :) Thank God for this life :)*touch wood*