A Train Ride

There is something mesmerizing about traveling through the city in the early hours of the morning. People are either quiet and absorbing their surroundings, or are sprawled on benches catching up on the last dregs of long lost sleep. Outside the train, through the dirty glass window, you can catch sight of the early morning tempos and bikes trying to get to places before the city traffic stretches its arms and yawns to greet the sunrise. Though it's chilly outside, you don't really know what kind of day lies ahead, gray or sunny? Every once in a while a neon board shines through the grimy window, leaving you wondering how much longer before somebody switches it off. It suddenly strikes you that you never took into account the fact that it would still be dark once you reach your destination. The subway might just be deserted at this time. But then again, you feel the bulge of the pepper spray against your leg and take comfort in it. I have loved Chennai like a home. Though I've spent the last three years living on the highway on the outskirts, it never fails to amaze me how much safer I feel here than I ever did back home. I could never imagine taking a metro this early by myself. It's as if the women don't exist after dark and before daylight. The select few who do, either have their own cars or are chaperoned around by their men. Fear is a way of life.
But that's not what I set out to write about. I am awaiting the sunrise. When the birds start screaming in the sky. I am waiting for a new day to dawn. Today, I am headed on a journey which will probably bring to end another journey that I had undertaken a long time ago. The winds of change blows straight, into the face of time..
Someday, I will write an ode to this city, but not today. Today, I will sit back and enjoy the ride home. I will be back, at least one more time, if not more.

A Working Title - Part III

Shalini was sitting in the bus, watching the world move. There was a chill in the air. She had her neck stuck out the window to allow the full force of the wind to hit her face. This moment, she decided, was why she was alive. To live in that moment, to cherish it, and to have all such moments strung together on a rope which would lead her across the river. It was all about experiences, after all. Nobody remembers the late nights they were stuck at work preparing for a meeting that never happened, but nobody forgets that gorgeous sunset they happened to witness on the way back from work, or the night they spent making merry with friends. She thought back to the last three days. Zuber and Arjun had made plans to meet again for the weekend, without hesitation, she had agreed and booked her tickets. In her excitement, she made the wrong bookings. Twice. The trip was almost called off until she had finally managed to get her head straight and book good tickets for herself. She smiled thinking about all the teasing that was headed her way for the next many years.
She had collected so many moments in those three days, pushing herself to do things she would never have imagined doing before. It still horrified her that she had karaoked in front of a crowd of unknowns. Arjun had had to step in to save her the embarrassment, she had been that bad. She had felt a rush of affection for him at that moment, knowing how lucky she was to have friends like them in her life. No matter how drunk the three of them were, she doubted any one would forget the cheesiness that night brought with it. The three of them had spent most of the weekend exploring movies on the telly in Zuber's room. They had stepped out to eat at exotic places they wouldn't have dreamt of stepping into under normal circumstances. They had spent an entire afternoon idling away at an amusement park, grabbing a few drinks at the end of the day. The laid back vacation was life's way of telling her to take it easy, to allow each moment to sink in, to revel in them. She knew life was long and the only way to live it, was to sleep happy at the end of each day. With that thought in her head, she stepped out of the bus which had come to a standstill, and walked to her office for the last time ever. It was time to move on to another experience.

Morning musings

Random thought, if I am standing still and a dog comes running and bumps into me head first, does it understand that it was his mistake and move on, or does it blame me and bite me?

In case you're wondering, that is it.

Naina

Wicked Games

My blog voice is getting a little annoying. Every time I am doing something which does not really involve much human interaction, this little voice in my head starts dictating my next post. For instance, today, I was out for a team lunch. I was sitting by myself, tuned out, paying very close attention to the music that was playing, and Ms. Blog pipes up.
"Hmm..Bryan Adams. I like this song. I may be dulled out of my senses right now, but at least the food and the music is good. Oh, Rihanna now. Sheesh, that was going so well up until now. Let's see, how would the post begin....All I wanted to do today was to lie back in bed, plug in my earphones and bore myself into studying. Its been one helluva weekend, what with Shilpa's Magic on Friday night which proved too strong for all of us and yesterday's crazy shopping excursion which saw us on our feet for about 8 hours. Next week is pretty packed too, Shilpa's Magic gets revisited at Karaoke night on Thursday! (I reckon she would not be too keen on mixing her Magic with mine this time round. She has learnt from experience). And then yes, a Mexican farewell to Mario on Friday! I have no idea  where that is happening, or what the plan is. But something tells me the other girls are going to be toast after Thursday which might lead to cancelation of THAT Magic. Ooo!! Wicked games! What a nice song this one. Maybe I should add about the music too. Wonder how long before the songs start repeating themselves" (about 1.5 hours it took)...and so on and so forth.
Notable songs that played during my zone out session include Adele's Someone like you, Enrique's Hero, Richard Marx's Right Here Waiting. Right Here Waiting is one song that doesn't get old. I've loved that song for as long as I can remember. It always brings back memories of a winter afternoon, the sun shining weakly in through the sheer curtains and me lying cuddled under a heavy blanket next to Nim, trying to catch that half hour of sleep before our various classes had to be attended to. Funny how that was the most amount of worrying we were expected to indulge in back then. I remember feeling so sorry for myself for being involved with so many things after school while the others just went home and did whatever. Kids. You never really realize how good you have it till it's too late. I think I am a very interesting person today because of all those classes Nim and I attended as kids. I would put a humble tongue smiley here, but please, writers don't use Smiley's to express their emotions. On a related note, if my phone had the option, I could have used the sarcasm mark here. Just so you didn't think me too conceited. *smiley face*

Time to give in to A Whole New World now. Tuning out!

Naina

Tipsy

left...right....up,,,,down....
just two down..have seen worse. It's catwalkin; babayyyy...

Aakanksha in the kitchen, making lemon water,
Niharika helping her stand.
I played La bamba. Which comes after catwalkin'
I've had worse,
Why is the Magic hitting me today?
Like Xanadu,
He didn't know what he was typing,
Take my lappie away,
I know what I am doing,
Need inspiration.
She is in the loo,
throwing up again.
Girl, it's messed up.
Lala, stop laughing.
I am still the Punjabi
I was born to be.
Wrong time of the day.
Or night.
Won't happen again.
Hang in there love.
Put my head on the pillow,
Take a nap.
Having lemon water now.
Ta ta, gnyte.

Happy Birthday Britney

Happy Birthday Britney!!
Hehehe, I am not a fan. I am watching Vh1 where they are celebrating Britney Spears' birthday, and I find it extremely funny that between the two of us, Shilpa and I actually know what song is playing from watching just two seconds of the video. Reminds me of my school days. It's as if I'm not a girl, and not yet a woman. She did ruin I love Rock 'n' Roll for me, it was so bad that it was Toxic. She didn't have the swag Joan Jetts did. I am looking for other ways of using her songs in the post, but I think that's going to kill it. We don't want you guys to go against the music. Oops! I did it again!!!
OK seriously, no more. I am not going to say something bugging like We don't want to be slaves 4 her work. That would be so lame.
Moving on, so hey! I got a hit from a tumblr blog with a title "F*** Homophobia.". I totally share your sentiment, but seriously, I am curious, which post did you link on the blog? I am not really sure how Tumblr works, so feel free to Hit me baby one more time. Kheekheekheee...that, I  just couldn''t resist.
I can't think of anything more to write, so,

Adios!