Glucose biscuits and a cup of tea

Winter always brings about hunger pangs for me. This afternoon when the grumbling started in my stomach I asked for a cup of tea and got myself a packet of glucose biscuits to dip in the tea. It has been so long since I had that combination, a trip down memory lane was inevitable.

Ok I admit today being the day it is might have a lot to do with it also. A birthday always brings with it an equal share of nostalgia, introspection about the past and some mental mapping for the future.

20 years ago… My memories of being nine are very hazy. All I can remember is my house and the desire to grow up faster than I was.

10 years ago… Now that was a good year. Life was great. I was in my first year of college. It was also my first year in AIESEC. I had made great friends and was doing brilliantly in both places. I also had the cutest boyfriend around. What more could I want.

Today… It’s my 29th birthday!

I have no idea where the last few years have gone. Like most others I have allowed life to become routine. There are very few things that stand out in the mundane humdrum of everyday.

We have this strange Indian way of describing age. Instead of counting years past, we refer to the age as the year that has begun. This means it would be said that I have started my 30th year.

Oh My God!

The big ‘3’ ‘0’ and nothing to show for it. At least nothing that gives me a great sense of satisfaction.

In the recent past a few people I am close to all turned 30 and all of them had the same thing to say that I am saying. Trust me to jump the gun and start thinking about it all a year ahead of time.

The way I see it, I now have a year to get some things out of the way, until this day next year, when I will really have to make an account of my life.

I think I will make a list of 30 things to do before I turn 30! Make sense? Who cares as long as I get them done…

A few I can think of at the moment… (In no particular order, except the 1st one)

1. Get married (remember the cute boyfriend… he is now the cutest fiancé around)
2. Learn to play the guitar (this one I have always wanted to do)
3. Learn to master Indian cooking (and I mean the normal stuff)
4. Lose weight (clichéd I know, bit I really need to)
5. Buy a big diamond for myself (incentive to make an X amount of money)

I can’t think of anymore at the moment, but I will surely keep adding to the list. Watch this space as they say…

And now off to prepare for an evening with my nearest and dearest friends. Details will follow…

Happy Birthday to me!

Happy 2006 everybody…

It’s been ages since I posted anything on my festival blog. But then it’s been a while since I celebrated a festival.

http://imefest.blogspot.com/2006/01/happy-2006-everybody.html

2005: A retrospective

The last day of 2005 is ebbing away gently. I am sitting at my desk thinking about what the past year was like for me. What is astonishing is that even though 365 days have past, there are just a handful of events I can remember now. Let me see how many noteworthy instances I can think of.

January

I wrote ‘Guardians of the past’; a poem I believe is my best ever. Sadly I haven’t written any more after that.

Celebrated my 28th birthday with some new but great friends. The whole day was wonderful what with a treasure hunt organized by my fiancé JJ and my whole house being done up with flowers and candles by my mom, and my best friends Chandani and Inderjit.

My dear friends Manan and Namrata got married. Now that was a blast. 10 days of nonstop celebrations. Wore a halter top for the first time in my life, for his cocktail. To my relief and surprise it stayed in place the whole evening.

February

The movie Black was released. I went to see it with friends. It has to be one the most outstanding movies I have seen being made in this country. Most people cried in the movie, I on the other hand found it very uplifting.

Went to Delhi to witness an awards ceremony where a close friend Rahul Sehgal was being given an award for his work with animals. It was a very proud moment for me. I am lucky to have such friends.

Came back from Delhi and finally went to a doctor to talk about severe chest pains I had been having. He said they were most likely muscular, but he did stress the need for me to quit smoking and lose weight. I of course am still trying to do this.

Got my hair colored, something I have been wanting for a few years. Colored them red, orange and 2 shades of brown. My stylist did a fantastic job. I couldn’t believe how good my hair looked.

March

Helped conceptualize and put together what would be the first of many theme parties for friend’s birthdays. This time it was for Amit and the theme was Hawaiian. He was truly surprised and the party was a hit.

Finally started my blog. I went on to discover that I really enjoyed writing and seemed to have a flair for it. I chalk this up as being the best event of the year for me.

April

Was invited to join an online blogging community called ‘Dud Sea Scrawls’. It was wonderful to read the stuff that the bloggers here wrote. It was also very exhilarating to be welcomed there so warmly and to read the wonderful comments they posted on my work.

Made my first ad hoc meal. I have always wanted to cook and enjoy it thoroughly. I could never cook without recipes and lots of pre-planning. Then one evening I had no choice and made a meal from what I had handy. It turned out really well and since then my confidence has grown immensely.

June

JJ got a job in Dubai and quit the army. This change was a nerve racking experience for him. I did my best to be there for him, including accompanying him to Delhi where he put in his papers. Thinking back I think he is happy with the decision.

Got news that one of my oldest friends Viral and his wife Vaishalli were expecting their first child. Technically they were the first to be married in all the friends. It was wonderful to hear this development.

J. K. Rowling released the 6th Harry Potter book; ‘The Half–blood Prince’. I am an avid follower of the child wizard’s tale. I think this was her darkest, most intense book and clearly the best of the lot.

Saw the movie ‘Parineeta’. What a splendid movie, with a soundtrack to match. The actors were perfect, as were the sets and costumes. Everything about the flick left a nice smile on your face.

Bought myself a 40 GB Ipod. I was waiting till a time when I could afford one and that day finally came. I can’t even begin to describe the incredible pleasure I got from this and am still getting. My music collection is up to 10 GB already.

July

The second theme party happened for Chirag’s birthday. The theme was Arabic and we did all we could to get the right props, décor, music, ambiance, the works. Dressing up was the best part.

JJ left for Dubai to start his new job. I didn’t know when I would see him next. I really wish I could have gone with him to offer whatever moral support I could. I heard the excitement in his voice and it made me very happy. Life had just taken a big leap in another direction for both of us.

August

My blog ‘A View at Friendship’ was published at Serene Light. I still find it amazing that they found the article nice enough to publish in an international online magazine. It was a great honor for me, especially since this was my first article being published.

The third theme party was held at my place for Inderjit’s birthday. This time it was all about the Italian mob in America during the 50’s and 60’s. Everyone dressed up so well, it was a visual treat.

A long over due trip to Sasan Gir, a lion sanctuary in Gujarat materialized at last. Sadly it was mating season so we didn’t get to see any lions, but we did hear one roar loudly and walk past our car. It can’t have been more that 5 feet from us, hidden by the bushes.

My parents and I shifted out of our house of 19 years. It was a heartbreaking experience for me. To leave all the memories behind, the familiar walls, the safety of home. Packing all our belongings and watching the house get stripped was even worse.

September

Traveled to Agra for the first ever AIESEC Alumni Conference. Spent 3 days with a 150 alumni and had a blast. It was so good to be back in the AIESEC world. I also managed to see the Taj Mahal; and that too at sunrise. The way it changed colors and picked up the light was spectacular.

‘Salaam Namaste’ was released. What a great movie. Full of laughter and madness and so correctly representative of what young urban Indians are like now. The last movie I saw that was like this was ‘Dil Chahta Hai’.

October

Read the first 4 books of Ashok Banker’s version of the ‘Ramayan’. It took 8 days to read them all (average of 500 pages each). He writes very well and has made an old epic into a warm and human story. I can’t wait to read the remaining parts.

November

Over the Diwali holidays, I invited my friends over for an inaugural party at my new place. The house was far from ready and actually a mess. But I don’t think anyone minded one bit. I was very happy to share this evening with these particular friends. It meant a lot to me to have them all there that night.

8 of us made a trip to a quaint little place called ‘Sayla’. We were there for one night only. But what a lot of fun we had. I don’ think any of us are going to forget this trip for a long time. Many people enjoyed reading my travelogue about it as well.

‘Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire’ hit the cinemas mid-November. I went to see it twice in that first week itself. I loved the movie. The special effects in this one beat all the rest. I wouldn’t mind watching it all over again.

Got news that Manan and Namrata were expecting their first child. Stunning news, that came as a shock to them as well. But it was great. Now there were 2 babies on their way in the gang.

December

My best friend Inderjit got married to Tanvi in Madras. I was so happy for him, but he is mad at me for missing the wedding. I tried to make up by helping him put together a party here in town. I am sure it will take a lot more though before they forgive me.

At last we shifted into our new place; B 103 Goyal Terrace. We still haven’t settled in and the house still needs bits and pieces of work done. But it’s getting there. After a 5 month struggle, the result is outstanding. You have to see it to believe it.

Went for a family holiday with my parents, uncle, aunt and grandmother to Goa. It was the first time our family vacationed together. The weather was perfect. We ate great food and took advantage of the beach and sun.

And that brings me to today. I will end the year with a few friends over a barbeque. And tomorrow will start a brand new story.

Till then,

Happy New Year!!!

Have a rocking 2006!!!

Sisters over the years

"A sister is a little bit of childhood that can never be lost."
Marion C. Garretty

Pri,

On this day of yours, I wish all the happiness in the world for you. There is no one I know who deserves it more than you. Happy Birthday Sis!

Joli

Pri and I have nearly always lived in different cities. The few days we spend together now and then, are precious.

As children we spent many days at our grandmother’s house, playing all the time, fighting and hurting each other, loving each other. We couldn’t wait to meet, the first days were full of excitement and then the fights would start. But when the time to separate came closer all that would be forgotten. There was a sense of desperation to hold on to each moment. It was hell for our parents to separate us. We would cry and howl and nothing could comfort us.

A few months later, the cycle would start again.

When she would come to town, the highlight of my life was when she would come pick me up from school. I couldn’t wait to show her off to all my classmates. I honestly believed that no one could have a sister as perfect as mine. I still believe that.

When I went to stay with her, she made me do the same thing. Though I don’t think I will forgive her for making me go to her class in my pajamas.

The town she lived in was very safe and beautiful. I remember countless walks we went for as kids, even once when we didn’t tell anyone we were going and gave everyone at home a royal scare.

Then there were the midnight feasts when she stayed at my place (you can blame Enid Blyton for putting this into our heads) and countless hours watching the same movies over and over. Chitti Chitti Bang Bang was one of them. I can’t remember the name of the other one, but I do remember it was about a man, who had a ring with an inscription and each time someone read that inscription out loud, this man would turn into a large furry dog.

I have always wanted to follow in her footsteps, do what she did, and be like her. So when she applied for boarding school, all it took was for my mum to tell me this and I wanted to go also. Unfortunately, I didn’t get through one of the exams and the humiliation was so great that I never tried again. She went of to school and I looked forward to living the same life through her letters.

There are no words to describe how I felt when she asked me to come with her parents to her school. The first time was to pick her up. The second was for her school's prize giving ceremony in her last year there.

There she stood in her lovely pink and beige salwar–kurta (the school’s dress uniform), as vice-captain of the school, amongst the other captains. She looked so amazing and I never knew a prouder moment. That was my big sister standing there.

She always made everyone proud of her. Very good at academics, excellent at sports, never-ending creativity in everything she did. Nothing I could ever do came anywhere close to her. Much as I tried.

She did her college years in Bombay. Again I would have loved to be with her. But it didn’t work out. I reconciled myself by visiting her a few times. She always ensured that all her friends became my friends and made sure that I had a great time.

Soon after college, she met this guy and got engaged to him. They made a wonderful couple and I was really happy for her. A year later, they were married. That day when I saw Pri, I was speechless. I have yet to see a more beautiful bride.

Nothing changed... in fact she is probably the only person I know who didn’t allow her marriage to change her. To the contrary she seemed to grow even more as a person. Trips to Bombay became even more fun. My brother in law, Rushabh, is great company. When I heard she was having a baby, I went crazy with joy.

She still doesn’t forgive me for not going when her son was born. I eventually ended up seeing him on his first birthday. There was no way I was missing that day. And I have given her my word, that as far as possible, I will always be with her and Rohan on his birthdays.

Each time there was something special happening in her life; Pri made it a point to ask me to be a part of it. Every gift she ever gave me was thought of and specially chosen. There is no end to her generosity. No one else can ever make me feel so special

Every year on her birthday I make sure I call her at the stroke of 12 to wish her. Invariably she is asleep. Last night at 12 I looked at my phone, for once I decided to let the poor thing sleep. At 1, she called me, demanding that I wish her and cursing me for not calling. I can’t win can I???

Having a sister is wonderful, having one like Pri is good fortune. I am a very lucky girl!

"For there is no friend like a sister, in calm or stormy weather, to cheer one on the tedious way, to fetch one if one goes astray, to lift one if one totters down, to strengthen whilst one stands."
Christina G. Rossetti

I’m a wok!

Apparently when I was a kid I used to call my cook, Magan, a good ‘cooker’. Dad was a good ‘drawer’ and so on and so forth.

This morning my mother called me a ‘good Chinese cooker’. In a sleepy haze, my mind worked its own logic and I pronounced that I am a wok! (Since a lot of Chinese cooking is done in a wok, but then you already you knew that...)

So why am I a wok? Well, because for the first time last night, I tried my hand at cooking a Chinese meal and it turned out swell. Dad is thrilled and instantly pronounced that I cooked better Chinese then mum, and she... well, you read what her reaction is. They both enjoyed their meals thoroughly and this wok here is thrilled.

This is what was on the menu and for the cookers out there, here are the recipes. (I hunted for hours on the net before I found them, so please forgive me for not mentioning the sources.)

EGG FRIED RICE

2 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
3 cups cold unsalted cooked rice
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon black pepper
4 scallions, thinly sliced
1 cup frozen peas, thawed

Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a wok or 12-inch nonstick skillet over moderately high heat until just smoking; Add eggs and cook briefly, stirring once or twice, until just softly set, then transfer to a small bowl. Heat remaining tablespoon oil in wok, then add rice, salt, and pepper and stir-fry until heated through and starting to crisp, about 3 minutes. Add scallions and peas and stir-fry 1 minute. Add egg and stir-fry just until combined. (Carrots, bean sprouts make nice additions)

SALT AND PEPPER PRAWNS

450 g King prawns
8 tablespoons Vegetable oil
2 Spring onions (scallions)
2 cloves Garlic
2 Dried chilies
1 1/2 teaspoon Szechwan peppercorns
1 1/2 teaspoon Salt

Wash and shell the prawns. Sprinkle on 1 1/2 teaspoon of the oil. Cut the spring onions into 2.5 cm sections. Thinly slice the garlic. Shred the chilies. Lightly pound the peppercorns and mix with the salt. Heat the remaining oil in a wok or frying pan. When hot, stir-fry the prawns over a high heat for 1 minute. Remove the prawns and pour away the oil to use for other purposes, except for 1 tablespoon. Reheat the oil in the wok or pan. When hot, quickly stir-fry the chili, garlic and spring onion. Spread out the spring onion and chili and return the prawns. Sprinkle on the salt and pepper mixture and stir-fry for 45 seconds.

LEMON CHICKEN

8 chicken breast halves, de-boned and cut into bite size pieces
1/2 cup cornstarch
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1/4 cup water
4 egg yolks, beaten
2 cups Cooking Oil
Green onions, sliced

For the Lemon Sauce
1 1/2 cup water
1/2 cup lemon juice
3 1/2 tablespoons light brown sugar
3 tablespoons cornstarch
3 tablespoons honey
2 teaspoons chicken bouillon granules
1/4 teaspoon ginger or more if desired

Combine cornstarch, salt and pepper. Blend in water and egg yolks. Dip chicken pieces into cornstarch-egg mixture. Fry chicken in oil for about 5 minutes until golden. Drain. Sprinkle with green onions. Pour sauce over chicken. For the sauce: Combine all the ingredients in a saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring, about 5 minutes until sauce boils. Pour over chicken. This recipe also works well in a wok. (Dip some triangle cut bread slices to the remaining batter and fry, serve separately with the Lemon Chicken)

Put together the 3 dishes made a very light but filling meal and the tastes were varied enough to compliment each other. Instead of prawns, similarly stir fried vegetables would also go very well with the other 2.

But, I am my biggest critic and there were many things I thought of that would improve the meal tremendously. The rice needed to be boiled less and fried a little more, and a little more salt. The prawns were a little bland, maybe a wee bit of soy sauce and vinegar would help. The lemon sauce was too thin, a little more corn flour and boiling would have done the trick. Plus it would have helped if the chicken had been soaked for a little longer to tenderize the meat.

I am going to go and buy myself a proper wok (then there’ll be 2 of us) and try my hand at more Chinese and Oriental cooking. It really is an art to know when to stop and not overcook the food. I am determined to master this.

Next stop… the wok shop!

Sayla

We were supposed to leave for Sayla at 9.30 am, or so it had been decided. Of course 9.30 am came and went, and eventually my ride came at 11.00. I was going to be in the car with Inderjit and Chirag, while Amit, Jyoti, her sister Jagruti and their friend Anjali were traveling in the other car.

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Appreciation

I never believed I could be a writer. But I always wanted to be one.

At one stage of my life I started writing poetry and the few people I shared it with seemed to really like my work. But unlike many poets I could never write unless the correct inspiration hit me. Which meant I wrote very rarely and very little. My last one was written 11 months ago.

My father and a friend pushed me into starting a blog. Then dad introduced me to a community of bloggers (Dud Sea Scrawls). I started writing with a vengeance and if I were to go by the comments I received, not only do I write well, but my subjects are interesting also.

The poetry fizzled out and so did my blogging… Until a few weeks back! I wanted to create a one page write up on the Indian festival of Diwali for my customers all over the world. This led me to thinking of writing about all our Indian celebrations (an idea I have been toying with since college) and so I created this new blog.

Again the words of praise started coming in. To be very honest, for me, appreciation of my writing is akin to a hedonistic pleasure.

And then something happened to over shadow everything. My fiancé saw my new blog and sent me an email. I have never known such appreciation before. This has to be one of the biggest compliments I have ever got. It left me speechless. It is too wonderful to keep it private. With his consent I am publishing it here for the world to see.

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That was awesome jaan... I just read your new blog… Every time I think you outdid yourself, you go ahead and do it all over again… It was fantastic love; absolutely amazing…

It’s like you have taken the festival, your wishes and your rangoli to a different level… Your idea of the virtual rangoli has actually taken it to newer places outside the confines of your house into the millions of homes that are going to read it and celebrate the festival wishing you even if they don’t write back…

I can’t imagine what its like to be you, to have that creativity and the… JAAN I AM SIMPLY OUT OF WORDS, it is fantastic...

Thanks for a wonderful Diwali present to all of us… I say that not just for myself but for all the people that are going to read this… JAAN SIMPLY AMAZING…

HAPPY DIWALI LOVE.......

& WE WILL HAVE A GREAT NEW YEAR AND A WONDERFUL LIFE AHEAD.....

Love
JJ

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What can I say to this? Thank you so much JJ… your words mean the world to me and you even more so.

All the signs tell me not to stop writing. I hope I don’t, because I really enjoy it, and I hope you don’t stop reading and commenting.

Here’s to lots of creativity and many more writings… Cheers!

Bhai Beej and the Jain New Year

Happy new year once again! And a Happy Bhai Beej… 2 celebrations in one…

This time last year…

I dropped my fiancé at the train station and rushed home to get the prayer thali ready for my brothers who would be coming home to meet me.

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Happy New Year

The start of the new year according to the Hindu calendar. In fact based on this calendar we are actually starting the year 2062. Apparently we are running ahead of the rest of the world. Thankfully in normal life we use the Gregorian calendar, other wise we would be really confused.

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Happy Diwali!

The day we have all been waiting for is here. Bringing with it all the traditions, customs and rituals that go with it.

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