The tattoo experience!

I wanted it desperately since long time and finally I got a chance to do it this summer. When I decided to get a permanent tattoo done, I received many reaction from friends and relatives starting from What the hell to Wow! Some people even said they can never imagine to get it on themselves ever. 
Let me clarify, it’s not that big deal actually. The only two things you need to consider are – 
1. They are permanent. 
2. They hurt! a bit...

For me, I already knew what I wanted to get imprinted on me and I was very much happy it would remain eternal. Though I was nervous, with all the remaining courage, I walked into a tattoo parlor in St. Mathew’s mall. Initially I was confused whether I should do it right away or not but Mark (the tattoo artist) helped me a lot to get mentally prepared of what I am going to do. I told him what I wanted and we were able to make the design. My biggest fear was if I would be able to handle the pain. But when I saw the design outcome, it won over my fear!

When he started with the needle (it’s actually a set of 5 needles tied together), pain was there.  But then I got used to the pain and everything went smooth. Generally it hurts more on nerve and bone. The process took almost 30 mins and when I saw the finished tattoo, it was definitely worth the pain! The healing process is long one and I had to be very careful, washing it 4/5 times a day with antibacterial soap and using an antibacterial cream on it for 10 days.

I am now very happy with it and have already planned the next ones :)

Love of life

A very famous dialog in Kuch Kuch hota hai says - Jindagi me pyar ek hi baar hota hai! 

Ignoring the fact that it's a SRK movie and can have any WTF story and dialogs, the reason I remembered this dialog is one of my frnd who is suffering from a breakup on long distance relationship note. Now he is still in his twenties and has the whole life in front of him, I didn't expect this dialog from him. Quite surprising! This made me think of Soul Mates. They say - soul mate is a person whom you are compatible with and have a deep affinity with. Is there really ONE person in this world that you are destined to be with? Does you life has no love if you are not with your first love?

Few days back, I was on a beach in Konkan with my husband. I saw an elderly couple. The old lady was not being able to walk properly, probably due to pain in knees but she wanted to go in water and experience the beautiful sunset. Her husband helped her go in sea, they both started staring at the setting sun. While she was busy living the moment, her husband took some water in hand and sprinkled on her. Surprised in joy, she did the same and they started playing with each other. For me, this is love.

In peak summer, at the signal, a person on bike was waiting for the green. His wife sitting back, lot of thoughts and worries on face. Kid's education, future investments, care about parents and so many things which are common tensions in any middle class life. Signal changed to green, her husband changed gear and she got a little jerk. For support, she placed his hand on his shoulder and suddenly a relief came on her face. She grasped, he is always there with her in all her tensions, worries and sorrows. In a single moment that worried face turned into a smiling one. Is love different than this?

When you first find someone and the infatuation phase kicks in, everything is wonderful and he or she is everything to you, you can think of nothing else and wouldn’t want to be or do anything without that person. After a while, those feelings give way to a more deeper sense of love and satisfaction. After marriage, people naturally change with time, circumstances change and you learn to develop your love accordingly. I believe all of these phases are initiations of life. We learn, we grow, we are wiser and we learn to realize this sense of love again and again :)

Auto Rickshaws and Me

I have a strange relationship with auto-rikshaws. Since childhood, I am constantly bumping on Autos everywhere I found them!


When I was 14, my dad brought me a new lavendar miss India cycle. With all joy and confidence I was ready to take her home! So, I was on my new cycle, mom and dad on scooter (yeah my favorite hamara bajaj), we reached near home. Much busy admiring my "miss india", I failed to notice the auto coming from opposite side and the next minute I was below auto. That was a first clash (Of course for my cycle. For me it might me 100th or 200th perhaps), gave a broken front basket and a bent in front-wheel. 
My cycle's first ride took her to garage instead of home!


After a month when I was going to school on cycle, I fell in love with another auto and did a fantastic dhoom stunt on a narrow road. This resulted in 1 week of leave due to scratched right leg from knee to toe. But by then it was routine for my teachers since 1 week of leave was still manageable compared to 1 month leave of previous year and 40 days for the year before that! Thanks to my self destructive habits.


It was a saree day during second year and my friend came to pick me up for college. She was on scooty and I insisted to drive. We reached main road, constantly chattering, going parallel with one Auto. Suddenly the autowala realized that he should be driving from left side of the road and without looking anywhere he turned left! I lost my balance, as a reflex action turned right and did ride scooty on a traffic police who was just standing there. All three of us were lying on ground and scooty went ahead to crash upon a wall. My friend got scared and I was still trying to figure out what happened exactly. However, police uncle are not bad all the time. Considering our "Decent" faces and saarees, instead of asking for fine, he gave us a polite smile and asked if we needed any help ;)


After coming to Pune as well, there was no change in this relationship. In-fact this time it created better impact. During my initial days in Pune, my company bus crashed an auto once in Kothrud.


Later on when I brought a new streak, went to Laxmi Road with my bro sitting behind me. (Now don't ask me how Puneits can manage to drive on a place like Laxmi road as when you stay in Pune, you get all the answers.) So we were going through a crowd and an autowala came from (god only knows from which) galli and tried to overtake us. But a Maruti 800 blocked both of us and while trying to apply breaks to my streak, my bro was inside the Auto! (I wish if there was any cute girl in auto, my bro might have taken a chance over there. but there was one Aunty sitting, so I had to take all the blaim on me)


The reason I remembered all this today is (yeah you guessed it right), it was my "fall for Rickshaw" day today! While coming to office in the morning, I helped a garagewala to earn a few bucks by breaking that Auto's headlight.


Now what could be the possible reasons that I choose only Autos to collide? Hmm I got them...
1. Their wierd shape : I don't get judgement of Auto's triangular shape while driving!
2. Autowalas rarely use side mirrors while turning left or right... and have you ever noticed any autowala giving you a signal that it's gonna take a turn?
3. Some autos always keep right even on heavy traffic roads. I wonder why dont they consider a maximum speed an Indian auto can have is 45-50 km/hr?


Interesting! let me know if you find any other reasons and also if there are any suggestions to avoid collisions with autos!

Rules again, this time not mine!

My husband believes in rules and that rules are meant to be followed. 

With little or no exceptions, he follows each and every rule he comes across.

He is always on time. If anything says "Do Not!", he absolutely does not. 

In fact he keeps on saying "you should not!"

I am kind of Rule Breaker Questioner. 

I drive the maximum speed limit. I often sometimes neglect stop signs. 

I am always running late. If anything says "Do Not!" I consider it as a dare.
and I keep on saying "big deal!"

Clearly no one of us is right or wrong here although I am right. 

What I feel is, if you always walk on marked path and never get off it, you will miss the flowers, birds and delights that haven't been stepped on. You might never know what surprises may be waiting just off the beaten path!

Sometimes, walking the straight & narrow path sucks the fun out of life.
Some rules....are meant to be bent.

I'm right 97% of the time, the other 4% doesn't matter.   :)

Get the life and paint it!

Since last few days, I was bored of life. I was on bench, had nothing to work on, same routine, same set of people around! I was not unhappy with life but something was missing and didn't know what. And a quick short trip to my home made me realize what the thing was.

My nephew was sketching a rainbow, he tried it several times. Each time, he drew a semicircle with 6 lines, filled them with colors, reviewed it and showed a dustbin. I went to him and checked the latest one, he had filled first four parts with the same color and mixed two more colors randomly in remaining 3 parts! I helped him with proper colors and his picture was ready.

I did the same with my life, filled the same color in major parts and mixed inappropriate colors to the remaining. And this was a cause of boredom! I should have given a different color to each aspect, may it be as a professional, as a friend, as a daughter, as a wife, as a good person, as a bad person and most importantly as ME.

Now it's time to paint life with new fresh colors, taking care of not mixing up these colors :) 

Off Astrology and Naadi Astrology....

"Hey, are you free tomorrow? I am going to KalyaniNagar in a Naadi Jyotishi center. Let me know if you wanna join me" - My best frnd.

I was a bit shocked on her question. My frnd is from a well-to-do family, graduated from a famous management institute and working with a top MNC. I wondered what could have dragged her to go on such superstitious things!

"Since when you started believing in all these things?", I asked her.
"Are it's awesome, my mom and aunt have got perfect readings and you know what, these people also suggest you various ways to improve ur future. I am impressed and gonna get mine details as well."
I was not in a mood to argue with her so denied to go but wished her a good luck (and a logical mind too!!!)

About an year ago, I first learned about Naadi Astrology and was fascinated by it's history (http://www.naadishastra.com). It is believed that, long time ago there were 18 rishis who recorded future predictions about everyone on palm leaves in ancient Tamil language. From generation to generation, these astrologers have kept these leaves safe and are available for those people who are destined to know about their record. Interesting ha...
My first obvious question was, how can my past, present and future be written on an old palm leave? Not only future but I can find the names of my parents, siblings, husband as well on these leaves. Now any logical person would think if it's really possible to note down the correct future of billions of people in the world, that too many years back!

So I concluded, I am not "destined" to get my record through Naadi Astrology and left that topic. But call from my frnd made me think over it again. For me, the thought of knowing my future is a bit scary. Besides, if god wanted us to be aware of our future, he would have made us capable of doing it. I personally believe, astrology, horoscopes are just the things created by a bunch of so called spiritual people to fool other innocent creatures. Even if I know my future today, what's the point as I can't change it. And if I somehow I can change my future, whats the point in knowing about it as it's not gonna happen?

Quite confusing!!! But now I am just waiting for my frnd's Naadi prediction results though :)

Bhag D K Bose!!!

Place : My company bus
Time : 8:30 AM


It was a boring monday morning again and resisting cloudy climate was making it more hard to get into the mood of office. In the bunch of some serious professionals (As I was sitting in the front side where only these type of people prefer to sit :S) and with FM broadcasting some pathetic movie songs, the morning sounded more dull. 


I decided to take a nap but as soon as I removed my headphones, I heard a typical women talk on my next seat. Two women were talking so loudly, it was hard to ignore them 


W1 : I am fed up of this work yaar, didnt even get any time to look at myself during the weekend. 
W2 : Hmm n same is d story at my end, had to shop for child as his school would start this week, a lot of laundry work plus kaamvali didn't come so had to do all the housework, it was pretty exausting!
W1 : Ohh, I had planned many things for this weekend but as we got those relatives at house, all plannings changed.
W2 : I wish we could get one more day in weekend. At home, everything is getting out of order and at office, project is burning. Have project delivery on wed and we are still doing these stupid changes.


while listening to this, I tried my best to take my attention away from them and concentrate on something else, as I knew this conversation is never gonna stop. But thanks to my luck (don't know if it was good or bad) I heard the same kinda conversation on the back seat, this time between two men!


M1 : Had to go for an interview last week, bacche ka admission lena tha! Saala khud ke liye kabhi itna prepare nahi kiya maine jitna iske admission ke liye karna pada! And the money I spent on my BE was less than the money I spent for his admission in nursery. Pata nahi aage kya honevala hai.
M2 : hehe ha I know man but believe me this is just the beginning. Still ur kid is in nursary, till the time he goes to college, I bet your bank balance will be less than your kid's pocket-money!


This was again more than enough. So I resisted my urge of getting involve in their conversation before it go on the track of inflation and growing rates.
Problems at house, money matters, professional tensions, decreasing quality time and so on, were the crucial topics in every conversation.


I put on my headphones again, hit my FM and it started


Ye bheja garden hai...
aur tension maali hai...
Man ka Taanpura,
Frustation me chede ek hi raag,
Bhag D K Bose!!!

Bidding Adieu

I am always bad at saying good bye to people. Specially when you know that you are never gonna be in that cubical, in that team, with all office friends, with those clients and with all that work around. It's always a bit difficult to deal with it.

I remember when I left my first job, I was actually happy on my last day there. Almost all my friends had left the organization, my old team-members were already waiting for me in the next organization so it felt easy. But when I gave away that cts id tag and came out of the building, got goose bumps and realized that I have just lost something very important. I won't be catching that company bus again and won't be coming to this place, won't use that email id again, won't chatter in pantries, canteens and roam in and around those 4 buildings. We build relationships not only with people around but also with the surroundings!!!

I am facing the same situation again today while leaving my second organization. This time a bit different as I am leaving behind some of my dear friends and some very sweet moments shared with them. But as life has to go on, I would definitely look forward to a new world :)

Tu hi mere liye ab kar dua...

Last saturday, I completed my 5th fall in the same month for the first time... Yes I do keep on falling here and there, hurting myself every time, but 5th time in a single month is really too much. Normally I have a quota for 2 max 3 falls in a month, my friends even call me giri hui ladki jo humesha girti rehti hai :( but I really cant help it.

There must be something really weird about either my mind or my attention... Falling down while walking on the normal road, just vanishing in a 5ft deep pot hole (thanks to the road work going on since last one year in Kothrud), sliding from stairs, hitting my head on doers, all these things are routine for me... resulting in some fractures, all those blue-red-black marks and pain!!!

If anyone has any medicine/upay on this do let me know...otherwise as usual I keep on telling my parents n bro, keep on praying for me, atleast I would like to spend a single month without falling down or hitting my head anywhere....

Those cute lil things in life :)

Last week when I was at my home, my nephew came to me and declared that he is in love with one of his classmates. It was time for us to get shocked as he is just 6 yrs old. :) At the same time it was funny indeed to heard this from him.

Thanks to our bollywood movies and tv serials, we realize the concepts of love and affairs at quite an early stage of life... I mean yes I was also in love for the first time during my fourth standard. Love, crush, whatever they call it, that was not the time/age to think of it.

We were friends but always used to keep on fighting and beating each other for more marks, same place, same attention etc etc. I remember, one day my other friend asked me, haven't you seen the movies? Nafrat pyar ki pehli seedi hoti hai...n tum log itna zagadate ho that means you are in love... and banggg... I realized I was in love. Though I didn't tell him anything about it and even today I don't know what he used to think of it... we are still great friends.

After fourth, I changed my school and went to a girls school. All those five years I spent with girls changed my attitude. We treated ourselves like the greatest, intelligent, adorable creatures of god and nothing in the world can reach us. Eventually we evolved a theory that we don't need any boys and we can rule the world. That made us really arrogant in the boy's world. I don't exactly remember now why and how we developed this theory but it was fun dealing with such a feeling :P

I took almost 2 years to overcome this attitude after my school was over and to get habitual to the co-ed system. When I was in first year of my college, I fell in love again... On the very first day, a boy from final year helped me with the class directions and gave me some information about the teachers we are going to get. He was cool and I had "love" at first site :P Again I didn't tell him anything but as the year passed my friends told me he is a bf material and not a husband material. (yeah i forgot to mention, we had created certain categories of boys and used to apply it on every single guy we met. Based on the results we used to decide what kind of relation we can develop with that guy... It's so habitual that today as well my mind applies one of the category to every guy coming in my life :) It's a bit confidential so can't share all those categories ;) ) During second year, I used to like a boy but was a sacred to approach him... and nothing happened in third year :S

Later on when I joined my first company, I had a crush on 2 guys at the same time...that made me think, as per kuch kuch hota hai, love happens only once...is that really true? As time passed, I came to know that thin line between love and crush and started thinking maturely. But whatever it is, it at least gives some inspiration and there is something happening in life :)

No matter how much we grow.. still when I see any impressive guy, a though comes to mind - yes this is the guy... and I fall in love over and over again :P

A rocking evening for a great cause....

On Sunday, we celebrated third annual day of AksharBharti (AB) at Pune. Akshar Bharti is an NGO which works for underprivileged kids from remote areas providing them with a set of various books. It is an initiative to nurture the reading habits in children between age group 5-15 years. We had various kids activities like preparing scientific toys, quiz based on general knowledge and some presentations for their teachers in the morning session. The evening session came with a rocking fun having the Avdhoot Gupte and Troop for supporting the noble cause. It was a fantastic eve for volunteers as well, as the program was a big success and we got to tune and dance on the AVG songs rhythm :)

It's been a great time for me being with AB since last 2 years. We set up a few libraries in various regions like Bhor, Yamagarwadi, Dhankavdi, Yeravada Jail, Hinjewadi etc. some of them with Cognizant and some with IBM. Every time I went for a library set up, it gave me a unique experience and showed a new side of a life. It's really a great learning being with kids, understanding their background, dealing with their issues, spending the most amazing time of your life with them and most importantly observing a smile on their face and knowing the reason behind it is you...believe me, it's an experience which I really can't express in words. Every new chapter of AB brings a new story for me and I always keep on waiting for such new things. You can get it's more information on www.aksharbharati.org

Me, an interview and a job....

The increasing number of pages in accent shows the end of so called recession and people start to look for a change. I have given many interviews in last 2 years and every time there are some similarities, silly questions as well as the intelligent phrases.
Lets experience such an interview :)

Interviewer : Yes, come in. Tell me something about you miss.
Me : I am Madhuri etc, etc, etc....
In mind : Are dear, you have that whole CV in front of you, Read it, why are you letting me to explain the things again and wasting your and my time???


Interviewer : So why do you want to change your current organization?
Me : Well, my current job is good and people are co-operative but I want some more challenging work to do
In mind : Actually the thing is, it's very difficult to get a good hike in my old company. Even after the appraisals, it would be quite less. Changing the job is a better option.

Interviewer : What do you like about out organization and what is the thing that makes you to come and join us?
Me : Well, I feel you have lots of good projects covering a large set of domain. It would be a challenging and great experience to join etc etc...
In mind : Hmm.. I have already taken today's leave, so in the available time I thought lets try giving 2, 3 more interviews..and your office is quit near to my home..better option.
Also in the mid summer why to roam in 40' temp, better to sit in AC and give an interview...
Now could you please start with the technical questions???

Interviewer : Hmm yes, we do have a lots of challenging work over here. So where do you see yourself in the next ten years?
Me : Well, in next ten years, I see myself managing a project and people independently. Expand my competencies and acquire maximum knowledge in my work area.
In mind : Hehe what a question...I don't even know what I'll be doing in next 10 hrs and you are talking about 10 years man!!! For sure in next 10 min I'll be watching myself out of this cabin if you don't start with the technical questions now...

Interviewer : OK then lets start with the technical questions now...blah blah blah
Me : blah blah blah....
In mind : hmmm have i tried it? 7 security layers hote hai ya 8? hmmm not sure ek new create kar dete hai.... blah blah blah...
(Meanwhile I observe the office and get an idea about what package I can ask...)

Interviewer : hmm What's your current package?
Me : Well my ctc is ....LPA and other facilities include...etc etc...
In mind : are yaar...achha package hota to would not have taken a leave and come here for an interview...

Interviewer : What package you are expecting?
Me : I believe in challenging work and my preference is doing the work I like to do...However as per my knowledge and experience, I expect ... LPA etc etc.
In mind : kyu aise questions puchte ho bhai? If I say more, you will tell me how your company pay structure is and as per my experience, how can my salary be less than what I expected....If I say less, you will be happy and give me the expected offer!!!

Interviewer : When can you join us?
Me : In two months after completing my notice period.
In mind : Hmmm need to think, when should I drop this bomb on my manager and schedule all the kt activities...

Interviewer : OK, we will let you know in one or two days..
Me : Glad to meet you Sir.
In mind : huh...finally it's done...abe gadhe inta pakaya atleast ek cup chai to de deta....

....

One more day -

Morning @ 11 AM, place : Office
I logged in to orkut and one of my old friends pinged me. She said do watch my onsite snaps, I have just uploaded them on orkut. She is been in US from last 1 year. I checked the snaps and my mind started calculating (as every IT guy's mind starts for onsite). She is of the same age, same degree, less experience. She, being my good friend, I was very happy for her but somewhere I was a little frustrated....
Frustration level : 30%

Afternoon @ 2 PM, place : Office
Got a call from my friend, he switched his job in a big MNC...as the so called recession is over, got almost double hike...he also booked a flat in one of the best locations in Pune. he is younger than me...offcourse I was happy for him but again...
Frustration level : 70%

Evening @ 4 PM, place : Canteen
Another call from my school friend. She cleared her MBA from London and got placed in a nearby company with a well to do contract. Her wedding is been fixed with her boyfriend and would take place in June. I congratulated her, it was really great to hear from my very best friend about her success in career as well as love life...Yes I was glad for her.....but
Frustration level : 100%

Evening @ 5 PM,place : Bus Station
I was waiting for my 5:15 bus going to my hometown. A small girl about 8, 9 yrs old came near me. She was not a tramp but was wearing dirty and torn cloths. Excitedly looking at the people out there, the buses and was trying to mimic the bus conductor. She asked me if I want a ticket. I said yes please give me one, she gave me a piece of paper as a ticket and in return I gave her a chocolate. She smiled and it was one of the most temperate smiles I have ever seen in my life....I was going to ask her a few questions but meanwhile her mom came and said, "Pardon her, It's her first journey by bus and she is very excited. Thank you for the chocolate as she is eating it for the first time." I offered her a few more, she looked at her mom, her mom nodded, she took them and thanked me.

Evening @ 5:15 PM,place : In bus
I entered in bus, was still thinking about that small girl. In the seat next to mine, an old man was sitting looking very stressed and nervous. He was very thin, wearing a white kurta and dhoti. There was a middle aged man with him convincing him something. I tried to listen to them and found that the middle aged man was a member of an old age home. He was taking that old man to Satara's old age home. That old man started crying as the bus started, saying he still wants to live with son and daughter in law. The middle aged man was convincing him that it's not possible as your son don't want to live with you and has handed over you to our old age home. I couldn't recognize but strangely tears rolled out of my eyes seeing that old man crying. It was a mixed kind of feeling I was feeling bad for him but at the same time I had an urge to meet his son and daughter in law and ask them how can they behave like this....But It was not possible for me to do anything for him..

Evening @ 5:30 PM,place : In bus
Bus stopped at Swargate and few more passengers entered. A women with 3 children came and sat near me. Her 2 children were sitting at another seat and she took her 1 year child in her lap. Bus started moving and that women started a conversation. She was a bit talkative, though I was not much interested in talking with her, I couldn't stop her from talking.... In next one hour I was all aware of how her husband is, how her mother in law irritates her and how she was feeling good as she was on way to her mom's home. I asked her how she manages looking after her 3 children and she told her whole story. She got married at 16 and her husband was of 30. at 17 she got her first kid it was a baby girl, at 19 she got another baby girl and at 22 she got a third baby girl...her mother in law and husband were very upset with her and wanted a baby boy...everyday she has to listen to their taunts and say nothing keeping in mind that she has to brought her daughters up confidently and make them independent. She was just 23 and handling so much responsibility, I was shocked and touched....

I thought to share this with you as this day was one of the most happening days of my life. It showed me so many different scenarios and enlightened the most important aspects of life...Every time in life we compare ourselves with the other people, who is going ahead of us, we are ahead of whom, what the other person is getting and what we are lacking. We just need to remember every person has it's own ups and downs in life, life can be very lucky at times and very bad at another....Still people don't loose their hopes and keep on moving trying to make life happier, better and better....No Need to say, at the end of the day my frustration level was 0!!!

.....

Mom/Dad : Beta, you should get married...see all ur frnds are getting engaged now...Tell us if u love someone, we are ok with it...but please get married (10 calls per day)

Bro : Hey any luck with the list on the site? btw preferably get a guy having a beautiful, sweet young sister...(2 calls per day)

Relatives : So wass going on girl, what are you waiting for now? you know that 'x' ka 'y' vala 'z' relative? They are looking for a bride for their son...should we talk to them? (2 calls per day)


Friends (girls) : Hey maddy, we are getting bore of routine life now...need some change...If you schedule your wedding, we can get a long holiday and enjoy over there...Do something fast...(4 calls per day)

Friends (guys) : So miss, why are you still single...Can I help? (help = try) (no count here...)


Me : Ahhh god, please help me...get me out of here...send me to Antarctica, get me an igloo and I'll live with the penguins and blue whales over there (Switch off cell...)