Kindness Pays...

Indians LOVEEEEEEE Freebies. Even if it is like the most trivial of stuff. In India, you never get free stuff - Well, let me correct myself. You do get free stuff, only if you buy stuff. "Ek lo, ek Muft" types. Buy one bar of hamam soap and you get half a bar free ?!? Or something like that. Anyway, but in the land of oppurtunities, it works very different. You actually get STUFF FOR FREE! And you realize that soon after you land. I remember my guy friends from Grad School actually created a mailing list and posted information about the dates and venues of Grad School forums and sessions where they'd have free pizza, cookies and pop! (It used to be Pop in the Mid-west, now soda down south). So for example, they'd have a meeting about Marine Biology or something and there'd be a bunch of desi kids from the CS/EE dept attending it just for the perks at the end of the session! And then there're those who are deal freaks. They subscribe to all possible electronics/clothes/Travel stores and keep watching out for THE time to get the best grabs! I really admire such people and often befriend them so that I benefit from their talents. And then there's the other kind- sign up with an online store and get a FREE something. Like Free 8X10s. And that's what I did this weekend.

R mentioned about free 8X10s @ WG and you could get one per "ACCOUNT". She also had two coupon codes that could be used and since I had two legitimate email accounts- that would mean I could get 4 8x10s for FREE! Whoa! Obviously I wouldn't mind having some of my wedding pictures blown up. I got some really pretty frames for gifts and me being the fill-the-wall-with-pictures-person, I decided to make use of this oppurtunity and do something worthwhile over the weekend. So between a potluck and a christmas party, I decided to rush and create these accounts and upload my photos since the deal was ending midnight. On the way
back from the party, we stopped by the closest and store and eagerly walked in to pick up the photos that I'd ordered. The day had been perfect thus far. But lo and behold- it din't have a "happily ever after" ending. The lady behind the counter was rather rude and dint make any sense to us with what she was saying. She insisted that I could get only one photo per "household" and that I had printed out 4 - which was immensely ridiculous - according to her. She also said that two of my photos were copyrighted and couldn't be printed. She basically threw a fit and said that she would give the other 3 photos only if I'd pay. I was tired. Upset. Sad. Her words got R all wild and she tried arguing with the lady. But it dint quite help. I went back home - humiliated. I mean cmon! I work at the largest chip manufacturing company. I could afford to BUY 3 8x10s. But that wasn't the point. She made me feel small and I did not
like it and knowing she was going to shred 3 memorable moments from my wedding- MY Foot! I was angry. I spoke to the husband later that night and he said some solacing words. I listened and acted calm. But was still bubbling from within. Why dint I deserve those perfectly legitimate free photos?

I am generally not good with handling dishonesty, meanness, empty talk or people who try to get shrewed with me. Also, I am generally very argumentative - but only with people I am comfortable with. And (mostly) only when I know I am not on the wrong. With strangers, I cannot show anger. I simply break down. Or crib about it to close ones. So thinking about all this...somewhere in between I feel asleep. I woke up at about 9:30 the next morning - with a headache. I badly needed some caffeine. I had to return an overdue book at the library as well. I decided to go get myself some Chai and drop off the book. It was a lovely morning- perfect weather and all. As I got ready to step out, I looked at the lonely free print on my bed. I dont know what came over me. But I decided to go back and give it another shot. The previous night, the gal pals had suggested going back to the store the next day when this lady was off shift. So I thought- well this seems to be a good time. She must have gotten off of work the previous night, so maybe I will get my other 3 prints after all. So I drove up to the store again and as I entered, I saw the same lady behind the counter and I muttered something nasty to myself. I made a quick above-turn and headed back to my Alabaster-Metallic Silver machine. I made a quick call to N and started squeaking. It was a life and death kind of situation and N had to save me! After a rather motivational speech about virtues and truth and fairness, I was charged up and decided to fight for justice. So I go up to the lady and...

Me: Hi, Its me again, you remember me from yesterday right?

Lady: Ya..(so)?

Me: So I went back home yesterday and checked my emails and I got 4 perfectly legitimate order numbers, see..(shows a yellow piece of paper with neatly written numbers on them)

Lady: Ya, but I told you yesterday, you're allowed only 1 per household. You had 4 printed out!

Me: I dont think it said per household. It said per account and I have 2 accounts. I had two coupon codes. That makes it 4 pictures!

Lady: (Starting to lose her patience and raising voice): You Confuse me!

Me: (still calm) There's nothing confusing. Like i said, its 2 email accounts + 2 pics per account. Thats 4.

Lady: But two of those were copyrighted. We cannot print copy righted pictures.

Me: I dont understand how it can be copy righted. All 4 of them were taken by the same person. So they should all show up as copy righted. How do you say they are??? (Now losing patience)

Lady: (Shrill) - Listen, we just use judgement

Me: (Thinking) Judgement?? What the heck is that supposed to mean?

(Says out loud)- I cant say anything more. They were taken by the same person.

Lady: Well, if thats the case, I'll have to call the manager.

Me: Sure, pls do.

Lady looks flustered by now and makes some calls. By now, a line has formed and other people are looking at the drama.

Me: I can wait. You can help these people out. I am not in a hurry.

Customer 1: Oh thanks so much honey!

Lady - Even more flustered that I am being nice and patient.Lady helps customer 1 out and I start making small talk.

Me: So, how long do you work per day? I saw you last night and you're still here?

Lady: Oh dont even ask! This other girl dint show up - so I've been covering for her. I am SO tired!

Me: Oh that's bad!! Do you get to take the rest of the day off at least?

Lady: (starts to calm down and actually starts being friendly) Ya- Cant wait to get off at 3!!

Me: Oh thats great! You should get some rest.

Lady: Hopefully, OK hang on, let me call the manager.

Me: Alrighty!

Lady disappears for about 10 minutes and comes back with Manager.They have a discussion about the life, universe and everything. Finally, the manager comes over and says, "We'll print them out for you, just sign the copy right waiver - we dont want to be sued by your photographer"

Me: Oh thanks! That wont happen because I know him personally and the pictures are not copy righted!

Lady: Hang on...lemme print 'em out for you.

Me: That'll be great.. thx!So where from are you in MN...? [The lady told me she was from MN that earlier night]

10 mins later, I get my free prints!!!

Me: Well - you get home early and get some rest.

Lady: Sure..thx! And hey..I apologize for having spoken that way earlier. I dont know computers or internet and I dont really understand what an account
means!!

Me: Thats ok! :)

I walked towards my car like a victorious soldier after a bloody war - proud of how I'd handled such a "difficult" situation. Kindness pays after all... :)

Trifle Pudding

This was my first attempt at Trifle Pudding. Looked & tasted yummy. I remember it from Dibba times. Amma's a fantastic cook. She used to invite 2 dozen people and cook all day and churn out these unbelievably tasty dishes. Trifle was one of them. We had a potluck today and I'd decide to give this fav dessert of mine a shot. Its fairly simple and cannot really go wrong. Holiday season = 5 extra pounds already. I better hit the gym before I gain back all those fat cells I'd struggled to lose.

Here you go...Trifle all the way...

Father of the Bride...

Ever since I got married 2 months ago, I've been watching all these weddingy movies. Yesterday, I watched Father of the Bride - again. It is one of those really cute funny movies that I like to watch from time to time. I expected my parents to sob while "giving me away" after my wedding. I thought I'd be too overwhelmed when N tied the knot. But it was anticlimax! My dad was unusually calm and composed, amma and periamma obviously had tears of joy, my brother was laughing and I was gleaming and posing away to glory. Whatever happened to all those buckets of tears that rolled down my cheeks whenever I watched all these movies where things would always be "happy ever after".

In fact, after my wedding, when I was replaying events and doing a post-mortem of things, I asked appa in disappointment- why he dint cry. What was worse was that he dint even have an explanation. He said he was too worried about how sick I was and too preoccupied with what had to happen next, so he dint really give himself a chance to realize the fact that the "apple of his eyes" was actually a married lady now! Amma had a better explanation- knowing N and his family and how warm they were, she said she had no worries about sending her daughter to a new home. But ofcourse, she wasn't even sending me to any new home because I was going to come back to PHX, just like any other trip. So much for "bidayee" and all that spice! Anyway, so I watched this yesterday and still shed tears. Plus in the movies noone is worried about whether all relatives were taken care of and escorted to the dining hall, whether everyone received their "tamboolams" (send away gifts) , if the priest arrived on time...and what not! It must be the BGM!

http://in.youtube.com/watch?v=onunI7e5DpE&feature=related

Punjab Power...Lighting up your lives..

I have a thing for Punjabis, and their food and songs and their bollywood based movies. Something very lively about them. And the language - I have no clue what most of it means- but I still love the way it sounds and I try to imitate those sounds. Oooh - and the Balle Balles! Sometimes I wish I were born in to one of their families - just so that I can do their moves
during a wedding or a party or whatever! They seem so much fun. I mean really - I think Tams are a very sober lot. No offense meant. I am very proud being a Tam and all that jazz. But we're basically very "chamathu" and I think mostly serious about a lot of unwanted things in life. At least I've met very few tam families that are chilled out and really know how to have FUN.
Anyways- I am digressing.

So I watched Rab Ne Banaa Di Jodi last Saturday night. I mean I had to - it had SRK and I've religiously watched all his movies ever since DDLJ - however pathetic they might have been. The movie had no logic involved whatsoever. Like many others who like to think, I dont understand how a wife cannot recognize her husband just because he shaves,is not spectecled and wears the weirdest of outfits! Ok - so giving the director and everybody else the benefit of
doubt, I decided to leave my brains behind and started watching the movie with Zero expectations. And guess what? I actually had a ball. I also think I was generally in a good mood that night- decided to have fun - Punjabi based movie and all. So I was laughing all the time- even at the weirdest of jokes (mostly because we were surrounded by men who literally went ROFLMAO at the silliest of jokes..and Ro, Dee and I couldn't control ourselves when we heard them burst into manly peals of laughter). So ya- I actually liked "Suri". I thought he was CUTE. And I loved those little - what I call romantic deeds- Placing the rose on their dining table and then removing it at the end, staring at his yellow lunch dabba etc etc. The BGM - especially the
soundtrack that starts off before "Haule Haule" is absolutely catchy. Very apt and funny!

Anushka was cute in some parts of the movie, just about alright in others. She's OK overall. "Punjab Power...lighting up your lives"!! Hilarious! I couldn't stop saying it for a few days - He's so good with that line! I just wish he dint go on and on with the "Hum Hai Rahi Pyaar ke..Phir
Milenge..Chalthe Chalthe.." like a gizillion times. It was irritating after the first couple of times. Ooh and I liked the proposal scene..City- hill top...lights out and all. Purrrfecto! Just that things like this never happen in real life. Sigh! I think Anushka's reaction was blah! Sad. Over all the movie was really nonsense material. But I had a really good time watching it. It was funny, light hearted, the songs were GOOD! I loved "Haule Haule" and "Dance Pe Chance" the first time I heard them. "Dance Pe" has been my pre-workout warm up number ever since.

What I missed - no chemistry between the two of them. Well I guess thats what he strives for through out the movie. But even in those scenes where she falls for the "other man", I missed SRK's fierce strong piercing eyes. What was good - Suri's character, Anushka's confused mind - I think they did a good job of taking her through those emotions- having to decide between a sober but adorable hubby and then this cool dude. Ofcourse the hubby wins. No surprises there. It reminded me of Mouna Ragam. There's no comparison ofcourse. I liked the credits too - the honeymoon pictures and all. Funny. So go watch the movie - Good time pass. It is definitely not award-winning material- but well- who cares? To those who haven't found their Rabs - Good luck with the hunt! :)

The Missing bag

So I am all married! The wedding was a blast! Everything was perfect. Except for the viral fever that chose to attack me the evening before the BIG day. The trip was excellent. Everything. Appa amma's sashti. Diwali. K's engagement. Maldives. Bombay. Everything. All the way until I reached PHX. Realized one of my two bags was missing. In fact both of them did not get into the
flight that I was flying. But I happened to spot one of them - sadly lying, waiting to be rescued, in some other damned terminal. So anyways- it is still missing. Its been 5 long weeks and still no sign of it. I mean how tough can it be to locate a bag? I've been keeping hope all along, until my 253rd call to the airline's 1-800- # trying to find out if they have any updates. Now I am beginning to lose it. I am officially angry. I am generally very sentimental about the silliest of things. In fact - I am mostly sentimental only about the sillest of things. But this bag had stuff in it - like weddingy stuff. Sarees and gifts and the wedding reception album and everything that I had shopped for while in Bby. :( Oh well- if anybody sees a Grey Samsonite Type 22 with a white ribbon tied around it's handle...you know who to contact..

The Countdown begins...

I am super excited. Super tensed. Super restless and super happy!!! :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :)

Read this on someone's orkut scrap book today...suited the mood and hence the entry.

When you hate your life.... Just close your eyes and see her face - who loves you more than anyone else.....who cares for you in loneliness & dies for you when you cry........

She is no other but your sweet loving MOM.....Love her more than anyone else in this world....Because only SHE IS and WILL BE there for you all the time...


I SO wish I weren't half a world away...

A wonderful Christmas gift...

Years 1997.

A 15 year old girl struggled to live up to the expectations of her teachers, parents and the rest of the world. She'd (almost) never seen failure earlier, shone bright as a star, was the apple of pretty much everybody's eyes! She thought she could do it all - until she joined THE best school the city had ever seen- churning out GEMS who'd with ease walk in to colleges with three letter acronyms. Some thought it was too competetive for her, others said it was the effect of Mr. Saturn playing his 7.5 year game....

A decade later...

Inu walks up to receive credit for his incredible conversion of a piece of his imagination. He walks head down, almost as if in disbelief of his own abilities - almost as if he forgot what it felt like to be actually appreciated and respected. I cried shamelessly when he hugged his guru - it was almost like the child's heart and soul exploded FINALLY and heaved in relief!

I am sure most of you would have guessed that I am referring to Aamir's directorial debut with Taare Zameen Par. I just had to write about Darsheel and Inu. This movie is very close to heart - not because I had dyslexia as a kid - but because I could so connect with the child when he was in boarding school or when he was separated from his parents. The "putting on a brave face" but secretly crying in the bathroom, the feeling of rejection, lack of appreciation, of inferiority complex that was uncalled for, the helplessness, the homesickness, AMMA!!! I could not help but weep away to glory during Shankar's "Tujhe Sab Hai patha hai na Ma" - what brilliant lyrics..Simple Yet Absolutely Evocative and SO DARN TRUE!

Ishaan - that kid! I am at loss for words! I could just hug him and never let go off him and take care of him forever! I was actually surprised to realize that there are very few teachers who go beyond the textbooks and assignments and exams and actually wonder why a kid is performing the way he or she is. Oh well! There aren't too many Nikhumbhs around are they?

I am hoping most of you have already had the chance to use your handkerchiefs by now. If not, Please do! Aamir has done it again!