Hyderabad...still a home for all.

Hyderabad is my second home. I simply love this place. I’ve been here for 7 years and I‘ve only come to love it more and more over the years. This is the place where I found love, discovered the joys of friendship, of eating out, movies, shopping for secondhand books and so much more! I had my two siblings here for vacation when I was still a student. I had the second batch, i.e. my parents and the remaining two siblings last Christmas. And they all LOVE Hyderabad.

My parents sleep in peace even though I’m 5000 miles away from them. When they came here, they saw that I had wonderful neighbors, and friends who love me dearly. They even found the auto drivers “nice.” My dad was so impressed with their honesty and demeanor that he even started to tip them generously.

Now when the city that we love so dearly is bombed and attacked, my heart aches. When they heard, my parents cried not only because they were worried about their children, they were also shocked by the way the safe home had been attacked and shaken. This is the city where they left their footprints, the city that gave them so many beautiful memories to take home. My family prays that Hyderabad rises up from this calamity and once again proves it to be the safe home that it has been for their daughter and so many others.

From the kukkers mouth...

It’s a lazy day and I decided to browse through Kuknalim, a home for the Nagas away from home. This is a website visited by Nagas living outside Nagaland everyday. We get to read all juicy news, or chat with friends and strangers, participate in forums and talk everything from politics to philosophy, religion to technology, sports, music and silly things like “You know you are in love when...” I found this really cute and got some here just for smiles. Have fun :)

People at Kuknalim say:

• You know you are in love when songs seem to have deeper meanings than it earlier did for you.
  
  
• You know you are in love, when you call him up just to hear his voice even though you are still angry with him.
  
  
• You know you're in love when you treasure even a simple conversation with her and keep rewinding it in your mind.
  
  
• When you wish that the day gets longer as you spend time together
  
  
• When you ache for him/her very badly
  
  
• When other women don't make much sense...
  
  
• When other Men don't make sense at all…
  
  
• U takes an hour and a half to finish a 12 page book
  
  
• You don’t know why, but you like spending your entire day with her
  
  
• When your heart can manage to skip a beat!
  
  
• You keep telling yourself, "that special someone is just a friend”, but
  you realize that you can not avoid that person's special attraction.
  
  
• When you come across a field of mustard plants, imagine her, and you want to sing ".....tujhe dekha to yeh jana sanam..." (bollywood style)
  
  
• When you start giving names of your unborn babies and feel no embracement in adding his surname
  
  
• When you get a call unexpectedly from him (long long distance call) and pass the day with that stupid smile on your face
  
  
• When.... All your passwords are related to him.
• When you suddenly become a poet, a lyricist and a fairy-tale author

reminds me of my teenage years :)

shining through

So far, I'm from you.

Clothed in anguish and despair,

I hear you say 'come'

am awarded!

Bellezza nominated me for the "Nice Matters" award and I cannot stop smiling! For all of you who don’t know Bellezza, she is a teacher, has a passion for reading, loves Harry Potter, great with crafting things with her hands, and is now remodeling her kitchen. I’ve been reading her blog for a month now and she has to be nicest person ever (am not surprised she is nominated). She is my first blogger friend and I’m glad I’ve found her. Thank you!

moments in snatches

On one of my visits to the villages in Andhra Pradesh, I saw these beautiful women and couldn't help asking them to pose for me.

she sells peanuts and homemade cookies to school children during their recess

They are the Banjaras; a tribal group in India. What they are wearing now is their everyday wear...I simply love their silver jewelery and embroidered, colorful choli!

She is 60 and glowing!

India is celebrating her 60th year of Independence today. A day to rejoice, a day to retrospect, a day to pay respects to the many souls who sacrificed much for this land.

India is a wonderful nation. I love the culture and I truly admire the fact that in a fast-changing world, she has still not forgotten her roots. A lot about India has changed in the past 60 years, but there is still something called "Indian"--the essence remains the same.

I like India because Indians feel proud to be Indians and whenever they are they do not forget where they belong.

Today the world recognizes her, and garlands her with flowers. I pray India outshines the world!

And I hope that by the time she celebrates her 61st Independence Day, I will have learned Telugu, and be educating those children out there in those villages and make her proud of me.

A very happy Independence Day India!

Black bandanas

The bridge was old. Some moss had gathered on the pathway too. It looked as if it hadn’t been used for quite some time. There was mist around us....But through the mist we could see the branches moving with the soft wind. You had my favorite jacket on and the muffler I knitted for you last Christmas. I had my hair open; every once in a while you had your hand putting it behind my ears. My head on your big shoulders, we were listening to the songs on our iPod.

Suddenly, I saw a group of camouflaged men with black bandanas coming towards us. You pushed me aside and asked me to run… I could not; how could I have left you all by yourself out there? But I heard you screaming GO! Just as I started to run I heard gunshots. Terrified, I turned towards you and saw you bleeding…I started to cry…I tried to run towards you, to hold you… but I couldn’t lift my feet. I was calling out your name…

Just then, my brother woke me up, asking, “Oya, do you want toast or chapatti for breakfast?” I sighed and said “chapatti” and got in for a shower.

I’ve had many encounters with camouflaged men...many of them first-hand... and far too many second hand but still very close to home. And they still haunt me in my sleep. But thankfully, when I wake up, I wake to a normal life, normal work and a normal breakfast.

To all my friends on friendship day!

My life would have been so colorless without you. You have been with me since my childhood days; we remain ‘childhood friends’ any day!

My oldie gangsters! That was one rocking phase. All those full moon night walks and birthday bashes and choir practices. We rocked big time!

I met you in high school in some inter-school competition, and you ended up becoming one of my best friends. I’m blessed to have you near me even today.

It was another competition we were preparing for…we became friends….and even after nearly 10 years of not seeing you, you still make me smile.

I keep wishing I had you as my friend in my growing up years. I feel good about myself when I’m with you. Near or far, you are always true.

I met you guys in college…we became best friends…we rarely get in touch now but I know when we meet we can pick up where we left and that I will always be special to you.

And you! I don’t know where you are now…but those letter writing days! I had not even seen you then, but we shared so much…that’s when I started writing and tried to write well, just to impress you. I hope you are well wherever you are.

I traveled with you on one of the best journeys of my life...I don’t know how you are now but I hope you are happy.

You are now overseas with your husband and I know you are happy being married. Just make sure I’m your first-born’s godmother :) I miss you!

My university babes! I enjoyed friendship with you. The real pleasures of shopping, organizing surprise birthday parties, movie watching weeks, pubbing, long post-dinner walks were discovered with you!

My university dudes…I miss those heart-rending intellectual talks over gops ka chai :)
And of course, the yummy food you guys cooked for us!

I met you girls only for a couple of weeks…but you came into my life when I was in need of some “girlie talk.” That was so refreshing! We remain friends for life.

We took it for granted when we were together. I cried when I heard you were not coming back…but now that I know you would…come back soon…we’ll chill out on weekends, talk and dance till we drop. We also have to plan for my b'day…my makeover…there is so much to do!

Each day I discover more of your sweetness and that I can be myself with you...without having to worry if I'm judged or not. My circle of friends isn’t a circle without you.

You are someone I can come to any day for a hug or a cry. You understand me completely and always have the perfect lines for me. I make a fool of myself in front of you and still don’t feel embarrassed. We can talk about anything under the sun…two years of talking and it only gets sweeter.

And you! My latest friend… it’s such a beautiful thing being friends with you…we are so different and yet we can share so much… our silly happenings, the lil secrets… including green apples and carrots for lunch! You listen to me with that cute smile on your face and just know how to make up for making me angry! :) More than anything… you are someone I look up to.

And now here’s to you ALL “A very happy friendship day”!

Thank you!