Ani speaks- "that lingering taste..."

The title used above should have told you by now that something is different. I have been wanting to introduce a new feature in my blog for a long time, but, as they say, there's a time and place for everything. I suppose I have managed to land in that period of my life where I have finally decided to bring it to light. This is a new feature wherein, the two sides of my mind- the protagonists of this blog Ani and Rudha- will have their say over certain things. Yes, by now, you should have figured out that both these personified yet existing personalities have differing points of views (POV's). Well, I am simply going to end this fact by saying that "it's nature". In this post, "Ani" speaks and he was hell bent on saying it in a more literary way. I was powerless... It actually seemed like a very good idea. The underlying fact on which this post is based is this- I am moving out of my current place of residence to a different one. There comes a time in everyone's lives where some sacrifices have to be made to pave way for a better life. Yes, I agree that letting go of things dearest to us is tough, but again, in the end we are left with only one option. This is one of my favorite phrases :-

                                 Life is real. Attachment is a choice.

So, it was natural for me to find it difficult to let go of this beautiful duplex house, owing to the fact it was to be demolished completely, but it wasn't long before reality punched me hard in my gut. Well, new place equals new beginnings I suppose. So, let me spare you all the ordeal of my philosophy class and lets get on with it. I managed to photograph my house during the last two days of stay here. So, here you go...

 When things don't go right, they say, "go left". Dropping all the humor from it, distance would be the same if it was a square room, like mine. For the times spent here, good or bad, it all comes down to stacking things up on the queen sized bed. Well, to be honest, stacking things up wasn't new, what with piles of unused books and papers that judiciously rented its space for dust and insects. I realized that it was these small details that made my room, "mine".

 It wasn't long before the adjoining room was soon forgotten. It never relented when we used its space for dumping things unwanted. Once full of life and the home of my sister's study, this room is forever filled with the aura of learning, enough to be called the study room. However, before this room was lost into oblivion, I resurrected it by making it my second place of dwelling, not long before plans were made to move out of this house.

Men may come and men may go, but their paths remain, ever etched in our memories. Have you ever tried walking from one room to another with your eyes closed? Well, I have and it has been far too easy doing that in a passage as straight as this. True to the phrase above, the path is forever etched in my brain. As a concluding line to this paragraph, I tried walking with my eyes closed a few days back and I have a throbbing pain in my little toe ever since.

Remind me again, who put that window there..? That one came without instructions but has served its purpose ever since. The landing as seen from above the stairs might look steep, but that is simply because of the black flooring. I still remember the times when I played "spiderman" on top of the railings. They were strong, yes, but the bars below it, have seen much and are growing old with each passing day. This has me wondering as to when they might not survive to the see the light of the day again.  I should, however never forget to mention the fact that the width between the railings and the wall isn't big enough to allow bigger cupboards and wardrobes to be moved either up or down. We use the balcony instead.

 The wall protruding out effectively hiding most of the open-kitchen, is around 5 feet tall. We decided to stack the cardboard boxes full of things, till they just touched the border of the wall at the top. The stickers promptly stuck on the refrigerator's top door were foreign. They were a little something from those living abroad and to date, they manage to hold the status of the smallest, yet useful items one could buy when coming back to India. Seriously, how else would you beautify a place in the most easiest way? By photographing the usual 'city skylines' or 'landscapes' of that particular place and having them printed on items as small as these. As a bonus, the magnet glued to the back doesn't actually harm most of the electrical appliances and some of them come with facts printed on them! I love them..!

Once the place where delicious food used to come from (the kitchen), it soon became a room, owing to the fact that we did have a space large enough for a room. I still wonder why this room was always cooler than the rest of the house. Now that is enough to instantly make people so comfy, that for a deep sleep (slumber if you ask me), all you need is a soft pillow and a warm blanket. Not even air-conditioning or sweet music is required. The remnants of the kitchen still exists though. Like the loft that borders the ceiling.

 They say that the first impression is the best. Though not heavily furnished, this is the view of the hall as seen from the doorway. It does, however, manage to make an impression. With a modern clock having a vintage look and a life-sized idol of the goddess of learning that hangs in a sturdy wooden box, it is sure to make a titanic impression. The Tv stand was made for that place and it was much taller before. Now, hanging a part of that showcase on the wall seems like a much better idea.

Thus, in short, every room has a memory of its own and it was only wise to make up my mind to create new memories. I had been in this house right from my first grade. That was when I was around 10 years old or so ( It was in the year 2000). I am twenty years old now and that naturally explains the pot-full of memories.
So, with that, I conclude. We would be moving tomorrow most probably and further "blogging" will be after we have completely settled down. Signing off.

"A small stir of its wings and things change..."

Have you ever made a decision and repented for it later? Have you ever realized that at times, at some point in our lives we would come across situations where making one decision would lead to one result and choosing the other alternative would lead to an entirely different outcome?
Then there are other times when you just cannot make up your mind and well, that leads you nowhere. Let's not wander off to that.. not for now at least.

Decisions play a vital role in our lives. They are everywhere, like the air we breathe. Even animals make decisions. To fight or fly is the most important decision an animal makes and that would create a future of either life or doom. To say that decisions are a part and parcel of everyone's lives is a bit of an understatement. To say that life revolves in a heliocentric orbit, with decisions smack in the middle of this imaginary orbit is more of an appropriate statement. Now, I am not trying to be philosophical over here, but over my past few observations through my life (that even included times while doing mundane activities) have forced me to come to a conclusion that it isn't only the big decisions that occur in each phase of people's lives that matter, but even the smallest does.

Now, wait up.... You mean making up my mind over things as simple as choosing between a chewing gum that costs a rupee and one that is a rupee higher also matters?
Yep! It sure does. Now, imagine a scenario as follows. You go out to buy a few things and on your way back, you wish to buy a gum. Even though you have spent quite a lot on the shopping that day, you don't mind spending another rupee for a meager gum.
I am rich! You know in my account, I have...
No interruptions. Just listen. So, once you reach the place, you realize that all you have left is a rupee in your wallet. Now comes the part where you have to make up your mind whether to really buy the chewing gum whose flavour lasts for about 20 minutes, or use that rupee to say, make a phone call.
What about cell phones?
Since when have you(we) recharged your account to make a phone call?
Point taken. Please continue.

Now, the above example may sound silly (I know it does, but you cannot do much with just a rupee in today's market). But, in the actual sense, when you grind your gears in your brains, you would slowly start to realize that the phone call made might just turn out to be important, nay life saving. What if you had a toddler in the house alone with the care-taker (nanny) and you had forgotten to turn off the gas? A single phone call might just prevent an unthinkable disaster! So, such small decisions that we encounter in our lives ought to be taken a wee bit more serious. Now the basis with which I have compiled this post is on a phenomenon, commonly known as "The butterfly effect".
Interesting!
Yes, it gets so in a short while.
Alright people, if you all are not aware of the butterfly effect, then here it is.... *drum roll please*
Just tell already..!
Alright, alright! It states that- 
"A tiny butterfly flapping it's wings today, may lead to a devastating hurricane weeks from now". 
Yes, it does sound a bit too ominous, but its actually very interesting if you ask me.
Well, if you ask me, I would say with full confidence that this was theorized by a very paranoid and an obnoxious person.
Nevertheless, this theory (or effect, but I would like to call it "theory" and that's how I would be referring to it throughout this post) has inspired many to come out with creative ideas. This theory however, is completely metaphorical and doesn't actually refer to a tiny butterfly flapping it's wings that eventually results in a hurricane . If that were to happen, then I would probably have the next Hollywood script that is sure to become the next blockbuster. Our lives are shaped by the choices we make or fail to. When we were young, the most important and tough choice was to choose between two types of toys, maybe two brands.
"Should I buy a G.I.Joe action figure or a batman's? He has the GI Joe, so I should probably buy something cooler. Maybe a hotwheels car..?"
Then, as we age, for some, their minds also grow older, whereas for the others... well let's just say they get more "cooler".
The cool dude eh..? I am looking at the mirror now...Yup, got him. Well, hello there..!
Lets just leave him to monologue and move on.
So, there comes a time when we have to make a choice between two or more companies that have decided to appoint you. Yes, it is a well known fact that humans tend to mature usually in the mid 30's. So, there arises a question as to how to decide on the right choice when young. All I am saying is this- try making the choice where you might have a long term satisfaction, at least till the so called "maturity" comes along. You shouldn't however, regret making that choice till the"maturity" phase. We don't want a ripple to be caused that might lead to WW3 eventually..( *hints at the butterfly effect*).
Hmm... Now that is a very good concept for a blockbuster Hollywood movie! I am calling Speilberg right now. But wait, it still needs the following: unwanted explosions used too many times (like the Micheal Bay films- u know, transformers series..? eew!), an American flag fluttering in the wind that has absolutely no relation to the plot, a star studded cast with the top stars getting a very short role, the usual "CIA is the best force in the entire world" concept and finally, a president who usually is a dummy. There, the perfect recipe for a perfect Hollywood movie.

Good one! But to be honest,there have been many movies based on this theory. The film that comes to my mind the most easily is the Kollywood movie "Dasavatharam" that is loosely based on this theory, though not verbatim. Whether the film managed to put forth its main message (concept) to its viewers or not, it was a hit nevertheless.
So, as a concluding statement, I Would like to say even the smallest of choices usually matter. The butterfly effect is everywhere and has already started..... Choose wisely..!

A taste of the Indian curry

Foreword:-  This post is quite different from the rest,as it contains quite a lot of educational content. So, you might want to check it out later if you are not in the mood to study or learn something that might actually prove to be amazingly useful..! Anyway, cheerio! Have fun!

Over the past few months, I have been looking, or rather, observing the more mundane parts of life. I say mundane, because it is very common to simply turn a deaf ear not to someone's "way" of speaking or the "accent" used, but to the very "words" or "phrases" they use. Yes. By now, you should have come to the conclusion that this post isn't about food or, as the title says, "curries".

Oh damn! Bad news for the foodies out there..!

This post, is instead, about the fact that the English language has been in our country long enough for the "Indian" flavor to turn to a stain. Yes, the English language has been, "Indianised".

And for your information Ani, the very word "Indianised" exists in what is known as British Indian English, otherwise known simply as Indian english.
Yes, I am very much aware of the fact that such a word exists, though merely on paper, as far as Britain is concerned. Also, it may not be wise on my part to strongly imply that it is currently being used in places outside of India. Oh, and by the way Rudha, I detect a hint of an American accent at times when you have your say.
Well, now that, is something. I mean, what you just said...you must have thought it over quite a number of times before saying it, right? And yeah, am just trying a bit of an American swag here. But I suppose am not alone over here. Even i detect a hint of British english.....
Well, yes. How clever of you to have found that out.
Clever! Really? yeah man, than...
Most certainly not. I didn't mean it and it was intended to be a sarcastic statement. But, as expected, you did not get it. You are such a nincompoop.

But hey everyone, words such as those spoken by me, are usually found only in archaic books by Indian authors or in a few Indian newspapers. The English language that once dominated when we were under their rule, is slowly being faded into oblivion. Though I am a bit disappointed about this fact, the common man's English used today is quite funny and many a times, has never failed to entertain me. Maybe it is just for that, entertainment. Maybe it isn't. Alright, let me just put it this way to make matters more easier. Try using(talking), in the English that we are used to,born with and that English we use while speaking with our colleagues and friends(sometimes, relatives too) in a place outside India. Now, don't get your hopes too high, because this works most effectively only in those countries where English is considered as another medium of instruction. At the completion of this small experiment, you should have observed something. Believe me, the end result will be quite amusing!

Amusing you say..? Okay then, why don't you throw me an example?
Alright then. "What is your good name my friend?". Let's see you answer that.
Dude, seriously, I wasn't joking about the "example" part.
Neither am I. Just answer the question.
Yeah, whatever. It's Rudha.
Very good. Now, what is your bad name?
Eh... what? bad name?
Precisely.
I don't get it...?
As expected. Well, you see, there is no such thing as a "good name" and a "bad name". A name is an identity and it does just that. It may be good for some, may not be for others. But that doesn't make it bad, or stale. What I gave you is one very common example of "Indianised" english and you can surely find quite a lot of them nonchalantly using this phrase while commencing a conversation. Try using this somewhere outside India and you may not end up being the laughing stock(at least not immediately), but you will definitely end up having a quick, quirky repartee.
Hm...Interesting...

But wait everyone, there's more.

Note:- The next part of this post will be more like a conversation, as I am in the mood to quiz the other guy. Let's see how much he knows.. or doesn't know...

So, Rudha, are you ready for round two?
Yeah, I guess so. Hit me with your best shot!
Alright then. Moving onto academics,  how well do you seem to follow the lessons?
Aah... okay, you got me there. I agree that you are more smarter than me. I find it difficult to cope up with the lessons.
Ha! Got you there. In just one sentence, I have found two mistakes in what you just said.
*stares with eyes wide open, and his mouth,gaping*
Quit the role-playing and let me get onto the meatier part. Your first mistake. This is very common, not only here, but in the western countries too. It is so common that it is thought to have come from what is known as American English. You know, these days, there is a lot of the "American influence" and, it has made a drastic effect in our formal language. Right from the way we speak with our clients,colleagues and friends to how we text, we can always find a spoonful of this English. What you said was "more smarter". This, is incorrect grammatically and is referred to as a double comparative. You either say smarter, or more smart.

Your second mistake lies in the last part of your phrase. "coping up with the lessons". Now this may sound like a wee mistake, but in fact, is quite serious. Grammatically, coping "up" with is completely incorrect. The correct usage would be "difficult to cope with the lessons/studies".
Wow man! I never knew these were incorrect. Anyway, I guess it's my chance now. Consider such a scenario where you just changed houses(to a newer one). How would you answer when someone asks you about the same?
Simple. "I just moved into a new house."
Exactly. You know, I have come across quite a lot of our people using the word "shift", as in "shifted to a new house" or, "I am shifting elsewhere". Well, if you ask me, we only "shift" gears in vehicles, or "shift" our bodies from one position to another. I mean, c'mon, you cannot possibly "shift" an entire house from one position to another, unless you are in a caravan, or a house with wheels and its a zombie apocalypse.
"I just moved in."
"I am going to move down south."
Yes Rudha. So, what I was trying to say here was not to establish the fact that our english and our way of speaking or our choice of phrases and words is broken, but that what we think most of the time as the right way is actually quite the contrary. By this post, I have only tried to bring out the common and the most ignorant mistakes that we do. Yes, it isn't that humiliating once committed, but, we are sure to set a wheel of the never ending comments that may be passed when our backs are turned.
Anyway, I suppose that this is an "over-dose" of English grammar for one day. I am going to stop here or you will find it difficult to "cope up with" the content here.

Don a cape and you become superman...?

I have been thinking for quite some time now. Maybe thinking hard and long... And I have come to the conclusion that there are certain questions that simply doesn't have a proper answer, and then there are others with their answers hidden somewhere and we are too lazy to find it out.

Well, I am more of the latter type...
That's not a surprise at all!

A hearty welcome to all the readers of this blog.  You all might have come across various posts in the internet that stresses the fact time and again that a girl's first hero is her father. Right from her birth, to adulthood, her dad is her guardian angel on her shoulders. Now, let us just flip through the pages, and reach another, parallel scenario. Comics have always been my favorite, right from childhood. The sheer pleasure of having to turn pages of a brightly coloured and vivaciously illustrated book with a rather simple story line would catch the attention of any kid.

In these comics, where heroes (male and female) are always shown wearing a mask and a matching costume to hide their true identity, it has only lead me to think. Are only those dressed up in such costumes the true heroes the world needs? Is it really necessary to hide one's identity? and yes, does this world really need a hero or is it beyond "saving"?

If you ask me, I suppose we should hide our true identity. Owing to how the government in a certain state of a particular country behaved when they found out that their foul play was being telecast to the public, I believe we should start wearing masks!
Oh! And by the way, " I'm Batman!"
Agreed rudha, but still, if everyone starts wearing masks, then even the wrong-doers would follow suit and well, soon, we won't know if we are punishing the good guys or the bad. Oh! And you are not the one whom gotham needs... it's me....

As for the last question- whether this world is beyond saving, to be honest, I really don't know. You all must have heard of the term, "better late than never". Does this really hold true now or has it lost its value?

Well, you did take your own sweet time to write this post in your blog!
Don't jump topics.! Like I said, I had work to do... my city needed me.
Yeah right! You can't even find a  pair of socks in the mornings before leaving for college.
That..! Now that is nothing to be concerned of.. not till tomorrow morning at the least.

Turning back the pages and going back to the "daddy-daughter" scenario, the "dad" doesn't wear  a cape. He doesn't wear a mask or spandex suits. He doesn't prowl around in the night striking fear into the hearts of the villains. He doesn't swing from building to building and call himself "your friendly neighborhood..." He definitely doesn't move faster than a bullet. He doesn't go green with anger and starts smashing things in the name of justice. Nor is he a part of a league that strives to bring justice and maintain order. He is, what I would call "flesh and blood" just like us. So what makes him more special in this world?
The answer is, he makes a difference. He makes a difference when he cautions his daughter to make good friends in school. He makes a difference when he tells his son to carefully cross the road or drive his cycle. He makes a difference when he tells his children, be it a boy or a girl, to be alert when on an outing with their friends.
Why not we make a difference? We can start doing so by adopting the proper practice of throwing the waste in the bins. Let things be in their designated places... even if it's the waste.

Maintain nature's order you mean?
Yup! You know, Rudha, for once in your(our) entire life, I completely agree with you. For once, you have spoken something sensible. Is this how you are going to make a difference?
Making a difference? So is this a post that has got to do something with that?
Ehh! I believe that's what I was ranting about for the past 5 minutes! Nope, I guess I spoke too soon. No difference.

Well anyway, we can also make a difference by spreading a word about the current society and how broken it is. But again hey, I am not asking for a Utopian society. It doesn't exist. Nor will it ever. Maybe helping a destitute build a simple house, enough to provide him shelter from the scorching sun or the torrents of rain. Let's not be a mute witness to ragging in educational institutions. well, I suppose that's about it for now.

Hi!
You are still here?
Well, I was being a "mute-witness" to your ranting.
Well, that wasn't really ranting, but you know, I wanted to make a difference and post something that I've never done before. To be honest, I really don't know the impact it is going to make to my rea..."
Yeah whatever. Ani, how about you make a difference and be more lively?
You are who you are, and I am who I am.
what? Philosophical answer... going on a pilgrimage? well, anyway, leave that aside. Tell me, marvel comics or DC comics?
DC for sure..! Batman forever.
what about superman?
He is actually a being from another planet, and he has super powers. Batman on the other hand, is nothing but another human being, with the only difference that he has trained his body and mind and is physically fit, knows around 127 forms of martial arts, and an extremely intelligent hero. He has no superpowers, but still, is a class apart. Superman however, thinks that wearing a spectacle is going to help him blend in the crowd! I mean, for a hero that famous, he should consider redefining his fashion statement and refurbishing his wardrobe.
Hmm.... What difference are you going to make?
I thought I already made one..? This post being published in this blog!
Apart from that...?
Well, lets just say that am still working on that part.
Basic human tendency... Let the others start making a change and maybe, just "maybe", I'll follow suit. Well folks, I suppose that's it for now. And am not going to coax him to "make a difference"... too much work (*grins sheepishly*).

Deleting Evidence...!!

Before blast-off, I (we) would like to apologize for the delay in the posts. I know, it has been quite a long time... long enough to sink this blog of mine to oblivion.

Not literally...! 
That wasn't needed... totally uncalled for. Wait your turn!

So anyway, as I was saying, there are times when the mind simply refuses to budge with your flow of thoughts. This happened to me quite recently when there was an ocean of thoughts flowing all the way inside my brain, hydrating the pathways...

what?
I tried to sound nice...
Nope. Didn't work. Don't even try doing that.

You know, there are times when we just won't feel like doing anything. And I mean it quite literally. Let me be honest with you by sharing an example. I had been thinking of posting something new in this blog of mine for the past 3 weeks, when out of the blue, laziness took over and procrastination happened. It slowly proliferated into days and before I even completely realised it, into weeks. It was all downhill from there. The ordeal finally ended three weeks and a few days later. But again, this isn't always the problem, atleast not when it comes to blogging or writing... not always. There is this wonderful (sic) internet connection I have here. It is so good, that it leaves me surprised for the larger part of the week (or month) with a shorter (or poor) bandwidth, as if saving it for a surprise the next month. But guess what, it does give me a surprise the following month with the same bandwidth, with no improvement whatsoever. "Surprise!!!"

yeah, i get it, slow internet connec.... 
.......
....
Did you just buffer?
Nope. Just wanted to know how it felt to actually buffer in real life.
That makes no sense!
Well, a lot of wha....
......
...
Fine, moving on. While on facebook, I had come across various posts with quotes on them. A majority of them were humorous, some made absolutely no sense like rudha over here, a few were play with words and puns and the rest sounded so correct, it actually made me think if I had my own clone, living in some other part of this world. One such post was more of an open question. It asked the number of people who felt like 'deleting evidence' of some unsolved crime, while deleting their contact list, message list and(or) conversation memory with a particular person. To be honest, I had quite the same feeling once when I was forced to delete a few unwanted contacts and messages from my phone. And it just so happened right before I had to give my phone to my friend who had to make a call. Leaving aside the part where my friend had made a call (and depleted my entire balance of Rs.28), it felt somewhat strange to actually do something "mysterious" before handing over my phone.

Ever tried a hand in drug dealing?
Uh.. No.
Smuggling?
No.
Do you want to try?
Is it fun?
And a whole lot dangerous.
Not really sure... What should I really do?
First, delete your contacts and messages from your phone. Then, give it to a friend or some stranger. Or better, do it when they need your mobile.
Ok, so what do I gain from that?
Feel like a "criminal".
What about the drugs? Where are the smuggled goods?
Have you heard of drug dealing without drugs and smuggling without any items?
Are you crazy? No.
Well, flash news! It's called "imagination". Hehe.. You fall for that almost everytime don't you? Anyway, so? how's my plan..? I know that you like it. Just say it and maybe I will help you sometime in the future! Maybe get you out on bail... 
Hello...?
.....................
.....
Well, I guess he's buffering now... Hehe... he fell for it, again! But joke's apart, now that Ani is out of the picture, the facebook post regarding this topic feels more like a 'wasted' post rather than a "thought-provoking" one. Atleast it does to me....