Cricket Man-ia?

Call it cricket mania or womania (thanks to Mandira!), it's all over the place

Last Saturday (which is comparatively a cooler day for me at work), our cricket comments in office were flowing like 'Second Innings' with us discussing the Pak team, the Indian team, who will win, joking over players etc. One of our colleagues referred to Afridi as 'Afridi sir' and we all could not stop pulling his leg over his comment! It was all in fun! I was just enjoying the talk adding a Mandira touch to it, not for my clothes but for the feminine effect (with funny liners) of someone who does not know much about the game! (Of course Mandy knows the game much much better than me!)

But the weekend changed so many things in cricket overnight! Pak's defeat to Ireland and Bob Woolmer's sudden death left everyone dumbfounded! It changed the history of cricket forever! People started talking more after that when India was to play against Bermuda saying 'Ab Greg Chappel ki baari hai!' And now as India was preparing to play against Sri Lanka, there have been cartoons of Indian captain telling the Pak captain, 'Wait for another day. We'll also come!'

Also heard on Monday, 19th on the platform while waiting for the train : One boy was telling another boy. 'At least Pak team ke log haarne par sharam se mar rahey hain ya resign kar rahey hain! Lekin Indian team itni besharam hai ki na toh koi marta hai aur na resign karta hai! (People from Pak team are dying of shame or quitting the game at this unexpected loss. But, we Indians, are shameless!)

Though I am not a cricket freak as such, but I am enjoying the cricket mania around me! The hero-to-zero-to-hero story of Sehwag, the loss against unexpected teams, the breaking of Dhoni's house, the burning of cricketers posters by angry mobs - just about everything! And I wish that India does all of us proud! Go India Go! Get it for us!

Just Fun!

The previous post was satire (wierd kind) and in pure Gandhigiri and Munnabhai league with no offence to anyone!

Women- Pakao aur Matlabi

To all the men out there who feel that Women are sick, intolerable creatures who are better away from your lives, I've only this to say- You are absolutely right! Auratein toh jamn se hi pakao hoti hain! Saari auratzaat hai-ich aisi! Kasam se!

Kitchen mein jaati hai toh pakati hai! Kabhi Dal, toh kabhi chawal, toh kabhi biryani toh kabhi Murgi! Saala aadmi karega bhi toh kya! Aakhir khana hi padta hai! Nahin toh usko bura lagega na! Akhir aadmi log sab ka khayal rakhtey hain... sab ke feelings ka khayal rakhtey hai- Aurat pakati rehti hai, aur acche aadmi khaatey rehte hain!

Bachhe ko pet mein pakati hai...... baccha kaccha duniya mein aakar baad mein pakega toh odd lagega na.... Isliye yeh aurat bhi na....usko pet mein pakana shuru karti hai! Can you imagine- Pet? Stomach? Chee... arre pet mein toh kitne organs hotey hai... kitna ganda hota hai... fir bhi... aurat hai ha.... usko akal toh kam hi hogi na!

Jab bacche paida hotey hai.... fir unko bhi pakao! Jhoot boley toh pakana shuru, kuch galat kaho toh pakana shuru, kuch galat khao toh pakana shuru.... Aisa hoga... waise hoga... aur na jaane kya kya! Tumhari Mummy pakao hai, meri mummy bhi. Sabki mummy.... Aakhir Aurat hi pakao joh thehri !!!

Aur biwiyaan toh pakane mein maahir hain ! Dimaag ki dahi karti hain.... Haan ghar ka khayaal karti hai... pati ka khayaal karti hai... aur aadat ke mutabik kitchen mein pakati hai aur husbands ko bhi ! Ghar mein ek tarah ka rounak laati hain..... lekin pakao style mein!

Aur aadmiyon ko dekho kitne acche hotey hain- Sab ladkiyon ka khayaal karte hain. Sirf ek ko dekho toh doosri ko bura lagega na! Isliye sab ke baare mein sochtey hain! Aur yeh Mean ladkiyan- Ya toh sirf ek boyfriend ke baare mein sochengi ya sirf ek wohi gheesa pita husband! How mean and boring!

Toh kya hua khud ki biwi ho toh...... So many girls are unmarried in this world. Aur ek affair ya shaadi karke unki (unmarried girls ki) life settle karwani ki sochtey hain! Social service ka kaam hai yeh! Auraten aisa sochti hain kya?

Auraten toh jamn se hi matlabi aur pakao hoti hain, sacchi!

Wah Ustad Wah!!!

I have this habit of cracking jokes and puns and PJs at my working place. This helps in easing the stress and also makes your reportees and those around you, at ease!

Recently, I had cut down on my 'quick retorts' since many old people had quit and there were new joinees around! All were still getting used to each other !!!

Just like everyone meets their Ustad one day, so have I ! This person who reports to me lately is my ustad. When I hand him SWIFT payment advices to check in the system if the related bill is already 'paid' saying, 'Please check if it is 'paid' ', he retorts, 'I can say by just looking at it that it is not 'ped' (tree) but paper'!

But no one can beat the original Ustad, can they? So yesterday, when I asked him why his work output was not upto the mark, he replied, 'Aaj tabiyat down tha' (today my health was down). I look down around me and retorted 'But I can't see it there'! Heh heh.... Applause, please!

Personal Choice

Through my scarf article (previous post) I've tried to convey a point.

There is a lot of bias against people, especially women, who prefer to cover themselves fully through their head gear, gowns (abaya)... whatever! Just like some people choose to be half clad or naked by their own choice, so also covering up is a personal choice! Why discriminate against them?

When I see men trying to take advantage of women on crowded stairs at the crowded Andheri station; when I stand in a huge crowd at the platform, with men halfway in the Ladies compartment area so that they can jump into the train, eyeing you from close quarters..... I feel like just wearing a mask or taking a big shawl over me! It's how you look at or perceive things!

Biases are formed due to half knowledge about something or hatred arising out of wrong information procured from somewhere. Biases turn into Hatred and too much hatred turns into War!

I see some ladies' reactions (in Ladies Compartment) on seeing a burkha clad female. How she is treated, tossed or seen with doubt about actually owning a First Class Pass!

People, wake up and act sensible ! And let people live their lives (and dress up) according to their choice!

Pic Courtesy : www.islamicclothing.com.au

Honeymoon Travels Pvt Ltd

I saw this movie last Sunday and liked it's simple, sweet and realistic approach.

It's about a few couples on a honeymoon package tour. Its about discovering your partner in the 'real' sense after marriage! How our expectations can crumble to pieces if we're not willing to adjust or compromise. It shows couple from different backgrounds of life, with different stories behind them trying to discover their spouses after marriages and how they end up being confused, understanding or plainly shocked !

I would not like to review the movie but the message that it sends across! In any relationship, there are bound to be little arguments because no two people (even though married) can think alike. Some people get into marriage or relationships for their personal benefit, forgetting what effect it would have on their partner.

But all in all, it speaks of adjustments and sweet-sour moments in relationships. It requires two super humans to make a relationship perfect! And we're all just humans !

PS : Kay Kay and Raima and the sweetest couple in the movie ! Two totally contrasting personalities (one shy and one outgoing, yet so much in love!). And 'Sajna di vaari vaari' is nice song to groove to!

SCARF – A PROTECTOR OR SUPRESSOR ?

Hmm.... Scarf ! A head scarf. Generally viewed as Muslim headgear. And women sporting it are viewed as orthodox or traditional by many. But is it really so?

Obviously there might have been some reason why head scarves were incorporated for women. Just like the Abaya (long loose gown worn by Muslim women) or the Niqab (which covers the face fully with or without exception of eyes), which were meant to keep men's gaze away! Else women would just be wearing only a gown and Niqab, with flowing hair over their heads.

My purpose of writing this article is not urging people to wear the Hijaab. But of late I've discovered the benefits of sporting a head gear while travelling. Earlier, like others, I too thought that this was just a traditional Muslim dressing. But now, not so!
In olden Europe, women wore scarves over their head. I've grown up seeing old delicate Parsi ladies wearing silk scarves over their head. But slowing the custom started to fade away because sporting a head scarf became more associated with Muslim women and others started to avoid it.

The place where I work (Andheri East) is highly polluted place in Mumbai. Pollution levels are high there with high concentration of traffic emitting smoke. And of late (since more than one year), there's road development work going on adding to dust also. Travelling through all this pollution (there's literally a smog during rush hours!!!), starting spoiling my hair and skin. No matter, how often you wash your hair, dust and smoke in the area made it rough and harsh. And I noticed that on holidays and Sundays, my hair glowed with health.

I had been to Pune once to meet my youngest brother, Mohammed Azeem, who's studying and working there and discovered that there were many students staying alone there for education and work (Pune, being a centre of IT industries in Maharashtra). And these student girls were very happily sporting the head scarves, away from their family's silly ideas of scarves being Muslim clothing only. They wore it to protect themselves from dirt, dust and smoke. On bikes, while walking. It gave them a sense of protection too. Because they mostly wrapped it around their faces also. And wore it even when they were not on their scooters, bikes, bicycles!!! It gave them protection in four ways :

1) Hair protection from dust and smoke and sun.

2) Skin protection as the same was wrapped around their faces too

3) Keeping away air from blowing into their ears while travelling on scooties or bikes!

4) Unique sense of identity and anonymity and protection in an alien land.

I also noticed scarves were a craze in Pune and were sold really cheap. Cotton scarves are available for as less as Rs 30 to Rs 40 !!! I realised that if these girls can wear it, then why am I feeling shy. My road travel from Andheri station to Chandivli (my office) is filled with so much dust and smoke! I picked up one and made a beginning.

And it was not only me. Many people are rediscovering the advantages of wearing a head scarf while travelling. The olden grandma days are back and the scarf is not only viewed as a Muslim thing! I've seen a female who regularly sports a silk scarf while travelling, telling her friend- "I wear this to protect my hair. Just-washed wet hair attracts a lot of impurities while travelling. And the sun also harms the hair!"

Yes, we hear of people often saying - 'I haven’t greyed by hair in the Sun'! This itself speaks of the harmful effects the sun can have on your hair!

I wear my scarf only when I get into the auto-rickshaw from Andheri station till I reach my office. It's a 30-40 mins journey through polluted air! I wear it with a knot in the front at my neck. Its most important to ensure that the tapering end of the scarf (you have to fold it diagonally to get a triangular shape) covers your hair fully from behind! The part hanging from the knot can be held over your nose and mouth to protect yourself from inhaling polluted air!

While travelling through crowded Virar trains, I've noticed that we stand in close proximity to the extent of suffocating ourselves ! And in the Ladies compartment, the common problem is - women's hair!!! The hair of the woman standing in front of you is always a problem. If it's left open, your face is rubbing into it. If it's short and in pony tail, it will poke and tickle your face. If its oiled, then God bless you ! You will hear women cribbing -'Take your hair in the front'! Some will be considerate. Others will not budge! And yet others, put their dupattas on their head! And at these times, women in Hijab are a blessing!

And why only women, in Arab countries, the men also wear a headgear to protect themselves from the sandstorms! In recent times, scarves are worn by men in the form of bandannas!

Whether you call them scarves or bandannas or the Hijab, they protect you from the sun, pollution, smoke and wind !

Many ideas....

Many topics, ideas are running in my mind.... but I am just not in the right frame of mind to jot it down!

Yawn.... even health's feeling a bit low since yesterday. Thats why I took a day off today and slept. Yes, I need rest and sleep. Sometimes, I get tired too!!!

Work Anthem

Feb 2007 was way too hectic work-wise! Wat with late hours, less sleep and back to work next day morning!

And that's when me and my colleague coined this Work Anthem :

Kyon aajkal
Neendh kam
Kaam zyada hai
Lagta khuda ka koi nek irada hai !
Haan hamein kaam hai, yeah!
Haan hamein kaam hai, yeah!

We used to sing this over and over and end with giggles because the rest of the song wasn't of use to us!

My mantra : When you're tensed and overworked, break into a song! It helps !

Dil laga na

Dil laga na dil jaley se

Dil jal jayega...

Ishq karna,

ishq hi tujhe tadpayega

Koi yeh jaane na

Koi yeh maane na

Maine toh jaana hai

Ishq leta hai jaan

Dhoom dhoom

Just take my life

Dhoom dhoom

Just break my heart

Dhoom dhoom

Just tear apart

Aa le le tu meri jaan....

Chori chori - from my heart

Chorii chorii chupake se aayegaa, woh aayega..

aake mujhe woh le jaaegaa

Yahii jeevan hai apanaa yahii toh vo sapanaa

Maine dekhaa tuune dekhaa ham sabne dekhaa

Yeh sapanaa naa Tuute naa ruuthey meraa raanjhna

chorii chorii chupake se aayegaa, woh aayega..

aake mujhe woh le jaaegaa...

Ang se ang lag jaae toh

Pyaar kaa rang lag jaae toh

Ang se ang lag jaae toh
Pyaar kaa rang lag jaae toh

Rang phir naa ye chhutey

Naa ruuthey meraa raanjhnaa

Chorii chorii chupake se aayegaa, woh aayega..
aake mujhe woh le jaaegaa

Kitane janmon kaa ye mel hai

Shaadii kismat kaa ek khel hai

Kitane janmon kaa ye mel hai
Shaadii kismat kaa ek khel hai

Aisii kismat naa phuutey

Naa ruuthey meraa raanjhnaa

Chorii chorii chupake se aayegaa, woh aayega..

aake mujhe woh le jaayegaa

Courtesy

Film : Chori chori (2002)

Lyrics : Anand Bakshi

Ladies, please spare us (some dressing tips!)

For women only- What to avoid wearing!

I've been thinking since a long time to have a say in this regard. You come across it daily. Okay, okay... I am talking of the wierd dressing sense of some girls. But what made me write about it in the first place is - girls in trousers. And before you think, I am against girls wearing trousers, let me clear that it's nothing of that sort. It has more to do with the way you carry it!

An advice to all those girls who wear panties inside their trousers- Please spare us your loose or ill -fitting undergarments. In tight trousers of fine materials, it makes a stupid outline on the backside which is quite an unbecoming sight! Unless you are purposely wearing it to attract unwanted attraction, please switch to boy-shorts or trouser panties, which are undergarments shaped like shorts. These cover your entire backside to avoid giving you any embarrassing outline! They are available in brands like Calvin Klein and other brands (mostly non-Indian). But you have to ask for it. Even the Indian Jockey has come with it. So lady, please use them with your trousers!!! (check the picture at the side- there are no outlines!)

And for all those trying to look sexy in sasta (cheap) stuff, please remember that a camisole, even with a cute flower or design is a undergarment and not a SPAGETTI TOP!!! For heaven's sake, you can't fool anyone with that kinda fashion sense! It will attract the wrong kinda attention because people are not fools!!!

And for those Indians who come to office in casual salwar khameez, which is nearly faded and bought 5-6 years back, please use them at home! Spare your fellow office goers such a sight and think of the company's reputation! The company pays you, so have 3-4 good clothes, if you can't afford many. And I've seen some people working in very good organisation and attracting good salaries also acting stingy where office dressing is concerned. These are people who always crib and complain about how less many they have and finally go on to buy huge houses and later cars! If you want to look smart in less cost, please buy synthetic material in lesser price range to stitch your salwars suits! They will last longer than cotton or khadi! Cotton needs special care and if you cannot give it, don't buy it !

And please remember to wash your clothes after every wear because Indian climate requires it! Spare your fellow human beings the odour! We Mumbaiites travel is very crowded trains, which is a challenge in itself. Bearing fellow commuters with excess oil and once or twice worn clothes is a bigger challenge! Even your oil can rub into the face of the person standing behind you, who is already struggling to stand properly especially in Virar trains!!!

Thanks for listening !

Its Finally Here

Jiska mujhe tha intezaar, aaj woh ghadi aa gayi hai! (Hmm...)

For all those in love, please check out this site www.lovingyou.com Of course, loving someone needs no teaching. It all comes from within, but this site is good. See for yourself

On Valentine's Day, I'd like to thank God for giving me such loving parents and wonderful siblings! I love them all !

Love is in the Air

Had gone to a gift-cum-card shop today and the entire store seems to be speaking the language of love. Its not only that place. All of the major shopping malls, gift shops seem to be blooming with Love.

You can see Love cards stacked everywhere ! From tiny cards to huge ones, each card is special in its own way ! You have hundreds to choose from confusing some who end up taking 2-3 cards. Even if u're not in love, just reading them makes you feel good ! But you could even gift cards to near dear ones whom you love- there are V Day cards for all relations. Apart from cards, there are heart shaped cushions, pillows, small cute hearts for giving away ! There are teddys holding bright red hearts, heart shaped key chains.. you name a thing and its been shaped into a heart!!!

There are chocolates in heart shaped baskets, cosmetics and accessories in heart shaped boxes, love stickers, love stationery, love this , love that..... so many things to make you mushy. It seems that the whole is in Love all at once!

This year they've included cards for the not so fortunate ones also... Something like saying goodbye.... it talks of love in the past tense and adds Goodbye in the end. Also cards for people cheated in Love to remove their khunnas!

In short Love is in the Air! Its as much in Mumbai air as it is anywhere else. In fact, it's everywhere!

I wish I could be gifted a Gift of Love too! I am waiting since half my life...... hmm! Is anyone hearing? Valentine's Day is just a few days away!

New Look

Mira Road station seems to be getting a new look. Right now its an inconvenience because of the work going on, but work is progressing pretty fast. Two more platforms seem to be coming up. Lots of progress in 3-4 days time. Good work! If only two more additional lines start after Borivli soon, it will be a boon for people travelling towards Virar !
Jai bolo Laloo ki !