Adam Gilchrist scored the second fastet hundred test today. As a hapless Andrew Filntoff watched him flay Harmison, Monty and Hoggard all over the WACA. And Anshuman could enjoy the match because Parul likes Flintoff.
Later on in the day when India played South Africa, Anshuman could watch the match again as Parul had not realised that it was a different match all together.
Saturday, December 16, 2006
Friday, December 08, 2006
Some people who I didn’t think of for a very long time but I’ll never forget
Ashith Sinha – For lending me ‘The Nashville Skyline’
Lavneet Gyani – For saying, “You like Bob Dylan!”
Deepa Parekh - For asking me to explain how the aperture of a camera works.
Ajay Katiyar - For telling me, “You are a damn good batsman, you have all the shots in the book as I walked in to bat and just smiling when I got out LBW first ball”.
The stranger – who asked me of I was you from Sri Lanka and then walked away without saying a word when I said no.
And the many more whom I cannot think of right now.
Lavneet Gyani – For saying, “You like Bob Dylan!”
Deepa Parekh - For asking me to explain how the aperture of a camera works.
Ajay Katiyar - For telling me, “You are a damn good batsman, you have all the shots in the book as I walked in to bat and just smiling when I got out LBW first ball”.
The stranger – who asked me of I was you from Sri Lanka and then walked away without saying a word when I said no.
And the many more whom I cannot think of right now.
With thanks to Shankar Raman
It’s impossible to be indifferent to Jazz.
Can you be indifferent to a roller coaster?
Or to the rain
Interrupted by thunder
To continue its rhythm once again
Can you here yourself say,
That was nice
And by now you’re thinking again of the
Cacophony of life
And now I have your attention again
And just in case you did not realize
That was quite seamless.
Can you be indifferent to a roller coaster?
Or to the rain
Interrupted by thunder
To continue its rhythm once again
Can you here yourself say,
That was nice
And by now you’re thinking again of the
Cacophony of life
And now I have your attention again
And just in case you did not realize
That was quite seamless.
Sweet Home Alabama
Why would a man from Nagpur,
A boy from Delhi
Or a girl from Bangalore
For that matter,
Like Sweet Home Alabama.
Is it the words ‘sweet home’
Or maybe the term ‘skies so blue’
Do they know who Muscles Shultz was?
Perhaps it’s just the melody
Combined with the knowledge of a tragedy
Of a few young men who died young
A boy from Delhi
Or a girl from Bangalore
For that matter,
Like Sweet Home Alabama.
Is it the words ‘sweet home’
Or maybe the term ‘skies so blue’
Do they know who Muscles Shultz was?
Perhaps it’s just the melody
Combined with the knowledge of a tragedy
Of a few young men who died young
Saturday, December 02, 2006
Outline for a classic
A hero who doesn't quite know that he is a hero (Neo, Frodo, Arjuna, Luke Skywalker).
A mentor who shows him the way (Morpheus, Gandalf, Krishna, Obi Wan Kenobi, Yoda).
The hero still doesn't beleive.
The world his threatened by Dark Forces (Mr.Smith,Sauron,Duryodhan)
The mentor shows the hero the way ("Find purpose the means will follow", "Now do you believe?').
The hero tries though still doesn't believe (Bhainchod bas kar daal - "Don't think of the result, just do it").
Throw in a support cast - a woman who loves the hero whom the hero loves too, A woman who loves the hero but the hero doesn't love her, An ally who is jealous of the hero and conspires against him but later realises his folly, 2-3 best friend types, A special best friend who sticks with the hero right till the end whom the hero doubts a little on occassion, 2-3 just plain evil types.
The hero meets the dark lord and the two fight, the dark lord tries to win over the hero to his side, the hero is conflicted, the hero remembers something that his now dead mentor has told him. The hero gets his shit together and kills the dark lord.
The End
A mentor who shows him the way (Morpheus, Gandalf, Krishna, Obi Wan Kenobi, Yoda).
The hero still doesn't beleive.
The world his threatened by Dark Forces (Mr.Smith,Sauron,Duryodhan)
The mentor shows the hero the way ("Find purpose the means will follow", "Now do you believe?').
The hero tries though still doesn't believe (Bhainchod bas kar daal - "Don't think of the result, just do it").
Throw in a support cast - a woman who loves the hero whom the hero loves too, A woman who loves the hero but the hero doesn't love her, An ally who is jealous of the hero and conspires against him but later realises his folly, 2-3 best friend types, A special best friend who sticks with the hero right till the end whom the hero doubts a little on occassion, 2-3 just plain evil types.
The hero meets the dark lord and the two fight, the dark lord tries to win over the hero to his side, the hero is conflicted, the hero remembers something that his now dead mentor has told him. The hero gets his shit together and kills the dark lord.
The End
Thursday, November 30, 2006
Sunday, November 26, 2006
Literati
7 letter words
Down or across
A mind conditioned
Not to cross that lucky number
A limitation, in fact
Isn't it?
The misery of winning
After you find that
The game didn't count
Down or across
A mind conditioned
Not to cross that lucky number
A limitation, in fact
Isn't it?
The misery of winning
After you find that
The game didn't count
Friday, November 24, 2006
The Broad vs The Specific
It's strange that when you are looking for something specific, you generally tend to miss out on the broader picture. Happens to me all the time. Specially when I walk around with my mind full of muddled up thoughts (deliberating on them or just plain simple thinking of them without any deliberation), when suddenly I overwhelmed by a sunset, a full moon or just the pleasant breeze.
Wonder if there is a way to observe and absorb it all.
Wonder if there is a way to observe and absorb it all.
Saturday, November 18, 2006
The senior Mr and Mrs Srivatsa
I apologize if this seems unstructured and this post comes across as a melee of confused thoughts. But then at times one encounters such potent stimulus that it triggers off a chain reaction in the mind and a series of conversations with self follow.
Ananth's parents are in town and had cooked for a few of us. As soon as the food was put on the table. My mind was abuzz. It looked sumptuous. I couldn't help but sample the gravy. It was extremely uncivilised of me considering the fact that it was still in the serving bowl and meant for the consumption of 15. The chicken gravy made my nose twitch and the fish curry made my scalp sweat a bit. Sensations I find extremely pleasurable. I couldn't wait to heap up my plate.
"Let's have one more and then eat", said CK as he poured a stiff one. We gulped it down a little but I could not think about anything other than the food. I think CK felt likewise and we left our drink still unfinished on the book shelf, martyr to a worthy cause. I proceeded to take on the task ahead of me, a decathlon at the food Olympics and I decided to take it one step at a time.
Then began an intense conversation with myself. Something that I just have not had in quite a while being a drone to the easy routine of daily life.
"What makes the alu khatta? Is the onion in the gravy grated? Does it have coconut powder? I cannot taste garam masala but how can this taste so wonderful otherwise? What do I like more, the chicken or the fish...too many questions...idiot just shut up and eat"
Sitting on the sofa I continued gorging but I was irritated. And then it stuck me that I would be a lot more at peace if I sat at the dining table. Food like this commands and deserves respect.
"Anshuman, thik se kha rahe ho na?', it was Arti.
I told her about the conversation that I was having with myself. She looked befuddled for a second. Why couldn't I just give a simple answer I thought to myself? But then I had just given the answer that came to my mind.
Anyway there were more important things to be attended to and I heaped up my plate once more. By now I had done away with the spoon and was eating greedily with my fingers and smacking my lips. I thought that the sight of me in action might have looked like factory floor..uninterrupted industrious activity. The only difference being that a shop floor worker doesn't smack his lips and keeps exclaiming "bah" at periodic intervals.
My empty plate lay in front of me like the calm after thunderous rain.
And then uncle suggested that I try some achar. The achar gave me the excuse to eat some more. And the battle for the good of anshumankind began again. "But hey, wait a second...this is being disrespectful to the achar..It is too good to be labeled an excuse. Hell, this is getting too complicated..."
"Just eat idiot", it was the Krishna inside me who spoke. And that’s just what I did.
The term soul food seemed to cliché to describe the food that I had eaten. The food was simple and delicious and made me happy.
Ananth's parents are in town and had cooked for a few of us. As soon as the food was put on the table. My mind was abuzz. It looked sumptuous. I couldn't help but sample the gravy. It was extremely uncivilised of me considering the fact that it was still in the serving bowl and meant for the consumption of 15. The chicken gravy made my nose twitch and the fish curry made my scalp sweat a bit. Sensations I find extremely pleasurable. I couldn't wait to heap up my plate.
"Let's have one more and then eat", said CK as he poured a stiff one. We gulped it down a little but I could not think about anything other than the food. I think CK felt likewise and we left our drink still unfinished on the book shelf, martyr to a worthy cause. I proceeded to take on the task ahead of me, a decathlon at the food Olympics and I decided to take it one step at a time.
Then began an intense conversation with myself. Something that I just have not had in quite a while being a drone to the easy routine of daily life.
"What makes the alu khatta? Is the onion in the gravy grated? Does it have coconut powder? I cannot taste garam masala but how can this taste so wonderful otherwise? What do I like more, the chicken or the fish...too many questions...idiot just shut up and eat"
Sitting on the sofa I continued gorging but I was irritated. And then it stuck me that I would be a lot more at peace if I sat at the dining table. Food like this commands and deserves respect.
"Anshuman, thik se kha rahe ho na?', it was Arti.
I told her about the conversation that I was having with myself. She looked befuddled for a second. Why couldn't I just give a simple answer I thought to myself? But then I had just given the answer that came to my mind.
Anyway there were more important things to be attended to and I heaped up my plate once more. By now I had done away with the spoon and was eating greedily with my fingers and smacking my lips. I thought that the sight of me in action might have looked like factory floor..uninterrupted industrious activity. The only difference being that a shop floor worker doesn't smack his lips and keeps exclaiming "bah" at periodic intervals.
My empty plate lay in front of me like the calm after thunderous rain.
And then uncle suggested that I try some achar. The achar gave me the excuse to eat some more. And the battle for the good of anshumankind began again. "But hey, wait a second...this is being disrespectful to the achar..It is too good to be labeled an excuse. Hell, this is getting too complicated..."
"Just eat idiot", it was the Krishna inside me who spoke. And that’s just what I did.
The term soul food seemed to cliché to describe the food that I had eaten. The food was simple and delicious and made me happy.
Not just happy to eat it but happy in life...just the kind of food that parents can make.
Wednesday, November 01, 2006
Good time after long time
A must see. A movie adaptation from a comic book of the same name full of dark heroes on a quest to save prostitutes and damsels in distress. Mind boggling dialogues delivered by really incredible characters.
Marv (a deformed giant played by Mickey Rourke on a quest to avenge the murder of Goldie, a prostitute)
In a confession booth
Priest: ...ask yourself if that corpse of a slut is worth dying for.
Marv: Worth dying for. [shoots priest]
Marv: Worth killing for. [shoots him again]
Marv: Worth going to hell for. [shoots him again]
Marv: Amen.
Marv thinking to himself before he sets out on his quest
Marv: This is blood for blood and by the gallon. These are the old days, the bad days, the all-or-nothing days. They're back! There's no choice left. And I'm ready for war.
Bruce Willis playing Hartigan, an honest cop due to retire in one day on a mission to save a 11 year old girl from a rapist killer.
[Hartigan is on his way to go save a girl from a rapist]
Bob: I'm gonna get on the horn and wait for back-up. We're gonna wait for back-up!
John Hartigan: Sure, Bob. You'll call for back-up. And we'll sit on our hands while that Roark brat gets his sick thrills from viction number four. Victim number four! Nancy Callahan. Age 11. She'll be raped and slashed to ribbons. And that back-up we're waiting on will just happen to show up late enough to let Roark get back home to his U.S. Senator daddy and everything will be fine until Junior gets the itch again.
Bob: Take a deep breath, Hartigan. Settle down and think straight. You're pushing 60. You've got a bum ticker. You're not saving anybody.
John Hartigan: You've got a great attitude, Bob. You're a great cop. A real credit to the force, you are.
Bob: Eileen's home waiting for you. Think about Eileen.
John Hartigan: Heck, Bob. Maybe you're right. Bob: I'm glad to hear you're finally talking sense! [Hartigan punches Bob in the face]
John Hartigan: [narrating] Hell of a way to end a partnership. Hell of a way to start my retirement.
check out http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0401792/quotes for more.
Saturday, October 28, 2006
Signs
Not sure if I should be reassured or just disappointed
Sometimes you have to go a long way ahead to be able to turn back
Thursday, October 26, 2006
Adventure
Do you remember the time when the mind took exponential leaps?
What it felt like to be excited when you encountered something new.
When what is now ordinary was in fact a phenomenon with unrestricted and endless possibilities.
Engulfed by the feeling you did not think why and just being there and running down the stairs to climb through a small hole in the wall was reason enough.
What it felt like to be excited when you encountered something new.
When what is now ordinary was in fact a phenomenon with unrestricted and endless possibilities.
Engulfed by the feeling you did not think why and just being there and running down the stairs to climb through a small hole in the wall was reason enough.
Tuesday, October 17, 2006
Monday, October 16, 2006
Thursday, October 12, 2006
A womans heart
Her heart broke to think of all that could have been. But Madhavi had destroyed her completely. All that mattered to her in life had been snatched away in one cruel week. 'What do I have left?' she thought bitterly, as the tears wet her carefully manicured fingers. But she soon knew there was something more. There was one thing to be done. It shocked her that she was even thinking of doing such a thing. 'I really can't do this,' she told herself. But she knew it was the only way... She had to do it, however painful it was.
It had been two months since Anand had gotten her from her mother’s house. Her poor mother had stood behind the door and mournfully looked at her first born leave the house.
Her new home was comfortable and Anand loved her no end. He pampered her no end with toys and food that she really enjoyed but she sensed Madhavi’s reluctance on the very first day and the week that followed went from bad to worse as she could sense Madhavi’s reluctance all the time. Whenever Madhavi saw her she looked away or looked at her with an expression that was a combination of disdain and pity at the same time.
“Why did you have to get her? I told you not to. I am just not comfortable with her around”. Madhavi said.
“How can you not like her? Look at her beautiful doe eyes. She is so helpless and innocent. Just give her some time and give yourself some time and I am sure you will come around to liking her”. Anand was banking on the belief that after all Madhavi like all women had a woman’s heart and that she would in a little time come around to liking the new addition in their family.
Madhavi lifted her up and looked at her face. She thought that she saw a degree of affection in her eyes but the moment was short lived as Madhavi put her down quickly walked away.
She so wanted Madhavi to like her. She got her the stuffed toy that Anand had given her to play with. Madhavi at first did not get it and threw the stuffed toy on the ground. She picked it up again and gave it to her. “I don’t want this”, said Madhavi.
“She’s only trying to tell you that she likes you and is giving you a gift”, said Anand.
“Oh, I did not get it”, replied Madhavi and smiled “but this is for you, you keep it”.
Just at that moment she felt the urge to throw up and she did. Whatever little points she had scored with Madhavi were quickly lost.
“Anand she has done it again, I am sick of her throwing up all over the place. After all you go to office and I have to clean up all her shit and puke”, Madhavi was really angry.
She got scared because of Madhavi’s shouting and promptly urinated a little on the carpet.
That did it for Madhavi. “Anand, you have to give her back immediately. I will not take this anymore. She has ruined the carpet”.
Wiping the pee off the carpet Anand said “She’s only 6 months old and will learn to control herself in a few days”.
Anand picked her up and made her smell the pee and took her to the garden outside and made her smell the grass and said “That’s where you are supposed to pee and crap my baby and don’t worry about mommy. She will soon start liking you. Afterall you are so adorable”.
Checkers looked at the nails of her paw that had recently been cut by the vet and thought to herself there was one thing to be done. It shocked her that she was even thinking of doing such a thing. 'I really can't do this,' she told herself. But she knew it was the only way... She had to do it, however painful it was. She would have to hold her pee and her crap till such time that she managed to get to the garden. However cute they might be, Dogs are not allowed to relieve themselves in their masters house.
It had been two months since Anand had gotten her from her mother’s house. Her poor mother had stood behind the door and mournfully looked at her first born leave the house.
Her new home was comfortable and Anand loved her no end. He pampered her no end with toys and food that she really enjoyed but she sensed Madhavi’s reluctance on the very first day and the week that followed went from bad to worse as she could sense Madhavi’s reluctance all the time. Whenever Madhavi saw her she looked away or looked at her with an expression that was a combination of disdain and pity at the same time.
“Why did you have to get her? I told you not to. I am just not comfortable with her around”. Madhavi said.
“How can you not like her? Look at her beautiful doe eyes. She is so helpless and innocent. Just give her some time and give yourself some time and I am sure you will come around to liking her”. Anand was banking on the belief that after all Madhavi like all women had a woman’s heart and that she would in a little time come around to liking the new addition in their family.
Madhavi lifted her up and looked at her face. She thought that she saw a degree of affection in her eyes but the moment was short lived as Madhavi put her down quickly walked away.
She so wanted Madhavi to like her. She got her the stuffed toy that Anand had given her to play with. Madhavi at first did not get it and threw the stuffed toy on the ground. She picked it up again and gave it to her. “I don’t want this”, said Madhavi.
“She’s only trying to tell you that she likes you and is giving you a gift”, said Anand.
“Oh, I did not get it”, replied Madhavi and smiled “but this is for you, you keep it”.
Just at that moment she felt the urge to throw up and she did. Whatever little points she had scored with Madhavi were quickly lost.
“Anand she has done it again, I am sick of her throwing up all over the place. After all you go to office and I have to clean up all her shit and puke”, Madhavi was really angry.
She got scared because of Madhavi’s shouting and promptly urinated a little on the carpet.
That did it for Madhavi. “Anand, you have to give her back immediately. I will not take this anymore. She has ruined the carpet”.
Wiping the pee off the carpet Anand said “She’s only 6 months old and will learn to control herself in a few days”.
Anand picked her up and made her smell the pee and took her to the garden outside and made her smell the grass and said “That’s where you are supposed to pee and crap my baby and don’t worry about mommy. She will soon start liking you. Afterall you are so adorable”.
Checkers looked at the nails of her paw that had recently been cut by the vet and thought to herself there was one thing to be done. It shocked her that she was even thinking of doing such a thing. 'I really can't do this,' she told herself. But she knew it was the only way... She had to do it, however painful it was. She would have to hold her pee and her crap till such time that she managed to get to the garden. However cute they might be, Dogs are not allowed to relieve themselves in their masters house.
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