After a recent family function, a discussion with Uncles and Aunts about the other side of family made me realize some funny things about our popular culture. I was already expecting the comments about how sleeveless and low cut dresses are indecent. There was much more to it this time.
Aunt 1, disappointingly : "I don't understand which type of people they are. The are all namuney."
Aunt 2 : "They don't even know how to get dressed for a wedding. One of the girls was wearing a dress made out of bed sheet."
Aunt 3 : "They are all mad. One girl was continuously taking her pictures herself. She was making strange faces. She even took pictures with her tongue sticking out".
I smiled. I knew she was talking about 'selfie'. It is obvious that my Aunties were unaware of the popular selfie culture like most other elders in family. Even I agree with them, taking too many selfies in the middle of so many people makes you appear insane. Especially if you are pouting, making duck face and sticking your tongue out.
Recently, I watched the movie, Haider, and really loved it. Although Haider is based on Shakespeare's Hamlet. It also very nicely portrays the plight of Kashmiris. Apart from great direction and story, Vishal made sure he used local Kashmiri music and real locations. Everything look and feels very authentic. I liked it more because of Faiz's ghazals which are part of movie's music(check it below).
About the defect:
This one defect(a software bug) came to my plate last week. I was supposed to fix it by Friday. Somehow, I wasn't able to focus on work last Friday so I spent most of my time working with others on their issues. I thought I will fix the defect over the weekend but all the time is already gone and now Sunday night blues.
About the other movie:
This movie is one of the reasons why I wasn't able to fix the above defect. Last night, after working for about an hour, when I was about to find the root cause for the defect, I somehow decided to take a short break. I started checking out few songs in my hard drive. Somehow, I clicked on the file containing this movie called "Khoobsurat". The idea was to check out some scenes and watch it later if it appears interesting. Within 2-3 scenes it aroused my interest and I decided to continue it for few more minutes. It turned out to be a romantic comedy which I started enjoying. The comedy iss light and all performances are very natural, I ended up watching it till the end. No actor tried to overact. Sonam's role of a quirky girl and Kirron Kher as her outspoken mother were entertaining. I have decided to copy Fawad's style soon.
Got cured of an illness which took me to hospital.
Got more serious towards learning new things but did not took any action to proceed.
Got much more entertained than last few years, more movies and TV.
Increased blogging and other online activities.
Traveled to a new place, Jaisalmer.
Read many blogs and few books, got more confused.
Spent more money than ever.
Got older not much wiser.
New year started with lots of office work. Got promoted, with no big compensation change but more responsibilities. The list of things I want to achieve this year is too long. Even if I could finish half of them, this year will be successful. Need a proper plan and a well prioritized list of actions. From where should I begin?
I got up at 11:40. It took me about 10 minutes booting my
brain. The first priority task I found in my memory was getting registered for
Voters ID. I took 20 more minutes to clean myself and boarded a rickshaw which got
stuck in heavy traffic jam near Batla House Kabristan. I had to cover rest of
the distance till Okhla Head walking zig-zag, making my way jumping two wheelers stuck in traffic. I walked in sun on such a hot and humid day first time this year. I kept moving with my nose and mouth covered with handkerchief
observing irritated people sitting in their cars and rickshaws, stuck in
traffic. After walking about 500 meters I reached the Voter Center.
The place was crowded with men and women of all ages. About
12-15 people queued outside the window where a middle aged men wearing
spectacles on the tip of his nose was accepting forms and shouting irritably
on people with mistakes in their forms. Some people came only to inquire about
their voters ID cards. They were all frustrated and angry about delay. Few of them
started shouting and even abusing all government employees. Everybody is aware
of irresponsible and unprofessional behavior of government employees. But I
observed even people whom they deal with are not that innocent.
I went to the window and asked for a blank form, took it and found a
bench under a tree where some others were also filling the form. Suddenly the
crowd near the window dispersed. The guy next to me informed "Its their
lunch time". The thought of lunch made me also feel hungry. I fetched some
more data from memory and found that I am surviving on last night's dinner. By
the time I filled the form my brain started receiving interrupts from my
stomach. In a few minutes my brain had to prioritize them.
As obvious, brain assigned topmost priority to filling stomach and I
found myself moving towards gate. I moved slowly while searching my memory for
a decent place to eat nearby. The choice was a biryani point at Okhla Head. It
took me five minutes to reach there and another two to find a place to sit. The
quality looked good so I ordered a bigger plate which contains about 1/2 Kg of
biryani.
That shop is a newly opened branch of Salman's Biryani which
is famous in Batla House. The guy who took order did not behave as if he is
doing a favor. Maybe because its a newly opened shop. A group of three people came
and ordered Biryani with leg piece. And the guy at counter made sure they were
served what they want. Even my plate had a leg piece but I never order it
specifically. However I made sure my plate is served with no chutney and extra
raita, in case Biryani is too spicy raita makes it better for me.
Another guy walked in and ordered "Neeche ki
Biryani". I was surprised by his order. I traversed back my memory and found
that my father once told me that when he was young "Neeche ki
Biryani" was preferred and considered good. But in todays health cautious
world I found this young guy's order strange. Actually “Neeche ki Biryani"
is the Biryani near the base of degh. Its most oily part of whole degh. In my Grandfather's generation day to day activities required lots of physical work. So
maybe people at that time preferred stuff with lots of fat. I was too busy
engulfing my Biryani, one spoonful after other, to turn my head and judge him for
his strange choice. Maybe he was too thin and required some fat or maybe it was
about taste.
After having Biryani getting registered for Voters ID again
became 1st priority. I went to the office and submitted my form. After half an hour I was on my bed. And within next few seconds weekend celebration begun in my dreams.
My every morning begins with a chase. I chase a 15 seater Tempo Traveller, picking up corporate slaves across South Delhi. This vehicle reaches Batla House Bus Stop at exact 7:55 AM. Even I reach the place at the same time. And sometimes a few seconds late. I am supposed to board that Tempo along with few others at the Bus Stop to reach office.
I leave my apartment at exact 7:50 AM. Five minutes is just enough time to reach Batla House Bus Stop from Zakir Nagar by a rickshaw. The time is so idealistic that if rickshaw-wala is lazy(or Old) or there is traffic its sure that I will miss the tempo by a few seconds. Then I have to hire an auto-rickshaw or board a Red DTC bus if its there in the vicinity at that point in time. And the chase begins. I have to reach Kalindi Kunj before the Tempo via another short route. This way I have my share of morning adventure. Nothing is more refreshing than reaching that point and catching the Tempo. This becomes my first achievement everyday.
I run like Bond but I don't look like him. He is too old.
Like Bond, I have to answer my Lady Boss if I fail.
I am working for a big organization which operates across the globe.
I am connected with others who tell me the location(of Tempo) via my Sony phone. :)
I use multiple transports while chasing. (Rickshaw, Auto-Rickshaw, Bus and sometimes I run too)
Although I can rephrase it in many ways but being late is a bad habit. And I am doing this since college days. Many times I missed attendance and good grades coz of being late(there is always something to blame for bad grades). However, college is not just about attendance and grades. Vaise bhi "Old habits and bad habits die hard".
