Fair Weather

Pardon me for MIA. Not been busy, but somehow gave a step-motherly treatment to my blog and other posts.

I have few pet peeves. I think I can put a Top 10 pet-peeve list. Among the top would be people taking/trying to take undue advantage of me posing as friends. Well, they are merely acquaintances. Who is a friend? One who is available to share your joys and sorrows - that is to put it in simple and nonchalant way.

But these lots are not available when you want to share sorrows or even joy and don't bother to share. I know of a young man who falls into this category. What do I call him? Little-close friend? Friend-type friend? or Acquaintance?

This guy is sly. He wants to have fun at my expense. Dine at a good restaurant, coffee at an upscale coffee shop or use my vehicle for commute. Never once was chivalrous of picking the tab or offering to share the expenses. Worse yet, for the sake of being polite, I have accompanied him to shopping and window-shopping for the stuffs I am least interested in.

Does it end here? No? If helping him were not enough, I was expected to entertain his acquaintance(that's what he mentioned)  who wanted to use my home as bread and breakfast for 2 days. The girl came down to the city to meet her guy friends who could not let her sleep at their house because they were staying with family. Aaarrrggghhh!

Now you know why I agree to all these? For the sake of being polite. But the rage explodes thousand times within me. These past week however, I have been saying NO to all the asks he has been making. Can I use your vehicle? No. Can I use your scooter? No. and No...no...no

Yeah, I am aware that the fault is mine, all in the name of being nice. I have decided not to be anymore, at least with him

Easy!

We all know the most difficult tasks we face each day right? Like waking up at the first shrill sound of an alarm or letting go of our favorite junk food to watch the waist line. But have you wondered what are the easiest things in the world? Here is my list. Now if you are wondering I would say list good things, then you are in for a disappointment.

5. Eating and Sleeping : Well, I have not heard anyone who doesn't like to eat; except for wafer thin models. Sleeping, do I even have to say anything? Just imagine a life where we dont have to earn/study; these are the only two things we would be doing.
4.Bitching : If you ask me, this one is so bad but it feels go good to bitch about someone isn't it? Evil yeah! but its easy!
3. Blame : Passing the buck is one thing we can do with accuracy. I came across a nice cartoon; isn't this so obvious?

From https://www.facebook.com/Mr.ErkanTORUNNN

2. Complain : Favorite of them all. Just complain, don't offer any help, just complain and wait for things to happen
1. Asking generic questions. Its easy to question, try providing a solution and you will know. Why is it this way? Why not that way? are all primary irritants of our life.

Any other additions?

Coward

I remember well, I was wearing a crisp white salwar with pink thrown in; that day. As every other day, I was waiting to board one of the route buses to office. I did not know about this particular bus number until that day; I did not see it after that day also. The bus was not empty, it was not crowded as well.

I did not find a seat, but it was more than enough that I could stand freely. There was someone behind me who I thought was close enough. You guessed it right, a guy. I moved away and there was nothing eventful until a row of seat was empty. I occupied the window and this guy the aisle. He was dressed like an executive, formals and all that. I sensed he was trying something but couldn't. I don't mind sharing the seat with men; as long as they are well behaved. This fellow was not doing anything so that I could raise an alarm and slap him hard. But at the same time, he was not quiet.

Fortunately, my stop arrived; I alighted from the bus and started crossing the melee of vehicles and started walking. It was a traffic signal; and before I knew he caught up with me. Now, I don't think this was his destination as well, but I never knew. I was walking fast and he was trying to catch up. Once he was walking beside me, he gave a sloppy compliments that I looked great. When I turned around to look at him, he was sweating like a pig.

I was more flummoxed than being angry. Now what was this guy wanting, whatever it was, he seemed so scared. I felt poor for his attire now soiled with sweat. I was near the office almost, he still seemed to be walking with me. Fed up, I just stopped and said "Do you want to talk over a cup of coffee?"

Well, I did not know why I said that, but I knew he was a coward to accept the offer. He just walked away after that. This happened 6 years ago; dont ask me why I got reminded of this incident today.

Heritage

Last couple of weekends, I went on a photo walk on the streets of Bangalore. Well, talking about mundane routines and various ways to beat them, photo walk seemed to be a good option. Folks who are familiar with Bangalore know the bunch of heritage colonial structures adorning the city. They are a feast to look at. As with any other developmental works, a bane is the fear of losing these structures.

For instance, one of the castles right on MG road lies encroached by Metro station and a tall glass facade on the other. I thought of capturing some of them since who knows, what happens to them tomorrow? Here are few; I will go for photo walks more often and capture such gems :)

A vintage window. I was stumped to see these huge bungalow right on MG road - Bangalore's financial and fashion district.

Mayo Hall - again on MG road; built in 1883. 

MG road vicinity has lot of heritage buildings. Their beauty is mostly shielded by garish billboards. The police station on Kasturba road is housed in a heritage building, believe it? The below building is the State Central Library in Cubbon park. I am glad the Cubbon park has been left alone. Acres of greenery admits the city is so rare; the real estate sharks have somehow not got their hands on it. 

Originally called as Seshadri Iyer Memorial Hall; this one is built in 1915 in a classical European style with Tuscan and Carinthian columns.

This one is Attara Kacheri built in 1864. Now the High Court. The style is Gothic. It housed the Mysore Secretariat until 1956; they are now moved to the opposite building the Vidhana Soudha.

The opposite building - The State Administrative office - offices of the most corrupt men; sad to say this. The crane in the foreground is the metro work in progress underground.

One of the towers of St. Patrick's church on Brigade Road. Its more than 150 years old. 

A Flash

There comes a phase in life when nothing grabs your attention. Maybe, not once but it keeps coming and going? Reactions to any event is like "Oh! not again!!" Or "Is that all?" is so common. Bring on something new! even before anything has started.

Is it called boredom or overkill? Maybe both. Any news on TV is just another news; not worth debating, tweeting or blogging. A day is just another day - work, home, sleep and morning again. Of course with other mundane activities thrown in. Weekends are predictable. Friends are fair weather; I mean there is no sweat to be wiped. All's fine.

Is life thrilling only in the absence of mundane stuffs? It scares me you know? To think that this is what I would be doing for the next 20-30 years? I really admire our elders and theirs who would have pretty much lived the whole of their life etched in stone. We are blessed; games, movies, friends, social networking, exposure to lot of other things that can entertain us and yet; I am saying I am bored.

 Thinking about it; it surely is an overkill and lack of patience isn't it? We want results immediately; success to come knocking on the door the very next day. We need it fast and immediate. What's wrong in that? My parents definitely struggled. They had limited exposure, limited opportunities; and the race was not deadly as we see today. Today; even if I work like a donkey all 364 days a year and show sloppy results on one; they won't think twice before replacing me. Such is the competition. There are lot of rotten tomatoes around; people will quickly pick them up and throw it away! 

 Personally, you are too soon bored of your boy friend/girl friend/spouse. First few months are bliss, Overkill here as well. And then the interest wanes. What do you talk to each other? "How was your day today?" What do you need for dinner?" The boy got good grades at school".......Then? Man watches TV and the lady doing something else?

Anything in abundance is sure a spoiler. Somethings are too easy to get; too fast and too easily bored with. You need something else, something new each time and that leaves you bored. What's next? What's new? Will there ever be anything satisfying? I guess not. Then one fine day; nothing matters. You consume everything with the same level of interest; or lack of it. You have seen it all, done it all - is what you believe. Momentary happiness, momentary sadness, its all a flash.

I think I am blabbering, these are just so normal isn't it? I am thinking if I should even post this or delete it? :)
Its all a flash :-)

India - A Paradox

It is not that I don't have anything to write. But these are days when you start to write two lines and then you think you are giving too much of importance to a thing and erase it off.

I was contemplating for few days on writing about the two episodes of Oprah's Next Chapter. This is a 2 part episode that was telecast last week on TLC. Well, my first reaction was "Another American stereotyping India" I don't mean to be harsh; in fact I thought Oprah was an intelligent lady. Sad! 


She visited a 10x10 feet house in a slum and asked insensitive questions to the kids. "Dont you feel cramped?" She visited a filthy rich house and was offered Indian thali and exclaimed "You STILL eat with your hand!" And more insanity as this. 

Anyway, I don't intend to write on it and start off a flurry of views which I think I already can guess. But her conclusive statement was "India is a paradox"  Quite a true statement I must say after all those nonsensical tryst. So is India a paradox? We are a land of billion plus people from all walks of life. Few countries would hold as much promise as India holds for its people. At the same time, few would face the enormous challenges as India's. 

The country was/is seen as a cushion to deteriorating to world economy along with China. We know the state of it internally, price raise, inflation, red tapes, corruption....At one side we show a glamorous India Shining whereas the other side we have the ever gloomy problems. Can this economic growth keep up with the ever growing demands?

Paradox it is in many other ways. We are confused whether to embrace and be proud of our culture or to ape the West. Thinking about it; I don't think we have any other geography of people who have been as contradictory as us. Some one would not like a political party biased on religion but wont allow his own child an inter-religion marriage. You can preach as long as you don't have to participate in washing off the dirt. It is that way at all levels from individual to the nation.

 It is chaotic and yet in harmony. It's a mess and yet its a smooth sail. How long?

Best Left Unsaid?

Who is a human being? One reference is " a member of any of the races of Homo sapiens; person; man, woman, or child". Well that's an anatomical definition; perfect enough. Beyond that; the qualities we possess defines what we are. I am not making any discovery here :) Its known right? Happiness, joys, sorrows, anger, frustration, care, tenderness, love, lust, vengeance, misery, jealousy.......many many qualities; the list can go on. 

The end result of these feelings are expression. I have heard expressing them does wonders; at least you dont have to carry the burden of it within you. Sometimes it can backfire; but if all you care is keeping yourself light; the backfire wont bother you. But if that is going to hit back at you; then better keep off right? 

The fear of rejection or the fear of "what would they think about me?" definitely would keep us from voicing our opinions or concerns. I for one certainly think on a different angle than these two. "Did I not have that self control to handle the situation better?" always keeps me on my toes; I would better keep quiet and make my heart heavy than blurt it out and open another can of worms. 

I agree it doesn't work all the time. Sometimes it works in my favor when in a day or two I realize why something happened that way or the reason behind someone's behavior. They had a reason; and I am glad I waited before I fired. Some times its odd; because the moment has passed when I could have struck red hot. The assumption that some day they will realize is a stupid one. No one does! Other times, not talking about it causes drift and bitterness within that grows like a vicious weed that can choke you up.

Anyway; this one quality sets people apart from one another isn't it? The "What if" factor. What if I told her? What if I did not tell her? What if the situation got better? What if the situation got worse? What if he understands me some day? Living in anticipation of a better situation or a favorable situation keeps us going. 

"Never mind, I will be promoted next year". Only to realize you forgot to put the effort this year; you thought your last year's success will speak for your next year? Oh boy! Would it have been better to have clarified about it than assume? 

Anyway, it is better to wait for the right moment to speak. Its fine to speak than holding back. But the right time gets the importance you would like to attach; meanwhile you have had time to collect your thoughts and formulate a plan to go about it. 

Or sometimes its best left unsaid :)