Gifting frenzy

What do I write about? Let's see……. Let’s talk about buying a gift for a friend.

I am the kind of person who likes to be told what one wants for a gift. Please pardon me but I can not, rather do not want to, go through the thinking process of buying "something-nice". I don't want to buy something whose only purpose is to look good on the table or to dry and wither out in a couple of days. I rather buy something that really is a current want. (I would prefer if it is a need). When someone says "give me whatever you feel like"…….. I wanna fall on my knees and say "please please please give me your wish list".

You know what could be better. If the person you are buying the gift for goes along when you are buying the gift. I rather miss the "oh-my-God!-It’s-such-a-lovely-surprise!" look on a friend's face than have a "I-know-you-don't-like-it" look on mine.

I know what you are thinking………. The budget thingy. Well, what's the harm in sharing it? If you are not close enough to share the budget, why gift? Period.

While I am writing this I am wondering what prompted me to write it. Hey! Now I remember………… I have just been made to go through the process of buying "something-nice". It's a wonderful friend's birthday tomorrow. She said "We have been friends for three years now; you should know what I want. I am not going to tell you." Baby, I know you want a Harley, but have you seen my salary slip lately? I know you are looking for a music system, but that's for your sister. I know you love jewellery, but you don't trust my not-so-feminine taste. And our sweetheart friend who is pooling-in is too busy with work. But he did contribute by reminding me the consequences of making a bad choice!!... What did I buy?...... I put my not-so-feminine taste to good use to buy her a not-so-feminine jewellery set. Will have to wait till tomorrow to see the consequences. They did offer to exchange it if required…………….Small Mercies!

Getting back,….. I have tried and listed a few things that fall into the “if-can’t-think-of-anything,-buy-this” category……

Clothes……. (sweetheart….. its lovely, but it doesn’t fit me)
Cosmetics…. (honey..this is the color I was looking for but you bought the wrong shade.
I would have preferred R312 instead of R311!)…. Whatever!
Flowers…………… Duh!
Flower vase………..Duh!
Decorative piece.....you mean “look-at-me-once,-put-away-n-forget-me” piece?.......Duh! again
Stuffed toys…………..ya, right!
Lingerie……….. No way! That’s reserved for your wedding gift.
Porn..................for that you will have to be absolutely sure of your penchant(s)
Books………..now you are talking, but you will have to tell me which one………….
Bags…………..for the life of mine, I cannot do a good job of it!!
Watch………….. (it looks too small on my wrist)
Wallet………….please gimme your pocket dimensions
Hmmmm………..
May be…….nah……….
What about……....no!
.
.
.
Okay I can’t think of anything else……….!!

My dearest camaraderie, when ever you celebrate a happy occasion like a birthday, a wedding, finding a new boyfriend, dumping the old one, buying a new house, buying a new belt for your dog, getting a new gold tooth etc, etc….Please Please Please give me your wish list (please include all specifications of size, shape, color, smell…and whatever it takes to buy a successful gift) Will you please go with me to buy it?.............

Happy Birthday Meher! ;) Love you!

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Transition syndrome

It’s the end of my training period and am scheduled to start regular work. I had been waiting for this day for ages ( one year to be precise)……… then, the team I am supposed to join leaves for China on a week long trip. So, what do I end up having?.......... four days, with absolutely nothing to do……………. Transition syndrome……….People in their regular jobs pray for such miracles to happen. For me, who couldn’t wait to start regular work, it was just short of being shot in the head…………..

I know what you are saying……….. “you should read something”………….. , well, reading is what I did for the last three months during a project which was actually as bad as being shot in the head. I am only glad I did not snap……..well, not yet………….. I realized the adage “empty mind is a devil’s workshop” couldn’t be truer………….. I had devils of all shapes, sizes and colors in my head. I think they were partying. Things I thought of or things I did!!!......I am not sure I want to share all of it on a public forum.

Its worse when your friends, who till last week were as jobless as you were, suddenly get busy and cant even make it for lunch. I end up having lunch with two girls in their early twenties and a guy from my batch and talk about things that girls in their early twenties talk about………….. boys!! ( that’s an other pity, there are only boys to talk about………no men,………more about it later). This guy is of not much help because he is trying to impress one of them…..wait!, may be both of them. Well, I sit there listening to them talking about guys and giving a smile here and a chuckle there. I was also expected to give my expert opinion!!. I wanna get out of there but don’t because I have nowhere better to go. (Damn!! This radio is also playing songs about loneliness!!)………..in hindsight, I think it was nice and funny………:)………. At least one of the girls is a lot of fun………….

So what do you do when you have nothing to do? Well, you suddenly remember all your old friends, you miss your mom more than ever, you daydream, you write a mail to someone and stare at the screen till you get the reply ( I am not making this up!), your loo frequency increases three fold (the a/c helps), people you always thought were very boring suddenly start sounding quite interesting, you never take the lift, you feel blessed when a friend asks for a favor (girls, if you are reading this, thank you), you get into your absent boss’s cabin and sleep (okay! I made this one up…:) …… may be I should try this)………..


Then, this morning I am very happy because my team is coming back today. Its 11 am and they are not in office. I think I should ruefully assume that they are not coming today. One more day to spend. I think it will be okay today, I have company for lunch and I have discovered that blogs can help me reduce the free space in my head and keep the devils out…….at least the bigger ones…………….moreover it will not be bad to start on a Monday.


However may I have spent this week, I think its kinda good to go through this at least once………. Guess will enjoy my work more…………..

You guys continue working and I will go and see if I can open my boss’s cabin…………. !!

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me......till now

Finally!!........ it took me ages to right this first blog.............

Before writing anythng i want to thank everyone/everything who/that has contributed to making my life as interesting as it is............

I am most thankful to the man who took my K.J.Somaiya interview (forgive my memory, i don't remember his name) . i think my life took a complete turn when he selected me. i still wonder why..... probably because he liked my honesty when i accepted ignorance when asked what SEBI was...(honestly, i didn't know it then).......... now i am believer of the adage - "when ignorant, be honest"........... i think i created it :)

So, what do you think was the first thing i did when the results were announced?.......... some of you might have guessed it right........ i went and got my hair cut. of course my mom freaked out.....even though she saw it coming. what does a daughter do when she wants to get her hair cut and is scared to face her darling mom? well, she does the most intelligent thing.....she takes her darling dad along!!!!........... so instead of a "what-have-you-done-to-your-hair?" look she had a "how-could-you-let-her-do-this?" look on her face.....love you ma:)........ thank you pa:)....love you too....

Well, i landed in Bombay ( i prefer to call her this) leaving behind the darling city of Bangalore (its BANGALORE, BANGALORE, BANGALORE!!) with a brand new haircut and a pair of brand new wings. the thought of living alone for the first time has its highs.......i don't think the English language has enough adjectives to define it completely. the hangover hasn't left me ever since.....

These three years have been the most defining in my life. i have discovered facets of life i didn't know existed. i have discovered facets of myself i didn't know existed. i have discovered facets of the world i didn't know existed. these discoveries (n i m still discovering) have made me fall in love over and over again, with this life, with this city, with this world at large.

I have lived more life in the last three years than i have ever lived. the friends i made, the people i met, the places i visited, the adventures i had, the things i do..... every thing in the last three years has contributed to making me the person i am today.

Every morning when i get up there's one thing that's always on my to-do list.... to fall in love all over again with this wonderful life........ and I do..........every single day.

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