Its not just the drive.….infact it’s what I call life’s little moments starting on our way through LBS marg to the Highway, the fluorescent orange globe rising over a hazy skyline [I miss that on weekends coz I rise only after the sun], the illusive rainbow in the fountain of the Johnson and Johnson lawns [u’ll miss it if u blink], a little later a tree that is completely covered with creepers and climbing plants [looks quite ornamental], a deserted mall [absolutely detest visiting it on weekends]and Polaroid’s for the eyes once we hit the highway and ofcourse some good music if not the radio then its always a favorite CD….what a way to start the day..…but this is only the beginning….the drive is incomplete unless the fastest lap in my dad’s grand prix run has been interrupted by the “machars” [that’s how he refers to the rickshawalas] and the drive still continues… with many more expletives…through a sea of traffic.
Once in office, it’s the warm smile of our security guard, some coffee, the newspaper, a bunch of friends, in the meanwhile also logging into G-chat even before I start Outlook…a few warm “hi’s, hello’s, good morning’s” from regular friends are all just sufficient to kick start a long day at work…..
Needless to say, if I do, incase I do miss out on any 1 of the above things …my day is incomplete…so much out of  habit…can’t help it though.

It was Ganesh chaturthi and I had the opportunity of meeting the elephant god in person in the guise of Rajji, Rani, Amu and Meenu…in Kootur [Kerela] at the Elephant rehabilitation centre for orphaned, injured and aged mammals rescued from the wild.

Although they were wild elephants I found them much more civilized than a few humans I know.

They are such friendly gentle creatures…

This visit particularly was the highlight of my trip to Kerela.

[call me if you want to know more]

The beauty of Kerela has made a lasting impact which is still lingering within like the sound of good music…..squirrels jumping all over the place, cabbage green butterflies drifting through the air like happy messages, everything around painted in earthen tones and the sky improvising within the limitless parameters of colours.

I just didn’t have the heart to leave that place but all good things must come to an end…it was truly Gods own country.

Squirrels seemed to have caught my fancy offlate.

Clever little swift creatures….jumping from tables to trees… on the lawns..into the bushes and everywhere …but close to me…devil me, I wanted them to sin and junk on a few chips and other goodies I had but wondered if they would be game for it …after all it could have taken a toll on their tiny digestive systems.

Scooby does it for a Scooby snack….some humans would do anything for butter chicken and so on and so forth …

To make life easier I felt the need to feel/think like one?

So I made a lame but not entirely vain attempt to decode Squirrel psychology and in the end it worked J

I had virtually run out on stock of roasted nuts…just had a few fried chips and pomegranate pearls to entice their clever little minds.

But I had to unearth what motivates the squirrel… And I was pleasantly surprised to see how adventurous they can be [that ofcourse after loosing most of the goodies to the ever-hungry scavenger… “the CROW”].

Now the climax…

Pomegranate pearls is all that was left of the so called goodies on offer.

A very common but strange display of aggression was the agenda of the Show between the two….the squirrels were determined to not let go of the pomegranate pearls and it seemed like the crows were a tad bit lethargic than their usual agile, opportunistic self after gobbling down loads of calories …the squirrels were focused and lead closer to the heap of pomegranate by one squirrel who I assumed to be the leader and in their mindless chirping I suppose…I felt I heard them say “Its SHOWTIME!!! Time to fire all cylinders!!! Go get’em tiger!”…what strategy [it seemed like they would give Jack Trout a run for his lessons on Strategy] ….while half a dozen quickly grabbed some pomegranate and dashed into the bushes for cover within less than a second…we [me and the squirrels ofcourse sillies]worked like a gang. Clever little creatures and a little help in shooing away crows from my side did the trick….in the end, one of them actually cared to pose for a picture nibbling on a pomegranate pearl in her hands… for a few seconds…and finally I got that shot!!!!  {chk orkut for the pic}

Sometimes,Somethings,Nowhere,Nothing,Nobody,Never,No……mean so much more than their literal dictionary meanings.

If all the words had just one meaning in each and every person’s personal dictionary [read mind] then communicating would have been a zillion times simpler, clear and to the point.

But the fact of the matter is peripheral.

And hence all that is said is not meant …and all that is meant is not always said ….

When you hurt people, they begin to love you less.
That’s what careless words do.
They make people love you little less.

Between so called compatible individuals conversations surface and dip like mountain streams. Sometimes audible to other people. Sometimes not.

He heard me out but didn’t really listen to what I was saying.

Or maybe I am asking for too much?

The simplest of things could get complicated when there is too much thought put into them….

Caution: this is clearly a braindump ….please do not attempt at decoding it else your brain will explode.

How difficult can that be?

Logistically everything is in place…I guess everything is in absolute control…..but the thought of shifting homes hasn’t sunk in yet.

At home everything is in place right from the wet towels, used mugs, diaries under the pillow, bits of paper….every little thing…..to noting the time at which the sunlight hits the balcony and which direction the wind blows in and where the rain falls…..

On the face of it …it all looks simple but it is actually hitting me  now … that whatever state of mind I come back in, from wherever I come …I wont be coming or rather running back to those same comforting walls I call “Home” today….

The thought of shifting is more than just discomforting…..

What makes this space special?

It’s like these walls are privy to a zillion emotions I have been through over these years and it is difficult to let go.

Not that there is much I can do about it except just remind myself that I have a new space now out of which I have to build a new home.

So I am pretty excited about shifting et al. just that I am really going to miss this home very much.

Actually, I am supposed to be doing some packing now but …..just lazy….at this rate I don’t think I’ll hit the sack before midnight….

I DON’T WANT TO GO L

Anything that comes easy isn’t all that significant.

So, I’ll go that extra mile just to ensure the food tastes better with some finely chopped onions.

But what do we do about the onion vapors irritating the eyes n tears n all the trouble?

To deal with this issue some genius invented the food processor which chops onions unevenly

 Now the catch here is, you need to peel the skin, the 1^st layer, then cut it into half and then into the processor.

By then the onion vapors have done their job…..AHH!!!

So what use are those stupid machines if they can’t put an end to this misery?

As I still wait in hope of finding the ultimate onion cutting mechanism or someway to deal with tears…I must mention…my cousin who is slightly older than me has stopped hoping not bcoz she is pessimistic but bcoz she has found an alternative …

Hold your breath everyone…

The secret is …its my poor jiju who does all the onion cutting…

Well, I can already see my sis ruining his life…Poor fellow…she managed to con him into marriage…My sympathies to him …but you see what love can do …love is blind or maybe he just prefers onion vapors blinding him now… or whatever!!!

Today after much contemplating, I have finally traded my long tresses for a new look …a new hairstyle and I am ‘completely’ happy with this new short bob on my head.

Just can’t stop staring into reflective surfaces J

Feeling completely like myself after a long time ….the longhair …ahhh!!! [made me feel much older and level headed which I am not] Also, they made me feel very woman like although its easier to charm men then ….but I feel much lighter now, its difficult to be woman-like….doesn’t mean it has affected my charm quotient….just that my look is slightly more intimidating now…..but the haircut perfectly compliments my shoulders as I wear a tank top….perfect….woohoo!!!

And I feel 5 years younger and happier now coz I can use my old

T-shirts…and skirts…

Just that I am still getting used to dodging the layered hair flicks on my forehead [with a  bit of flair ofcourse] that so often prick me in the eye and make me look like  a Lhasa-apso lookalike…So much for some flair…ufff!!!…nevertheless the short bob is much easier to maintain and so am glad to get back to those good ol’lazy days

ahhh han!!! Can’t stop admiring my new look  ‘Sososo cute’.

This is what the most memorable interpretations read like :- 

Vivek’s lines- “If your husband asks you -who are u fantasizing about?” – ur answer would be ….. “hmnnnnnn….Biryani”…lol 

 Varuns suggestion- “Prachi if u must shift industries and you think ur caught in the wrong job ….u should join a five star hotel ….long spreads of food everyday …Ahhhhh…what life” 

Renuka- “prachi u live only for food and so do I ….. I  cant enjoy lunch with anyone as much as I do with u……”Renu I really love you…u understand me and the food [Pizza hut and Mac softserve]. 

Kunal- well I guess he was a lil too kicked about his impending marriage and reading a lot on about urrrhenm….or perhaps just a big attempt to decode the enigmatic race- ‘Women’ before the inevitable suicide ….so he had read somewhere… “Women who eat slowly are likely to enjoy sex more than those who just gobble down there food ”— so he was observing every girl eating lunch and how  [Urvi –you should know that]…thats what he thought and thought n thought …dunt know if he found the answer finally? Needless to say, its good enuf  reason to keep his inquisitive mind busy… 

Nalini- we share the same interests and our moto is – “Khoob khaoo…khoob kam karo” 

Dilip- the canteen guy- loved me ….afterall I helped him find his lost popularity and business….at 5pm everyday ..ppl would be avoiding him …to strictly follow their diets ….but I on the other hand would wait for him endlessly …and all this only for the love of food …..he knew that …and when others would watch me eating …all inspired greedy souls ..would be on a hunt for Dilip…hehhe even before he realized that….  Man I feel so guilty The girls hated me {coz I am sooso thin}….not my fault but I am just genetically thin …but gals …u’ll be more than happy to know …..the other day I bumped into a palm reader and guess what he told me ….i am going to put on a lot of weight ….atleast now you can be happy J 

So the point I am trying to drive is being a slow eater and being a foodie are two different things…but people confuse the two and the way they interpret and link analogies to it is …ahh!! impossible… 

My Aicar friends [anu,bharo,sandy,gaurav,pd,sunny,kama]are witness to the fact that in the Hostel canteen I would be the 1^st one to start and the last one to finish….people would take several helpings and I would still be nibbling on  the remains of the 1^st helping in my plate …well not that the food deserved much romancing …but I had to force it down my throat …and that’s how it really was people …

Abhijit I still remember the egg Fried rice you would make. 

But the fact is,I can’t really eat alone.

The food tastes a lot better….when you have it with friends around and ofcourse along with a jibber-jabber about any and everything under the sun.

But being alone doesn’t mean i am depriving myself of all the good food in the world ……Ahh!!! I desperately need to get myself some cold coffee…TADA!!