The Wanderer

A few weeks ago, a conversation led me to rant about this on facebook:  Them: Is she your sister?  Me: Yes. Them: Who else is there? Me: (It is none of your business but I will be nice..) We are three sisters. Them: Ooh! So you don't have a brother?  Me: No (asshole I just fucking told you we are three sisters, what part of it doesn't confirm that I don't have a brother. And cut that shitty sympathetic look from your face before I punch it to adjust its fucking nosiness level).  ‪#‎RantAlert‬ Honestly if one more, one more person shows me that look I am going to flatten their nose. They can live like Voldemort for the rest of their shitty lives. ------------------ My friends asked me to ignore the comments that 'didn't matter' and few family members reminded that I do have cousin brothers - as if the latter are some sort of consolation prizes? You know what? The problem is not that they ask, that's still ok. The problem is the judgement/symp...

How to create under confident women: Tell them that if they do not use fairness creams, no one will marry them. Tell them that if they do not look a certain way, no one will love them. Make sure they do not talk to guys in school/college, because you know Sanskaar . When they come to you about marital problems, try to find a way to blame them for it. Of course, she is to be blamed, after all how can the son be wrong?  Make her believe, that no matter how wrong the husband is, it is her duty to 'adjust'. And if she can't, she is not a good enough wife.  Tell her that she should be thankful that she is so lucky, you know 'it could be worse'.  Tell her that no matter who she becomes, the men will be rated higher than you. Equality? Bah, humbug. Scare them into believing that if they stood up for themselves, they will be outlawed by the society. And that this is a bad thing. Oh, and to be clear, most times it is women who make other women believe this. Yeah...

Met my future self (hopefully) in a bus in the Japanese countryside ;)  Meet Giovanna, a traveler from Italy who started traveling when she was 25 and has been to 252 countries in 45 years of traveling. Visited several of them multiple times and said India was her favorite (may be she was just being nice tongue emoticon ) This time, she is traveling by herself across Japan for 4 weeks.  This coming July, she turns 70.

As another close friend leaves Shanghai today, it reminds me of my old theory that Shanghai is like a huge hotel: you meet people for a while - by the pool or the coffee shop - spend some time together and then eventually they will check out and move on; and you know you will too.... And I can't even begin to describe the people I have met (wanderers, adventurers, vagabonds, war veterans, cancer fighters, dreamers, devotees, artists, musicians, writers, readers, ones so enthusiastic about life that it is contagious, the right amount of weird, an extra bit of crazy, witty ones, sarcastic ones...from all over the world) and the conversations we have shared - as if each person was a book to be read, and there minds countries to be explored.... And all you will have is a limited amount of time together - maybe you will get a chance to form a deep bond, maybe not; there will be some that won't keep in touch, some will go beyond all gaps to do so; Whatever it is, it is right her...

My mother is a blackhole of objectivity. (because when it comes to her babies, she is all emotions and no objectivity.)

About an year ago, when flying back home, I had more than the allowed luggage. The Japanese couple in front of me had very few things and I asked them if we could check-in together to which they agreed. The flight got cancelled, and the three of us ended up spending the rest of the day together until we were put on the next flight. We talked about how they had met at a pottery class, their mutual love for travel and their plans in the India trip. I shared some homemade Indian  food with them and told them few 'must-dos' in Delhi.. I had also shared that I wanted to visit Kyoto (their hometown) and they extended an open invitation to me. Today as I file for my Japanese visa, I pinged them to check if they are free for a dinner - almost after an year of meeting and even though we didn't stay in touch - the amount of warmth and excitement I am getting from them is overwhelming. At times, it is hard to believe there isn't magic in this world. 

Rooms, cupboards, friendlists, phonebooks, mind, heart, thoughts, perspectives... Once in a while, everything requires a review or a clean-up. You never know what's gone unnoticed and is lurking in the back.

Problems arise when we keep trying to put people on a pedestal and they keep reminding us that they are only human.

Log, waqt aur mausam badalte der nahin lagti. People, time (situation) and weather can change quickly and often, without notice.

" I hear you. " - "Shut up!"  " I hear you loud and clear ." - "Shut the fuck up!"  " We will assess staffing. " - "I don't know who the fuck will do this shit."  " WE should make the following changes... " - "I just said WE but I don't want to hurt your feelings. YOU should make the following changes." " You lack thought leadership " - you are just as dumb as I am.  " Think out of the box " - This is exactly the shit I had come up with. Give me something new." " You should know how to manage your time "- I need this work completed by today at any cost " The client liked the creative but they'd like to explore a few more options " - "The client liked the creative but they can't believe that you managed to crack it in your first attempt so they'd like 10 more options only to select this one because that would make them feel like ...

A delight to watch as it described several themes and idea in such a simple manner: That we are surrounded by technology but are becoming more and more lonelier - why is it that we find it easier to open up to people far away from us than those sitting nearby.  That people really expect very basic things in a relationship (friends, spouses or any other type) - support and being available; and how hard it can still be for us to offer it without getting our ego in the way. Sometimes listening is just enough.  That love/people do not have to be eternal.. because we grow together but we can also grow apart. This love should encourage us to grow and experience different things. When one evolves differently than the other it would be okay to part. I liked how love healed and when it felt its presence isn't necessary, it left.  Of course it questions our understanding of what is real. There was a point where I thought the wife was more unreal than the OS.. when peo...

Dear spoilt kids with rich parents, you hear me now and you hear me good! Your attitude and the way you treat your work and other people around you is a clear reflection of the fact that you haven't worked hard to get where you are. And we should never, read NEVER be arrogant about things to which we never contributed (natural beauty/intelligence, family money - the like). Be thankful and work on applying it somewhere useful. Remember that Karma is a bitch and the playing field will get leveled - the girl studying under the streetlight will kick your overly-protected ass when it comes to dealing with the real world.  'I don't care because Puppaaa has money' attitude will sink you sooner than you can think. Money cannot replace hard/smart work. To sustain and grow the fortune you still have to work.  So get your head out of the place where the sun doesn't shine and know that life has challenges - we fight, we grow, we learn. Suck it up and deal with it!