Hiatus ends-Journey Restarts!

Joining the Corporate India again for good.This time with lot of status changes with in me.Nice to be back in the race after a hibernation.Now all that rings in my mind is play and play and play the game with the energy.

Read this recently...

Every morning in Africa a gazelle wakes up and knows that it will have to outrun the fastest lion or it will be killed. And, every morning in Africa a lion wakes up and knows that it will have to outrun the slowest gazelle or it will starve to death. So, in Africa, it doesn't matter if you are the lion or the gazelle. When that sun comes up, you had better be running.

Jet Airways Fly

Money cant buy everything, but it sure can buy something, feels good to indulge and feels better if you get a good deal to indulge :)

Yesterday, one of my desires to travel in Jet airways came true.
The whole experience was pleasantly packed with perfection.

Reached the chennai airport on time.Proceeded to check-in baggages,security check,boarded the air-bus and then the Inida's International airline Jet Airways.

The in-flight hospitality was excellent,with multiple air-hostess welcoming me as I proceeded to my seat.The formal instructions were telecasted as a graphical movie through the Jet screen display in front of my seat.The take-off was as good as I realised the boeing effect.

Once the flight took off it was exciting to see the flight path thru the jet screen.It also had add-on features like music/movies on demand,business channel,audio albums.started to watch delhi-6,while I was served the welcome drink,tasty buttermilk and fresh lime juice.

The meal was delicious with vaangi badh,curd,Almond kheer,mango pickle.I was excited watching the flight path over the India's geography in the jet screen.

Well,what else one could ask for?? while watching A.R Rahman's hit number 'massakali' flying in a Boeing aircraft at an altitude of over 30,000 feet high in air tasting the delicious almond kheer.

The flight arrived Mumbai on-time.Hubby dear was waiting at the airport to pick-up me back to home.

Thank you hubby dear for the trip.It was so sweet of you. :-DD

A note for young Indian adults...

I was in search of the synonym for the word 'Flirt'.I was little surprised to find that it has got meanings at different levels.It can be a sexual(!) or non-sexual types.It is an approachability signal that a guy or girl delivers towards the person of interest.Thanks to google for helping me in the word research.

Now its none of my business to get in to why someone should flirt or not.But the bigger thought process that was nudging me,roots out from some of my observations and conversations that I had with the youngsters and their lifestyle who are in their early twenties.

This happened almost a year back.This conversation arised some serious thoughts about the missing 'values and respect' for true and refined love among today's younsters.

One aquaintance of mine who is in his early twenties asked me

"How did you fall in love?"...
"How should one fall in love?"...

Well...I thought it was a very basic question arised out of curiosity and answered them in a very simple manner.

The guy shooted next:

"All that is fine.I want somebody to love.tell me how to go about it..."

I said "Look love is not something that you can search for.It happens,It is not executed.Now what kind of person do you think would be a perfect match for you?"

He replies "I dunno...".
!!!!!!!!!!!

Though this cannot be taken as the representation of the entire cluster of youngsters ,Iam afraid majority of them dont have an understanding or even the patience to try to understand the morals and the clarity they need to have while they are in search for their soulmates.

The worrisome aspect is, most of them do it as an activity which arises out of peer pressure,the intangible and imaginary image that they would like to create amidst their friends(A friend is not a good friend when he puts unethical pressure),the pleasure of company for pubs-discotheque-eatouts-movies.These kind of picks gets soporific over a period of time.The taste changes.A chick in a sun dress short skirt and simple top might be a better company for a party than a denim clad one.The same is the case with guys.A friday freak might look appealing than a gizmo lover.

The repercussions of these kind of amorous behaviour can lead to dangerous outcomes if taken one step ahead as a physical relationship.

Some say that we(Indians) are in transition phase.The trend of someway somehow trying to 'Sleep first',then later say 'I do' to the one whom you feel çompatible for your life has sprouted.Here,the person with whom you sleep need not be the one whom you marry.According to this transition culture, marriage and pre-marital sex are two independent identities.For them marriage is a too high a price to be paid for a one night stand.

Dear younsters in transition phase....

Trying to move out of the cultural boundary,it is important how you feel about sex personally.It is like when you are hungry, you eat garbage or you wait for the right food.You are indulging in an activity which is described as 'Fornication' in bible.All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body.Guilt, embarrassment, distrust are the emotional effects of premarital sex.You will have to live with a guilt factor of hiding it from your life-partner.Your life journey will be directionless and you are fooling yourself.

Leading a life of fulfillment is not merely sex.But also complete understanding between the partners and also raising of a loving and harmonious family.In India,marriage is still taken as an institution where not only two people but two families get united.Few quotations or statements cannot describe the pedestal that India holds in the world map because of its colorful and unique culture.

By all logical reasoning, it is not possible to achieve this sense of fulfillment if the mind is grossly engaged in guilt of commiting a pre-marital sex affair, for it means leading an unfocussed life.


Saying a big NO-NO to pre-marital sex is an ideal and right step towards leading and living life with a sense of purpose,fulfillment.

Disclaimer:

This blog is written on the basis of lifestyle of some young adults in the city I reside and the study conducted by National Institute of Health and Family Welfare,Indian health ministry.Thanks to my hubby for his inputs.The title of this blog has been has been changed after a discussion with him.

Thoughts from heart

There are few instances in everyone's life that influences them for better.I pen down this blog based one some personal realisations.

-Every moment is precious and love makes it more worthier.

-Love is of all passions the strongest,for it attacks simultaneously the head,the heart and the senses.

-Love is an electric blanket with somebody else in control of the switch.

-In the arithmetic of love one plus one equals everything and two minus one equals nothing.

-In the game of love,your mind might win temporarily but your heart is the final winner.

-Love makes you realise, as a person ,how strong you are and how weak you are.

-Tears from the eye is the natural stimuli that your heart signals.Take care to see that you dont see it in your partner's eyes.Atleast dont be the reason for causing it.

-A small note of appreciation can be the best gift to your partner.Learn to appreciate.

-Get busy loving your partner and there by you are living your life to the fullest :)

Live mint article and my comment

Check the article and the comment that I have posted.

http://www.livemint.com/2009/08/27220957/When-will-the-BrahminBania-he.html

Weekend Recipe

This weekend vegetable poricha kootu was the highlight of my cuisine.

This is a simple yet spicy ,tasty and goes well with pudhina thuvaiyal.

Ingredients:-
snake gourd- 1 cup (chopped into small cubes)

drum stick - 1 (chopped in to medium sized pieces)
Turmeric powder - 1/2 tsp
Salt to taste
Moong dhall - 2 or 3 tbsp (just fill the less than1/2 cup toor dhall with moong dhall).

For Grinding:-
Channa dhall - 2 tsp
Urad dhall - 2 tsp
Black pepper - 1/2 tsp(according to taste)
Coconut - 2 tbsp(can also use more but this is optional)
Cumin - 1/2 tsp
Red chillies - 1 or 2 (acc to taste)

Dhania - 1 tsp.

For Seasoning:-
Oil - 2 tsp
Mustard seeds - 1/2 tsp
urad dhall - 1/2 tsp
Curry leaves - few
Asafoetida powder - a pinch
Red chillies - 1 (optional).

Preparation:-

Pressure cook snake gourd with moong dal with a pinch of turmeric powder.Fry the Channa dhall,urad dhall,cumin,red chillies,dhania in one table spoon of oil and grind them in to a paste adding a little amount of water.

Add oil to a pre heated pan splutter mustard seeds,urud dall,curry leaves,asafoetida powder and red chillies.Add the choppped drum stick pieces in the pan and fry till it turns light brown.Take care to see that it is cooked well.Once it gets fried add the grinded paste and cook for one minute.Then add the steamed snake-gourd and moong dhall.Add salt to this according to the taste and boil it for few minutes.Garnish the leaves with coriander leaves.The spicy porichu kootu is ready.This goes well with steamed rice and pudhina chutney.

Adventure of my debit card

On Sunday we went to the atm near our home to withdraw some money.This is not something that is unusual.After all sunday night is the only time that we get to go for a walk and on the way we visit the atm.While setting out I comfortably handed over my debit card to my husband and while he asked if Iam carrying my pinky purse I was happy to reply "NO...."...He was supportive enough and placed my card in his wallet.We started walking in that silent night,full moon,pleasant breeze...I jus love this freestyle walk.Reached the atm I got the debit card,withdrew the money gave the card back to my husband.Did not fail to notice that he placed the money in his wallet and card in his shirt pocket..We came back home and I got the money from my husband.

Three days later I had to make some online transaction and I was reminding myself to finish it off as I might forget it.Logged on to my net banking , got in to the fund transfer section.
I had to fill the corresponding codes for the alphabets behind my card.Picked my purse and took the cover in which I usually place my debit card.I found only my credit card inside that.Ok let me check the other compartments of my purse.Hmmmm...No...My debit card is missing?..May be Lost?...
I was just trying to recollect... Did I pull out the card from the atm first of all..'yes'...did i place it back in my purse 'No'...I never carried it...Did I give it back to my husband?...Yes!!
Picked up the phone and dialled him...'My debit card is with you??...I din carry the purse with me ..The debit card must be in ur wallet?'...
HD replies 'Iam checking right now but I dont find it here...I would have given it back along with the money...' He was replying me amidst his busy schedule...'Ók I will check it again..' I hanged the phone.Started to look around if it is lying some where...it is in my hand bag...?!!...Not found anywhere..and I was like Oh My God!!

If at all it was in his shirt it must be in the place the shirt was washed and dried.
Suddenly I had an instinct to look in to the washing machine...Opened the safety glass door of the washing machine and found it was empty.Opened the window of the drying area where we used to dry the clothes...checked if it was lying in the portico area...No.
Then my mind started drawing the flowcharts for the next set of formalities with the bank.Calling them up and reporting the loss of the card,listing the pending financial transactions to be completed with my account.The entire online transaction gets blocked.The only way to withdraw money is to issue a cheque and I was running out of cheque leaflets.And the bank rule restrcits its customers to apply for a cheque leaf over the phone banking if you had applied for a new debit card which leaves me no other way but to visit my bank in person write an application explaining the entire incident ... Even if the card is found today there is no guarantee that it will not have any damage...and the atm will reject it and again it becomes invalid for usage.What a day!!
Meanwhile i thought to check HD's shirt once though the probability of the card residing in the pocket after a day in laundary basket,resisting the wash,spin and dry actions of the washing machine is very less..Even if it is found it must be in a very bad condition.I lost hope but still picked up his shirt from the wardrobe..Inserted my hands in his pocket and yes I found my debit card comfortably resting in the pocket and to my surprise it was not in a very bad condition.But still will it work in a atm?? will the electronic reader sense it correctly??
I logged in to my online account agin made some transactions online so that the withdrawal doesnt become an issue with the damaged card.
Walked in to the atm...praying almighty to make my card work...!!..Inserted...The bank screen
asked for the password,amount,yes/no for withdrawal slip...all answered the few seconds of wait...And atlast I could here the 'grrrrrr..' the sound of the bucks getting counted by the machine and I was relieved when I realised that my card works....!
Now back at home,writing this blog,with a blend of -relief , joy, guilty of not carrying a purse and being careless,wondering how the card survived...above all smiling at my hubby's shirt that held my card safely. ;-D

Counting my blessings

Thank God for Iam being blessed.
The ups and downs that moulds me.
The sweet and bitter sides and beyond.
The failures and success that positively builds me.
The love that makes my life meaningful.
The sky being the limit , the sea being my cradle.
Thank God for Iam being blessed.

Musings @ IOB

My visit to banks for transaction started sometime during my college days when I have fill up the fee chalan for paying the semester fees.Also I had been for quite a few occasions for deposits/withdrawl.Today I had a chance to visit IOB near my home for opening a safety locker.
Normally it is a given fact that locker facility is subject to availability,that too in a residential area where the residents would not prefer to take an auto/taxi to carry the valuables to the bank its evident that the number of applicants for the limited locker quota will be quite high.
Once I entered the bank I felt the atmosphere was pretty decent with chillness in air.I got reminded of my dad's office 18 years back where only the Regional Manager will have a air-conditioned cabin.Lots of infrastructural changes in GO's for good.
I walked towards a counter in front and enquired if i could get the details on availability of safety locker.The official incharge (he must be in his early 40's) in a fancy yellow t-shirt (when did Government offices bring this ''friday casuals" custom??) nodded his head from left-to-right.
I could'nt understand what he was trying to convey and asked "Iam sorry,I need to open a safety locker.Dont you have that facility?"...Now he raised and lowered his head...Now , I wondered if he dint know how to reply in english.I admit that I was not good enough to phrase the question in hindi.But the way he responded through action irritated me and I was like "Oh My God!!"
After a few seconds he told "ab yahan lockers khali nahin hai...apko chahiye tho usko puchiyae"
(There are no lockers available now...If you want enquire that person)
The seat he showed was empty....I asked "kahan he woh?"...He said "abhi ayega"...
I had no other choice but to wait...I asked "Locker open karne keliye application form hain...chahiye muje"...he said "Usko puchiye...muje maalum nahï"..
Whaatay response that too when there were only 2 to 3 customers waiting in the bank.
After sometime the concerned person walked to his seat...he was on a mobile phone call ...I waited till he hung and and approached his desk...I repeated the same set of questions and dint get any extra information.I was jus asked to open a savings a/c.Then I will have to apply for a locker.
Now my interaction with people in a metropolitan city like Mumbai has taught me few things.
* Try to make your conversation in Hindi though your grammar is not good as long it makes sense.
*Never expect a salesman , a government official or any one who portions out his work mainly in such conversations to talk/reply in English.
*Be patient enough till you get your work done be it an enquiry @ a bank / negotiation with a vegetable vendor.
*Learn Hindi.Its an easy way to survive.Teaching English /Expecting this major junk of people to talk in English would be a daunting task.

VenPongal and Sambhar

Back with a traditional cuisine...

What else will it be other than the tradional most important VIP menu ...?

Ven Pongal and Sambhar...!!

Bon Appetite ;-D