In search of a bear hug

Sometimes, I feel superior to everyone else. Happens pretty often. It's not always a wonderful feeling, but it's not terrible either.

People advise. But you don't want it. People sympathise. But you don't want that either. People try to get into your shoes - but hell, it's not one size fits all.

There are stories and there are stories. Some aren't mine to tell. Some are, but I don't want to tell them - not to everyone, maybe not even to anyone. So many stories, and yet the ones you record, aren't quite real. Fiction is so much happier and just than real life - so much easier to understand.

I wish my father were Baloo the Bear. But he's not. And life goes on.

Tea

There's something special about earthen pots and ginger tea - something that goes missing in the mug. Except that one time on a bandh day when the chaiwala puts his all into pleasing his solitary group of customers with the steaming brown liquid in a dettol-washed glass.

The bhaanrs are so hot to touch, that all concentration is on not dropping the tea - you don't want to get scalded. You blow softly over the surface, wondering if some khaari biscuits with coconut stuffing could be an add-on. You sip slowly, gingerly, taking care not to burn your tongue. The sips get larger, till you're left emptying the contents down your throat. And then you tilt the bhaanr and strain for the last drop.

It's peaceful.

There should be more things like this.

Untitled

What's great about a blog, is that if you word it right, no one will guess what you're really talking about. I guess, the written word does offer a sense of privacy that the spoken one tends to take away.

Yesterday I entered a condom store and emerged out with a bed pan. Today I spoke to a man who feels like a woman.

It's been an eventful month minus the value judgements.

PS: Today's my 1-year anniversary. Gifts are welcome. Cash please.

PSS: Also the famous Chomu Kunda's budday.

Bad month blues

This has been a terrible month. And its my birthday month also. Things have been so bad, that they can't possibly get very much worse. I'm exhausted to the littlest mitochondriums in my system. I need a 1-month holiday. But my official leaves are soon going to be fucked up completely. And I currently have no money to call my own. Sigh. So much to think about. So much to stress you out. Life at 25 doesn't seem like fun at all.

Welcome to my official quarter-life crisis.

On the bright side, at least my favourite season is here.

Unofficial Review: Madly Bangalee

The official review of Madly Bangalee is up on ILK. Here comes the link: http://www.ilovekolkata.in/index.php/Movies/-Madly-Bangalee-A-review.html

Roshni I think did a hell of a good job in the movie. That's really what she should be doing. More than anything else. I got all teary-eyed and very proud seeing her in some of the scenes in the film. I'm secretly glad I didn't get to meet her after the movie, I wouldn't have been able to say a word. It's kind of hard to put it into words, but I'm very very very proud of her. (But for future reference, it's kinda weird sitting next to mother of actor-friend when a steamy or even vaguely steamy scene is on. To be avoided.)

Btw... my unofficial review is that the film is lovely. It's complex but seems managed so simply. And I adore the songs. Neel Dutt - who cares if you look like a cartoon character I don't quite remember - some of those songs are unbelievable.

Watch the movie for:
1) The scene with Neon and his drunk father, where old man tells his son to stay away from addiction.
2) Anjan Dutt. Especially the first song he sings. The dancing with Lew Hilt is lotsa fun.
3) Neel's songs and everyday scenes from Kolkata - Dharmatala, AJC Bose Road Flyover seemed quite popular.
4) Baaji's religion-identity speech & the scenes with Benji and Joy's mother.
5) My friend is in it!
6) My another-friend is in it. See if you can spot her.

Fresh beginnings

I'd like to start over. For everything. Like going to the start of the race again, despite having run a third already. Like ending a mobile Sudoku game midway because it's not going to be a Hall of Fame score this time anyway, so why not start anew with a record-breaker in sight.

There's this official review that I have to write tomorrow. Will follow it up with an unofficial one - I'd like to. One of my bestest friends is in the movie - and jolly good in it too.

Para 2 is not related to Para 1. Just more of my disjointed thoughts.

In Thane, I once saw a rainbow - the whole deal - from end to end. I wrote about it somewhere, don't remember where. But if ever there was a message from God, this was it. I don't know what the message was, just that not everyone gets to see the whole rainbow stand atop a field for almost 15 minutes while you walk towards it, and it takes its time, but it slowly fades away.

In Thane, there was this star that I used to look at. I don't see it here. The pollution keeps it hidden away.

In Kolkata, there's this Rooster that crosses my road everyday. Yesterday he was with a hen, and my day was goodish. Today, he shat while crossing - I think that wasn't such a good omen.

I like

Gloomy weather. I like.
Barely-there drizzles. I like.
Empty houses. I like.
Episode after episode of Criminal Minds. I like.
Packets of Cheetos to go with it. I like.
I just wish I could find some chocolates somewhere.
Then life would be almost perfect.