Change is a Rule.

In one of my old posts dated June 8, 2009 Guys vs Gals I remember having expressed a very negative ideology towards the concept of 'marriage' and I wrote and meant the following lines whole heatedly "At-times when I imagine myself away from my house, my family, my world... living out there with some god damn stranger... I feel can there really exist some 'heart-less' creature who will be so damn heartless to take me away??!!". This post and in-particular these lines caught a lot of attention and my dear once constantly tried to change my ideas both online and offline.

I have always considered myself very lucky and blessed to have such a wonderful family for myself. And much to the contrast of what I presumed earlier, I didnt really need any 'heart-less' creature to take me away from my paradise. It was the need of the hour, the hunt for a successful life and my very own hard-work that took me away from my house, my family, my world... for my own good. Am happy now, no doubts there. The self made world of mine with my future shining brightly in front of me like a guiding star, with my present like a fortress under construction and with my past like a steady staircase... couldnt have been more perfect.

Am on a vacation now and it feels good to be home. But its not the same thing like I expected it to be. I kinda feel more like a stranger in my own house and less like a part of it. My study room felt nothing like before and there was no trace of my books, yeah I took them all with me but still I didnt expect all of it to be gone. My cupboard had just my winter coats, mufflers and gloves which I left home considering I wont need them in B'lore. Dad actually had to 'make space' for my cloths. I actually had to ask mom for the location of the spices in the kitchen. Ayu had to adjust her schedule to spend time with me, another shocker for me, coz there were never two separate schedules.

When in hostel, there were times when I used to wake up from deep sleep and find myself alone there. I used to tell myself to calm down and assume that am on a holiday and will be going back home soon. Now the reverse assumption sounds more realistic. I realised it last month that the more I resisted 'change' the more dominating it became. My frequency of calling home greatly reduced in the recent past as rightly pointed by my lab mate, Venkat. My friends noticed me talking less of 'Delhi' and wanting to explore more of 'Bangalore'. Unlike earlier where I used to call my relatives to campus, I have started going out of campus to visit my relatives place by myself. Yes! I have finally learned to face the world 'independently' without any strings attached to it.

Subbu, my very old and very good friend told me that ever since I went to hostel, she has been very seriously following my blogs. She says my writings have improved and I have started writing very short n crisp things. I was just so glad to get to hear these words from her coz trust me, she is one of the most straight-forward person who can be so blunt that she can cut ur throat with her tongue. But its her honest and this straight-forward bindass attitude of hers that makes her so special. Its what is in her heart, that comes out of her mouth without any decoratives or accessories attached to it. Love u girl... keep rocking as always.

But am glad that even with time, some things dont change. When I went for a walk in Lodi garden after 4 months, I felt very happy to find familiar faces passing their friendly smiles and enquiring about my absence. The care, affection and concern of the dear once is a very precious treasure one can find. I felt good about the fact that - road side golgappas, haldiram's rajkachodi, U.P.S.E chat, Chandni chowk dahi balla, S.N alu chat, C.P's kachodi, Bengali sweeti's samosa, sadar bazar's bature chole, University's bus stop burger, Nirula's hot chocolate fudge and Golden bakery's pastries - tastes no less than heavens still!! Delhi roads and my dad's generosity in giving the car keys, both have broadened a lot and am loving it. My bro now fights less with me and lets me watch T.V for a longer time, knowing the fact that I dont watch TV in hostel. Mamma is making only my favorites and I am controlling the menu of the house. It is Happy Holidays Indeed ! !

Life is a blessing...

We have been taught from kinder garden to appretiate the small things in life and to always compare oneself with those who are less previlaged than us and to feel good about our status and position in life. But some lessons are learnt not from books but by the "real" experiences of life. Probably this is the reason why it used to be so facinating to listen to Grandma's stories coz they come out of "real" world and their philosophy is far more realistic and acceptable than some of the crap in books....

Am sitting in the balcony of my room... I have finally been shifed to a hostel room (was put up in a guest house before). This new room is really really awesome! The best part of it being the sit-out in the balcony. This is my "thinking place" and a little paradise in itself. Bro gifted me this huge teddy-bear which I call "Eddy-Teddy" for my room and am living a very comfortable life out here. The mess food though some-times boring, still is quite good and they try to be innovative and give real weird flavours of ice-creams at-times. My lab is one of the bests of IISc with an amazing supervisor who says "no for nothing". Have gotten real time good friends here and the fun n masti that we do, is inspiring me to write a novel on.

It was an usual saturday afternoon last week when I had been pulled out of bed by my stupid friends at 5:45 coz the tea time in mess is (4:30 to 6). Very half heartedly and with a heavy head I managed to reach the mess constantly cursing my stupid but very caring friends. There we went to our favourite corner near the window and I was gradually coming outta my sleep hangover when I found 4 children looking at us from the window. Must have been the children of the mess workers, I thought. They noticed me noticing them and asked me to pass them bread. Before I could react, Chandu went and got them a pile of bread with jam on top of it. They were happy and ran away.

This incident ignited a spark and a heated arguement began on 'how good was that act'? I didnt understand 'what is bad there'. This is what we have always been taught right, to help the poor. After all its just a matter of a few slices of bread, something which is available in mess everytime and no one touches it. But different people have different perspective and it takes no time for a discussion to take a turn to arguement with things moving from east to west to north to south. People feared these kids will get to this bad habit of begging for their food and will start disturbing and irritating other people in mess. There are days when we ourself are so busy that we just get time to slip in one sip of tea n rush back, who got the time to even pass on that one single bread.

I never saw those children near the mess again, I dont know what happened. But then isnt it sad that there r children who really really are so miserable. I on the other hand, doing nothing but just studing am earning a handful and living a very comfortable life. Trust me if I say my new room is big enough to accomodate a poor family of 4 members. If I really start looking down at people who are lower in status and position than me, am afraid I will start feeling so chocked and guilty that I wont be able to enjoy an ounce of my life.

All I can say is that am just happy that my life is like the way I wanted it. I have a family back there who have been really supportive of my decisions and dont fail to push me to greater heights. I have friends who truely honestly deserve and fit in all the millions and trillions of definition of the word 'friends'. I have been under such fine superwising eyes that their inspiration and words of wisdom are more than enought for this birth of mine and last but not the least, the dear almighty who perhaps is really very fond of me :)

Tit-Bits

Every single day brings with it a bunch of "weird incidents" which have a stupid, ironic, sarcastic sense of humor associated with it. The weirder the incident it, the more tempting it is to share. With work going on full swing, these days am hardly finding time to sit with my friends and chit-chat like I used to do. My little group here makes it a point to sit together for dinner and share all such "interesting" incidents... believe me, this 1 hr time that we sit around chit chatting in the mess, makes us forget the world around us and the giggles and laughs leaves us very light-hearted and happy. Today I just though of jorting down a few such incidents...

As I was walking down a lane near the library, with my eyes stuck on the beautiful half-crest moon....

STRANGER: "Excuse me! There is a snake ahead. Very small one, just be careful."

my mental dialogue "wattttt.... run stupid.. run back home!!!"

ME : "Thx. I wil manage."

If I were in Delhi, I would have been sure this is one of those school time April fool trick but I know here it is not a joke. I stayed glued to that place and when I was sure that the stranger was out of site, I took a u-turn and took the long route.


It was Chipkali's informal frehsers party when she was asked to represent Karnataka state (she is a Bengali btw). So the ragging begins... she is on stage with mike.

Seniors : So tell us, wat is Karnataka famous for?

Chipkali : err.... well... I read about Karnataka yday... it is very famous for silk.

Senior : and?

Chipakali : And its a great tourist spot and is even called the "City of gardens".

Senior : and?

Chipkali : it has a very rich culture.

Senior : education wise?

Chipkali : Ohhh ! ya it has a very famous university and a huge number of students.

Senior (frustrated now!) : where r u standing?

Chipkali : On stage ..... (damn confused!)

Senior (banging tthe head) : which campus is this?

Chipkali (finally the bulb glow) : Oh! ya ha.... Karnataka is famous for IISc :)

Senior : Thank you!

Venue : Ashwini hostel room. Time : 2 a.m

Bang! Bang! Bang!!

Vardini : Shruti?? U can sleep here if u r missing mom

Me : Noo its not that... I found sumthing.

2 more voices from inside : who is it?

Vardini : Its Shruti and she looks pale.

the 2 voices : Yaar U can sleep here is u r missing mom

Me (Frustrated!) : No am not missing mom... I mean I am but thats not wat I came for. I saw just now that our ID card is valid upto 2016... I cant stay here for 6 years!

Chandu (speaking without opening eyes) : Look at the brighter side, u wil surely get a PhD by 2016

Me : U kidding me? I will die single! Who will ever marry me?

Chandu : Look at the brighter side, it will save someone's life.

Me : Ya sure! U guys r sick... this place sucks.. god damn wat the hell am I doing here? I wanna go home!! (sob! sob!)

Chorus : Tea board chaleen? Strong black tea???

Me : Yes please!

One fine afternoon I was lazing around in my room watching K2H2 for the 300th time when the phone rang (unknown number)

ME : Yes?

OTHER SIDE : Shruti, this is Prof. Krupanidhi here

me stood up n froze... thats my guide!!!!

OTHER SIDE : where are u?

ME : ssssssiiiirrrrrr... aaaammm aammm in roooooom.... nnoooo cuuureeennntt innn lllibbbraary....

OTHER SIDE : come to lab.

This one incident became the biggest joke in my group and each time we cross library, some one or the other will say "no current in library" and I will go pink!


Chandu : Today I reached class at 11.

ME : wow! on time today... so finally u broke the record of going 10 min late?

Chandu : When I entered the class, everyone was staring at me. I didnt understand why and went and sat in the last bench when a girl turned back n wispered, class almost about to get over where were u?

ME : lol !!!

Damn !!

No I dont wanna complain anymore... I got all that I possibly wanted, so I guess I dont really have the rights to complain? How many actually make through their dreams? I did, so why am I still whining? Is there sumthing terribly wrong with me or I always always wish for the wrong things? But whats so wrong with this? Naaaaaaa.... nothing... nothing really.... But is it really worth all the sacrifices that am making? Wait a minute, am I really sacrificing anything? Whats wrong with me?

Last Wednesday I had a class at 8:50 in the morning. Was watching a movie the other night so couldnt get up early. Mom as usual called up at 7:30 to wake me up but then I disconnected the call as a 'response'... my alarm went 'buzzzzzzzzzz' at 8 n it was snoozed by me for 15 minutes. Atlast when I got up, it was 8:30. Had a quick shower, no time for breakfast and grabbed the cycle n rushed to class. The class quite unusually was damn boring, ah! Vasu sir is one of my favourites, how can I possibly be sleeping in his class sitting in front bench? whatever... after the class had sum work in office, then went to mess for lunch and then again class... when I finally came back to my room at 6 in the eve, I was shocked to see the mess I had created in the morn. Yeah I was in a hurry but then 'gosh! it was really a bad site'.

So tired as I was after the long day, I just threw the bag into one corner, switched on the lappy n played my fav playlist named 'random', threw all the cloths scattered on my bed into the laundry bag and went back to sleep. 'Thak Thak Thak'.... damn! one more enemy of my sleep arrived at the door...

"Ek min!!, am cuming..."

"jaldi khol n khane chal, I have to submit an assignment tmrw"

Ah! that was Chandu, its the same story with everyone here, so I shouldnt be mad at my fate. So there I went off to dinner and from there to the library... and before I realized, it was past 12 and the new day had started.

Its been almost 2 months now since I came here and believe me if i say "A hell lot of things have changed!!!". I dont know if am liking it or not but I guess I dont really have any choice with this. When I was scared about moving out of home, my mom held me close to her and said "we humans have a great quality of adapting to the changing situation and environment. Dont worry, u will get used to." I opened up my arms for the new changes of my life and got ready to face my life all by myself but I dont know y am feeling too lonely and bored today. During my initial days, I used to call up home 5 times a day... gradually the frequency kept reducing and now I call home once in a day and rarely talk for more than 15 minutes. Saturdays and Sundays are devoted to cleaning room and washing cloths and finishing assignments.

Its scary to think that I will be living this same life for a long tenure of 5 to 6 years... I dont know when I will get the leave to go to home... I dont get time to miss anyone, but still I wish they were all here. I dont get time to relish the food, but still I wish I get to eat home food. I dont get time to write much these days, but still I wish that my friends get to read my blogs.

I asked for independence but I dont know from where this loneliness creeped in. Did I really wish for anything wrong? Is my crying and whining by any means justified?

Jungle mein Mangal

The IISc Life....


Am having a big time fun these days and the past 2 weeks were just amazing!! New place, new people, new friends... its all kinda very adventerous and thrilling. Mom came with me to drop me here esentially coz I wasnt very confident of travelling alone. She left last tuesday and when it was just 10 minutes left for her train departure, I called her up and cried worst than a little baby. She was trying her best to get me back to senses but I was in no mood to listen to her and cried like hell but that was it. After that day, I didnt shed one more tear thinking am away from home.

On my arrival, I was alloted a guest room in a girls hostel block named 'Ashwini'. I stayed there for 3 days and that was supposed to be a four seater room but till the time I was in that room, only one more girl moved in. Chandreeyee, Harivardini and Preeti were my ex-roommates and they made me feel a lot good about this place and never gave me a chance to miss my home and friends. Though am moved to a single seater guest room now, but still I do drop in their room very frequently and we have long long nite chats. Marsha is one more friend of mine, but more than a friend she is like an elder sister who takes real good care of me. After the dinner, we 5 go on long walks in the campus and never realise how the time passes.


Batch mates and seniors are very helpful and kind. All the faculty members and office staff kept enquiring about my comfort level in the campus for a few days and all seem very friendly. I need to finish 12 credit course-work for this degree and my guide has asked me to finish them off in one sem so that I can start my research from next year. Though the course-work is hectic and 12 credits is a hell lot to be done in this short span of time, still going by my mom's words - there are just 2 rules :

Rule 1. Boss is always right
Rule 2. If u think he is wrong, refer to Rule 1.

So that more-or-less settles the matter. Classes have started in full swing and life is quite hectic. I like the kinda teaching they do here - its all digital class rooms and u dont need to carry pen and paper unless u r too addicted to writing. Proffessors give their ppt and send the presentation through e-mails so one dont really need to waste time in writing down every word spoken, and the presentations are so well done that they fullfill the basic need of making notes. Out of the four papers I have to do, 3 are core subjects and one is elective and I cant stop praising my proffessors for the kinda people they are and for the amount of efforts they take in getting things to our heads. And the best part is even the obvious and silliest doubts is appretiated and acknowledged by these mighty people who have such a great stand in the society.

My eating and sleeping timings have been greatly affected by the rigid mess timings but the good food in mess calls for adjustments. Last friday when my M.Sc results came out, there was this huge celebration in my group and Chandreeyee got me a big Diary mink chocolate for my out-standing result (as she called her). And that day in mess we got Pastries with tea so that was one surprised big time celebration we all had. It was as if the whole IISc campus was rejoicing my results :) Hostel life is kinda fun and hanging out in gymkhana at nite is one of my fav thing. Last week we saw DDLJ in our campus hall that lasted till 1 at nite and it seemed like we are all watching it for the first time.

I bought myself cycle a few days back as it is the most widely used transportation mode in the campus. We go around to near by places like Matikere, Yeshwantpur and Malleshwaram in cycle and five girls riding cycles in main road is sure a site. We giggle around all through the way and do hell lot of window shopping. Its a different kinda life here... restricted without restrictions. Ofcourse friendship gets a different definition in hostel and one gets more social and caring about the other coz everyone needs support. These days I hardly get time to feel bored or sad about anything. Am loving my life like never before and am having a real good time.... Yipeeeeeeeee!!

A walk to Remember.

Following is a letter addressed to the 3 Angels of my life : Ayushi, Ajay and Abhishek



Dear Friends,

Yeh jo Life hai na Life, its a long long long journey which starts with our 'Birth' and ends with our 'Death'. During this journey we pass through various paths, some are smooth and we move fast but sometimes we come across very rough roads and slow down speed. We lose our direction, get lost at-times, get help and guidance, sit down in a corner to relax, ask for lift and do all that is possible to make our journey a success. We met each other coz we walked the same path for sometime. Ur company gave me the strength to move on... my journey became so smooth and interesting that I didnt realise how time flew off..!! But now my path is changed and am moving away from U all.

Today when I left home to come to Department, I thought I will need to walk back home alone. But then u made my last day such a wonderful memory. I know u all expected me to break down and get senti but I didnt wanted that. I wanted u all to remember my smiles and not my tears. U guys are real gems in my possession and have always stood by me. How do u ever expect me to to tell u in few words as to what u mean to me.

Ajay, I have always appretiated ur 'all positive, no negetive' attitude. When ever u feel low, u always call me and am just too glad that I could be of ur help in ur low days. This was one reason why I used to pick ur phone in roaming also coz I knew that u just needed to talk and get motivated urself. U have a great talent in urself that u can keep urself happy. Trust me, this is one of the greatest art of living. To be happy is a very difficult thing and am glad u have a good hand at it. Your best quality is ur caring attitude and I have seen how genuinely u wish for my well being. I know I have been very rude to u sometimes but trust me, that was for ur own good. U took a note of my words and improved urself and that was a great thing. I will always remember ur words 'open eyes, open mind'... u have been really encouraging and never fail to lift up spirits with ur positivity... keep moving ahead. U rock!

Abhishek, I thought today u r gonna cry when u were waving me good bye from metro... we have become so close in this short span of time that our bond (vander-wall) has really strengthened. I remb u said u want to become my 2nd dushman... tab mazaak laga tha but am really gonna miss u a lot. More coz we had spent so much of time together. Every evening when I used to 'walk and talk' with u back to metro station from department, it used to be so refreshing. As if poore din ka chapter close ho gaya and I used to go home so light hearted. U used to listen to all my problems and advice so nicely. I know at-times I have behaved very stubbornly and have ignored ur advices so openly but u know me na... mein thode ziddi category ki hi hoon. U have been a great friend and I know tujhe kitna akela lag raha hoga abhi but yaar this is life, tune hi bola tha na. As u have instructed me, "any small or big problem, I will surely call up even at 2 a.m. I wont get carried away and wont trust others easily. And will try not to cry in front of everyone. Wont do lots of masti, will stay in limits and will concentrate on studies and will be good". U can stop worrying about me and I promise to mail u my updates very very frequently. Kabhi akele feel mat kariyo, am there with u in ur thoughts :)

And I do remember "Mann ka ho toh achha, na ho toh aur bhi achha - Harivansh Rai Bachchan"

Ayu, Today was ur joining and I didnt accompany u in the morning. Reason being, I wanted u to start off this new phase of life independently. But more than lab, u spent the day with me. I know its going to be very tough for u to go to that place without me daily. As u said, its tougher than a breakup. U could have handled that better but this has dropped too hard on u and I completely understand. Jaana hai yaar... ab yahaan mann nahi lagega. It will take u some time, kitna yeh toh mein bhi nahi jaanti but am sure u will get over this. A friend like u is a god's blessing really. Even before I told u, u knew am disturbed and over reacting, hai na? See tabhi toh... its so tough. As I told u once, friendship is when silence between two person becomes comfortable. And as far as our case is concern, am sure we can spend years together sitting silently besides each other. But is this practical? Once ur work starts, u will get so engrossed in it that u wont get so much time to miss me. I know how dedicated u r to ur work. It wont be really so hard when u get work in hand. Dont even think of leaving Ph.D. U will have to do it, for me and for ur family. U r not a coward to think like that and I have huge expectations from u so u better not disappoint me.

Dont worry about me, I will be good there and yeah I will defiinitly keep u updated with even my smallest to smallest troubles. Even agar toothpaste khatam ho gaya toh before going to market, I will inform u. I do remember all ur advices and will try to follow them. No seriously. I know u always feel that I dont listen to u but thats not true, I always do listen yeah but dont implement always. Now toh we have our own respective laptops so staying connected wont be such a huge trouble but for the time factor. Dont miss me much, and make new friends. U still have people around, mere liye kaun hai?

I know how lucky am to have met such wonderful people like u in my life. I know am going a little far from u all but will always stay in touch. Had a great time today and the past 2 years... Go ahead and walk in ur path with head high up. Am sure our paths gonna meet again very soon and we cant help cherishing these moments. Will miss u all.

Lots of love,
One and only,
Shruti :)

All 4 SuccesS !

IIT Delhi or IISc was a tough choice. It was almost like 'family' or 'career'.

Maybe I actually am exaggerating things (like many ppl told me) or maybe am indeed a very very sensitive creature but what ever the fact is, am very disturbed. I have always argued that a human is not a human if he is not sensitive. I felt am killing my own sweet "sentiments" sumthing that I valued a lot. The mental dialogues, the constant questions, the dead line for admission, the "what have u decided" messages, the unwanted advices, the unacknowledged opinions... all were driving me crazy. I needed the time to stop for me. I wanted the world to freeze for sumtime so that I can think. I dont want dead-lines for my thoughts. I wanted to spend as much time with my family as possible and then go and join IISc. I know thats the best for my career and thats a reward for the hardwork that I have put in all these years. I got IISc coz I knew I deserved that. Saying a 'no' would have meant insulting my own labour and that would have been the height of injustice one can do to one self.

I was happy for myself. I appreciated my achievement but couldn't rejoice it. One option would have been so much better. I shortlisted these two out of the many other options I had and that was easy. But after this point, things took wild turns. When I talked to my parents, they left the final decision on me. I remember 5 years back when I was dying to get into a veterinary college, my dad just did not allow me coz I had no veterinary college here in Delhi and now when I secretly wanted him to repeat the history, he had other plans. The ironical part of the whole situation was my dad's phone call early morning on the day of my IISc interview. To my surprise he called and said "I know u r not serious about today's interview. IIT is good but this is the best. Dont joke around. I need u in there."

IISc was solely my decision. Yeah it was dad's push that got me through, u c am habitual of listening to my dad's words. It helped this time. Mom remained silent throughout the picture. She knew my mind and many other cross links. She trusts me and my decisions a lot and never creates hurdles in my life. Bro sumhow intuitively knew well before me, as to what am gonna decide on. He just simply asked me to keep in touch and not to forget to send rakhi every year. But yeah I know he is the one who is gonna miss me like hell. I should have never strengthened this bond with him. He is my life - world - everything and I dont know how am gonna manage without him. Frankly speaking am really feeling very scared as to whats gonna happen.

I remember when I came back home from interview in Bangalore, my little cousin (9th grade) asked me why am upset when the interview had gone well. I said "I don't know how I will live without mom, u c I cant sleep unless she lays down by my side for 10 minutes." He laughed and made fun of me and I realized that am really grown up a hell lot to say those words. Washing cloths is one more problem, I never did that before. When I was working out the hostel life in my mind, I realized the 'princess' life am leading and the unmeasurable amount of love and pampering am receiving. Its certainly gonna be difficult for this princess to step down a little and wash cloths, clean room and eat the cold hostel food. IIT certainly had its own advantages!

Ayu is another precious gem I will be leaving and going. Am so used to her always being there with me that I dont know who is gonna solve my problems next. Am sure I being a poor eater will be very casual with food if she is not around I will end up sleeping empty stomach... damn... y cant every one be as good as her. All my friends are here, I wonder if I wil get any good people there, but it will never be the same thing again. Ah! Delhi... am gonna miss u lots.

The IISc campus was one big attraction, that one place had more trees than cement and the place looks beautiful! It was like a dream where there are benches in the heart of a forest and cold breeze flowing and lifting up the spirits. That place has a charm and lots of positive energy and ofcourse some magnetic powers thats mesmerisingly attractive. I fell in love with that place at the first sight. My department (MRC) had some very fine professors / scientist of the country all doing amazing work! I got a chance to talk to a few of them and each one seemed more down-to-earth and simpler than the other. It was as if the competition is for who is nicer and not for who is bigger. When the acting chairman told my dad "Dont worry, she will be safe here", I dont know about dad but I sure did stopped worrying.

Am all set to leave for Bangalore by this month end. Am happy that I have finally 'decided' on one thing. I know for all this is the right decision and maybe I will learn to handle the emotional storms sooner. I have to grow up like everyone else does and take my responsibility... I just hope things dont get too hard on me. Feeling very good after writing all this down. So badly needed an outburst. At-times like this when I really 'need' to talk, I cant find a better medium than my page. Bangalore, here I come :) :)

D Family Bond

Hmph! Finally some time off for myself after almost a full month of hectic schedule... I wonder y life has to be so tough... how so ever hard I try to take time out to relax, it seems just impossible to manage things. The higher u climb the success stairs, the farther u move away from the comfort bed lying in the ground. Am tired of saying am tired, the daily grinding its eating me up now. They say "any idiot can handle crisis, its the day to day routine that worn one out"

Anyways talking about the 'hot happenings' of the last month, I had some amazing experiences and most of the part of it was 'fun to the core'. It was a cousin brother's wedding there in Chennai and I had an very good time with my family and little cousins. My bro is one of the members of the hugely populated 'South Indian > Engineer > NRI community' and he fortunately found his bride belonging to the same community. A lovely couple I must say (touch-wood) and I can bet that we cousins enjoyed their marriage more than they them-self would have.




The first and formost reason why I was dying to attend this wedding was that I badly badly needed a break and such social get-togethers are amazing excuses for the same. Secondly I wanted to display my very enthusiastically chosen 'blue saree', that I actually bought for some other function but due to unavoidable circumstances couldn't enjoy displaying it that time. Another reason was my interview in IISc which was scheduled at almost the same time, so right after having a very good time in Chennai, I went to Bangalore with a very fresh heart and mind to attend the interview of the top most research institute in India and luckily managed to maintain the same smile after the interview got over! So guess am in... now I need to choose between IIT-Delhi and IISc-Banglore. Both are having a huge list of good and bad points. IISc is the best but IIT is closer to house. Am getting almost the same topic and all guides are very good and well established people. Anyways not gonna talk about this confusion now, this post is dedicated to 'fun' and not 'work'.

So coming back to the fun part, all the naughty heads in one place sure results in pranks and leg-pulling. This is the time when age becomes no barrier and even nani and all older relatives enjoyed the stupid pj's we were cracking and all the funny frwd sms I was reading out to my cousins. There was a separate councilling session I organized for each of my cousins to make them feel more seriously about studies but that was of very short duration and not very explicitly done. It was just out of my habit and my concern about the kiddos. Other than that, the 'boss story' gonna be remembered by me for the whole of my life. We celebrated my IIT admission with 8 pet bottles of all the brands of soft drinks and 8 chips packets of all the possible flavors and made a mess in the AC room for which we had the keys. That was one big time celebration of my life. Yeah but then we had to clean up before we left the room for the elders.

Really had fun during the make up sessions, three girls > Saree > jewelery > make up kit > mirror > crazy!! The permutation and combination of jewelery, the saree setting act and react and reacted act and blah blah, the applying eye-liner then washing it and then starting again from moisturizer, then messing up with lipstick then scolding the little one then remaking the hair, carefully handling the glass bangles, fixing up hair styles, slipping off from the high heals every now and then, pushing each other back to see the mirror, adjusting and readjusting the damn saree.... every part of the 'getting ready' session was amazing and we three individually took more time than the bride, to get ready and didn't step out of the room till dad came knocking the door to declare that the ceremony is almost about to get over.

The food was perhaps a attraction for many. There was a huge variety of the typical south Indian food and trust me, the typical 4 course full meal needs lots of empty space in the stomach and we all had a real hard time to clean up the plate, errr... I mean leaf. I personally dont have much of a fascination for the south Indian cuisine and I prefer a simple roti dal anytime as compared to rice but then u don't get a menu list to decide in such functions. We all would have preferred the Mc.D burger over the heavy food but then we had our parents on our head and had to dig on the leaf. But anyways we tried hard not to waste food but the caterers dont leave you with much choice. When my Periamma asked me how was the food, I remember saying "Khila khila ke maar diya".

I would say this occation strengtened the family bond more tightly. With a busy life where even sibling dont get to see each other frequenly, its very difficult to keep in touch with cousins. But the amount of fun all of us had in 3 days is simply unmeasurable. We all met after a very long tiem and realised how much we have changed. All are scattered across the nation and keeping in touch at-times becomes very difficult but then maybe that is why we have festivals and functions for. It was hard for us when the masti got over and we all headed to our respective work places/ college/ school but then thats how Life goes right? If not for the regular days, the irregular days will lose charm :)

Life : The mystery.

Mr. Einsten is sure very convinced about the fact that 'God does not play dice' and he once quoted "I want to know God's thoughts; the rest are details."

As I grow up with life and experience the ups and downs, I realize the righteous of his words. This phase of my life where am living now, seems like a distant dream still so close. At times dreams come so closer to reality that one cant figure out if its a dream or reality. This is exactly what is happening to me, Now. There were days when I used to dream about standing in a huge seminar room giving a lecture and a huge crowd of audience present there listening to me so attentively. But those days I know I have to get up sooner and pack my bag and head towards college. That was a dream in dream... truly really a dream without a doubt. But now I have come so closer to this dream of mine that when I wake up, I get feelings like am almost there.

A few years back I was a simple sweet little under graduate student who was trying hard to establish herself in the society. Very low in confidence, shy, reserved these were possibly the most commonly used adjectives for me those days. But I grew, I evolved and I learnt. Yes am a changed and better person today and am really proud of myself for that. I possibly had the silliest reason to have joined a course on Physics, a subject which I never liked or enjoyed... But this silliest act of my life has turned out to be my wisest decision and within a month or two, I would be doing my Ph.D in this subject!

Ah! It feels good. I didn't get time to update here but I have cleared my CSIR-NET exam and have gotten the JRF. My All India Rank is 61, which is really very good and I wanted to thank all those friends and well wishers of mine who prayed for me. When my mobile was buzzing a day before exam and gmail inbox was receiving good luck cards, I really felt very happy releasing that I do have well wishers around and if not for them, this success would have been meaningless. Just one more exam to go and it will be the end of my M.Sc. Life's gonna take me higher to some bigger place and am really feeling very scared!

I cant express my emotions at this point of time. I stand at a road which is multi-laned and I need to chose the right path. I have options and more options and good options and better options and risky options and amazing options and wat not. All this is leading to a big time confusion and am really trying hard to keep my cool and to chose the best way. I have gotten interview calls from some of the finest IIT's and other research institutions but there are many factors to weigh on. I want a good guide, a good institution and a place closer to house. When there r so may factors, the priority list keeps shuffling and its leading tensions and stress! I don't know, I feel so torn apart these days, energy level running a big time low and head almost about to burst. Each day a new thing, a new news, a new offer and its adding to the confusions.

Life has been so hectic for me for the past 4 years and I badly needed a break after M.Sc for at-least a month. But guess am not gonna be blessed with that. There are many other unsolved issues hanging on my head and am just not able to handle all this. Feel like sitting and crying so badly... am so badly scared that I really feel like running away. But no! I have to face this. I will get back my confidence and will come up with some good news very soon.

Gonna miss this....

Farewells are perhaps the 'toughest' part of a human's life. At-times I wonder, why cant we stay with 'our' people forever. Come to think of it, it takes so long to establish a deep relationship and by the time the real bond gets established, its time to move on and make new bonds. Of-course making new bonds doesn't mean breaking the old once but yeah when the attention gets diverted, then maintaining a relationship becomes a bit difficult. Its so rightly said, making a relationship is much more easier than maintaining it and such maintained relationships make way for sum great friendships!!

When I firstly joined M.Sc, I didnt really knew why am doing it except for the fact that it was the only link btw B.Sc. and Ph.D and since I knew I wil b doing the latter, I had to join M.Sc. Getting into this department was a cake walk and I had a very strong passion towards Physics which drove me through this whole 2 years. Never intended to make friends here... all I wanted from this place was knowledge and mastery of this subject. My department is perhaps the most 'student-friendly' and we got quite a flexible system here. And the final year electronics lab sure rocks - No attendance, No record files... its just ur dedication and hard work that pulls u through.

First sem was quite tough getting adjusted to this new system, facing 200 new faces and trying to make a stand. Classical mechanics tut classes used to be so scary with nothing getting into head and there used to be hardly any interaction in classes except for exchange of tut answers. Recognizing group mates and sub-group mates took away our major part of first sem and when that was done, it was exam days and first sem got wrapped up very soon. Second sem was fun with all of us spreading our wings and seriously creating friend circle. Can never forget those days when me n Ayu used to solve quantum tut questions sitting in the metro or outside csl. That time our ruling equation was 'study=fun' and I really really enjoyed a lot with amazing subjects, amazing teachers and books.

Final year electronics lab was probably the best part of the whole M.Sc. and I enjoyed this phase much more than my graduation days. 'Wonderful people' are the real asserts of the lab. There were laughter, smiles, music, giggles, tears, romance, irritations, frustrations... probably all the emotions you can think about, we experienced all of them in this one lab. A place which I would always remember having enjoyed the most. There is sumthing strange about this lab, before stepping inside the door everyone will b laughing and giggling and will be full of energy but as soon as one steps in, all the energy would have disappeared as if there are energy suckers fixed in the entry door and these energy suckers gives us our energy back when we step out.

Every group in the lab had a tale of its own and we were all far far from perfection but I always felt that my group was probably the 'best' among all the others since I never faced all those strange problems that my other friends faced. 'Friends' ya I got them from this lab. Real gem of people.... gosh! I wonder how can people actually be so good and caring. If not for these people, M.Sc. would have been a terrible experience but thanks to them, it turned out to be very exciting and fulfilling. All those small little things... 'apna adda', gol-gappa mess in class, Holi celebrations, photo sessions, after-result side effect, trouble-shooter family, make up sessions, the 'blue-liquid' party, the many movies, the mast gossips, the problem-solution series, internal exam preparation, CSL hangouts, zoobi-doobi dance, My smilies n kamla nagar mkt, jai javan chowmine, walk to metro station, deep fried burger treat.... memories! memories!! How badly i want them to stay forever....!!

I remember telling Ayu a month ago "Its not the people, its the time". But guess I was wrong. I always valued 'time' more than 'people' but now I feel mayb its the 'people' who make 'time' so special. I will always be very grateful to all these friends of mine and am not mentioning their names coz I know they dont need me to. Its a dual way path and I have always tried my best to give twice as much as I take but if unknowingly I have hurt any one of u, then I wil take this chance to apologize for that. U guys rock and I can never thank god enough to have brought people like you into my life. U all have taught me, and I learnt. U cared for me, and I acknowledged . U made me laugh, I felt happy. U supported me, and I needed it. U payed for food, I ate it. U solved tut sheets, I copied it. U made me study, I made faces. U asked me to write a blog, I did it :) :)

Standing out in crowd

What will you call a girl who lives to eat… who is born as a ‘momma’… whose face is a pure reflection of her mind… who goes wild on the DJ beats… who suddenly starts singing and dancing on road… who just don’t like the crowded buses… whose bag is always loaded, be it the starting or the ending of semester… who gets damn angry when someone ignores her… who is silly enough to announce her stupid crush to the whole world… who maintains a meticulously completed class notes so that others can easily get it photocopied… who just don’t have the tolerance for negative things… who hates corruption and dishonesty… who wants things to be just ‘clear’, whatever it may take… who gets dreamy and goes to the dream world given a chance, but is quick enough to return to earth once shaken… who understands my unexpressed emotions and has learnt enough to take care of me without mine asking for help… well, I call her AYU.

Its been almost 5 years now… we met on the first day of admission in our under grad college. She imitates the first meeting scene so well, me the serious nerd walk over to her and says “excuse me, black pen hai”. Never expected this kinda friendship that time… the kind of friendship that we share, its very difficult to put in words. We are always together, to the extent that in our Dept. people actually get confused with our names and its nothing unusual when ppl call me as Ayushi n her as Shruti.

A variety of people come and go through our lives but only a few touches our heart and those few leave their impact on our lives. This girl has influenced me and supported me through my think and thins. When I turn back and imagine myself without this solid support, I shiver thinking how my life would have been. There were tough days and I have been the reason for her precious tears falling on ground but then if not for those days, I wouldn’t have gotten a chance to wipe them off and get her radiant smile back on place. I have tortured her a lot by not letting her take leaves, making her work in lab when she will be in absolutely no mood for that, openly showing disinterest in a few topics which she classifies as ‘interesting’, stopping her from eating all those road side junks that she considers ‘heavens’, scolding her rudely and badly for her little mistakes which now I feel I should have neglected… her life might have been much easier for her without me in it.
 

But at the end of the day, she says “Even if I don’t agree with you, I know you are right” and that one line would be enough to forgo all the silly misunderstandings. We have grown together… and learnt together. She has learnt to use her head and I have learnt to use my heart. Her ‘pravachans’ which I very conveniently ignore, has deep within really influenced me. A few common qualities and many uncommon qualities have deepened this bond. We have now reached a stage where we can predict each others moves… and at times this understanding amazes us. She knows what I really mean when I say ‘haan… am ok’ and when I say ‘mess ho gaya yaar’.

A few months from now and I don’t know which way our lives gonna take us to. We are done with the ‘farewell’ day and we both managed not to get senti and to enjoy the day to the fullest. But we know, the actually farewell is around the corner. Its gonna be tough if we part ways and its gonna be amazing if we manage to pull on for a few more years. 

Hey Ayu ! I just wanted to give you a little surprise to tell you what you mean to me. Things will lose charm with passing time but words are the most precious gift I could have given to you. Kal ko kuch bhi ho, I will always feel lucky to have gotten a friend like you in my life. You were there… you are there and you will be there…! Am sure our kids will be proud of our friendship and will get something to learn from us. There is a whole wide world for you to reach and lot many small and big happiness just waiting to embrace u… go girl, conquer the world ! All the very best.

WHY??

WHY do some days pass as the worst day of life with nothing falling in place since morning?

WHY does it becomes so difficult to present once point of view in a discussion and it ends up with mis-understandings and fights?

WHY cant people just stay happy with what they have and not try to snatch others things?

WHY don't people understand the importance and fun of leading a simple disciplined life?

WHY do one lie when saying the truth is a much better and guilt free way?

WHY is a pure feeling like 'LOVE' used as an excuse for doing the wrong things?

WHY are we losing our ethics in the process of modernizing the society?

WHY is it that the higher u climb, the more u fear the fall?

WHY cant I just run away to some silent place to spend 'my time' on myself?

WHY do people expect so much from me that it starts sounding like an obligation?

WHY is it so damn difficult to balance fun and work?

WHY is it there are times when I wanna help, but still feel so helpless?

WHY don't even 'MoM' can listen to the unspoken words?

WHY is it that sometimes there is just just 'NOBODY' who understands?

WHY do I sometimes so badly hurt my closest friends and still expect them to understand?

WHY is it that even after spending 2 hours, some meetings seem incomplete?

WHY is it that after making a 'right decision', we still reconsider?

WHY is it that making rules is much easier than following it?

WHY cant we just erase off the unwanted bad memories from our head and get things back to normal?

WHY isn't SORRY sufficient enough to ask for forgiveness?

WHY are casual sarcastic comments interpreted as insults and taunts?

WHY does the problem called "communication gap" exist with a booming communication technology?

WHY are the society norm so rigid that one develops a hatred towards the society?

WHY does a 2 o'clk meeting begin at 5?

WHY do I ask so many questions?

WHY are u reading this crap?

Holi @ Colg

Officially am not supposed to be celebrating any festival this year coz of my Grandma's death but when it came to holi @ college, there is nothing official about it. Mom didnt sound too convinced when I informed her about my holi plans a week before, so I decided to underplay the whole scene this time. Bought colours well in advance and hid it in bag. Since friday was the last working day in college, after which our one week long mid-sem break started, we decided to play holi on friday.

We had planned a little party sorts before playing so everyone was supposed to be getting some 'goodies' to eat. Since am the only South-Indian in our gang, I wanted to get something typical. After some heavy thoughts, I decided on to 'kunuku' (dal-ka-pakoda as my friends later called it). I got up 5 in the morning to make it. When mom woke up and found me in kitchen, she passed me her typical suspicious look. I said I got a msg late at night and didnt get enough time to inform. I noticed when I lie, my hands tremble. It was almost 7:30 when I got done with the food packing and then rushed to get ready to go to college. Took a change dress and carefully slipped it into the bag.

We just had 2 morning lectures after which classes were suspended coz of the 'flower show' in the university. We got free by 11 and attacked on the Foooood!! There was lots of variety - bread pakoda, golden balls (made of suji), bread roll, dahi vada, petha, alu-paratha, dal-ka-pakoda and of course Gujiya! After we had filled our tummies, it was time to fill our hearts. We rushed to get our gulal packets and made a mess in the class running around and colouring each other. All shouting "happy holi","happy holi" and there was red, green and yellow all over the place. Sunny brought rose petals for Namrata and when he poured his love on her, there was this huge hooting!! It was so loud that the 'cleaning women' came and shooed us out of the class room. We then went out to the corridor to play.

Ayu took out her 'pakka colours' mixed it with water and got set to attack. First victim - her best friend, me ;) When she went to attack Savita, she was on phone dealing with her 'hitler' dad and got a little cross over Ayu for colouring her. This impulsive temperament of these two people did create friction and the whole plan was about to get flopped. At-times when two friends fight, it becomes very difficult for the gang to take sides! But thanks to the good old phrase "bura na mano, holi hai", things got into control soon and then started the whole splashing and running and attacking sessions. Come one, Come all... the gang was expanding slowly...

Guys on bike went to buy more and more colour. People emptying their water bottles on each others head. The 'guys' kinda holi was wild. WILD thats the word. Girls were still decent. People had a tough time managing their specks and mobile phones. Bags were nicely kept in a corner though library would have been a safer place but the guard out there said "iss halat mein anadar nahi jaa saktee". After we got a bit tired, we all started posing for photographs. There was this journalist from 'Dainik jagran' who was giving us situations to pose for and made us waste lots of gulal by throwing them in air for his photographs. There was dancing and clapping and singing. Since we couldnt manage a music player and we ourself had to sing, the song started and stopped at one line "rang barse bhege chunar wale rang barse". But even that tit-bit was fun.

After we had no energy left in us to continue further and the dried colors started irritating the skin, we decided to call off the celebrations. Went to the wash room to get cleaned. Savita had brought 'Lux' soap and there we started the rubbing and washing session. There were dialogs like "idhar kar" ,"udhar kar", "yaar yeh kese jaayega", "mein ghar kese jaoongi"!! After the cleaning up session, we moved on to see the 'flower show'. But we were all too tired to really 'enjoy' that. Few of us sat down and few others went to buy a few small stuffs. But at the end of the day when we were dispersing to our respective houses, we realized how much we all enjoyed the day.




P.S. This post is dedicated to two friends of mine - Ajay and Abhishek, who got promoted from being my 'friend' to 'good friend' after they started following my blog. I know you both are waiting for this post of mine, hope it stands to ur expectations!

D Backbenchers

Its been almost 2 weeks since 3rd sem results are out, but still my department has not yet fully recovered. My results, much more than my expectations!! Seriously, this time every exam was a mess. I was under such a bad phase of life during the exam days that I had stopped expecting anything out of myself. But yeah sum incidents in life make my belief in God go stronger. I scored 80% this time. Cheese!!

Am not writing this to boast about my marks, rather I have a thought in my head which is disturbing me for the past two weeks. I was in bus going back home when I got to know my results thru sms. Next day morning when I was passing my million dollar smile to my classmates, it hurted me to receive back tears. I could find many gloomy faces, disappointment and sadness dropping from eyelids, people giving lectures on positive thinking, encouraging each other to face the world boldly and to move forward, people promising themselves that they will do well next time. Ayushi and Savita were busy consoling and saying "sab theek ho jayega". I couldn't do that. I stood alone in a corner, watching the whole scenario and crying softly.

I don't understand how can I go to sumone with 50% aggregate and say "sab theek ho jayega", when I just cant c and understand "sab theek kese hoga?". I don't understand how can I ask a person to smile when they have scored so low. I don't understand how can I celebrate my good marks when my near-n-dear once are sad. I tried to stay away from all these discussions. When such sensitive topics starts, I always prefer isolation. I don't like and just cant see anyone crying. It makes me feel very low. I forgot all about my happiness and got very disturbed.

That day in lab when I was working with my circuit, Mung came. He was working sitting next to me when he congratulated me for my results. When I asked him, he said his aggregate is 30%. I froze for a second. He didn't notice and continued his talk. He said "When I was doing my graduation, I was the topper in my university. That time when my brother used to score less, I used to tell him to study. But now I realize, sumtimes one doesn't score well even if he studies". I put my circuit down and looked at him. He stopped his work, looked at me and said "Shru... when u become a professor and u c that a student has not scored well, don't think he is not studying". tap... tap... tap... there my precious tears which I was holding on since morning finally started falling. Mung tried to stop me and he felt bad thinking he has hurt me. But that's not true. 'He' didn't hurt me, its sumthing else that has actually hurt me. And I still have not figured out what it is.

Next day for the morning 10 o'clk lecture, I was a little late so missed out on the first bench. Though I could have managed a seat in the front rows, I took this as a chance to go and sit in the last bench. Incidentally, Mung came and sat next to me and said "Probably its the first time in this sem that u r sitting in the last bench". My mental dialogue "Its the first time in my whole life that am sitting in the last bench"! I noticed many things sitting from there. Firstly, its very difficult to concentrate on the lecture when ur neighbor is busy pressing the keypad of mobile phone constantly or eating lunch or discussing the blue eye-shadow with blue jeans! I tried my best to concentrate on the 'green-board' but I noticed that when u don't c the writings on the board so clearly from the last seat, a certain level of frustration develops which doesn't let a person enjoy the lectures. Sitting in the first bench, I used to get lost during lectures and it used to feel like sir is taking a private tuition for me. But when u r on the last bench and u c 200 heads in front of u, all shaking and doing all the possible acts, one sure gets distracted.

After the lecture got over, I shared my observations with my friends (d frontbenchers) I got to hear arguments like "y don't those ppl interact with us", "we never deny for notes", "y don't they ask sir to write boldly if they cant c", etc. etc. "Those ppl" here refers to the backbenchers. I noticed that a 'class' is broadly divided into two groups, the frontbenchers and the backbenchers. I realized its very easy for the frontbenchers to ask doubts coz they see only 'sir' in front of them while for the backbenchers, they see 'sir' after crossing 200 heads and that makes their life tougher.

Yeah but one thing I don't understand yet, y do people sit in the backbench when they want to score like the frontbenchers!

Memorable wedding.

It was an usual lunch break in college last year when we came to know from Namrata that she is gonna get married next year. ‘Next Year’ sounded so far that time… even a month ago, we were having fun teasing her with the count down of days… didn’t really realize that this smart looking easy-going girl is actually gonna get ‘Married!!’

She being the first in the group to be entering the new life, was handling things really maturely and calmly. We, being kid at heart were jumping around her like little tad-poles. The day she showed her "would be's" pic in the lab, half the group went flattttttttt !! Every corner of the lab was murmuring, "How lucky". n there were giggles n laughs all over the place. That was a day ! She has taken a leave for almost 2 weeks from the college and when it was the day for us to see her off, we all hugged her one by one and wished her luck.

Her marriage was yday and we were all invited for the occasion but since the venue wasn't so easily accessible by all and since not everybody got the permission to attend the wedding at night, we decided to attend the morning ceremony. We were instructed by her to 'reach' her house by 11. Since it was a group of 9 girls all scattered across Delhi, we decided to meet at the metro station near her place sharp at '11'. Me and Ayu, the ever punctual reached 10 min before time. Neha and Sonum joined us within 15 min and they were coming directly from the college after attending a 'lecture'. Studious people, yeah!! Megha and Savita joined in shortly and then started the make up and touch up session (in front of the metro exit gate!!!!). Yes d act did invite many unwanted and unacknowledged stares but then we were all too busy and excited to bother for such things. Eyeliner, lipstick, gloss, comb... all passing on from one hand to other and all taking extra efforts to make sure that everyone looked good ! Our touch-up session ended when Smita, Bharti and Shalini finally joined us and we all set to move to the 'brides house'

Megha

Bharti Smita

Ayushi Savita Shalini Sonam Neha

On reaching her house, we got a very warm welcome from her and her family. Her little cousin was allotted the duty to stand at the door and say “namaste”… the cute little girl had a tough time blushing sheepishly and receiving the crowd of crazy giggling girls!! Namrata looked happy and as calm as ever with those lovely mehron-golden beaded ‘kalereen’ hanging from her hand.We all got a welcome hug from her and then shifted to her room to chit chat with her. Thanks to the time we spent out-side the metro station, we had missed the ceremony she had invited us for! But never-the-less, we knew we had much more to do there than attend ceremony.

We were giggling around, eating bread-pakoda and discussing all the possible topics that was coming to our head when we heard the 'dhol' noise and Shalini announced that she knows how to play the 'dhol'. Bravo! what more can we want. We moved out of the brides room taking her along with us, sat in a circle and Shalini started playing the Dhol. Megha after a little pressure and pleading done by us, agreed to sing. That was some fun. We made a circle around the bride and there was dancing and singing and dhol and ofcourse lots of comments and giggling. It was sure sure Fun !! And one could hear "mazaa aa gaya" every second minute from some one or the other. After we all got tired and sat down, the family members continued with their rituals and went out for a ceremony called 'ghardoli'.

We preferred to stay back with our friend and asked her about how it 'feels' to get married. There was sum kinda mixed emotions in her eyes. She was happy for sure, for the new life... she was excited but yeah was nervous too. But we switched over the topic realizing the fact that we are there to lighten up the atmosphere and not to make it heavier! It was a little funny when she enquired how the final year project is shaping up and how many classes she has missed. But with Auyshi around, she needn't really worry about the missing class notes! When her relatives came back, we all got ready to leave when her parents made us wait for lunch. Namrata got busy with her other rituals and we started planning to watch 'my name is khan' next week. Soon the lunch was served and we went for it in sub-groups (sharing plates) so that we don't make much of a mess there. After the yummy food, it was time for us to leave after giving her our heart-felt wishes!!

Every moment spent was enjoyable and cherishable. It was the first time I had attended a 'friend' wedding. As compared to cousin's or family friend's or neighbor's wedding, a friend's wedding is sure much more enjoyable. This day will stay as a very happy memory of our college life in all our hearts. When we all parted off from the metro station, we exchanged the invitations for our own wedding... ofcourse invitations have been sent out without the slightest clue of whats in store for us in our future... but if things really go as planned, it would actually be so much Fun!