BUS ek Pal

Well, a good part of my daily adventures (if you can call them! ) in my life is travelling in the APSRTC buses. Those ignorant, APSRTC stands for Andhra Pradesh Stae Road Transport Corporation. These orange, grey and buses have really brought colour to my life. Ok, this post is what I have learnt travelling in these buses. Here, they go.

1. Thanks to these buses, I have learnt how to push past god knows how many people to board or get down the bus as if my way was clear! No one was there to block me!

2. I have learnt to put my feet in various angles just to stand comfortably and grab my space in a bus.

3. Give glares or scream at people in buses who sit comfortably on seats reserved for senior citizens when a very old man just stands there. Imagine doing that in public and that too in my pathetic telugu. "Meeru chudatle, ikada oka old vaalu nuchuntaara!"

4. I smell like a fish even in the mornings irrespective of how much perfumes or deodorants I used.

5. I have learnt the psychology of a passenger about to get down and realising the seat will get empty. Yes, the way the person is sitting fidgets before her stop is about to be reached, the rustle of the plastic covers, the holding of the seat bars, etc. I have learnt it, boy!

6. I have learnt how much I can save just by travelling in a vehicle that costs about 10 lakhs (I think so. My friends endearingly call it 8 lakh ki gaddi!) ;)

7. Have you ever talked to complete strangers about the book you were reading or the song you were listening on the I-pod or just when you realise the person sitting next to you is a professor of the subject you have a exam in 30 min? I have. :D

"Barkha : Sabrina, will u be able to sleep tonight?"
Sabrina: (smiles) I can show my parents and sister we won. Its going to be a long peaceful sleep."

Listening to this at the end on NDTV's special report programme, I realised when something merely is not a headline. Behind every headline, there is a struggle. A human. A life. A soul. There is something about hunger of justice. Listening to those, I actually started believing in the phrase JUSTICE AT LAST. This was a headline that I saw everywhere but I always thought JUSTICE DELAYED IS DENIED. Hats off to those who truly fight for what they believe. I know souls rest in peace today. Today, the smile in Jessica's picture showing on my television screen for the first time seems real.

The Great Indian Punjabi Circus

Well, I got the Punjabi genes and alu paranthas in my blood. Unfortunately, with that I got the loud and belching relatives package too.

Yes, the wedding is over and the loud relatives one usually associates with Punjabis is over too. So many weddings. So many memories. I dont know why but with one wedding, memories of the wweddings gone by too come like flashback in some weird Ekta Kapoor serial. Anyways, this is a post dedicated to my family that I have looked up to and inwardly laughed till I could not control my laughter. I present to you my Family!

THE UNCLES

Age: Above 50 yrs
They have gotta be the cutest of the lot. Together they are like retired army generals but the difference is they are not retired army generals. They laugh and crack the worst jokes. Some are funny, some are non-veg and some make you laugh because you oughta be laughing at them. Otherwise another one comes which beats the earlier joke at being the lamest and in my words are 'mere phrases'. Yes, they fart the loudest and burp the loudest. :)

Age: Above 40 yrs
These are the working sorts. Ok, they are the working lot. They always have grim expressions on their faces. Touch everyones feet and their haan ji's flow like water. When they get drunk.............God! Help us! Yes, they don't really talk much but when they get to talking they only talk dealers, sellers and clients. Oh yes, these are the ones with the weirdest nicknames such as Babbu, Puppy, Sheru, Chotu, Tilu, Tanny and some more like that!

The Aunties

Age: Above 5o yrs
You will find them upto some work. Sewing or cooking. They somehow flock together and know everything. From Pappu's padosi to Rinku's husbands salary. Nothing escapes them.

Age: Above 40 yrs
Ok. They will kill me if I categorise them here. They would claim they are above 25 yrs. Thats a bit of exaggeration. They would think they are in their mid 30's. Use the latest cosmetics. Has had a facial recently. In my words, true items. Its fun being next to them when one wants to crib about another family member. They truly know each and everyone's annoying habits and my oh my will even list out events when they were the most annoying! :D

Age: Above 30 yrs
Poor them. They are there looking after their kids who are running about in their shoes and with their lipsticks. They are too busy with their kids to really be assessed. If they are not, they are sleeping.

The Cousins
They are either pesky or not pesky. If they are pesky, they are just too pesky. Unfortunately, I got too many of them. They are always nosing around your stuff. Theres nothing normal about them. Flower shirts, tight white pants and their extremely punjabi accented english. The non-pesky ones thankfully make up for them. They are fun to hang out with and yes, everything is normal about them.

Last Category-My types
Yes, they are the arrogant, useless kinda like me. They sit and just stereotype their own relatives. First, they assess them. Categorise them and end up blogging on them!

Plastic Heroes

While trying to vote for NDTV's Indian of the Year, I was left disappointed looking at the list. I felt Aishwarya Rai's presence, Sanjay Dutt and Aamir Khan's presence with those like Ratan Tata and Mr. Mattoo, left me feel a bit sour. Here, were people who used their brains, fought hard and exhibited a determination that truly makes them a hero. Then, there were Ash , Aamir and Sanjay.

I remember watching a show on CNN-IBN called Citizen Khan and how annoying it was watching the show. Suddenly, Aamir Khan was synonymous with the ideal citizen. Why? Well, he starred in a movie that was the brainchild of an extremely good and creative director, ranted lines written by a dialogue writer and danced on music that was composed by a maestro in his own right. Aamir-the media shy person was being hailed as the citizen we should be looking up to and he even capitalised on that by supporting the Narmada Bachao Andolan. The very time he came on so many shows on the various news channels. Soon, everyone had forgotten about Medha Patkar who was fighting for this issue for many years. Ditto with Sanjay Dutt. The concept of Gandhigiri was actually thought by Rajkumar Hirani and Sanjay is the mere puppet. The same Sanjay Dutt is put on a list where there is Leander Paes who truly put India on the international sports map. Other than, acting in a movie such as Munnabhai, what else has he achieved? Yes, staying in jail for an year. Possessing arms and being convicted for it. Accused once under the TADA act. Sure, he is a hero.

Then, Ms. Aishwarya Rai. India and Bollywood's supposed ambassador.
I do not even want to write about her flings, ransom money packages, dumb giggles and the debacles on box office. Even, Sachin Tendulkar did not deserve to be on the list. Maybe, a Saina Nehwal who truly exhibited her sporting talenting and brought laurels to te country.

Well, there is no point even blaming NDTV. India is a country where heroes and heroism have different meanings.

A Regular Day Or Not?

I feel all soggy. Its weird but my face is all wet. SHIT! Its eight and my dogs drool is all over my face. He moans for a walk and I am going to so miss my first hour as usual in college. Its just that I have accepted it as a way of my life. I sleep to bed thinking I will be awake by six thirty and go for a good walk with my dog.(Actually, he would be going for a good walk with me but he is too stubborn and I am too lazy to guide the way. He just wanders around and I follow). Now, I have to cut the walk to a merely 15 mins but the walk lasts for a full 25 mins. My sis is screaming because she is late as usual for her gym. She gives me fifteen mins to get ready. Hell with Time Management. We start out as late as usual. The clock shows 9:45 am. I am supposed to be in my college and my sis in gym working out on th treadmill. We are all used to it now but never forget to blame each other for being late. I say, "You and your damn cleaning." In case, you did not know but she has the cleanliness disorder. She says, "You were in th bathroom bathing like a princess." The fact is both of us were trying to feed the DOG of our house. (Note: I write Dog in Caps because he indeed is the DOG of our house like some king). He needs to be hand-fed otherwise His Majesty will not eat. Like determined to find the holy grail, me and my sis mount on the bike to beat the traffic and cover 15 kms in 15 mins. Sure, that will happen. We start of on our usual route. The traffic is too much. I am sitting behind and looking around. The eyes around me are fixed on one spot. I cannot see what the eyes around search for. I think its one of those dumb car drivers who cannot take a right turn and block all the traffic. Damn! Its 10 already. Fine, its just EVS. I pray he does not walk inside the class as usual today. And there I see, a man lying down on the road blood all over his face. He looks numb. The eyes around me seems to have found its spot. A rickshaw puller hit by a speeding car. We just speed away because everyone around me is not interested anymore to drive but just gape. I feel the speed and listen to ambulance sirens behind me. I even hear the cars and scooters starting around me.

I feel all soggy. Its weird but my face is wet. SHIT! Its eight. I am wet. My dog is licking me because I just finished feeding him. My sis is packing her bag. In 15 mins, we will be hitting the roads. We travel on the usual route but today no traffic is around me. I search again for the cars and scooters. I search for the eyes. I find the spot. I do not find the numb face. I dont find the gaping faces. I see nothing. I only see a lesson learnt.

I still ain't the sambar chawal!

I have been living in the southern part of India for god knows how many years. I was born in Delhi but totally grown up here but it surprises me that even after 15 years of living here, I am still not the south Indian. Here, are the reasons why I feel so:

1. I still cannot pronounce Dosa clearly.

2. Idlis are still a snack. They are usually not eaten for breakfast. Stomachs are not filled till a roti is eaten.:(

3. Hyderabad is not pronounced as Hyderabad. Its Hai-dera-bad!

4. I still find it funny when someone's name is Muthulakshmi or Muthuswami.

5. For a change of taste in food, we walk into a tiffin centre and eat !

6. I still use sentences like in your telugus or "according to our tradition".

7. I always require a translator while watching a telugu movie and cannot identify half the actors and actresses.

8. Telugu as a language is more like a tongue twister to me!

9. I cannot sing a song from the start to the end in telugu or any other south Indian language. Maybe, I could but I get the jitters if I have to sing.

10. Certain materials and designs are too pochampally or just too pattu for our family.

Well, its absolutely sad that I still have not adapted to the city I have been living in for past 15 years but there are certain things quite hyderabadi about me. My hindi, my cravings for biryani and yes, I keep forgetting whats bindi. I usually say bottu. Yes, I ain't the ideal Hyderabadi too. For that, Dilli bahut dur hain!

Loose Change 2nd Edition Recut

Just check this Out!

If I was ever asked to point out what is it I hate about India is the apathetic attitude of people towards animals. As I sit writing this post, a feamle stray dog wails loudly that shatters my ears. It pains me so much to hear her. I can hardly sleep. I want the noises to go away but they refuse to leave me. They grow louder on me and my heart pains. The clock shows me its past midnight and I got nowhere to go. Who do I call? Who shall help me? Is there any 24 hours helpline for animals?Its so ironic. In a country where various gods are associated with animals, so many animals die because there is no proper medical facility available for them or proper shelters. I witness so many animals being subjected to cruelties. Its not only the stray animals but also the pets. They are tied without any food or water. So, many calves are not allowed to drink their mother's milk because the same milk is used for us. Some cows are given those injections for a long time to produce milk. Have you seen donkeys with their two legs tied? Its painful for the donkeys. I sign off now as the wails get louder aching me to write further.

Power of Lies!

I was just flipping through one of my old books. This is not any book but a lucky one for me. I have written so many of my speeches in this book for various debates of mine and won in all of them. Also, grabbed the best debater award for them. I know, but I cannot be modest always. So, there I was flipping through this treasure trove of my own words. (Gees! Someone stop me!). As I was going through, I realised in each and every debate I took part and spoke, I never meant what I was speaking. For example, this debate which was held by ISC. The topic presented to me was "The present education sysytem of education will turn students into mechanical people." I was actually against the motion and spoke for like hours. In my heart I knew I was supporting the topic.

So, I am still wondering. What did I gain from ranting stuff I did not believe in? The trophy which I won as the best speaker and was proudly displayed to everyone is a reminder of my own hypocrisy. Were not debates a platform? Were they not to teach me? Were they not to give me an experience that would help me in future? At the end, I think I learnt my lesson. I learnt to speak in front of disinterested students and dull judges. I learnt how to be greedy for some trophies and prizes. I learnt NOTHING. These so called extra curricular activities and competitions to me now are nothing but ways to churn greedy and snobs.

I have always hated those students I met at these competitions whose bank of certificates was just too big. Just the smirk on their face. It was disgusting. As if they were above and we were frugal elements. Seen the faces of those from big schools who have the reputation of winning ceratin competitions. They walk like princes and princeses. Where is the Equality? Greedy because everyone wants the cash honey. Just the other day, my friend who won a short story writing competition tells me. " Aksha, I just hope its cash in its true form and not some book or coupons." Well, during the conversation, it seeemed like a joke but here is the bitter truth. Honestly, the so-called extra curricular activities are not really promoting competitive spirit or promoting art or helping students to overcome their stage fears or creating a confidence in them. It is only a way of creating snobby kids who end up becoming teachers pets and rule the school when they become prefects in higher classes because of their so-called "edge and confidence". It hurts me because I was part of this mean machine. :(

I never knew what enjoying little moments in life meant. I never knew what smiling at something so simple meant. I never knew what can make someone' s day. I did in a certain way but a stray pup tuught me that today. Looking at a stray dog trying to climb the sidewalk so that he could sleep next to his mum made me laugh and forget everything. The pup was white and his ears, the cockiest! The pup's constant tail wagging and constant struggle made me forget everything . I was not irritated anymore about not being able to find an auto or a sponsor for my coll fest. I was rejuvenated. So, cheers to the lil pup! Cheers to all the senti crap I got as forwards reminding me this. Ah yes, the pup somehow got to sleep next to his mother. :)

My Watchman Baalraj

If you live in my apartments, then you surely wake up listening to one of the residents shouting, Baalraju or Baalraaj or like my mum Balraj (The punju effect). This does not happen only in morning but goes through the day. So, why am I writing about Baalraj? Well, I do not know but in a certain way, I think he is a hero. Atleast, for his family. I have seen him working non-stop so that his wife and three kids get the best that he can give in hi capacity. So, if in the morning, he is picking huge granite slabs. Then, at night, he is ironing clothes with that heavy coal iron. He sends his kids to an english medium school and I have never seen him drunk or ill-treat his wife. I have never even seen him angry. He is always got this silly grin on his face. Ever ready to take up work of any sort, I think men like my watchman are the key to India's growth.

I have seen so many maids we had hired earlier, suffering because of their husbands. These men would take all the money earned by them and spending on dirty alcohol. They would ill-treat their wives and not send their kids for even basic education. One of my maids actually fought hard with her husband and would come home to work with bruises. Why? She wanted her children to atleast be able to read numbers on buses because she could not read them herself. I think people like Baalraj are key to India' success because obviously they are providing education to their children. Above that, they are proving to be good role models for their children. Children take to their parents and act like them. So, for kids whose father drinks and abuses their wives, they think it is normal to do so and grow up to be exactly like them. A vicious circle of sorts is created. Here, Baalraj is creating a conducive and clean environment for his children to grow up. Being illiterate himself, he is providing the right values to his kids which sometimes even literate parents fail to provide to their kids. He is hard working, does not drink, a beleiver in good education, caring and affectionate to his kids. What more qualities do we want instilled in our future citizens?

Who deserves the Capital Punishment??

Well, leave Afzal aside. Forget about Santosh Singh. The person who really needs to be sent to gallows is Ekta Kapoor. My nights are reduced
to watching sobbing women on my television screens than enjoying quality time with my family. One friend of mine is not served food after 8:30 because her mum needs to watch her favourite protagonist cry and marry all the guys on the show or atleast fall in love with them. So many husbands across India are compared to various characters by their wives. Does not matter whether the men potraying these characters are married or not, loyal or disloyal. Husbands need to be like Mihir Virani or Rishabh Bajaj- caring, loving and sensitive. Men are also looking for Tulsis and Prerna's, the symbols of the Indian woman. Gone are days of Ram-Sita jodis. The new age couple should be like Tulsi-Mihir. No one wants Shravan to be their son. They want a Karan as their son. Even, Maneka, Rambha and Srupanakha are substituted with Komolika, Jigyaasa and Mandira. Omigod! Where are these mythological characters?

The reasons why I want her to be hung is obviously the regressive and extreme manners in which she potrays the Indian woman. She is not the helpless, sobbing and sacrificing lady. A feminist like me is hurt in the manner in which these women take decisons and never speak out. Mujhe bees saal ka vanvaas lena padhega. Barring few scenes in which she slaps or walks in an office, there is nothing progressive about her. In the end, the show is named only after the main character. There is actually nothing praise worthy about the protagonist. Secondly, in an era where sitting around the table and eating dinner with family has become a luxury, these serials entice the women and even men to watch TV without the rest of family members. The family meal concept according to a recent survey shows helps the children to grow up to be ideal citizens. A survey shows that in UK, only 64% teenagers eat at night with family compared to Italy's 98%. Mind you, UK has the highest number of teenage criminals and teenage pregnancy. This survey has been directly linked to the above facts. Its funny, programmes that show about the whole family set-up are responsible for the growing distance between the mother, father and their children. Have you ever experienced a power cut anytime between 8 and 11 in the night? I have and the impatience with my mother is quite visible. Its not the heat or darkness that bothers her but missing the vamps next evil plan bothers her! Thirdly, I would want to see her hung is because the kind of fashion sense instilled by her in everyone who watches the show. Those horrible bindis, disgusting make-up and atrocious colour schemes can make any person vomit! Lastly, she is responsible for many toddlers not learning the alphabet properly. Some tweens believe that K is the only letter and some think it ends there. So much pressure on little minds. Psst. Also, last heard, other letters were planning to commit suicide because of all the attention grabbed by letter K!

My Lord, I rest my arguement. Did I say, I have missed so many episodes of FRIENDS thanks to Kasamh se? She definitely needs to be hung!

Nothing Ram about this Ram

Anyways, its been 24 hrs to this news and the shock still has not sunken. Mr. Ram Jethmalani, has decided to defend Manu Sharma. Watching the news my head was spinning about because his one decision has a cascading effect.

The question that arises here is who is Ram Jethmalani? Ram Jethmalani is one of the oldest and respected lawyers of this country. He has been in this profession for over six decades. He has also been a member of Parliament. So, what is the big deal in him taking up the case?

Firstly, the feel good factor and the faith restored in the judiciary system which was created by the verdict against Santosh Singh, seems to be fading. Secondly, it is just sending all the wrong signals to people around the country. At the end of it all, it testifies law is all about power and money. No matter how much hype has been created in a case and high is the culpability of the person, big lawyers will take up and defend murderers. Murderers will roam around scot free and rich brat kids shall escape. The power which people believed they had through online petitions, candle-night vigils and other tools to protest seem unfruitful and sheer waste. Thirdly, what about the students who look up to this man and read all his cases as their bible? Mr. Ram Jethmalani serves as an example to various budding lawyers. His popularity as a lawyer is unsurpassed. He actually appeared on a televison show called Siddhanth, a show on the story of a lawyer. The protagonist was shown to be a big fan of Mr. Ram Jethmalani.

Mr. Ram Jethmalani has taken up various cases which have been very unpopular. For example, he defended Harshad Mehta and also the killer of former Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi. This time, the circumstances are quite different. The Jessica Lall case has been a model case. In this case, there is more than what meets the eye. A minister's son murders in front of so many people and is acquitted. The police obviously mishandled the case because of the big connection of the convict. Witnesses in the case had turned hostile. This case does not question the convict only but the entire system. Obvioulsy, Mr. Ram Jethmalani when defending Manu Sharma would not be defending Manu Sharma but the entire system. He would be defending faulty police officials. He would be defending the rich kid sons attitudes and actually assuring them, "Yes, you can get away with anything in life because of power." He wold be defending a judicial system which cannot even protect the interests of its citizens and provide the basic constitutional remedies available. Yes, we heard Mr. Ram Jethmalani saying my profession has its rules and I am bound by them. Sir, what about the rules of humanity and your binding towards them? It only makes me as a citizen feels helpless. I never believed in the courts but the Matto verdict gave me hope. A hope that if I knock on doors for justice, I shall get it. Even if I do not, there is hope given to me by the media. So many petitions were signed and SMS's were sent in the Jessica Lall case. It made all those posessing power think twice before any action of theirs. Mr. Ram Jethmalani's decison washes all of this and crumbles efforts of so many to dust .

Because it rained!

There was traffic all over the place and the vehicles around me moved at a snails pace
I reached back home two hours late
But it did not matter to me
Why?
Because it rained!

I could hardly see anything as my spectacles were covered with drops of water which made me bump into people
I looked like a zombie walking around and I was drenched to skin
But it did not matter to me
Why?
Because it rained!

My house is covered with paw marks
My dog is going berserk on my favourite bedspread and dirtying it
But it does not matter to me
Why?
Because it rained!

I am going berserk and what I have written is all crap
My brains are all washed away
But it does not matter to me
Because it rained!

Life has come to a halt and trees look like they are crying with happiness
I am enjoying my cup of coffee
I am loving it
Why?
Because it rained!

3 month old CRIMINAL!!!!

Humare biharva main bahut kuchh hota hain par ee toh humari dimagva ko skip kar diya!

Sure, my bihari is not good which is quite obvious from above but neverthless, my bihari is not the topic but this amusing incident that can happen only in Bihar! So, the story goes like this. In Bihar, a 3 month old baby has been charged with extortion, assault an looting a bus! The baby's name is Praveen and has actually been booked under section 389. This is by far the funniest thing I have ever read or seen. A 3 month old baby actually being booked for looting a bus!

Presenting a criminal to you who feeds on mother's milk and favourite pastime include crying and trying to mutter hi first word. This is actually a mockery of our police, the protectors of law! The funny thing in this case is the police are still under investigation and have looked at the baby. I have no words to explain this. I can only say, " God, Help me! My neighbour too is a three month old baby!"

Tale of Two Kauls

Well, this is a tale of two Kauls I know. They both are totally different, have never met each other and the only thing that connects them is actually their surname.

Let me start of writing about the first Kaul that walked in to my life, Rishabh Kaul. I rememeber, a boy walking in with his dad and just staring around the class. There was this mischievous grin on his face (that still remains)and a spark in him that made him stand out (and still does! Now it also could be because of the oodles of weight put on by him.) As a tween, I despised him to the core but as time passes on, things change. Today, we both are 18, and I can say he is among my closest friends. He has been there for me all the time. He makes me laugh like no one else does. It is always a pleasure talking to him. I guess, he is among the few people I can chat and chat for very long time without even one moment of boredom. Thanks to him, I wake up at two in the morning to study for my exams. He without flinching gives me those wake-up calls. Over the years, opinion about this Kashmiri has changed a lot. Earlier, he was this hollow menace maker of class and now he is a mature dependable friend of mine. Readers, this is Rishabh Kaul.

The next Kaul did not walk in with his father but rather was added on orkut! I am yet to meet him and top of that have a proper telephone conversation with him. He is Aditya Raj Kaul. This Kaul has achieved so much at his age, it is just incredible. 'Justice for Priyadarshini' is his soul and I am sure he will become the activist he wants to be. He is involved with this and that. Everytime I chat with him, he amuses me further. I am trying to absorb how a 17-yr old can be so opinionated on various things? Behind this hardcore activist, there is (thankfully) a funny side. Well, the only one I know who thanks the creator of the abbrevaition lol. Otherwise, how will he ever diplomatically handle, 10 windows at once?! Also, he has never heard of modesty. (Kidding! He knows that it exists!)

Thanks to one Kaul, a lazy student wakes up at two to study and thanks to the other a family and a soul has peace. One Kaul, is a dude at BITS (I think I can affirmatively say that) and the other is dude of DU. One is a non-veg and the other a hardcore veg! They both know what they want in lives. They both have different views on almost everything and enrich my life with varied experiences of theirs. Here is a cheers to them who are winners in their own right.

Of Death Penalty and 13000

We all dream of social and economic justice to prevail. Right now, as raindrops fall on the ground and hit the windows of my room, the television shows me only two things. Santosh Singh given the death penalty and the Sensex has touched 13k. Ladies and Gentlemen, on 30 october, 2006 history has been created. India has witnessed something never seen before.

A soul rests in peace and many rejoice as thier earning multiply. There is something special about this Monday.A citizen belonging to any country dreams only of economic and social justice. India showed to the world that it was indeed developing and its development was not restricted to the economic sphere. The economy is indeed booming but new waves are hitting the society. Today, a hope has been created. A hope that justice would be sought, a hope that living conditions would change, hope that things will surely change. So, a is this a new beginning? I am not sure whether this would be a one-time phenomenon but can say there would be none of those abbreviation jokes that I cracked as a kid. I still remember asking this question to literally everyone as a little girl, " What is the ful form of India?". If they did not get the answer, then gleefuly replying," It Never Develops In Anything!" Today, as a 18 year old, adult citizen, this joke is passe and need not be applied anymore. (Thankfully! I do not have to pass on this joke to the next generation). India has faced inequalities for so many ages, this is going to be indeed a fresh start. As I have to hit the books, I shall end this article abruptly, quoting lines from Robert Frost's poem. "And miles to go before I sleep!"

There are certain things that I hate in my life. One of them is catching a cold. Its 11:22 pm by my watch and my nose is going redder by the minute. I look like Rudolph-the red nosed deer. Also, the amount of papaer tissues i have used by now can be used to make a 100 page notebook. Its not the leaky nose or the lethal headaches but the whole baggage with it that I hate.

I hate stepping out of my house when with a cold. Its humiliating to exhibit in front of people what my nose looks like inside and also to what extent my body can produce sounds with varying decibels. The 'excuse mes' one says to blow nose in one corner. The common cold rips one of their dignity. There is nothing graceful about the cold and makes one sound like a living trumpet. Well, i do not wish to fall sick but when I do, I would prefer to be in a better position. I would not want to be this noisy red nosed girl someone had to share space with. And to top it all, this embarassment does not even end at home where this nose just does not let you live in peace. You lie down and the blocked nose is there again making you snore like never before. Oh God! let someone find the cure to my cold!

I have no clue what is it about college, but it makes you lazy in areas where one should not be. Like right now. in exactly 14 hours , i have an exam and I have not flipped a page of my textbook! If i were now in school, I would have been scared to pits but here I am shamelessly writing about my acts of shamelessness. The only thing that comforts me is that three of my friends (who I can count) are also away from their books. They are studying in the best colleges of India and their GPA's remind one of a certain book written by Chetan Bhagat.

So, is this what college means? Foregoing studies and blogging or is it just a phase? I heard the difference between school and college but here I am living the difference. Absolutely, no worries about even scoring a 50 in my studies. There is also no worry about even attending college. There is no worry about anything that one is scared about when in school. It does not matter whether you are a teachers pet or not, regular or not and the best of all, in class or not. So, is college all about freedom and am I abusing the freedom I am getting? Help!

Today, I ended up reading and listening to news that made me stand up.

News 1: This was on the bill on 'free and compulsory education for 6-14 yrs' biting the dust. This pivotal bill has not been introduced yet and instead would be shelved. The centre instead wants to pass over the bill to states as 'model bill'. If the state adopts this bill fully, only then it would receive 75% funding for the Sarva Shiksha Abhyan and other states only 50%.

News 2: Severe shortage of life saving drugs in the state hospitals of Andhra state. The medicines are for various heart diseases, kidney failures and cancer. This is because of apparent rules imposed. The quota for medicines are decided depending on the bed-strength. Obviously, in a country like ours the figure of patients being treated is far more than the bed strength.

The news may be just clippings for many in their newspaper but as a youth, it kind of startled me. A country like ours that boasts of 8% GDP and an emerging player in the global market, does not want to spend money on its back bone i.e. health and education. The leaders of global market ar all investing their millions in India and there is a lot of hoopla on why India is the next big thing.

We can give lands to TATA's or Reliance at subsidised rates or lands to five star hospitals to promote medical tourism but we will not invest in India's future. We surely know the importance of health and education but governments' stance on this baffles me. An office of profit bill is more important than free and compulsory education for kids. Surely, there is no mistake in prioritising. Our government needs a vision and needs to come out of its political rivalries and other games, it plays. What say?

A son is a son till he gets his wife.
A daughter is a daughter through out her life

Those lines told to me by my dad to let me know how important I was to him. It made me feel so proud to be his daughter. The article I am going to write has nothing to do with me or my dad but it has got to do with my biggest obsession and passion. No guesses on that, it is TV.

Gone are the days of saas and bahus, those vamps and those weird stories. Before you start heaving a sigh of relief and dream of better days on television. Let me get you back to reality. Our scriptwriters are heading towards the same mundane content with a twist.

Now the poor oppressed sob queen is the DAUGHTER! Yes, if by any chance you have turned on your tv sets and have seen the trailers of Betiyaa......ghar ki lakshmi or Paraya Dhan, then God bless you!

Initially, even I felt good about the change of tracks but a glimpse of them wit my soap obsessed mum, made my heart sink. This is far more regressive than the saas bahu sagas. The daughters are shown to be the very mature, docile and yet rational. The son to be a spoilt and not so aagyakaari.

It made me wonder, we have now come to this in the 21st century? Showing the importance of a girl child means to show the male child in such a demeaning manner! What were the makers thinking? I do agree that in various places in India, girl child is very unwanted and is not provided all her rights but this presentation made me feel sick inside my stomach. The families represented by them in these sagas are all rich classes. None of the discriminating parents are illiterates but full fledged entrepreneurs! Its just sad that our creativity and thirst for TRPs has stooped so low. I do miss the days of Doordarshan where they used cartoon skits to convey the message. Remeber mitthu???

A candle has been added to my cake and I am an year older. This year it is a little different. I am now an adult in legal terms! I turned 18. I can now vote, open my various accounts without this whole column of a guradian attached to it and elope with any guy I want to!

As I blew ou those candles, Nizzim Ezekiel's poem echoed in my head, 'Am i child or an adult?' Exactly, what is turning 18 all about? I am still trying to figure that out. Is it all the luxuries I would enjoy? Or more responsibilities on my head ? Can someone help me on that!