hopscotch

Mere sawal, aapke jawab. Sorry, this isn't the title of some corny Hindi movie, but maybe you really really have an answer to these rhetorical questions which trouble me night and day. 1) What will happen when Amitabh Bachchan dies? (I often think of this when I see the contestants of KBC and their relatives gushing at him. Will there be a riot or a stampede before his house? Will one of his myriad admirers also end his life?) 2) What will happen to Bachchan Bahu, AB's Baby and Jaya ma when Big B is no more? (Oops, I forgot the grandchild) 3) Can the Saifeena's (the name sucks) wedding details and the wedding itself be pre-poned and finished with before it becomes the wedding godzilla? (I for one don't want to know what is darling Saifu and his darling Bebo going to wear on their big day.) 4) Why can't I dream of hogging on marble cake without worrying about the calories and how they will sit pretty on my hips and tummy? (Oh well! I would like to eat all that

I have often used google (we all do) to check up facts, stories and other random stuff. Sometimes I have come across bits and pieces about friends and acquaintances - some profile somewhere throwing up some unknown facets. At times like these I have often felt like voyeur - that I am reading something which I SHOULDN'T BE. Some things ought to be private. I then tried to wash off the guilt by telling myself that nothing can't be private and personal in today's age and after all I wasn't out on a snoopy trail. Imagine my surprise and shock when I came across my own marriage profile posted on some unknown site. I knew I hadn't registered myself on this site when I was on a groom-hunting spree. And, yet today when I googled myself, my name, I found this profile. Complete with my name, details and what was I looking for in my-to-be. I tried hard to find their address/email id so that I could wipe out the profile. I did get numbers and I will call them and do that.

I suppose signboards reflect the changing times. But, I can't help wondering how a single apartment block becomes an international school. Earlier, every English medium school HAD to be a convent school, even if it was in outskirts, in some non-descript village and even if it didn't have the jesuits/nuns/fathers teaching or running the school. Now, every school HAS to be an international school. Even if the word International comes after the noun Saylee or Ryan or Vimal. Likewise, when you have a tooth ache, you don't go to a dentist or a dentist's clinic. You go to a dental studio! A rootcanal procedure in these studios must be called as "shining touch to the molars and pre-molars." Who said only photos are clicked at a studio? You can fix your teeth, hair, smile and even nails at the various studios scattered around your neighbourhood. Thank God...the kiranamalache dukan is still the same...until it goes international and calls itself "Kiran's

I was lucky enough to meet PC Alexander and his wife, Ackamma, at Raj Bhavan. I was an intern then and the then Governor and his wife were to meet kids who were suffering from Cancer. I think it was on the occasion of Children's Day. I remember running from the gate number 1 of Raj Bhavan right down to the State Hall, not even pausing to look at the helicopter whose blades were still whirring. Someone had just landed or someone just took off. I didn't care. I was getting late for the event. When I reached the hall, all the kids and members of Cancer Patients Aids Association were waiting in hushed silence. The Ex-Governor's press secretary and his aides were also there. And, then entered Alexander and his wife. While the gentleman quietly fussed over the children, the lady was effusive with her affection. She went hugging and kissing the kids gathered there. The kids looked a little dazed. On my way back, I paused a bit to look around the Raj Bhavan estate. I wasn'

"Love you Bagwati" "Dilon me tum apni betabiyan leke chal rahe ho,to zinda ho tum..." My google status mssg is alternating between these two lines since I watched Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara.  I was in a wretched, wound-up kind of state before I saw the movie. And, after watching it...I am smiling all the time and you know about my status mssgs! Watching the movie is like meditation (Sorry Laila for borrowing your expression). I mean, aren't we all tired of rushing around, crackling with energy and being constantly on the move? That's why just being along to glide along with the movie is such a blessing. I could actually feel all my knotted organs unwinding themselves. Uggh...the metaphor isn't very appropriate. But that's what I felt. I laughed, giggled and grinned at the "inane" jokes. I soaked myself in Imran's sheer magical imagery of words. And, of course the beauty of Spain mesmerised me. I wish I had the money and f

a) What is your idea of happiness? Sleeping; Lying on the bed and reading a book with a plate of munchies by the bedside. Summer mornings and evenings, winter mornings too. Flowers in full blooms. Giggling and talking with friends. Writing letters or long mails. Digging into SBDP and ice cream. Watching movies. Looking at old photo albums. Rereading old letters or notes. b) What is your greatest fear? Losing my Dad. Becoming financially dependent on hubby or parents. c) Which historical figure do you most identify with? Ahilya Devi Holkar, who gave the Peshwas a good fight. d) Which living person do you most admire? Aamir Khan, Rajanikant and Sonia Gandhi. Aamir for his astute business sense and “selling” himself so well. Rajanikant for being comfortable in his own skin away from the arc lights. He looks the man he is – in 60s minus his wig. (I don't know his age. I am just guessing). Sonia Gandhi, well, she had everything against her starting from her foreign origins.

I watched Bal Gandharva this week-end. It's a lovely movie - extravagantly mounted with no expenses spared. Much like the man who strove to appeal to the senses of his audience. Spraying expensive scents/perfume when they walked in to watch this musical plays, giving the ladies a reason to shop for expensive, rich and exquisite sarees, shalus and of course jewels. Who can forget the creative, imaginative and innovative props for Bal Gandharva's plays? And, of course the music. Bal Gandharva alias Narayan Shripad Rajhauns is music. All those who watched the movie knew this. In almost every Marathi household, the elders have to swear by Bal Gandharva. His plays enacted by the younger generation of actors still run housefull. Of course the elders and those who had the pleasure of hearing the original, pooh-pooh the attempt. Therefore, when people like me who have been brought up in such households decide to watch the movie, can't help but be disappointed. We have heard