Surprise in Stock!

My boss told me that I got stocks and I was the only one to get it in our team, including himself. It was not even on my horizon and considering that we aren't doing great, this really was a bolt from the blue. My boss admitted as much too and now I'm trying hard not to take this as an additional pressure.

Japan has been hard on us. The project now is under CEO's radar and my ever-positive boss also occasionally sounds down these days. But I also think it's the case of too many cooks spoiling the broth here and we sometimes don't even know what's cooking because onsite is not very transparent. Just waiting for some clear sky. 

Knowing Jagjit Singh

I didn't have TV at home while growing up and my introduction to Hindi movies and songs happened rather late in life. My only source, that too only after reaching 11th std, was Hawa Mahal on Vividh Bharati, when Pappa was coming home late. Apart from the guys who came selling rugs, I hadn't met anyone who spoke Hindi till I reached KREC. So when my batch-mate MJ from Rajasthan would ask me some question in her super-fast Hindi, I would just stand there stammering and she would shake her head and say, "Kya yaar..."

Anyway, so it was the end of our ragging period and seniors had thrown us a party inside the hostel, as was the custom. We were to entertain them and people sang songs, mostly unfamiliar to me. Then MJ stood up and said she was going to sing a Jagjit Singh song, "Sangeet Amar Kar Do". I knew a Jagjit Singh - another batch-mate I was introduced to some days ago - and I knew he was MJ's good friend. As MJ started singing her song I was very impressed. Here was a fellow-student who could write such nice words and I wondered if he had even composed it! L would've enlightened me but I didn't ask her anyway, I was pretty convinced. It was only after TV room was thrown open to us that I could laugh at myself.

Above Expectation!

Anu took her Frisbee to the play area and lost it. I found out as she came home wailing and I also heard her tell her friends that her mother might send her out of the house(!!). As she figured that I had no such intentions, she calmed down fairly quickly and went back to play. But Rishi is not one to let things go so easily so he and I went down to look for it. I spoke to Anu's friends trying to get some clues and I noticed that they were looking at me quite reverentially. But the Frisbee had vanished into thin air and as I turned to go home, one boy blurted out, "Auntie, Ananya said you were the kindest mother in the world". Vow! Of course, then I gave them some general kindness talk and happily returned home. Frisbee? We'll buy 10 more!

Life is Like That

Today my boss cheerily asked me if I could pickup a new thread, which is a directive from our CEO. For a second I couldn't believe my ears, then it felt bitter, like a lemon already squeezed to the rind. I had to remind him of all the things on my plate already, as if he doesn't know it, but it didn't seem to make any difference. Finally he agreed that I may not be able to give my 100% to that task. Damn, I'm giving 150% to other tasks already!

My mother-in-law has had enough of my calls, which are at least 25 in a day. She asked me if they were all official. Don't know if it was prompted by the fact that most of the callers were men. 😃

Aftermath

Stormy night on Saturday. I have not been so scared of winds ever before. As feared, 119 trees fell in Bangalore, my mother-in-law's saree which was drying flew a couple of buildings away unharmed and in Rajani's house, her french window broke and she had a five-inch deep gash on her thigh. Two weeks of bed-rest for her, which I don't know how she's taking. She has been in very bad mood over her work and if not for the pain and the confinement, this break would do her a world of good.

Mother's Day

Not a way of expressing gratitude to my mother who paid me a surprise visit but here it is...

Back to Basics

Me   : "Gudiyaliruva shilegalella....ibbara manadalu kapatavilla..."
Anu : Aayi, what does "ibbara manadalu kapatavilla" mean?
Me   : It means both their hearts are pure.
Anu : Oh! I used to think it meant both of them don't have cupboards in their houses!

Made my day!

Forward March

Macron has won the elections in France and in Dehi, Arvind Kejriwal has got into one more hole. Is the problem with AAP the success they tasted too early? I think early fame and repeated failures are the toughest to handle.

Aren't there many ways to happiness?

Tujhse Naraz Nahin Zindagi...

My mother-in-law is visiting us unexpectedly a month in advance. I can see the twinkle in my husband's eyes and my son is jumping with joy. Me? Well, I'm happy for them!

Wind howling very badly outside. Has most probably chased away a welcome rain.

Midnight Mania

I love watching Mandi, especially in the peace of the night. I love Shabana Azmi. And every single person in the movie.

Lesson of the day : You may make cakes and soups and feel good about yourself but children won't forget the payasa that you had promised but couldn't make. Ah, this need to feel super-something!

Singing Sp(t)ree...

Lessons Lost

Anu : Baba, today is my Barbie's birthday!
Baba : Oh, great! Now, if I give her 5 boxes of 5 apples each, how many would she have?
Anu : Baba, she doesn't want apples as birthday gift! Can't you give her something else?

Twenty Years Ago

The Mirage of Financial Carefreeness

Till last year I used to invest in VPF and believe that I had done the best thing. But the government now is bent upon arm-twisting me into investing through SIP, markets and anything other than saving. The amount of tracking and in simple terms, work, that this may entail is very disheartening.