Thursday, May 3, 2007

Stolen Moments - Pankaj Udhas - Aur Aahista

The girl in this song is cute and so is the guy. This song is more like it features the story of “The gift of Magi”. Its all about two lovers.. both are talking something in slow voice still one asks the other to talk still slowly because they don’t want someone to listen to their secret words .Here poet mentions even walls have ears.. so talk very much slowly..Its really a stolen moment. The melodious strains Aur aahista kijiye baaten not only casts a mesmerising spell, but also sums up his soft-spoken genteel demeanour.

Aur aahista kijiye baatein, dhadakane koi sun raha hoga - 2
Labj girane na paaye honton se, waqt ke haath inako chun lenge
Kaan rakhate hain ye darodiva, raaj ki saari baat sun lenge
Aur aahista kijiye baatein
Aise bolo ki dil ka afasaana, dil sune aur nigaah doharaaye - 2
Apane chaaro taraf ki ye duniyaSaans ka shor bhi na sun paaye,
na sun paayeAur aahista kijiye baatein, dhadakane koi sun raha hoga
Labj girane na paaye hoton se, waqt ke haath inako chun lenge
Kaan rakhate hain ye darodiva, raaj ki saari baat sun lenge
Aur aahista kijiye batein…
Aayiye band karale darwaaje, raat sapane chura na le jaaye - 2
Koi jhonka hawa ka aawara, dil ki baaton ko uda na le jaye,
na le jayeAur aahista kijiye baatein, dhadakane koi sun raha hoga
Labj girane na paaye hoton se, waqt ke haath inako chun lenge
Kaan rakhate hain ye darodiva, raaj ki saari baat sun lenge
Aur aahista kijiye baatein
Aaj itane karib aa jaao , duriyon ka kahi nishaan na rahe - 2
Aise ek dusare me gum ho jayen, faasala koi darmiya na rah jaye,
na rah jayeAur aahista kijiye baatein, dhadakane koi sun raha hoga
Labj girane na paaye hoton se, waqt ke haath inako chun lenge
Kaan rakhate hain ye darodiva, raaj ki saari baat sun lenge
Aur aahista kijiye baatein

Saturday, March 10, 2007

Sothi (South Indian) Recipe

1 cup thick coconut milk

2 1/2 cup thin coconut milk

3 cloves garlic - ground

2 1/2 cm ginger - ground

3 green chillies - ground

2 cups split chick peas - ground

2 sprigs curry leaves

2 teaspoon salt

2 potatoes-finely chopped

1 onion-finely chopped

1 carrot-finely chopped

5 french beans-finely chopped

Put thin coconut milk in a cooking pot. Add all vegetables and the grounded powders and bring to slow boil. Simmer till vegetables are soft, stirring occasionally. Add thick coconut milk, gently stirring to prevent curdling. When curry boils again remove from heat. Add salt after it cools down a little. Serve with rice, Potato roast and potato chips.

p.s: those who don't like onion and garlic can remove them. It still tastes good.

Tuesday, January 16, 2007

Made in Heaven - part IV

I was watching out of the window.
My God..... How unexpected this life is????
There is twist , there is turn and there is a surprise at every oneof them. The day I came from Geetha's home I couldn't think about anything. Is she serious about whatever she is saying. Why couldn't she have told me if she was really in love with me??
Wouldn't that have made me ecstatic and given me enough motivation to get acceptance from our parents?? What is there to be afraid of? But then I realized our thinking had changed a lot since collegetimes.
Its more confident, matured , practical and is arrived upon after much thought and consideraion. But this girl hadn't understood my love how will I live with her?? Shouldn't she empathize the pain I had gone through.
It took me minutes to get out of such sadistic thoughts!!!! Sometimes life offers us with instances that are too good to be believed. And since we have seen so much of disappointments andfailures we cant understand its true and view it with doubt. It takes time for us to get over the disbelief after proper analysis. We informed of our approval after 3 days.
Geetha tells me those 3days were hell. I only smiled at her as I comfortingly tuck her face into my chest. We are currenly celebrating our honey moon in Ooty. We went to the "Botanical garden" and were sitting in the same place where Iproposed to her 6-7 years back. It was a thrilling experience which cannot be explained by words.
Just then I saw a bunch of clouds slowly rubbing off a nearby peak. I looked back at sleeping beauty. She was waking up. After adjusting her eyes to the light she lookedat me. She suddenly remembered something and her face was covered with a blushing smile. She covered her face with the blanket. I went near her and removed the blanket off her face.
"I have ordered coffee, get ready we need to leave", I said
"So where are we going this evening???", she enquired "Rose garden", I replied as I enjoyed her eyes widening.
"Rose garden,wow!!! I love roses", she exclaimed more like a school girl than a software pro. "Me too", I replied as I focused on her lips.
She covered her face with the blanket again.

Sunday, January 14, 2007

Made in Heaven - part III

I was blankly looking at her as these past thoughts went in my mind. She didn't raise her head towards us and offered us coffee with her head bowed down.
"I wont mind if you look at my son once in a while", my mom remarked with a smile. All of burst into gentle laugh. Geetha looked at us as she smiled for the joke. There seemed to be no change in her expression as her eyes shookhands with my eyes for a second. My head was banged with a hundred thoughts. What's going on here??? Doesn't she realize that its me , Kishore?? Sure she must have found out about it. I was the one who agreed to meet the girl without having a second look at the photo but I was sure she must have recognized bymy photo by looking at my educational qualifications(college).
What is she thinking ?? Has her mind changed and is she in love with me?? What crap!!!!! My mind was churning out ridiculous imaginations. Think she must have agreed just for the heck of it ,without thinking much about it. That was the stupid explanation my simple mind was able to come with. So what am I supposed to do now???
Leave the place saying "sorry guys but the girl had rejected me once already!!!!??" I felt the same way I felt when I was put into my first project. Not able to understand anything and just wishing it would end soon.
The girl's dad seemed to have noticed my confusion . "Why Mr.Kishore . would you like to have a private conversation with Geetha??", he enquired. "Huh???........ hmm...yeah yeah.. I mean .. I was just thinking about that" I couldn't tell him that I was planning to run out of there. "Why don't we guys have a look at the terrace ??? the breeze on the terrace is unbelievable. Lets leave these people alone for while. Today's generation is a lot different from ours. They like to talkout everything in advance ", Geetha's dad was saying. "You are right, also I was kind a eager to see your terrace anyway, ha ha!! " , so saying my dad got up from his seat.
Soon we were left alone. Geetha looked as beautiful as I had always known her . She looked more mature than the college days and the girlish charm in her face hadmade way for the confidence and intelligence of a working woman. Ever since I saw her a few minutes back ,I could hear "Rangeela*" beats played bythe master percussionist "Drums sivamani" from my heart.
She was still looking at the floor and it looked like she thinking. I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Here is a girl who taught me to enjoy beauty of the world. Who added colors to my world .
The girl who made me realize the beauty of sunrise and regularity of the waves. The girl who made me notice lyrics in melodies and appreciate them. The girl who made me smile more when Iwas alone than when I was with some company.
The one who gave me the most wonderful experience I went through. The one who gave me the most painful experience I can ever imagine. The girl who ignited the flames of love and who carried on with her normal life while I pained in the fire without getting burnt up.
The girl who didn't share the love in my heart and the one with whom fate has set up a meeting , the result of which could decide whethermy life is shared with her!!!! Given a choice I would still be ready to embrace her with my love and would cherish her for the rest of my life. But..... There was another thought that was dancing in the corner of my mind. I was laughing at the situation. I remembered when I had shamelessly confessed my love and was waiting impatiently for her reply. But nowiam in her home and she is waiting for my decision!!!
Or is she???? Does she have any other thoughts/plans???!!! I suddenly remembered that I had talk something. But what?? "Geetha". "mmm??", she was still looking at the floor. Whats with this false shyness anyway!!!!
"You know.....uh.. I mean , you know that i am....."
"Don't be silly Kishore. Ofcourse I recognize you", she shot back.
The rapid fire reply was still intact. "You knew its me and still you didn't say no about me coming here???" She looked at me for the first time.
Those eyes!!!!!!!!! "Why should I???", she retorted . I was getting confused!!! Isn't this the same girl who didn't likeme??? Who didn't love me?? So why doesn't she just say no without going through all this drama?? I was looking at her confused.
"Its very simple Kishore. When you proposed to me five years back Iwas not in love with you. I know you are a kind and smart guy who will make a great husband and will make a perfect dad for my kids. But the situation now is not the same as we had in college.
Now our association is happening with the complete guidance of our parents. If it weren't for you there would be somebody else who would havecome to see me. I would have to like him and try and love him after we get married. But now I have a chance to live with some one whom I haveknown and whom I have a deep respect.
And to tell you the truth. I had started loving you after you had proposed to me but I wasn't sure whether to tell you and was afraid about what our parents would say. I suffered in silence and watched you helplessly as you tried toavoid me. I couldn't forget you and half heartedly accepted ,when myparents wanted me to get married. But when I saw your photo then I couldn't control my happiness. I was overjoyed when I learnt that you had accepted to come to ourplace.But you are talking to me as if you hadn't known it was me. I ....."
She stopped as she tried to calm herself. Then she looked at me. There were tears in her eyes. "I want to marry you Kishore I want to be a part of your life" she hurriedly wiped her tears as we heard our parents coming down. I was dumb struck. I couldn't think about anything. There was some conversation about me and Geetha hailing from the same college. But none of it was entering my ears. After a while we had to leave. We had agreed that no matter what the decision is we wouldn't announce it in their home and would inform after reaching home and having a discussion among ourselves. So we left without saying anything and promised that we will get back to them. I was driving silently as my parents were talking loudly about howmuch they liked the girl.
"She was looking exactly like Mahalakshmi, think she would be perfect for our home", my mom remarked. I didn't reply.

Friday, January 12, 2007

Made in Heaven - part II

Of course I felt that the photo looked familiar. Because this was not thefirst time I was seeing Geetha.My mind went back to my college days. Particularly to one incident that happened six years back.
I was in the third year of my engineering. I had mastered the tricks of engineering education. Sleep all through the semester , take photocopies of some cheap bookfrom alocal author 3-4 days before the exams , skim through them the previousdayof the exam and write some stories in the paper. This policy didn't fetch me great marks but it sure saved me from disappointments. I had lost interest in the system when I had got a paltry 50 - odd in one of my most favourite subjects while my friend had scored 80s in thatsubject after writing the story of the movie "Lagaan" during the exam. But exams bothered me only occasionally . I lost sleep due another to picrelated to my college.
Geetha. We both had chosen the same engineering stream so we were in the same class. Since she had joined school earlier and me missing one of my school final exams due to typhoid, she was younger than me. I never talked to her much except during the times I had to talk to her during practicals. She was a fairly popular personality in the college. She was very goodinsinging and used to win prizes in almost all college culturals. I usuallygo to all those culturals under the false context of taking part in somecompetition but end up losing all of them .
I never minded that. My aim had always been to applaud her singing , congratulate on her winning and exultat her success as she accepts the prize in the podium with all modesty.How much did I have to tell my self to snap out of her thoughts!!! But I couldn't .
I tried to reason with my heart . I put forward points in front of my heart and used to list girls who were more beautiful, more smarter and morefriendlier towards me and demanded explanation for this crazy fascination I had towards Geetha.
My heart would smile back at my mind and would say "You will neverunderstand, don't give me your equations, this is not maths!!!!
"I was going through this torture for a good part of three years.Torture!! What an understatement!!!
I had thought that it should be made mandatory, that all secret agentsshould have gone through love. Anybody who had gone through love can take any other torture this worldhasto offer. I would have given anything to know whether I was in her heart. I was getting sick of imagining favorable interpretations for her simpleactivities.
I felt the sensation of being applied "Oldspice"(after shave lotion)after getting shaved , when she talked to me. I didn't know whether to enjoy the chillness of her words or the exhilarating pain of my love.I used to wait for that "golden glance"of hers everyday and used to rejoice all day by playing the glance again and again in my mind.
Everyday was confusion as to whether she was an angel or the mostbeautiful witch born to torment me*I went through thousand more thoughts like this.I was really longing to express my love.
BUT HOW????The opportunity presented itself when we went to industrial visit to Ooty.
Industrial visit????Well.... It was just a fancy name we had given for our excursion. After a brief visit to "Hindustan Photo films" to justify the"industriousness " of our visit we went to various other places ofattraction including the "Botanical garden". I had made up my mind to confess my love during this trip and was waiting for the right time.
The chance presented itself during our visit to the botanical gardenThere were 7 of us in our gang of close friends, three guys and four girls including myself and Geetha who stuck together as we visited the various places.As we were roaming about in the garden, Geetha suddenly stopped.'I cant walk one more step from here on!!! You guys look around and comeback.I will wait here"
"hey come on!!!! We wont go all the distance , we will just see a few more places,also we cant leave you alone here", one of our friends exclaimed as he looked around into the darkness that was setting in.I knew this was my chance."Why don't you guys carry on?? Even Iam fairly tired. I shall stay backwith Geetha and we will wait for you guys".Everyone seemed to like the idea.Soon we were left alone and we sat on the lush green grass.
After the initial chat about the trip I slowly gathered boldness."Geetha""Ya ", she was resting her head on her folded hands and was gently closing her eyes."I want to tell you something", I felt some non-existant block gettingstuck in my throat.
She raised her head and looked at me.I cleared my throat ."I wanted to tell you this for a long time. Whatever it is please don'tbeangry on me"
She smiled gently."Hey Kishore ,your buildup is scary, you are talking as if....."she stopped suddenly."As if....." , I enquired softly."As if.. as if you are gonna propose to me or something!!!! ", she letoutan uneasy laugh.I didn't answer her.She had guessed it!!!!"You are right Geetha", I replied"Right about what??", she was at her irritating best.
Why do these girls want everything to be spelled out perfectly."You are right Geetha..... I .... Iam........."I couldn't raise my tongue."I want to marry you Geetha, I want to make you part of my life"I felt as if a huge 1000 ton container was removed from my heart.
I was waiting for her reply.She didn't answer for a while. I would have happy with that , had Iknownthe words she uttered next.
"Whats wrong with you Kishore,have you gone mad or something???"I felt as if my eyes would pop out of my head as I tried to control mytears!!!"I mean!! I thought you were a smart and decent guy!!!
I......"She never spoke for a while."So you don't love me????", I couldn't believe I was asking this . Themessage was clear but I wanted the exact words from her mouth."Of course not!! Did I ever behave as if I was in love with you???"
I felt as if my heart was beaten up by thousand goons."So you never felt love towards me?? Not even once?? Not even oneinstance????", I knew it was pathetic but I couldn't help asking herthis."Oh kishore!!!! Iam so sorry to say this.
See I have a lot of respect and admiration towards you but love!!???That is different . You cant coerce love from someone. It should happenbyitself. And I don't feel that towards you but........"She stopped as she saw our friends coming back. We never talked about this after wards and I tried to avoid her as muchaspossible.
Since I was an introvert by nature , nobody suspectedanything.I didnt feel any grudge or remorse towards her and thought I would neversee her for the rest of my life. Apparently I was wrong This thought is in line with the lyrics of the song "En kaadhale" from the tamil film "Duet"." Nee thozhiya , illai edhiriya ena dhinamum poraattama"