The Non-Facebook Post #78

Today is the sort of day when 'Raindrops are falling on my head'. Literally and figuratively. My mood is mirroring this afternoon's dark clouds. I'm furiously hungry, and furious, and mad, and sad.
And well, to top it all, coming up next week is summer break and then, summer semester. That time of year when campus gets lonely, a ghost town. I hate empty campuses - let's put it that way.

The Non-Facebook Post #77

The kids' diagnosis was right - "you're too gentle." Why do I have so many inhibitions?!

I need to have an attitude (some Alia Bhatt sass). I need to stop being self-conscious. I need to let go.

The Non-Facebook Post #76

"Round on the outside, straight inside!"

Thanks for great work colleagues!

The Non-Facebook Post #75

This! So this!
The Dumbledore sibling, "what only she keeps imagining in her head. "

The Non-Facebook Post #74

Ohmigod, I stepped out without my winter coat this morning! Hallelujah!

The Non-Facebook Post #73

Channel an 'Alia Bhatt' attitude, girl! All life through.

The Non-Facebook Post #72

Don't shred the bottom of the saree and the lehenga while walking, again, woman!

The Non-Facebook Post #71

I drove a car in a saree, and heels!
Accomplishment!

The Non-Facebook Post #70

I have my banana for this morning, I'm happy!

And also, "you are so pretty!"

Never hurts hearing that once in a while!

The Non-Facebook Post #69

'Chupke se kahiin, dheeme paaon se, jaane kis tarah kis ghadi,
Aage badh gaye humse raahon mein, par tum toh abhi the yahiin...'

Aur, keh bhi diya, alvida.

The Non-Facebook Post #68

I've never written about this aspect of my life - because it's difficult not to think about this without an accompanying, fierce piercing pain.

One of my fondest memories of my Dad is when he would gently move the falling hair from my forehead and tuck it carefully behind my ear when I was studiously bent over some scholastic task or the other.

There's a sense of sukoon associated with that memory; the feel of sweet summer breezes; the knowledge of no real life pareshaani; Kerala, and a laid-back living I would love to go back to - to laze in cool summer nights and dream of the high-flying life. Because there was a simple simplicity in that life that afforded you to dream the grandest of dreams and live them, and yet be happily care-free.

The Non-Facebook Post #67

In the shower! In the shower! In the shower!
That's where they come! The ideas!

And, so, let's "give it your best shot."

The Non-Facebook Post #66

'Masti mein rahe dooba dooba hamesha samaa,
Humko raahon mein yunhin milti rahe khushiyaan...'

The Non-Facebook Post #65

This conversation with a witty nine year old:

"So, what color do you want the walls of your room to be?"
"Umm, black and white."
"Well, you might as well just buy a zebra instead and hang it up there."

LOL!

"No, not striped walls. Maybe three walls white and one wall black."
"Well, you might as just take a zebra and make it larger and hang it up there! "

LOL!

And,

"So, your phone fell into the toilet?"

"Yes"

"While there was stuff in there?"

"Yes"

"This is even better than I imagined!" (in gleeful delight)

The Non-Facebook Post #64

Got told today, "you're magical!" And, "you're my heroine for the day."

Once earlier it was, "you're an angel" and "you're doll!"

I love when I get told these things!

The Non-Facebook Post #63

When you're working at two computer stations and three adjoining monitors and keep dragging the mouse pointer from two connected screens to the third not-joined screen expecting it to show up, it can only mean one of three things:
-You're pompously busy.
-You're scatter-brained (or pea-brained as the loving siblings would like to call it). It just doesn't register in your brain to switch from one mouse control to the next to operate the two systems separately.
-You're pompously busy and incorrigibly pea-brained - that lovely, one-in-a-million combination!

The Non-Facebook Post #62

It's interesting to observe how imminent thunderstorms drive people "home." Everyone is in a hurry to get back to the safety of the cocoon they call home before the rains lash out.
Home. And rain. In the evenings. And that lovely atmosphere bathed in golden twilight and soaked in fresh moisture. And garam chai, and balconies with chairs to laze in and gaze out at the world, and hot mirchiyaan-bhajiye to munch on - Pappa and Nanna's favourites.
And also, sitting miles away, in a home away from home on one such beautiful evening taking in the warm rain-drenched sunset and losing yourself in thoughts. Oh, the dil ki kashmokash. Chaahaton ki kashmokash. Chaah ki kashmokash.

The Non-Facebook Post #61

It's that cheery, sunny, HUMID time of year - yay! Yay for the sun and brightness and warmth. The humidity though - aaarghhhhh! Wreaking havoc with the hair!

Hey, a girl's got to complain sometimes!

The Non-Facebook Post #60

Precious scraps from conversations with people:

At a small church in a quaint town in Midwest America (a devout, after shaking hands with me to greet me for Easter) "Your hands are cold! You must have a warm heart!"

The Dumbledore sibling, on my driving rants, "Go wherever the GPS takes you!"

Mr. Peabody to Sherman on facing a seemingly out-of-control issue, "Stay calm and keep your head."

One of my favourite professors to me,
"He's a good chap.
[Turns and looks at me, serious conviction in his eyes] You're a good chap too."

The Non-Facebook Post #59

It's a dew-drenched spring morning. You breathe in the refreshing wetness. You see new buds sprouting. You hear birds chirping a happy song. It's the kind of morning that heralds bright promises. Here's to looking forward to them.

The Non-Facebook Post #58

My fitness instructor to me, "I see your form has improved! Good job!" Wooohoooooooooooo!

It's all about form when exercising, especially strength training. And doing you best!

Plus, (ok , a clutch of random thoughts here) "even if the results are disastrous, you're still a rock star for putting yourself out there" - Maria Kennedy (A Shy Girl's Guide to Getting Out There).
So, yeah, I'm a rock star! Woohoooooooooooo, again!

And, I drove - here's documenting my first long-distance trips! From current home base to Lafayette, and also some night-time driving to a restaurant 40 minutes away.
Yessssssssssssssss!

Accha sochne se accha hota hai.

The Non-Facebook Post #57

This evening was magical. It took me back to the dreamy sunsets of Hyderabad. The ones I would stare into, sitting on the terrace of 'home', living the world of my dreams in those golden sun-kissed clouds.
Today was that sort of evening. Moisture-drenched twilight air from a recent rain shower interspersed with gently blowing cool spring breezes brought back memories of all those evenings I spent dreaming up my future. Some of that future is here; I rediscovered my yet dormant tomorrow in today's sublime atmosphere.

Once again, here's to "golden sunsets, glorious evenings and big dreams."

The Non-Facebook Post #56

Woman, stop forgetting where you've parked your car!

The Non-Facebook Post #55

That moment when you suddenly realize that you've been dealing with horrible, horrible people!
"Oh, you horrible people!"
"Oh!"

The Non-Facebook Post #54

Pappa, this graduate student recognition for “outstanding academic achievement” is for you, as will be every milestone in my life. It’s an honour and a reason for celebration, but bittersweet. I guess it will always be bittersweet.

“I've known a faith and belief in my abilities much more that I could ever have in myself.”

For all the times that I've faltered, unsure of ever finding my feet to stand back up, there was a constant unwavering voice that told me simply, “aap pareshaan mat ho, khush raho gudiya” – without judgement, without criticism. Those words didn't mean too much then, wrapped as I was in my own little bubble of troubles to pay attention to their profundity.

This time of year is your birth month. It’s the time that marks my first semester in graduate school four years ago. It also the time of year that preludes life, as we had known it, changed forever. And now, it’s somehow come full circle, like recognition of having ploughed through stone-laden path and rough weather.

All you wanted for me, Pappa, is to be happy, and smile. All I want to be is your daughter.