16th Dec 2011

Really frustrated with my job at the moment – hopefully I can resist the temptation to resign for five more days. No, things will not change after that, but at least I will get a must deserved break when the college closes for Christmas next week. Things are really irritating - the unrealistic project plan, the legacy to be borne, the ‘lessons learned’, the yesterday’s deadlines, the cribbings, the resignations, the new appointments – the endless list.

Office this week has been a madhouse to say the least. Try telling a person with strings of alphabets attached to their name that they may have got things wrong! Now imagine a room full of such people and the client constantly nitpicking on their work. Now further imagine that it’s for a project which has been thrusted upon the Sheldon Coopers of my college. So, now you really know what I am talking about. With all the jibber-jabber that goes on, no wonder paracetamols have taken the place of wine gums in my office!

All the cribbing apart, it’s indeed fun coming to office every day - in freezing winters, blowing cold white air, wrapped in layers, knee boots, muffler, gloves, hat and a red nose. And after a long day in office, the same Christmas lights in the streets surprise me each day. So does that guy distributing the Evening Standard at the traffic lights – ever so smiling, ever so courteous, always handing it to me with a ‘here you go young lady’. All this week, there have been various groups singing Carols in the station - the music is lovely and festive no doubt, but it’s their Santa Claus hats that liven up everything around for me.

Christmas is in the air everywhere– you can see the excitement on everyone’s faces – along with their shopping bags. There is so much to look forward to in the next couple of weeks – I am all excited. But why does this feel like my first Christmas in the city? Hmm, let me think: 2006 – Watford but a stranger, 2007 – Switzerland but sick, 2008 – India, 2009 – India, 2010 – in city but sad, 2011 – in city and really looking forward to it!
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9th Dec 2011

Today is the last day of one of my colleague, who was my ex-project manager and before that my client – that’s freelancers club for you. But different projects also mean working with new people all the time, like this American guy who joined us this week. First real contact with a person across the pond – my first impression – I prefer Brit colleagues. Yes even with their peculiar sense of humour and sarcasms, which is as mystifying to me today as it was five years ago - even after watching repeat episodes of Little Britain!

Anyways, so we went for drinks yesterday evening to ensure that his last day in office would be as productive as possible with a little help from the hangover. I usually get bored during such outings, but yesterday I actually enjoyed myself and felt alright. Honestly, I do not really understand what’s being said most of the time due to the music and accent. But such outings become totally worthwhile when you actually hear things like, ‘my children, her children and our children are going to the museum this weekend – to have some family time you know.’ Or when the new joiner tells the manager ‘I am keeping my options open as I took a cutback when I joined’ and the manager smiles ever so politely and offers an encouraging nod.

So after an evening of office gossip, I headed back home in the gusty wind. Apparently, the winds were so strong yesterday night that a wind turbine, further north, caught fire and ended with blackened blades (source: morning Metro). So, I came out of the tube station, fumbled through by bag for the oyster card, touched out, pulled out the umbrella, fumbled again for my mobile, only to realise that I had left it in the office. Now me and my husband always catch up on our respective day while walking home from the tube station – 99 out of 100 times it’s me who is at home and 28 out of 99 times I cannot talk as I am in the kitchen cooking and 18 out of (99-28) times I cannot talk as I am in middle of my daily dose of Indian soap opera. But the remaining 99-28-18 times we do catch up! So today was going to be that 1 out of 1 day where I would have called and couldn’t.

And then I see the long forgotten phone booth just outside the tube station – in fact two of them. I have seen lots of people using the phone booths before but never for making calls; it just features in their holiday pictures –a proof of having done one of the most important things in the to-do list. I fumbled my bag again, this time for coins, and made the call. Coincidently I used the phone booth on the very same day that I mentioned not using payphones any longer. Was it a coincidence or did I actually see the phone booth only because I remembered it in the morning? By the way I now know why people don’t use phone booths any longer and am thankful for that :)

Random diary entry

8th Dec 2011

I was infuriated in the morning when Jubilee line was suspended, which meant that I couldn’t reach office on time. There was an alternate route of course; maybe that’s why tfl delays/suspends services regularly without any feeling of shame, regret or guilt.

Having spent around 20 minutes seated - a luxury few elite experience in the morning madness, I got to read the Metro end-to-end. I simply love the Metro – just enough for every type of reader. Now when I say every, I of course do not include my husband’s ex-boss, who would rather cut-off his limbs than take pleasure in the day-to-day lives of mere mortals. The most interesting article today was on 50 daily tasks, which are now extinct thanks to our addiction to technology. Sadly there was nothing on that list for which I could say, ‘don’t generalise people, I still do this’. Not even for using payphones, which were an essential way of pacifying mom, in far past, that I am not up to any mischief and just need to attend those extra classes ;)

So I reached Temple, no not the sanctuary of gods and goddesses but the tube station by that name. (I wanted to know why it’s so called – searched Google/Wikipedia – got tangled in the knight Templers, temple bars, zillion other links – finally gave up and accepted being naive.) Had it been a new station and new route, it would be a perfect opportunity to reach office just in time for lunch. Yes, my sense of direction is that bad even after 5 years in this city! But thankfully, I had been here one Saturday night not so long ago on a splurge trip.

I climbed the 64 steps (don’t know when it started but I always count steps as I climb) to the Waterloo Bridge and started walking across. That is when it struck me for the umpteenth time – damn I love this city. It was gorgeous- the nip in the air, the light drizzle, the river, the clock, the eye, the red bus, the old and the new - all spread out over one breathtaking expanse. Loved every minute of that walk this morning – and now here I am in the office seeing computers, files, phones and deadlines. Alas that’s life! But I suppose, you need to see this aspect of life to appreciate the other aspects...

Friends

She had taken great pains at preparing the invitation list for her wedding, not wanting to forget anyone on her special day. Just one more final check and she would be done. Colleagues – check. Neighbours – check. Relatives – check. No, wait, that's Mom's headache. B-school friends – check. Engineering friends – check. School friends – check. No, hang on. How could she check School friends? How could she have missed out on her? HER?

She franticly searched for her school scrap book, the one she had saved for the last 10 years not wanting to let go of her childhood memories. There it was lying at the bottom of the box – sticking out of it was an old photo of her with her best friend. Looking at the photo, she began recollecting all the fun they had together and that one fight which changed everything.

Back to the present, with her lost friend's 6 digit landline number in hand, she decided to call. An automated voice answered giving her the details of the information bureau for changed numbers. She called the new number only to be told that nobody by her friend's name lived there. She contacted her other schoolmates, but none of them had any news either. She then went to the place where her friend had lived and asked around, only to return home dejected.

The wedding day was fast approaching and the invitations had to be posted. She took out a card, simply wrote her best friend's name on it, and posted it along with others. No miracles happened, after all it's a real world we are talking about. The d-day arrived and the hall was full of friends and family, everyone was present except the one she really wished to see.

Years passed, Facebook arrived and they are back to being best friends!

55 Fiction

My first attempt at 55 fiction -

1. He carefully moved the strands of hair away from her face. Her eyes now had a shine which wasn't there earlier. He looked at her with those penetrating eyes. Tracing the outline of her lips, he brushed them gently. Extremely satisfied with what he saw, he rubbed his eyes, closed the photoshop and walked home.
   
   

2. She was visiting India after two years. Her mother noticed that she had put on some weight. “You will have to stop eating junk food soon, otherwise no one will marry you”, said the concerned mother. “Don't worry Mom, the Michigan State won't let us girls marry anyway”, replied the daughter cheekily.
   
   
   

What is IT?

Born in a mint, IT was raised in a bank
Handed over to a possessor, high up the rank.

Nestled in the pocket, IT visited many places plush
Sumptuous living, gave the cheeks a rosy blush.

Caressed by the velvety folds, hidden in a place so clever
Saw new friends joining in, while a few left IT forever.

Enjoying the journey IT was, oblivious to the turn ahead
Was given to someone, 'God Bless You' who in return said.

Not used to the rugged life, was engulfed by discomfort and shame
Didn't value the warmth of touch, unaware, a treasure IT became.

Then arrived the occasion for which IT was so earnestly saved
Sweet temptations at window, that boy on street forever craved.

IT now entered a new world, the new world of give and take
Had to keep up with the pace, with no room for any mistake.

IT kept running round & round, with aching feet and spinning head
Came to an abrupt halt, signs of fatigue a kind soul must have read.

In an antique box IT now lays, satisfied with the experiences and a life enriched
Along with many unsuspecting others, who have been conveniently ditched.

Just Look Around

Simple joys of life all around, stop and smell the coffee brew,

Lend an ear to the busker, the music will surely grow on you.

Marvel at beautiful flowers, and the melodious chirping of birds,

That child in the park with a book, lost in the world of wizards.

Smile at the sun, sing in the rain, feel the surrounding gentle breeze,

When water turns to ice outside, enjoy the warmth of your woollies.

Take time to see the sunset, admire the changing colours of the sky,

Nothing 'big' happened, yet what an amazing day just went by.

Special One

Valuable things accompanied, as you walked into my seeking existence,
Igniting spark and spirit within, which otherwise burned in a distance.
Keyed in with perfect harmony, fulfilled all my unknown alien wants,
Raison d'être is your unconditional love, for my inescapable response.
A steady base now laid of relationship, peaceful future is what I dream,
My love promises to be by your side, whatever way the winds may lean.

Sugar and Salt

Life is a bed of roses indeed; a full bloom calls for its prickly spine.
Akin to the plentiful slash and slice, indispensable for a diamond’s shine.

Constant conflict with conspiring world; lose many and triumph a few.
Fall shows the courage to combat, rise like fallen warrior and try anew.

Extended days spent toiling in soil, in the face of scorching sun bright.
Lay to rest or keep at it, the shrubs grow in shade and the trees in light.

2 spoon salt for every 1 of sugar, as too much sweet is sign for danger.
Risk to misconstrue the mirror reflection, and be faced with a stranger.

Journey of A Leaf

A leaf laid fallen on the ground its agony trying to withstand,
Gush of winds suddenly appeared drifting it away from homeland.

Habituated to a bunched life where company was plenty,

Found itself all alone with a life which seemed all empty.

Blindly followed the harsh wind prayed for a miracle day and night,

Then dared to open its tight-shut eyes hoping to see familiar sight.

What was heard only in stories such a dream it was now looking at,

Basking in the mountain sunshine flowing stream beside it sat.

Float, fly, swim a new carefree way of life with no strings attached,

Each day brought along adventure feeling to return it no longer latched.

Whooshing falls in the distant it wanted to feel and became obsessed,

So near yet blown away always it now lay much distressed.

Smile spread across its lips while waiting endlessly under a stone pinned.
Absence of own will felt it now happily follows the direction of the wind.

A Dream, A Reality

Yes castles are built in air, set out then to lay the foundation beneath.
Vision is just the first step, and then miles to go before it’s achieved.

Unrealised dreams lay plenty, each having wings to touch new skies.
Courage makes the difference, as countless testing days fly by.

Difficulties en route will raise doubts, not let the passion cease.
Easy routes will present along the way, their only virtue being ease.

Hardships may take toll, tempting a turn back to the comforting old day.
Keep inching forward, each step only taking closer to the chosen way.

On completion of worthwhile journey, place the dream off to sleep.
Dream is no longer dream, but a chased reality indeed.