Swamped!

This is that time of the month. Hey! what are you thinking? I was talking about work. The deadline for the magazine Force is looming over my head and there are still stories to come from the client. So no sleep for me tonight. But who's complaining! It is good to have work! Check out the new issue to see how India plans to tackle the threat called China. I for one would start by saying 'NO' to goods made in China. We are gladly supporting their economy at the cost of our own. When will we wake up and stop being penny wise and pound foolish or rather paisa wise and rupee foolish. The Brits ruled India using economy and now China is trying to ruin us using the same tactics. Wish the government was more supportive of manufacturing industry than just the service industry. Manufacturing is what'll give jobs to our unskilled millions. Enhancing their skill set is good in theory but are they going to starve till they get the required skills for an office job. Is the slogan "Gareebi Hatao" or "Gareeb Hatao". Can someone answer this?

Rainsong

Last weekend rain played a spoilsport. I had prayed for rain but not so much in one go that all plans for an evening out were washed away. To top it all there was no power.

But as it is said when life throws lemons your way make lemonade. So, hubby and I sat in the balcony, sipped some coke and ate hot crispy french fries. Reminded me of childhood days when rains meant pakoras by plateful.

I came into the bedroom to take a call and saw this little fellow taking shelter in the rear balcony. Couldn't resist clicking it. I thought that the wet feathers standing up on the head made it look quite rakish.

Every cloud does have a silver lining it seems.

Twenty years Apart

Till a year back, Facebook for me, was just another way to keep in touch with my family on the other side of the globe. My friend list was limited to a half a dozen of cousins. Then I added a few work friends to make connecting easy. And that was that. I did not go looking for people or try to make 'friends'. I live more in the real world than the virtual.

Then, one day I got a message from someone asking me if was the same Aarti who studied with him in school. I was surprised, to say the least. I never occurred to me that someone would go looking for me on Internet. I let the message lay in my inbox, unanswered. I mulled over it for weeks and then thought 'Hey! What the hell! If people want to get back in touch why not? I replied and accepted the friend request. Floodgates opened.

Long lost, some forgotten, some remembered and missed classmates started mushrooming on the site. Friend requests exchanged and accepted. Within a month or so I was in touch with so many of my schoolmates. Now they are friends!

After the initial messaging, all of us wanted to talk. It is very difficult to describe the flow of emotions that accompanied the first conversations. To hear someone's voice after 20 years is astounding. All those memories come rushing in. The sights , sounds, behaviour I associated with them in school was suddenly fresh. The time span of two decades fizzled out. There was no awkwardness no fumbling for words. Guess all that time spent together does account for something.

All of us have changed over the years. What has not changed, is the camaraderie that we shared amongst us in school. I think school years are magical. Growing up may make us cynics but the innocence associated with those childhood days makes us friends all over again.

Thanks to Fb and everyone's efforts to bring back old friends.

My friend list is touching 100 and not with friends of friends or random people. These are my friends 20 years apart yet close.

What Colour is the sky?

If I asked you or a million or so other people what colour is the sky the reply would be an instant 'blue'. But have you ever thought what would a visually challenged person reply? Blue or for that matter cloudy or bright means nothing to her . Things and concepts we take for granted have no place in the world of the blind. Living in my visually stimulating world I never thought about this. I just looked at the sky to gauge my prediction for the day's weather. Colours have meaning for me. They affect my mood. I have favourites and make choices for the colours of my clothes, my room even my food. I colour code my wardrobe. I am a graphic designer, colours are my world. But what if I could not see. A black, purple, orange will suddenly seem unknown. Will my world be the same? I don't like the thought. Hell! it scares me. Why do I think about it now? I was introduced to world of the sightless when I chose to volunteer for the Radio Mirchi project to record books for the sightless. Sure I have seen people around me who do not have the gift of sight but this was the first time I was entering their world. I felt like an over-previlaged imposter. When I read any book, I see it in the eye of my mind. How do I do justice to all the sightless people when I read the book? How do I convey to them the meaning of concepts we comprehend like second nature? How do I explain the red hibiscus or the blue light filtering under the door or the worried look on the mother's face as she sees her baby on the swing for the first time. I'll try my best and let my voice be the sight. It'll not be easy as I am the handicapped in their world. I wish I could understand them better. The sightless are less eqiupped than sighted people but are no way less able. But I do feel greatful for the gift of sight. I for one would like to take time out everyday and thank god for special gift. I hope I can make difference to my life and to those around me.

I succumb!

I finally gave in to the world of blogging today. With the blog mania sweeping the country today what with celebrity actors, politicians and even my nieces and nephews taking to it how could I ignore it. What will I write here? Some deep introspection or my take on life or just ramblings of an overcrowded brain. Heck how does it matter. This is my space. Watch out people here I come! On second thoughts just pass by quietly and let me be.