May 2013
1 post
One year...so much has changed. And yet there are...
February 2013
2 posts
January 2013
1 post
To life...
Be as hard as you like…in fact I say ‘bring it on’…together we will make you bow down…that is my promise…
October 2012
1 post
Thank you
Allen, you saved me from myself, and your advice keeps me sane all the time. I’m glad I finally told you after all these years, that I’ve never forgotten what you did for me. Thank you for giving me the strength to see myself having a new life.
September 2012
2 posts
The step...
It’s been six and a half years since you left us, and then I said you were strong for taking that call. Though I’ve know I was wrong for a long time, I never admitted it, out of fear. Fear that I would be betraying you and your memory.
But the time has come to say it out loud…you were wrong, weak and foolish…and you caused a lot of pain when you left. The pain will remain...
“Dear Blog…I’m sorry I’ve been out of touch…I promise to...”
August 2012
4 posts
July 2012
1 post
May 2012
2 posts
April 2012
2 posts
Your Love Never Fails
Spending the evening at home, resting the sore ankle from the rigorous physiotherapy, I decide to watch a movie from my stash. So I put on ‘Your Love Never Fails’ and settle in to be mindlessly entertained. Instead what I get is a stirring of emotions that I haven’t felt in a while, and the opportunity to reflect on some old memories.
The movie begins with a super successful corporate New York...
March 2012
1 post
Dhoop Kinare revisited - new lessons learnt
I’ve recently rewatched Dhoop Kinare, a show that I watched as a child, with my mom and sister, never really understanding much, but something about the language kept me engrossed and had a soothing effect on me.
It’s been many years, and now the show is being recreated by Indian TV show experts as the serial Kuchh To Log Kahenge. As I compare the two shows I notice some stark differences, that...
February 2012
3 posts
Urduwallahs
Timing is everything and it seemed to...
A historian lost
It’s odd that just two days ago my dad mentioned the name Sharada Dwivedi to me, saying that I should look to buy her new book about the Taj Mahal Hotel in Colaba: The Taj At Apollo Bunder. A coffee table book, this one celebrates the century-old history of the Taj hotel and the magnificence of it.
I looked up the book, and made a note to get around to buying it soon for Dad. Then I...
TV Off. Mumbai On.
January 28 was No TV Day in Mumbai. I didn’t realise till the day was almost over, but I must say it was a day of exploring, not that I watch TV anyways.
Started off towards St. Xavier’s college, accompanying a friend on some work. As we drove into town, we decided we must eat first. What better place than the classic Kayani Bakery, before heading onwards to work. Of course getting...
January 2012
3 posts
Celebrating the good things in life
I knew that the trip would be fun, but I never thought it could be so amazing. It took me on a ride and turned my world around. I could go on for hours, but I’ll try to keep it concise.
Starting off from here at 7:30 am, we all try to sleep early, but everyone ends up being awake post 2:30 am. En route, between chatter and attempted singing, we stop to eat breakfast, which would turn out to...
Fast Train Frenzy
When I decided to move to Mumbai, the one thing everyone told me was “you’re going to have to take the train.” Yes, I know. Sure I hear it’s tricky, but how hard can it be. It’s a train, not rocket science. Turns out it’s probably a little trickier than rocket science and a whole lot scarier.
The first time I got on with my friend on the way back from VT station was shaky. I held on for dear...
the year gone by
A year of upheavals. A year of loss. A year of gain. A year of injury. A year of healing. A year of letting go. A year of starting over.
We lost some family, we lost some friends, we won some battles, we walked into new ones.
Ritu Aunty: You were not just Mansi’s mom, you were more like my own and finally you gave in to cancer. A loss that I feel every day even if I don’t express it. I’ve learnt...
December 2011
5 posts
Light a candle…for how long?
We’ve all heard about...
Anyone for half a concert?
Yes, as odd as that sounds, that is exactly what happened. No one’s fault really, but still bloody annoying. And all because I was too lazy to go down to Andheri and pick up my own pass for the Mumbai Mirror LiveJam featuring Raghu Dixit and Susheela Raman, at Bandra Fort on Saturday night. Allow me to elaborate.
All set for a rocking night of folk fusion at the Fort, get to Bandra early and...
What the fuck did I do to fall head over heels in love with someone who I just can’t be with! I’ve had my share of heartache, I don’t need this!
En route to Goa! Am going to be a beach bum for 4 days! Do not disturb!!
November 2011
6 posts
Simple moments
Among the thousands gathered around the All Stars stage, a perfect moment came by out of nowhere and took my breath away.
The artists on the stage were singing from the soul, the music was lifting spirits and bringing smiles to the faces of the music lovers.
As people swayed under the beautiful sky, he held my hand tightly for a moment. And just as unexpectedly, pulled me close and kissed me...
Finding love!
They say you are blessed if you are loved. They are right. But sometimes love is harder than it should be, even if it is just with a friend. And then, sometimes it all falls into place, just in a moment.
There have been ups and downs. Days of non-stop laughter, nights of insistent bickering. And sometimes no words at all, because of anger over something silly or maybe even a serious matter. Not...
The Weekender
So much that happened at the weekender, how to put it all down in one place. So let me pick and choose my favourite bits and put it out there for you to read.
Day 1
As the sun started to disappear from the sky, taking it’s harsh, bright light with it, the lawn in front of the Eristoff stage started filling up as Sky Rabbit took the stage. Though still a bit warm, the crowd were feet-tapping along...
Bacardi NH7 Weekender
The crews are gathered. The stages are almost set up. The teams have been briefed. The sound checks are on. As a few hours remain before the Bacardi NH7 Weekender officially kicks of, things are in full swing at ground zero–Laxmi Lawns, Magarpatta City, Pune.
For the people who are working behind the scenes, the work never ends, even when the festivities begin. In fact, there will probably be more...
October 2011
10 posts
But why?
A world so beautiful, music so beautiful, people so beautiful, why would you choose to go?
Bad call. Really.
Plugged in, to Nikhil D'Souza Unplugged
Like almost every other time, I get to the venue early, in the hopes of getting a good spot. I think I do, till the place starts filling up and I realise I can neither see the artist and nor hear him, coz the people around me prefer to chit-chat than appreciate the music. So I schooch over to get closer till I’m standing right up front, and eventually get the best seat in the house, seated...
One comma too many
There are many things that make you a writer. As Dr. Brennan says in an episode of Bones, “you need a writing instrument and you need an idea, I’m just not sure which would come first.”
Great place to start, but if only it were that simple. A good writer needs so much more to be a good writer. An ease with words, reading as second nature, keen observation skills, a hyperactive...
So, BBM is on strike and now it's pouring outside!
As if we weren’t having a hard enough day, giving that BBMs around the country and probably the world are acting up, and no one can get facebook and twitter updates and the constant pinging of BBM has ceased, now it’s gone and started raining as well!
Does anyone else find it a little odd that it’s mid-October and it’s pouring outside. I thought the monsoon only lasts till...
October freHEAkeT
So someone said that the monsoon’s will be hard for me when I move to Mumbai. Granted I can’t wear pretty white tops for fear of being kechadoffied, and have to resort to being in shorts/three-quarter’s all the time, at least the monsoon breeze made it bearable to some extent.
Someone then said that the October heat is the worst in Mumbai, and I think - I’m from Oman, if...
Sway to the beats!
Another night out on the town, and I find myself back at blueFrog. Twice in three days, I must be getting addicted, and I am so not complaining about it.
This time there were more talents added to the plethora of artists as they pre-party to the NH7 weekender in Pune caught steam. Toughof Tobacco, Pentagram, Ankur Tewari and the Ghalat Family, Warren ‘Blackstratblues’ Mendonsa, Rhys...
NotSiddCoutto - OhSoGood
One of the reasons I was so looking forward to moving to Mumbai was to be part of the larger, greater music scene in the city, which caters to the souls of any kind of music lover. Whether you’re a jazz person, or a lover of ghazals, or psychedelic trance does it for you, you can find it in Mumbai. And now that I’m here I can’t wait to get in to see every gig and concert I can.
On a whim, after...
Thoughts galore
Along a bustling sidestreet in Fort, there is a little glass door, that you would almost miss if you walked by too fast. Through the doors you are greeted by the smell of new books as you enter a world of words. Kitab Khana is just 8 months old, the latest addition to the many historic bookstores in South Bombay and is already a favourite for many.
With a range of books that’s delightful and an...
Yesteryear, once more
It’s the same dingy place filled with loud chatter and the clinking of beer mugs. The swishing of the kitchen doors as the orders fly through is the same as it’s always been. The man behind the bar counter with his calculator is the same, probably Gujju, we conspire.
But you are not here anymore. In the place you used to hang out at, to the first place you took me to, introducing your ‘baby...
Mumbai
The city of dreams. The city of reality. The city where the struggle is daily.
Not everyone is happy, not everyone finds what they come looking for. Some see worse than they ever should have, others get way more than they deserve.
Yet they remain, the nashaa of Mumbai keeps them hooked, and they continue on.
In the city that claims to make dreams a reality for those who are willing to...
