Nothing Wordy

I have been trying to write something for the last two days. No success yet.  Hence I am publishing a simple outfit post. Here is our (my sisters' and mine) take on summer dressing. From shorts to jersey dresses to peasant tops,we have tried to cover a lot.... I promise to come up with a decent write - up in my next post. Till then, have a great weekend... 

 Please follow me on GFC and Facebook and Instagram if you like reading the blog.

The Guy At The Cafe

The composed, self-assured yet polite guy seated next to me at the cafe ordered the exact pair of things I did. I tried to study his manners as he engaged himself in frivolous Google searches. For a while, I had an impression that he seemed to have bored himself into coming there. He finished his coffee and cake and made sure his table bore no traces of his order as he sat there, perhaps contemplating his next humdrum act. His thoughts were interrupted with the arrival of four guests, one of who looked like a person of interest to him. The girl and he saw each other and smiled in the most polite and nervous manner, as who appeared to be the farmer's parents and elder sister shook hands with the latter. This was followed by a pause and an over-the-top polite and determined-to-mpress inquiries by the guy about everyone' s well being and preferred beverage, calculatingly not excluding the girl.

The mother, however, smiled at this little detail. What is it about mothers that make them capable of looking right through the most seemingly inconsequential actions of their children?

There were only four chairs at his table. I offered them one  so that they could all sit together. What followed was a list of boring exchanges on each others' professions and backgrounds. I didn't mean to overhear but the familiarity of arranged marriage meeting has its own charm. The whole idea of a conversation full of purpose with two parties putting their best feet forward usually makes for a good show.

They talked about health, bmi, gyms, parks, traffic,  home towns, the city and metro among other things. Everything but marriage. This however, should not be mistaken for a lack of interest. It happens. People get nervous and have no idea how to go about such meetings. After a few minutes of awkward silence, someone always ends up asking a totally non-relevant question in an attempt to break the ice.

The meeting eventually ended. The smile on the faces of the girl's parents was far from pretentious. The guy collected his laptop which was left to be charged at the counter and they all left, leaving behind an air of uncertainty.

Did  he drop them to their place? Did the father hug him or shake his hands in the end? Was he invited for another round of tea? Did he leave their place with a sense of accomplishment and finality? Did the father find a secluded moment to discuss something with the mother? Did the girl spend the night thinking about her wedding trousseau? 

.................................................................................................................

Please follow me on GFC and Facebook and Instagram if you like reading the blog.

Five Habits Of Highly Unfathomable People

When it comes to liking people around us, a lot depends on the stage we are at in our lives. The teens are likely to hate almost everyone, the twenty-somethings may develop some tolerance. And at times, more than age, it all depends on our ability to take a few steps back and watch everything from a distance.

Having said that, everyone I know knows a set of people they absolutely do not get. Here are a few that never fail to surprise me.

1. People who implicate that you are mad coz you are having a bad day. No, dear disillusioned human, YOU have said or done something that would piss off even turtles. Sounds crazy, right? God bless you. 

2. People who would eat out at expensive restaurants, but never have enough money to return that ten grand they owe you!

3. People who would jump a queue and behave as if everything, yes everything from the atmospheric pressure of the air to the expressions of invisible people around them, have not changed a bit.

4. People who mock you for eating healthy. Yeah, we get it. you are cool. But what goes into my mouth is non of your business. 

5. Only Indians who love golgappe will get this one. So there are these people who would throw away the extra water after every golgappa shot they take. But in the end, they will ask for extra water. You guys rock! Totally. 

.................................................................................................................................................................

These pictures have nothing to do with the list above. Sorry about that.

Please follow me on GFC and Facebook and Instagram if you like reading the blog.

A Hundred Times

There are a hundred places that remind me of you
A hundred times you say hello
A hundred ways I ignore your smile

There are waves with Gods in them
A hundred times they wash my heart
A hundred times they leave the sand

There is a black screen I stare at
A hundred times I see your name
A hundred times I think of the bus 

Save a seat for me again
A hundred times i will make you laugh 
A hundred times you will miss your stop
.................................................................

Please follow me on GFC and Facebook and Instagram if you like reading the blog.

The Happy Shirt

Ruby and I, we were fat and happy when we first met. Unlike most nine year olds who spent their time watching TV and collecting comic books, we sat near the river. We played till dusk, talked about our favourite stories from the English book and watched ships with iron blocks (we guessed) being sent for water cooling. 

Summers were the best time for us as we got an extra hour to play by the river owing to late sunsets. While rushing back to our homes on Fridays, we planned on coming a little early the next day. We planned on wearing our happy shirts, bringing all the savings of the week and buying  ice cream on our way back. 

Once Ruby got a stubborn flu and we couldn't go to the river for almost a month. I went to her place every Saturday and told her all about school, about this new boy in the class who brought noodles for lunch, about our science teacher who told us we were all going to die one day and that kids who kept their books shabby would  never learn anything. 

There was this one Saturday when I couldn't go to Ruby' s as there were people coming over and I had to wear a pretty dress and greet everyone and teach an eight year old how to do well in exams. By the time the relatives were gone, it was already dark. The next Saturday, I went to Ruby's only to find the house locked. I came again next week and it was the same. 

I have a hard time remembering her face today. All I remember are those evenings. I would like to believe that Ruby is alive today, does something really cool during summer evenings,  and wears her happy shirt once in a while. 

........................................... ...... 

 Please follow me on GFC and Facebook and Instagram if you like reading the blog.

Shrobbed

Though the trend has been there for more than a year now, I am yet to wrap my head around it. Shrobing, the art of leaving one's jacket to rest on their arms and not shoulders, had more admirers than Celine Dione's style statements last year. 

First of all, shrobing in uncomfortable. It is all easy-peasy till you are sitting pretty, waiting for your coffee. But try getting up, walking out, buying your stationary and making at least three calls to your Uber driver before he can locate you, and you will realise you are exhausted. On top of it, your wallet looks like that fat kitten you once were so jealous of as a child. 

But then shrobing makes for the best Instagram fashion pictures. It adds an edge, a nonchalant vibe to the whole outfit. I have not gone all the way with the outfit here, just one shoulder was exposed. It was an experiment of course. And I have to admit, I may try it again. Uncomfortable? Yes, but the trend has this cool ring to it. What do you think?

 Please follow me on GFC and Facebook and Instagram if you like reading the blog.

Feud In The City

In the light of the latest Sarah Jessica Parker and Kim Cattrall feud, it is tempting to say that friends on screen may not necessarily means friends off-screen.

But then I couldn't help but wonder if a squabble like this is anything but unreal. Aren't we all wired to - some more than others - fight, get jealous, be insecure, start a cold-war, get offended, and maybe then just kiss and makeup?

After a significant period of time, we all know our friends. Carrie is touchy, Miranda is reliable, Charlotte is old-school and Samantha, of-course, will always be trouble. But people change. Who knows Miranda may be the new trouble. While the whole Instagram altercation is high TRP material no doubt, the old SITC fans are secretly wishing the two ladies to just talk it out. Maybe the past is like an anchor holding them back. They just need to let go.

And yes, it is sexist to think women can't be friends. Men fight all the time. And it isn't something that won't happen to the new ones. Wait till our kids/nieces/nephews get to know about a fight between Hannah and Marnie. 

TIll then, let's stay updated on the exchanges between these two fashionable ladies...

You guys have a great weekend ahead. Please follow me on GFC and Facebook and Instagram if you like reading the blog.