The Pizzazzy

I am reading a new book, by an Indian author titled Trust Me. For once I thought let me trust an Indian writer to deliver a good novel. Overall the story is okay, the language is not so good. Trust me to complete the book. There’s nothing original about the book, you feel you have seen it, read it many many times.

Today morning I got up real early and I was feeling too lazy to get out of bed, so I opened the book and read it for some time before boredom started hitting me early in the morning. So I neatly dog-eared the page and chuckled to myself on how old habits or some habits never dies. Anand always scolds me, literally, about this habit of mine and he does not like his books to be treated in this manner. So, we rarely share the same books. Anyways since me and him have different tastes when it comes to books most of the time I get away with this habit. Actually I did try to get rid of this habit, infact I have many bookmarks beautiful 24 carat gold plated ones which I bought from Japan once upon a time. I even managed to use it for some time for the first 50 to 100 pages of some books. But, I find folding the pages much more convenient than using a bookmark.

Thats because I follow some logic when I turn the pages. A page is divided into two halves: the top half and the bottom half, so at a particular time I would be having four sections two halves of left page and another two of right page. And whenever I am keeping down the book I turn the corner of the section I was at. So, when I take the book again even after a long gap I can start from exactly the section I left at. Isn’t it innovative? This saves me from reading lines all over again which happens usually with everyone.

While we are at the topic of books, I have another peculiar habit. I can read multiple books in parallel. No, not like read at the same time, I mean I can start a new book even without completing an old one and continue reading both. I also like having a few books in stock, God knows that I never want to be in a situation when I don’t have anything to read. Books are a must at my bedside, even my holiday checklist has novels as permanent entries. I don’t rely on bookshops so much in a new city so I keep one with me always.

This brings me to the one thing that I miss in India, a National Library which is conveniently accessible and heavily stocked with all types of books. The British Library is good but not located conveniently for me. But I am happy buying books and stocking up my own library.

Going back to my old habit of folding pages, yes old because I am going to adopt a new one of using the lovely bookmarks and show some more respect to the books as Anand puts it. Now where are my bookmarks? Why is it so tough to keep resolutions, oh by the way I still have a few days till the new Year. And may be some of you get a good new year gift idea for your book loving friends. Gold plated ones for me please

Early morning the calls started coming in. Even when I don’t have a number yet, I was getting calls continously on Anand’s cell and the home number. It was great feeling and worth all the hassle of coming back to Pune in a hurry for my birthday.  My last birthday on this side of 30 and the world still looks younger to me. By the way Capris are supposed to look younger by the passing years very good consolation huh..

When my sister called to wish, it was urjit on the line and he was wishing me a Happy birthday. And then I told him that I am going to cut a cake and he said is it a chocolate cake then he wanted to eat pura cake alone. I told him what gift he has got for me, and when he was quite I told him he can make a card and give it to me. He immedialtely started looking for a paper and what I gathered from my sis was that Urjit was busy in the card the whole of the morning.

Birthdays are usually a very fun time for him. So I am looking forward to seeing him with his card in the evening. Yesterday I spent the whole day at my sister’s house. Urjit was very impressed with my iTouch and he told me later very quietly that he wants to play with my new phone. He was showing me with his fingers what he is talking about. Trying to show me the multi touch feature of the iTouch. We also played some games on Cartoon network like Ben 10. Which he taught me and then some writing like one two. I kept him busy by giving him small assignment and giving him stars.

Its very interesting to play and talk with him now. He only let me out of his house after a promise that I would come back the next day. And when I called to tell my sister that I have reached home, Urjit reminded me of my promise with a cute see you TOMORROW.

Today we bacchha party will go out for dinner, baccha party because the elders Aai, Daddy, Mum and Papa are not joining us. That would be two gala dinners in a row after yesterday’s dinner which was my brother-in-law’s birthday celebration. Who’s complaining anyways!

Before that I have some pending tasks like getting a facial and a haircut. I am thinking of wearing a saree today for the dinner, something that I have not done for a long time now. Before the dinner Anand and me will go to a Photo studio and get some nice pics of both of us. This has been pending for a long long time.

Birthday or no birthday I am having a good time with everyone at home. I think I better rush for the parlour before it’s too late. 

It was a bright Saturday morning and our flight was just about to land. While the plane was hovering over the city, I peeped out to take a look. What I saw down below was the harsh realities of Mumbai city around the airport. The slums, the smog… the airport.
 
Both the respective hubbies had come to recieve their wives. I mean Papa and Anand, so both mum and myself were in perfect shape with a wide smile from ear to ear. They were pleasantly surprised to see both of us in good condition.

While driving down to Pune, the reality was sinking in further.. the litter on the roads, the supposed to be green trees which were looking brown covered with a thick layer of dirt, the noise, the pollution, the crowded roads, the madness, the typical street kids ready with a cloth to clean the cars.. everything. It was a far cry from the oh so perfect Singapore. But I loved each and every bit of it. The city even with its imperfection was a lot more warmer and welcomed me with it’s arms wide open.
 
We then reached Pune and the crowd started thinning, it started becoming more green and less polluted and less crazier than Mumbai. I started noticing the small developments around the area we stay in. New buildings, new shops, new malls I was happy to be home. 
 
And then later in the evening when we visited my Sister and everyone else, a good smile and a tight hug from Urjit completed my homecoming.