Happy moments and fond memories

My two best friends came to my place Friday evening and stayed the night. Guess you can call it a slumber party - after all there were PJ's, ice creams, rom-coms, sort of junk food, boy-talk, general gossip and a fairly controlled amount of alcohol involved. Its funny how meeting old friends takes years off your actual age.

Yesterday we sat and talked, laughing and bitching about life, sharing the pain of uncertainty, reflecting on achievements too high and failures too low and simply catching up with each other, becoming active members of each others lives like we once were.

I've known one of them (the infamous Nirvana) for almost twelve years now and the other one (Lets call her Sera) for 9 years. We have spent most of our lives knowing one another and although all three of us chose completely different streams, even now when we meet, we feel as though we are still thirteen, rude, awkward and quirky. I'm so lucky to have friends like these two, I don't know what I would do without them.

When I woke up the next day, I looked up to see these two kids sleeping peacefully, a thought occured to me "Always remember this day and this time. You are the luckiest girl in the world. You have everything one could ask for - a loving family, good friends, a good college... this may be the happiest you will ever be. Cherish this moment."

Does that sound a little too lame? Huh. Seven months away from home are seven months too long I guess.

Later we went to Powai, had coffee at Aromas, where Nirvana very brilliantly used a wet tissue as her visiting card and filled the questionnaire under the pseudonym Peggy Lane. Somewhere over the rainbow, John Lennon must be beaming. Or freaking out.

It was a beautiful day. I've gone to Powai three times now and I have even clicked some pictures. Will probably post them soon.

In other news, Shammi Kapoor has passed away. Although I can't call myself a true fan, I must say, Shammiji, you were brilliant. The rebel of the Hindi cinema, you defined the 60's. You have given us many unforgettable movies and songs that will live in our hearts forever. Every time I hear chahe koi mujhe janglee kahe or baar baar dekho or oh haseena zulfon waali, I will remember you fondly, as the legend, the hero, the actor and the man that you were. No matter how many years pass, Shammi Kapoor will always be synonymous with the word Yahoo! :)

R.I.P Shammi Kapoor

Oh, its past midnight! Which means its 15th August -

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!

I miss...

I miss waking up in my double bed.

The big comfy one that I can roll around in.

I miss looking out of the window the moment I wake up.

The smog and the grey clouds seem so beautiful now.

I miss waking up to my mom's voice.

I miss wishing my dad a good day with sleepy eyes.

I miss the beautiful dark wood in my room.

I miss the dusty old books on the shelves.

I miss picking them up.

I miss the old-book smell that comes from their yellowed pages.

I miss curling up next to my army of cuddlies

and reading my favourite books.

I miss the forever-busy kitchen.

Full of vegetables and interesting smells.

I miss seeing my dad as the ill-tempered Head Chef.

And mum, poor mum, always the Sous-Chef.

I miss the awkward elevator rides with people I don't know.

I miss meeting the beautiful pets that live there.

I miss my white building and black car.

I miss my neighbour - so crazy and so awesome.

I miss the daily ordeal of getting to my College.

The auto-calling, the bus-riding days.

I miss my college friends,

the young, fresh, intelligent kids, set to take over the world.

I miss my Travel-friend and my Screenplay-partner.

I miss writing with one and talking with the other.

I miss the places we would frequent.

I miss the Lays and the Gelatos and the Panipuris.

Oh how much I miss Powai!

I miss walking around Hiranandani.

I miss the beautiful buildings and the little roads.

I miss losing myself in the Powai crowd.

I miss my favourite places.

The wonderful crossword bookstore.

The lovely little L'Amour library.

The dreamy Bread Talk cheesecake.

I miss going to Galleria.

Finding knick-knacks, haggling.

I miss sitting in Aromas,

the very best part of my day is spent there.

I miss my school.

It seems so long ago.

I never thought I'd miss those I wanted to forget.

But I do, I miss them all.

I miss going to Vashi.

The dirty roads, the loudmouths, the stench.

The warmth, the comfort, the joy.

The joy of belonging to some place.

I miss going to Sanpada and Koper Khairane.

I miss walking into my friend's house like it were my own.

And it was my own.

Oh how I miss them, my soul sisters, my best friends.

I miss going out with my mum,

having lunch and talking,

I miss visiting my dad at work.

I miss hearing him lecture me.

I miss the fear and dread monsoon used to bring.

I miss praying for floods, just to get out of going to school.

I miss the torrential rain, the muddy roads, the angry crowd,

the happy children, the pakoras, the books, the coffee and the umbrellas.

I miss driving around the Queen's Necklace.

I miss Crossroads (RIP), Haji Ali, and Bandra.

I miss Worli  and Its busy roads.

I miss Colaba and its aging buildings.

I miss my favourite restaurants.

I won't be able to celebrate my birthday in Gaylord.

Or go to Tea Center for the tea.

Mahesh Lunch Home seems so far away.

And Oh Calcutta? You will never be as good as my dad.

I miss watching people at work.

I miss admiring the residents of Dharavi.

I miss seeing the dabbawallas on their daily route.

I miss the colourful people, cultures and places that define Mumbai.

I miss knowing my place in the world.

I miss being a part of something.

I miss my home.

I miss my city.

No matter where I stay or what I do,

No place would mean half as much as Mumbai does.

It is the city of Dreams and the city of Reality.

And I miss it so much.

I am so PROUD of us!

A friend of mine told me that when she thinks of the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, she mostly feels anger - first towards the terrorists and then towards the hotels that lacked proper security systems.

I told her that I feel proud. She said that its the last thing that she would feel on a day like today.

And I really don't get it.

"They" attacked two hotels - Oberoi-Trident and Taj, a hospital, a cafe, the Chabad house, a railway terminus, a college and a cinema hall. All on the same night.

Sure, one can complain about the hotel security, but what about a popular cafe, that for years has served the residents of our Glorious City. Did they see it coming? Its not most expensive cafe in the country. its not even the most expensive. I doubt they (the owners) had foreseen a future as grim as the one that greeted them  - I doubt anybody did. And the railway station?  This is India, we don't have state-of-the-art security arrangement in railway stations...they were just ordinary people going back home...hoping to retire early, maybe, watch some TV, enjoy the meal mom had prepaird - माँ के हाथ का खाना ... the cinema hall, the college, the hospital - so many innocent souls, the youth of the city - all targeted. And the Chabad house - the whole family was murdered - all except for little Moshe... Would you believe me if I told you that terrorists would one day destroy your whole family? The question of security hardly arises.


On this day, I refuse to get angry - why should I think of those who don't deserve to be remembered? Why should I talk about those who tried to destroy the city I love, the county that I call home, the people who are my "brothers and sisters"? I wont be angry. Because that will just take the focus away from the brave souls who refused to give up, those who fought till the end, those who are still fighting. I will grieve with the families who have lost; I will cry for those who have shed all the tears they had. I will remember the true heroes, for they are the ones we need to remember - and I will be proud, proud of the fact that despite our shortcomings, we put up a fight. We didn't sit quietly - for a change we did something! I am so proud, of being an Indian, being a Mumbaikar! On the anniversary of the worst day I have witnessed, I am going to stand up and feel proud.