We have got acquainted through our PhD roommate to a character we all have named ‘Loudspeaker’. I’ve never seen or met someone like him before, in my life. From what my roomie describes, he is loud(once he came to collect his bike that he had left at our place early in the morning… we all lost sleep due to the din), he is so full of himself and completely condescending in every which way possible! He says his parents are ‘peculiar people! and has numerous conditions to be satisfied for his wife-to-be which I don’t think any human can fulfill. If you go to him with a problem, you are sure to forget about it, because he creates other new ones for you!

Me and PhD guy were getting ready for a formal event. PhD guy doesn’t wants to wear his formals that have shrunk, but has to. So he squeezes himself into his shabby trousers and is hardly able to breathe. We are almost just half an hour away from when the event ends and so we are unforgivably late already. Midway he realizes that his ‘fly’ is open. But the zipper has gone crazy so it doesn’t close.He decides he’ll manage the situation by using his file as a ’shield’.

Tragedy strikes when we come face to face with ‘loudspeaker’ soon. He says he’s not attending the event and that it is useless. Then he sees the trousers and says ” Are you going with that on?”  PhD roomie gives a ‘deer in the headlights’ expression and is petrified that his secret zipper has been opened wide. And he looks down, to see the file. He had been talking about his shabby trousers.

We both head back home and decide to change into jeans and make whatever possible out of the event. 15 minutes later roomie emerges out of the restroom. Never try to wear something that doesn’t fit you especially if it is smaller. Pressure!

Last week the ISA held its Freshers’ ‘party’. The name is a misnomer though. it is not like a party as such, but a ‘cultural fest’ so to say. Well we in the band had 5 songs lined up and I was in four of them (which is why it took up so much of my time..). I had auditioned for singing remember? Well I was selected as (drumroll please .. pun totally unintended!) percussionist. I have learnt to play the mridangam for seven years ( keeping in account the various places through out India I’ve been to, and every teacher would teach in his ’style’ making me a beginner even after 7 years.. long story!), which was qualification enough  for them to induct me! I got to play what is called a ‘Naal’ (similar to a dholak), the octopad, and the drums. (None of these which I have ever touched before in my life, well maybe except for the drums at the church!). We had four consecutive songs in which I had to play. The first one was a medley of hindi songs from the 50s to the 90s (in which the dholak found place in two songs), followed by Beedi from Omkara. The next one ‘Saiyaan’ by kailash Kher required of me to play ‘the pad’. And lastly ‘Veerapandi Koattaiyilae’ from Thiruda Thiruda where I had to handle THE drums!

The stage was set and lights on. And the name of the band was announced. And the musicians went on stage. behind all this was an investment in time, effort and energy by everybody for the previous two weeks. For me it was a learning experience and a not so easy one too, because although I may have a rhythm sense due to my previous tryst with the mridangam, I had no idea of how those beat formations were actually played on the dholak or the pads. It took me just upto the last day of practice to get my beats right for the oldies ‘tu ganga ki mauj mein’ and ‘Dekha ek khwab’ from Silsilay, both of these songs which I’ve never ever heard before in my lifetime!

Then came the bomb in the second week that I had another song to play. ‘Saiyaan’ by kailash Kher, and that too on pads, because it requires the tabla too which the main percussionist would play. Oh and to get the hand foot co-ordination was really hard. But it did come out well in the end. Towards the end of this performance on stage, power went out and the pads were useless! But thankfully something happened inside me and I actually jumped on stage from the pads to the drums and continued the song, like a monkey sprinting from one tree to another! Memorable moment!

And then the tamil song. Pretty much simple beats on the drums. And it proved to be a superhit with the junta.

And so the band was called out on to stage for the first performance. I had always assumed ‘Beedi’ was the first song. A small detail I had overlooked. There was to be a sound check ’song’ before that. And I had completely forgotten about that. And I too got on stage , and sat down with the naal for Beedi. And they start with “Here I am’!!. Half a sentence into song, it makes sense, that I look stupid on stage with a dholak, for a western song, I couldn’t even fake beat the dholak! Well I smile and hope the song is over quickly. After what seemed like an eternity, it did get over. And I managed to keep a straight face. However, I am sure, the more observant from the audience must have wondered what the dholak guy was doing on stage for that song! I never felt that embarrassed in public before. It is so much fun to laugh at yourself!

It has been 6 months since I came here to Tempe,AZ. The sun, cactus, the light rail and annoying mexican trumpety music in the Food City, all have become part of life ( Can’t figure why the Food City guys can’t change the music for a bit at least, not the mexican part, but the trumpety thing. So annoying when you are trying to find out which option is the cheapest, easiest to cook and of good quality all at the same time. Such a pain!!)

Cooking has become an integral part of all our lives now. I say all our lives because we have got used to each other’s dishes in addition to our own. This is a busy semester for me at school with so much going around. Two very tough courses, Indian Student Association activities, music practice and what not.

Initially it was so nerve wrecking getting used to living upside down. Different traffic rules, different lanes for driving (I haven’t started driving yet, but for the bike), even different switches (up for ‘on’ and down for ‘off’!) So different. And of course, embarassingly, no water in the restrooms (err.. lets not talk about that!)

By the way, who watches movies like Final Destination. Good God! I saw that in 3D for crying out loud and I was really crying out loud by the end of it! and these other people in the theatre were laughing at those gory scenes. Ugh!

By the way this time name problem got solved for a bit, because the Border Protection Officer at NY airport knew of the ‘NoLastName’ business thankfully! And now I’ve no surname in my I-94 too, yay!!! (Does that sound weird!)

September 19 is going to be the big Indian music/dance night so waiting for it! Practice on for several days now. Countdown on..

School has started. One of my professors, talks exactly like David, the ex-boy friend of Phoebe from friends. It’s quite funny, attending that class. These days I’ve started wrapping lunches for me, as I have become a hungry bookworm, because I go to the library. Most of the time there is spent in checking for incoming mails, which are so scarce or other stuff on facebook. Reading in the library is to a hazardous minimum. As a result my stomach is upset now, as I made homemade burritos from yesterday’s leftovers. It was yum when I ate it hungrily and now it feels yuck.

Yesterday we talked about leading and following. I realized I couldn’t think of things that I didn’t lead well. Social interaction experiment proved successful. The Ice Breaker event was a huge success. I was supposed to be one of the organisers who gets into the team to hype up the participants. And I was in my element. Shouting, encouraging, bringing up girsl and boys to shed the shyness and jump onto the stage. And I spoke to a lot of new people. Turns out one of my juniors from my undergrad is here too. Looking forward to take part in the fresher’s talent hunt. Planning to sing, I dunno how many plan on hearing me though! . Looking forward for the auditions.

Speaking of auditions, you should check out the X factor auditions by Danyl Johnson. He owned the stage totally for a first audition. Today I met a new guy from the same place I am from. Sometimes i don’t know why i get negative vibes from someone. In the long run my gut speaks the truth! Nevertheless, I did give him my e-mail id and told him to ask for any kind of assistance he needed. It felt weird!

Past few days have been getting on to my nerves. Whew.. Today’s post is a neutral one. Not funny, neither serious!

Phew.. Long gap. I would say I have been keeping busy, most wont believe that! I mean this is the place where I force apparently ‘funny’ posts almost daily! That is enough evidence.

5 days and I leave India back to Arizona. I remember that ‘eye-sobber’ post when I left Arizona for India. This is nothing of that sorts. This is much worse. But lets not make it a pity-me-party fest! Now that my sister is gone, and time to go is much nearer, all I needed was a bad birthday. Top that with a loss of another friend from my ‘count on the fingers of one hand’ number. Gee, that sounds really pathetic! Soon I will lose all my fingers (Hey I mean the count not my fingers really!) and will be a lonely soul left to fend for himself (erm., don’t imagine me on the streets!)

Well it is always entertaining to read such stories because they seem funny always! So yesterday I learn I lose this person. (Probably there is some problem with me, that I have always known! What that is , don’t ask me!) and so I plan to go to bed early, but sleep doesn’t come so easy. So I sleep at 5 a.m (or sometime later,’ coz that was the time I last saw the clock). But blundering me had asked mom to wake me up at 10 a.m (that is pretty early if you wake up at 2 p.m!) today. But it was 2 a.m when I told her this ( No I didn’t wake her up to tell this, she jus happened to be coughing in sleep when I squeezed in the request!). ( Re read this part, mighty confusing with a lot of times!). The last thought when I dozed off was, I hope mom’s  ’waking-my-dozing-son- in -vain’ attempts fail like they always do.

Next day 10 a.m. Mom was on the dot. Today she is commited to the request made by me, with ultimate determination. The usual wake up call (That’s just calling two times ‘XYZ get up. You told me to wake you up!’  in the sweetest of motherly voices) It didn’t work like always. Curtains thrown open, bringing in annoying chirps of thousands of birds, flodding sunlight and shouting vegetable vendors. And she forgets to close the door. The television with extra bass and surround on feature (both of which are turned on by her today forgetfully and regrettably!) blares outside and the bump-thump-thumpety thump of some irritating tamil film music from a 24 hour music channel fills my ears. The noise is much more irritating when you try to sleep. Soon my mind is uncontrollably trying to figure out what song it is.

I discovered that pillows covering your ears just enhance the bass sound, and also filter in the much reduced vocal audio. So I finally guess the song, and my mind plays it along. Then miraculously power fails. Ah! Then I hear swich swash, the annoyingly loud filling of water from the bathroom where mother is cleaning it.

This is it! I cleanch my teeth, switch off the fan and start the day!

Became 23 yesterday and still lost for words!

The same pair of eyes,

locked on to their reflection.

I wonder though, there’s a difference.

Approaching the next milestone,

Wiser, experienced yet still stupid.

Where I am heading to, What if I fall off?

The same pair of eyes,

locked on to their reflection.

Now I see the glint as a spark in it.

Sometimes a sparkling gem goes unnoticed in a sea of stones. Lately I had this desire to post about some songs which I thought were those unnoticed gems.

Firstly, my favourite of all times. It has still not conceded the no.1 spot in my player even after more than a year of its release. ‘Mann Mohana’ from Jodhaa Akbar. According to me it should be amongst  Rahman’s best works. He takes  the bhajan to a completely new level with the sound arrangements. The orchestration and flute interludes are completely fabulous when combined with Meera bhajan type simple yet deep lyrics.  I wonder why such a great song received really less attention from the ‘media’ world too. I understand it is a religious song and comparatively slow for the current generation, but still it could have heralded a revolution for the Hindu spiritual music Industry.. I also have a hunch that it is Rahman’s favourite track from the album too considering how ubiquitously he has used the very same interludes and music arrangements as background score in the movie. Takes the scene to a whole new level.

Continuing with Rahman, ‘Shauk Hai’ from Guru (Yes that’s right from Guru. Don’t try to look it up in the album CDs as it won’t be found there!) is  another brilliant masterpiece. It is a pity this wasn’t released with the main audio track of the movie. If you do remember this is the song that plays in the background for all the  scenes involving Vidya Balan in the movie. Simple, yet hautingly melodious yet not sad, the lyrics convey the need for more in spite of disabilities, exactly giving voice to the character essayed by Vidya in the movie. The piano always at the background from the very beginning of the track, is really simple, sounding great with Sowmya Raoh’s voice (She adds this sensual touch after every ‘Shauk Hai ohhhh’ which is simply awesome!), leaving you asking for more. Sometimes something simple is very beautiful, and Rahman has captured the mood of the situation perfectly without overdoing anything.

Without taking up much space another one from Rahman’s bag is Aahista Aahista from Swades. I would say it is a modern day adaptation of a lori (song for making someone go to sleep peacefully), fitted with interesting interludes and again simple piano background running throughout. Completely encompassing your soul when you listen to this before you sleep!

The last song that I want to talk about is not from A.R.Rahman which is a bit surprising to myself. It is ‘Paayalia’ from Dev D. I wouldn’t say it is an awesome song or amazing song, but definitely different from the run-of-the-mill stuff. Considering the instruments used and the voice of the singer, it definitely an experiment by Amit Heri, an experiment which is gone really well. Using the veena, some tinkles of bells, and the special ‘By God’ touch at places you least expect (and by not repeating it everywhere!), the shehnai and scores of other instruments with a completely unconventional tune and voice, the song makes an impact and gives repeatability to it. It’s different and stands out.

It wouldn’t be a crime to once listen to these numbers if you are listening to the same stuff daily! Well I listen to these everyday!

For part I:  http://isparku.wordpress.com/2009/06/17/a-cup-of-happiness-i-coromandel-express/

That day when Gobind had left he had a rupee in hand and had promised to bring back happiness. Today she waited for all three, Gobind, Keshu and happiness.

Puspa was a simple woman who wished all the happiness and comfort for her only son Keshu. Everyday was a struggle with Gobind’s meagre income but Keshu was mad about rosogollas. Any moment when he had a rupee in hand, you could find him buying a couple at Mohon dada’s shop round the corner, across the railway crossing.

Kharagpur. No sign of the new ticket babu who got in at Cuttack yet. Keshab looked out in hope. Two more hours and he’ll be in Puspa’s lap. He saw the platform move backwards, the train pick up speed, and voices rushing to catch up with it. Keshab imitated the clank of the wheels. Somewhere inside he still loved the trains. Suddenly he felt the entire compartment go silent. A black image passed by and stood right before his seat. Terrified, he tried fleeing to the nearest escape, the toilets. The rosogolla hawker stood, blocking the way, serving some passengers. Another reason to hate the rosogollas he thought.

That day Puspa had gone to her ailing aunt’s place and Keshu had the uncontrollable desire for a rosogolla. Gobind was helpless with no penny in hand. Helplessness came out as anger and irritation. Keshu was an adamant child. Puspa came late in the evening and Keshu was crying. He complained and fell asleep on her lap, tired.

Keshab woke up happy, thinking he was still on Puspa’s lap and all his tantrums for the evil rosogollas was a dream. The train’s whistle told him otherwise. He cursed himself as the cause for his mother’s misery. Thanking his stars that the ticket babu was in a dream, he turned to the lavatory, when out of nowhere a voice asked “Ticket please!”

Puspa sensed Gobind’s helplessness and gave him the only ruppee she had in her pallu to get Keshu’s rosogolla from across the crossing. As Gobind faded into the darkness, Puspa smiled at Keshu sleeping on the mat.

“Ticket Please”. Keshab was stuck to where he stood. The new ticket babu had an air of authority about him. “Are you travelling alone?” asked the babu. “No sir, er I mean yes sir. I don’t have a ticket sir please forgive me” and he started crying. “Stop crying” said the babu. “What’s your name?” “Keshab”. “Did you run away from home?” “No sir. I came in search of my father who works at the Cuttack railway station” “Why, did he leave you alone or did you get lost?” “He got lost sir”. The babu laughed.

Gobind clutched the rupee hard in his palm. And it pained. It pained in his heart. As he got the cup of rosogollas from Mohon, he felt happy. One thing at a time he thought. Soon he will provide Keshu with all that he desired. As he ran across the level crossing with the cup, the gates fell without warning. Gobind looked up in alarm.

“Do you want something to eat?” ” No sir”. “Some Jhalmuri or rosogollas perhaps?” Keshab was tempted to say rosogollas but then he remembered why he was there. “Nothing sir”. “Do you have anybody else at home?” “Yes sir, my mother” “Does she know where you are?” “No sir” “Never run away from home without telling anybody from now on Keshu. Do you understand?”

“Do you understand?” Gobind shouted at Keshu. Keshu stood wailing at the door for Puspa’s return. He wanted to sleep in her lap. He wanted no sweets now.

Puspa awaited the return filled with hope after the phone call. She stood at the doorway, waiting eagerly for his return. She was almost certain he would come today. There was still time before the Coromandel reached Howrah.

Keshab nodded. Soon everybody around prepared to get down at Howrah, as the train pulled into the station. The ticket babu wouldn’t leave Keshab alone. He seemed to be a nice person, but Keshab was terrified if he would hand him over to the police. “I will take you to your home. Don’t worry I won’t tell your mother that you ran away. Let us just say you were lost. Okay?” Keshab nodded. There was something peculiar about the way the babu talked and his walk. Something he had said bothered him.

Puspa saw Keshu as a tiny dot at the end of the street. With him was a man with a black coat, which she recognised as that of a ticket babu. When they were at the door she hugged Keshu tightly. Then she hugged the babu.

Keshu was thinking hard of something the babu had said. Suddenly his eyes lit up. “Never run away from home without telling anybody from now on Keshu. Do you understand?” The gold badge on the black coat caught Keshu’s eye. On it was written ‘Gobind’

*****

Court proceedings of a case on May 6 1999:

“… due to negligence on part of the railway authorities. Hereby the court instructs the concerned department to undertake full responsibility for the mishap and award compensation for the victim, by making arrangements for his face reconstruction surgery as well as promoting him from the catering department to a ticket inspector…”

P.S: Have I redefined hell?!

Two days to go and everything is delayed due to the ceremonies associated with grandma’s death.  Still life has to go on. And my sister’s does go on full speed during the wedding time as I am the chauffeur! Narrowly escaping being bleached and tested positive for mehndi marks on my palm, I happily sit on the computer at my desk on Mehndi day.

Remember, the Mehndi artist did a double take when I was offered (as a sacrifice) for the hand test, but I was summoned unceremoniously every now and then for things as simple as a glass of water to actually providing things needed by the artist. Lemon water, sugar, cloth, pillows, finding misplaced objects., She was highly impressed and she had the audacity to tell my sister how efficient a brother I was. She should thank her lucky stars that she didn’t consider me joining her as her third assistant to earn a living.

After the group of chatty women left, it was my turn to moisten the hands and legs of the bride – to -be with the lemon + sugar mixture. Where is my mother you would ask. Well, she awaited her turn next with her hands displayed, as if she were in dismay looking at my shoddy work. I had my revenge when due to lack of time the artist had to leave without ‘decorating’ my mother’s feet, and since I had two free hands obviously again I had to step in to the rescue. Since it was feet, not much attention was paid by both ladies to what atrocity I had committed there. Let bygones be bygones shhh..

Pre-wedding ceremony, involves the bride’s brother to be all over the place. Worse still if the wedding hall consists of a building with three floors.  On the day of the actual wedding the condition multiplies. How difficult it is to be god, to be omnipresent!

Attending to guests is another thing. Trying to recognize  someone whom you don’t remember is a tricky situation. Worse still is if they know you well. Well I am a master of that situation now. You got to give them the feeling that you know them too well to be telling their names to them! And when you are about to be caught, just remind them to have food or meet the couple. Simple!

Food and sleep were totally unrequired for both brother and sister for those days, for completely different reasons. Throw in some running around and a three-storeyed building and you have the perfect way to lose three kilos!