Giggling around Wabbercock

I try to balance the heavy set of management books in my hand. The familiar sign of Wabbercock Lane brings a silly giggle to my otherwise sombre countenance. It is a funny sight to see a girl dressed in corporate wear, carrying big fat jargon-filled books giggling at the corner of Wabbercock Lane.

The cherubic face of Bob Scruggles, the owner of the roadside cafe Eat it Up!, comes in full view. His constant smile gets me to smile again. If smiles were infections, his would be the common cold.

Couple of scones, some tea and impulsive reflexes and face contortions later, I come up with the perfect idea for my management project.

I savour the walk across the back alleys of the school and meet the familiar cat lurking around the corner. The crumbs of the bread in my pocket will lead to some discomfort with respect to clothing, but there is nothing more beautiful than a happy cat.

Effective walk, looming projects and cheerful creatures later, I sink into the boredom of my life. But not before my own special moments of the day.

Kurbaan on the movie's Stupidity

1. The best way to get saved is to turn into an FBI agent. A train station bomb that explodes ten meters away from you will give you a few bruises. Thats it? Cool career no?

2. Viveiouk Oberoi says ' Aye wannah find the kellers'. No thats not a new language. Thats his unnecessary accent. Which surprisingly does nothing to his Hindi!

3. Kareena Kapoor and Nauheed Cyrusi are living in the US but they dont know that you should call 911 when you have bomb planning details.

4. Viveiouk Oberoi gets off a plane and quotes in a matter of fact tone ' Iraq's a mess'. Like its all in a day's work for him.

5. There is a scene when Saifeena (notice that it rhymes with Brangelina?) buy a new house and you can see that the Kareena's nails are broken. Dont ask me why.

6. Every single Muslim is a fraud and a suspect. No, there is nothing path breaking or debatable about this movie.

7. A plane bomb kills an entire UN delegation. Yet the nation is not on an alert. Plus the FBI dont demand a list of the passengers and track their credit details to narrow suspects.

Please watch this movie to find mistakes. Good for mental health. And let me know them.

Conversation in Utopia?

He : Do you have a boyfriend?

She : No.

He : Would you like to have me as your boyfriend?

She : No.

He : Ok Cool.

She : Cool.

And they lived happily ever after. As friends.

(And no one objected,questioned,bothered or banned them)

Of Color-Fullness

I love color in my life. Even in the food that I eat. The art store, more often than not, is my place for introspection.

Beauty as a form of Social Development

I am reading The Kabul Beauty School by Deborah Rodriguez. The book is about a volunteer for Peace and Development Operations in Afghanistan and her successful strategy to run a beauty parlour in Kabul.

The book is helpful in expanding your vision about the process of social development after a war. And it begs the question : Is a beauty parlour such a big necessity? What's the value of personal beautification in a development program? Will countries and taxpayers that fund wars agree to creative social development?

Cynics and rigid commentators may argue that the redevelopment must begin with infrastructure and such like, but what about the sense of personal loss and connection women feel. It doesnt require stats to know that women and children are the most affected in warzones. Its creative that this woman who knew how to do the right kind of perm and had the best solutions for hair coloring set up this beauty school.

So what's next ? Playgrounds and art schools for kids in war zones. Since they are faster and easier to construct and can keep kids occupied.

Indian Erotica Blogs

Indian writing has a wide and gaping hole in terms of talent--when it comes to erotica.

Book after book of sorry Indian fiction makes its way to the Indian fiction shelves, and is thrown into the trashcan. I want to talk about the Indian culture and history of kamasutra and the temple structures, but I know its repetitive.

Instead, I extended my search for good Indian erotic writing to blogs. And was left whooping with delight when a friend shared some exciting links. I devoured all of these blogs and was left wanting for more.

Sample some here Mi Ramya Ranee and Enjundia

If not the fiction writers atleast the blogger junta is doing a fabulous job of erotic writing.

To Risk or not to Risk

At what point is a risk, no longer a risk? And why are we so afraid of them. Sure we dont know the consequences of what happens post the risky step, but when are we sure?

If a mother decides to leave her family and travel around the world, what is she risking? And how cam two sets of scenarios be compared? How can happiness and contentment of the future be compared?

Isnt the entire risk taking scenario just a veil for what we want? Simply put a risk is just an action we always wanted to take. Just that when the time comes to take the step we have doubts.

Sometimes I think we take risks that bring us closer to our deepest desires and actions. Other than that its not something to be feared.

Child Labour and the Empty Nest Syndrome

If you are an avid TV watcher you will know that one of the Indian channels is airing a serial called 'Balika Vadhu'. This serial is ostensibly about child marriage and focuses on evils of society in the rural pockets of India. A couple of days back, the child star protagonist of this serial was being interviewed by a news channel(obviously they have no valuable news to air). The child star answered questions like a pro. To a point where her age and her 'maturity' was irritating.

There is a lot of valid debate about child stars being likened to child labour. Just like a family of six with an alcoholic father and a maid for a mother sends their eldest son to work as a waiter, a child star with a cute face and passable acting skills gets a chance at 'exposure' and a life filled with comfort.

There are a lot of problems inherent here. Can parents who live a comfortable life give their child the TV exposure for an extra buck? How different is the parent that sends their child to work in a dinghy restaurant versus a parent who gets a child on TV just to make them a star? Who draws a line? Is a line required?

(I don't want to belong to the school of thought that says a child that works early loses on maturity or the innocence of childhood. But is there a need for awareness here? )

My problem with this entire debate is slightly different. Traditionally as a society have been of the assumption that kids should study and then be employed. Post employment they MUST live with their parents. Which means, unlike the parents of the West that send their kids to college at the age of 16 and expect them to fend for themselves, our parents keep us in the nest till we are 25 years old. So we might scoff at the thought that our child will be 'working' (Why should you work at 16? your dad is still earning!) at 16. We are also appalled at the 'western' concept of leaving the house and living on your own after a certain age. Now compare the situation of earning at 16 with that of being a child star at 8. My question is : You wont allow you child to earn money to fend for themselves at the age of 16, but you will let them take a go at stardom and a large pot of money at the age of 8? Is this about age, freedom or compensation?

Are we all about ' show me the moolah' all the time?

Yakub's story

This is Yakub. He makes some of the tastiest tandoori rotis in a small shop near Darsait in Oman. He sells these rotis for 200 baizas per piece. 200 baizas in Oman is equivalent to 20 rupees in India.

(We buy these rotis as a supplement to the very famous Pakistani dish called the Nalli Nihari. A delicious mix of spices and mutton in curry, its a local favourite among Indians and Omanis)

Yakub came to Muscat to try his 'luck' in the big cities. Farming and random jobs were hard to come by and he applied for a visa to Oman.When asked why the Gulf, he is hesitant to admit that his hometown of Pakistan is not enough to keep his family comfortable. He has one son and three daughters. He lives in Karachi and works in Oman. His small tandoor store doesnt have a fan. Simply because if they keep one, the tandoor will not fire up quickly(The temperatures in Oman range between 45-50 degrees Celsius in summers). The profit margin is very low. Plus the rent to be paid to the sponsor is high. So at times he drives trucks to make ends meet. I ask him what his dreams are. He replies as though the question is ridiculous ' What ever Allah wills. Daughters should be married and son should be strong. Then he can come here and do business.' I ask him if they go to school. And he says that his village doesn't have schools. Only elders teach kids. But his children are smart. He hopes his son will be like his Pakistani friend who owns many trucks.

The only family vacations he has are those which his sponsor allows(To work in Oman you need a sponsor who is a local guy to file your application with the Ministry).Even though he has valid papers and a visa, his passport is with his sponsor. I ask him if Pakistan will ever be a better place. He doesn't worry too much. And then he startles me with this ' Patriotism is for people with connections and money. We people are killed and murdered when there is war and when there is prosperity.'