The Violin Player

He plays the violin beautifully. I met him for the first time at a family friend’s mehndi function and was totally blown away by how effortlessly he played out the most beautiful of melodies. After each performance, I had to give him a standing ovation, and he would smile back appreciatively. Friends teased and taunted about how he kept looking at me and smiling, but I haughtily dismissed them all off. 

So yeah without really keeping the mystery for last and going for a “I was talking about this guy, who did you think it was?” (a la the new Priyanka Chopra ad), I am talking about the famous musician Balabhaskar here. It felt awesome hearing him play from such a close proximity, and on top of that a small group of girls (including yours truly) made it a point to scream at our loudest of voices and give him all the applause he needed for rendering all compositions so beautifully. He would smile generously at us after each performance (except that one time when he himself realized that he didn’t play up to the mark and requested us not to clap or scream by showing the “stop” signal). So our group of girls stopped clapping midway and pretended that we were swatting away mosquitoes instead. We are classy people. We know exactly when a rendition is not up to the mark and when it is. Yet we kept looking for more “stop” signals. Just to make sure of our own classiness.. 

Friend (to me): “Go get his autograph no? You’re a big fan right?”

Me: “Running for autograph and all? Ayye… so not me!”

Another friend comes in and announces she’s going to get his autograph.

Me: “Yeah! What are you waiting for? Let’s go!”.

Just to give her company mind you!

So I stand there swooning and telling him “you’re the best!”. And he gives his chinky eyed smile to me and everyone else. Couldn’t help thinking “Does he ever stop smiling? Don’t his cheeks hurt?” As impulsive as I’m, I wanted to blurt out the question, but I refrained. Thank God for small mercies. He then went on to tell us how our little group was the most energetic of the lot that day and how it felt really nice to see us enjoying his songs so much. That was really sweet of him to say all that considering we thought we acted completely drunk..

Then I noticed something in his hand…

A handbag…

A PINK handbag…

A PINK ladies handbag…

What the… (*insert Arnav Singh Raizada tone from Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon*)

And this pretty petite lassy comes up from behind him, smiles at all of us and we are informed that this Pink-kurti clad (I think the color is going to make me sick from now) is Balabhaskar’s wife. At that moment I could hear his own rendition of "tu hi re" from Bombay ringing in my ears. 

Another one bites the dust.

Oh well…

As you know, the show must go on…

Next please!

P.S: For all those who haven't seen Balabhaskar perform, here's a video (yup, it's tu hi re from Bombay).

P.P.S: The video is not mine. I so wish I had taken a video that day..

Compatibility vs. Adjustment

How much does one “adjust” in a relationship? Does compatibility not matter at all?

I remember when my marriage proposals were going on, I kept stressing on the importance of compatibility, that electric chemistry between two people. When you meet or interact with that special someone, something should just click within you. Unfortunately, our Indian society (or most of it) does not understand this concept. Girls especially are just required to get along with the other half no matter what. If not, they are considered bold, head-strong – traits which are not exactly considered complimentary for an Indian girl. The perfect Indian girl should bear anything (and I mean EVERYTHING) that comes her way with a smile on her face. The perfect Indian girl should take abuses (mental & physical) from her spouse and not complain about it. The perfect Indian girl should be looking oh-so-awesome even when she’s dead tired from housework. The perfect Indian girl should never ever whine about anything, should never ever get angry or God forbid even show it. You get the drift. 

Before marriage, you end up thinking you will be what you are and no one can stop you. But somehow it doesn’t work that way. Nowadays when I see unmarried girls saying “I don’t need to change anything about me. The guy will accept me the way I am even after marriage”, I can’t help but sympathize with them. No one, I repeat NO ONE remains the same after marriage. You adjust a little and the so does the other person and in between all these adjustments you change a little. For some people the changes and adjustments required are so drastic that you lose your identity in between all of it. That’s when you know your relationship is going downhill. 

I have always stressed on compatibility and after going through personal experience and going through some others as well I feel this is one of the most important spices that contribute to the zest & flavor of a relationship. No compatibility means no similarity in thoughts which means no passion! And how can a relationship survive without even a bit of passion? This goes out to all the people out there – learn to trust your instincts. If you feel that compatibility is the most important factor and you go against your own belief and succumb to what others tell you (in my case I was told “clicking” with someone isn’t important, you just have to see whether he’s a nice guy.. and I fell for that), you will end up where I am today. Don’t fall into pressure, don’t be afraid of going against the norms if it makes you happy. In the end it’s your life you’ve got to live and not theirs. I’ve learnt my lesson and I'm never ever falling for something I don't believe in ever again...

The Trip That Was

February had been a brilliant month. March even better! I don't get time to interact on social networking sites or get online on chat as before -- work responsibilities increasing, taking up & learning new things in life etc etc. But I can't still seem to neglect this blog for too long. So here I am!

The Bahrain trip was a crackler. I never had such a great time in recent times -- as in, I always had something or the other to do and I LOVE having something or the other to do especially when I'm on vacation! Being idle and lazing around is not my idea of a vacation somehow.

Usually the youngsters (in my family friends group) tend to get together only at parties with our parents tagged along. But this time around, it was different. A nice kind of different. We got together (minus our parents) and talked, talked, talked. It's amazing how simple conversations can turn your evenings from dull & drab to lively. The right kind of people always make any given atmosphere light-hearted & fun.

A special mention goes to the Menon & Ramachandran family for being such perfect hosts (and for tolerating me so wonderfully ;)). Couldn't have asked for better people to stay with! Feels just like being at home. Special thanks go to these people -

Sundar uncle - For being an absolutely awesome host and a delight to talk to! Chatting with him is entertaining to say the least. Plus he gave me a gift. *Shows off the Rado watch* :D And anyone close to me knows how much I adore gifts! Surprise ones at that.

Pushpa aunty - For being so sweet & considerate. She stuffed me up with her delicacies and also oodles of home-made sausages & burgers coz she knows I absolutely missed hogging them in Kerala! Yeah, you do get the cheap quality sausages and burgers here but they are nothing compared to the taste of Sadia products!

Deeju - Numerous crazy talks, basketball games, gymming (:P), 'flop movie' watching, imitating others. Need I say more on how much I enjoyed her company?

Deepa chech - Right now when I think of her, her chilly chicken comes to mind. It was mindblowing.. and D chech, I have told that to mom too ;)

Raghav - Deepa's cute little boy who was initially extremely shy when it came to interacting with me but after a few days got close to the point of ordering me around "come here!" or "pick that!" or "don't do that!". But I had no problem whatsoever dancing to his tunes..

Ram uncle - For being so sweet and telling San to make sure to drop me at Sundar uncle's place and then only leave. So fatherly!

J aunty - For taking me to City Center, for her morning 'energy drinks' (:P), Farmville lessons and also her numerous witty comments whilst driving!

Rahul - For showing us all such a good time at Trader Vic's and afterwards :) And yes, for paying for all of it :P This chauffeur is one of a kind.

Rajani - She's the sweetest person you will ever meet! Ended up chatting with her till 4 A.M in the morning when I stayed over at her place.

The only bad that happened during this trip was the movie - Woman in Black. I know it's getting rave reviews, but we ended up making fun of almost everything ("look.. the ghost has loose motion", "did you figure out what the story is yet?", "we should try that out with our neighbors - staring through the window with a wide-eyed expression").

I also got to meet up with my beautiful San (who was very much pregnant at the time and is now a proud mommy to the oh-so-cute Nainika!) & we gup-shupped away about things over a cuppa & scrumptious choco cake. She got me a gift from Debenhams and I as usual forgot to get her a gift. Yes, I know I keep preaching about how I love surprise gifts and stuff, but when it comes to giving I practically suck. But then my friends haven't abandoned me for that, so thanks guys ;)

It feels good to have visited Bahrain after two whole years. The days went by wayyy too fast. Have no idea when I will be able to visit the place next but whatever moments I spent there are to be cherished for a long time to come. The nostalgia that I felt when I visited the compound I used to stay in, going to the cold store nearby where I used to get my snacks in bundles, seeing my flat now occupied by some other family.. all bittersweet moments. This is why people like to revisit the places they grew up in - to experience that warm feeling. When you see that the place has developed a little, you puff up with pride even though you are not even remotely responsible for its advancement whatsoever. You feel happy.

Now I am back in India and not regretting it. I love this place even with the mosquitoes, power cuts, corruption and what not. India's liveliness is unmatched. But I guess there's a part of me which is still Bahraini, and that part is only appeased when I visit Bahrain now and then. This very same sob story is shared by many others who have left Bahrain. Bahrain's magic is such. I love you Bahrain. Have and always will.