Happy Doctors' Day 2011

To the 5.5 years of medical college,
To the cocktail of slogging and fun,
To the pre-pg and pg struggle,
And the life that starts later on..
Cheers mates... Happy Doctors' Day :) :)

 

Loads of love,

Dr. Chandana C. Shekar

  

My Memories of Mysore Monsoons..

"Hey, awesome rain da. Masalpuri or Jola?"..The same sms would be sent to all friends. This was just a bit more than a year ago. Masalapuri with friends, my favourite thing during monsoons and the thing I miss the most when it rains nowadays. With all friends moving out of Mysore in pursuit of a great career, masalpuri in our lives has indeed become 'C/O footpath'. It rained amazing this evening. I was sipping a cuppa all by myself sitting in my balcony, and I just couldn't help get lost in memories.


Monsoons are always magical. Rains make you feel Nice, Great, Ecstatic. The shift in the air due to the smell of sand when it rains , is a kind which every soul would love. All it did to me today was make memories dance along on my mind like waves at sea. Be it running out to play in the rain when we were kids or walking(read dancing) back home slowly from school to enjoy the rain, trying to catch the rain drops and our moms running out to catch us and taking us in and hurriedly wiping our heads with a towel saying , 'you will catch a cold'. Unable to go get drenched again, we watching the rain from the balcony after that, and  making those paper boats and running out as soon as the rain stops to let them sail in the water downstream; spotting the rainbow and reciting the VIBGYOR mnemonic as know-it-alls!! Well, everybody would have enjoyed their monsoons as kids. Dancing on the puddle and seeing whose white socks would turn total brown first was one thing that me and a friend would always do as kids. Stretching our hands out of the class window to reach the rain and the teacher giving us those killer stares; me playing the responsible elder sister by holding the only umbrella I had for my kiddo sister while walking her from her class to our rickshaw when I was in class five and she in kindergarten- my childhood monsoon memories would never end.

When my friends and I were rehearsing for a dance competition on my terrace and it started to pour hailstorms, throwing them at each other was as though we were playing in the snow. Mom came to call us in and there she goes, all the hailstorms thrown at her!! And as we all know, happiness is contagious. :)

A little ahead in time, when in high school and my first crush happened, and as destiny had had it, the pregnant clouds rumbled and showered,and boom! the filmi scene happens! Well,maybe from the black-and-white film era, but still, for the 'padaakus' that we were then, the aankhon hi aankhon mein and he lending me his umbrella and my 'thank you' still stays an engraved memory. After all, first crush and first rains you see;).

College life, when all the luvvy-duvvy stuff started, monsoons always came with a cue for romance.The first rain drops made the most romantic rain-song linger on, and a smile, was just for that one special person. Nobody to blame, music and romance have gone hand in hand since ages. From 'pyar hua ikraar hua' from Shree 420 to  to 'rim jhim rim jhim' from 1942 A love story to 'mere khwabon mein jo' from DDLJ to 'Barso re' from Guru and our very own, very soothing 'Mungaaru maleye..', the subtle connection between rain and romance and dreams can never fade. My college campus was an amazing one and it was all the more awesome when it rained. Hot coffee and pakodas with friends at the nescafe outlet we had there was just the next best thing to having the same at home with family. Sitting at nescafe, enjoying the company and relishing the coffee, we would watch the rain fade from a downpour to a gentle faint drizzle. The after-rains were always beautiful. And this was where our gossip session would start too. Watching the boyfriends pick their girlfriends from the girls' hostel gate and heading away on their bikes and cars for their drives and the like in full zoom and sometimes, we taking on their role, Gosh! We never got tired of it.

Be it the spiritual oldies or the fun loving us, I'm sure Chamundi Betta is the favourite adda of every single Mysorean. Its a pleasure to watch betta disappear into the rain and then reappear all the more beautiful. And to watch this from your very own terrace, which other city would have such an advantage? A drive or a ride to Betta when it rains is the best thing to lift up anybody's spirits. If you're riding pillion at Betta and it starts to rain, its the best feeling to have your arms wide open, eyes closed, face up and welcome the rain. And to go with it, what a beautiful view of Mysore with the mist and clouds forming a veil over it! The Amba Vilas Palace emerging out of the mist looks all the more Royal.

Betta was a beautiful view from my hospital too. And there were times when it looked so serene that we friends missed the afternoon class to drive to betta in the faint, soft drizzle and feel the gentle,lazy breeze brush through our hair. That was the best replacement we could ask for a boring afternoon lecture.  The times spent there and the snaps clicked are a treasure for sure. Clicking snaps at the view point, with Mysore supposedly in the backgraound, when it rained and mist covered the city, all we could get as the background was the white mist. And then, after a while, the mist would disappear slowly and there you go, such an breath-taking view. And the camera used to go 'click' 'click' again. Many friends shifted under one umbrella for a snap, then looked at Mysore and said ,'Mysore eshtu chenna alla?'. Going up the hill further for a cup of hot steaming coffee, Those were the moments that were really candid. Sitting and chatting for hours at Barista or going dancing at Hookah ain't gonna replace such times for sure.


For a fast flashback of other such memories, there were these times when, the clouds gave an unexpected delivery and the first rains took us by suprise. They say that the best things happen to you when you least expect it, and rains are no exceptions. Going on a two wheeler ride when it rains and then shouting 'son of a b****h' to the car-wallah who splashed a mud puddle at us; watching the Palace in awe when it along with its reflection in the water puddle in front of it made an attempt to illude illusion itself; the makeshift arrangement of their gaadis and small shops by the vendors at the roadside or the Devraja Market and the fast pace at which they do it sure adds to the vibrance of that place.

Rains have seen all our emotions-blissful smiles to walking aimlessly with slower than the snail footsteps to hiding tears amidst the raindrops. Rains sure touch our soul, deep.When we get drenched in whatever city we are, the rains make us miss the ones we had in Mysore. Maybe a tear would take a peek then. Hope the rains of that city would help us hide it..

Lifes changing. Friends parted ways. They went miles away to make their career. I too bid adieu to this beautiful city which has been my abode since the time the surfactant acted on my lungs and breath happened for the first time. We depart to arrive and you arrive to depart. Have to move on for the better and bigger things in life. But deep down, there is a voice that says, Mysore is home, and home is where the heart is. Whatever may happen in life, whereever we are, this is the place we are gonna head back when we need to 'relax'. The city we would head to might not treat us well or ask too much of us. But come what may, however low we fall and feel, we know for sure, Mysore is gonna be there for us. We are always welcome here.

They say, "your past never leaves you.". But at times, we wouldn't want to let go of our past. That's when past turns into memories . After all, such memories are the ones that bring a smile on our face when we are away and lonely. And then does the dialogue 'How I wish it happened again' gets conceived. Ahh! I started writing this because I missed home. And now, I miss it even more. If history ever repeats, I would surely want those good old days to repeat again...and again...and again.

Until next time,
With love and care,
Chandana C. Shekar

That innocent Val day..

February!! Everybody thinks of Love when it comes to this month!! Everybody knows what the 14th of Feb is. Love is in the air. Gals who are always complaining mellow down. Guys take time out for their gals even between the World Cup schedule. Archies and Hallmark shops blush to red and shoppers fill in. I have regularly shopped for the Feb 14th since I was seven years old. Nah, don't raise your eyebrows!! That was for my sister's birthday which is on the same date. You people na!Prototype thinkers!! Uff!! ;-)

But yeah, not to deny, Val day happens to everyone when in high school or college or a little bit later. One or the person comes up and one or the other gift comes up. Whatever unique or personalised or expensive gifts people buy, I always remember the first Val day gift I had exchanged.

I was in Class 4. On Val day eve, I was out with my elder brother and his friends. They were talking about what gift a guy had bought for the next day. The curious me asked them as to what they were talking about. They said that he had a bought a gift for his friend and people do that on that day. So, basically I understood it as friendship day! Those were the days when I used to have a huge collection of different kinds of pencils. We weren't allowed to use pens until the next grade.So it was just pencils and pencils. So anytime a friend had a birthday, the gift that person would get from me would be a couple of nice pencils. So I went home, gift wrapped a couple of pencils into two packs and gave it to two friends on the next day! And to top it, I 'enlightened' them too about the 'occasion' and hence, received return gifts from them the next day, which was again, pencils!!

Years passed and I got the 'actual' enlightenment about Val day. Flowers came, gifts came, wishes came. But I'll never forget that Val day. It was innocence celebrating friendship. Even while writing this post, that Val day memory brings a smile on my face.And I guess that's all that matters .

Well, Val day may be about your spouse and blah blah, but its just celebrating love in general. And love exists in every single relationship. Be it the one you have with God or with your dog. So go on, celebrate love. I agree that Love is to be loved all the time, but this is one month to celebrate it. Maybe we can call it, the 'Carnival of Love'. :)

Cheers..
Until next time,
Chandana C. Shekar

Thank you Momzie :-)

"God could not be everywhere, so he created mothers" - Jewish proverb.

That's my mom's fav phrase. I've seen that written on the first page of many of her books. I'm glad God created my mom. A lot more glad that he made me her daughter. 'Mother', the word speaks for itself.. 'Great', 'amazing', 'wow', none of those words will describe her. Surely need something larger than that. She takes care of you since even before you were born. She considers you a kid even when your fifty years old. For her, your nothing but her soul, walking outside her body. You mean the world to her. She understands everything- things you say, things you don't say and even things that you yourself don't understand. Mom is one word, for an ocean of love and care.The 'only' example that exists for 'unconditional love' is hers. Can write pages about her, and yet, neither would it suffice, nor would it make complete justice.

All the while I wrote this, the only person I had in front of my eyes was obviously 'My Momzie', my idol. A great mom, doctor, wife, daughter, sister, altogether, an amazing woman. I wonder from where she gets the time, energy and willpower to work the quantity and quality she does, both at the hospital and at home, and yet, smile always. She loves what she does. I know for a fact that she has her own share of problems. But not once does she let anybody get a clue of it.

Ma, this day, both your daughters wanna say, Thank you so much,

For all the tender love you've given us, for all the care we got.

For keeping us in your thoughts and prayers, always.

For all the minute to minute things you gave us, whose importance we never realised.

For trusting in our stupidest thoughts and decisions.

For being our watchman(watch woman) all through life.

For being everything from a baby sitter to a study partner to a guide to a friend to everything.

For being a partner in crime in our mischiefs(harmless ones) and a shoulder to cry on when sad.

For lending a helping hand when we failed and shedding tears of joy when we succeeded.

For laughing on our weirdest jokes and feeling hurt for our minor bruises.

For letting us know that you are someone we can always count on.

For not minding when we took you for granted.

For having the courage to let us learn from our own mistakes when necessary.

Ma, I'd write pages and I'd never complete the things you do for us. Thanks for everything and everything and more everything. Thanks for being that amazing person you are. We feel very very proud when we say 'I'm Dr.Shylaja's daughter'. We promise, one day, we shall make you proud to call yourself as our mom. And hey, you still are the prettiest woman in the world :) Love you loads. Muah:)

Happy Mothers' Day Ma :-)

Your loving daughter,

Chandana C. Shekar

p.s.- This goes to the 'tribute to my mother' contest too. About the widget that I'm supposed to put ut here for the contest, well, i'm not able to. But here is the link for the gift i'd like to give my mom from pringoo.

Why This Way??

Imagine a situation. You happen to (inevitably) go to one of your fav places ( say a cafe). You've never been there with anyone else, but one (special) person. Somebody, in whose life you no longer exist, but who means a hell lot to you. The only person you would want to have back in your life.The only person who went out of his way to bring a smile on your face, and now the only reason for tears to take a peek off your eyes every now n then.. As you walk through the parking lot, memories of that day's journey come alive. The very nice drive, manners at its best, amazing after-rain-weather, songs dedicated, and to top it all, loads of care and affection. Felt no less than a princess that fortunate day.The day you had realised that it needn't necessarily have to be love for someone to be special. You enter the place and imaginary shadows of you both sitting and chatting appear to you. You blink a couple of times and it disappears to nowhere. Trying to hold back the tears and faking a smile, you place the order and turn around, to see quite a few couples sitting and loafing time, as though nobody's watching. You just give a sigh, and say 'How I wish...', and right that moment, his fav song starts playing in the background...

Now, isn't that  a bit too unfair on you? For the only reason that you genuinely cherished that person...and you still do... ??

Loads of love,

Chandana

First Rains :-) :-)

My special day of the year, a fossil watch and gift cheques at home, an evening with friends at our fav restaurant, a couple of expectations going totally dead, but some other suprise coming my way, quite some photo-time, a long drive on the highway with our fav music on.... things were going so my way...and then, for the big suprise gift... the pitter-patter of rain drops on the roof n glass of the car :-) :-) . "Hmm... rain!!!" , went all of us in almost chorus mode. All our window glasses went low, hands went reaching out to feel the rain, and smiles on all our faces stayed glued :-) . All we wanted to do was stop the car, go to the middle of the road, face the sky, close our eyes and reach out our hands for the rain :).

'First rains'... They are always magical. Magical is just the right word I feel. It makes you feel ... Great... Nice...The shift in the air coz of the smell of sand when it rains , is one of a kind. I don't think there is one single moron who wouldn't love that sniff. First rains always take you by suprise. First impressions are the best impressions, and rains are no exception I guess. Memories dance along on your mind like waves at sea. One after another, the memoirs of what you did during the first rains of every year of your life come back into life. Be it running out to play in the rain when we were kids or walking(read dancing) back home slowly from school to enjoy the rain, moms calling their kids back and hurriedly wiping their heads with a towel saying , 'you will catch a cold', unable to go get drenched again, we watching the rain from the balcony after that, and  making those paper boats and running out as soon as the rain stops to let them sail in the water downstream, spotting the rainbow and reciting the VIBGYOR mnemonic as know-it-alls!! Well, everybody would have enjoyed their monsoons as kids. A little later, when 'teens' were what we were called and how we looked was the matter of prime importance, first rains were always a photo oppurtunity that could never be missed!! From choosing the umbrellas and the poses to feeling great for the shoot and the photos, lolz, was real fun.

College life, when all the luvvy-duvvy stuff started, monsoons always came with a cue for romance.The first rain drops made the most romantic rain-song linger on, and a smile, was just for that one special person. Nobody to blame, music and romance have gone hand in hand since ages now. From 'pyar hua ikraar hua' from Shree 420 to  'bheegi bheegi raaton mein' from Ajnabee to 'rim jhim rim jhim' in 1942 A love story to 'mere khwabon mein jo' from DDLJ to 'Chak dum" from Dil to pagal hain to 'Bhaage re man' from Chameli to 'Barso re' from Guru.. rains have almost always meant pyar, ishq, mohabbat, sapne, mauj and masti :) . Not to forget our very own, very soothing 'Mungaaru maleye..'. The subtle connection between rain and romance and dreams can never fade. I still remember the first rains in my second year of college when I had just talked to my then 'crush', the first rains in third year when the drive through the college campus made it look more beautiful and more serene. Oh boy, how can somebody forget those times.. If history ever repeats, I would surely want those times to repeat..again and again... :)

As a kid, rain and it's weather used to make me feel cosy and sleepy. I used to have my best afternoon naps when it used to rain. It rained pretty much last night and today morning. Maybe hence, I slept in till 11.30 am!! When I was driving after that, the roads of Mysore felt so different. It was such a relief from the scorching heat of the recent days.With a little bit of sunrays piercing the clouds that covered, the roads all wet and the sand smelling the rain, was a morning I hadn't seen since long. For one more time, Mysore looked like how it was when I was a kid. When we had a lot more trees and a lot less traffic. When boulevards existed in every third lane and parking lots had ample space. When general stores were all the malls we had, and the 'shop uncle' would give us chocolates for free coz he knew who we were. When Mylaari and Gayathri Tiffin Rooms were the Regaalis and Metropole, and Kukkarahalli lake was more frequently an adda than Barista . .I've lived in this place all my life. I know that the day to go from here is not very far. But anyday, whenever monsoon sets in, I'm gonna miss the ones I've lived here. I totally enjoyed my drive in the morning. I stopped and took snaps of my fav roads and none of the on-goers looked amazed. Maybe even they would have taken snaps of Mysore looking its own self after such a long time.

At the end, I ended up blissfuly telling myself, 'I love Mysore'.... and a big fat rain drop splashed on my face. :-) :-)

p.s.- Thanks to all my friends for all the wishes yesterday. I'm really glad that you guys exist in my life. Made my birthday worthwhile :)

Cheers,

Chandana C. Shekar

Random Thoughts Of An Idle Mind

I have so many thoughts running on my mind since today morning. It happens when you sit idle I guess. After all, an idle mind is a devil's workshop right? When too many things are on your mind, you just can't write in detail about one thing, can you? Atleast I can't. Can't put my grey mater to work on one particular topic to put up my views on it. But yeah, I'm so restless today that I wanna pen down something here, my very own space in the blogosphere. Maybe I would feel a bit light after that! I hope so atleast!

Well, I saw a picture on my friend Divya's phone. I've put it up here. Felt it's true. When you've truly loved somebody, come what may, you can never ever stop loving that person. Can just stop showing somebody you love, but that doesn't mean you can stop loving him/her. When you hear a romantic song, or see a couple walk hand in hand , when you want a shoulder to lean on to, or even when you wanna call up somebody and shout with joy that you cracked the toughest exam in the country, you will end up remembering only that person. You will invariably end up sighing, 'How I wish...'. Even if you haven't seen that person since ages, even if things had gone really ugly between you both, even if you know for sure that he/she made a joke out of your feelings, even if that person was very mean to you, you would just end up counting on the good times spent and all the other things would be just negated. And yeah, just the same way, I strongly feel, when you hate somebody, come what may, you would any day hate that person. How much ever you try not to, if you really hate that person, you can just avoid that person, but never forgive and forget the ugly things that would have happened to you because of that person.This especially holds true when you're a very friendly person and in you're whole life time, you would genuinely hate only one or two people for the harm caused to you. Well, I feel so.

I was watching a movie the other day. There was one line in the movie which said , "Some love stories are not great epic novels, but short stories. But it doesn't mean to say that they are less filled with love". Very true. Sometimes, you listen to the tragic love stories and your eyes get wet. And the people who have lived those stories, well, whoever they would live with later on, their heart would still miss a beat for the old fling.A sigh will surely get out.Nobody can ever forget their 'ex'. Just like how a first date can never be perfect, a first crush or first love, many a times may never materialize. But it never fails to stay on in your memory until you go to grave.

There is one more thing on my mind. I feel, decisions are hard to make. They really are. When finally made, with a lot of difficulty and courage and help from others too, if in case those decisions turn out to be the wrong ones, well, it would curb you even more. Let alone repenting it for your life, the next time you have to make an important one, you're gonna be shit scared. Just hope a nervous breakdown doesn't happen!!

I framed my Grad day photo and put it on my study table. Reason? Well, just that I felt I looked good for a change!! Lolz. But since the past few hours since I did that, I spotted my Mom going and having a look at it like some six times!! I realised one thing. Whatever it is, whoever you find in life, friends, boyfriends, colleagues , etc etc,... nobody will ever cherish you like your parents. They may not show. Maybe because they spend all their time doing the responsibilities they ought to and finally have no time to show you how much they love you. But they love you the most in the world. Nobody can ever be proud of you more than them. Whether you are Kennedy or Princess Diana or Kalam or Julia Roberts or the useless yourself, they will still feel proud of you. Glad god created parents :)

Used to love being jobless once upon a time. And now, I guess that's the thing I hate the most. I've been so khaali since morning that I have kinda checked the clock almost every fifteen minutes. I know I gotta study, but for reasons best known to me, I just am not able to do that. I need an angel to help me now I guess!!

Well, this is called 'random scribbling'. No organisation, no second thougts, just what's on my mind. Maybe this is what is called 'restlessness'.!!

Until next time,
Chandana C. Shekar

Happy Birthday Anna :)

It's my Brother's Birthday today.. A year ago, when I had just started my blog, I knew that all I could write there on this day was about him. I wrote quite a lot indeed, that my Bhabhi called it a 'Ramayana' about him. Lolz.. It's been ages since I last saw him. Bugger is busy 'well' settling his life out there in the USA. Wonder how we can be siblings now? Coz I'm an Indian citizen and he is an American citizen now!!! Whoo!! Lots happened in life with him being miles apart. I was a tenth standard kid when he left home. When he came back, I was a medical student. And now, I'm a full fledged doctor! I hope I won't be getting married off the next time he comes to see us!! ;)

Well, one more year, and I still love u the same anna. It's really tough to write about two kinds of people - strangers , and loved ones. And you my dear, are a 'very very loved one'. And it's too tough for me to pen down anything about you.

When God created you, I guess he had just finished reading a book about an 'Ideal person' or so.. And hence, you were made so perfect I guess!! :) Else, he couldn't have made such an amazing, sweet, caring, loving, lovable and a stable headed person :) Everybody at home say that you are the best son they could ever get. I and Nidhi say we couldn't get a better brother than you. I'm sure bhabhi says you're the best bargain of her life... Well, you're simply the best :) That's all I can say about you :)

Miss you anna. I'm really glad you were born on this day, years ago. And I thank God that we got to stay together even though it could have happened the other way round!! I always say aunts and uncles and cousins are relatives and not family. But you? Oh come on, I can't spell 'family' without you :) You've been the best brother I could ever get. Thanks for everything you gave me and all of us here at home. I and Nidhi still fight as to who you love the most. She still gets jealous of me when you talk to me more on the phone than her . And I just can't stop bubbling with joy then ...every single time :-) .  I'm greatful to you for lots and lotsa things...

For being there every time I needed you and for not being around when I didn't need you too :-).

For listening to all my gossips and all my stupid thoughts..

For tolerating and appreciating my talkativeness... 

For never being a possessive brother...
For taking interest in the smallest things of my life, though you were miles away...
For being my partner in crime quite a few times in the few 'jasoosis' we did ;-)...
For all that pep talk about life...
For all those suggestions on how to enjoy life...
For all those promises you made to take me out holidaying in your country...
For always believeing in my dreams, when I myself had doubts about them...

For all those discussions on 'my dream guy'..

For never making me feel I'm actually the eldest at home.

For 'countless' more things...

And more than anythin, for assuring me, that come what may, you're just a call away :)

I swear, I'm really glad you were born.. We all cherish you big time.. BIG time.. :-) This day, when I'm at such a stage in life when I gotta decide about my life, career and love, I really wish you were here. Everytime I miss you, just like this very moment, my eyes get wet. You mean too much to me and all of us out here, back in India.

Well, all put together, we all love you loads and tons and gallons. No exaggeration there for sure. :) Hope this day brings you loads and loads of joy, and the year that follows gets to you all luck, joy and success and all the small and large things you ever wish for :) Have a lovely day bro. Party hard :)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY :)

Loads and loads of love,

Me :-)

Chandana C. Shekar

Good enuf a day :)

Three friends... a coffee bar... discussing about their ex-s. How does that feel? I don't know how it actually felt.Everything from Ouch to Wow I guess. Was an experience for sure. Two hours that I absolutely loved. All the hypothetical statements to generalisations to arguements to laughing at each other's 'emotional mantra', to sighing sayin 'how i wish it worked' !! Everything seemed so.... I dono what. We were so lost in our own world, that the weird looks that the lady sitting at the table next to ours was giving us, coz she felt we were laughing too loud also didn't bother us! But when I sit and think back about my day, it gets a smile on my face for sure :-) .

Early in the morning I went to the gym and I found out that I've royally lost weight. Not 1 or 2 , but 6 kilos. Whoo!! Just in a couple of months and moreover, I never went to the gym all this while. I never exercised. And it happened yet!! My friend says it was coz of 'mental torture' that I had. Well, whatever, stress or not, I'm happy with the end result. :) The smile it got on my face early in the morning is still on. What a nice way to start my day :)

Had a good enuf day. Content with my day after a really long time. No regrets to sign off for the day :-)

Good night.
Cheers,
Chandana Shekar

Blah..

I'm confused... That's all I know at present.. :-(

Chandana C. Shekar

Random again :)

One days goes 'yuck', and the next day (so far) goes so good :). Sometimes, even if you're not doing anything exciting in life, life seems amazing.. It feels, what I would call 'a pleasure'. They say two is a company.. Well, it can be any kinda company. When its good, its nice. When its better, its whoo. But when its the 'best', its 'WOW'. I've had some real nice company today. Even though I was doing the boring job of filling my application form for my PG entrance, I swear I didn't get bored. When somebody genuinely wants to help you, it feels so good. Even though the job is so damn simple, you just don't feel like saying a 'no' to the help offered. And if somebody goes out of their way to help you, all you can do, is stand back, and smile :-). I did. :-) And I really enjoyed that smile of mine. Not very often do you get to enjoy your smiles thoroughly in life. I haven't got many oppurtunities after my college days. Well, how, who, where??...well, all that's not necessary. Just that, I'm glad :-). Well, anyways, had a nice time today with my friend- One friend of mine, who never reads my blog :-). And so, is not gonna get bloated up by how much praise that 'idiot' gets here :-).I swear we didn't do anything special. Just hanging out, or maybe I should say, just doing some pending works. But still, I liked my day... till now..

It's getting time for my night shift to start. And work is not that great offlate. Maybe I should say that a colleague is not that okay offlate. So there are unnecessary complications popping up. Its like a classical example of - Two is a company and three is a crowd!! Well, problems exist at more than half the workplaces I guess. But I just wish, it wouldn't exist at mine.Anyways, gotta deal with the shit..

Hey one more thing. I watched few shows by 'Russell Peters' today. My friend had videos. I swear guys, he is amazing!! He is a 'comedy phenomenon'. The best comedian I have ever seen. You should surely watch him guys. He is so sarcastically hilarious, and he doesn't have a margin to his jokes. His jokes range from deaf people to races to accents to girlfriends to porn!! I swear that guy is too good. Do google out his videos on youtube and watch them. You'll find it really worth watching it. Don't be surprised if you are ROFL or LMAO :-)

I had to go to the temple today. And church too maybe. I'm gonna get allotted new postings from tomorrow and there is one 'dreaded unit' where I don't even wanna step into. I missed to the places of worship today. Just hoping god gets some mercy on me and doesn't put me into that hell.

Well, That's it for now I guess. The day's ending and the night's starting. For me, Work is starting. Something I have not been looking forward to. Especially after having spent a day, which I would smile thinking of.. And knowing that the night's gonna be bad.. Well, All good things come to an end maybe. I just want this 'glad' phase of life to last longer. I want more of days like today. If not more nice people in life, atleast I don't wanna lost the few nice people who already exist in my life :-)

OK guys, see ya tomorrow. Do write in.
Cheers

Loads of love,
Chandana C. Shekar :-)

Just like that...'People' maybe..

After writing for neha di's birthday, now that I'm here, I wanna put down something that's stirring in my mind since really long. Life is weird. The people who you come across in your life are weird. When you don't even think of giving a person a second look, that person tries to woo you. When you actually look at him/her, he pretends as though you don't exist at all. You love somebody else and your parents try to get you fixed up with somebody else. All that you know about your guy, is all about 'him'. And all that your parents know about the guy they look for you, is all about 'his parents'. Caste or financial status maybe the last thing on your list, but it shall sure be the headline on their 'requisites to meet' for the guy. Ufff!! Such a 'mind-shake', if I can call it that!!!

Why can't life be taken in a simple way? Why shud it be complicated so much?? As though there aren't enough things and bosses to complicate life, why do we start our own issues?? Well, I talk all this, and a friend of mine says that I myself complicate things in life!! Whoo!! Well, truly speaking, he's right. He is one guy who I know who makes life seem very very easy. It's not that he doesn't have problems in life. He sure does have his own share. But yeah, he knows how to tackle life. I swear its a pleasure to spend time with him. He does sure make you feel that your problems are not problems at all!! I dono If i put that sentence perfect. But I'm damn sure of one thing- he does make life seem easy.. Well, I dono If I've changed myself after being with him for quite sometime, but I sure hope I do. :)

Talking about such species, there are others too, 'Typical ones'. Someone who really changed your life big time!. Someone who changed your life- a wee bit maybe. Someone who loves you like crazy, for whom you mean the world and yet, you don't feel a thing and you can't help it either. MOST IMPORTANTLY, your 'ideal guy'. Your perfect 10/10. The person against whom you would never have any complaints. Somebody , of whom, everything and every damn thing seems right , right and just too right. Somebody, who you thought existed only in your dreams and your friends always told you there is no perfect 10/10.. Well, I disagree. I totally disagree. You can come across your perfect 10/10. I swear you can , if your lucky enough and take a proper look. Now all those who are reading this, please don't conclude that I'm saying from my own experience. I'm sure my brother is gonna call me after he reads this and ask me who this guy is.. lolz.. I'm just saying generally people!! I've got friends around you see.. So, 'general knowledge' I would say. ;-) If you really don't believe, then you may believe what you may!! ;) ( I learnt that line from somebody too ;)). But when you get to know that 'you' are not that guy's perfect 10/10, its such a heart wreck I swear. It's just then, that you actually wish that you had never come across him. But yeah, If it was the case with me, I wud surely rejoice that atleast the guy of my dreams exists!! In real world!! It's a different story that some other stupid bitch is gonna have him instead of me ;). Come on guys, I can atleast say 'bitch' to vent my anger and frustration out, can't I???!!??? Unlucky me and 'lucky pig' her!!! What about him, well , I dono :)

Well, here I go again, Life's weird. Off late I've been posted at the 'labour room' at hospital. Kids are born there day in and day out. Every time a kid is born and it's sleeping happily in the warmer there, only one thought crosses my mind- Wish life was always in this stage. No tensions, no hassles. Well, anyways, Life's a mixture at present. I enjoy few moments and few moments get me as low as possible. Or maybe I shud say that, few people keep me happy and few bitches get me low!! Same thing happened today too.One slut got me so royally irritated that hours have passed and I'm not yet out of it!! I should learn new 'gaalis' for her now. I'll google it maybe. I've never in my life felt that I should slap anybody, but her- oh yeah, sure anytime!Even on behalf of others too!! May god never and ever bless that female!! I wonder why is she even a female!!! She should have been born a lizard!! Chipkali saali !!!The worst part is that, she spoils my day and then asks me as to why I'm upset!! Bloody @%$&*@@#^$#...AArrrggghh!!! The more I think of her, the more I'm gonna get irritated. Fugget it. Well, that's something that's on my mind right now. It's very absurd and scattered, but ..well, something atleast :)

Next time for the rest

Love you all and hate 'her' sure.

Keep in touch people :)

Cheers

Loads and loads of Love,
Chandana C. Shekar

One more relaxed day.. Whooo!!! :-)

I kinda have this intense urge to write something since yesterday. I've been bragging people around me to tell me some topic that I can write something really nice on. But I don't know why people over-estimate my calibre. They suggest topics that will need a minimum write of a few pages!! I don't mean to write so much. I just want to write an article for my blog that's short and effective enough to create an impact (good or bad, is left to the reader) in the reader's mind. But looks like bad luck is on vacation somewhere around me. I haven't got a topic of interest yet!! The ones that are flashing up here and there in some corner of my mind are just not worth writing about.

Well anyways, looks like again I'll have to write some random stuff. Nothing great happened today. Yet, I feel it's something exciting, coz it's been a 'chit chat day' today. I spent the morning on the phone with my aunt and my cousin's wife until it was time to go to the hospital for my follow-up. Late morning passed by chit chatting with Mommy dearest :). No doubt I'm her best company when she is cooking :). Had a friend come down to visit me in the afternoon. I'm a patient now you see ;-). He got me a big dairy milk bar. Wow!! I'm haappiiee.. lolz. Had two more friends come down in the evening. So all I did today was chit chat, and somewhere in between, bits of gossip too ;). Was a nice day all in all .

But yeah, one thing I heard about was really irritating. Somebody in authority to give me leave at my hospital, has a doubt that I've not met with an accident and I'm just making it up!! Heights!! First of all, when I called that person to ask for leave, I wasn't even asked as to how I am doing now, or do I have fractures. But yeah, I was surely told to get the medical certificate or else I shall have to repeat these particular days of internship. But that person went and asked my co-interns whether I was really hurt or was I making it up. My friend says that that question was accompanied by a sarcastic smile. And I sure can imagine that!!! What the hell on earth man!! If I had to make it up, I would say vomiting or back pain or even dengue fever (that's everywhere nowadays) and would have taken the certificate for that. Why would I say that I can't walk!! Wonder what people think!! If the same thing happens to their kith and kin and they are not given leave, I wonder how this person would react. I would love to see that, any day, any time. Anyways, at the end of the day, who cares what such people think. All I need is my leave. And about such mean questions and comments that are passed, well, all we end up doing- is bitch about it :).

Okies. I better go do something. hmm...not watch movies for sure. Have been watching two per day since the time I'm at home :). I think I should study a bit. My table looks so clean!! By the way, my legs far better :). See you guys soon when I can find something to write on. Cheers :)

Chandana C. Shekar

A relaxed day at home

Had a relaxed day. Friends came over to visit. Watched two movies. Went to the hospital for follow-up. My knee dressing has been removed and the wounds' better. Got haemarthrosis too, but swelling has reduced than day before yesterday. Got my leave at my hospital extended for 3 more days. Now need to get a medical certificate. Formalities man!!!

I want to write about some advice that I was given by someone regarding my accident. She said , "The next time this happens, don't shout at the person who hit your vehicle. Stay quiet, cry if you want to, show that your hurt, and tell him that he is harassing you because you're a girl and you shall take this matter to the Women's commission". What the hell ya!! Why are you getting women's commission here? And what does 'cry if you want to' mean? I wonder!! No comments anyways!!! You guys can ponder over this with your own views. I found it weird though! Heights of feminism maybe..

Well, nothing else with the day. Nothing exciting to talk about. Maybe I'll watch one more movie and then hit the bed :). Thanks everybody for all the wishes :). Cheers :)

Chandana C. Shekar

Aarrgghh !!

For the first time in my internship, I'm regretting being on leave :( Yeah, you heard it right, It might sound insane, but yeah, its true. I must have said "What the hell", quite a few times now. No intern would repent being on leave. Even I wouldn't in other circumstances. We jump and grab the leaves we can get. But now, there are three things that are making me regret. One- I'm sick :-(. Two- It's happening during Ortho postings of the lot!! Three- I'm royally bored!!! Ortho postings has hardly any work to be done. Coming home by 11.30 am on free days feels nothing else but 'bliss'. And I'm missing out on that.. Wish I had fallen ill during some other postings when I had loads of work to do :( I would have slept with peace..

This fever is so sickening. It's changed from intermittent to continous now. I'm so royally bored sleeping all the time. The only other thing that's happening is that music is playing. And my 'younger' sister keeps advising me to stop it coz she thinks that it'll give me a headache!! My younger sister reigning over me? yeah, I know, power does a lot to people. Mom's not in town.So, my sister thinks she is responsible to look after my health now. Poor girl, she ends up asking me if I want anything umpteen times a day. Mom will be back tomorrow. I'm glad. It's always so nice to have Mom around.

Gave my blood for repeat investigations. Waiting for the reports. Have to call the physician after that. I realise, there are a few advantages being a doctor. Or even a doctors' kid. No need to worry about hospital hours, even for the slightest problems. Things get done anytime. :-) I wouldn't have consulted a physician for this fever. Thought it's viral. But it's been a week and sumptoms aren't reducing.So, my parents need 'expert' opinion for that. lolz. See, when your kith and kin fall sick, you forget that you are a doctor too :-).

My friends are giving me varied diagnosis every time they call me. And they seem to be very sure of it. It's fun when they say, "This disease doesn't usually present like this, but it can you know?"..Yeah, yeah, I know :). See, this is what happens when you know half and half :). Anyways, best one was when somebody said 'swine flu'.. hehehe... How could he say that? But poor guy, i appreciate his concern :)

One of my best friend's wedding got finalised. I'm so happy for her. The wedding's after a year. I just wish it was somewhere at a more nearby date. I'm sure I'll be a part of it. So wondering if it could happen somewhere now. Atleast would have had some excitement in life. lolz :) . I guess it'll be the first wedding among my 'best' friends. So, pretty excited about it. :)

I seem to have fallen in love with the song 'chor bazaari' from the movie 'Love aaj kal'. Been hearing it over and over again. Love the beats in the song somehow. My sis says that I need to change the song. I've played it so many times that she has the lyrics by-heart itseems.lolz. I won't change. Getting some sadistic pleasure by irritating her ;-) .

Ok, I'm hungry now. Need to go eat something. Feels so good scribbling my mind out. I feel less 'aarrgghh'. I hope you guys don't feel 'aarrgghh' reading it :) . If you do, don't write to me.. Write to..,.maybe...hmmm... My sister... lolz ;-)

Take care

Chandana C. Shekar

Just when I think I'm done...

Saturday is back again!! Unfortunately!! :( Yeah, you didn't hear me wrong..I said 'Unfortunately' itself. Almost every sane human being looks forward to 'weekends'. For youth like us, Saturdays are always more fun than Sundays. But for me and a few more working with me, well, we just wish Saturdays cease forever..

It feels like just yesterday, that we had Saturday and our OPD and admission day and night shift and all that crap. And Saturday is here again :( How soon did the week pass by ? :(

Physiology says , your body and mind needs adequate rest.Being doctors, we all have studied it properly in our very first year of medical school. We know the disadvantages of not getting enough rest. Then why on earth are we doctors ourselves expected to work like donkeys?!?! We aren't some machines right? Why are we put on 36 hour shift and 70 hour shift and all that? Forget me, one of my friend took up MS general surgery in a government college recently. And poor fellow, he is getting to sleep only for an hour everyday for the past five days!! I mean, won't our efficiency decrease if we work like this?How much can you force your body and mind to work. When your drowsy and your mind is not analysing the history and findings and investigation reports of a patient to come to a diagnosis, forget the treatment part, whose at loss? What if you make a blunder in the treatment?At the end of the day, patients do get affected because of this right?But the world's very diplomatic. Everybody is of the opinion that, 'your a doctor. The noble profession. You should be able to handle all this'. What crap!! I wonder why shifts are so unreasonable. But I know for a fact that, nothing can be changed.

Intake of PGs and staff can be increased and work load will reduce. MBBS graduates are staying at home without PG seats and very low paid duty doctor jobs. But no. No college admits more PGs. I wonder why.When you can admit 150 students for an MBBS course, and you know that just an MBBS degree without an MS or MD leaves you nowhere, why is that you hardly have 50 seats for MD and MS? What are the others supposed to do? Stick to a 10,000 job all through life? Amazing logic ya!! Whatever it is, the hierarchy in this field is horrible. 'Rules' here, means, just what the seniors say. That's it. They are the rule makers and breakers and everything.

I'm not feeling well today. It looks like its gonna continue for tomorrow too. And tomorrow is supposed to be our busy day. How do I work when I myself am not feeling well? But yeah, I have to and I have previously worked while ill too. According to me, almost every intern and pg would have. Nobody in the hospital bothers about it. If at all I go and ask for leave, I won't get it because tomorrow is duty day and moreover, even if i get it, my leave for shruthi's wedding will get cancelled. Heights!!

My friends who I used to hang out with all these years have now shifted to Bangalore and elsewhere because most of my friends are engineers and are working in Metros. They come to Mysore only on weekends and they laugh at me when I say I'm at work!! Wow!! Amazing na? Life is screwed up if your weekends are screwed up yaar.

Anyways, I'm in this department for two more weekends. I'm on leave next weekend and that leaves me with only one Saturday duty and that's tomorrow. Hope things go easy tomorrow and hope my leave for the next weekend doesn't get cancelled. Want to get done with this..ASAP

Chandana C. Shekar

Heights of co-incidence!!!

How much can be a co-incidence? Two girls having the same kind of dress? Both of them being friends? Both of them being colleagues, working within the same 4 walls, almost always next to each other? Both of them wearing those dresses the same day? Well,Trust me, I'd say- ALL OF IT!!

One extremely funny thing happened today. I and my co-intern happened to wear the same coloured attire with the same kind of prints too!! Both of us wore white and blue with circular prints. The shade of blue was same too. It was an extreme co-incidence. I didn't even know that she had a dress of this sort ( being with her since 4.5 years, I actually am kind of aware of the dresses she owns). Maybe it would go unnoticed. But since we both are in the same unit and always working together, every other person couldn't help but notice it.From nurses, to our friends, to PGs to Unit chief too!! And the comments we got, were really weird.Here are a few:

-->"Are you twins?" ( that was really weird. Our clothes might have been twins. but how can we be?)
--> One of the my friend pointed at my co-intern and said, "Look look, Chandana's there!!" Duh!!
--> "Did you both get these dresses in any 'buy one,get one free' offer?" Oh gosh!
--> "Are you celebrating any white and blue day?"
--> "Has any uniform system been started in your unit?" Yeah dude, thats the only thing pending now!!

Others were decent enough to ask, "hey, how come same kind of dresses?"Thank god!! But the above mentioned comments-@$*^&@*&"~. We felt like going home and changing! But unfortunately, sugery postings doesn't give you so much time. But the next time I'd wear this dress to hospital, I'd surely call my colleague and confirm that she isn't wearing the same dress that day. We took a snap of ours too to remember this 'once in a lifetime' incident. I showed the snap to my mom, and she started laughing too!!Heights ya!!

Chandana C. Shekar

Happy Mother's Day :)

"God could not be everywhere, so he created mothers" - Jewish proverb.

That's my mom's fav phrase. I've seen that written on the first page of many of her books. I'm glad God created my mom. I'm more glad that he made me her daughter. What do I say about mom? What can anybody say about their moms? The only word that you can use to describe her is 'Great'. Or maybe something larger than that. She takes care of you since even before you were born. She considers you a kid even when your forty years old. For her, your nothing but her heart, walking outside her body. You mean the world to her. Your happiness is hers. She understands everything- things you say, things you don't say and even things that you yourself don't understand. Mom is one word, for an ocean of love and care. No matter how much any person in the world loves you, nobody can beat your mom on that. Can write pages about her, and yet, it will definitely remain incomplete.

All the while I wrote this, the only person I had in front of my eyes was 'My Mom'. She's somebody I look up to as an idol. Not is she just a great mom, but an amazing doctor too. I wonder from where she gets the time, energy and willpower to work the quantity she does, both at the hospital and at home, and yet, smile always. I've hardly seen my mom crib. She loves what she does. I know for a fact that she gets a lot of problems. But not once does she let anybody get a clue of it. She's one ideal example of a woman. For all that my sister and I have got from her, today I want to thank her. For all the love she's given us. For all the care we got. For all the minute to minute things she gave us, whose importance we never realised. For trusting in our stupidest thoughts and decisions. For being our watchman(watch woman) all through life. For being everything from a baby sitter to a study partner to a guide to a friend to everything. For being a partner in crime in our mischiefs(harmless ones) and a shoulder to cry on when sad. For lending a helping hand when we failed and shedding tears of joy when we succeeded. For laughing on our weirdest jokes and feeling hurt for our minor bruises. For letting us know that she is someone we can always count on, and for forgiving us when we hurt her. For having the courage to let us learn from our own mistakes at times. Oh Mom, I'd write pages and I'd never complete the things you do for us. Thanks for everything and everything and more everything. Thanks for being that amazing person you are. We feel very very proud when we say 'I'm Dr.Shylaja's daughter'. And we shall work hard to make you feel proud to be our mom. And hey, you still are very pretty :) Love you loads. :)

Had a nice Mother's day today. Wished mom, gave her a gift, got pooja done at the temple. Got her cake and partied. She treated us pizza for dinner. Had a lovely day.


p.s.: My Mom helped three more ladies become Moms today. Didn't get it? She did three caesarian sections today. So three babies delivered. So three new moms :) And hey, Mom loved the gift I gave her :) She was very happy.And I'm happy that she was happy :)




Chandana C. Shekar

Shift + Ent

I've been shifted to the department of E.N.T. I whole - heartedly wish this hadn't happened. Reasons? Oh, many of them. All of us had two 'batting' sessions on the first day itself for actually what seemed like 'no reason at all'. Did nothing other than writing what the professors said to write in the OPD registers and prescriptions. Hardly examined one or two cases. So got nothing to learn. Afternoon session was nothing but sitting in the seminar hall and listening to P.G.s do seminar, which went well above our heads!! Mind you, attending it was compulsory. One consolation prize- biscuits and coffee at the end of the seminar!! Phew! Forget us, P.G.s go through more than us. It goes without saying that they are the scape-goats for everything. And when they are missed for a target, we are caught!! Wanted to take leave for the next day, to go to b'lore, but due to circumstances, couldn't get one :(

Day 2- I went to B'lore last evening after postings to see off my uncle and aunt who were leaving to USA. Came back early in the morning to Mysore and I was so god-damn sleepy. Went to O.T. and had 2 'batting' sessions from some anaesthesia staff!!! Jeess!!! I don't even come under that department and she shouts at me for 'absolutely no reason at all'!!!! What the hell!! When your an intern, every Tom, Dick and Harry thinks its their birth-right to shout at you I guess! Again a consolation prize- The P.G. tells me that they too get scolded by that staff for crazy reasons. I feel consoled after listening to those reasons!! We get to do nothing in the O.T. Just stand, stand and stand, and fill some histopathology forms. Thats it. Thats such a waste of time. Thank goodness, O.T. got over by afternoon and I could go out for lunch with a friend.

Have OPD tomorrow. Hope things go well.

Chandana C. Shekar

Random happenings..

Running around shopping is the only thing I've been doing nowadays other than my internship. Are you thinking, what's so new in that? Wait a minute, I've not shopped anything for myself!!! That's 'news' na? :) Shopped for Mom's birthday gift. Lotsa things for my aunt and uncle. They are going to USA to meet their son ( my cousin brother), so bought quite a few things for him. Went to the best places to buy all of them. Had to send it to my brother after all you see :). And I'm writing 5 digit accounts (all of them are true ones) :). Now all that's remaining is packing and I'll do it tomorrow.

My co-intern (my friend) caught chicken pox from nowhere yesterday. I agree that we are working in Dermat department. But we had never seen a case of chicken pox till yesterday. God knows from where she got it. Poor girl, she comes to the hospital in the morning with vesicles on her face and stuff and gets diagnosed as chicken pox. Couldn't see the look on her face. :( Miss her at work. Her parents are worried about her health and if whether the scars will remain for long, and this girl is worried about whether she will get leave or will she be marked absent!! Well, in one way , that's genuine you see. If at all she gets marked absent, she will have to do extra duty-days later!!! There is just one leave for every fifteen days as per rules, and she has already availed that before her chicken pox episode. Poor girl, hope she gets well soon and gets leave too :) Get back to work soon gal :)

My sister's been after my life since the past few days to make me lose weight and I'm running away from her. Hate exercising man. But I need to lose some weight sure. Hope I start running on the treadmill soon :) She's got to know that I write a blog and she read it yesterday. She saw dedications for my brother and mom on my blog, and has started nagging me to write something on my blog for her. She says 'it's no big deal' that I've written two poems for her!!! Well, little ones you see!! :) Oh yeah, think of the devil and the devil appears. She's come to my room now saying 'hi, wasup'. I know for sure ki its not just a 'wasup' and there's something more coming up. So I better sign off now and see what mischief she's upto !!!

Chandana C. Shekar