Turning Three :)

When you like your neighborhood,
When you're comfy with your transit,
When you're fine with your workplace,
And glad about the people around you,
You know one thing for sure-
You took the right turn at the crossroad..
And life's good.. :)


P.S.: Its been three years since 'The World Around Me' was conceived into this virtual world. :) Thank you all you guys for being so supportive and reading (and yawning) my write-ups. :) Love you all.. :)

Cheers,
Chandana C Shekar

A little after 'Do Saal'

Two years ago, around this time, while waiting for my final year medicine results to be out and the letters 'Dr' get added to my name, a thought struck me. That my thoughts could belong somewhere other than my diary. A blog maybe. I had two previous blogs. One was sort of a miscarriage and the other one was a poetry blog which I had made private. Hence I thought I could have a proper one which would be my space, where I could say anything I want without anybody's permission. Where it would be my rules all the time with a feel-good-factor after expressing my thoughts and views without being called a chatterbox! And hence, http://chandana-shekar.blogspot.com came into existence in the www world.

Then, it was history. I discovered I could write decent enough. I had never expected anybody would read what I write except for a couple of friends who were supportive of me writing. But then, people read. My blog was followed. Felt really good to be recognised for it. Getting appreciated by people from this virtual world was one feeling and colleagues stopping by in the hospital and saying, 'Hey I didn't know you write so well!' was another feeling. It was cloud nine everytime my family and friends got proud of me for what I wrote.

Started with scrap. Had absolutely no idea what to write on. Hence wrote an article on 'Aries Woman' because I am an aries by the book! And to this day, that article of mine is the one which gets most visitors, atleast 60% of the statistics!! Comes up on google search and there you go!! Has got 3,742 views till date. Going on, blogrolls happened, followers appeared, widgets got added, templates changed, facebook fan page got created and my soul smiled.

And then, this space and I grew together. Made friends. Few real good friends. Neha di and Nazish - My oldest followers. Neha di was and is someone I really admire. Never thought I could get so close to someone I meet in this virtual world. I remember she giving me the links to two of her friends' blogs so that I can get more idea about blogging. And now, Madam writes and writes big time herself ;-). Nazish was one loyal reader! Always supportive :). Thank you both of you :). Not just the articles, but thoughts that none of you got to read got shared with these people. Others joined the list. Bikram and I shared 'views' about people. The kind of people we analyzed then were of the same kind and it made it easy for us ;-). Few readers commented on my write-up just so that I would do the same on theirs. They kinda almost swore at me when I didn't do so. But there were a few of them who actually read mine because they wanted to read. That list is quite long, but I'm sure those people know that I'm talking about them. Blogger names appeared on facebook friends list and I felt glad to know such amazing people. Thanks all of you.

This year, two really exciting things happened. I started writing for N-zine, the online magazine. Its always a pleasure to write for it. Feels good to a part of a bunch of bloggers who take the pleasure of writing on a theme and make reading it a pleasure for those who do. Then Masthmysore came calling. Wrote an article called 'Mysore Mornings'. It stands to be among my favourites. Was a hit for sure and I was overwhelmed. That was again a pleasure. First thing was because my subject to write on was to be Mysore - the place I've been at since the time the surfactant on my lungs expanded, and the place I adore the most. Second, that website was created and run by a couple of engineers from here who did it for the love of Mysore. So everywhere I belonged to, everybody that writing associated me with, had a passion for words and phrases, or for my hometown. Felt perfect :-).

Every blogger considers his/her blog as a baby, and I'm no different. So happy and proud am I on this day that I can go on and on. Well, why shouldn't I be? To sit in my room alone, when the sky's dark and the world's snoozing, with just a qwerty at my fingertips, to express my joy, to vent out my anger, to get my creativity into words, to play with emotions, to make the characters in my mind wind into a story, to make random words rhyme, to boast about success, to crib about failure, for refreshment, for sobering down, for partying, for therapy, and much much more,... my blog's been my best friend sure. There's no wonder I love it so much. After all, it's 'The World Around Me'..

Thank you all for all your love and support. Thanks a ton :-)

Love you'll loads.

Chandana C. Shekar

My Blog Filmfare Moment :-) :-)

 

MY 100TH POST!! Yippee :). I take this post to appreciate the appreciation that I've got from my fellow bloggers. Thanks so much you guys :). Read on and take up the awards that I've passed on.

'Malegalalli Madhumagalu', A 9-hour-long, Unique, Night Play

Warning: This a lengthy review. Couldn't help it.

When "Malegalalli Madhumagalu" was being enacted at Rangayana, Mysore, I was more than excited to watch it. Had many reasons for it. It was the 700 pages Magnum Opus of our literary icon Kuvempu, was a 9 hour long night play and had heard that a lot of effort has gone into it's production. More than anything, I found it's poster very very interesting.One day, when I was driving , I passed in front of Kalamandir and saw the poster again. It had impressed me so much that I thought I should blog about it. The same day, my aunt got us tickets for the next night's show. Was more than happy. Even though I had been to Coorg and returned to Mysore just before the show, wasn't feeling a bit tired or sleepy. Just wanted to watch the play.

A 9 hour long play, under the direction of C. Basavalingaiah, music by Hamsalekha, art direction by H.K.Dwarakanath is based on the theatre adaptation of the novel, which was done by K.Y.Narayanaswamy. Set in four stages,Vanaranga, Dundukana, Puthani Vana and Rangadarshini, it actually felt as though we were in Malenadu.With 150 characters, 58 scenes, 48 songs, and 67 actors and just 5 months of production, the play starts with a ring that is lost in the Dharmasthala hundi and the story is narrated using folk forms such as arjuna jogis and koravanjis and others.

I'll be wrong if I say that there was perfection in the play. There was "more than perfection" in every minor thing.It was not just that there was a stage and the act was on it. There were characters to the right, left and even above it ( believe me they were on trees too) and hence, we audience had no option but migrate to the world they had created for us. Though this play is based on a classic, there is comedy, drama, music, love, political issues , issues between the society and the individual, the caste system then, spread of christianity, beliefs and customs and lot more in it.

The characters, oh you'll adore them. Guththi and his dog Huliya- oh huliya is the play's sweetheart. Whoever has played that part deserves a big applause. Playing a 'dog' that well is something beyond our imagination. Mukunda was my favourite. He perfectly fit into the love story hero character. (psst- he was handsome too). Aitha and Pinchalu were the cute newly married couple and played their parts well. Devaiah was amazing being the confused and escapist himself. Subbaiah hegde, I guess is some veteran actor. His display of emotions had no bounds. Was too very perfect.The Christian father and his 'beesekallu'(bicycle) was a laughter roller coaster for sure. Aithakka and her spontaneity; Ayynoru and the typical brahmin attitude he carried off so well; the pudi saabru and their horse; the mallu pandit and his mallu-kannada accent; Thimmi, Nagakka, Chinnamma and their anxiety; the depiction of the Rana; Swami Vivekananda appearing out of nowhere, that too behind and above the audience; the wild boar hunt; the potrayal of huli kallu neththi well above the trees and dawn with saambraani dhoopa and clouds; the artists getting into position in the darkness; the artificial rain, everything was more than what the audience expected. The stages were set so well against the background of trees and the like in open air, that it actually felt like we were taken to the villages of Simbhaavi, Hoovalli, Konooru, Huli kallu neththi and others.

The spontaniety in the emotions, dialogues, climbing trees as though they were experts at it, and hopping and running around of the artists very much needs appreciation. In the whole play, there was not even one single slip or one single stutter. Every character , be it in the nook of the stage also was very involved in the play and upto the mark. There was one guy who caught my attention. He had no lead role, but was doing minor roles here and there, loved the way he did it.Just that he was really good even though he had such miniscule roles. Music was at its best too. The title track and the 'hara hara' track will surely make you nod your head.

I'm not somebody who knows theatre in and out. Not a regular critic. My review is just as an ordinary audience. All of you who are like me, trust me guys, you will have the same opinion if you watch it. There were people who were as old as 60 years and more present among the audience. And when the audience were supposed to shift places to the next stage, everybody was rushing to get nice places to sit and not going out to eat anything! After the play, I spotted somebody asking the crew for a CD of the tracks in the play. Somebody else was literally running behind the person who played Huliya when he was walking away. The artists couldn't be seen because they were totally surrounded by people congratulating them. Sometimes, some artists deserve such fans I guess.

Well people, if I keep writing, I shall praise it on and on and on. So let me just tell you that, if in case you get a chance to watch this play, please do go watch it. You will surely and surely and more surely enjoy it. It was scheduled to end on the may 11th. On public demand, two more shows got added and now, three more have got added. So it's on till May 21st I guess. Heard they have plans to take it to other districts as well. Getting the tickets there is a major problem. But it's worth standing in the queue for it. The ticket is priced at only Rs.40 and that's the only bad thing about the play. The play's worth hell a lot more than that. We pay more than that for bakwaas movies like athithi tum kab jaaoge!. Name one movie which you think is the best ever. Black? or even Ben-Hur? Guys, let me tell you. This play is a lot more better than that. None of the movies and none of the stars are even comparable to this play. It's that outstanding.

Plays are supposed to be for entertainment. This one, take it from me, was nothing less than an 'experience'. Had it continued for a further nine hours, I would have loved to sit and watch it yet.

p.s.- Not a bit of exaggeration in this post.

The guy sitting there in front was the one I was talking about, who had minor roles and yet, was good.

.








The 'beesekallu' Ride

A scene from the play.










The silver lining over the blue cloths were used to depict clouds.The girl was on a hill top so was amidst the clouds at dawn

The tree-top there was Huli-kallu-neththi. That's guththi, thimmi and huliya the dog. There was another scene which was played at a spot more higher than this, but I couldn't capture it.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
A scene from the play

Cheers,

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.

Meri Zubaani in a newspaper :)

Okay I know that this is no Oscar moment. It's not even a high school prize winning moment. But even the smallest things in life are enjoyed right? And people like us who enjoy road-side pani puri more than exotic cuisine at a five-star, enjoy zindagi ke chote chote pal sure .I'm smiling all the while while writing this. For the first time, meri zubaani is in a newspaper!!  Well, Open up today's Bangalore Mirror , page 9. Yesterday's opinion poll and the comments followed are printed there. Spot my name there? Hmmm.. that's very much myself. :)

Well, I know I know. It's just the readers' opinion column and many get published. But well, that's my words, for the first time on a newspaper!! And first times are always a feel-good-factor :). Moreover, it feels good to see that 'Dr' before my name, at a place other than my name plate and degree certificate. The last time my writings were published in those school and college magazines, the 'Dr' wasn't there. And now, hmm..all smiles, smiles, smiles. By the way, everyone  and everything has to start somewhere right? ;-)

The editing team there have edited my post here and there (bad bad). But, It's in my words at their website at this link :)

And hey ya, I wrote at their blog too. It's on their site at this link. You guys would have read that on my blog. Feels good to be at places other than your own once in a while :-)

Awww.., feeling good,
Chandana C. Shekar

The Saga of my 'Lost and Found' Nokia

Warning : This is a lengthy one.

Okay, I'm so very glad that I could add the word 'found' after that 'lost'. It so happened that I was the owner of a Nokia N70 mobile phone. And now, I am, again. What happened in between is very obvious, I had lost it. The story goes like this. I had a nice working phone, with no complaints and no need to change to a new phone. Yet, just because it was more than a year that I had changed my phone, my mom and I felt that I can buy a new one. Just then had I fallen in love with Sony Ericsson Satio and so, bought it. Updated my new phone with the contacts and stuff from the old one and kept the nokia thingy to rest in a shelf in my room.

After a week, I wanted a snap that was clicked from my N70. I checked my shelf and couldn't find it. Now where can it go flying from there?.I guessed I must have put it into my table draw. I had wanted to do that, but wasn't sure if I had done that. I couldn't check my draw because it's lock was jammed.

There is this friend of mine, Sanjay. He had fed some softwares to that phone. There was a security software, wherein you feed a number other than your's to that software, and if any other sim card than the one you are using is inserted into it, a message will be sent to the number you already fed from this thief's number. I had done that. So I relaxed a bit, thinking that if anybody uses the phone, I shall anyways get to know. If that doesn't happen, then my phone is in my draw.

After more than a month, my friend forwarded me an sms saying a particular number is using this phone. I went to the police station and lodged a complaint. I loved my phone, and I couldn't let it go. Atleast not when I knew who was using it. This was march 31st. Dad gave the police whatever he had to too. Well, things never work otherwise you know. We got our assurance and came back.

One week passed by, and dad had paid two visits to the station. The staff there said that the complaint has been forwarded to a certain branch which takes care of such stuff and we better go there directly.

Got to know that the case file has not even been opened in that station. The inspector there gave assurance again, and told dad to call him after a couple of days. Three weeks, 2-4 calls per week, just assurance and assurance.

One day, he said that he had called that number and told them to return the phone within 30 minutes. 3 days passed and nothing happened. A friend of mine was courteous enough to let me know the name and address of the owner of that number from the phone service provider. Called up the police and told the same. They asked us itself to get more data if possible, coz they will have to go through 'formalities' if they have to do the same!!.

Two more days, and I get my phone back!!! Yippee :) .

Now time for my doubts.

Didn't the police think that that bugger would switch his phone off when they called him and told him to return the phone? They wouldn't be able to trace him because the address he had given to the phone company was fake. It made no sense.

When a common man can get details about a number from a company, why do the police have to worry about going through 'formalities' to get it?

I was telling my friends about this, and 4 of them told me either to bribe the police or get some influence soon, or forget my phone. Our system has rotten totally is it?

Major doubt about the culprit. The number is registered in a girl's name. So the police said they can't investigate it seriously and find out who it is. Since when did this 'Female sympathy' start in India? I don't see it for other things!

The person who returned the phone happened to be the brother of the girl who was using it. He said he bought it from some stranger in the bus stand. I had heard that girls are rented out at bus stands and stuff by pimps. But since when did people start selling mobiles there?

And even if that's the case, why on earth has my maid stopped coming to work abruptly? Now don't call that a co-incidence. Her previous month's salary is due in a couple of days. If she had to quit for any other reason, she would do it after that. She wouldn't let go of 1200 bucks!

Wonder if the police don't wanna waste their time on this or there is something else going on. But whatever crap thing it is, I'm happy I found my phone. Atleast they helped me a bit, and I shall have my gratitude for that!.

But I have to pay for my carelessness I guess. That bugger has deleted my snaps and I lost a few snaps clicked with a few people. Will never be able to click snaps with those people again in my life. I really regret losing them. But I wonder why he hasn't deleted my contacts list?!?.

But well, something is better than nothing . :-) Yippeee...yahooo.... I got my phone back :)

Glad to have found something lost,

Chandana C. Shekar

Wordless Wednesday #1

Though this post is supposed to be wordless, I really wanna say, "It would be great to see every heart heal this way after a pathology :-)"

Chandana C. Shekar

A Conversation

Started studying today. Thanks to a friend of mine. But when you try to study after ages, Oh man!, it's really tough to even sit at your table yaar!!. Needed a change. Got an urge to write. But staying at home all day almost leaves you with nothing to write on. Was just remembering If I wanted to write on something earlier and I hadn't. And one thing struck me. A conversation. And then I was sure that that would be the post here for today.

I had some guests at my place a couple of days back. A family with a 4 year old son. I thoroughly enjoyed spending time with him. After Paediatrics posting during my internship, I hardly found kids cute. Almost everyone from my College would agree to that (excepting the people who wanna take up paediatrics as a speciality). Our postings were so hectic and irritating ( Coz we did all other work except what Doctors ought to do), and with kids crying all around, at the end of one month, we had had enough of kids!!. But this one, was too cute and refreshing. I wouldn't mind spending time with him every single day. Loved the way he talked. I'll tell you one conversation that happened.

His Dad happens to be an Orthopaedician and the way this kid describes that is ,'My dad repairs broken hands and legs'. Courtesy his Kindergarten School, he can identify parts of the body. Now,

Him: " You also are a Doctor like my Dad? What do you repair?"

Me: "Well, I'll be a surgeon. I'll repair a lot of things then."

Him: "Lot of things? Name them."
Me: "Well, If I become a plastic surgeon, I'll repair scars. Like the one you have on your chin."
( He had a scar on his chin due to a fall and I thought that would be the easiest to explain to him).
Him: " That's all? Why repair that? It doesn't hurt at all!! Repair something that hurts. That will help people"
Me: "????...Ok.Forget it. So what will you become when you grow up?"
Him: "A Cricketeer, but only in the evenings. I'll play for RCB one day!! I'll be a Doctor during the day."
Me: "Oh!! That's nice. So will you also repair broken hands and limbs like your dad?"
Him: "No, Dad will do that. I will repair only knees and elbows"
Me: "Why only that?"
Him: "Because they hurt the most. Don't you know?!!!"

Well, All I could do was smile. Smile at his innocence, his know-it-all attitude, his zest for life (cricket and medicine huh?), and his thought to help people... Kids, they think wounded knees hurt the most!! :-)  No comments, but I really wish his innocence stays with him forever. Hope nothing else in life hurts him more than wounded knees.

And oh yeah, Cricket!! India and Cricket can never ever be seperated!!Never. No ways!! It's a religion out here. I guess that's the only thing wherein you can actually call India as a secular country. The only religion that everyone here is tolerant to. Such a small kid, and he wants to play for RCB!! I can understand if he would say that he wanted to play for the Indian team, but RCB??? Well, IPL Impact !! Guess this is worth all the publicity and hype and media coverage and what not the IPL has!!.

Chandana C. Shekar

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

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

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 :-)

After a real long time..

1 month and 13 days!!... Well, That's the longest I've been away from my blog I guess.. Reasons? Well, none in particular, and quite a few too!!! Contrasting huh? Oh yeah, True.. I didn't restrain myself from my blog for any reason. But yeah, a few circumstances made me stay away from it. At first, The last few days on my blog had very frequent entries. Even as frequent as two entries per day!! I was at home with a leg immobilized then na, so was passing time ;-). So took an off from the blog when I was capable of getting out and doing other stuff :) Then, one major thing happened!! I got addicted to facebook. Oh big time man!! Not networking , but the games!!! Farmville!! All thanks to Neha Silam!! Oh my, I was farming big time there. So whenever i was on the net, I was doing that. I do it now too, but at a lesser rate. Homosapiens after all you see ;-) , we get bored of everything after a while :). Fashion and Mafia wars, Cafe world and a few Mindjolt games popped up later ;). After a few days, my Internet modem conked off!!! So was dependent on my friend's Internet, and I never used to feel like writing anything there. Then had rural postings. So time just flew by :)


Now, I'm back. Why? Well, I don't really know.Maybe I missed writing. Maybe I missed my de-stresser. Or maybe came back coz I got to know people had appreciated and awarded me on their blogs. Or even just the plain fact that a couple of them asked me as to why I was away from it for so long!! Well, who really cares?!?!? I'm back and that's all that matters. Am I right or am I right guys? ;-)


Now what do I write? hmmm... lemme see.. Maybe I'll just leave my fingers on the keyboard and see what their dance leads to :)


Feels nice to be back. Hope to hear from you guys... :) Will go through all your blogs too. have a lot to catch up on.. :) . Chao, take care... Enjoy writing... See ya :)


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

One week at Immunisation

They say na, when you truly ask for something, you do get it sure.. Well, I asked for a week off from paedo postings and I got it sure :) I always cribbed about the Paedo postings in my college and guess what, I got one whole week off!! Asking why? Well, I was posted at immunisation for a week!! Yippee!! :)

One week of just you and the nurse at the immusation department, with no P.G. or staff that you have to keep reporting things to (trust me, that feels really good) , hardly any work on days other than monday and thursday, no collecting reports and best of all, no taking samples to the laband no roaming around for references :). WOW!! Plus, you have flexible timings. No running to the hospital before 9 am. To top it all, I had one half day per se and a sunday holiday!Whoo, my first sunday holiday in the whole 51/2 months of internship!!! College fest too was at the same time, so I was not there in the hospital in the afternoons :) (coz our college fest events start in the afternoon). Had no problem asking for permission and crap, and no headache of running back for night duty after the events get over late evening.

And yeah, not to forget, I missed two OPDs!!! Missing even one single first unit paedo OPD feels like you've missed hell!!No exaggeration here for sure. Felt like I'm a doctor for a week and not an ayah(In our hospital paedo, interns are just doing ayah's work of taking samples to labs, taking the patient along for all the referenxes and x-rays and scans and blah blah blah). We get to sit in 'The doctor's chair', and not in the one next to it. You have your colleagues coming over to chit chat when they are free and you too are (Immunisation is free on all days except mondays and thursdays), and nobody will question you anything about that. I swear, I was as happy and and as relaxed as I could be. :)

Well, one week gone by, I never realised how swiftly it passed by. Had a real nice posting here. Will have to report back to paedo first unit from tomorrow. That's not something I'm looking forward to. But, as they say, all good things come to end. So did immunisation postings. I'm glad that I got one week atleast. I have got the highest number of days at immunisation amongst my colleagues and all of them are invariably jealous of me. That just gets an impish smile on my face ;-). So, back to paedo emergency ward tomorrow, and hoping this fortnight passes soon :)

Chandana C. Shekar

Won poetry at my college fest :)

My first reaction when I saw the topic for the poetry competition at my college fest was, 'WTF'!!! Asking me why? Well, it was such a bakwaas topic. It was 'Light of life'. So first think what can be the light of your life, and then jumble words to write on it. All this in less than an hour, because another competition was about to start after an hour. Moreover, the fact that I hadn't written since months together, made me go 'aarrghh'.. But yet, as they say- alls well that ends well, I thought, I wrote and I was happy about what I wrote. And to top it all, I won too. :) Though I wrote poetry since the past 2 years, this was the first time I took part in any competition per se. And I won. I'm really glad about it. And this happenening to be my last fest at my college , makes it feel more special. I'm putting up my poem here. Kindly have a read and let me know what you think. Comments and critique most welcome. Will really be glad. Thanks in advance :)

LIGHT OF LIFE

I wished he was here, to give me company,
Until the sky fell down, upon him and me.
But the news of his demise, made me go so sore,
Even before he knew, he'd have a kid to adore.

I yearned so much, to him, say 'I love you',
But fate didn't let me, even a last aideu.
He was my soul sure, he was my world,
Everything I now saw, looked so unpurled.

When all about life, was black with gloom,
And all I felt, was pending doom,
When my bones were racked with grim despair,
And every breath, was just a gasp of air..

When I could only sigh, and only grope,
All I could give myself, was a chance of hope.
I hoped my cloud, would have a silver lining,
Just enough to make this world, a place worth living.

When days to weeks, weeks to months, in me, you turned,
Within me, feelings and emotions, just churned and churned.
You finally entered the world, and wasn't a suprise,
But yet my darling, it took me time, to realise.

You're the greatest gift, god could ever bestow,
The most exquisite joy, than I would ever know.
You're just that's needed, to take away, all my strife,
Just know that my baby, you're truly, The Light of my Life.

Chandana C. Shekar

p.s.- My 50th post on the blog :)

The rangoli we did at our college fest

That's the rangoli that my friend and I did at the competition at my college fest. We didn't win anything. Well, no comments about that. But we are really glad that a lotta people liked it and took pictures. :) We had fun doing it anyways :) For those who need an explaination, the picture has a female foetus (thats why the caption says 'her'), who is dreaming to fly high, but is being killed and the dream is being plucked off in the bud itself. We just meant to say, stop female foeticide. :)


Chandana C. Shekar

Wedding Bells everywhere

Looks like Wedding bells are ringing everywhere. One of my friend is getting married this weekend and celebrations are full-on. Its a marwari wedding and so, you can imagine the pomp and grandeur that's into the wedding. Its somewhat what you ideally call, 'The Big Fat Indian Wedding'. Yesterday was the mehendi function and I was no exception. I got my mehendi done too :) . Had fun yesterday. Everybody had fun. It's really good to have a wedding in the family. Its far better than any other festival. It gives people so much joy. An occasion for family and friends, to rejoice, to feel glad, to sing, to dance, to bless,to make merry, to say 'forever and ever'.. Wow!! I loved it yesterday. And I'm sure I'm gonna love the rest of the wedding too :) Going to Bangalore tomorrow for her reception party. Looking forward to the next three days. I've got leave from the hospital too :)

Three of my friends got engaged this month. Three more have their match-making going on on serious terms. And the rest, well, atleast few are thinking about it. I'm happy for all of them. I'm glad their 'happily ever after' is starting. But somewhere, it feels all different to know that, the girls and guys I hung out with, till recently, are already responsible enough to start a family!! Wow!! I too will get my number, one fine day( a long way to go though). Until then, I'll enjoy being the bridesmaid :) I'm loving it :)

Chandana C. Shekar

Friends :)

Just think. Would you want a friend to be with you in these instances??--

• When you went to school those days by auto-rickshaw or bus.


• When sombody bullied you at school and you wanted someone to slap that person back.


• When you wanted to share the paratha your mom made and you were proud of.


• When you wanted to tell someone that you got your first crush!


• When you wanted to share that something wrong happened- be it silly or horrible.


• When you drove to college, the very first day.


• When you were sitting in the last bench during class, and wanted to play tic-tac-toe.


• When you wanted to sms somebody when the lecture was boring.


• When you wanted to decide what to wear for your first date.


• When you wanted a solution for you attendance shortage.


• When you ran out of cash, and needed some urgently.


• When you bunked classes and went to canteen or movie or even, 'sight-seeing'!


• When.... well, maybe almost every other moment in life..

Haven't you needed a friend all this while? Well, I have. And I'm sure you have to. I went out with my friends today evening after quite a few days. And I was so glad I did.I enjoy every single time I'm with them. Everybody does.

"Friends"... That word means a whole lot on earth. Each friend is like a new world. A world that's not open until you meet him/her. But yet, you feel that world is very familiar to you. A friend is someone who knows you through and through. Someone who knows the song of your life, and will prompt you when you lose track. A friend is someone who'll be there for you, when he'd rather be anywhere else. A friend is not someone who cries when you get hurt, but someone who tries to make sure that you don't get hurt. A friend is someone who trusts in you, even when you don't. A friend is someone whom you'll love your evening walks with. A friend is someone whose your all-time company to party with. A friend is someone who'd stand by you when the whole world laughs at you, and yet, laugh at your silliest of silly jokes. A friend is someone who would be your dairy, to keep your secrets actually as secrets. A friend is a philosopher and guide. Someone who might not know whats right for him/her, but for sure knows whats wrong for you. Someone whose not family, yet means family. Someone who'd be proud to know you, and flaunt it too. Someone for whom, your spouse would instantly become jiju or bhabhi. Someone who you might talk to after ages, and yet feel so comfortable. Someone, who I feel, I would write on and on about.. They mean a lot more than what I can write here. Infact they mean a whole new thing every other day!! I'm glad God created friends. Who said we make friends? Friends are born to be :) Infact, Friendship exists in every relationship, but in a very subtle way.

I'm glad I have a few really really good friends whose friendship I would cherish forever and ever. Thanks for being there guys. You make life fun :) Heege koole maadana ;)

Friends may not mean your life, but they definitely make life worth living :)

p.s.: I'd like to dedicate this to my best friends- Ashi, Nammu, Appu, Vivek, Chandu, Rakshi, Shru, Dhanni, few people from my college and a few more. Apologies appealed for the names not mentioned. It goes to every single friend of mine, whose made my life blessed :) Love you guys :)

Chandana C. Shekar