Of London, India and Tampa

All right, it's been 14 months now. I almost forgot the address of my own blog! It's an old playlist in my iTunes library that pokes me to revive my blog today. Being constantly tuned to music all the time, I have learned to associate music with things or times. Like Chameli songs always remind me of my initial days at my first job when I used work with those songs on. DCH songs always remind me of final year in college. It's strange how human mind works... isn't it? Ahem... although in my case, these days, it's the 'works' part that is more questionable than 'how' part :D And hence, I have no clue at this point what to write about :( This at least makes me go over past 14 months and I 'see myself' having fun with my sister's kids at home in India, driving back from Atlanta through the beautiful countryside, roaming around in London. As if I'm completely detached and I'm not 'me', somebody else watching over me. It's like I'm dreaming without sleeping! he he... either I'm actually sleeping or it's the Pink Floyd on my iTunes that's giving me these mind altering experiences. No, I'm definitely not on any kinda 'grass' on this Sunday afternoon....it's just the psychedelic rock ;)

Hell no...I can't pause at one scene.
The day I brought my first car home in Jul 07 or the day we had rocking cocktail party at my place. The camping at Myakka river or the Atlanta-Smokies trip or the fun at beaches at Miami and Key West.

And much more events - those I missed. So many of fellow comrades lost bachelorhood and fell prey to the mayajaal called marriage. Guddu, Psycho, Sandip, Kishor, Bole, NT, CM, Nikhil, Rahul, HarishB, Nattu and so many of my dearest ones. Their wickets were falling one by one like... of course Indian middle order batting lineup ;) And I wasn't there for them in their difficult times ;) I feel really bad :( I'm sure they're all very very happy being married... and tempt me to be. Nah, me is better away from all this for the moment - the grass on other side always looks greener :D But I hear less often from the guys than I used to. Well, I don't blame them...they're married after all and are supposed to 'listen' more than talk :D :D. I was just watching 'Before Sunrise' the other day (nth time :) ) in which Celine says "... as couples get older, they lose their ability to hear each other. Supposedly, men lose the ability to hear higher-pitched sounds, and women eventually lose hearing in the low end. I guess they sort of nullify each other, or something" - Nature's way of allowing couples to grow old together without killing each other :D

Anyway, If I have to talk about one thing in last 14 months, it's ought to be my one month vacation in Diwali 07 :)) Me on the loose for 4 weeks for the first time in 4.5 yrs after college... naa..ice ;) So I drafted my itinerary and applied for UK visitor visa as I planned to stop in London on my way to India. London was beautiful.... only made my will stronger to wander throughout Europe for at least a couple of weeks. I remember the excellent croissant with eggs and bacon that I used to have in breakfast in Cafe Nero or some place. My foodie mind can associate anything from a person to a city with food :D and then I would hop on the open roof big bus circling through central London. Would get down anywhere, hop on and off. Walking by the Thames in evening was a pleasure I will cherish. The Harrod's was the most beautiful store I've seen, may be not as big as Macy's in NY but still very grand! I think Brit chicks are more beautiful than Americans ;) Number of Indians you see in tube stations at mornings is strikingly more than I had imagined. Spent some quality time with Nikhil there, almost 2.5 yrs after I left the Pune apt!



Then I landed in aamchi Mumbai :) Being on the roads was suddenly a scary thing. Cars, bikes trucks all honking, and me expecting people to signal before changing lane. Well....lane! Although I'm born and braught up in India, 18 months in US changed something in me... or so I thought. Just 3-4 days in India and I was on bike on streets in my hometown... honking relentlessly and crafting my way through narrow passage between truck and following state transport bus 'lal dabba' ;). Genes... you know :D :D
Wow! 16 days that I spent at home just flew by. The day would start with the tea and Diwali delicacies...served at my bed :)) and then loads of fun with my sister's kids. Compare that with me washing last night's dishes and preparing same lame toast and egg omelette before settling in front of my lappy on Sun morning here in Tampa :(
Visited lot of places in India and caught up with many of the folks. But still couldn't manage to make it up to lot of them :( Me and some 15 guys from my school visited the school after ten year, sat in the same classrooms and same desks, that was memorable. Went to Tirupati. Met Appya in Hyd, Guddu, Andya, Kadya, Suhas, Ashutosh in Pune, Bamman, Doc in Mumbai. Saddest part, of course, was when I had to board the Emirates flight from Mumbai...on the way back to Tampa!