(Mar 30, 11:39pm)

So Anon 99 is from Delhi.. thanks to Feedjit, I at least know the location now!! But then there are so many in Delhi..

XXX

But I guess Im not so obsessed with Anon now.. not because he turned critical of me.. if I were that prejudiced, I wouldn't have instinct for journalism, much less writing!

XXX

May be because (a) I have got a very good Kashmiri friend who considers me brother and with whom I share a similar bent of mind, and who hence, is unlikely to read my instinctive preoccupation with my own life, and the love, hate, insecurities, aspirations that surround it as self-obsession..

XXX

And (b) because may be, slowly but noticeably, Im turning less emotionally vocal and hence less vulnerable... Though I believe there is no 'drying-up' of sentiment within!

XXX

(Mar 28, 1:31am)

Have tried out Feedjit.. it adds to interface..and for that, I have also put up this email tool bar.. whereby you can submit ur id, and follow me over mail!

Hope you like it!

XXX

And hope you do subscribe.. that way I could stay more connected to my readers.. and yes, that's anonymous too... don't worry.. by subscribing, your identities won't be disclosed!

XXX

(Mar 28, 12:39am)

Let's try out something new this time.. dunno if this would work, or why exactly I doing this... but here are some weird facts..

Yeah, the ones you read in ur GK classes, when you were younger.. enjoy!

XXX

Butterflies taste with their feet!

In ten minutes a hurricane releases more energy than all the world's nuclear energy combined!

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Elephants are the only animal that can't jump! phew!

It is possible to lead a cow upstairs, but not downstairs! Newton's third law not working huh?

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Our eyes are always the same size since our birth, but our nose and ears never stop growing! So happy poking!

XXX

(Mar 26, 8:19pm)

Lost my watch.. my fav watch...

Not that I had many.. in fact it was the only one.. but it was precious.. it was silver with shades of gold.. people always noticed it, it was so good!

XXX

Silly me.. I had noticed that the point which tied the metallic chain with the clock, was lose.. and yet ignored it..

After the trial of my blazer at Iqbal brothers, in Connaught Place, it was in the metro to Noida that I realised the watch was gone..

XXX

I promptly called up the tailor, thinking I would have dropped it in the changing room.. but their response was discouraging.. I guess I dropped it elsewhere.. silly me..

XXX

(March 23, 1:57pm)

So finally the earthquake story is on stands..

I wish there was an option to upload pdf files on blogspot.. you could see the exact likeness of how it's turned up on pages..

The web team is usually slipshod with the upload.. there's no connection between the pics and text.. plus the blurbs and captions are missing.. Anyway, here's it

http://www.thesundayindian.com/en/story/ground-moving-beneath-your-feet/7/32100/

XXX

And here's the add-on interview http://www.thesundayindian.com/en/story/039a-start-has-been-made039/50/32101/

XXX

(March 21, 3:29pm)

A dull, long day.. waiting for production approval at office... Media Watch, the monthly supplement of our magazine releases today..

I have noticed, when Im doing things I do not like, I feel sick.. there is little or no adaptation capability in me in certain respects.. Otherwise, Im not too intractable.. though Im stubborn - both pleasantly and unpleasantly - in my convictions..

XXX

Im a reporter.. a writer-journalist.. but Boss wanted me to do the MW production, since it is a monthly.. a request I did not turn down..

But then, it's boring..

XXX

But yes, Im quite upbeat about the cover story.. it looks fabulous on the system, with aesthetically done photo-ups and other designs.. in print hopefully will look better..

XXX

(Mar 20, 1:40pm)

Haven't yet told boss whether I'd stick to my resignation, or agree to work from home town Patna on reduced pay..

Totally occupied with Media Watch production.. the magazine supplement which goes once a month.. then for the main magazine, my cover story is going this time.. that is adding to the pressure..

Will share the link for my first cover story once it hits stands this Saturday..

XXX

(Mar 15, 1:17pm)

Met boss at his Indirapuram residence.. he had me accompany him in his BMW.. while discussing my resignation, on way to the physiotherapist's clinic!

I must say he was both professionally considerate, and kind and accommodating at a personal level.. he has this offer for me.. that i work from Patna on reduced pay, while clearing muma's pending office matters.. her Pf that is overdue..

XXX

I have to decide by Saturday.. will discuss with friends.. the point is, I need a month to get the PF clearance.. which obviously would require diligent pursuing of the related court case, in addition to one-on-one lobbying at various levels..

That's how it works in my town.. that too when I have both resources and people backing me to some extent.. for other men, it's worse..

XXX

I have hinted to him, that in this one month I would rather have time to myself, apart from the PF matter which i have to settle.. than work part time on 'reduced pay'..

Still, i have a lot of respect for him and i'd like to have the best situation for me without being inconsiderate to my company..

XXX

Which again means I need to serve a longer notice.. he says he would prefer 15th of April to 31st of March.. let us see..

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Other thing, of-course, is once Im done with the PF thing - hopefully in a month - I'd love to work with a more recognised organisation..

Which is why I'm loath to accept the 'temporary transfer on reduced pay' offer.. how can I simply tell them, when my PF matter is settled, I'm gonna work for somebody else.. after having taken conditional privileges..

XXX

I know many would do..

Me?

No way!

XXX

I'm not attempting to create any 'holy cow' impression on my readers.. but, I genuinely would not do that.. especially to somebody, who had had the decency to call me home despite being visibly badly unwell!

XXX

(Mar 14, 9:8pm)

Boss called sometime back.. he has invited me to his place tomorrow for talks.. since he is down with slip disk and not reporting to work..

Although I have resigned, I guess he wants to make some effort to make me reconsider.. he values me as an employee, im told!

XXX

It's year and a half today since muma was gone.. so bygone, and yet all around! I really have never felt she's away..

Because seriously, she is not.. relationships neither start with bodily touch nor end there..

XXX

(Mar 14, 5:59pm)

Sent the resignation over email, since boss is away on sick leave.. yet to hear from him.. let's see how this goes.. I've told him I'll serve notice till end of March.. and leave on 1st for home.. have to book tickets in advance!

XXX

(Mar 13, 11:59pm)

Just typed the resignation letter.. will submit that tommorow!

XXX

(Mar 13, 11:58pm)

There used to be this Anon 99!

XXX

(Mar 13, 2:23pm)

And the Kashmir one.. with Naz** upon Christmas!

Would have shared long back, but there were technical constraints!

(Mar 13, 2:20pm)

Here's the wedding one.. the Captain's wedding, which i attended in Jan end!

(Mar 13, 2:14pm)

This is one of the pics we clicked on Holi.. while strolling around at New Dak Bungalow..

XXX

(Mar 10, 9:11pm)

Going back tomorrow.. flight at 2:35 pm.. the Doctor will come home for lunch, after which we'll be off for airport! Another friend, At*l, will join us midway.. we'll pick him at this place called 'Hartali Mod'..

XXX

All utensils are occupied with Holi left-overs.. incidentally Bhartiji has put sugar syrup in both saucepans.. we needed much of that for puas.. actually it's me to blame.. i was too lazy to get her the proper crockery, which were in the other cupboard..

Anyway, i had nothing to prepare tea in.. and that's where some pleasant idea clicked.. i sneaked into muma's room, and got the same kettle in which she used to have tea..

XXX

The same one in which she had got herself tea on the evening of September 13th.. preparing it herself.. on the carpet beneath our orange sofa.. next morning she would be gone.. only physically gone..

She had offered to make me a cup as well.. I had refused.. because she was annoyed that I had given her a large sugar jar, when she asked for one..I should have been aesthetic and given her the smaller jar.. muma was particular about little things..

XXX

I was uncomfortable in it.. i have never learnt to make proper tea.. in the kettle.. with milk, sugar, everything arranged in the tray nicely.. and that tells me her genes have only partly worked..

I say partly because, like her, i too am keen on reading and writing.. although her range of subject expertise was impressively vast..

XXX

In Bangla, they call it 'poros"... a kind of strong, abstract feel recreated by inanimate objects..

While using the kettle, i could feel that 'poros'.. it was a tender moment... little thoughts happening in pleasant isolation.. immune from prying eyes..

XXX

I used to tell you earlier.. everything in mom's room still remains unchanged.. like they had been on the night of 13th Sep.. in 2010..

Friends, even my maids, have stopped poking me to get over of that.. they know, i would never oblige!

XXX

Visited Shahnaz Aunty one last time.. she would make me kheer tomorrow.. the one which Muslims specially make for Eid.. She forced me she would get me today's dinner.. although that's already arranged at home.. her son had just come with parathas and chicken.. i will have them later..

XXX

(Mar 9, 1;12pm)

Cooking chicken now.. Amri*a***u, the doc, will come for lnch.. he wouldn't be here for the evening.. although 6-7 friends are expected to show up..

The servants obviously are away.. so i need to sweep and mop the house myself.. may be after lunch.. meanwhile, i have cleaned the plates and dishes..

XXX

Then I need to arrange the food.. Bhartiji obviously had them prepared yesterday.. but i have to serve.. im gonna use disposables.. the maids will be tired when they come back tomorrow.. don't want to burden too much..

XXX

(Mar 9, 1:00pm)

A very happy Holi to all my readers!

God Bless!

XXX

(Mar 8, 11:20pm)

Three friends turned up for the festival eve.. Apur**, Roh** and Amri**n*hu... We went off to city centre in the latter's car.. and had good rounds of "loitering around" and some "oh-so-amazing" street food!

Apur** and I bought kurtas too.. actually the heena one, which i had bought from fab-India, is too expensive to waste it over "gulal".. besides i wore it today itself..

XXX

This one is dark maroon.. but since it is un-branded, we got them for throwaway prices.. Once we were home, we had 'dahi vadas', 'chhole', and 'puas'... which Bhartiji had earlier prepared in the day!

XXX

Oh, we clicked pictures too.. don't know whats with this laptop.. when i open blogspot here, i dont get the uploading option! will find out a way, though..

XXX

(Mar 8, 1:53pm)

It's Holi today, the festival of colours!
But in Patna, people would celebrate tomorrow..

Bharati ji and others are cooking some "Holi" special delicacies!
Expecting three of my friends in the evening..

XXX

(Mar 7, 11:54pm)

Madhuri Dixit immortalised in wax!

XXX

One Year of quitting The Hindu..

That Evil Duke!

XXX

(Mar 6, 12:01am)

Home!

Reached at 8:30pm!

XXX

(Mar 5, 11:30am)

I am (home) Patna this evening!

XXX

(Mar 4, 2:03pm)

Humdrum Sunday.. I have been noticing how lack of space renders your holiday uneventful.. my present house does not have a kitchen.. so nor can I delight myself with good food nor prepare those occasional tea and snacks that cheer you against monotony..

I don't feel like reading or writing either.. that requires space.. when I took this one room stay on the ground floor of a mansion, i judged it too much by its interior and surroundings.. which was, in retrospect, a mistake.. i shouldn't have overlooked space..

XXX

Anyway, I plan to relocate.. but I do not know whether it is by design or inertia, I'm not making any efforts to relocate.. may be somewhere, sub-consciously, I'm perturbed what if the new house is miles off the new job im looking for?

I guess i told you earlier, I'm in the look out for a change work-wise too.. but since that is uncertain, I cannot relocate to any place randomly..

XXX

Personally, lack of space doesn't upset me too much.. i can adjust.. and at the end, it is adjusting which makes life content.. if not excitingly happy and eventful..

But the writer in me feels repressed.. it craves for space.. it craves for happy, mood-enhancing Sundays.. which could boost imagination.. goad him to write..

XXX

(Mar 2, 12:13pm)

Oh God!

I just realised I never shared the international article with you..

The one about Kashmir, which I wrote on Na*r's request!

XXX

Anyway here it is!

http://palestinechronicle.com/view_article_details.php?id=17743

XXX

Do read that please!

XXX

(Mar 1, 11:59pm)

Interviewed NDMA vice chairman today at his office in Safdurjung.. this was for the earthquake cover story.. he's a sitting MLA..

XXX

Excited about going Patna.. The flight is on the 5th.. Monday itself I'd be home.. bought another fab India kurta for Holi.. I guess I am getting more and more addicted to Fab-india kurtas.. this one was of dark heena colour.. much better than the other one I bought 10 days back..

I guess I'll wear that one on Holika dahan or Holi eve which is on Wednesday... and the heena one on Thursday!

XXX

I know there's a gap in my writing these days.. even when I update, the inhibition is clearly visible.. not that this was a passing fad.. this blog has stood me in good stead always, I'll never really abandon it..

But Im wanting a certain changeover in the work area, and in my accommodation.. I live in Noida which is far off.. It's important to be in main town Delhi... and I need a more spacious house... I guess because I wanted a furnished one, i got only a hotel room kind despite coughing big trash.. I guess I will shift to a proper BHK flat, albeit unfurnished..

XXX

But the changeover in workplace has to precede that, and that's what stopping me from relocating.. and between all it, Im hassled and not wanting to do anything I like doing..

The ideal thing shall be in the following sequence .. the changeover in work area happens.. I go home 45 days before assuming office again.. finish the novel, or at least prepare the first draft.. come back to Del and put up at better place.. and then it's a combination of work and writing, besides applying to different fellowships and successfully bagging one of them too!

XXX

The Goddess shall make that happen.. see, these days I don't even discuss the Goddess either!

XXX

(Feb 29, 12:23am)

Okay it should be March 1.. since this is already 18 past twelve..
but I wanted a Feb 29 entry on my blog..

So, pls let this be flawed..
and give me your approval too :P

XXX

Just wished a friend on FB.. she gets maried this June.. it was a random expression, penned hurriedly.. but not without thought.. perhaps that is how she very much liked it..

"From engagement to marriage is the best and the most beautiful time in a woman's life... (deliberately using the word woman here).. it gives her that sense of pride, sense of beauty.. sense of unoffensive self-importance..and that deep and powerful feel present in even sweet nothing pamper"

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