On Bhel, Samosa, Wada Pav, Cutting Chai etc.

What is the first thing one feels like doing, after months of starvation and undernutrition at the hands of university food services ? Of course, you feel like having a nice hot and spicy wada pav with a cutting tea at a bus drivers' canteen. So that's what Hoga and I did as soon as we got the chance. So here we were, eating samosa and wada pav and sipping a cutting chai (although slurping would be a more closer description of the way you are supposed to drink boiling tea making those "phluuurrrrrr" sounds) at the foodmall (well not quite a busdrivers' canteen but close enough) at 3 am in the morning. I followed this up with a session of Kanda bhaji (Onion Dumplings) and Mirchi bhaji (Green Chilli dumplings).

And while eating all these snacks we were discussing what else we are going to eat once we reach Pune - Things like Bhel, Sabudana Khichadi, Bedekar Misal, etc. And I did eat all these things on the same day that I landed in India. It was just great. Although, it must have been a tough job for my stomach to digest everything that was being pushed into it.

Do I appear to be a gluton ? I have become one after going to the US... NO NO. It's not "The american food" that's made me a gluton. It's the almost complete and forced abstenance from Indian food that has done it. Do you find this weird ? Then I am sure you are not from a family where your mom and dad cook all sorts of wonderful things for you and you just don't understand how great chefs they are and you eat Bhel, pani puri, samosa chat and Kachhi dabeli almost every evening, complaining about how it is becoming more and more expensive (from Rs. 3/- per Dabeli to Rs. 4/- per Dabeli) till one day you find yourself standing in front of a food counter in the Frist campus Center in Princeton, trying to figure out what would taste less boring now that you have consumed everything on the menu at least 10 times already, day after day. Then you will know what I am talking about...

The Surprise that was Home!

I don't know what was more heartening.

Was it the brightest expression on Amya's face with eyes popping out like lemons and mouth agape, dumbstruck with surprise, as he came arround the garden fence to give me a rib-crunching hug and damned me with some of the most creative explatives that I have ever heard in "Amchi Marathi"

Or the speachless happiness with which Aai and Baba looked upon me, as I stood at the door of our house with my luggage, as if they didn't want to reduce the intensity of the moment by saying silly things...

Or the frenzied cry of hamma followed by "I knew you would come, I knew you would never miss my wedding no matter what...I knew it." as she collapsed in my arms crying her happiness out.

Or the most beatiful laughter of recongition and appreciation granted by Shama Tai, Ashwini and bakul to the biggest surprise they had ever received.

Or the colourful beads of pearl revealing anger, surprise, betrayal, love, relief, satisfaction, pleasure and end of struggle, and, and, and I don't know what. Those were the teardrops in Shweta's eyes. The only thing she could say the whole of that afternoon that we spent together was, "You are evil! That's what you are you know..."

Truely, to be loved and missed, and to be able to know it so intensely gives you an intoxication better than any narcotic.

I knew it would be a great experience but I never would have imagined that the surprise that I had planned to give to my friends and family in India, by coming home without announcement, would be a memory so satisfying and ego-boosting...

Drink Cognac !

If you're frustru and you know it, drink Cognac.


If you could not watch THE GURU, drink Cognac
If frustration starts to accrue, drink Cognac.
If the graphs are highly random,
You're stuck with a conundrum,
just sign ONE memorandum,
drink Cognac !

If your tax refund is pending, drink cognac.
If you have no bucks for spending, drink cognac.
If nervous breakdown is near,
and torment is severe,
no vodka and no beer,
drink cognac !

If you feel highly nostalgic, Drink Cognac.
you need a strong antalgic, Drink Cognac.
If the generals are at hand,
and you don't understand,
what's NOR gate and what's NAND,
drink cognac !

If you know prisoner's dilemma, drink cognac.
if you can't prove Fatau's lemma, drink cognac.
If you're fined for a book,
that you never took,
don't give me that "f*** y**" look,
drink cognac !

If your paunch is quickly growing, drink cognac.
If your love handles are showing, drink cognac.
You feel the need for slimming,
you do a lot of gymming,
after that tiring swimming,
drink cognac !

If you're happy and you know it, drink cognac.
If you know you're not then show it, drink cognac.
If you don't have any sorrow,
I have some you can borrow,
So see you today or tomorrow,
drink cognac !

If the night is clear and warm, drink cognac.
if you're stuck in a thunderstorm, drink cognac.
if it's spring or autumn season,
the trees are pink or crimson,
you don't have one good reason ?
drink cognac !