This one is for the author of "re-assurance in disguise" .... to whom these tangenrine walls meant a hug and to let her know that the warm spirit within its walls misses her !
I knew the profile when she walked in first. Noticed her a couple of times and realised that she was a reader from her choice of books. Knew the profile ... software engineer on her first assignment after campus, and .... was enjoying the first flush of independence and money in hand. I was reminded of myself just after my management degree, with my nose up in the air with a blue chip job and salary.
The second time, i billed. I asked her name. The third time i remembered it. The 4th or 5th time, conversation was initiated. One was always wary. Girls in their 20s do not want to be asked too many personal questions about themselves. All you get sometimes is a cold stare .... and then they avoid you ... make you feel "aunty types". But this one was trusting. She was warm and friendly ... and so it started ... so many memories .... of a tired soul walking in straight from office into twistntales ... it was home for her. On Saturdays and sundays when she will step out to pick brunch for roommate and self, and ...... message after message from her hungry roommate will finally push her out at 2 pm !
From Aundh to Durshet (searching for Dino fossil in river bed), Delhi airport(the first person to meet us after Kailash Yatra), and Belgian Waffles in Bangalore .... Shibani, miss you lots. Would love to see you walk in like old times. Hope you are soaking in California and Golden Gate ... and Napha Valley like straight out of "walk in the clouds".
Sunday, April 29, 2007
friends and team tnt
I had no friends in Pune when i came in. This was the third time in my life i was inflicting this uprooting on myself.
I got married and moved to Dubai on the 7th day. I didn't know a soul in Dubai, except my cousin Vaithy. We moved to chennai in 1996. Again, didn't have a single friend there ... but yes, mama and cousins. And moved to Pune in Apr'2000. Didn't know a soul here. But, today as Shalini says, half of Aundh and Baner knows you !
But Friends ? Yes twistntales has given me some absolutely special friends.
Sumitra for one. In those early days of tnt, a very lost soul (she still seems lost sometimes)would walk in to the Store, sometimes alone, sometimes with Yamini ... and just chill. Occasionally she would pick up a book, sometimes glance through many, soak in ..... pick up some gifts for next few b'days, something to read to Yamini, and walk out still a little lost, sometimes more relaxed. I noticed her a couple of times. Then once Yamini had a bandaged head. I asked her about it. I used to be very reticent about talking at a "personal" level. Till then our conversation was limited to the books that she was looking for and what will make good gifts. And she told me that she had to have stitches on her head for some injury. and Yamini was very young, probably 3. I remember that conversation - on why yamini then had short hair.
Then i started seeing her more often, sometimes daily, sometimes (as she says) even twice a day ! and slowly got to know her better.
Last week, we had lunch together, Sumitra and me. It was special. Her bday was coming, and i thought it appropriate to celebrate our knowing each other. I'm seeing Sumitra grow too. As we all struggle through our daily anxieties trying to balance good motherhood with professional aspirations, we need a good friend to lean on, to talk to, to bond with, to do things together.... i'm glad i found Sumitra. No hassles, committed, as geniune a person that one can get... Tia calls her the most beautiful person, i couldn't agree more !
thanks Sumitra. You are truly special to me and twistntales. And thanks for threatening about your black flag demo. I think i have put it behind me now.
"friends and team tnt" to be continued.
I got married and moved to Dubai on the 7th day. I didn't know a soul in Dubai, except my cousin Vaithy. We moved to chennai in 1996. Again, didn't have a single friend there ... but yes, mama and cousins. And moved to Pune in Apr'2000. Didn't know a soul here. But, today as Shalini says, half of Aundh and Baner knows you !
But Friends ? Yes twistntales has given me some absolutely special friends.
Sumitra for one. In those early days of tnt, a very lost soul (she still seems lost sometimes)would walk in to the Store, sometimes alone, sometimes with Yamini ... and just chill. Occasionally she would pick up a book, sometimes glance through many, soak in ..... pick up some gifts for next few b'days, something to read to Yamini, and walk out still a little lost, sometimes more relaxed. I noticed her a couple of times. Then once Yamini had a bandaged head. I asked her about it. I used to be very reticent about talking at a "personal" level. Till then our conversation was limited to the books that she was looking for and what will make good gifts. And she told me that she had to have stitches on her head for some injury. and Yamini was very young, probably 3. I remember that conversation - on why yamini then had short hair.
Then i started seeing her more often, sometimes daily, sometimes (as she says) even twice a day ! and slowly got to know her better.
Last week, we had lunch together, Sumitra and me. It was special. Her bday was coming, and i thought it appropriate to celebrate our knowing each other. I'm seeing Sumitra grow too. As we all struggle through our daily anxieties trying to balance good motherhood with professional aspirations, we need a good friend to lean on, to talk to, to bond with, to do things together.... i'm glad i found Sumitra. No hassles, committed, as geniune a person that one can get... Tia calls her the most beautiful person, i couldn't agree more !
thanks Sumitra. You are truly special to me and twistntales. And thanks for threatening about your black flag demo. I think i have put it behind me now.
"friends and team tnt" to be continued.
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
For those who want to...
Without writers no stories would be put down, without stories no books, without books...no tnt. This is entitled 'For the young who want to.' I take a liberty and read it as 'For those who want to.'
For the young who want to
by Marge Piercy
Talent is what they say
you have after the novel
is published and favorably
reviewed. Beforehand what
you have is a tedious
delusion, a hobby like knitting.
Work is what you have done
after the play is produced
and the audience claps.
Before that friends keep asking
when you are planning to go
out and get a job.
Genius is what they know you
had after the third volume
of remarkable poems. Earlier
they accuse you of withdrawing,
ask why you don't have a baby,
call you a bum.
The reason people want M.F.A.'s,
take workshops with fancy names
when all you can really
learn is a few techniques,
typing instructions and some-
body else's mannerisms
is that every artist lacks
a license to hang on the wall
like your optician, your vet
proving you may be a clumsy sadist
whose fillings fall into the stew
but you're certified a dentist.
The real writer is one
who really writes. Talent
is an invention like phlogiston
after the fact of fire.
Work is its own cure. You have to
like it better than being loved.
from The Moon Is Always Female, 1980
Found on cdeliascarpitti. Thank you, and thank you mahima for the link.
For the young who want to
by Marge Piercy
Talent is what they say
you have after the novel
is published and favorably
reviewed. Beforehand what
you have is a tedious
delusion, a hobby like knitting.
Work is what you have done
after the play is produced
and the audience claps.
Before that friends keep asking
when you are planning to go
out and get a job.
Genius is what they know you
had after the third volume
of remarkable poems. Earlier
they accuse you of withdrawing,
ask why you don't have a baby,
call you a bum.
The reason people want M.F.A.'s,
take workshops with fancy names
when all you can really
learn is a few techniques,
typing instructions and some-
body else's mannerisms
is that every artist lacks
a license to hang on the wall
like your optician, your vet
proving you may be a clumsy sadist
whose fillings fall into the stew
but you're certified a dentist.
The real writer is one
who really writes. Talent
is an invention like phlogiston
after the fact of fire.
Work is its own cure. You have to
like it better than being loved.
from The Moon Is Always Female, 1980
Found on cdeliascarpitti. Thank you, and thank you mahima for the link.
Thursday, April 12, 2007
Remembering 31st March 2007...
Janaki and Shuchita
Kaushik!
Wadia and the aunties
Rupali, Devashish and Vernen
Jyoti and Vin
Sunny...post-drenching
Pretty and pink ;)
Tis a wee bit blurred, but no mistaking the smiles.
My favourite..
Aren't they cute??
Drink up, Vernen Bhaiyya!
The Two T's.
Charlie's Angels..Akash, Alisha,Me and Aarti
Monday, April 9, 2007
That's ME!
I'm a big, purple dinosaur who hugs unsuspecting people. Tis how I'm known in tnt. I've trained most of the people I've worked with and they haven't forgotten. I am unofficial tnt hug-therapist!
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