Banarasiya

Back in school my friends had these really cool boyfriends who played for the football teams and had heart melting smiles and made you want to be like those intense women from operas. In school I was above all of it. The tomboy with more GI-Joes than Barbies. The girl who cared less about how beautifully her dress flowed and more about winning a Harry Potter argument. I was a buddy. A buddy is someone who has only guy friends all her life and then dies alone with cats. Yeah that.

When I entered college not much changed, except that I had to make girl friends if I didn't want to be a stared at all the time. Then it finally began, hormones. Maybe that was the reason, maybe you need girls around for the girl hormones to kick in. I was a girl over-night. From one stupid boy to another, with my heart on a platter. It was very amusing at first. I was watching Rom-Coms without being forced to. I was reading Mills & Boons (that happened once, don't judge me) Basically I was ready for the prince in shining armor to come and sweep me off my feet, just like princess diaries. 

A friend of mine got a  puppy from her boyfriend. A puppy! A real, living, breathing, barking little thing. But the dog was diseased, and died in 3 days and she turned vegetarian for a year after that,mourning for its death *rolls eyes* and they broke up soon after. But that's not the point. Focus on the puppy part. They would all go to nice lunches and brunches and dinners and what not. I was never jealous then, it was stupid then. But I was jealous. 5 years after it happened. 

My prince was obviously going to be a crossover of Tom Cruise and Orlando Bloom with roses lilies in his hand and perfect hair. But when I fell in love it was just not so fairy tale like after all. All I wanted was lunch. But I got long really long STD call bills, several snores from the other end and just a flip calendar on our one year anniversary. Yeah it is sad. This is what happens when you are in love  with a guy who is a generation older to you(so i like to say) Things won't go your way most of the time. The time you think you've gone for the Man instead of puppy love. He shows you that he is just that a MAN, with no boyish charm and no tricks up his sleeve. He thinks he has you and he will hold and protect you till death do you'll part but all you want is lunch. To top it all it is a long distance relationship and frustration levels are so high that you want to poison every happy couple you see around. God and his evil ways didn't even want me to have a regular long distance relationship, why make it so easy. The love of my life is in the Indian Air Force and is training to be an air warrior. Phppt. Don't go all "Wow you should be so proud of him crap" cause I will take you down. Cause all you want is someone who is actually there after a long day at work. Someone who is bringing chocolate chip ice-cream to your place at 3 am and someone who is atleast present, if only on weekends.

How does this kind of set-up actually work? It works cause at the end of the day, the sound of his voice on the phone is the warmest hug, the random message from him through the day is my epic romance. The bracelet he made me out of twigs at camp is my favourite gift, and when he sleeps off because he's had a really tiring day, as much as I want to slap him awake, the sound of his breathing is my lullaby. 

 It's like a big pie chart, and the love in a relationship has to be the biggest piece. Love can make up for a lot.

Reliance Digital Experience.

Experience Review:

It was a very rainy Sunday morning and I was on a mission. A mission to get my goodie bag. Indiblogger has really spoilt all us bloggers with freebies, several meets and tonnes of free food. Not that I am complaining. 

We had to choose from a few Reliance Digital Outlets, which by the way are hard to miss. Suddenly its like an explosion of electronic stores there is one in every 250 meters. I had selected the outlet in Infinity II, Malad. My affiliation with electronic stores is old. I am the person who goes and plays free video games on the large plasma TV until they physically snatch the joystick from my hand to give someone else a chance. Dirty looks don't work on me. So I wouldn't mind spending another Sunday doing that.

Me and my friend Karishma  reached the store at roughly 12 pm after wading through the terrible Mumbai monsoons. We looked around rather awkwardly wondering who to approach as we were promised an experience we wouldn't forget.Finally we approached a friendly looking employee who had no idea what Indiblogger was and thought we were there to steal phones. Finally another employee told us to wait as the store manager was not around and once he arrived he would tell us what to do. While we waited, lusting over the various electronics we are missing in our lives. I walked to the phone section and looked at them like a hungry child looks at a stranger, he knows he shouldn't ask but can't help staring! (I really need a new phone, saving up!)

We waited and waited and waited some more. Finally we plopped ourselves on the large couch in front of a huge 52' Tv. My legs were aching and I was pretty sure I was not getting up from this couch until the store manager would get me my goodie bag. Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara was being played on the TV, but sadly it was only one scene played over and over and over again. We decided that there is only so many times you can watch one scene, and we'd probably be able to count the number of freckles on Farhan Akhtar's face or our eyes would bleed out. We decided to ignore the TV, and talk instead. We were meeting after a really long time, and a good chat was due. We talked about all our childhood memories (Yes, we are friends since 20 years :D) and on how things are. It takes time to grow and old friend and there is nothing that can make you more happy than spending time with them. We joked and laughed and embarrassed ourselves enough for an entire year. Happiness in a store? I think so !


Finally the store manager decided to show up. He took the printouts we were clutching the whole time of the invite we received from Indiblogger and asked us to look around the store (which we already had done 15 times in the past hour) and then asked us to leave. Quite a disappointment, cause we were actually waiting for something to HAPPEN! Sadly nothing did. When we shamelessly asked about the goodie bag we were told we would get it from Indiblogger itself.

Store Review:
Honestly the collection is not so impressive. Its probably because they are still new. The range of products in each category are very few. You can't expect to find every model, you would have to try your luck. The staff is nice and friendly, not to mention they hover like they do everywhere (which is very annoying btw!)
The pricing is a little off, its understandable though they are charging us for the ambiance and massive rent expense. But being from a world where Flipkart is available I'd prefer to save a few bucks. Also the typical Indian was very disappointed, No FREE gaming zone was set up !
The stores are spacious and impressive. Also since they are newly opened they have a few offers going on, on various products so you might want to check that out.
Reliance Digital also has an up and running website reliancedigital.in  which easily impressed me more than the store itself.

Connected Hum Tum - Indiblogger Meet

I was so excited for this particular meet, though I shouldn't be since it was my 7th Indiblogger Meet *insert veteran wave* but because the show that was going to be launched at the meet was associated Abhay Deol *drools*

Though I was heartbroken when he didn't really turn up, I don't  think I've enjoyed myself THIS much in a long time. Indiblogger meets are always more fun than other meets. The energy and warmth stays with you for days after the actual event. Also I got to meet MALISHKAAAA :D 

Radio plays such an important part of my life, its absurd, every morning I HAVE to listen to it on my way to work and in the evening on the way back, I always believed that listening to the radio is like having a friend for company, like you are talking to someone (Yeah, single child problems :P ). I am probably the only one who knows all the radio jockeys from all the channels.

The meet began with meeting all the fellow bloggers I love to meet each time, followed by many many bear hugs. Especially BlogwatiG, a powerhouse of energy always a pleasure to meet her. The forever lucky Wannabe-Wayfarer who won her second Nokia Lumia at a blogger meet. I suggest she just retires now and gives someone else a chance. Also this meet was special because this time I had my friend since 20 years with me for her first blogger meet - Karishma

Now for the actual agenda of the meet. Zee Tv's new show Connected Hum Tum has a unique concept. 6 Indian women will share their lives and bare their soul on national television. As Malishka exclaimed "For the last 6 months our hands had become tripod stands!"

We were shown a preview episode of the show, and it seems to be really interesting as each episode will feature 3 women and the episode will be based on a connected theme. 

We also had a chance to meet the 6 ladies and interact with them :) Here is a little about them:

Sonal Giani

She grew up in Goa, the daughter of an navy officer. She lives with her twin sister and the two of them are very close. Sonal is in a serious relationship wondering if the parents of her lover will accept their unusual, unconventional bond and give their love story a happy ending. I had a chance to speak to Sonal and she seemed like a very fun loving and happy person, with a rebellious streak.

Malishka Mendonca
Who doesn't know her. Especially if you are in Mumbai. She has been No 1 radio jockey for as long as I remember. She is energetic and super spontaneous, she is going to bring so much energy to the show, I can't wait to watch her. She's made it big today but the question for Malishka is ...what next? Can she dare to risk a change in her career? Will she find a suitable man to settle down with?

Madhavi Mauskar
She;s lived a life of unconventional choices. With two divorces under her belt, she's hit rock bottom and bounced back! Madhavi is about to be a grandmother for the second time. And her ex-husband has suddenly tried getting back in touch with her. Does he really want a life with her? Or does he just want some closure?




Preeti Kochar

She is the mother of  a two year old, has a husband she loves and a mother she wished hadn't neglected her in her childhood. A mutli-tasking superwoman, she juggles her responsibilities at home with her clinic as well as her passion for dance! Preeti wants to tick all the boxes, the conventional ones of 'wife', 'mom', 'dentist' and 'daughter-in-law' as well as the unconventional ones of 'independent', 'bold' and 'dancer'. As a result Preeti is not able to leave one profession for another. She craves the love she was denied in childhood, so she fears rocking her marriage too much. Yet her marriage prevents her from being as free as she'd like to be! She asks herself - "Women marry for love and care - Do I really get that in my marriage?"

Pallavi Burman
She's been a bright student, has a career which she can show off  and married a boy her parents chose. She barely knew him and things did not work out. So, against the family wishes she sought a divorce. Her parents were deeply embarrassed and she ended up blaming herself for 'not trying hard enough' She's getting married again to a guy she met at a friend's party and this time round she's determined to do everything even "righter"! But she asks -why should it be only upon a woman to make a marriage work?

Mahima Chaudhary
Starry-eyed small town girl hails from a large Jat joint family in Meerut. Mahima was the most humble and probably shy of the lot. A simple girl with big dreams, a boyfriend in Delhi who isn't from her caste, parents who want to get her married and ambitions that no one seems to understand. Mahima's journey is just out of the movies.

" Tell a woman what she can't have, and suddenly she'll know exactly what she wants "

With such a lovely mix of women from all walks of life, the show is bound to get interesting. The show airs on 3rd June on Zee Tv, explore the world of women and TRY to understand them ;)

Look at us all smiles :D After hearing that FREE BOOOZE was being served :P

With this I hope I am back to being regular here, or atleast wining a Nokia Lumia 520 ;)