Roads untaken ...

Recently wrote a poetry to bid a warm welcome.. which came just spontaneously .
No, not another abstract poem?
./restart :P


This ground is grey, with streaks of black
Running and criss-crossing, yet each remaining intact,
These roads that travellers use, will never ever change,
For the only way to change this life is but to stay the same.
Some have travelled these roads before, many a time I would say,
Others are still new to these roads, slowly but surely finding their way,
Others still go quickly by, trying very hard to forget,
The fact, the truth, and the denial that:- on this road there is no turning back.


It's not running away neither mean feat ,to many which it may seem ,
It's trying to keep youself away, not for you but to let not wither away someone else's realm.
Pretending to act like stone ,letting go things unheard ain't no fun ,but what if this is the only new road you find,
For some you should walk the same old crooked roads but its only you who know that now those are the roads left far behind.
Why deny I must ask, this simple truth that you already know?
Why hurt trying to deceive someone's eyes, when the complicated heart is in control?
Don’t try to run or hide, for it’ll come back to haunt you.
Neither do you try to forget, for the only person you cannot deceive – is you!

Pain, anger and guilt you will feel, for emotions are but part of life,
Because what is life without emotions, and what is happiness if you know not strife,
For your mind and heart are one – an entity single and divine,
Thus fault is your own blame alone, without any chance of rescind.
You might have done something wrong, but everyone deserves a second try,
It's one's duty to right the wrong that happened before, to stop someone living this damned lie,
To break free these bonds, that shackle us to the earth,
For only then can you fly, for the first time since your birth.

But if you fear what lies ahead, then you should stop wasting your time,
For the sands of life trickling away, will soon leave your ashes scattered behind,
Forgotten and forlorn without care, your memory will whither away and die,
Leaving you with nothing at all – because you chose to live a damned lie.
This is the way of the road, these grey stones which mark the way,
And though we all travel these roads, not all of us will eventually fly away,
Thus lead your life as you should – be brave and above all never forget:
Connected is one’s past to one’s present, and the future is in our hands .

./end

What's on the menu ?

So what all do you know to cook ? is the question coming my way since past few days !!! U know finding matches :P , soon will i be leaving this beautiful home of mine & heading to far far land....Hold it ,you are getting it all wrong , me not looking for THAT match ...its about staying in bangalore during my internship... so it came to food $ from food to cooking .....Everybody seems to be talking of cooking these days and new additions to my vocab are the words -"saute,” “braise,” “simmer" and so on ...My last few conversations with friends go something like this -

Kriti - kuch naya banana seekho na and post the recipe of pasta on blog
haan maine woh cake banaya-turned out perfect (had to afterall recipe kiski thi ;)
main bhi cooking seekh rahi hun (good for me i 'll have new dishes to eat )

Kamiya - yaar cooking classes going on ..tujhe kya aata hai batana main woh nahi seekhti banana (Smart !)

Apoorv - Khaana toh aana chahiye yaar , main jab germany gaya tha toh had to cook ,ab toh even i can certify myself as cook.
me:-Oh accha !!!!! come lets walk into kitchen its close to drawing room , lets go try
Apoorv - have fire extinguisher na ghar pe , fir we can go take d risk

Silky - She is a brilliant cook :) will be sharing the same workplace after 6 months ....me destined to eat good food u see
Silky -main nahi banaungi akele .....
to your good luck silky -don't worrry ma has joined dis mom's association-where all mom's on" teaching cooking " spree ...
Devesh - ladkiyon toh aana chahiye khaana banana ,tujhe kya aata hai ?
yeah i know i know i too want some praises should be credited to my account to :P btw vice-versa also holds true, we all believe in equality, don't we ...

Sahaj - it was a gtlak conversation, goes like tis -

12:30 AM Sahaj: haan.. aur sunao kya ho raha hai?
12:31 AM me: bas aajkal toh full aish , ghar pe bhi ma papa r lyk ab toh itni dur jaana hai so vip trtmnts baaki toh get tgthrs ,treats n haan cooking classes bhi :|
12:37 AM Sahaj: haan yeh toh hai
12:38 AM ghar pe itna kam ana hota hai.. toh poora vip treatment hi milta hai :)
me: :)n tumhe toh aur bhi zyada milega flyin abroad sari dishes khake jaana yahan se :)
12:39 AM Sahaj: arre saari dishes kha ke .. aur banake :P
me: hehe tumhari bhi cookin classes shuru
12:40 AM Sahaj: haan.. :)
me: lucky wife of urs :P
12:41 AM Sahaj: fir toh mujhe apne bio-data mein yeh disclaimer lagana padega
me: lolz
12:42 AM Sahaj: thanx .. tum nahi batatai toh pata nahi kya hota mera
meri sari umar choolein mein hi beet jaati
12:44 AM Sahaj: but agar meri wife jitni achci cook ho ghar mein.. toh mujh nacheez ki kya kazaal jo kitchen mein bhi jayun

Hmm so on everybody's demand :P
here's what u can order from Neha's kitchen .....

ITALIAN
Lasagne - yummiest
Sizzlers -Perfect Indianized version
Pasta -the aromatic spices, golden hues is perfect antidote to dark gloomy days .Cook really cooks it dil se re ;)
Dynamite Pizza -will make you forget dominos and soon pizza hut ;)

CHINESE
hakka noodles - Owner's risk
Gobhi manchurian - try when you are full :P
Chinese Vegetarian soup - i promise won't remind u of Madagascar , the drink Alex was offered :P

FAST FOOD
Pani puri - now available in 2 special flavors,u gotto chk out !
Burger - i know u all bored of mc donalds
Macroni - the good old choice
Club Sandwiches - Neighbour's envy owner's pride.will remind u of school days's , i bet its better than ur frn's mom's sandwiches u used to love :D .
Neha's Sandwich -think about it , caramel sugar on fresh, creamy butter....how bad can that be? ;)
Pav Bhaji - who makes it d best !! still thinkin ..... Me
Veg chilly cheese garnished maggie - its no ordinary u see
Breadrolls - now they come in perfect shape :)
Dosa - will remind bitsians of sunday dosa its no less no better :P .
Khaman Dhokla - thats even cook's favorite
*new Paneer pakora - recent addition !very much in demand dese days <>
Bhel puri - ready to spice up ur life :D
Poha - yahi hai ryt choice baby ahaan !- fast to cook gud to eat ;)
Upma - maaaaaaaa ....time to get nostalgic wid mtr upma.

INDIAN

Parantha available in dynamic shapes " ITS DIFFERENT" -aloo ,pyaaz , paneer,all green leafy -gud for ur health - ppl just love 'em .Also recently

cumin up special shake shake parantha :P oh no its not at all an inspired concept :P (I know u thinking of shake shake fries )
Chappati -Error 404 .Item not found .Due to some problems it will not be served for a few days .We honestly believe in consumer satisfaction :P
Veg rice - with the hint of hyderabadi biryani n punjabi tadka
Bhindi masala - gives u the taste of INDIA -masala food .
Aloo matar- every Indian specializes in it but we have a secret ingredient ( not inspired from Kungfu Panda -shacchhii )
Mixed veg - veg mix everythin it will fix :D
Dal tarka - is exactly what it sounds like :)

Salads
Floral paradise - WYSI'N'WYG wat u see in name is not wat u get -dont confuse urself wid fower servings
LIFO -not the last in first out - its tangy green leafy salad
JIT - just in tume :P (appreciated d most by A7 ites , a comuter-science eng should be lazy -aint it ;) )

Raita
Fusion -adding colors to your food -veg raita
Classic - pineapple raita,boondi raita, cucumber raita, aloo raita .

BEVERAGES
Dreamspark -sippin in d dreamworld , the capaccino
Sexyparilla - its hot n invitng ...
Amaretto - Italian delight
LA - like always -the ginger masala tea
Squattysip - Gud old frns squatting n sipping :)

DESSERT - dil ko jab khushi choo jaye kuch meetha ho jaye
Gaajar ka halwa - kuch khaas hai kuch baat hai , everything about it is so Nehaish... ishhh
Fantasy cake -ok tested .Its recipe has been tried by many many friends and has been approved by mom's association :P
i know i know the way to a man's heart is through his stomach ..but dont get scared n refrain your bf from having this delicacy ..cook interested in singles :P
Chocolate cookies - Did u just grumbled that you lost food paradise and that the last delicious cookies you enjoyed was in ccd? I guess its time that these grouses of yours will be happily forgotten ;)
My precious -this precious dish is/will be only for my preciousssssssssss :) :P :D It just melts in mouth ,one of the best “taste” experiences a person
can have.It can make you melt ;)
Speciality- I serve "ALL" ready to cook food :P and one secret -The key way to enjoy all is by letting the inner child in you out .
Soon will u see a new refreshed menu with dishes imported from ma's corner .Till than place ur orde from the above .My mom is one of those intuitive cooks in the kitchen,never seen her following a recipe, she's awesum. Whereas I'm good for making only one dish at a time, she can coordinate the whole meal without getting remotely flustered. If you work with her in the kitchen, she'll continue to give you the same advice, over and over and over again, until it is clear to her that you have learned what she wants you to learn. Or perhaps it's just me that she needs to give the advice repeatedly to, since I'm a typical daughter :P.She is a GREAT COOK... I feel she has a feeling that I will not match up to her and so she is behind my life to learn proper cooking...Its fun to cook with her coz she tells me her stories, jokes, some secret recipes I do enjoy it very much...I know this will help me but at times you feel when the time will come i will but mom feels this is the time ...so go ahead with your teaching lessons mom, you rock :).

PS : here is the pasta recipe for you Kriti -
Ingredients -(assumin it will be 4 ppl to share :))
Pasta(Sphagetti )- 200 gms
Onions - 2
Carrot - 1
Tomato - 2
Green coriander (finely chopped)-2 tbsp
Beans (optional)
Minced garlic (optional)
1/2 med sliced Mushrooms (optional)
Oil - 2-3 tbsp
Pepper Powder - 1/2 tsp
Salt - 1/2 tbsp
red chilli pwd -1/2 tbsp
coriander seeds -1/2 tbsp
Before i start with the recipe let me tell something about the same ,this recipe says “to taste” a lot. That means “the way you like it.” So you can put in a lot or a little. I use 2onions, bit of garlic, lil less of red chilly flakes, etc. It just depends on what you and the person you are cooking for likes!So here we go -

Cook pasta separately in boiling water (2 cups)for 4-6 min ,don't run away from kitchen to watch tv ,stir it two -three times in b/w so that it doesn' stick to the pan and you don't get a scoldin from mom :P .Chop the onions, carrot, beans,mushrooms ,coriander leaves and tomatoes. Heat the oil for 10-15 mins and when its hot fry onions and chopped vegetables.When onions turn brown and soft, add tomatoes alongwith the spices.This takes about 10-15 mins.When the vegetables are well cooked,taste it and see what you think -add more salt or pepper if you need to.Finally add cooked Pasta. Stir it for 2-3 minutes and its ready to serve :).(if u rein the kitchen u can go abt garnishin - grate some cheese ,put in the oven till the cheese melts and sprinkle coriander leaves and add onion rings .You can add loads of other things -really upto u :) )and yeah if it tuns out good don't forget to mention - soon will i register this one too for a ok tested cetificate ;) and if its not the case -kriti when did i blog about pasta ,which blog did you read :P

Dil Se Re

One of my friends called today and we talked long n in the end she hung up sayin that she had to go receive her cousin on airport flying from Udaipur (in the background i had dis song DIL SE RE being played )..so all of this just reminded me of the time when we had A R Rahman with us in the flight from Udaipur...still remember him fiddling with his laptop.I guess it was like the thing that I never ever thought would happen even in my wildest dreams, –meeting A R Rahman himself! Standing in front of him, I wanted to tell him so much, how much his music meant to me and all such stuff. But, as expected, I got tongue-tied. :) All I wanted was to catch a glimpse of the man whose music is just incomparable. That was more than more than enough. I really cannot explain what I felt at that moment, an adrenaline rush would be expressing it correctly.
A R Rahman has this way of making his way into one’s heart, mind, and soul. You don’t need to work to savour the moment, he savours it for you.His music was and is out of the world with recent hits from yuvraj and ghazni (i remember so many ppl in my gtalk list had the status msg readin tu muskura n guzarish lolz )Guzarish from ghazni is just mind-blowing !! I donno the difference between preludes\interludes or what instruments he used...but it just gets into you completely and u'll be dumb-strucked through the whole process .The reason we all become Rahman’s fans is different. The choice of favorites may be different, and the way we enjoy the songs might be different. But if it is one thing that unites all Rahman fans, is the passion for his music.Coming to my personal favorite its Dil se re .....A.R.Rahman was lucky to have been spotted by Mani. No other filmmaker could have done justice to this prodigious talent. Even in the very first scene, the background score was so pleasing....I just love the way he renders the words DIL SE RE. If the piece contained these three words alone and no other instrumentals or lyrics were added on, I’d still say it is one of the greatest compositions ever created. These 3 words i donno somehow have their own magic. Many people think of “I love you,” as the three words. I say, forget “I love you” its DIL SE RE :P.

Adios !

Now time for the LAST entry from Meera Bhawan Bits Pilani ....Dont wanna write a sappy reflective entry thats gonna come later !

Flickerin images

Like ne other psentisemite I went for a photo clicking spree around the campus which used to appear so funny to me a few days back but time flies and here I am contemplating .Nostalgia may be painful. Nevertheless, it is quite agonising when you realise that many of your memories are slowly, silently fading out. When you try to recollect various time-periods of your life, your are confronted with some faces floating around and some scenes blinking in and out of sight. You focus your attention on some of these scenes only to realise that they depict some random incidents that have occurred on some arbitrary occasions and are quite inconsequential. You have no justification as to why your memory chose to register these sequences so strongly while overlooking the actual major events. You might consciously force your memory to gather those moments that you feel are important and should be treasured. It will cough out a few flickering images and you have to carry out extensive extrapolation to make them coherent. But you begin to wonder how much of it is a genuine part of the memory and how much of it has been cobbled up just now using your imagination on how it should or could have been.
And then, you sigh and give up .... after all, soon you wont even remember that you were trying to hold onto those fading memories.....