My first encounter with them was in Kerala though it wasn't my first visit to the place. God's own country they had said, the sublime scenery, the pristine backwaters, the serenity, the cozy houseboats, yes indeed there was magic in the air. My second visit to the state but to another city. It was a quiet peaceful place, nothing Godly about it but beautiful nevertheless. I was to attend a wedding the next day, something I was looking forward to so I ignored the dingy hotel I had put up in and its modest surroundings. I needed a roof and a bed and it was there, I was happy, contented and not in the least bit prepared for what was to come next. Weary from the travel I retired early curling up in the bed that looked so inviting. I think I fell asleep immediately, all I remember next was waking up with a start, confused and alarmed. They were there.

Mumbai, a city where dreams come true, my first visit and my only intention was to have a good time and to shop while I could. I wasn't staying long enough for my dreams to materialize, just 4 days. Day one was eventful a shopping expedition had turned successful and the long walk at worli sea face was refreshing. Again, it was time to rest. Or so I thought. The nightmares of Kerala came haunting back, I wasn't scared this time, only disgusted. They were back and there was nothing I could do about it.

Bhatkal, a small town in Coastal Karnataka where my mother grew up in. It was where I spent all my summer holidays. A place to which I have more memories attached than any other. Visiting after a gap of four years was special, I knew I would be treated like a celebrity. For them I was the ambitious career women who was out to get the world. I let them believe that. I can never sleep in bus journeys so I rested against the uneasy seat in the bus and reminisced on the past as the bus took sharp turns in the climb up the western ghats. Not all memories were sweet and a strange feeling had begun to creep in. It wasn't nostalgia. I decided it was best that I slept and tried counting my cousins instead of sheep. It was of no use. They didn't have to wake me up this time. I was wide awake and they were there, as always unexpected and uninvited, sucking my blood like they owned it. Frigging bedbugs! I have never hated any creature as much as I have hated those creepy predators of the night. I loathe them. Die you filthy creeps, all of you die and leave me alone. I need my sleep when I travel.

A story in 6 words.

I know I vowed never to do tags again but this is different, not like the ordinary tags that go around. Can you write a story in 6 words? Read more about it at Swathi's blog here.

here's my shot at it.

She came, only ten years late.

She will live, but her baby won't.

Again, how much for your soul?

Victory was ours because I cheated.

So can you? If yes put it up on your blog :)

24

That's how old I am. I am not who I wanted to be, but I am getting there. :)

Birthdays I think, are overhyped. I mean, somebody else does all the work, and you get all the credit for doing something as ordinary breathing everyday and managing to live on year after year. Having said that I am so glad it is overhyped. This was probably the best birthday I had in a long time :D. Thank you all who called, smsd, scrapped, I love you all!!

Independence day special

Radio channels are suddenly playing all the patriotic songs that otherwise never get played, TV channels are showing movies like swades and rang de basanti. I am sure DD is showing Roja as always. That's not it, I nearly fell down laughing when I saw 'Kasauti zindagi ki, Indepence day special'. I wonder what is going to happen, all the saas and bahus sing the national anthem together? Or are they going to wear tri colour bindis and tricolour sarees and talk about Gandhiji? I for one am not looking forward to it. I don't mind watching roja for the nth time though :)

Letting go....

Long back I wrote this . Today my mom went to an astrologer and she asked something for me. He said it will never happen. I am heart broken though I try to convince myself he cant possibly be correct, he is human after all that he cant tell my future. My dream is gone, there is no mystery. I am never ever going to any astrologer ever. Idiots. That's what they are. Nobody is telling me what I can do and what I cant.

Tagchoo!

Came online to study but am sneezing incessantly. Some sort of allergy. Don't think I can study, might as well do this tag. Guns tagged me, its my first tag ever though I think I have been tagged twice before. He has asked me to make it humorous. Sure, achoooo. Here goes.

>> 1.What is your Full Name? Shradha Trump.

>> 2.Are you American or English? Trump is American, no?

>> 3.What are you listening to right now? Some song on Radio Voyager, my fav stn on world space.
>> 4.What are the last 2 digits of your phone number? They are sequential, 78, cool eh?

>> 5.What was the last thing you ate? Chocolate fantasy in some chotte restaurant near forum. I think that aggravated my cold.

>> 6.If you were a crayon what colour would you be? Ooooh this multi coloured crayon set that I bought. Its awesome. Each crayon has many colours. You start with yellow and end up getting blue red and green. I want to be that.

>> 7. How is the weather right now? Just the way I like it. Damn this nasty cold.

>> 8. Last person you talked to on the phone? This person I met today. I was making excuses as to why I was late.

>> 9. First thing you notice about the opposite sex? His smile.

>> 10. Do you like the person who sent this to you? No comments.

>> 11. How are you today? SICK!!!

>> 12. Favourite Drink? Mom's tea.

>> 13. Favorite Alcoholic drink? Vodka. God its been so long since I had anything alcoholic. Brandy cures common cold?

>> 14. Favorite Sport? Shopping a sport?

>> 15. Hair Colour? Brown. Yes the red/orange streaks have gone, thank you very much.

>> 16. Eye Colour? Brown

>> 17. Do you wear contacts? I left the lid of my contacts holder open and they dried up. This is the fourth pair, all 4 destroyed due to negligence. I am getting new shiny low maintenance disposable contacts soon. woohoo!

>> 18. Siblings? 2. Sis and me scheming to loot bro now that raksha bandhan is round the corner.

>> 20. Favourite Food? Golden fried prawns.

>> 21. Last Movie you Watched? Pirates of the Caribbean, 1 not 2. Why didn't anyone tell me about Jack Sparrow before?? He is soo yumm.

>> 22. Favourite Day of the Year? I'd like to say my birthday, but birthdays are depressing when they finally come.

>> 23. Are you too shy to ask someone one? Yes.

>> 24. Summer or winter? Summer baby!

>> 25. Hugs or Kisses? A big warm hug. I need one now :(

>> 26. Chocolate or Vanilla? Vanilla icecream with hot chocolate sauce. Off topic, but don't you think vanilla icecream with gulab jamoon is like the deadliest combination ever? Kudos to whoever invented it.

>> 27. Who is most likely to respond? pass.

>> 28. Who is least likely to respond? pass.

>> 30. What books are you reading? Prizes, Eric Segal. Supposed to be reading some technical stuff too...

>> 31. What's on your mouse pad? Who uses mouse pads these days?

>> 32. Favourite Board Game? Scrabble.

>> 33. Favourite Smell? I CANT SMELL NOW.

>> 34. Can you touch your nose with your tongue? Right now I wouldn't want to.

>> 35. Favourite Flower? Anything but roses. Roses are over hyped if you ask me.

>> 36. What's the first thing you think of when you wake up in the morning? Where did I keep my glasses?

>> 37. What`s the time? Time to end this tag. How many more questions?

>> 38. Nickname? Never had one. Though Shradz is what some people call me.

>> 39. Ever been so drunk you blacked? Nope.

>> 40. Been in a car accident? Yes. Nothing serious and I was not driving.

>> 41. Been hurt emotionally? Yes.

>> 42. Kept a secret from everyone? Yes.

>> 43. Wanted to hook up with a friend? No..umm maybe yes.

>> 44. Cried during a Movie? No. Sometimes find it funny that people actually cry watching movies.
>> 45. Had a crush on a teacher? Nope.

>> 46. Ever thought an animated character was hot? Eww, that's kind of sick.

>> 47. Had New Kids on The Block Tape? No.

>> 48. Been on stage? yeah.

Okay, I am losing my patience. I also realize I am answering everything in yes and nos. Who wants to read that??? When is this tag getting over? Okay from now on I choose questions.


>> 52. Do you have a boyfriend/girlfriend? No.

>> 56. Who's the weirdest? I am normal. Really.

>> 57. Who do you go to for advice? Different people for different problems. Mosltly go to the person who will tell me what I want to hear.

>> 58. Who do you cry with? My pillow.

>> 59. Worst Feeling? Helplessness.

>> 60. Favourite Word? Bamboozled. Like the sound of it.

Phew! I am never doing tags again.

Anyone is free to pick the tag up. I don't blame you if you don't.

Am alive!

Blog turns one and I leave it unattended and neglected. I have been busy and loving it. Wish I could blog more often, that reminds me blogspot blocked again? I had to use http://pkblogs.com/ or is it just a technical glitch? Not sure, anyway my favorite month is here, festivals, independence day and birthdays...Don't you just love August? I will be back, lots to write, tags to do....also both blog and me have been doing some soul searching in the little free time we had, will write about that soon. Time to go to office....more work! :)