Bits & Pieces 2

LOL- Gappa!

I am a huge fan of gol-gappa but not when they are presented like some exotic French dish and are priced insanely. Yesterday only I had had an overpriced plate in a mall but the taste was nowhere near to our local vendor renowned for his perfection in making this heartthrob recipe! From pregnant ladies having their never ending craving for spicy things to old aunties as if revisiting their youth and from college students to chirpy kids, at any hour one can see people queuing up for chaat and all that stuff.

Some things can never taste good in a formal setting; for instance, I bet you cannot enjoy a D-I-Y gol-gappa kit in a flashy restaurant! A friend told me a few days back that she once paid Rs 85 per plate (5 pieces) for gol-gappa at Dilli-Haat! I was shocked! At Rs 17 per piece, it should be rather called ‘lol gappa’!

(Pic: mylovepakistan.wordpress.com/)

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Make Up Not Made Up

Today a friend casually remarked that girls who stay prim and proper are often perceived as vixens or high-maintenance-attitude-throwing types. She pointed out that a girl with tidied hair, manicured nails and a slight make-up reflects not only a person who has taken pains to wake up early to ready herself but also as someone who is not casual about her image. I could not agree more. I am reminded of an article I read sometime back about an Indian millionaire who was ridiculed by an American investor for being  obese and that if he could not manage himself how he could be trusted for managing  their investments properly; and that’s not an invalid point! The deeply humiliated millionaire came back into an enviable shape within months and since then has maintained a very healthy lifestyle, setting an example for everyone.

You do not have to look as made up as a bride straight out of a mandap but well fitted clean clothes with a little ironing, properly cut and managed hair, clean nails along with a little make up goes a long way in making good impressions and elevating one’s self confidence. It doesn’t take much time but those few extra minutes can make you confident and happy for sure!

(Pic: www.notonthehighstreet.com/alphabetbags/)

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Birthday Bloopers

A few weeks back, I forgot to wish a friend on her birthday and I cannot even describe what an emotional drama she created! She called me up and then after two-three taunts, all of a sudden hung up and then, sent me many longggg emotionally stirring messages hitting straight at my conscience. Accusing me of being an emotionless android and a detached self-centered apology of a human being, she has snapped all ties too.

Honestly, I was more concerned than annoyed. She needs to visit a psychiatric councilor and I believe if someone takes such petty matters to heart, the problem is indeed deep, what others bear are just some tremors.

(www.amazon.com/Angry-Forgot-Birthday-Joke)

Gol Gappe ......& Success..... :)

I am a big fan of golgappas (pani puris). I go to my favorite chaatwala... Well I am too loyal to this particular fellow. I saw people coming in big swanky cars and actually queuing up! There are many reasons for this like popularity like good PR (he never gets irritated), quality and service as well as a unique taste. So I can easily conclude that this particular chaatwala is famous in his catchment area and a little beyond too. He is excellent at making golgappas and that’s also his profession; he is doing his work diligently and sincerely. So, is he successful?? I asked one of my friends. Pat came the reply: a big NO, because he is a poor chaatwala, uneducated and ‘dehati’. But I disagree.

Mr Shiv Khera says he who does his work sincerely and with honesty is successful... That is why the chaatwala is no less then a mini celebrity in our colony. And yes, the most important- I feel he is free, running his own venture, not subservient to anyone, not doing anyone’s job. His hard work is going to pay ‘him’ and his negligence is also going to cost ‘him’, no one else. He can hold his head high, decide on his own when to open shop, whom to or not to serve, etc… now how many of us in jobs can enjoy this type of freedom??

One of my teachers (a sweet Anglo-Indian lady from Mussouri with an amazing smile and overall personality..:) one day shared with us the story of her senior school friend who failed thrice and yet joined her first job at the same level as hers. My teacher feels that the girl is successful because of her amazing self confidence, and I agree. How many of us will not get depressed or can gather guts to apply for a good job after failing thrice?? Now that girl is doing very well and is in UK currently.

So finally what is the definition or measure of success? Is it a journey or a destination? I feel its means different things to different people but we widely tend to measure it by the preset and outdated academic benchmarks which themselves are yearning for improvement. Kids inclined towards thinking, arts, literature etc are labeled as duffers and failures in schools. I feel a semiliterate housewife efficiently managing a big family in a modest budget, or a student (like u, my dear Bindu..:) topping his/her exams on a tight budget is successful. Women who have sacrificed their personal lives to bring up young siblings are successful because they have perfectly played their roles as sisters, mothers, wives, daughters, etc, all at the same time.

Having a job in a Fortune 500 company but with tearful eyes and pocket full of money, to me, is no success at all. Certainly not better than my favorite golgappa man! What say ???