[This is a quick, late night post. Remember, I warned you!]
People who grew up reading ‘The Hindu’ will remember a Tennis writer called Nirmal Shekar. He once, while describing one of the many Leander Paes’ wins in Davis Cup wrote: “When miracles happen too often, they cease to be miracles.” Very profound, I thought. Maybe that’s why….after writing four continuous Happy Birthday post for a blog reader called Himani Sahni (spread over the last four years!), I decided NOT to write one this time. It has nothing to do with the fact that now she is married. I promise.
As they say, old habits die hard. And here I go again with a fifth Happy Birthday post for her.
Rekha, if you are reading this…I know you have started swearing by now. Let me assure you that I amuse the women readers more often only because they are the ones that mail me and ask for such favors. Men seem to hate me.
Since Himani has just entered her second year of marriage, I thought it made sense if I gave her some birthday advice on what to expect in the second year of marriage. After the wedding album has been resigned to a dusty fate inside the cupboard (and visitors are spared the torture of going thro’ 1000s of photos) ….and the couple has discussing EMIs, Bills, Work Loads, In-laws etc. Click here to read more »
When Chetan Bhagat (this is how you spell the guy…right?) was crying fowl over credits…or the lack of it in 3 Idiots…I thought he was being a kid. Today I saw 3 idiots and I am very upset. I waited till all the credits had rolled and the guard asked me to leave….but “Our special thanks to Mr Jamshed V Rajan” never rolled out.
Here is why I expected thanks from Aamir and his company.
FlashBack
When I couldn’t even open my eyes, I was named Jamshed V Rajan. When I could barely say ‘ichh cdeam’ I was sent to kindergarten. When I couldn’t even tie my laces I was in class 1. And by the time I hadn’t even started liking girls, I was in the tenth standard (I was kind of a late starter).
The moment I stepped into Class Ten, World War 3 broke out in my house. My father wanted me to join the Indian Army and serve the nation but my mother wanted me to become a doctor and open up a once-a-week clinic in our village called Maangudi (Maan = Deer. Gudi = Abode).
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India has recorded a GDP Growth of 7.9 per cent – proof that we Indians have managed the economic crisis/recession a lot better than others. Meanwhile, Abu Dhabi has offered Dubai a bailout plan of 10 billion U.S. dollars…which means my Malayali wife’s relatives won’t be coming back from Dubai, jobless. In short, the biggest economic depression since America’s depression of 1930 is over. Companies have now started hiring and jobs are now available.
I know this article is at least one year late, but what the hell….you can always pass on these ‘how to survive an economic crisis’ tips to your children/grand children when the next depression hits them. Here is Jammy’s four point plan to survive an economic crisis.
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This blog post is inspired by another blog called http://ourdelhistruggle.com, where Dave & Jenny chronicle their ‘struggles’ in Delhi. Guess what, Harper Collins has offered them a book deal (and when is my turn?). Their blog posts are keen insights into what people like you and me take for granted here in Delhi (and India). A must read, if you can laugh at yourself and your countrymen. Unlike Rohinton Mistry, who makes loads of money by selling India’s suffering…Dave & Jenny’s ‘struggles’ always seem to have a positive side.
After reading their blog inside out (and NOT leaving a comment), I thought why not come up with an India guide for foreigner in typical Ouchmytoe ishtyle. I have opted for the question & answer format. Here goes…
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MN Devarajan was a nice fellow. Just that he always managed to put me in trouble. Back then, my father had a Bajaj Chetak scooter…and Devarajan sowed the seeds of inferiority complex in me by saying that his father went to office in a helicopter.
I continued to feel bad about this for a long time…till, another classmate came up to me and said, “My father is starting on a new job tomorrow. He is going to work on moon.”
Back then, my desk was my store house for used chewing gum…whenever I didn’t have money to buy new ones, I would pluck one from under my desk and start chewing. One day, when I was selecting one of the dry chewing gums stuck under my desk, Devarajan asked me: “Have you ever been scared of secret agents?”
“I have seen them in movies….never really been scared of them. Why?” I asked.
Only the previous day, my father had told me that Issac Newton was an intelligent man because he asked a lot of questions. Since then, I had asked 1024 questions. But unlike all others till now, Deverajan didn’t answer my question. Instead, he pulled me closer and whispered into my ears: “Can you keep a secret?”
“Yes!” I whispered back.
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Download Rekha’s Resume (60 Kb, Doc File)
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After studying for six years – from 1994 to 2000, my wife Rekha joined Sify as the Product Manager for their Entertainment Channel.
Back then, I used to work for Sify as Product Manager for their Sports Channel. That’s when she met me and fell head over heels for me. Despite my continuous refusals she continued to chase me and finally managed to wear me down. I agreed to marry her, disappointing many other girls who were in the queue.
The day we got married, we decided that only one of us will work for Sify. For obvious reasons, of course. How was I supposed to oogle at girls, if my wife was around to watch me? Click here to read more »
This blog post has been inspired by a book called ‘E’ written by Matt Beaumont, a talented writer. The book is set in an Ad Agency called Miller Shanks in London and is written as a series of mails. Just mails exchanged between the colleagues and nothing else. So, here is my attempt in copying that style. Buy the Book Here
The five characters in this story are:
JV Rajan: A 34 year old male internet addict working with ibibo.com
Rekha TP: Rajan’s wife, who has mothered a two and a half year old baby called Rhea with Rajan and has just now entered the 6th year of marriage.
Priyanka Chopra: Rajan’s love interest. A 29 year old Delhi girl who also loves Rajan
Biju Anand: Rekha’s love interest. He first proposed to Rekha when they were in standard 10 together. Is still unmarried and hopes for the thunder to wipe out Rajan.
Rakesh Jha: Priyanka’s full time boyfriend. An engineering student who has been looking for a job for the last two years
This set of emails begin on October 20, when Rajan comes to know that he has to go to Cape Town, South Africa for a few days.
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