Almost my type

Just to let you know, I've avoided that free fall:).

Have you ever met a girl who's almost the girl you were looking for in your dreams? Almost, but not just quite because of a minor conflict of interest??

'Hi'
'Hi'
'Is the bus always this crowded?'
'Usually it's more'.
Awkward silence ensues.. till
'You're Khasi?'
'No. You?'
'No..... You don't look like one too.' with a feeble attempt at a smile.
'Neither do you' broad smile...
Smooth.....

Turns out we're from the same batch, different schools and have friends, rather acquaintances in common. Thereoon we have so much to talk about, on the way to the university. When you are travelling in a bus on a hill station with winding roads, there is bound to be swaying, but i can swear there was no discomfort in either of us generally expected in strangers.

Asked her to have lunch with me at the end of the bus ride, and she agreed. We met again after I did what i came to do in the university. It was too early for lunch. So we walked and walked, across one of the most beautiful campus in the country. And then we walked some more.

'Why do you think I should get married?'
'Because you're my age, which is ....' awkward pause
'No, why?'
'Because you need somebody to take care of you and all that..'
'I can take care of myself. Besides my parents will take care of me and I of them'.
'Hmmmm!'
Smiles all around.

We went to town for lunch in a cramped up cab. No discomfort again. She treated me. I felt like an ass, she being still a student, and me working. Lots of discomfort here but she would not have it any other way, and I just did not want to argue. Family in the next table. Baby screaming.
'That's another problem with marriage'.
Can't believe it. We're soulmates. 'Yeah that's a problem allright'.
'I like kids though, other people's kids'... cute mischevious smile.
'Well I can't stand them in general'.. attempt at a sheepish grin.

I have her number and she my mail id. Doubt we'll try to contact each other though. Sometimes it's more enjoyable to look back at things and wonder 'What if?'.

Yuri Gagarin

Tomorrow is the day Yuri Gagarin would have turned 27 in 1961. Curiosity is demanding a retrosearch into what could have possibly gone through his mind that day.
I mean things like introspection and stuff. People hopefully do introspect a little on their birthdays between the age of 25 and 30. You know, things like, what are you doing with your life, what do you expect to be doing five years from now etc...
Why 25 and 30? Well probably because your'e too busy worrying whether you would get laid before you cross 25 that you hardly have time for other introspections. Hopefully you do get laid before you cross 25 otherwise there is no point contemplating other things, as are failing God in the most basic task you are going down for.
30 is a dangerous number when it applies to age, for human beings of course. There is something ominous about that number and I really don't want to think about life beyond it.
So that leaves us with the 25 to 30 band. Hopefully you will look back at your life sometimes yaar ... atleast on your birthdays.... just for that five years..... arreh maan jaa yaar.. jaan lega?
Good, so that now we reach to the firm conclusion that mankind contemplates the state of his affairs on his birthdays between the age of 25 and 30, we could now shift focus through what could have gone through that commie mind of dear old Yuri on March 9, 1961 as he sat listening to Elvis' "Are you lonesome tonight?" which topped the charts for the first time a month back, and by now would surely have found its way around the iron curtain.
Was he worried about what progress was made of his resolve to turn an astronaut before he turned 30? Probably not, as Blackie had already returned from space alive, and he had been chosen for the ignominy of following a dog's footsteps which made him review his earlier plan to say something like 'A giant step for mankind' on the occasion. He could have been a little scared contemplating the anatomical differences between a dog's constitution and his own, but that would probably have been it.
Was he worried about his Astronaut Analyst Lead increase his already astronomical tasks, offhand, just before launch, and then review them while in orbit? His only task was surviving in space, which his Lead would have already assured is nothing, even dying in the process is a great honor. So Yuri may have casually dismissed any premonitions he might have had saying 'We'll survive when we have to!'.
Was he worried about what would be the outcome of the latest test match between the Soviet Union and the United States in a three match test series played in USSR the first time since World War 2. Fat chance. Their aversion to wasting an entire day in the cricket field leave alone five consequetive days, outweighs the cumulative animosity the superpowers harbour for each other.
Heck, probably the king would have already taken him to the lonesome world of pathos and a couple of vodkas later he would have already found his soul floating around in space with little scope for contemplation. Let's hope his colleagues had a kind word to say about dear old Yuri in the midst of the celebrations for the return of Blackie.
Happy birthday Yuri Gagarin!

Latest stop Koromangala.

They say life has its ups and downs! Believe them. We shifted to our rented new house at Koromagala yesterday. To call it tiny may not be an understatement but will come close to it. The hall and the balcony of the previous house we stayed in would probably encircle our new home and leave an inch thick perimeter around. We are small people, nomadic in nature and indulge ourselves in smaller luxuries, so our belongings though not fewer are definitely smaller. We are small in number too, just Anupam and me. The place will work, definitely, provided we do not stretch our lifestyle.

Let's try to sit and make a comparasion of our new rented place with the one I lived in (alone mind you) earlier.

What we lose
We lose a bedroom and an additional bathroom, the balcony and the storeroom. Our new hall and bedroom could have been split from the larger bedroom we had earlier. The loss of an additional bathroom could be a problem in the mornings, dada takes an unusually long time in the bath thanks to his partiality to natural drying and his aversion to towels.
A complete market for everything under the sun that we could probably need right now.
A group of very friendly shopkeepers who waste no oppurtunity of knowing you more and so generously keep inviting you over to their shops.
Imagine a beautiful, well maintained park right infront of your balcony brightly lit up in the evenings, sending sweet fragrances all around and engulfing the entire neighbourhood in quiet serenity. For us it was a reality.

What we retain
The terrace completely at our disposal and a huge fig tree providing shade to part of it.
An uninterfering but helpful family of landlords. The new family is larger and older demographically, and have a dog which is a major couse of irritation for dada.

What we gain
A residence that is near to both our offices and one which is not just near to, but actually smack in the middle of the new hub of city life.
A lot of expenditure that could now be converted from rent into other indulgences.

The great thing is that I will be living with family after close to 9 years of indulgent independent living around the country as both a student and a professional. Maybe finally I'll regain my sanity. I have close to disappeared from the face of the earth for most my earlier friends I possibly can, although Joe so touchingly managed to track me down yesterday. I am growing old, I should try to grow up as well.