Damn 'that girl'

Last week at work, trainers from our printer came down to our office to give us a briefing on Computer-To-Plate (a book printing technology) and DeskTop Publishing. The title of the briefing was ‘CTP and DTP’. (When I first heard it, it sounded like a really bad movie to me. 'CTP and DTP'. ‘Dumb and Dumber’.)

The briefing was supposed to be only for the designers, but for no reason, the editors were also asked to attend it. So we editors went to the briefing room armed with our notepads and slunk into the chairs at the back, away from the eyes of the trainers. I plonked myself on a chair and hid behind my tall shaggy-haired illustrator.

The briefing began. And slide after slide, the trainer rattled off jargon. All I heard was what sounded like “During preflight packaging of the files, you can use Pitstop software to generate the OPI information and link it to QXC using a LDX-enabled IIF.” making all editors (and I’m sure some designers too!) go “Huh???”

The only preflight packaging I know is the little bag of peanuts that the grumpy Air India hostess hands me before my annual flight home. And the only pitstop I know is the one in F1 races, and the more informal one -- ‘toilet break’. As for the other terms he mentioned, I lost them all.

So I decided that the best option was to switch off. When I looked around, all the others (including many of the designers!) had switched off too. I noticed that everybody had the same thing jotted down on our notepads. ‘CTP and DTP’. And that’s it. Nothing more after that.

“Any questions?” concluded the trainer, after what seemed like eternity.

“Phew! Now we can go back to our desks!” I thought.

Not so fast, Sayesha!

There she was. That girl in the first row, raising her hand.

“Yes?” Said the trainer.

“Well, I have a question.” She said.

I forget her exact question, but I think it was on the lines of “When I use a OMX to save a RFW, I face a TGY error, possibly because of a PKI defect. How can I address the problem?”

The trainer looked thrilled with the question, while the rest of us gaped at each other. And we had to sit through the torture as the conversation between the delighted trainer and that girl lasted a full 15 minutes! How annoying.

And suddenly I was reminded of that girl in school. That girl. The one who used to always sit in the front row, and do her homework every single day (and even help others with their homework. Geez!), and know the answers to all the questions the teacher asked. The ultra-enthusiastic teacher’s pet kind of girl, whose answer papers were circulated in the class for everyone to see how ‘an ideal answer paper should look like’, the one who took part in every ECA the school had to offer, who would always raise her hand in every class of every subject to ask the right questions and give the right answers, and often the teacher would say, “Hold on, my dear. I know you know the answer, but I will come back to you if no one can answer, okay?” annoying the hell out of everyone else. Didn’t we all have one of those in school? Oh, how we disliked ‘that girl’, didn't we?

Ok, did I just say all that??

Hey, I was 'that girl' in my school!

MACs - I'm lovin' it

So a friend tells me they have put me up on Tomorrow.sg

I visit it and and whoa! There's some serious Sayesha-bashing goin' on there as well. Just as it does here at times.

Coupla months ago, this would have upset me. I would have probably stopped blogging. But now it doesn't bother me anymore. Possibly because I have realised that one's blog is exactly like one's life. You live it your way. You come across many people. Some who love you. Some who can't be bothered. And others who can't stand you. Those who can't stand you will give you shit, but they are not worth ruining your day over. And that's how your blog is too.

When I first started blogging, for the first four months, my posts had no comments. At most one or two stray comments would surface. I posted whatever was in my head, and did not have anyone saying, "What a crappy post!" It was easy. Then slowly, comments started trickling in, and suddenly I had a surge of mean anonymous commentators (or MACs as I call them) telling me they hated what I wrote and trying to dictate what I write on MY blog. It was unnerving at first, because at that point in time, I was trying to figure out why I blog, and I do admit that reading such comments did upset me.

I even considered blocking out anonymous commentators. But the ostrich approach just did not seem like the right thing to do. Just because I did not let them in did not mean they were not there. Besides, some of my really good friends on my blog were anonymous to me once. Also, just as I have the right to blog about anything I wish, and put it up on the Internet, I suppose anonymous commentators have a right to stay anonymous. I just did not get why they have to be so mean. I mean, my blog posts are my thoughts. How can you even try and dictate what and how I think??

With time, I figured out why I blog. And things became clear in my head. With it, my stand on anonymous commentators became clear too. I respect their anonymity and their thoughts. But I won't take illogical nonsense. I blog for myself. And I will keep blogging in spite of the MACs. And so I trashed the idea of blocking off anonymous commentators.

Strangely though, on some levels, I am grateful to the MACs. Sometimes, they have made me realise the value of people who care. People like Sahil. Someone who is just a name to me -- as anonymous to me as the next person. Someone whom I don't know and have never seen (and whom I often insult to no end!), but who rises to defend me against the MACs as if I'm an old friend.

I still remember how he told off the anonymous guy who kept posting "How much crap can a person write?" on my blog.

Sahil said to him, "If you don't agree with Sayesha, that's fine. You can comment and say something a little more thought-provoking than "how much crap can a person write?" If you have a point of view, explain it. But if you don't, then hold ur peace. And try and sort out what's going on with yourself first."

I thought that was kind of amazing. And it showed the kind of connection that one can have with one kind of anonymous commentators.

In spite of the telling off, I know there are many more MACs on my blog who smirk at every post and say, "What utter crap!" I have something to say to them. "What are you still doing here? Stop reading the 'crap' and move on. You have no right to dictate what I think and write. This is not a paid site that you're not getting 'value for money' from. You have the option of not visiting. Use it."

MACs, you may hate me, but strangely I don't find myself hating you. Sahil's right. You obviously have something goin' on up there that makes you post these mean comments. And I genuinely hope that you sort it out soon.

I am just glad I'm not wasting my time hating you.

The Sayesha kind of love

A couple of days ago, I got an sms from this guy I know, with the words "I love you." Just like that. Out of the blue. I was quite taken aback, so I asked him why he said that. He told me that he had just found out that one of his close friends from years ago had passed away. He was missing that friend and he just felt that he should tell all the people whom he loved, that he loved them. Before it was too late.

It was strange but interesting to see a guy (that too, someone like him) behave like that. Like me.

Often, I wonder -- Why are we so afraid of telling people we love them? We have no problems saying, "I like you" and "I miss you" and "I wish you were here" but we think twice before saying "I love you" or even signing off an email with "love".

Why do we hold back the "I love you", except for perhaps our parents, spouses, and boyfriends/girlfriends? When in fact, there are so many people in our lives whom we love? Whom we feel for. And sometimes phrases such as "I like you" and "I miss you" just don't do justice to that feeling you have.

You have to say "I love you." There's no other way.

Do we hold back because we are too afraid of trivialising the significance of "I love you" by saying it to too many people?? But how can we love 'too many people'? How many people is 'too many people'? Who decides that? Isn't life too short to put a cap on the maximum number of people we are capable of loving? Are we running out of love that we're running away from love?

Surely it should take less than a death for us to realise how much we loved that someone?

Or is it that we are afraid of being misunderstood? Especially when we want to say it to a member of the opposite sex? Perhaps. I have freaked many a guy out by telling him I love him. I wish they'd understood me.

That it's not the "I'm-crazy-about-you-I-wanna-spend-my-life-with-you" kinda love.

It's the Sayesha kind of love.

Which just says, "I love you for being you."

Life's indeed too short.

I love you. And I am not afraid to use the word 'love'.

You see, it's the Sayesha kind of love. Very few people understand it.

Can you handle it?

I'm walkin' on air

There's a spring in my step. There's music all around. My soul does a little dance. There's joy in my heart.

What strange feeling is this?

Something has changed about me. Something is different.

Perhaps it is because I'm finally free?

The shoes were just an add-on.

Fine, I bought shoes today. Yes, I know I was not supposed to buy a new pair for another month at least, but fate had other plans. Plans which I swear I was not aware of!

I was rushing for a birthday dinner when one of my shoestraps broke. The first word I said in my head was not "Damn!" Or "Shux!" It was "Yeay!" The broken shoe meant that I could buy another one without feeling guilty!

So I kinda limped my way to OG and picked up a pair of shimmering grey beauties. I told the shop assistant not to pack the new shoes because I wanted to wear them. She packed my old shoes in the new box and passed them up to the counter. After paying, I wanted to ask the cashier if she could dispose off my old shoes for me. But she looked too grumpy to be accomodating, and I was in no mood to let anyone ruin my happiness today.

So I took the OG bag with the torn shoes inside, and made my way out of the shop to look for a trash bin. And right there, near the exit was one. With a deft flick of my left hand, I tossed the OG bag into the bin, shocking the hell outta some guys who were standing there, probably waiting for their girlfriends/wives to finish their shoe-shopping. (Diversion, but why on earth do girls take guys shoe-shopping??? I just don't get it!)

Anyway, back to the gaping guys. They gave me really odd stares. I could see that they thought I was either quite barmy, or was perhaps the daughter of one of those eccentric millionaires who buys a pair of shoes, and is barely outta the shop when she gets sick of them and hence disposes them.

But barmy Sayesha catwalked her way out, smiling to herself, and feeling quite on top of the world. She had bought new shoes, and no one could bring her down. Not a broken shoe. Not a grumpy cashier. Not a bunch of staring guys who thought she was nuts.

And especially not the dude at dinner tonight who kept emphasising the word 'Sayesha' in a strange manner every time he spoke to me, and I could see that annoying smirk on his face that said, "I know your blog. Ha!"

Dude, if you're reading this, here's something for you: I am not ashamed of my blog, nor am I stupid enough to think that people like you can never get to my blog.

If you think it's good, cool.

If you think it's trash, cool.

But don't think even for a moment that you can just sit there with that smirk on your face and make me nervous about you reading my blog.

Because frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn.

Answers - 25 more things

I am SO proud of myself! I managed to set up my computer and Internet on my own without any guy-help! Yeay! (And I also discovered how damn heavy a monitor is! Had never picked one up before! Got a head rush!)

Anyway, this means that I can blog tonight! Yeay!

Sayesha high-fives herself! (Hey, how does that work? Is it like a clap??)

And here are the answers to the sequel:

Legend:
Green = The truth and nothing but the truth
Red = Blatant lie
Purple = Explanation

1. Ideally, I would like to turn vegetarian.
You think? Just because I have a vegetarian's face?! No one can take me away from my general love for chicken. Not to even mention the spicy MOS cheeseburger.
Got it right: Sahil, Ro, Abhi

2. I don't like Amitabh Bachchan.
True. I mean, he's got a strong personality and all that, and when I saw him in person, I went, "Whoa, this guy has a presence!" but I am not too fond of him or his movies.
Got it wrong: Oxy, Banana, Angel, Anil, Arnav, Avyakt

3. Three years ago, I had a freak kitchen accident when the entire skin peeled off my face, and I had to undergo plastic surgery to get the face I have today.
Everything except the plastic surgery part is true. Which pretty much makes the statement false I suppose. Yes, something exploded in my face (don't even ask for details, my kitchen ceiling still had the remnants of the explosion when I moved out), and my skin peeled off. I had to quit my job because the clients would have freaked out if they saw me. I got job interviews but I could not attend them. Was down to my last 100 bucks. I refused to see people, did not even let a friend into the house, who had travelled halfway across the country to see me. No plastic surgery was needed, but strong medication finally gave me a new layer of skin. Now I am okay. But I think it was the most traumatic period of my life.
Got it right: Sahil, Angel, Anil, Arnav, Justme, Dinesh, Virdi, Splitpersonality, Jasmine, Avyakt, Ashy, Ravi, Puneet

4. I can analyse your handwriting and tell you your characteristics.
Yes, I can. But it's better if I don't know you, otherwise what I say will be influenced by what I already know about you.
Got it wrong: Justme

5. I am not into F1 racing at all.
I'm not I'm not I'm not! I just don't get it. You go round and round and round (sometimes without any competitors!) and back to the same spot and then someone's car explodes into microparticles, and someone else crashes into a wall made of rubber tyres, and then someone wins, and some guys in a room wearing weird clothes look at the TV and start jumping, someone wins and opens a gigantic champage bottle, doesn't even drink it, but bathes himself and others in it. (Ok, I am gonna get shot down by F1 freaks for this!)
Got it wrong: Jasmine

6. A few years ago, I was on a diet and lost 8 kgs in 6 months.
The numbers are right, but it was purely by exercise. I do not diet and I do not believe in diets. Food rocks, man! (I had a horribly unhealthy lifestyle in first year uni, because of which I put on all that weight. I turned into an exercise freak after I lost those kgs.)
Got it right: Arnav, Justme, Avyakt, Ashy

7. I want to die at the age of 50.
Yep, 50 is just nice. I don't want to be too old and frail and dependent on others when I die.
Got it wrong: Angel, Dinesh, Ashy

8. I think Anu Malik is very talented.
He is! I totally agree with Arnav. Some of his OSTs are amazing! Ok his voice sucks and all that, and he really shouldn't be singing but that man's got talent! (And yes, I LOVE his "Dhuan dhuan ho raha hai sama"! Hey if you want the song, let me know.)
Got it wrong: Oxy, Sahil, Anil, Justme, Abhi, Dinesh, Virdi, Avyakt, UN Human

9. My tomboyish nature is because I grew up bashing up and getting bashed up by my two elder brothers.
Nope, no brothers. Only an elder sis. Who was too nice to bash me up or for me to bash her up.
Got it right: Sahil, Angel, Ro, Arnav, Abhi, Split personality, Puneet

10. When I was ten, I could beat the crap out of any guy in the neighbourhood at spinning tops.
Yes yes, I did! And not the upside down kinda spinning (which is easier). I used to do the proper spinning. You had to see the guys' tops to see how bullet-riddled my super top had made them!
Got it wrong: Splitpersonality, UN Human, Ravi

11. I love wearing stilettos.
No way, man! This is probably the only place where I apply my engineering skills, but I am very particular about the minimum surface area of the heels I wear. If I wore stilettos, I would be toppling over now and then. (Sahil, hey I don't wear spagetti straps either. Unless I am on a beach holiday.)
Got it right: Sahil, Arnav, Virdi, Jasmine

12. Some day I would like to bungee jump.
You must be freakin' outta your mind! Why would I wanna jump to my death? You know they test roller coasters just for weak-hearted people like me? :P
Got it right: Oxymoron, Banana, Splitpersonality, Puneet

13. I hate banana split ice-cream.
True. Hate bananas. Dislike ice-cream. I only like the milk-less orange-flavoured candy stick we used to buy outside school for 50 paise. That was yum! I miss that. The Magnolia orange bar is kinda close.
Got it wrong: Banana, Ro

14. I can knock lizards down using ice cubes.
Yeah, I can. I believe that if the impact doesn't work, the temperature will. To keep those damn creatures outta Sayesha's house.
Got it wrong: Oxymoron, Angelsera, Puneet, Ro, Arnav, Justme, Dinesh, Virdi, Jasmine, Avyakt, UN Human, Ravi

15. I hate chewing gum.
I hate it. Because it's like all nice and sweet and chewy at first, and suddenly it's not-so-nice and tasteless and yucky.
Got it wrong: Oxymoron, Banana, Virdi, Ashu, UN Human, Puneet

16. Once I stalked a guy on the streets.
I stalked Nikhil Advani for almost half an hour at Orchard Road cos I wanted his autograph but could not remember his name. I'd mentioned this in an earlier post.
Got it wrong: Oxymoron, Banana, Sahil, Angel, Anil, Dinesh, Virdi, UN Human, Puneet

17. I like to buy and collect postcards with sappy phrases such as “I think of you from time to time – from the time I wake up to the time I go to sleep.”
Gotcha! Yes, I do. Yes, it's sappy, but it's also clever and witty, and I like the word play in "I think of you from time to time – from the time I wake up to the time I go to sleep.” and I really dig anything that's clever and witty. (Besides, doesn't the postcard hold true when we have a huge crush or when we fall in love? We're thinking about that person pretty much the entire time we're awake.)



















And here's proof that I did buy it. Anyone who has doubts about whether these are my hands, please proceed to counter 1. Bhavdeep Singh Virdi will be glad to be of assistance.

Got it wrong: Banana, Sahil, Anil, Arnav, Dinesh, Splitpersonality, Jasmine, Avyakt, Ashy, Ravi

18. I once told a guy I’d show him a picture of my crush, and brazenly showed him a mirror.
Haha! This is funny. This guy in school told me he liked me. I liked him, but just to see whether he was the kind who would give up without a fight just because "there was another guy", I told him I had a crush on someone. He demanded to know who it was so I told him I'd show him a picture of my crush. Next day, I put a button mirror in an envelope and gave it to him. What a priceless expression.
Got it wrong: Oxymoron, Angelsera, Justme, Dinesh, Splitpersonality, Avyakt, Puneet

19. A guy once slapped me in a pub, and I waited for him to get sober before I slapped him back.
True again! I was sitting outside on the steps of the pub, sipping my orange juice and generally trying to get away from the cigarette smoke, when this friend came and sat next to me. He had had some 12 tequila shots. He sat beside me and said, 'Hey, look at my palm!" I did and smack! The moron had just slapped me! I realised there was no point in slapping him back right then 'cos he was too drunk to be able to remember. So I waited till the next day for him to get sober, saw him in uni outside the computer room, went up to him, slapped him and said, "This is for yesterday. Just so you will remember."
Got it wrong: Angelsera, Ro, Anil, Arnav, Justme, Dinesh, Splitpersonality, Avyakt, Jasmine, Ashy, Ravi

20. I can’t keep a secret from my close friends.
I so can. If I have a secret, I can guard it from anyone.
Got it right: Oxymoron, Sahil, Ro, Jasmine, Puneet

21. I can’t swim to save my own life.
True. I use swimming purely as a means of exercise and refuse to put my head under water. In fact, I believe I swim like a dog. Definitely can't save myself if I'm drowning.
Got it wrong: Banana, Sahil, Anil, Ravi, Puneet

22. I think some guys look really cool smoking.
No way. NO ONE -- I repeat -- NO ONE looks cool smoking.
Got it right: Oxymoron, Banana, Sahil, Angel, Ro, Arnav, Ashy

23. I don’t say the ‘F’ word aloud. I only say it in my head.
Tricky one, eh? I don't even say it in my head. I like to stop after "What the..?!" It has more impact.
Got it right: Arnav, Anil, Virdi, Splitpersonality, Jasmine, Avyakt, Ashy, Puneet

24. I can roller-blade and ice-skate.
Yep. Can.
Got it wrong: Virdi, Ashy

25. When I go to India, I refuse to have pani puri unless it’s made with mineral water.
Last year, when I went to Delhi, my cousin got damn excited. "Oh, I'll take you to this pani puri place. It's the best! You'll love it!" Apparently they use mineral water to make the dough. And they serve it in plates! It was the yuckiest pani puri I had ever tasted! I prefer my roadside pani puri any day, served in the leaf-bowls. Dirty as hell.
Got it right: Oxymoron, Banana, Sahil, Angelsera, Ro, Anil, Dinesh, Virdi, Splitpersonality, Jasmine, Avyakt, Ashy, Ravi, Puneet

Sahil and Arnav win, tied at 6 each.

25 more things about me

I had such a blast coming up with the list of the 25 things about me, I decided to do a sequel :)

1. Ideally, I would like to turn vegetarian.
2. I don't like Amitabh Bachchan.
3. Three years ago, I had a freak kitchen accident when the entire skin peeled off my face, and I had to undergo plastic surgery to get the face I have today.
4. I can analyse your handwriting and tell you your characteristics.
5. I am not into F1 racing at all.
6. A few years ago, I was on a diet and lost 8 kgs in 6 months.
7. I want to die at the age of 50.
8. I think Anu Malik is very talented.
9. My tomboyish nature is because I grew up bashing up and getting bashed up by my two elder brothers.
10. When I was ten, I could beat the crap out of any guy in the neighbourhood at spinning tops.
11. I love wearing stilettos.
12. Some day I would like to bungee jump.
13. I hate banana split ice-cream.
14. I can knock lizards down using ice cubes.
15. I hate chewing gum.
16. Once I stalked a guy on the streets.
17. I like to buy and collect postcards with sappy phrases such as “I think of you from time to time – from the time I wake up to the time I go to sleep.”
18. I once told a guy I’d show him a picture of my crush, and brazenly showed him a mirror.
19. A guy once slapped me in a pub, and I waited for him to get sober before I slapped him back.
20. I can’t keep a secret from my close friends.
21. I can’t swim to save my own life.
22. I think some guys look really cool smoking.
23. I don’t say the ‘F’ word aloud. I only say it in my head.
24. I can roller-blade and ice-skate.
25. When I go to India, I refuse to have pani puri unless it’s made with mineral water.

10 of the above sentences are utter nonsense.

Remember me?

That's it -- I can't take it anymore.

I found out that I will only get my Internet at home set up end of the week. Don't laugh at me but I don't think I can survive such a long no-post drought.

So here's to my friend Banana for her suggestion that I could blog from work after office hours! Simple, eh? Well, not so fast, as I found out! Formatting blog posts using a Mac sucks. And since I am very particular (to the point of being neurotic) about the fonts in my posts, I'll format this later. But for now, I have too much going on up here to hold back blogging :)

----

Every year on the 5th of September, I call the principal of my old school and wish him 'Happy Teacher's Day'. The reason why I only call this particular school and not the other five (or was it six?) is that this is the only one where my principal is still there (although most of the other teachers have left). In all the other schools, everyone has moved on.

For the last seven years, my principal had been picking up the phone himself when I called. So today, I was quite surprised when I heard an unfamiliar voice pick up my call. It was probably a clerk or his PA.

I gave him my name and asked for the principal.

"Sir! _______ ka phone hai aapke liye! Singapore se!" I heard him yell.
("Sir, _______'s call for you. From Singapore!")

My jaw literally dropped when I heard that. This chap had just said out my full name! Complete with surname! And I had only given him my first name! (Not to even mention I had no clue who he was.)

Wow. Double wow. It totally totally made my day.

Sometimes, that's all we need to make our day, isn't it?

The fact that someone somewhere still remembers us.

Westward ho!

Tonight is Sayesha's last night in the east.

I have been an east-girl for three years. And now it hurts... to leave everything and move to the unfamiliar area of the west. Far away from everyone and everything I have built around myself.

So this morning, I put on my 'It's hip to be happy' T-shirt so I could manage to not break down with every carton I packed and sealed. I also managed to find time to visit some of my favourite places in the east, and relive some of the great moments here.

And suddenly it struck me -- I will still be in touch with my friends who live in the east (considering that three of my closest ones do), but I will have to let go of some relationships -- some really amazing ones that I have built over the years...

And I will miss them.

I will miss my beautiful house and the pool with the two dolphins.
















I will miss Samo at Thai Express at Siglap, for probably being the only waiter who could get away with a statement like "It's really fresh, that's why!" when I found a green caterpillar crawling on my salad leaves.

I will miss Sony at the beach outlet of Komalas, who was so incredibly energetic and cheerful (that too, at the end of his shift at 10 in the night!) that every time I saw him, I was filled with inspiration.

I will miss Michael at the provision shop across the road who would always say the same thing every time I popped by to get bread or juice, "You're from India, right? I have atta if you want to buy!"

I will miss Alan my hairdresser and his crazy ways of disciplining my wild tresses.

I will miss William my optician, and how both of us would go "Phew! All ok!" after every eye check up.

I will miss Ivy, William's cashier and her sweet "Pay by cash or card, miss?" and her curiosity at what William and I were cracking up over.

I will miss Dr. Oliver my dentist, for always telling me I have a bright smile and for his gentle dental skills.

I will miss Josephine, the consultant at Lee Hwa at Parkway Parade, who helped me pick a diamond pendant -- a wedding gift for my sis-in-law, and who always smiles whenever I pass by, knowing fully well that I need a long recovery time before I can buy the next diamond.

I will miss the grinning kid-waiters at MOS burger at Parkway Parade.

I will miss 'Georges mad bar' with the huge TV screen, outside which I did a little dance of victory with a middle-aged Malay stranger, when Taufiq won Singapore idol in December 2004.

I will miss my canine nephew who used to freak me out in the lift.

I will miss little six-year-old Charles from the flat upstairs who has been meeting me every day at the bus stop for the last three years, and shyly hiding behind his maid every single time.

I will miss the sign on my swimming pool which holds me responsible for people who can't swim, making me go "what the...??!!"



















I will miss my secret clothes shops at Parkway Parade, the location of which I refuse to disclose even to close female friends.

I will miss my symmetrical phone number which just got disconnected (I'm a land line person. I hate talking on the mobile phone).

But most of all, I will miss the beach and my rock, which used to be my 'Tanhayee point' every weekend.

I feel like I am still in a daze. I still can't believe I have to let go of all of these. It feels like something will suddenly happen at the last minute, and I will just unpack everything and stay on.

Here, where I am happy. Where I am comfortable. Where I'm me.

And suddenly, I feel so scared. It feels like the old days all over again. Of having to let go and move on. It's time. The end of an era. The beginning of a new one. It's time to move on and start a new life.

This evening, the two Sayeshas sat at the poolside and shed a few silent tears.

ps: My blog's gonna take a longish break till I set up my computer in the new house and get my Internet working. I don't post from work, so I may not be able to manage any new posts for a while, but I'll still be visiting the comments page.

The answers

Ok so here are the answers:

Legend:
Green = The truth and nothing but the truth
Red = Blatant lie
Purple = Explanation (+ making fun of people who make wrong guesses)

1. I can be safely branded as a Jill of all trades.

True. I like to do a LOT of things, so I try everything I can, and I don't do too bad. (Princesse, Arnav, Keshav, I never claimed to be a 'master' of all trades. I said 'Jill'. 'Jill' as in 'Jack'.)

2. The animals I am most freaked out by are lizards.

True. When I was 13, two lizards fell on my head. I cried for half an hour and refused to go to school.

3. I know accupressure.

True. One of the things I learnt when I was 16. Still remember most of it. Piss me off, and I will administer it. On your throat.
(So wrong guess, Avyakt! Hey, you read my blog too??)

4. I had waist-length hair in school.

False. Haha! Never had very long hair in my life. I love the wind blowing through my hair. And that's not very happening if you have long hair. (Arnav, good guess, considering you only saw me for two years in one of the six schools I have studied in.)

5. I think a chiffon sari is the most incredibly sexy attire ever.

True. My drrrreaaam is to be able to pull off a chiffon sari some day.

6. I love to exercise.

True. Nothing like a good workout. Especially when I am pissed off.
(Wrong guess, Sahil!)

7. I can whip up a mean pav bhaji.

True. You gotta try it to believe it. :P

8. I am a girly tomboy.

True. I can get as girly as a girl can get, and still loathe lots of things that girls do.

9. I love dangling earrings and hoops.

I ADORE them. Like I said before, I like gifts I can wear, and dangling earrings and hoops top the list. (Wrong guess, Avyakt.)

10. I recite the gayatri mantra every morning.

False. I know it by heart and can recite it on demand, but every morning? You gotta be kidding me. (Viv, Avyakt, Sahil and Keshav are right.)

11. Once I got drunk and slapped my friend's girlfriend in a pub.

I have never gotten drunk in my life. Or slapped a girl. Guys? Well, that is a different story altogether! ;)
(Right guess, Viv and Princesse!)

12. I stand up even if the Indian national anthem is playing in my head.

Yep. I do that. (Wrong guess, Keshav!)

13. My favourite subject in school was Sanskrit.

I absolutely LOVED Sanskrit. (Hard to believe eh, Keshav?)

14. I am very happy and satisfied with my life so far.

I am. (Arnav, Avyakt, yes there's still a lot I wanna do with my life, but at any point in my life, if you stop me and ask me "Happy so far?" my answer would be a resounding "YES!" I am completely happy and satisfied with what I have had so far.)

15. I love my job, but I hate the pay.

True. My job rocks. I could do this all my life, except that even after two promotions, my pay still doesn't match my first job's first pay! Publishing just doesn't pay, man. Perhaps I should turn author and get myself one of those royalty thingies!

16. I have not seen the Taj Mahal.

True. The only one of the seven wonders in my country, and I haven't seen it. :(
Like I say, "India nahin dekha toh phir kya dekha?" (Wrong guess (again?!) Sahil.)

17. When I was six, I wanted to be a typist when I grew up.

True. The first time I saw and used a typewriter, I was so amazed at the 'wonders of the wonderful machine'. I don't think my parents were very happy when Dad's friend asked me "So what do you want to become when you grow up, beta?" and I said, "A typist!" (Wrong guess, Princesse!)

18. I am a very loud bathroom singer.

True. I am so loud, I think I drown the sound of the shower.

19. I think a bit of arrogance in a guy is sexy.

Oooh, I love it. (But yes, Casablanca, I agree that the guy should be able to pull it off, otherwise he's just a jerk. Arnav, you should have guessed this from my comment about Abhi in an earlier post.)

20. I have never attempted suicide.

True. Dying?? I can barely get enough of my life!

21. I go for a manicure almost every month.

False. I have never in my entire life gone for a manicure.
(Virdi's gonna have sleepless nights now! Right guess, Sahil, Viv.)

22. I have at least 20 pairs of shoes.

True. And that's after I disposed off about 5 pairs. (Justme, Virdi, Viv, kindly clear your jaws off the floor, hehehe!)

23. I can beat the crap outta any guy in any racing game.

False. Real or virtual -- Sayesha and cars?? Hahahaha! :D
(Ok Siddhu, Arnav, Sahil, Viv, Avyakt, Keshav, Princesse, stop doing the victory dance! This was a giveaway!)

24. I get high on orange juice.

True. I get totally whacko-nuts after having freshly squeezed orange juice. If you ever catch me in the act, you will find me laughing non-stop, and I will tell you exactly what I think of you.

25. I love to wear black.

Love black clothes. Love them. Love them.
(And Princesse, you should know it! ;)

25 things about me

I can't believe I'm doing this, but I have decided to jump into the '25 things about me' bandwagon of bloggers.

So here are... well.. 25 things about me. (duh!)

1. I can be safely branded as a Jill of all trades.
2. The animals I am most freaked out by are lizards.
3. I know accupressure.
4. I had waist-length hair in school.
5. I think a chiffon sari is the most incredibly sexy attire ever.
6. I love to exercise.
7. I can whip up a mean pav bhaji.
8. I am a girly tomboy.
9. I love dangling earrings and hoops.
10. I recite the gayatri mantra every morning.
11. Once I got drunk and slapped my friend's girlfriend in a pub.
12. I stand up even if the Indian national anthem is playing in my head.
13. My favourite subject in school was Sanskrit.
14. I am very happy and satisfied with my life so far.
15. I love my job, but I hate the pay.
16. I have not seen the Taj Mahal.
17. When I was six, I wanted to be a typist when I grew up.
18. I am a very loud bathroom singer.
19. I think a bit of arrogance in a guy is sexy.
20. I have never attempted suicide.
21. I go for a manicure almost every month.
22. I have at least 20 pairs of shoes.
23. I can beat the crap outta any guy in any racing game.
24. I get high on orange juice.
25. I love to wear black.

Five of the above statements are sheer bullshit.