Letter and Spirit

(continued from the previous post dated 13th Apr '06)
It was not clear what form of communciation we enjoyed most -
mails or messaging - while one handled uppermost thoughts, the
other went deeper, sometimes into the subconsious. In this frenzy
of wonder, all hurdles vanish and the intensity begins to shine
through.


ash - Received ur mail first thing y'day morn. Wanted to reply right
off, but things at work kept me all day. There are these web stats
reports I'm supposed to prepare every month and I've been slacking
since the last quarter. Its one dirty work I hate to do specially when
deadlines approach. I do make up at my 5pm time usually, that day
was a delightful exception. The lil time we spent together was
indeed distinct and I desire a plethora of such special moments.
Yes I'm a typical gemini and you pretty much seem to know all abt
it frm ur close living example. I'm not sure where your search for
that compatible women would end but if you learn to glory in
differences, you can create a friendship that is a force to be
reckoned with. Wonder what your glaring shortcomings are though
- another page to flip in the open book I guess ..;)
Would those foreseen implications at yr work beckon you back to
delhi soon?...I hope they do, im being selfish I know but its only my
excessive desire to have more of u..bet u think Im frivolous, yes i
am :)
back to my statistical reports. Until next ...be well.
************************************************************

I'm at the internet lib at the skydeck of Sears Towers in Chicago
where I'm drafting this email to you. I apologize for this delayed
messg. Am here in Chicago for my cousin's engagement since 6/24
and will return back home on sunday 6/28. Its a 3 day long
sumptuous ocassion here which includes intense socializing with
kins & the new sis in law, her folks, the mehendi rituals, the ring
ceremony, the women showing off their pricey jewelry, the men
discussing real estate and of course the exotic food, bbq and
cocktail parties. Pretty convivial atmosphere around except the
dragy 800 miles drive we had.
Sorry to hear abt your helminthiasis. I hope your metabolism is
back to normal and those parasites are flushed not ruining ur
holiday. Sounds like you couldnt resist those Calcuta's famous
lip smacking delicasies that u mentioned:)
Were you guys able to solve your daughter's riddle? Amazing how
kids are are so curious in this genre. Her query doesnt seem that
difficult to solve compared to the one my 6 yr old nephew once
came up with...What is a condom and how does it make you happy?
I asked him where he heard abt it and he conviniently remarked
frm the tv commercials...Altho television is the best learning
channel for kids, wonder how you can avoid such embarrasing
moments..hmm they grow fast.
My next mail wouldnt be any earlier than next week, but u keep
ur thghts penned in. You take care n feel better..
************************************************************

3 days in a row, my super luck continues..Things appear so effulgent
for the past couple days since we're escalating to live chats. Can't
stop thinking abt you enuff offline these days, only wished that we
had no constraints and that time could simply pause. Guess all good
things come to an end, but there is always a tomorrow which sure
brings me smile.
My day seems pretty lousy here at work today. Its a holiday week
(4th of july) and most people are possibly time out. I break for the
long weekend starting thurs noon but before I go I have this nasty
scripts to write which I envisage absolute exasperation. Worst of all,
I have no help, anyway i guess best is to keep my cool and
concentrate, what do you think sage man? :).
On a brighter note, I met my friend’s dad to collect a parcel she sent.
Along with the parcel—a cute toy and a thumbelina doll, there was a
4-page handwritten letter. Trust me there is nothing more
wonderful then a real time letter. E-mails can never match the aura
of an authentic, heartfelt, hand written letter. :-) Reading a letter
could've been all the more enjoyable in a fast moving train, swept
by rains and the lush green trees swaying to and fro versus these
damp and smirking subway rides. How I miss those bombay local
train rides ..
Sometimes I do not know what to do. Like a lost rabbit, I run
aimlessly in the bumpy forest of my mind. Running away from
bushy thoughts and pricking reality in search of a bed of maple
leaves. Hey don’t blame me, I am listening to one of my favorite
songs…Wonderwall.
And all the roads that lead to you were winding
And all the lights that light the way are blinding
There are many things that I would like to say to you
I don't know how I said maybe
You're gonna be the one who saves me?
And after all
You're my wonderwall
See u soon.



kband - Hope you had a splendid time during the break. Let me
give you the good news first - phone lines at resi are down and I'm
cut off from virtuality. So no one to bother you at work and gorge
on ur brains, isn't that great? But there's some bad news coming ur
way as well - on way home, i'll drop in at a cyber cafe around 7PM
(9.30 by ur time?) to hound you out from ur cocoon and spin some
yarn for an hour. Just trusting my luck, that you will see this mail
and be available on chat (delinquent id would suit u perhaps).
Catch u then, bye



ash - Why is it the one person i'm most comfortable around is so
far away. then again i know as certain as the sun rises in the east,
that some things are best the way they are. :)
It seems as though there's so much to do, so much to think about.
At the same time, there's not enough to go on or to work with. My
head's beginning to spin, my emotions are starting to swirl - almost
time I wind up fr the day, trivia to be continued tomorrow..
hopefully u'll bring out the good in me...thanks fr the awesome
start..I carried u fr the rest of my day.


(to be continued)

Bridging Distances

(continued from the previous post dated 4th April '06)
Embarking on a tale of two cities helped bringing the miles closer,
both of us being far away from these places we love so dearly.
Thenthere is that inevitable question that crops up during the
initial stages of online interactions - what are we doing here -
and the search for an answer continues.


kband - You must have realised by now what difficulties i have in
chatting with u from home. Writing this mail to you fm office and
will hv to leave now coz everyone has gone. Just got time to tell
you that I'm going on leave to my own place Calcutta tomorrow and
shall be back on the 29th. So won't be bugging or spying on you till
then. But can't assure you that you won't be bombarded by my
mails in between. Take care of urself and others and give my love to
your li'l angel.



ash - I undertsand both your modem speed and domestic limitations
with chat from home. You dont have to stay up late with all these
problems only to chat with me, I think we are doing just fine with
emails for now, altho I definitely desire exchanging instant thoughts
via chat but I guess its okay. Its very kind of you to inform me about
your vacation plans. I sure will miss my spy and I do look forward to
your messages anyway so feel free to bombard as much mails as u
wish. Incidently I too have some tentative vacation plans around last
week of the month, Im not sure yet but I will keep u posted. My lil
angel is doing fine, he is 2 and his name means most determined and
judgemental. You have a fun filled time off and know that someone
miles apart is thinking of you..:)



kband - ...calcutta. most people always write off this place as dead
or decadent, stinking, potholed, with lackadaisical n argumentative
people.......but once u can get to the fountainhead of warmth, of care
and passion u cant help but develop an endearing attitude towards
the place n its denizens!
too bad ur vacation plans could not coincide with mine :-) btw, i plan
to return to delhi for a couple of days (16-18th) as some urgent work
has come up there. would love to utilise that opportunity to exchange
instant thoughts with someone who thinks abt me from miles away!
ur angel has a very interesting name, think she's taking after her
mom (literally n otherwise:)) hope to catch u soon, bye.



ash - Your personal perception of the city of joy is sure spellbinding.
Calcutta is definitely one of the most fascinating cities in the country
despite enduring poverty and famine. Of all its historic heritage, I
personally had the world's most frenetic shopping experience at that
Stuart Hogg Market with its array of curios, clothing, jewellery,
household goods, bookstores etc. Hmm, your ardent passion for your
city, reminds me of my enigmatic hometown mumbai: pulsating, alive,
on the move, vibrant and fun. Old and new, rich and poor, classical
and modern - its all here for one to savour and enjoy! Talking about
places, my vacation plans are still in a limbo depending on multitude
of things, but I do look forward to have a word with you on ur return
to delhi and before I explicitly decide to tour. Would u surprise me
on msn or what?
I'm a Bohra by religion, a Shiaa Muslim community of Gujarat in
western India, which traces it's spiritual ancestry to early
conversions to Ismaili Shiism during the reign of the Fatimid
Caliph in the 11th and 12th centuries in Egypt. So I got transformed
from my maiden name and hence the last name. Doesnt surprise
many Americans when I translate its meaning cos they have
business related last names as well like us Indians - John Smith or
Scott Baker fr instance...My lil angel is taking after all my bad
habits and all the good ones from dad...says so my significant other.
Dont all men appear chauvinist..ahem! Whats ur family like?
Seems like I blabbered a bit. Time I must get back to work, cant
wait to have u back live, take care and be well.



kband - It's been a day since u were there with me n can't help
wondering whats been happenin at ur end. at least u didnt have
to miss the 5 o'clock deadline, i hope. so ur a gemini, like my
daughter, and i can already sense similar streaks of impatience in
her budding character - she gets bored easily, even at this age,
but still has begun making a mark in several things already.
my first love was a marathi girl (from nasik) and though we enjoyed
each others' company very much, the bond couldn't be cemented
somehow. perhaps. other women, i've come across have always
fallen short of my benchmark, maybe i've not been lucky that way,
and thats what eggs me on in my search - not the quintessential
diva, but a thoroughly compatible one! given my shortcomings,
this may well end up as an exercise in utter futility ;-)
there were some developments in our co when i was at delhi, would
have to wait n watch as how things unfold, there could be far-
reaching implications. shall let u know sometime, send me a line
when possible.


(to be continued)

Getting My Due

(continued from the previous post dated 14th March, '06)
Having set up a hearth for myself in cyberzone, I had begun
spending considerable time checking out the environs. The birds
held most of my attention and I avidly followed their moves,
their habitat, their preferences......one such colourful person soon
caught my fancy! She was forever fluttering, chirping, singing and
inevitably keeping the place abuzz with her radiance. For some
reason, she didn't totally dislike me nor my surreptitious nature
which prompted my next bold move.


kband - I know u may not be expecting this mail fm me, but i had to
write coz i felt really sorry for the one who in a moment of apparent
indiscretion could have opened up just a wee bit. Only to slam it shut
once again, n even though i had not noted down the id, i just hope
that i've registered it right. Ok i'm fm delhi n that's why the zone
diff may not permit us to keep in touch over the chatline (in fact y'day
u were throwin ur tantrums at me at 1.30AM:)) so i thought it could
be awrite to write to u once in a while and exchange weather
information! If u dont find it too sensitive, that is.
Here's my olive branch , till we meet again. Bye



ash - Your mail did come as an unexpected surprise, but it sure was
pleasant. And yeah, I am a cerebral and sensitive person, capable of
deep feeling and profound insights. For example, I often feel sad that
the world isn't as perfect as I think it should be, but that doesn't
restrain you from writing to me once in a while or exchanging
weather forecasts...;)
My email doesnt spill my name out so you may wanna know the
name, 'Ash' it is... As a kid I was once unbearably cute and am now
devastatingly disdain. I currently reside in NJ, work in NYC, but
hail from Mumbai, where the Heart is. I enjoy being on chat because
I don't have an appreciation for the finer things or perhaps I just like
mildew, hehe just kidding...Actually I just try to fill up the vaccum
during my break hours. For entertainment, my friends and I like to
get together and make fun of others. I have many, many interests
and hobbies, including napping and complaining. I also enjoy eating
and buying things and travel is my sheer passion. My groovy dream
is to trip around the whole big fat world..hmm and thats some wee
bit about me..Time for me to scram out. Lets catch up later...bye



kband - Hello n Good Morning USA, Here's a flash!
Interpol has intercepted a notorious spy who fancies calling himself
kband and has several aliases slamdunk, koolkat, et al. He claims
he's got no nefarious motives, but they are yet to be verified. The
alleged "spy" is also known to be an engineer, is married and
currently runs his operations from Delhi. Further details about him
will be known once the investigations are completed. But sources
close to him say that he's planning to go underground in a couple
of days. Signing off for today.....



ash - Although Mr Spy has no nefarious motives, he seems to be
watching my every move on chat, and that definitely makes him
dangerous...Not that I'm scared of risks, but such acts of Mr.Spy
does get me restless and frustrated...When can I have a direct
chat with the slamdunked engineer?


(to be continued)