Film Review: Band Baaja Barat

Writing film reviews is not my style, but this particular film deserves all the accolade it can collect. Band Baaja Barat is a family entertainer and cute film so to say. First time director Maneesh Sharma has proved that he is very talented and has captured the Dilli up to the mark. The story is easy flowing and the film leaves you with a smile on your face. the music of the film is not very great but the title track is very catchy and likeable, so is Avainyi Avainyi.The look and costumes are very true to the characters and are very real. The only speed breaker is the love making scene which again is not shot badly, it is very classy despite the fact that the leads were making love in there 10 x 10 shop.

Now let me give you a summary of the film, its the story of Shruti Kakkar  played by Anushka Sharma a determined Dilliwali who wishes to become a Wedding Planner. Bitto Sharma played by Ranveer Singh is a lost youngster from Saharanpur who would do anything but help his father in farming. Both meet in a wedding and Bitto tries to woo Sonu, but as fate has it they end up being partners in Wedding Planning business (or as Bittoo pronounces it BINNESS). They hit it off and are complementary to each other until one day Shruti finds herself in love with Bittoo, everything starts to go wrong and Bittoo isn't even aware of his feelings, rest you should go and see for yourself.

As for the actors Anushka Sharma has finally arrived she is too good as Shruti and is convincing as a strong headed Dilliwali. Newcomer Ranveer Singh is gonna give Ranbir and Imraan a run for their money, he is supremely talented as an actor, he is so confident that you start to believe in his character. Even the rest of the supporting cast is impressive. Hats off to Maneesh Sharma and  Habib Faisal for a youth film which is actually has a story. In this era of senseless films like "Break Ke Baad" and "Anjaana Anjani" which are made on huge ass budgets and shitty storylines , do not live upto their promises Band Baaja Barat is a genuine gem. 

My verdict : Band Baaja Barat is a paisa vasool entertainer and a great film for all age groups.

My first published Blog

Hey all,

Just wanted to share my first published blog, it was chosen by femina and they have put it on there website.. do check it out and lemme know how u like it..

http://readerspost.femina.in/experiences/dont-judge-a-book-by-its-movie/

Black Berry Addiction

Ever noticed people using their Blackberry’s in the middle of a meeting, the way they keep typing and glancing at there BB as if it was God? Well, I do the same and I would like to share why do we do so even when it’s extremely irritating for others.

The deal with BB is earlier BB was a status symbol and only people who were like the CEO’s or in our field big-ass Producers were the ones who possessed a BB.But now things have changed. I am so shit angry with BB manufacturers because last year in August – September (2009) they launched there cheapest model “Curve” and that changed the face of BB in India. I was one of the first people to buy and flaunt the BB. But my reason of buying a BB was completely different I wanted a phone where I could send and receive mails and send attachments at the same time, also because I threw my earlier phone Nokia E71 in a toilet (accidentally, it is again a funny story I will share later).

I simply loved the whole idea of using a BB and I can’t even tell you how happy it made me when for the first time I sent a mail to my senior Creative Director with that little line at the end saying “SENT ON MY BLACKBERRY FOR VODAFONE”

Oh!! it was divine, I anyways am a show-off and now I had a BB so things were great, I had only seen my ‘extreme senior’ people using it and read about BB users in all the Chick-lit books of mine but the joy of having one was beyond words can express. But soon the bloody phone got popular and the next person to by it in my office was my immediate Boss (no points for guessing the same person I sent the first BB mail to). Curve became so common that now every Tom-Dick & Harry has a BB and owning one is not such a big deal at all.

Blackberry is a business phone essentially but now even college students, actors, models, shopkeepers, even housewives possess a BB. I am so disappointed. The only way I can still be a BB user and don’t lose the class is upgrade myself from a Curve to a Bold or Bold 2, which I am seriously looking forward to, for now I keep changing my phone covers. I have different type of phone covers as you can see in the pictures but right now my favorite is the “Diamonte” cover which I specially went to Bandra(I rarely go to bandra as my office is at Goregoun and I stay at Juhu, also now I don’t by road side stuff from Linking Road ), picked it up for 900 bucks. I am so proud of it. I loooooooove it. This clearly shows I am a BLINGOHOLIC and proud to be one.

I wish to buy upgraded BB soon...

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Sneh

Monsoon - the most overrated season

I have grown up hearing people praise monsoon and how!! There have been poets who have written verses in praise of rains and rainy season. Almost every writer and poet has written good things about the same. People have been having this great affinity for rains. But according to me this season is a bit too overrated, what can be great about filth? It has been 4 years I have been living in Mumbai and unfortunately have witnessed monsoon here. Believe you me rains bring out the worst in Mumbai it is water logging almost everywhere and that too smelly sewer water. Even when the BMC claims they have cleaned all the sewers still some how the filthy, smelly, dirty water finds its way on the main roads. I am put up at Juhu which is one of the most posh areas in Mumbai but I have to face water logging even when it had just rained for 10 mins. It’s just sad. Some times I feel sad for Mr. Bachchan, poor thing he earns shit loads of money and has huge ass bunglows in Juhu still when he steps out of the house he has water logged in the bloody bunglow compound.

I am amazed at the spirit of some people I have a colleague she travels from Worli to Goregaon everyday by Local trains and she is never ever late, she has been working here for past 11 years and I just can’t understand how she manages in the bloody rainy season. When ever I ask her the same she happily replies “Abhi toh mereko aadat pad gayi hai”. This is what is the problem with us “Hum logon ko har cheez ki aadat pad jati hai” and we mould ourselves accordingly nobody wants to do anything about it.

Anyways I am sounding like Krantiveer’s Nana Patekar, I should stop now. The whole deal is when I went to Singapore I was awed by the civic sense of the people and there was a day when it rained heavily there but the water was so clean and I didn’t mind hopping in it, I can’t even imagine doing that here. I will die of the smell only. However coming back to the spirit of Mumbai, have you noticed that whatever happens the people fight every situation and manage to reach work on time, they don’t mind getting wet and walking in knee height water to reach their destination. Amazing isn’t it?

Anyhow, have you ever noticed those beggar kids jumping in dirty water at the signals and smelling like shit and then coming and touching you when you are happily traveling back from work? I am sure everyone has been there and faced that I feel like bloody killing those guys.

Also have you ever experienced something like this, say it is raining heavily you step out of the office to go home and after struggling for half-hour you get a rickshaw and you are thanking god for his mercy, as you are not wet and you have finally gotten a rickshaw, you take out your phone call the love of your life that I’ll be home in whatever-time. Then relaxed you light a cigarette and put your I-pod and having a nice time when suddenly from somewhere this huge SUV comes the driver is playing loud music and comes like wind and splashes water all over and drives away. Leaving you wet and abusing. Even the rickshawwala starts laughing at you condition. Again I get the same feeling of killing the SUV driving bastard.

One more and most important reason to hate monsoon, is I have lost exactly 13 umbrellas in 4 years and have sacrificed at least 6 pair of shoes in the m@#$%^ing rains.

I simply hate Monsoon. I know many of you won’t agree with me, but that is how I am. 

And for those who love the concept of sitting at home and sipping coffee when its raining outside, enjoy!!

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Sneh

Mumbai Mania!!!!!

I am officially a Mumbaikar, and proud to be one. I came to Mumbai 4 years back after completing my Engineering. Since I was coming from a small town (Bhopal) I had my doubts about the big city. My mother always kept telling me that Mumbai is the residence of evil, every third person you meet in Mumbai is either a pick pocket or a rapist. I was so shit-scared when I came to Mumbai.

I clearly remember I came down all alone, with hell lot of luggage, my brother’s address and some money (4000 bucks only). The first thing I did on landing was to turn my phone on (even though I hate those wannabe’s who turn their phone on as soon as the plane touches ground) and called my mum who was hyper ventilating because I was flying alone for the first time. I was awed by the huge Airport, reason being Bhopal airport is like a miniscule one I think it should not be called an Airport it’s as big as Oshiwara Bus Depot, and I am not kidding. As usual my brother was not there to pick me. I told my mum I am taking a rickshaw, to which my mom flipped, she told me, “it’s not ok to travel in rickshaw take a cab, also when you sit in the cab call your brother with the taxi no. details and tell him if I don’t reach in an hour file a police complaint.” I knew she was over reacting but at the same time I was getting worried it took me 20 mins. to collect my luggage from the baggage counter and when I came out there was a parade of Rickshaw/Taxi drivers all coming towards me first I thought it was the effect of my gold facial I got done a day before but the I realized they were just looking for a passenger. I was surrounded by a crowd of Richshaw and Taxi drivers, everyone with the same question “kidhar jayengi madam??” some were asking the same in English, I was so harrowed, finally I agreed to one guy who seemed pretty decent but was chewing pan and was not even able to speak properly but when ever he spoke the pan spit came out. I knew for sure by his accent that he was a Bihari. But he was really nice and he helped me put my luggage in the trunk of the taxi. That’s what you need in an “anjan shehar” a kind and helping Taxi wala. But he broke his decent helping image when he said he’ll be charging extra for the luggage. It was already 9 pm and for me it was really late.

I was panicking inside so I called my brother and told him I am on my way he told me Yari road is not very far I shall reach in 45 mins max. When I was a little relieved I took a look outside and all I could see was huge glossy hoardings, madness of the traffic and whenever the car stopped at the signal a parade of beggars. I was awed by the scene even the people were looking so different and young unlike Bhopal janta, it was 9:30 already and still so many people on the roads where as in Bhopal the roads are clear after 8-8:30 max. When I was exhausted looking outside I asked the taxi wala”Bhaiya aur kitna time lagega” to which he replied “abhi ek ghanta to aur lag jaeyga bahut traffic hai” I was seriously worried now. The guy who was looking fairly decent at the Airport was now looking a bit like Prem Chopra the only exception being that now he was having a Bihari accent. I have seen many movies where the taxi walas kidnap a beautiful young girl and take her to a dingy location and do things which I can not even write here. I could see my life flashing before my eyes, I was so mad at myself for rebelling against my mum and coming to Mumbai. I was thinking about my family and how I may never be able to see them again; I was too scared to say anything when the Taxi stopped at the signal. Then it got me wondering if this guy is kidnapping me then he shouldn’t stop at a signal as I can run away easily I checked the doors they were also not locked. Then I saw a huge board which read “Versova” and an arrow sign I was relaxed now and was laughing on myself for being so stupid. Anyway I reached my brother’s place after 1:30 hours of sitting in the Taxi. I asked the taxi wala as to how much is the bill he said 350 I was like, what?? Then I paid him off thinking that at least he didn’t rape me.

I was home at last but my first Taxi ride would be so thrilling I had no idea. Even my brother was mad at me for paying so much to the Taxi guy clearly I was made a fool by that Prem Chopra look alike. But ideally I should have been mad at my brother for not coming to pick me up or even coming down the building to help me with my luggage. What could I say “Yeh Mumbai Shehar hadson ka shehar hai” I made safely home that night, which was more than enough but I didn’t know what was in store for this “small town girl” in this mad city.

to be continued…

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Sneh

Being Married = Being Single

Don’t get ideas reading that, there will be some people who might be thinking I have lost it completely. But for me this is the truth.

Now, let’s ponder, I have been married for quite some time now, but I never have gotten this feeling that I am married apart from the hefty monthly allowance I get from Rahul or the ever flowing stream of gifts and love notes, and of course the credit card bill payments (I know girls it sounds too sweet to be true but it is.) Well what can I say some people are born lucky!!

Okay now coming back to where we were, I was married to Rahul a year back before which I was sharing a flat with a couple of friends, the only major difference that has occurred since my marriage is that now I have a new roomie.

There have been times when people ask me my full name and I blurt out Snehil Dixit but the truth is now my name is “Snehil Dixit Mehra” I know it sounds cheesy but what can I do I never wanted to let go of my maiden surname. I have been known as Snehil Dixit for past 25 years and suddenly people expect me to be called Snehil Mehra, which is not acceptable Sorry…

Rahul on the other hand is very chilled out as a husband; first of all he understands that I need a lot of space so he bears with me and how. I love shopping, he loves paying the bill, I love reading he loves sports, I love partying he loves sitting at home, I love getting sloshed he loves driving me home, I am a naughty kid and he is a decent boy. In a nutshell, we both are bang opposite and I trust me opposites do attract.

I am single in my head, which is because of many reasons, first of all Rahul doesn’t do emotional attyachar on me, nor does his mother. I can go out whenever I wish and I can do whatever I want. At the same time I have this awesome understanding with Rahul, we know how to balance our personal space and couple space. I love him for being such an awesome guy.

I have a very dear friend, Jo (don’t confuse her with Jojo). Jo is like a super cool friend we watch chick-flicks together, we gym together (which happens rarely though), we shop together and have loads of fun. Jo is single and that explains how she manages to give me so much of time. This thought just crossed my mind what if she was seeing someone, then she wouldn’t have so much of time to spare, right! But look at it this way I am not single still I give her a lot of time that is because my partner is super chilled out. And I have a rocking life.

I don't have any liabilities, i don't have to cook ever because we have our beloved Sheela Tai who is our very own "Ramu Kaka", i don't have to take care of any investments or monetary issues they are taken care by Rahul himself, and regarding household expenses I don't have to bother at all as my Sasu Mom takes care of all that. So all that I have to do in a day is to get ready, go to work, chill in the evenings with friends, go home do facebooking, eat food and go to sleep. Isn't it all one needs!!

Thus, "Being Married=Being Single"

Hence Proved.

"From Rags To Riches & Back!!!!!"

This blog is dedicated to all those who have been in the roller-coaster ride of financial ups and downs.

My life in Mumbai was pretty simple. My day used to start with a fight between me and Jojo (my flatmate) as to who will use the bathroom first and the day ended on our bed talking till vie hours.

I was in love with my life we had so little to spend and so many things to take care of. I remember the day when due to bankruptcy (which happened every end of the month) that we used to eat 1 packet of maggi for 2 days.

We used to share almost everything be it clothes, watches, shoes, note books, nail paints. We mostly preferred to travel in a bus than taking the rickshaw all we used to think of was to save our money, which for me was hard earned and for Jojo sent to her by her parents every month. But this scarcity never bothered us when we went street shopping at Bandra we stacked ourselves with month long supply of t-shirts and junk jewelery and osho chappals.. It was the best time of my life.

But then change is the law of nature, I met Rahul and got married in 6 months and even Jojo's parents moved to Mumbai. We had to move out of our lovely flat.

After marriage i was so relaxed as i never had to bother paying the rent every 7th of the month or to buy maggi family packs to feed myself for the month. All i had to do was to work, earn and save(which I never did).

Seeing so much money in my back account was nauseating. I figured out that i cannot save money no matter what and now when i had a husband to take care of almost everything i had my money only to be spent on my nail jobs and my spa treatments. I had the liberty to spend my money the way i wanted. I was finally free to spend my money the way i wanted. I was ecstatic. For the first time in my life i had a credit card and i was free to use it at my will.

All my friends warned me about credit cards but i never believed them i thought they were simply jealous. I learnt my lesson when for the first time i was over due on my credit card and Rahul had to help me, but believe you me that was not the last time. I continued getting over drafted and i managed to pay the bill off in every 2 to 3 months but there was always this time of the month when i was lost and bankrupt. At this point i must also tell you my salary was also 3 times of what i used to get a year back when i was unmarried. I used to manage every thing so brilliantly then but now even when i was rich i was poor every month end.

The only reason i was in this mess was because all my street clothing was now replaced by branded clothes, my junk jewelry was now replaced by diamonds and gold jewelry, my fastrack watches were now replaced by chunky watches from Guess, Esprit,Kennith Cole etc. , my 3 pairs of Osho Chappals were now replaced by 37 pairs of branded footwear ranging from Tresmode to Charles & Kieth, my ever so handy backpack was replaced by 21 stunning bags from all over the world. Even my favorite holiday destination Lonawala was now stylishly replaced by Lankgawi Islands Malaysia.

My life had changed or i must say transformed from one of a girl next door to Mrs. Show Off next door. I religiously go to Nail Spa and spend hours and bucket full of money on getting my nails done but the truth is i still miss those rainy july evenings when me and Jojo painted each others nails sitting on the windowsill and ate Vada Pao.

I have been married now for a year and 3 months I have a loving husband and a brilliant job, but still i m insecure, not because of anything else but because of my own habits. I wish someday my conscience wakes me up and i start behaving like a grown up, but then again i feel I am too young to worry over financial matters. A lot has changed since i got married but some things are still the same like my love for shopping, my love for food and above all my FINANCIAL UNSTABLITY...

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Sneh

Don't Judge A Book by its Movie!!

"Don't Judge Book By Its Movie" this is a phrase used by a very famous bookstore in Mumbai, I realized its true meaning sometime back. Well let me explain, I rarely read any books apart from my Engineering Course books and was very happy that way, but when we were in final year of our Engineering all my friends started preparing for MBA entrance exams and unfortunately I had to join the rat race on behest of my family. But let me tell you preparing for CAT is not an easy task, first you have to find a good coaching institute and often you don't get admission in the institute where the college heartthrob goes.

And once you join a coaching you have to prepare yourself to do thinks which you haven't even thought of , like reading novels by great authors to build your vocabulary. This was the toughest thing they could have asked me to do, but i took it as a challenge and started reading "The Alchemist" by Paulo Coelho. We discussed this book in one of our coaching sessions and i spoke very highly of it, but the truth is i never understood a word of the book, my friends kept on saying it was the easiest book one can read but my take on this is "who cares".Since that day i have not dared picking up another book from Paulo. But, then i couldn't even get through CAT.

After 3 years i was working at Applause Entertainment there I met an amazing girl called Ruth. Ruth was one of those girls who had this amazing sense of humor, i loved her for the same. She is one tomboy and i am the girly girl, but it was like we were complementary to each other, since she was a tomboy she never gave me any complex (Wink!!). One of our friends Kunal kept on teasing us that we were like the perfect gay couple. But the truth was we were best of friends, Ruth introduced me to many wonderful things in my life like

a) Maple Syrup

b) De-tox diet

c) Ares - some software though which you can download movies and stuff

Best of  all she introduced me to the amazing world of Chick-lit. Yes, she introduced me to "Sophie Kinsella" and Shopaholic Series. I wasn't too sure but still i picked up all the books from the series and started reading them and to my disbelief i completed the first book in a day's time. I was in love with the book because it was so relateable. I loved it because I am a shopaholic, my cards also are always overdue, I also have a secret dreamworld like Becky Bloomwood.

Sophie Kinsella became my favorite author that very day.After two months of this love affair of mine with Sophie that i heard that a movie is being made on the Shopaholic series i was so excited I went for the movie first day second show. But to my dismay the movie was a cheap rip-off of the book. I was heart broken.

All the women who had read the book and went for the movie were disappointed and the ones who didn't they found it entertaining. And of course the men who are unaware of the beautiful world of chick-lit assumed that the so hyped Shopaholic Books were as crappy as the movie.

I am also upset with Sophie, how could she let this happen with her creation. But, the bottom line is even though it was a bad-sad movie it earned a lot of money and so did Sophie.

But all said and done one thing remains the way it was , that chick-lit rocks. Today i bought a new book which is supposed to be a British Best-seller, by Kathy Latte, its title is " HOW TO KILL YOUR HUSBAND" . I am hoping its a good read but before i start reading it i need to cover it up as i don't want to give Rahul a heart attack.

-Sneh

The Interview Part II

Okay so I finally received a call from the handsome man’s office, after a wait of exactly 13 days, it’s not that I was counting days or anything, but somehow I was wondering whether I will meet the handsome man ever again. Anyway, I got this call around 2pm I was in my office chilling. The HR girl named DON called me, I know so weird, I bet her parents hated her so much or loved Amitabh Bachchan so much that they named her DON. But after thinking over I realized it was Dawn and not Don (Sometimes geniuses also make mistakes). Dawn asked me to meet them at 3:30. I was so happy hearing this because I was in my most presentable clothes, after that pink salwar kameez debacle I have made sure that I look the best and have been coming to office fully decked up. The next day after my interview when I came to my current office the receptionist said, “ Oh! I didn’t know it was your birthday I would have called for a cake.” I was so embarrassed I told her that I have to go somewhere after work that’s why I am so dressed up, but then I toned it down a little bit.
However coming back to the interview, it was 3pm already I jumped into a rickshaw and was going to meet Dawn . One more thing I don’t always travel in rickshaw it’s just that my driver Lucky (short for Lakshman) is on a leave since last 15 days I think he has gone to Nepal that’s his native place. I reached their office at 3:10 the rudest receptionist in the world again asked me to wait. I was not happy to see her again but inside I was jumping as I was going to meet Mr. B. her name is BHagyashree but she calls herself Baagyashree for some reason, she is damn rude I don’t know how they hired her, but let’s look at the positive side if they were stupid enough to hire her they might as well hire me.

Dawn met me and took me to a conference room, she explained it to me that I was being appointed and what all rules and regulations I have to follow she agreed on whatever money I asked for so I was officially a part of their organization they asked me to sign a “ Non-disclosure Agreement” I happily signed it. Then she we shook hands and she asked me to join from the next day. I was a little taken aback I won’t be able to meet Mr. B today. I was panicking if I don’t meet Mr. B today then dressing up for past 13 days will not pay back, my mind started working like Chacha Chaudhary(the one whose brain works faster than a computer) and I came up with a brilliant idea(okay it was not brilliant but it was an okay idea).
I asked her if I could meet Mr. B as I have certain doubts, she fell for it and called Mr. B. He was on his way and Dawn left me in the conference room, I quickly checked myself on the huge glass table I was looking fab. Once I was confident about looks I decided to do time pass on my Blackberry it will look like I am working very sincerely. As I was fiddling on my phone I got a call from my bloody office, it was Shadaab the online editor and as always he had problem with the length of next day’s episode, I hate getting calls from him because I have to explain him where to cut the episode short from. As I was explaining him where to do what Mr. B entered the conference room, I shook hands with him and gestured him to wait, then I told Shadaab that I will call him back. I was so overwhelmed I was beginning to perspire which is not good at all. Mr. B was wearing a blue denim shirt and was again having his patent coffee mug in his hands he was looking divine, I could have stared at him forever. He is one of those men you love looking at, he has the right amount of handsomeness and grace he looks too good.

Mr. B was equally happy to see me I could see that on his face, we chatted for a minute or 2 and then he asked my email id and said he’ll be mailing me the rest of the details. I was so happy because this time I was also getting a chance to speak. Yes he asked me how work was and what the crisis was I explained it to him and he was nodding patiently. I bet he wanted to sit and chat some more if it was not for the meeting he had to rush for. I stepped into the lift and made a call to Shadaab I had to save next day’s telecast, I told him I am on my way. I have to clear my desk I have a lot of stuff to carry with me. I am very content new job, new place, new desk and new friends but above all Mr. B to meet every day. I wish my husband doesn’t read this blog else I will have to find a new husband as well.
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Sneh

For the Love of Shopping

Today I Bought a Bag (Feb 2008)

It was yet again a boring Monday according to me, but destiny had other plans to make it an eventful day. Me and my Creative Head Shaily were chilling on our beautiful office terrace and smoking suddenly she came up with the idea of going shopping since there was nobody else in the office and we could easily step out saying that we were going for a script meeting, though Shaily doesn’t make a good shopping partner but still I agreed as shopping is my first love. We left the office at 4:00pm in Shaily's car which she for some reason used to call "Chotu". However we sat in Chotu and it was a 15 minutes drive and reached Inorbit Mall at exactly 4:15, shopping is my life, so as soon as we parked Chotu I headed towards Shoppers Stop but sadly couldn't find anything exciting, though Shaily bought a couple of things from there and I was getting annoyed with myself it was already half an hour and I hadn’t bought a single thing.

Our next stop was Esbeda, it’s a local brand of Bags and accessories, it can be called Mumbai ka Channel in bags, though it’s a little expensive brand but I like their stuff. We spent some time looking for some nice bag for Shaily but she didn't like any, we were planning to leave when my eyes fell on this amazing multi-colored leather bag. It was one hell of a bag it was just the right size and it had all me favorite colors purple, yellow, green and black, it had purple leather design running over the yellow back ground with a little green and black detailing. Oh! It was gorgeous. I picked up the bag and was trying it in front of the mirror all excited and I asked Shaily how was it? She was indifferent she said it was okay, that very instant I knew she was jealous of my choice.

Hah! I was gonna buy that bag and then carry it every day to make her more jealous. I asked the sales guy for the price he said it was for Fifteen One Eighty. I told him to pack it immediately before Shaily talks me out of it. Shaily said it was a damn expensive bag and I shouldn't be wasting my money, see I knew she was jealous and paying Fifteen Hundred for a bag was not a big deal I have even more expensive bags. I took the bag gave the sales guy my debit card which thankfully had a lot of money as it was just 8^th of Feb. and my salary had just came in. He gave me the receipt I happily singed it and took my precious multi-colored Esbeda bag and I walked out of the store with new confidence. Shaily was still cribbing and yapping something about prioritizing my life and money management and something, but I wasn’t really listening just nodding. I was smiling inside for being the possessor of such a cheap and gorgeous bag which people would think is worth some Four Thousand Rupees. Shaily dropped me at the Juhu circle I took a rickshaw and rushed home as I wanted to show my beautiful bag to my flat mate and my best friend Jojo (short of Jyoti). I called her up on the way and told her about the bag, she was already sounding excited. I love Jojo as she understands me and my shopping addiction completely and no matter what I buy or how much I spend she always loves my stuff.

I reached home at 7 in the evening Jojo was sipping her tasteless without-sugar tea and reading the newspaper she had just gotten up as she studies at night and wakes up in the evening, she is preparing for her exams she is doing her B.E, which is again a big connect between me and her as I am also an Engineer, I know hard to believe but true I am an Electronics and Communications Engineer and proud to be one though I never took engineering seriously I just scraped through my exams and there I am with a professional degree, it has no connect with my current profession but you know it leaves a good impression and sounds cool too. I totally understand her plight. She was super excited to see my bag we jumped on the bed for at least 10mins before collapsing on the same. She was awestruck that I got such an amazing bag for just 15 hundred bucks and we decided that we will tell Jiya (our third flat mate we call her M.J not as Michael Jackson but as Moti Jyoti) that the bag is worth 5 thousand. It was 8 already and Jojo had to study so I decided to go out with Rahul (my current boyfriend whom Jojo doesn’t like much but I feel he is totally marriage material).

He picked me up for dinner and after dinner we went to his house for a cup of coffee it was already 11pm and I was too sleepy I had to be at office the next day, so we planned to call it a night. Right when I was entering the building lift to go home my phone beeped. It was an sms, generally no one smses me this late in the night except when we are palnning to go clubbing as in me and JoJo but that was out of question as she was having her exams so I checked it immediately it was from HDFC bank saying "your account has been debited Rs.15,180/- towards Esbeda today at 4:45pm" it took me a minute to understand what I had just read, I was in shock I asked Rahul to read the message for me and tell me what does this mean. He told me it was pretty clearly written that I had bought a bag worth Fifteen thousand rupees from Esbeda. I told him that I had bought a bag but it was just for fifteen hundred and the store guys have cheated me. Rahul asked me if I had checked the receipt before signing it and I just couldn't say anything because I never check anything before signing and a shopping receipt of all the things I mean who checks them. He asked me that has the sales man given you a counter receipt I said yes he did and I should sue them on the basis of that receipt. I rushed home and checked my bag and the receipt it was written in bold there that the bag was worth 15,180 and not 15,80. I was in tears by this time, Jojo came out of the room she asked me to check the price-tag on the bag I checked it and it read in black bold letters MRP Rs.15,180/-. I started crying hysterically and Jojo started laughing the same way even Rahul started laughing, yet again I had made a fool out of myself all because of my shopping addiction. Also I was wrong about Jojo understanding me and my addiction, she doesn't.

- Sneh

…to be continued.

My Nails: A Testimonial

There are a very few things which I truly adore in life and on top of this list are my nails. (Note: I m talking about things and not people, so there.) Well for a larger part of my life, I believed that I had ugly hands. Actually not ugly hands, I have beautiful long fingers but for some reason God decided to give me unusually small nail beds, in turn I had these small nails which could neither be grown long nor left to what they were. I somehow managed with ugly nails all through my school and college life but when I came to Mumbai and started working I became more conscious about my appearance and then I realized that well groomed nails are a must for one’s professional growth(my belief).

About 2 years ago, at the behest of my then boyfriend (who thought my nails were horrible and he got manicures done every week); I started to get my nails “done’. This means getting them lengthened and strengthened with all sorts of fake gels and acrylic nail-tips. Though Jojo (my roommate) was not too sure about this idea but as she always does, she encouraged me. And now I have the most beautiful nails in the world, they are square in shape just like Kareena’s, no not really like Kareena’s because her nails are way too square and sometimes remind me of all those girls in porn films with square nails and French manicures, mine are a little rounder in shape, but not too round also because that makes them look natural which is not cool.

The best part of having fake nails is, people now notice my hands more than my ever growing tummy. In a way this is my style of getting peoples’ attention off my fatness (I know I am smart. He he). I am confident and dynamic person altogether when I have my fake nails on. I try and gesticulate more with my hands even when not required I take pen and paper and start taking notes in the not-so-fruitful channel meetings and there has not been a single meeting by far where I have not been complemented on my nails. I am so proud of them.

I am utterly dependent upon my nails now without them I feel like a lost puppy or more like Jai without Veeru, I feel naked and powerless. Whenever I have an important meeting or a party or for that matter even a job interview the first thing I do is get my nails filled because grey hair don’t matter to me actually they make me look matured and intelligent but I seriously cannot afford a broken nail.

I always thought I was commitment phobic and before my marriage I met a friend of mine who is incidentally a psychologist I told her about my recurring dream of waking up, on my wedding day with all my nails broken, she was quite for some time then she told me in her deep psychologist voice, “You know Sneh, this is the first time in my life I have heard about someone dreaming about their nails, you seriously are in trouble I shall refer you to a senior doctor.” I was shocked for a moment and I seriously started thinking that I am loosing it but then I saw at her fingers curled on her coffee mug and that very moment I understood this girl will never understand what it means to lose a nail which you have grown with so much love and care, because she had the worst nails I ever saw. I always knew she was a nerd but this little observation confirmed my doubt. I don’t think I should blame her, earlier when I was a tom-boy (a fact hard to digest) I used to laugh at the girly girls who considered breaking a nail as a disaster. But now I totally understand their plight, it is as bad as bald patch on your head.

I never in my life had a chance to buy nail paints and apply them, though my elder sister had this fancy collection of nail colors and used to change her nail paint every week , I seriously thought that she needed medical help for her condition of obsessive love for her nails, but believe you me I was wrong. Trust me there is an orgasmic pleasure in grooming your nails. Now I have a unique made-to-order nail paint kit which I got made last year before my marriage it’s a golden round kit and it holds all the stuff one needs for nail grooming like nail cutter, cuticle remover, nail paint removers and all my lovely colors ranging from “femme fatale red” to the glittery ones from clear coats to opalescents, my personal all time favorite is a clean French manicure but I also apply some more shades depending upon my mood and the weekly horoscope. Rahul too has contributed to my nail passion; he was the one who paid for the custom made nail paint kit and also for all the things inside that kit. Well what can I say, he is one supportive husband.

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Sneh

The Interview : from my point of view

Today I went for an interview:

There is a big problem with me, I cannot call it commitment phobia but if we look closely it can come under that category, well what I am talking about is that I cannot work for a particular company for more than 6 months. I know it sounds weird but as soon as I am 6 months old in the company have this unignorable itch to move on and by this time I start feeling all sorts of discomforts with my job. But this time I have out shined myself, I have been working at endemol (a television production house)for full 8 months now yes that’s a record may be because I m in love with the team and the theme of the show is also young and vibrant so I have been hanging on. I have been avoiding this voice in my head for quite some time now, which says “move on, you can do better than this.” But yesterday opportunity knocked on my door, yes I am talking about a job proposal, yes these extremely nice people heard about me from the few friends I have and decided to offer me a job. But now this stupid voice in my head is saying “don’t go Sneh this is what you always wanted, stick around.” I know this voice in the head is confusing me big time. Well I had promised to meet these people so I must.

I called up this firm and took an appointment of 2pm in the afternoon, by this time my master (master as in Episode master and not my master because I am my own mistress) had left and I was planning to eat my lunch. I thought of calling these guys and telling them that I will be coming tomorrow but then I thought, beggars are not choosers so its better that I take this opportunity and go and meet these (very kind) people who have considered me for the job. I took a rickshaw to this place which was less than 5 mins from my current office I took a rickshaw whose driver looked really inspired from Tollywood heroes , he was wearing aviator goggles and was smoking in full Rajnikant style, he drove though the traffic like nobody’s business.

I reached the reception and a very rude looking receptionist gave me a weird look the one which says what makes you think wearing this pink and blue cotton salwar kameez will help you get a job in a reputed firm like ours?. I was intimidated by her look but continued in my I-am-just-back-from-Malaysia style, “Hi!! I am here to meet Ms. Joyita; I have an appointment at 2pm.” She again gave me the same look and I realized that it was 20mins past 2. Anyways she gestured me to sit.

I was sitting at the reception sofa, which was again not very comforting, I saw myself in the huge mirror on the opposite wall I noticed that me “Mrs. Snehil D Mehra” who is proclaimed to be one of the best dressers in the city (by myself), today for some reason has chosen to wear a Pink and Blue cotton salwar kameez which is worn out by millions of washes and has faded a little, and classic black aunty style Black flip flops also have put sindoor on my forehead like a typical TV soap daughter-in-law, now I realized why the receptionist was giving me that kind of a look. I got really self conscious but it was too late the rude receptionist asked me to go one floor up and meet the concerned lady. I chose to take the stairs as it will show how sensible I am and how I can walk an extra mile for the job, but actually I was buying time to analyze myself. The only saving grace was my huge silver Espirit watch and of course and the diamonds I was wearing in my ears and fingers(I love you Sasu maa),also I was glad that I had visited Nail spa a day before(will tell you about my love of nails some other time). I reached the 5^th floor and a handsome looking man smiled at me, I was suddenly filled with new confidence. A girl showed me to a room where this lady was sipping chai and was probably facebooking, she was the one I came to meet. We shared pleasantries and she told me she was not going to interview me but it will be a guy, I felt so relieved because in interviews I find myself more comfortable with men(I know what your dirty minds are thinking but I m just comfortable because it’s easier to impress a guy than a girl). She asked me to follow the girl who accompanied me to her room. The girl took me to a computer and asked me to take print of my own Resume from my email. I was ecstatic that she asked me to do it myself, I quickly took the opportunity and changed years of experience to 4 which is actually 3. I took the print out and made a face of humble Mother Teresa. The girl asked me to wait as the guy who was supposed to meet was in the washroom.

I was looking around and thinking which cabin will they be giving me. The handsome looking man who was smiling at me earlier emerged from somewhere and I smiled at him again, he came close to me wiping his specs and said “Hi are u Sneh?” I nodded and he said I am Mr. Benerjee and I will be interviewing you, I was shocked for a minute he was a gorgeous man, yes gorgeous is not always used to express charm of a man but he was actually gorgeous. I took a close look at him he was wearing the classic blue jeans and white shirt combination and once he put his glasses on he was looking awesome. He had little grayish hair he might be in his early forties but he looked well kept, I scanned him from top to bottom he was wearing casual brown loafers with his ensemble, I have observed he is a very stylish man but in a subtle way. I was a little shaken with this charming man’s personality but regained my Malaysia return confidence and said “cool lets proceed with the interview.”

He chose to sit outside in the smoking area. He asked me for chai coffee and I was happy that he is chivalrous and sweet too also he had the most deep heavy voice I have ever heard not like Amrish Puri deep but somewhat like Amitabh Bachchan deep, I want to work with this man already. Well he started reading my resume and it felt for a while that he was trying to find out spelling mistakes. I was wondering why he is taking so long, is he stunned by my beauty and trying to cover up by burying his face in the resume or he is really reading it and thinking what a fat liar I am. He lit a cigarette and looked at me for the first time in past 10mins. I was smiling but at the same time hoping that I am not grinning like a “first-time-in-love” teenager.

He thoughtfully asked me, “So you seem to have a lot of experience.” I thought damn he has calculated my years of experience and I am going to be thrown out of this office. But he continued in his deep voice. “Sneh I think your resume is quite intriguing as I have never seen such a detailed and up to the mark resume, I have met some 10 people in past 2 weeks and I think by far yours is the best resume.” I was so happy, thanks to Akshay a long lost friend who helped me make my resume, God bless him. Mr. B kept talking about the company and the responsibilities I will have if I join. He didn’t ask me anything except me current salary, for which again I lied and told them was getting 10 thousand more than what I am actually getting. I was so glad that he was taking my interview. For exactly 45 mins he was speaking and all this while I was either smiling or nodding or saying “exactly”. When he stopped I said a big thank you. He said he will be hopefully calling me back and I was happy again. A. because the lecture was over and B.I couldn’t have sat mute for even a single minute now. I took the lift and didn’t even stop to say a proper bye to the handsome man. I rushed out of the building and dialed my husband’s no. as I had missed his 2 calls during the so called interview. Its such a relief talking to Rahul, I can be me and I know he knows about all my lies, I love him so much because he gives me my space and never asks me how much did I loose in the card party or why is my credit card bill beyond limit. Well I am back to my current office and writing this anecdote. It’s still a mystery as to whether the handsome man will call me back or no but one thing is for sure that it was the best job interview of my life.

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Sneh