Congratulations Germany #WorldCup2014

I was never much of a Football fan, coming from a country like India which is crazy about Cricket, I was also imbibed into that culture quite naturally. And quite frankly I love cricket. It is my favourite sport. But this time around I religiously watched FIFA World Cup and it was truly a joyful experience (except the part where you are sleepy and groggy at office every day). Nonetheless, the passion and vigour with which players and crowd at the stadium showed keeps you awake to watch the matches. 

I supported Germany from the beginning (sitting in office in my maroon and red  horizontal stripes t-shirt) but liked other teams like Argentina (just for Messi but now I know few other players like Higuain, Mascherano and Aguera), Belgium (hailed as the dark horse and I liked Eden Hazard among them) and Netherlands (for the legendary Van Persie, Sneijder and Robben). Wow, never knew that I know so many names. All because of World Cup. I think Germans really showed their class. I mean why not, with players like Muller, the aging Klose, Ozil, Bastian Schweinsteiger (very tough name), Khedira, Lahm, etc., it was truly the team to beat from the beginning. The 7-1 drub of Brazil will not be forgotten for a long long time. It was the humiliation of humiliations. I mean people might just equate the worse humiliations with that match perhaps from now on. 

Congratulations to Germany! And Goetze the man of the moment.

Tweet to Goetze

This apart my favourite goal of the tournament was Sneijder's ultimate power kick into the goal post against Mexico. People might say there was no skill in it or whatever but that was so stylish and so powerful. No one moved an inch, if the goal keeper or defender had touched it, I am sure it would have broken their limbs. Apart from that I liked Colombian wonder boy James Rodrigez's goal that hit the goal post and went inside. Seriously, I have no clue why Messi got the Golden Ball though. I mean I love him but a. His heroics did not win the world cup. b. There were people who hit more goals than him. May be because he was the playmaker or whatever but when it mattered like in the knock out games he didn't hit even one goal and especially in the final, his performance was nothing close to even good let alone great. 

Also, if I don't say this it won't be complete. The ladies in the crowd. Ahhhhhhh. Was there some condition that only models would be allowed to sit in stadiums. Every one of them so pretty. How I wish Indian stadiums had such a crowd with such an enthusiasm. I wish I have enough money to watch a match in Moscow next time and be a part of such a wonderful crowd. So long!

Celebrity Interview - Ishika Gupta

I have always believed that lives all around us are very interesting and each one of us perceives, experiences and explored life in a unique way. Doesn''t it happen so that we randomly meet someone and start talking about their experiences and wonder, "wow! what a remarkable experience"? For you my story is fascinating, for me its yours. With such a realization, I have taken this initiative to document stories and experiences of ordinary people (with extraordinary stories). 

First up in this series is Ms. Ishika Gupta. She is working with International Rice Research Institute as a Consultant has done her Bachelors in Economics from Hans Raj, Delhi University followed by a Masters in Economics from Madras School of Economics. 

"In the train there was a person, from some European country and he started talking to us and I remember he said that he was a butcher, and he worked 6 months and then saved and traveled for the other 6 months, alone. That really fascinated me, I was 16, quite impressionable".

So let's beginning from your childhood. What are your fondest memories from your childhood?

Fondest memories would be back in Calcutta where I grew up in a joint family. There are many instances but to name a few, I can never forget having dinner on an 8-seater table, me, my brother, cousins, papa and papa's older brother. Once I got slapped by my dad on the table (the only time he has raised a hand on me), I must have been 7 or 8. He slapped me because I wasted food everyday. I kept on yapping on the table and sab khana khatam karke uth jaate the and end mein mai khana chhod deti thi. Toh he lost his patience one day! 

Also, I can never forget playing 'kitchen-kitchen' with leftover peels that my grandmother gave me from the day's vegetables that she cut. She saved all the peels for me and my sister (tauji's daughter) and we pretended we were cooking! And playing carrom, scrabble with my tauji and my brother and cousins.

I slept with my grandmother after I reached a certain age, and then I used to bug her every night to tell me stories about her childhood, how she grew up, her school, what kind of clothes they wore etc.! I used to find find it fascinating to imagine her as a young girl. Finally, this was when i slept with my parents. I did not go to sleep unless my dad kept his hand on me. I made him do that even by waking him up in the middle of the night, in case his hand had slipped. Basically all the fun with cousins and uncles, getting teased by everyone! I had a fun childhood, and I wish we still had joint families.

How would you define yourself as a teenager? Were you a rebel child?

No, not a rebel at all. I was a good girl. I did my homework and listened to my parents. Basically, I never rebelled, I still have not. I settled into school and then college happened and now I am working. My parents have never really been worried about me. I was always the one they were least worried about.

So do you think that's what teenagers are meant to do (be a good girl)?

No, not necessarily. I think I am a very risk averse person. I tend to confirm to established practices. I hate when things don't go as planned.

You have moved from Kolkata to Delhi. How are both the cities different? Is there any similarity between the two?

I moved when I was very young, 10 or 11. Since I grew up in Delhi, my formative years were spent here. Delhi has influenced me and molded me in both good and bad ways. I will not want to compare Delhi with Calcutta because I will be biased towards Delhi for obvious reasons.

Calcutta for me is a place where I went for my summer vacations, ate a lot and played with my numerous cousins, listened to stories. I guess I still see Calcutta like that, like a holiday home and Delhi is my home.

You are quite a traveler, where all have you been and which is by far the best place you have visited? Also, share some moments during that trip.

Umm, not quite a traveler. I wish I remembered going to Shillong. I went there with my parents when I was 4 or 5 and sadly I remember nothing at all (a fact which makes my dad roll his eyes, because he says he remembers things way back when he was 3). I wish I remembered that trip because the photos look magical. And i look strange *chuckles*

From the ones I remember, I guess the toy train ride from Kalka to Shimla was the most memorable one. I was mesmerized by the beauty. I had just given my 10th boards and we went during the summer break. In the train there was a person, from some European country and he started talking to us and I remember he said that he was a butcher, and he worked 6 months and then saved and traveled for the other 6 months, alone. That really fascinated me, I was 16, quite impressionable. His life seemed very adventurous and I wondered, and still do, if I ever be able to travel alone to a foreign country, given that I always yearn for company and get bored very easily.

Which is the best place you have visited in Delhi till now? Why?

CP!!! I love CP. Period. I don't know why but I feel at home when I am in CP. I can go there everyday (which I do after office) to the same place (usually Wenger's) and not get bored. I think by now I have mastered all the blocks. And I like colonial architecture, even though CP has been renovated. And then I have people like you who have told me awesome things about what CP used to be and is now. Bas, i love CP!

What is the one thing you feel has changed drastically in Delhi in the last 10-15 years?

Since I came in 2000, infrastructure wise, Delhi Metro. But Delhi needs to calm down and be more welcoming. People tell me they find Delhi-ites rude and I agree, people lose their cool at the slightest of things and its getting worse i think.

How do you think you can contribute to the progress of our country/city (with your skills and capabilities)? 

Country? That's a very heavy question. I will say I used to be one of the people who littered before but since the past year or two I have stopped doing so and try to make my friends do the same. So yes, stop littering.

I guess in my capacity as a researcher and the kind of job I am in right now, if i do it well enough I will be able to affect maybe the life of a few farmers if not more. But it would need a combined effort.

Favourite cuisine: Continental

Favourite dish: Ye mushkil hai bahut. A fat juicy steak, good pasta, biryani from Calcutta and, anything that has bacon, phuchka and roll (both from Calcutta) aur bahut hai, I had a tough time narrowing these.  

Favourite attire: A cotton kurta with the silver jhumkas and salwar of course. hahaha.

Most stylish person you know: Okay Srishti, she is my friend from school. I love the way she dresses and mixes things up. She has real talent! And Sumedha! For the same reason, I get most of my ideas about stitching my clothes from her. No Celebrities. 

Favourite sport: Tennis

Favourite sportperson: Roger Federer

Favourite music genre: I grew up on Bollywood, so that. But I love listening to folk and classical as well.

Favourite musician: Yaar it changes, Right now I am listening to old songs. I love Geeta Dutt! But there are many.

Thank you so much for your time. 

There is a Celebrity in each one of us. Embrace yourself. Pamper yourself.

P.S. Don't forget to click on reactions.

Apology Letter to Maria Sharapova

Dear Sharapova,

I sincerely apologize for the wayward posts and comments buzzing on social media these days about the fact that you don't know about Sachin Tendulkar or from where I belong to, THE SACHIN TENDULKAR. Don't get me wrong here I am not anti-Sachin or a hater. I adore him and love him to the core but I am sure that even Sachin wouldn't promote any bullshit like this ever.

To begin with, Sachin Tendulkar is a cricketer who served in the Indian Cricket team for 24 years and holds almost all prominent batting records. He is a 'Bharat Ratna' awardee which is the highest award conferred to any civilian in the country and the first sportsperson to receive such an honour in our great country of 1 billion plus population. For nearly 2 decades now he has been the sensation and the highest level of sportsmanship in the country with everyone from parents, teachers, roadside chachas (uncles/ acquaintances) calling children who aspire to play, "abey sachin banega kya??" (do you want to become Sachin). 

You would have loved it if you were born in India, people would have made big hoardings and banners of you and worshiped you by adoring garlands on your hoardings and pouring milk over it (religious custom). Sachin might just got bored of all this now since he has been accepting this love for years now. Actually, I take it back, that God you were born there otherwise you would have had to deal with drooling lechers from the moment you stepped out of your house and assholes who would pass wry and disgusting comments directed at your blonde hair to your long earrings to your prettiness, everything and anything, no one would have spared you even for a moment. 

On the record I would like to state that there would only be say 20% (or even lesser) who would know you, even lesser who would know Martina Navratilova and even lesser who would know Billie Jean King. For a fact I also know that if it wasn't Sachin and were other sports heroes like Vishwanath Anand or Jeev Milkha Singh or Leander Paes, there wouldn't have been any hue and cry. Hence, you not knowing THE SACHIN TENDULKAR is absolutely fine to me. For all  you should know is how to play the sport you love in the best possible way. There is no problem whatsover in not know who Sachin is. 

For how humble Sachin is he might just come to you and introduce himself by his own but such is his fan following here that they can't digest it. 

Your faithfully,

A Sachin Fan
An Ashamed Indian
A Sports Enthusiast.

P.S. Don't forget to tick on reaction once you read it.

The Romantic Side of Divye Khanna!

Here goes. Now that college is coming to a close and alcohol is taking its course. The feeling is finally coming in that college life is soon coming to end. All the laid back shit that was taken for granted is soon going to turn into monotony of sitting in front of a screen and bargaining with corrupt jerks!

This incident took place at my last Planner's night as a student where I discovered a new side of the usually calm and composed (at times wayward and stupid :P) Divye Khanna. The "emo" side. The dangerous one. From what I remember.

Divye: I don't know if you know the meaning of this word. My true state now is 'hapless'.

Now hapless is a very strong word. It's that insatiable feeling of not being in control. Letting things happen to you, while knowing that it's not actually good to yourself. Even when knowing it just standing there and taking it all just because at the back of your mind you want to be devastated by that feeling. I sure know quite a bit myself about self - destruction. Bhai there is nothing wrong in being hapless. People who are calculative and plan it are not passionate about anything. There are there just to survive. The whole point in committing to anything is being haplessly devoted to the cause, even a lost cause.

The second instance was the whole Eminem saga! However funny, it was shit deep to me. Having been a devout fan throughout, from having downloaded lyrics to rap (or rather read and cope up with his pace) to folding a magazine to hold up as a mic to buying baggy jeans and holding up your balls while "lipsyncing" with the songs. I've done it all. And trust me I know how you felt when you said it.

Divye: "You make me wanna stop listening to Eminem" (this of course is not to me, it's to his girl)

Whoever has ever heard even pieces of Eminem would know the kind of hatred and bashing that Eminem songs have. It is a sign of rebellion while going up against parents, the system, celebrities, people in power, everyone. To have someone say "you wanna make me forget about him or stop listening to him" is one of the cutest and most unconventional romantic lines ever!

PS - I won't stop listening to Eminem ever! (and neither should YOU)