Graphology

Graphology is the study of hand-writing.

I am currently doing advanced level courses of Graphology. The first thing we were taught on the first day of class is that "handwriting is not HAND Writing, its actually BRAIN Writing". This means that, ideally, if you try to write with your leg or mouth, you will try to write in the same way as you write with your hand, because the brain is actually giving the signal to write. I wonder if this is really true? Do we have any truly ambidextrous people out there? Please get back to me on this :)

Most people, when told about Graphology, think its hogwash. They think its a party gimmick or something similar to palmistry. Graphology is actually a science. Yes, it is a SCIENCE. Data has been collected from millions of people, carefully analyzed and then documented as xyz trait means abc. It is an extremely interesting subject to study and sometimes I am still amazed at how a small trait in handwriting can accurately describe a significant trait in your personality.

At the beginning of every lecture we take a small oath where we declare that we will not condemn or judge anybody based on their handwriting. I think this is really significant, because the power that Graphology gives you, especially as you start becoming good at it, is unimaginable. You can see the person's childhood, his parents, any health problems, past affairs.. I think much  more than you would actually like to see. Of course, I am nowhere close to that stage (got one analysis totally wrong today), but the learning curve is fun and the class is delightful. Plus, free food is always the best thing to happen to me. Well, technically not free, but I work much better on a slightly filled stomach. So, handwriting analysis anyone? Oh, better get it done while I'm still learning, coz I'm going to start charging real high real soon ;)

All the Best - movie review

After seeing Ajay Devgan trying to dance in Golmaal, frankly speaking, I had no expectations from this movie. He seems better suited to the serious brooding type of roles like in Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam..

However, kudos to Rohit Shetty for the excellent comic timing and brilliant character development. I remember laughing so hard in one of the scenes that I banged my head against the seat. This movie came dangerously close to Bheja Fry for me, but just missed by a small mark because of its inanity (In bheja fry I was laughing with my hands and legs up in the air.. My brother was about to disown me out of sheer embarassment)

Since there is no story whatsoever and most of the times I was wondering "What the hell is going on!", I would just like to point out some interesting observations. The story starts picking up speed when Sanjay Dutt comes in. Poor Ajay Devgan tries to hold the show with stupid Fardeen Khan till then. Dont get me wrong, I think Fardeen Khan is extremely charming, but only off the camera. In front of it, he is a bumbling fool. Mughdha Godse, please get some acting lessons before you become a live example of "came with a bang, left without a whimper.. " The cameraderie seems mostly artificial till Sanjay Dutt steps in so just hold on till then. The side characters have peculiar traits which have you in splits towards the end of the movie. The litmus test of a comedy is if you come out laughing and keep laughing the next day remembering some of the jokes.

All the best has passed the litmus test! Just keep your gray cells at home and you'll have a ball of a time!

The magic of yellow roses

In a hypothetical scenario

Romeo: Here my darling, beautiful red roses for my beautiful love..

Juliet (if it was me): Red Roses? Should I make a pickle of the red roses? (Iska kya main aachaar dalu?) Consider yourself dumped!

Yes I know you must have laughed at Romeo's dialogue and of course said "wtf!" at Juliet's.

But fact is, I hate red roses! Well I dont really hate them..

Here's the thing.. Yellow Roses bloom much more than red roses. Given the same amount of TLC, yellow roses blossom like a  woman surrendering to her passionate lover whereas red roses bloom like a philandering lover hiding an affair. Yellow Roses talk about an affair about to blossom, of the innocence of courtship, of the excitement of an impending proposal, of the hesitation of confessing your crush..

They signify the journey from friendship to something more... Red roses are just the end of the journey, there is nothing to look forward to after that :P

So my dear readers, if you are ever struck by the crazy idea of getting me a bouquet, please please get me loads of ... :)

Clay pot

An earthen clay pot,
Slightly misshapen,
A few cracks here and there,
An inner glow of innocence,

A hand roughly moulds into desired shape,
Another bribes with the highest sale,
A third paints with colors unimaginable,
A fourth threatens with consequences dire,

Not one peeped in to see what's inside,
Not one checked the hole underneath,
With each moulding, the hole widened,
With each threat, the glow lessened,

At last a hand, to catch the escaping glow,
To wipe off the layers of paint,
To soothe with kind words,
To cherish what's inside..


This post is dedicated to all the people who peeped inside... I don't know where I would have been without you.

The Ugly Truth - movie review

Before I say anything else, I just want to say, Gerard Butler, I love you! And the jerk that you've played in this movie has not changed your place in my heart..

Either ways, Mike Chadway is a blunt guy who tells the "truth" about guys, girls and relationships in order to help couples. All I could hear was how you should always treat the guy like he's God. A seriously misogynistic movie that sometimes makes you wonder how GB didnt fear losing his female fan following by agreeing to such a crude and crass role.

Of course, Hollywood movies never have "bad" guys, they only have misunderstood guys and in the end, obviously we come to know why Mike Chadway is so against love. There is also the pretty producer of the TV show, Katherine Heigl, Abbie in the movie, who hates him at first sight but soon starts taking his advice for her dating life. Why such a successful producer would take relationship advice from a crude anchor of some dumb show is beyond me but obviously there has to be some way to start the romance and taking care of the heroine apparently seems to be the only way the director could think of a romantic angle between the two of them.

Much as I'd hate to admit it, the crude behavior did elicit a few laughs from me. Maybe this is the reason this movie is remotely watchable. This movie raises some pretty interesting questions. First and foremost, are all guys interested in only one thing? Secondly, should you let the guy be "THE MAN" whatever that means, in order to have a successful relationship? By this, I can only assume letting the guy always take the lead, no matter what you're thinking or feeling. Being a control freak, that seems beyond me. Sometimes is ok, not always! And thirdly, to roughly quote GB, given a choice between two men, would a woman always choose a man with a better resume?

It is on this third question that I'd like to ponder on in this post. Would I do that? Do I do that? Does a person more wealthy, with a better job look more attractive to me than say a middle class person? There are 2 things to think about here. First and foremost, is love in itself a totally inherent thing independent of any external factors? And secondly, if it isn't, can it really be called love? My graphology Sir once said, "In love, there is no because.. ". And I so agree. If you love someone, it cant be "because he is sooo cute" or "because he takes care of me so well.." There should be no "because"..  Because things change, people change. If your love is dependent on external factors, it is bound to die someday.

Coming back to the movie, I would recommend watching it since some of the jokes are hilarious. However women, please dont take the advice given to heart. It has been sent out by a person having a 10 year old kid's definition of love and relationships. Watch it to drool over GB who looks scrumptious even in such a ghastly role. Oh and I loved the cat! Miaaow! (that is ciao in cat's language ;))

Progress

As promised by me in this post about my trek to Kothaligadh, here is a discussion on one of the interesting topics that me and my maushi were talking about:

During the long walk from the Peth village (refer to photo) to Ambivali (base village), we saw many locals walking with their children. Mind you, I was crying and begging for the tar road to come every 2 minutes on that walk, and these people crossed that distance everyday to and fro because all their supplies came from the base village. When my maushi got this to my notice I exclaimed loudly "Why dont they just live at the base village like everybody else!"

My maushi asked me "Why? Why should they move to the base village?"

To which I replied "So that they can get lights, electricity.. They'll face less hardships, they'll progress... "

Thus began a long discussion on what is progress. According to my Maushi, having food, electricity, schooling and then some job does not necessarily amount to progress. If you look at it, as long as they have enough to survive on, do they really need "progress" ? What is progress anyway?

My maushi gave me an example that when people from the suburbs came into contact with some tribes in Africa, those natives developed some strange diseases because they had no immunity against some virus to which we are immune. According to her, everyone and everything shouldn't be explored and put out in the open.

This set me thinking. We have always defined progress as getting electricity, water, telephone, education to every nook and cranny of the country. But does that necessarily mean that people in the villages will start leading better lives? With all the amenities that we enjoy, are we necessarily "happier" than our counterparts in the villages?

This a very difficult view to accept when you consider all the luxury that electricity gives you, and not having schooling seems like a big joke. However, is a school the only place where children can get education? How about parents teaching kids at home? Instead of luring people out of their hometowns and villages with promises of "progress", how about if we make them self sufficent in their own home?

Something to think about...

The ultimate wisdom

The previous night.

*gnash gnash* *gnash*

Mom: "Stop doing that.."

Me: (sleepily) "Doing what?"

Next morning.

Mom: "You were gnashing your teeth last night. I think you've got worms in your stomach. Let's buy some worm medicine for you today."

Me: "No I wasn't! No I don't!" (shuddering at the memory of the last encounter with the "worm medicine") "I'm not taking any medicine!"

Cut to the same day's night.
I fearlfully swallow the big worm medicine tablet wondering if I'm going to choke on it.

Few days later.
I start gnashing my teeth while sitting in front of the tv.
Mom: "You should change your toothpaste. Here, use my Amway toothpaste"
(This feels surprisingly like an ad for Amway, which it is not I assure you :P)

I religiously start using the new toothpaste, hoping that I stop gnashing my teeth every time I'm thinking about something.

Few more days later..
And I finally realize the problem. I'm teething! Its been ages now but my wisdom teeth keep popping out slowly and painfully. Earlier they used to just ache. This time I was actually teething like a small baby!
I had to keep my tongue wedged between my teeth to stop myself from eating my teeth.

Finally the painful encounter is behind me. But I'm sure its going to come back as my left top wisdom tooth is just making its presence felt.

Well, to all those people who doubted my intelligence, this should shut you up.
Or maybe not..
Gimme something to bite!