Saturday, May 07, 2005

Train the menace

It’s quite a piss off being a part of this idiotic and abashing community at times. GUJJU, the proud businessman sans manners.

I was made to go to this function hosted by a rather decent family. I mean, the host was my father’s school friend and his daughter has been engaged so there was the much required show of the occasion (as it is in all communities I guess). That was normal. The party was humble with few family and few friends (now that is unusual for the khakhra-munching clan). This was a welcome thing. For once there was good food which again is a break from the usual extra ghee highly oily excuses for a paratha or nan or roti. But the dhokla lovers had to make their presence felt. I was irritating with the kind of noise the women made while the poor singer (who had an amazing voice) was trying really hard to come close to kishore kumars voice and he damn well did… but it all got drowned in the vacant conversations about the diamond necklace and the pretty black salwaar. Pissing off to say the least man. As if the shoes and lipstick oriented small talks weren’t enough, the snazzy cell phones went off in the middle of a wonderful mukesh number (chodhvi ka chaand ho). The disgust of the orchestra playing was far more evident than my loath that remained hidden under the plastic smile I wore while I spoke to the never-seen-before, never-want-to-see-again bunch of ladies that claim to have seen me when I was like 2 feet in height or something. Then the other obvious irritation that I dread made its manifestation as expected… “so son, you finished graduation right?” and I could (try as I may to miss it) see the gleaming iris of their eyes saying ‘when is the next party announcing your engagement young man?’. UGGGHHHH!!! Get off it. At one point, I nodded at the question and promptly asked the 45-something-trying-to-look-like-30-nothing aunty, “So has your daughter, hasn’t she?” and tried replicating the same glare in my eyes. What do you know? It bloody hell worked like a charm. A quick turn of the heel and a smooth get away to the pasta counter… yeah, that’s more like it, I thought. Not to mention the other irritants like noisy mouths, smashing forks and spoons, ultrasonic high decibel laughter and the absolutely pathetic ‘leave used plates anywhere you like’ syndrome. Shit! I wanted to run so hard, it’s not funny.

Not quite surprisingly Mickey called and asked me if I would like to catch a movie. 9.30 show. There is a God. This is the same guy who I had written about… the fellow who is always around to get me out of anywhere when I want out. Without me even starting to think about asking for help, he shows up with an escape route. So I sigh and say “yes, I would love to” in a tone that reminds me of the time I first got asked out by a girl for lunch. Quick goodbyes and off we were to the darkness of delight, the movie hall. Man, I tell you, the entire community should be given scholarships to join finishing school and a crash course on ethics and manners. There, I wish in hell again but I mean it… honestly.

Otherwise, all is good fun. Office is not exciting but quite interesting. Went for a day to Lonavala with a bunch of new friends and their respective siblings. Good fun there. I’ve always enjoyed making and maintaining new contacts. Especially if they are non-gujjus. I don’t have anything against those who share the same view about the clan as I do (and there are quite a few). So I enjoyed the hectic but fun day there. Pretty chilled out public so guess I’ll be around with them for quite some time now.

Oh! Almost forgot. Saurav Palit (engineering days’ friend and rhythm guitarist of our band) and assorted friends (of his) have decided to cut an album of our very own originals. Awesome! The way I see it, it’s the highest form of respect for music. Everybody listens to music, a lot of them listen to good, quality music, quite a few have a wonderful collection, even lesser than that are those who appreciate it and the absolutely few of them who dare make their own music for others to listen to. Now think about it, the kind of honor that I should be feeling in being a part of this handful. Our songs are turning out fine. The lyrics seem in place. The arrangement requires some tweaking. And recording has to be done. It’s unbelievably exciting. Frankly, I’m out of words to try and express how elated I am at this point. BREAK DUST makes a come back in style I suppose. Our bassy has exams so we miss him. But what the hell, BRAK DUST is back.

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