- The day Mom dressed me up as a "bunch of grapes" for a fancy dress competition. (I was 4 and won the first prize btw)
- Mom and me fighting every morning on "Why milk is good for you". Little did she imagine that I'd be a fan someday
- Proposing to go vegetarian every 1st January and failing miserably.
- Accidentally bumping into SRK while watching Darr. The photograph is too embarassing to upload but the memory, priceless
- Being devastated at losing my first elocution competition
- Treating cricket as a religion and India's loss to Pakistan as the end of the world
- Having the drawing teacher, hold up my painting, show it to the class and state how even a street food vendor would not sell food in this sheet of paper
- Playing trump cards under the desk during class
- Going home for lunch from school and never going back
- Composing and recording a song for my maid (Indu bai)
- Being disappointed at the officers not stamping my passport during my first trip abroad (It was Nepal:))
- My Mickey Mouse birthday cake which was so huge that it couldn't fit into our car and we didn't know what to do with it
- My first official date. (First New Year Eve without parents, we were about 16)
- My first online crush
- First time I traveled alone. Got upgraded on the London flight too! (Delhi- domestic, London- International)
- Playing, singing, staring and dancing in the rain
- Ajay Jadeja (*drools*)
- 6 of us ending up in colleage wearing the same clothes (blue jeans and black tshirts unintentionally). We looked like jackasses
- My first time in a local train. Chaos!!
- My ICQ number
- My first barbie doll (I still have it)
- The first time I saw my name in print. My first international presentation
- Taking a rickshaw through all the flooded streets to get a "feel" of the monsoon season and getting abused by the drivers later
- Hitting a six while playing cricket- Gulmarg- Kashmir
- Falling flat on my face in a casino in Nepal
- Winning 3 pounds in London slots. Spent them on fish and chips
- Eating gajar ka halwa on Mount Titlis in Switzerland
- Getting R's photo on my Malaysian visa
- My ICU experience
- The day I lost nana
- My first sangeet performance
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
I will never forget...
Monday, February 1, 2010
Butter Chicken in Chennai, Dosa in Delhi- It's a contradictory life!
January 2010
1/12 of the year is already over! Like any other year beginning January 2010 has flown past!
That could also be cause I traveled to all the 4 major metros in 8 odd days around mid-Jan. It was hectic but a really productive trip work and otherwise. Met some great people along the way, caught up with a long lost friend who was (luckily for me) stuck with work in Chennai after 10 odd years. It was so much fun, driving around and getting completely lost in Chennai only to find the perfect Italian restaurant. (Italian in Chennai- haha don't say it, I know). And of course A's highly recommended Amethyst cafe which by the way totally lived up to its described standards.
Delhi was freezing (Yes, I am a Bombay girl) and foggy and a completely different experience. The boss recommended a really nice Indian restaurant for the firangs with me called "Vedaa" to eat at. Good food but boy it was expensive! Rohit Bal's I think.
Never thought I'd meet P and gang who did manage to sneak out of work even though for a little bit. And then there was A, who I finally managed to meet after God only knows how many months. He took me to "Big Chill" where we ate the most delicious cheesecake (Irish something). They really need to open up in Bombay soon. Really missed catching up with the cousins though.
You know that's what I like about everyone I know in Delhi (well most of them). The special effort they take just to make sure they meet me even if it's for a bit every single time I visit. Really love all of them for this. Yep! the long lasting forever type!
Anyway moving on, Kolkata was a whole new experience all together. A couple of us went wandering around the city, me with a genuine belief that I will find Ganguly somewhere. Alas! no Sauron anywhere :( Weather wise Kolkata was the best..not as hot as Chennai and not as cold as Delhi! Also kudos to the staff at Taj Bengal. It was such a pleasure to be around such courteous and helpful people.
Life was even more hectic once we got back to Bombay. Headed straight to a meeting from the airport and then did 4 trips (in one night) from Marriott to home. Phew! The after party at Enigma was fun but I think everyone was way too tired by then.
It was rather pleasing to see the foreigners completely mesmerized by the diversity of India all throughout. They almost felt like they were visiting a whole new country each time we landed in a new city (be it in terms of culture, language, food or even physical features of the locals). Got me thinking how much tourism in Indian could prosper even if corruption in India could be reduced by 30%. I mean seriously, I'd love to work with Incredible India someday!
Anyway moving on, life is currently in a dull phase. With all that activity around me almost whole of January I suddenly feel a vacuum and don't really know what to do in my spare time. I am thoroughly enjoying my new founded interest for Power Yoga though. It helps me release stress (which I don't think I have been able to do ever since I can remember). I am a worrying person by nature. It has almost become a habit, but power yoga is really helping me break it.
I've changed my opinion about a few people. They did not turn out to be as I thought they would be, but that's a part of life. (not being judgmental, as I am often falsely accused of being. I mean calling a spade, a spade is not always a bad thing is it? )
Have things planned out for the year, like every other year. Have the "secret project 2010" planned out for June. Lets see if it works out. Only 2 weddings to attend this year, maybe more later, who can tell.
Lunch time, Subway calls! More updates later. Leve you with 3 pictures I managed to click during the whole India trip :) Really need to improve the interest in photography . Maybe buying a SLR would help?
1/12 of the year is already over! Like any other year beginning January 2010 has flown past!
That could also be cause I traveled to all the 4 major metros in 8 odd days around mid-Jan. It was hectic but a really productive trip work and otherwise. Met some great people along the way, caught up with a long lost friend who was (luckily for me) stuck with work in Chennai after 10 odd years. It was so much fun, driving around and getting completely lost in Chennai only to find the perfect Italian restaurant. (Italian in Chennai- haha don't say it, I know). And of course A's highly recommended Amethyst cafe which by the way totally lived up to its described standards.
Delhi was freezing (Yes, I am a Bombay girl) and foggy and a completely different experience. The boss recommended a really nice Indian restaurant for the firangs with me called "Vedaa" to eat at. Good food but boy it was expensive! Rohit Bal's I think.
Never thought I'd meet P and gang who did manage to sneak out of work even though for a little bit. And then there was A, who I finally managed to meet after God only knows how many months. He took me to "Big Chill" where we ate the most delicious cheesecake (Irish something). They really need to open up in Bombay soon. Really missed catching up with the cousins though.
You know that's what I like about everyone I know in Delhi (well most of them). The special effort they take just to make sure they meet me even if it's for a bit every single time I visit. Really love all of them for this. Yep! the long lasting forever type!
Anyway moving on, Kolkata was a whole new experience all together. A couple of us went wandering around the city, me with a genuine belief that I will find Ganguly somewhere. Alas! no Sauron anywhere :( Weather wise Kolkata was the best..not as hot as Chennai and not as cold as Delhi! Also kudos to the staff at Taj Bengal. It was such a pleasure to be around such courteous and helpful people.
Life was even more hectic once we got back to Bombay. Headed straight to a meeting from the airport and then did 4 trips (in one night) from Marriott to home. Phew! The after party at Enigma was fun but I think everyone was way too tired by then.
It was rather pleasing to see the foreigners completely mesmerized by the diversity of India all throughout. They almost felt like they were visiting a whole new country each time we landed in a new city (be it in terms of culture, language, food or even physical features of the locals). Got me thinking how much tourism in Indian could prosper even if corruption in India could be reduced by 30%. I mean seriously, I'd love to work with Incredible India someday!
Anyway moving on, life is currently in a dull phase. With all that activity around me almost whole of January I suddenly feel a vacuum and don't really know what to do in my spare time. I am thoroughly enjoying my new founded interest for Power Yoga though. It helps me release stress (which I don't think I have been able to do ever since I can remember). I am a worrying person by nature. It has almost become a habit, but power yoga is really helping me break it.
I've changed my opinion about a few people. They did not turn out to be as I thought they would be, but that's a part of life. (not being judgmental, as I am often falsely accused of being. I mean calling a spade, a spade is not always a bad thing is it? )
Have things planned out for the year, like every other year. Have the "secret project 2010" planned out for June. Lets see if it works out. Only 2 weddings to attend this year, maybe more later, who can tell.
Lunch time, Subway calls! More updates later. Leve you with 3 pictures I managed to click during the whole India trip :) Really need to improve the interest in photography . Maybe buying a SLR would help?
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Love Actually!
Over a period of time, my blog has been like a collector of my thoughts, feelings, emotions..you name it! I have been nothing but brutally honest in every word that I have typed on this forum much to the annoyance of few others, but am proud to have this collection of memories from parts of my life where I have witnessed different emotions like happiness, sadness, insecurity, deceit etc.
It's 4:00am as I scribble this post on a piece of paper lying on my bed stand. I have just wound up a party I hosted for a couple of my friends. So exhausted but sleep seems to have evaded me these days. I made a cup of hot chocolate and am digging into what you can call my divine "Christmas Cake" which I baked from scratch and I look around my room. The radio plays on, facebook logged in on the desktop, clothes all over the floor, me sprawling under my blanket along with this piece of paper and I suddenly glance on this wall in my room which holds a giant collage of memories I have safeguarded over a period of time. As I reminisce the good old days gone by, I see a picture with R and me. We clicked this picture at her sangeet function. I go back to the days when R told me about M (A fantastic guy she met online). I was so unsupportive and cynical about this whole falling in love online system. At that time I assured her how this would never work out, and how he is probably cheating her by talking to 100 other girls like that or even the fact that the "he" could be a "she". Haha, well clearly I was wrong and it did work out for them. R is happily married for 5 years already.
Coming back o the point as to whether you can actually find the right person for you in a virtual world, I am not too sure what side of the fence I belong to as yet.
Nosey aunt no 26 came in with a so called "rishta" (matrimonial) the other day. In Hindi to my mum "Ladka, accha hai, London mein rehta hai aur MBA hai" When I told her that I had no intentions to tie the knot yet, she wanted me to at least begin an online connection by chatting with him which was evidently ruled out by me, but for nosey aunt to even suggest something this forward was a really big deal. Trust me!
Off late I know at least other couples who are now dating and met each other online. What I find amazing about each one of them is their confidence and belief in knowing that the person they've met online is the right person for them even before they've actually met!
But if you think of it, after all it's an online/virtual personna of the individual that you know. How do you know if what is been shared is the truth at all? How much of your own information do you share? How much is too much, or how much is too little when you meet someone interesting enough online? At what stage should you pick up the phone and talk? What stage do you meet? And then the last stage: What happens after you meet?
Let's face it. Life is not always hunky dory. Surely things can swing the other way. An online personna, expectations may not meet up with what you expected from the individual. What happens then? All these emails, these day/night chat sessions, these phone calls which you couldn't do without, suddenly vanish in thin air?
Anyway going back to the stage before the actual meeting, let's talk a little more about what this online relationship is all about? I mean seriously, what is this online relationship? Does it even exist? Are you committed to that one person without even meeting them or does it signify that you are trying to know someone better before you meet them? But what if the person you think interesting is not honest with their details and has lied to you about things he/she really doesn't want to share and you being the goon you are believed every single word?
What about insecurity? A new friend suddenly props up, an ex comes back, chats decrease as does online frequency. What do you then? You're obviously not in a position to ask questions as after all you were always the "online" friend remember?
Many readers may find this topic pointless and will probably think that I have put in too much thought into something really frivilous but I'm not sure I agree.
I mean till a few years ago, finding love online was for people with "issues". That concept has totally changed today. In this fast paced city life, where you spend 18 hours of your day on your laptop, meeting someone interesting online is quite a regular option. I mean where else is the time otherwise right?
It's 4:45am as I now plan to close this online love debate with my mind....As for love, it will happen, when it has to, with who it has to, how it has to..online or off it!
PS: As I am no expert on this or any other topic I have ever written about, I would really like to read your thoughts, comments or anything that you have to say on this topic. Maybe even your own experiences. You guys have been honest and forthcoming with your views in the past and I would like to hear from you now more than any other time.
It's 4:00am as I scribble this post on a piece of paper lying on my bed stand. I have just wound up a party I hosted for a couple of my friends. So exhausted but sleep seems to have evaded me these days. I made a cup of hot chocolate and am digging into what you can call my divine "Christmas Cake" which I baked from scratch and I look around my room. The radio plays on, facebook logged in on the desktop, clothes all over the floor, me sprawling under my blanket along with this piece of paper and I suddenly glance on this wall in my room which holds a giant collage of memories I have safeguarded over a period of time. As I reminisce the good old days gone by, I see a picture with R and me. We clicked this picture at her sangeet function. I go back to the days when R told me about M (A fantastic guy she met online). I was so unsupportive and cynical about this whole falling in love online system. At that time I assured her how this would never work out, and how he is probably cheating her by talking to 100 other girls like that or even the fact that the "he" could be a "she". Haha, well clearly I was wrong and it did work out for them. R is happily married for 5 years already.
Coming back o the point as to whether you can actually find the right person for you in a virtual world, I am not too sure what side of the fence I belong to as yet.
Nosey aunt no 26 came in with a so called "rishta" (matrimonial) the other day. In Hindi to my mum "Ladka, accha hai, London mein rehta hai aur MBA hai" When I told her that I had no intentions to tie the knot yet, she wanted me to at least begin an online connection by chatting with him which was evidently ruled out by me, but for nosey aunt to even suggest something this forward was a really big deal. Trust me!
Off late I know at least other couples who are now dating and met each other online. What I find amazing about each one of them is their confidence and belief in knowing that the person they've met online is the right person for them even before they've actually met!
But if you think of it, after all it's an online/virtual personna of the individual that you know. How do you know if what is been shared is the truth at all? How much of your own information do you share? How much is too much, or how much is too little when you meet someone interesting enough online? At what stage should you pick up the phone and talk? What stage do you meet? And then the last stage: What happens after you meet?
Let's face it. Life is not always hunky dory. Surely things can swing the other way. An online personna, expectations may not meet up with what you expected from the individual. What happens then? All these emails, these day/night chat sessions, these phone calls which you couldn't do without, suddenly vanish in thin air?
Anyway going back to the stage before the actual meeting, let's talk a little more about what this online relationship is all about? I mean seriously, what is this online relationship? Does it even exist? Are you committed to that one person without even meeting them or does it signify that you are trying to know someone better before you meet them? But what if the person you think interesting is not honest with their details and has lied to you about things he/she really doesn't want to share and you being the goon you are believed every single word?
What about insecurity? A new friend suddenly props up, an ex comes back, chats decrease as does online frequency. What do you then? You're obviously not in a position to ask questions as after all you were always the "online" friend remember?
Many readers may find this topic pointless and will probably think that I have put in too much thought into something really frivilous but I'm not sure I agree.
I mean till a few years ago, finding love online was for people with "issues". That concept has totally changed today. In this fast paced city life, where you spend 18 hours of your day on your laptop, meeting someone interesting online is quite a regular option. I mean where else is the time otherwise right?
It's 4:45am as I now plan to close this online love debate with my mind....As for love, it will happen, when it has to, with who it has to, how it has to..online or off it!
PS: As I am no expert on this or any other topic I have ever written about, I would really like to read your thoughts, comments or anything that you have to say on this topic. Maybe even your own experiences. You guys have been honest and forthcoming with your views in the past and I would like to hear from you now more than any other time.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
2010. Another year begins!
Yep, it's rant time again. *Read at your own risk*
Life is pretty alright! Just returned from a 3 day conference in Brussels, which went off really well even though I had to come back a day earlier, cause of some personal reasons, which to my mind was totally unjustified. Anyway, I'm not pulling that thread yet.
Ok maybe just for a little bit more. I also had to cancel a potential short break to Delhi which I was really looking forward to, for various reasons! (Cmmon now! I can't give away all the details can I? ;)). But that trip will happen. Pretty soon!
So yeah besides all of that, when I walked into work today, I realized I had to flip the calendar page and that the year had almost ended! Wow! 2009 is almost over! Not sure if I say this every year, but this year in particular has flown past by. It had it's share of good and bad, well I visited the ICU for the first time in my life, and lived there for about a week.
Not too many friends got married this year, which is weird cause I was expecting otherwise. Work was alright, traveled a bit, learnt a lot of new stuff. You know that's what I like about traveling. You meet new people, stay in a new environment, are all on your own, eat new food, drink new beer :) , it's quite exciting. I'm trying to absorb almost how much I can, cause I don't know if in a couple of years I will be able to even continue in the same stream of work. (you know why, right? )
What I expect in 2010? I don't like to keep large expectations, as most often when they don't work out, it can totally bum you out. No! I'm definitely not looking at getting married, even though I'm sure my whole family is. I just think I need more time, to meet, know and understand a person and his life before I decide to take the "final" step, as for me there wouldn't be any looking back, thereafter. Luckily Paa still thinks of me as his little baby daughter, so I think I'm still safe :)
I also met a good friend after a gap of 10 whole years last week! It felt so good catching up after so long, although I should admit that there shouldn't have been this gap of 10 years! I am definitely going to try and change this bad habit of not keeping in touch with people regularly and getting so involved with my work and other things, that I just tend to forget that some people..important..or even potential important..exist!
I still want to be involved in all the good things I've done..be it being around my special children, blogging my experiences, maintaining my travel book, upgrading my recipe book (haha yes! every single time I cook something, I write it down in this book which I've been maintaining for almost 5 years now). All so that I don't have to take Indu bai with me in dowry ;)
I'm looking forward to meeting new people, fun people, people who I can connect with instantly, keeping in touch with a few of my lost friends, new experiences, adventure, excitement and am ready with anything new that comes my way..finally....yep can finally say and really mean it.. Bring it on!
For all those who read my blog regularly or have ever read my blog, thank you so much for all your time, comments and patience to read so much random nonsense. I hope you will keep coming back in 2010 as well!
Merry Christmas & A Happy New Year
!
Spread the cheer
Pooja :)
Life is pretty alright! Just returned from a 3 day conference in Brussels, which went off really well even though I had to come back a day earlier, cause of some personal reasons, which to my mind was totally unjustified. Anyway, I'm not pulling that thread yet.
Ok maybe just for a little bit more. I also had to cancel a potential short break to Delhi which I was really looking forward to, for various reasons! (Cmmon now! I can't give away all the details can I? ;)). But that trip will happen. Pretty soon!
So yeah besides all of that, when I walked into work today, I realized I had to flip the calendar page and that the year had almost ended! Wow! 2009 is almost over! Not sure if I say this every year, but this year in particular has flown past by. It had it's share of good and bad, well I visited the ICU for the first time in my life, and lived there for about a week.
Not too many friends got married this year, which is weird cause I was expecting otherwise. Work was alright, traveled a bit, learnt a lot of new stuff. You know that's what I like about traveling. You meet new people, stay in a new environment, are all on your own, eat new food, drink new beer :) , it's quite exciting. I'm trying to absorb almost how much I can, cause I don't know if in a couple of years I will be able to even continue in the same stream of work. (you know why, right? )
What I expect in 2010? I don't like to keep large expectations, as most often when they don't work out, it can totally bum you out. No! I'm definitely not looking at getting married, even though I'm sure my whole family is. I just think I need more time, to meet, know and understand a person and his life before I decide to take the "final" step, as for me there wouldn't be any looking back, thereafter. Luckily Paa still thinks of me as his little baby daughter, so I think I'm still safe :)
I also met a good friend after a gap of 10 whole years last week! It felt so good catching up after so long, although I should admit that there shouldn't have been this gap of 10 years! I am definitely going to try and change this bad habit of not keeping in touch with people regularly and getting so involved with my work and other things, that I just tend to forget that some people..important..or even potential important..exist!
I still want to be involved in all the good things I've done..be it being around my special children, blogging my experiences, maintaining my travel book, upgrading my recipe book (haha yes! every single time I cook something, I write it down in this book which I've been maintaining for almost 5 years now). All so that I don't have to take Indu bai with me in dowry ;)
I'm looking forward to meeting new people, fun people, people who I can connect with instantly, keeping in touch with a few of my lost friends, new experiences, adventure, excitement and am ready with anything new that comes my way..finally....yep can finally say and really mean it.. Bring it on!
For all those who read my blog regularly or have ever read my blog, thank you so much for all your time, comments and patience to read so much random nonsense. I hope you will keep coming back in 2010 as well!
Merry Christmas & A Happy New Year
!
Spread the cheer
Pooja :)
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Another year goes by…
I turned a whole 25 years and one month yesterday. This birthday was really special as I had been discharged from the ICU and was on the way to recovery at home. I didn’t do much this year. Dinner with parents 20th September, lunch the next day on the real birthday and the usual chilling with friends, cutting cakes, opening gifts etc.
I remember writing a similar post on my birthday last year where I felt that the excitement was diminishing as the years go by. But I find hard to lower my expectations, especially from people who are really close to me (Very few of em!). Is it because I feel I do a lot for them and expect the same in return? I’m not sure.
From something as small as expressing great displeasure when I opened mom’s gift (which was x) only because I expected a y! I have this feeling that I get extremely selfish and demanding on my birthday (unlike the other 364 days where I am absolutely the opposite) of late.
I don’t know what phase of life this is, but I am extremely unsure of the choices I make. Personally, professionally, sometimes I really don’t know what I want. I try to think practically, try to see what is best for me but that does not necessarily work in my favour. What helps me go through this phase though is a lot of people who are absolutely in the same stage of life where I am today. But when I discussed my thoughts with them, we always concluded that this stage of life would also be a phase like the others and would eventually pass away.
But that hasn’t happened. Yet! What do we think? How do we decide? Why should we plan? Why does my mind have to take so many decisions? She is only that little after all.
I think I’m getting older and somewhere I don’t want to accept that. In one way, I love the fact that I am financially independent, I can walk into the store and buy anything I like without having to take an elder’s permission or at least think about if not execute a trip to Goa with only my friendsJ, but on the other hand I think I still want to be that daddy’s little girl or mom’s (best baby in the universe, as she puts it) and have them look out for me.
I don’t know what this state of confusion is, but everything is very hazy at the moment. I will update soon once the fog diminishes.
Until then I leave you with happy and yummy cake pictures I cut on my birthday. Take care!
Monday, October 12, 2009
A mosquito changed my life..A little but forever
I don’t really know how to begin this post. This dates back to mid August 2009. Life was great. I was moving along making plans, holiday plans to Hongkong and Macau, it had been really long since I took a break. Birthday plans, it was coming up in a month’s time and I was really looking forward to celebrating it unlike in the past year or two. And then suddenly one single mosquito bite turned my life a whole 360 degrees around when I least expected it.
August 22nd Saturday 12:30 am- We watched some lame movie at home and were all settled in to sleep when my neighbour messaged asking if I would like to go and bring her Ganesh idol with her. I was feeling lazy and decided to head to bed instead. Around 2:00am I started feeling feverish. I thought it was just regular strain and popped a pill before I fell asleep again.
August 23rd Sunday 11:00am- I messaged at least 8 friends informing them that I couldn’t visit their Ganpati idols (which I was really looking forward to) as I was unwell. As expected, most of them assumed it was an excuse and am pretty sure they were pissed off with me as well.
August 24th Monday- The fever persisted, I saw the doctor and she advised we wait for a day before we take any blood tests as this could be a minor viral infection. I called in sick at work and received a firing in return for not answering my boss’s call.
August 25th Tuesday- Called in sick once again. We took the blood tests in the morning. Parents collected the reports that evening and it was confirmed. I was diagnosed with Malaria and Jaundice. Mom took the reports and visited the doctor. Dad was slightly relieved thinking that the malaria would cure in about 3 days and there wouldn’t be a huge issue.
Once mom returned from the doctor’s she looked slightly paranoid. “We have to admit you immediately. You have been diagnosed with the worst form of malaria. It’s called falciparum” she said. I was rushed to a nursing home nearby, where I was admitted in the ICU ward and a saline was put immediately. However I was very uncomfortable there. I found the doctors and nurses very rude, slightly illiterate and surroundings very unhygienic. Luckily for me my doctor and parents felt the same and arrangements were made to shift me to Nanavati Hospital.
By the time my masi (mom’s best friend since a zillion years) already arrived at the hospital with her son and husband. I distinctly remember my brother was actually trying and killing mosquitoes in the ICU ward. Just imagine!
Anyway the ambulance came and I was rushed on a stretcher into the ambulance (I had only seen these things in films; never in my life did I expect this to happen to me). The doctor (who was an idiot from the same nursing home) who was accompanying my uncle, mom and me suddenly diagnoses me with diabetes in the damn ambulance! (The report turned out to be wrong later, but even if I did have diabetes, was a thing to tell a patient on their way to the hospital?)
Anyway we reached Nanavati where my neighbour (also a doctor) had arrived and dad, masi and my brother were also there. I was taken into the ICCU ward (Malaria if too intense has the tendency to affect any organ of the body, hence the ICCU) in a horrible state and my tests began immediately. That night has by far being the worst night of my life and I don’t think I have cried as much ever (when I cry at the drop of a hat) in my whole life.
The saline was put, tests had begun, no diabetes, sonography, injections, medications and the works. My blood pressure had dropped drastically. Luckily for me one person was allowed to sleep the night in the room and so mom stayed back with me. Being an ICCU ward, no extra beds are allowed and poor mom had to sleep on the floor for all those 8 nights.
Anyway the next morning I was woken up at 5:00 am for a sponge (just because the nurse leaves her duty by 7:00am, we are woken up at 5:00am for a sponge). I was introduced to a bedpan for the first time that day. You can’t imagine my plight and the difficulty with which I got used to that system.
I was in the ICU for 8 nights with a different experience every night. One day they took a heart echo, the next they told us that I may require blood transfusion (which I didn’t luckily!). I took 8 huge injections daily. My hands were blue and swollen because they drowned 20 bottles of glucose through the saline.
Dad spent the days with me and mom spent the nights. My office was very supportive and didn’t bother me at all.
But the best part was the people who visited me every day between 5:00pm to 7:00pm and made me feel better. There’s not much I can say to all of you but thank you for taking the trouble to come and see me. Also those who were out of Bombay and unable to make it thanks for your constant calls and messages. Mom/Dad gave everyone of them to me.
I was at home after coming out of the hospital for more than a month. I remember the day I came home. I was weeping because the surroundings, my own house looked different and alien. Except for dad and mom I couldn’t meet anyone for like 4 days after I got back. It was an awful feeling.
But anyway I am back now, all fit and fine. Just one message from me to anyone who is reading this. I faced several repercussions for ill treating my body by going on crash diets. I know malaria is not really connected with going on a diet but my immunity which had everything with me getting better soon was so low that getting back to fitness to really difficult
This is one lesson I have really learnt from my illness. Stop crash diets and don’t strive for that size zero. It’s just not worth it. Trust me!
It took a mosquito and some very horrible memories for me to learn the same. You only have to read a blogpost!
August 22nd Saturday 12:30 am- We watched some lame movie at home and were all settled in to sleep when my neighbour messaged asking if I would like to go and bring her Ganesh idol with her. I was feeling lazy and decided to head to bed instead. Around 2:00am I started feeling feverish. I thought it was just regular strain and popped a pill before I fell asleep again.
August 23rd Sunday 11:00am- I messaged at least 8 friends informing them that I couldn’t visit their Ganpati idols (which I was really looking forward to) as I was unwell. As expected, most of them assumed it was an excuse and am pretty sure they were pissed off with me as well.
August 24th Monday- The fever persisted, I saw the doctor and she advised we wait for a day before we take any blood tests as this could be a minor viral infection. I called in sick at work and received a firing in return for not answering my boss’s call.
August 25th Tuesday- Called in sick once again. We took the blood tests in the morning. Parents collected the reports that evening and it was confirmed. I was diagnosed with Malaria and Jaundice. Mom took the reports and visited the doctor. Dad was slightly relieved thinking that the malaria would cure in about 3 days and there wouldn’t be a huge issue.
Once mom returned from the doctor’s she looked slightly paranoid. “We have to admit you immediately. You have been diagnosed with the worst form of malaria. It’s called falciparum” she said. I was rushed to a nursing home nearby, where I was admitted in the ICU ward and a saline was put immediately. However I was very uncomfortable there. I found the doctors and nurses very rude, slightly illiterate and surroundings very unhygienic. Luckily for me my doctor and parents felt the same and arrangements were made to shift me to Nanavati Hospital.
By the time my masi (mom’s best friend since a zillion years) already arrived at the hospital with her son and husband. I distinctly remember my brother was actually trying and killing mosquitoes in the ICU ward. Just imagine!
Anyway the ambulance came and I was rushed on a stretcher into the ambulance (I had only seen these things in films; never in my life did I expect this to happen to me). The doctor (who was an idiot from the same nursing home) who was accompanying my uncle, mom and me suddenly diagnoses me with diabetes in the damn ambulance! (The report turned out to be wrong later, but even if I did have diabetes, was a thing to tell a patient on their way to the hospital?)
Anyway we reached Nanavati where my neighbour (also a doctor) had arrived and dad, masi and my brother were also there. I was taken into the ICCU ward (Malaria if too intense has the tendency to affect any organ of the body, hence the ICCU) in a horrible state and my tests began immediately. That night has by far being the worst night of my life and I don’t think I have cried as much ever (when I cry at the drop of a hat) in my whole life.
The saline was put, tests had begun, no diabetes, sonography, injections, medications and the works. My blood pressure had dropped drastically. Luckily for me one person was allowed to sleep the night in the room and so mom stayed back with me. Being an ICCU ward, no extra beds are allowed and poor mom had to sleep on the floor for all those 8 nights.
Anyway the next morning I was woken up at 5:00 am for a sponge (just because the nurse leaves her duty by 7:00am, we are woken up at 5:00am for a sponge). I was introduced to a bedpan for the first time that day. You can’t imagine my plight and the difficulty with which I got used to that system.
I was in the ICU for 8 nights with a different experience every night. One day they took a heart echo, the next they told us that I may require blood transfusion (which I didn’t luckily!). I took 8 huge injections daily. My hands were blue and swollen because they drowned 20 bottles of glucose through the saline.
Dad spent the days with me and mom spent the nights. My office was very supportive and didn’t bother me at all.
But the best part was the people who visited me every day between 5:00pm to 7:00pm and made me feel better. There’s not much I can say to all of you but thank you for taking the trouble to come and see me. Also those who were out of Bombay and unable to make it thanks for your constant calls and messages. Mom/Dad gave everyone of them to me.
I was at home after coming out of the hospital for more than a month. I remember the day I came home. I was weeping because the surroundings, my own house looked different and alien. Except for dad and mom I couldn’t meet anyone for like 4 days after I got back. It was an awful feeling.
But anyway I am back now, all fit and fine. Just one message from me to anyone who is reading this. I faced several repercussions for ill treating my body by going on crash diets. I know malaria is not really connected with going on a diet but my immunity which had everything with me getting better soon was so low that getting back to fitness to really difficult
This is one lesson I have really learnt from my illness. Stop crash diets and don’t strive for that size zero. It’s just not worth it. Trust me!
It took a mosquito and some very horrible memories for me to learn the same. You only have to read a blogpost!
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Kiss me I'm Irish
My experience in
Anyway coming to the highlights of the destination:
d the highlight of my trip was that I participated in a whiskey tasting workshop and now am a certified Irish "whiskey taster" :). Not sure if the folks will be proud of this one ;)
Kilkenny- was comparatively a small town. I actually walked all through it. The Kilkenny castle was spectacular although to be quite
honest, I couldn't handle the cold there. It was a picture perfect town
orth a visit. I remember that drive to the
Food- I sampled the local delicacies as well as the
Indian food in
The only unfortunate part about getting to
en before arriving to the original destination.
To conclude my trip to
I even want to mention. Met some great people,good times and the only part that would have made my trip 5 Star would've been watching a live U2 concert.,
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