That time of the year again...

So, tomorrow's THAT day again. And of course, I am single. Again. But let's not go there.

And I also don't want to rant against commercializing of every living object on the surface of the earth (and non-living and abstract ones as well), rendering love to be a product rather than an emotion. And I most definitely don't want to write stupid, mushy, lovey-dovey things about love being the most beautiful emotion in the world blah di blah di blah. Nor do I want to write about my love for my family, my friends, my city, my country and others' countries. Coz I will end up writing about loving Sun and Moon and I think everyone has had too much of that by now. Or I will write about loving and missing England and by God, people have had too much of that too. So then, what should I write about?

Maybe I will write an anti-Valentine's Day post. But I am not that cynical or pessimistic yet. Correction - I am no longer that cynical or pessimistic. I don't have anything against people celebrating love. And I most definitely don't believe that I will die old and lonely living with cats. So, no anti-Valentine's Day post either.

Maybe I will write about my poor, pathetic, little single self after all. This wallowing business has gone on for too long now. But I will indulge myself this one time. And so, maybe, I shall write about.......................things I miss about having a boyfriend:

• The hugs that make you feel so safe as if nothing can touch you or harm you at all so long as you have those arms around you.
• Surprise kisses, especially, kisses on the forehead.
• Holding hands.
• The look on his face when you bake him a chocolate cake or cook his favourite meal.
• Kissing and making up.
• Surprise gifts without any occasions. (Though, Moon often makes sure I don't miss this one too much, bless her. :P)
• Waking up next to him and watch him sleep.
• Calling each other up for no reason, talking for a long time and then missing him the moment we hang up.
• The most important thing of all - Being loved by that someone special.

Well, Happy Valentine's Day to everyone. This year, on this day, all I will say is that I hope people will realize that they need to celebrate their love on this day, not Archies/ Hallmark/ gift shops.

Break and Ba(a)d

Watched Break ke Baad yesterday with my cousin, Bik. It's a nice film, one of the regular rom-com ones that have become very popular in the last 2-3 years. Watch once just to refresh your mind kind of thing. :)

Director: Kunal Kohli
Starring: Imran Khan, Deepika Padukone

Abhay (Imran Khan) and Aaliya (Deepika Padukone) have been dating each other ever since they must be like 6. But Aaliya is a big dreamer and very adventurous. Abhay, on the other hand, is very much afraid to leave his cocoon of safety even though he is not at all happy there. Aaliya moves to Australia to fulfil her dreams and the problems of a long distance relationship begin. Abhay follows her so that they can work it out together. But, priorities and situations change for both of them.

Both, Imran and Deepika are good and convincing in their characters. Though, you can clearly see that Imran has grown a lot since his Jaane Tu... days in terms of his acting. Deepika, on the other hand, started off very well in her un-emotional, non-commitmental, adventurous kind of person role but her portrayal by the director and her portrayal of the character, both go downhill a bit after the interval. It's a good tale of coming of age, balancing your personal life and your careers, realising what's more important to you and prioritising etc. However, it's a bit hurried and at times, you feel like you're being rushed through the film. You feel breathless, just trying to catch up with it. Though, Deepika wears shorts most of the times, and even with Imran next to her, I was sort of conflicted over who should I be drooling over. Imran or Deepika's never-ending legs!!! So sexy! Wish I could have that! My legs are probably half the length hers are. :/

Music is good, cinematography and locations are cool (totally made me want to go to Australia! :D) and situations, very real and believable.

But, there was a slight problem. Watching the film made me feel very sad and depressed. This, I realised, is going to be the truth of my life for a few years to come now. I will keep flitting between realising my dreams, doing something worthwhile with my life, career-wise, maintain my personal life, with my various, innumerable friends, my family and hopefully, a special someone too. But what if I make a mistake I regret for the rest of my life? What if I compromise for the wrong thing? What if I give up  my dreams for someone and then, blame that person for the rest of my life? Or what if I let go of someone important for something inconsequential (in the long run) like my dream of travelling the world? Or a degree or something! Why can't life come with an instruction manual for difficult decisions? I don't want to drift around feeling like I fit nowhere. Sigh, the one down-side of globalisation. Relationships are all spread all over the world. Family in Mumbai, boyfriend in Leeds and best friend in Auckland. How do you deal with life like that?!! :(

*Picture courtesy: Google images.

Chaat chats...and more food things! :P

I've been having massive cravings for chaat in the last few days. You can get almost ANYTHING Indian here, where I live. This city is full of south Asians, mind you, FULL of them! But, chaat a la Mumbai?? Uh huh. No luck there! :( There are some places, where they sell these ready-made packed chaat things. These can go, compete for the World's Worst Chaat Award. 

Anyway, what's the point of eating CHAAT from BOXES?!! Chaat can only be savoured, like REALLY savoured, when you stand in front of the street vendor holding out your small pani-puri bowl and he keeps serving you until you are finally tired of eating and also astonished to find out that you just ate 4 (yes, FOUR) plates i.e. 24 puris!!! Chaat tastes the best when you are sitting on the sand on Chowpatty (no matter how dirty it is supposed to be) and watching the activity around you - innumerable little children playing and screaming around, people selling little toys, light thingamajiks and balloons, the butta-walah, the chana chor garam walah, the small girl force-selling flowers to young couples whispering sweet-nothings into each others' ears, expensive cars zooming past on the adjoining Marine Drive. And chaat tastes the best when you know it is going to be followed by absolutely delicious Malai Falooda Kulfi, right there on Chowpatty! *drool drool* 

Mumbai is the Food Heaven of India. [Even though my sweet ex-flatmate, Ruhi would immediately knock me down on that one and insist that NOTHING can compare to Calcutta when it comes to food. As would my other friends, Sharmila and Misty.] I still maintain that Mumbai is the Food Heaven of India. Come to Mama Star (that's me, you silly billies!! :P) for planning your food night around Mumbai! ;)

So, lets see, Chowpatty is obviously a hot favourite with me. Other favourite (late night) street food place I DIG is this pav-bhaji guy in Haji Ali. He starts his buisness at around 9 pm and stays there late into the night. He generally stands close enough to the Haji Ali juice centre. So, pav bhaji at his thela followed by a Ganga Jamuna (For all those who don't know, Ganga Jamuna is that typically Indian thing, which includes orange and sweet lime freshly squeezed juice) or a Sitaphal smoothie at the Haji Ali juice centre and you feel like you have died and gone to Heaven!! Third on the list of favourites would be cheese schezwan frankie from this small place called Krishna Dairy near King's Circle. Ask all the Ruia, Poddar and Khalsa college people and they'll tell you where to find it. That frankie, really, is to die for! Everytime I went to my cousin, Udu's place, I'd eat it. And I went to Udu's place a whole lot more than courtsey calls for! :P Next in line would be the place that I used to frequent with CPV. You know, it was like, "our place" for food whenever we were in Bandra. It was this south Indian food thela outside Elco market in Bandra. And, they make the world's BEST Cheese Dosa. You all lucky people who are in Mumbai ought to try it out!! Another great and cheap place is Canon pav bhaji place right outside the CST railway station. But, the food here is relatively spicier than other places. I and Moon often ate here during our second year of college and then drank a glass of buttermilk to top off the pav bhaji. Ah, what bliss! :) 

And then, there are other times, when you have some money in your pocket, baby!! ;) For those special occasions, my absolute favourite is 5 Spice, opposite the Reserve Bank building in Fort. Best bloody chinese in the world!!! And what's more, you get an awesome ambience to go with your food too!! Advice from the expert: try the teriyaki noodles. If you don't make a single orgasmic noise after eating that, clearly something is wrong with your tastebuds! :P Another great place (and this is the place you'd have to eat chaat if you can't stomach street food) is Kailash Parbat, also in Fort. I have gone here so many times with my Alliance Francaise friends, I've lost count of it! In fact, if I remember clearly, CPV and my first "official" date started here with all the AF friends and then, culminated at our favourite place, Marine Drive (two of us alone, if you are wondering! :P) 

For the dessert-y type things, you MUST try malai gola at a couple of gola walahs near Five Gardens. Gola with cream and falooda on a sultry summer evening and dude, you're all ready to groove!! Then, there is a very small ice-cream shop bang opposite Ambassador in Churchgate called Rustom's Ice-cream. Ice-cream sandwiches - all of their flavours are *SO* good!! And their lychee slushie is *VERY* recommended as well! ;) And then, when you have some good moolah, Theobroma in Colaba is the way to go! Sigh, Mumbai! You pretty, pretty, lovely thing! I'll be back hugging your air and gorging on your delightful food in just 3 more months!! ::goes, does a little jig and comes back::

I'm hungry now! And I want chaat so badly! :( Time for some strawberry smoothie, baby! The only thing that can make any pangs go away. At least momentarily! :P 

PS: You all are welcome to add your favourite food places, favourite dishes and favourite food experiences! :) Do tell me more!


*Pictures courtesy: Google images