How you can tell I work in I.T.

My colleague and I were going to work together.

On the radio, they were playing that song from the movie hum dil de chuke sanam – Tadap Tadap.
I love that song and I think the lyrics are amazing.
Except there were some bits I didn’t understand (my Hindi isn’t that great, and my Urdu is pathetic!)

…Agar Mile Khuda Koh
Poochhoonga Khudaya
Jism Mujhe Deke Mitti Ka
Sheeshay Sa Dil Kyon Banaya
Aur Us Pe Diya Fitrat
Ke Woh Karta Hai Mohabbat
Wah Re Wah Teri Kudrat…

So I asked my colleague "Umm.. dude? What’s fitrat?"

"Ummm… configuration."

And I understood exactly what he meant.

:)

My Orkut Fortune for the Day:

Stop searching forever, happiness is just next to you

:o)

To borrow a line from Nike ... Just Do It!

A while back, a friend of mine (F) told me he was going for salsa with his wife and the classes were a lot of fun so I should join in as well. I've wanted to learn salsa for yeaaaars now, but never quite got round to it. So I was very enthusiastic when he told me about it.

That was 3 weeks ago, but I never actually went.

First week, F didn't go for the class. So I didn't go either. I should have gone, I know. But I chickened out.
The next week, his wife fell down and hurt her leg. Which meant he'd be missing classes for some more time.

I badly wanted to go, but everytime I thought of going and making a fool of myself in front of a bunch of people, I'd make some excuse or the other to myself.
And giving excuses to yourself is awwwful. Cos you know the real reason. So today, I called up this girl from work (R) who was interested and made plans to go with her.

And then, I had another one of the (now regular) fights with my folks about marriage.

I keep telling them I'd find someone on my own, but they aren't willing to wait. (It's too late, you're too old, why would they marry you... my folks instill such confidence in me with their encouraging words that if I did find someone genuinely interested, I'd be surprised.)

Today it got down to What are you going to do if no one marries you? (note the choice of words? 'no one marries you'. Not 'if you don't get married' my folks are convinced that only a total nutcase would ever want to get married to me! )

I told them "then I'll live alone".

Afterwards, I got ready for salsa, went to pick up R and had just parked near her place when she called up to cancel cos she wasn't feeling well.

I got off the phone and just sat there, thinking.
I was terrified of the prospect of going alone. I had no partner to dance with, I didn't know how to dance (ok, I can, but I'm very conscious and feel awkward) and I was just .... a wuss.

How the hell was I going to live alone all my life if I couldn't even go for a dance class by myself?!

My friend(who knows about this i'll-do-it-later tendency of mine when it comes to salsa) kept telling me it's OK to be terrified.
(Said friend would not dance even if a gun was pointed to his head, fyi! :P
Truly though, he was the only person encouraging me with anything at that point of time and I'm really grateful for that!
K, u Rock! in a sober and sedate kinda way, but you do rock! )

He said "If you do it, you'll feel great"

I didn't know about that.
But what I knew was that if I didn't go, then I'd feel terrible about myself. And I wasn't going to make me feel terrible about myself as well. I had had enough of that from others.

So I went.
I was terrified, but I went.
And it was wonderful. I loved it.

I met a lot of fun people, and though I'm sure I danced badly, I had a LOT of fun doing it.

It's not that big a deal to join a dance class, I know. But I was terrified, I was alone and I was badly in need of confidence, which I knew I wasn't going to get from anyone but myself.
And I feel a lot better now.

So I'm learning.
:o)

Me.

As I write this my dad is on the phone talking about me to a strange man who is the father of another strange man who is, apparently, an engineer, has done his BTech from so and so university and MTech from some other place and is working in dubai as well, and is, of course, is of marriageable age.

I'm listening to my dad put all of my life in 5 minutes of conversation... she's an engineer(that part comes first of course) ... she's 5 feet 3 inches.... she's been in dubai all her life... she's working in so-and-so place... and we need to check if the horoscopes match... yes...

so then... this is it. that's my life as my dad knows it.

"So Sonia, we'll go meet this guy tonight ok"

"Ok dad."

whatever!

You see these shackles baby I'm your slave ...

Ohhhh yeah!

No, it's not what you think. I didn't ever care for justin timberlake nor his music.

BUT.... recently, I happened to see the guy on tv and realised that he looks an awwwful lot like this guy at work that I'm totally attracted to!
Which essentially means I'm looking at justin timberlake and aahe bharo-fying all the time.

Guy-at-work is quite fucked up, and needs help big-time. Dunno if that's the reason I find him so fascinating. ( i know i know, how scrwed up am i!)

Annnyway, we ended up going out and we were at Barzar at the madinat jumeirah, at the waterfront, and I was quite drunk and the guy smokes like crazy and I ( drunk idiot that I am) threw his cigarettes into the water to make him stop.

Which in itself wouldn't have been such a big deal, except the cigarettes were in a special leather cigarette pack holder... which turned out to be a gift!

No, we haven't been out since.

this place is mad, but i don't wanna leave.

All these days the shopping festival has been going on in full swing and I've completely ignored it. (not that I haven't been shopping, but shopping from the malls hardly counts!)

I haven't been to the Global Village or the Festival City, nor have I entered any of the draws to win a gazillion prizes that'll change my life overnight. Having been in dxb since the beginning of the DSF, I've pretty much gotten used to most of the hype around it.

But even I couldn't be blasé about this. I mean, a jaguar for every property bought... ok.
A freakin jet for the raffle draw winner?! I mean, I knew they were rich, but this is just plain crazy! And what is average person gonna do with a jet anyway? Not everyone has PPL. And it'll cost around a 100,000 AED to get it ( I know two people who have it). And what about fuel costs? and parking?
Obviously, if an average person wins, he would just sell it. Which is what they are banking on, I'm sure. Although I haven't really worked out their strategy behind it.
Yet.
I usually figure out what all the strategies are, but I've just been too busy to dwell on this, and the promotions have been too damn many for me to just concentrate on just one.

Anyway, that is not my point.
My point is, all these days, I've been ignoring the DSF, but now that I have to leave I feel like going everywhere. Even Global Village, in spite of the traffic and everything.
But I have no time.
I leave tomorrow and I haven't even packed yet.
I know I'll be back soon, but I'm feeling strangely reluctant to leave.
I never thought I'd say this, but I'll miss dxb.

I wonder why.

to my small world.

Here's hoping that J gets to spend more time with his family instead of working till 2 in the morning.
Here's hoping that my friend finally gets the break he deserves.
Here's hoping that the Cheese-guy rids himself of his loneliness instead of drowning himself in alcohol and drugs.
Here's hoping that S gets to lead her own life instead of living for her parents.
Here's hoping her parents find a life of their own and learn to let go.
Here's hoping the Peaceguy finally finds peace.
Here's hoping my sister gets to pursue her dream and becomes what she wants to be.
Here's hoping N won't be so bitter with life and gives happiness a chance.
Here's hoping I am less angry and more at peace with myself.
Here's hoping I find myself this new year.

Here's to hope.

Happy New Year