I Don't Drive Anymore

Yes I don't drive anymore, and there is a good reason why. I don't own a car.

Now why is this information important for anyone reading this? Well it really isn't. But if you have known me long enough it will tell you that I have changed. I know. I know. It's obvious. Things change. People change. Big deal.

I suppose I stopped blogging here about five years back. You can see why. Nothing interesting or important to say. And things change in five years. I blogged online elsewhere and stopped there too. I wrote in notebooks and tore them up later. So where is this going? We will get to that soon.

Packaged Idiot was all about my journey of leaving Delhi, leaving home, moving to B-lore, starting afresh. It was a journey full of hope, music and coffee. A rush, a high that I had not felt in a long time. And like all good things that phase ended too, along with the rush, the high.

In the years gone by life took me to Singapore with a parallel stint at Mumbai. The parallel one then moved back to Gurgaon which had become Gurugram by the time I got there. It seems other things were changing too, as I changed. Damn! It's still two homes - Singapore and Gurgaon. Two worlds as different as they can be! Which one do I prefer? Who cares...

In the last five years hope gave way to practicality, music took a back seat or rather moved to the boot, and coffee survived. There is a hot cuppa on my desk as I punch the keys away. When all else failed there was coffee. When everything went my way there was coffee. When nothing else happened there was still coffee.

My true and best friend for life.. the coffee journey continues. Lets see if the journey of this blog continues. Only time will tell.

 I will try to be back soon. Not everything needs to change unless its getting better.

Written on 22nd December 2012... Never got to complete it. Posting as is.

After three grueling months at work, I have been able to finally steal some time away from everything, even myself, to be here at the writing desk. After a slow start, some random posts just to keep at it and some serious stuff as well, the blog seems to have come full circle. Just like life. Its a little difficult to explain but do take my word for it.

The year is coming to a close as well. The world did not end which is a little disappointing. Have to wait some more to see what's on the other side. Would have been nice if we could have all gone there together but no such luck. After fifteen years, I had a year that was a little different. I finally had a year that I wouldn't mind reflecting upon. Mostly I say "good riddance" at the end of every year and move on without a second thought. It's just another day - 1st January. So not sure what's the fuss about. Like when I said "I am 37" during a casual conversation yesterday at lunch in office and a dear friend and colleague couldn't believe his ears. So what's the deal with trying to appear young? Which dictionary lists desirable and attractive as synonyms of young. I haven't found one yet. Who cares if you are 37 or 67? I am sure the world doesn't give a damn.

The highlight of the year was completing a year in Bangalore recently. No one in my family believed I would last this long away from Delhi. Absolutely no one. I have now played host (or shall I say hostess) to a lot of friends and family so the fear of doing a bad job is now waning. The mantra is "If you need something, ask for it" at my place. Better still just familiarize yourself with the apartment and help yourself. And I hereby write a retraction to my previous post. I found excellent paneer flown in from Delhi, outstanding Peshawari cuisine (translates to the most sumptuous & delicious murgh & kebabs ever!), gulab jamuns and besan laddoos just like the ones up north and the same killer sweet jalebis in Bangalore. I found roads next to home where I can push the peddle and do 90 kmph drives anytime of the day without the fear of speed challans. To top it all, my colleagues also introduced me to a dhaba near office which serves authentic north indian food - parathas with white butter and chicken curry kinda stuff! What can I say... Life is sorted. :)