An Appetite, Inflated.

It had been my utter longing to express one of my élite gourmet experiences, which had occurred a few times earlier, before I ultimately got a chance to describe it here in writing.

This night outing was not special. The occasion was.

"Ramadan Kareem" is a phase, when the best serve is expected, if you are in the vicinity of 'Jama Masjid'.

A bustling zone till wee hours, particularly the eateries, the charm of 'Purani Dilli' is astounding during the festive days of "Ramzan".

Reaching our destination at around 11 pm, the beginning at The Fish Point with crunchy Chicken Pakode, was a zesty joy. The mint chutney served along was interestingly piquant.

After fairly snack-smacked, we walked into the legendary - Karim’s. Predictably packed due to the festivity, we someway managed to seize a seat. Since, dinner was not on our mind, we proposed on grabbing a few juicy bites. Our sumptuous pleasure started with indulging Shami Kebab, succulent Seekh Kebab & peppery Chicken Burra – all of which we consumed to the flavor. It has always been a gastronomical gratification at this joint.

Savoring the taste, it was time to relish some greasy delight – Buttery Chicken. And Aslam’s Chicken was the place to be at. Serving the grilled chicken immersed in plentiful butter – is their style to upsurge the delectability quotient. The assisting roomali rotis with the bowlful of fatty happiness intensified the lubricating tenderness of the dish.

Our belly was almost clogged but not our craving.

A short walk around the buzzing Urdu Bazaar Road, sufficed. While making a little corner in the tummy for the ‘dinner’, we spent time in shop-hopping and picked up – Seviyan (the long ones, commonly known as ‘vermicelli’, used for the sweetening ‘meethi kheer’)

Al Jawahar was put to test for making our epicurean finale, a finger licking good experience. We found a well-ventilated corner and ordered Jahangiri Qorma with fresh tandoori khameeri rotis. And the portion was incredible – the chicken was well cooked served in mildly curried gravy. We had a quick bite, intuiting our dessert – Phirni - served in a burnt clay bowl. Topped with grated dryfruits, it was savory with almost a perfect saccharinity.

Close to 3 am, we were at the brink of a glutton overdose. Feeling contented, it was time to head homewards, just to return on another bursting stint of gourmand drive!

Tab tak ke liye,

Khuda Hafiz!

Mac-turbation. An iPleasure.

"If you do something and it turns out pretty good, then you should go do something else wonderful, not dwell on it for too long. Just figure out what's next." - Steve Jobs

They Still Think Different!

Get, set, go..its 2014!

Mistakes are the portals to Retrospection.

Its just life..keep it simple!

Lesson learnt!

R.I.P Nelson Mandela (1918 - 2013)

Liberated a race. And a nation. From the confines of a prison.

He, who traded power for sainthood, takes his final walk.

Farewell to..

The Mahatma of Our Times!

Gastronomically Inclined..

When I say 'Gastronomically Inclined', it conveys my life's epicurean yearnings, which got developed intrinsically in me..quite swiftly!

I was never a ‘foodie’, as I remember. But, that must have been a one fine day (which I hardly remember!), when I begun relishing and experimenting with different flavors. And there I got hooked onto those appetizingly invigorating food shows (and a few attractive connoisseurs!) on different lifestyle channels. All thanks to NDTV GoodTimes, TLC, MetroNation, etc., and Nigella, Merrilees, Anthony, Bobby, Magandeep, Rocky-Mayur, Aditya, Jiggs - to name a few, for enriching my protracted craving.

‘Food Exploration’ also alleviated my hankering magnitude. After all, it all begun with those fun-filled, joyful, experimental dinners/eating-outs with family & friends that always gave me immense delight!

My favored cuisine is Mughlai, and predominantly from the Middle East – owing to my carnivorous appetite. On top of that, I also savor Continental, Cantonese, PAN Asian and Indian Regional delicacies.

Enthused with gastronomy, I anticipate my potential vocation as a ‘Gastronome’ soon, and transcribe all my gourmand experiences for the gluttons.

And, as well said - “Invaluable Memoirs Come With Valuable Food”..

Pehle Pait Pooja, Phir Koi Kaam Dooja!

Disambiguation - A Phase

Most of the times, withdrawal symptoms are subjective.

Its about the bad feel of being disconnected..with anonymous things in life. And I believe, everyone goes through this hitch, at some point of time in life.

Perchance, spiritual reformation is necessitated.

No matter what, sooner or later, this phase will pass and..

We shall overcome!

A Life So Disorganized

At times, I feel myself buried under a pile of self-induced stress, which I can’t get it together. And when come think of it, I assume I got too much in my mind.

There are occurrences in our normal life we encounter that invite disarray. Life going along fine and precipitously, we feel inundated with unanticipated things. And, we go spiral into disorganization.

Amidst all the complexities I am going through, I bumped into a psychologist friend of mine, who conveyed her psychiatric gyan over a cup o’coffee.

“Recognizing the disorientation is the first step to restoring order. It lets one off the hook. Secondly, it’s the ‘mind’ that needs to work as a regulator. De-cluttering the superfluous thoughts can make your life more tranquil.”

I possibly get my life back in order, but it’s easier said than done. Convolutions continue till your mind keeps ticking in spiral.

Nevertheless,

Organize Your Mind, Organize Your Life!

For the year, that just passed by..

It has been more than an year since I last posted.

A lot of things happened in the past year..

Some happy, some sad, some worrying..shocking as well.

But most of the 'expected' things did not happen!

No matter what,  quite an eventful year it was.

What has to happen, will happen!

R.I.P iSir Steve Jobs (1955 - 2011)

Its just the CEO that died. His legacy would live on..

myApple = iLife!

Feeling a Sense of Nascency

Sometimes, rather, whenever I look at my life.. it gives me a sense of mixed belief. It makes me feel of being incepted all over again in this world to do things that could make a difference in my life.

Offlate I have been encountering more uncertainties than I recognized there are. I see everything as a competition now.. love, happiness, success, wealth, fulfillment, beauty, friendship..all that goes around.

Paradoxically, now a days, the world we live in, sharing of positive consciousness and love appears to be contingent upon. Every single thing about you has to be either just right, good enough or perfect.

Life’s a big race where you don’t know the course, duration of race or the rules. All you know is that there is a reward at the end of it that you are craving for and you have to try to get it.

Life's not a pie!

The Rush to the Ebb

Sometimes, it is hard to believe the difference between infatuation and love. Especially when the intensity of any of them takes over your life.

Different emotions, feelings but both are slow, gradual processes..that makes life look better, the world a more beautiful place to feel!

Infatuation is just a Love of Emotion!

In The Sleep Mode

Last weekend was quite eventful. Watching 3 latest movies, back to back, was the highlight. But after The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, Tere Bin Laden and all that jazz, “Inception” was on my mind.

An atypical thought provoking concept, it had similarities to that of “The Matrix”.

Matrix, as I remember, was rubbished by many at that time. The 'Scientifically Challenged' specie, as I call them, couldn’t comprehend the avant-garde poetry of Wachowski brother’s sheer brilliance. People, who never understood it, used to debate about the hypothesis the movie is based upon. And I still pity people who ask me, “What is neomatrixite?” And why am I called so?

Alike The Matrix, Inception provides a self-conscious metaphor of digital technology as dreams glower morosely through the exaggerated flash of events; a spectacularly factual perception of psychic truth.

But if Matrix was about realizing a truth, Inception is about conceiving a lie. A structure of dreams within dreams, stacked on multiple levels. It is a nifty, visually astounding, wickedly implemented venture but pulverized with melodramatic moments, overloaded action and a convoluted construction like the Byzantine.

Overall, a stimulating contemplation about closed eyes, it is a must watch for people who are true blood fiction aficionado!

What an elegant solution for keeping track of reality!

Divine Intervention in my Life!

Not completely though, yet to quite an extent. That’s what I call my family trip to Vrindavan couple of weeks back.

The idea crossed my mind one hot weekend to plan a long drive in my car (it was Shabbo’s first long drive too!) to Vrindavan. My folks, always keen in spending hot summers at home, were as usual reluctant due to excessive heat, but to my utter surprise, soon they packed for a go!

So here we started off to a 150 kms journey unknown.. we left not too early in the morning and being a weekend we didn’t get much traffic congestion. The route was relatively smooth but the temperature was rising. We had a journey break at ‘Apni Haveli’ in Srinagar. Post a decent lunch & rest, it took not more than 50 minutes from the toll to reach our destination.. the land of the bliss - Vrindavan.

Vrindavan. A place said to be illuminated by myriad moons of spiritual ecstasy. Cooled by the sweet nectar of divine love, it is full of desire trees and several hosts of madly cooing birds. And whose heart will not run to ‘Radhe Krishna’, who enjoys interminable transcendental distraction in the expanse.

We acclimatized with a holy visit to Katyani Devi Mandir in Radha bagh. It was so tranquil that we spent the entire afternoon there. It was actually like unearthing your soul. By the sunset, we moved further to explore the divinity of the place. Banke Bihari Mandir was crammed full beyond our expectations. Yet the theology of the site was worth experiencing. The embellishment of mogra & rose buds that are said to be done on a daily basis was irreplaceable. Done with the darshans, we re-energized ourselves with famous chilled sweet lassi. After some casual shopping, we proceeded towards MVT where we had our night stay. The lodge being right next to the ISKON Temple gave an impressive feel, as ‘Hare Rama, Hare Krishna’ purred from a distance. But the unpolluted, undisturbed place and exhausting past day, made us retire for the day early.

Day 2 morning had a serene essence. The MVT property itself was titivated attractively. The artifacts used around were virtuous. The visit to ISKON was full of quintessential mysticism. The prasad was as enjoyable as the sanctified ‘Hare Krishna’ ambiance. But my heart was pounding for a charming, Katrina Kaif look alike devotee who’s invigorating smile left me stimulated. I deemed my trip was an accomplishment.

We left the place with a consecrated impression that would surely make us return soon for more saintly rejuvenation.

Tou Bolo Radhe Radhe!

The Night of Redemption

Scene 1:

DhyanChand Stadium, 1982 Asian Game Final

India crashed to arch-rival Pakistan 1-7

It was the very day of point for no recovery for the National Sport of Indian Subcontinent. “Indian hockey is dead” was a proclamation!

Scene 2:

DhyanChand Stadium, 2010 World Cup

India slaughtered arch-rival Pakistan 4-1

About 16000 strong Team India fans went home sated. It was the very stadium where they had pushed the national game into a well-nigh oblivion. The win was like washing away the 28 year old resentment. Soaring Tricolor and a restless crowd roared to the aggression, variation, plunge, stunning magical feat of the Team Blue. Indian supporters went noisier, slipping Pakis into a desperation mode as the game progressed. India, with no lack of effort on any count on the turf, relentlessly dominated the game and kept the ball in possession to dictate terms throughout.

Indeed a night of goose-bumps but Indian Hockey has certainly acquired a new flavor!

Stadium mein baith ke match dekhoonga..

Jhanda bhi lehraoonga..
Aur India India chillaoonga..
Game ki tension mein nakhoon chabaoonga..
Face pe Tiranga bhi lagaoonga..
Apni team ke saare match dekhne jaoonga..

Now who can say “Indian hockey is dead”,

when the national catchphrase is.. Phir Dil Do Hockey Ko!