Entering the world..

My entry into the world begins here.

Here on I leave the world of comfort..
Here on I leave the world of convenience

Here on I leave the world of ready to eat
Here on I leave the world of companionship

Here on I leave my safe little tight cocoon

Here on I enter the world of compromise
Here on I enter the world

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Virginia rejects, I bounce back to University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

"Its really one of the best Universities you know. Berkeley ke takkar ka.."

"Once you do six months in UIUC, Virginia will go on their knees to admit you.."

Consolations all of them.

But these consolations woke me up to the fact, that you don't always get what you want. Correction: Pragni, you don't always get what you want.

Just because I have never had a reject in my life where academics are concerned doesn't mean I cant get a reject at the most important turn of life. A reject which can turn life at full strength into a U-turn.

A reject which will change my career plans, and my tightly, cosily stitched life plan. A reject which will turn me into a Capitalist from an Idealist, a dreamer.

It took me time to adjust into this role, to slip into this skin.. For the first few days I stayed in my den, trying out the new part, nursing my hurt ego? or my hurt roar maybe.. Now I have made an effortless transition. Nothing hurting about.. nothing to figure out ( I finished all that already right?)..nothing to talk about. My wise brother had, very wisely, advised my mother to let me be for a few days, to let me figure out what I wanted to do. It worked. As all his advise always works.

So I'm out to fully utilize my two months here. Am seeing as many movies, trying to go to Red Lounge as much as I can, trying to eat stall wala food as much as I can, dosawala, paanipuri wala. Go out with friends here as much as I can. Go anywhere at all. Suddenly, I am ready to accompany everyone everywhere. I have nothing better to do, I plead.

Dance classes, Gym, Dentist's appointments, Skin Specialist, Eye Specialist, all lined up.

Along with four movies a week(wow), five new restaurants a week( double wow), now you see why I need the gym. Maybe I'll go for the blogger's party scheduled for June. Lets see...

Busy two months now. Vacant two months too. Quite Empty really.

Your Love and Mine..

For the guy who has been my constant support system from the last 6 years or more.

For the guy who sat with me in a shack, while I cried, at times when I hardly ever cried. And he just sat with the stranger because she was a fellowmate in the military camp.

For the guy who became a part of my family, with his helpful way of wanting to do everything for my me and my parents.

For the guy who has erred unfailingly and regularly, but has forgiven me too when I have erred, and not admitted it.

For the guy who has given me some of the most brilliant memories ever.

For the guy who just flatly refuses to read my blog.

For the guy who could never properly meet my brother, which is something I have always regretted.

For the guy who has been the most amazing best friend ever, the most wholesome best friend, who has not taken my grief, given me grief, fought with me, harassed me, irritated me, and cherished our friendship more than anything else.

For the guy who my other friends call a variety of names, from Chottu, Bandook Boy, Bhai, Ram Bhaiyya, and lots more.

For you on your birthday, though I know you wont be reading this ever.

I know we are not supposed to, but Thank you.

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You grabbed my hand and pulled me in from the center of the road..
You kept me warm and heated whn my nose and fingers were chilling from the cold

You rode me along the beach and thn dipped ur feet in the water with me..
We climbed the rocks together and spoke abt everything & nothing- just letting me be

You brought me pretty nothings and significant small things..
We sat hours together sipping coffee unaware of our surroundings

You chatted with me for hours on the phone and together the deep night we brought..
You waited for me to go to sleep while on the phone just so u could hear my last thought

You kissed me on my forehead and made my heart burn..
You gave me unconditional love without asking anything back in return

You say you'll always love me.. and I say tht I'll never be able to..
You say you'll someday marry me.. I say I'll decide you'll marry who

I know you love me.. I know you care deeply
I know you wait for me to trust you.. I know I already do

You'll always be my bestfriend.. someone I'll always turn to..
Even if I never fall in love with you.. you'll always be my end

Something I wrote long long long back, on my old blog.

Chota muh aur badi baat...

It's been a while.. but a summer camp with about 90 children and dancing 9 hours with them everyday can do that to people. And it can do a lot more. Like rob your voice and reduce it to squeaks and hoarse grunts alternatively..

I had always heard that the best pearls of wisdom's come from children. This last week has proved it true to me. Wonder what the next week and the ensuing finale next Sunday will teach me.

Some nuggets:

Me: "Ria, DANCE"
Ria: Emphatically shakes her head to denote "NO"
Me: "Why????"
Ria: "I don't have a partner. No one can do anything without a partner"


Me: "It's dedicated to your mothers, beta, you should do the dance so well that..."
Kid: Completes for me " so well that you can feel the mummies.."


Me: "Rahul, what religion costumes can you bring for the national integration Dance?"
Rahul: "Didi I can bring South Indian Lungi, Muslim Skull cap, Brahmin Janoi and my Daddy's American jeans too"


A 14 year old kid dropped his entire tiffin box and the Bhaji inside on the floor. But it surprised me to see tears in his eyes.
Me: "Why are you crying, I'll give you something else to eat, you won't go hungry"
Kid: " I dropped and wasted all that bhaji, and there are so many millions who dont have enough to eat a single time."


Me: "Rianshi, I am going to kidnap you and take you home with me"
Rianshi: "Ok, Didi, but don't give Mummy visitation rights"


Me: "Ashwin sit down"
Ashwin: stands, looks right up and into my eyes for a full minute
Me: "Ashwin SIT DOWN"
Ashwin: bends his knees and half squats
Me: "Huh??? What are you doing??"
Ashwin: " Na aap ka, na mera. I'm neither standing nor sitting down!!"


Kid: "Didi, my I have loose motions, I can't do Karate. Can I lie down please? I even feel like vomiting.."
Me: "Alright, " I make a bed for him while he stands
Kid: sitting on the bed, "Can I have a Vadapao before I sleep??!!!"


Kid1: "Didi, why won't you come next year? Are you getting married?? "
Me: "No beta, I might not be in India"
Kid2: "Are you getting married abroad then?"
Me: "No, I'm going to study, for two years."
Kid1: "Then you must come. Nothing is as important as marriage. And if you are not getting married, then there is no other reason to not dance!!"


One older kid even made a flower out of Paper for me and sent another small kid to give it to me. Lil' kiddo gives it to me and says mysteriously, "To Pragni Didi, from H"

Made me smile the entire day...


More:
One little punk, all of 6 years old, puts his head down on the bench. When called for snacks he says, "Pehle batao snacks mein kya hai, phir sochunga!!"


Another, goes up to the karate sir and sayd, "Yeh koi time hua aaneka?? itna late kyu hua??"Befuddled the instructor replies, "But I was called at this time only.."
Pat comes the reply, "Oh then it's fine"