I usually don't send any SMSs that promise to tell me about my professional or love life or future. But this SMS promised to tell me about the car that I am supposed to like. So just for the fun of it, I sent it. Here are some details from what I got back:

You will seek out futuristic and fully-equipped cars.

Wrong! I am not at all for the James Bond style gadgets. These days most of the cars come equipped with standard stuff like AC, power windows and CD player. Keyless entry has become a must too. And sun roof will be a nice touch :-) But that's about it. For heaven's sake, a car is for taking you from point A to point B and not for living in it. But that's just what poor me thinks.

You like black and white cars.

Hmm...I like black but white is a definite no-no. The other cool colors for me are gray and red.

You will either choose an old/used car based on your wallet, or you want the most stylish, technologically developed one.

Wrong! I think I will always go for a new one that suits my wallet and taste. I don't care much for style and technology.

If anybody is a passenger in your car, s/he will have to move things to find the seat

Wrong again! I hate people who treat their cars as their house-on-wheels, piling it with all sorts of junk. I agree that it is not possible to keep it as squeaky clean as it was the day you drove it out of the dealer's but there is no harm in trying ;-)

My dream car though is a black Mercedes! I am almost drooling at the thought :-)

I wanted to post some more but it is getting rather late so I will sign off on the following (forwarded) note:

यहाँ दरख़्तके सायेमे धूप लगती है
चलो यहासे चले और, उम्रभरके लिए

Good Night Folks! :-)

I didn't know that India's last Viceroy Mountbatten was assassinated by the IRA till I saw a program about it on the History Channel (Infamous Assassinations) yesterday. I wonder whether he ever thought that his decision to partition India was wrong. I surely wonder. 60+ years later, the 2 countries are still in turmoil - because of religious differences - the same reason that caused the partition in the first place.

I will now leave you all on a slightly philosophical note by posting a sher that I read today:

मै तो समझता था मुझ पर है महेरबा
दीवारकी छाव तो सुरजके साथ थी

Good Night Folks! But before you turn in for the day (or start on a new day, depending on which part of the globe you are reading this from!), please send a prayer up for the Bhopal gas victims. As they say - as prayers go up, blessings come down.

I didn't know that Donald Duck was officially recognized on 9th June, 1934 till I heard an RJ mention it on an FM channel. Wow! That makes him almost 76 today. :-) Happy Birthday Donald!

Experience has taught me not to expect much from these big-ticket verdicts. I would have loved to be proven wrong but that was not to be. There is no justice for the Bhopal gas tragedy victims even after 25 years. And the US has the nerve to hope that this will give a measure of closure to the victims. Oh yeah? Why pursue Bin Laden to the ends of the world then? Just find his local accomplices, execute them and ask the 9/11 victims to find closure!

Why blame the US if my own country is being utterly spineless though :-(

A beautiful thought on death:

मौत क्या है जमानेको क्या समझाऊ मै
एक मुसाफिरको रास्तेमे नींद आ गयी

Have a nice week ahead folks and take care of yourselves! :-)

The DJs on almost all FM channels are going crazy waiting for monsoon to hit Mumbai - after all, they have to do a special program on it. The weather bureau tells us that we have only a week's worth of wait left. Boy! That's a tough one. But I will manage. :-)

An article by Sidin Vadukut that will make you say "How True!" - Are you who you work for?

I met a very close friend after 2 years this week. She is working abroad and though we decided to meet up on her last 2 visits to India, something or other led to the cancellation of plans. But this time we both were determined. It was so good to catch up after so long. We did exchange few emails and SMSs over these 2 years but nothing beats good old face-to-face chat. It felt as if we picked up right from where we had left off when we had last met. There was so much to talk about, so much to share, so much to laugh over....

We parted with promises to write to each other every week. My next mission is to meet up with another close friend who I have not seen since past one and a half year though she stays in the same city.

After all, I count friends as one of the most important blessings in my life. Thank God for good friends! :-)

When I saw a supplement titled "Baselworld" delivered along with my usual copy of the Mint, I didn't think I would go through it. I am one of those who think that since cell phones display time there is no need to wear a wrist-watch. But today evening I was clearing my backlog of leftover newspapers from the week, when I saw the supplement again. Going through it I came across an interview of Nicholas Hayek Sr., the Founder and Chairman of the Swatch Group. I started to read it - expecting lots of boasting and use of highfalutin words. Surprise, surprise! The guy came across as a genuine no-nonsense type of person. I especially liked his answer when he was asked if he has any plans of joining politics. Wish some so-called "Social Workers" in India would read it. :-(

If you want to read the interview, check it out at http://www.livemint.com/2010/05/31000407/Nicholas-Hayek--King-of-the-t.html

Kitten looking for a loving home

I got the following mail from The Welfare of Stray Dogs (WSD) about a kitten that needs a good home and caring people:

This little kitten christened Mani Mau was wandering on the road after being abandoned by her mother and was rescued by a kind soul and is living in her building courtyard. Mani is very sweet and looks for attention all the time. She spends her day playing with imaginary and real objects keeping herself and others who watch her thoroughly entertained. She needs a home before the rains as there is no shelter in the courtyard.

Do spread the word about Mani and call WSD on 64222838 or 9819100808 if you want to adopt her.

There is a photo attached - of a curious cute kitten. If you are looking for a pet and can give her all the affection and love that she deserves, give WSD a call to find out if Mani is still with them