Examine what is said, not her who speaks

It is India's Republic Day. I kept awake till about 2 in the afternoon for the flag hoisting and the Parade today. Never miss it. Despite all the hiccups, Indians will always be proud of what India is today, only 61 years since our independence.

When the ceremony began 58 years back, on Jan 26,1951, the thought to this was, people would come to Delhi and watch India's pride and joy being displayed. Sadly, these days the news indicate how difficult the task has become. Here's a new clipping:

As many as 15,000 policemen fanned out across Delhi as an unprecedented security cover was thrown around the Capital to prevent any terrorist activities as it celebrated the 58th Republic Day on Friday.

Stringent security arrangements were in place, mainly along the parade route and around the India Gate area, with special emphasis on tightening access control measures to thwart human bomb attacks.

Securing the Rajpath, the main venue of Republic Day Parade, a multi-layer security ring was in place.

Around 400 armed commandoes of the Delhi Police were positioned along the parade route from Vijay Chowk to Red Fort while about 15,000 Delhi Police and Army personnel were deployed across the capital.

Police deployed mobile hit teams and anti-aircraft guns as elite NSG snipers and commandoes of the Delhi Police and ITBP were posted at strategic locations as part of the massive ground-to-air security apparatus put in place in view of terror threats.

All roads leading to Rajpath were sanitised and major traffic diversions were made to regulate entry of vehicles into the vicinity of the parade route, while people coming to view the parade had to go through multiple security checks.

All vehicles entering Delhi's borders had to pass through multiple checks.

Elaborate air defence measures, including deployment of anti-aircraft guns, were also made to check intrusion of air space of the capital, a no-fly zone during the 105-minute parade. Besides, three military choppers maintained air surveillance all along the parade route.

Metro trains passing near the main venue on the Rajpath were also not allowed to operate in the morning.

Patrolling in crowded market areas had been intensified in the run-up to the Republic Day, while checking and frisking in Metro, railway stations and bus terminals was tightened. Security at the IGI airport was also strengthened in coordination with the CISF.

On the eve of the Republic Day celebrations, Delhi police on Thursday had foiled a major terrorist bid to subvert the national event by arresting a Lashkar-e-Taiba operative with explosives in the capital.

The Pakistani-trained militant, identified as Iftikhar Alam, was arrested from a bus stand near the Metro station in Seelampur locality of North-East Delhi last evening. Around 2.5 kg of RDX, two detonators and a timer were recovered from him.

In another alarming incident, police arrested a man from the Old Delhi Railway station with a live smoke grenade. Mohd Hussain Sheikh, hailing from West Bengal, was nabbed during a routine checking and booked under the stringent Explosives Substances Act.

Jai Hind!!

Just woke up sometime back and the first thought that entered my mind today was not of the forthcoming wedding in the family or that I should put henna on my hands and start thinking what am I going to wear from tomorrow onwards for the ceremonies. NOPE..the first thought that did enter my head was, I've been smoking about 3-4 cigs a day since the 1st Jan.

I had made a pact with myself when I was 25 that I'd quit smoking when I was 30. Since Jan 1,2007 I've been preparing for it. This year, in June, I'll be 30. I think, at this rate, I'd be able to quit on time or before that, non? Strange fact is, I dont miss it as much as I thought I would.

Cheers at that thought and hope you guys are having a good day!

Just when I start thinking, things are going to be fine, something else comes along to trouble my life.

Today, all went fine until evening. Then, my ex boyfriend turned up on the yahoo messenger.
Despite me not responding to his messages for so long, he came up again and this time, tried the dramatic approach saying, he was saying his final goodbyes to me as he was going to die(he's always been leaving messages knowing I dont respond back. He's been trying to make me talk to him again and again.) I hadnt responded until now but today,horror and shock made me write back to him. Perhaps, somewhere I still care for the sodden bastard. Somewhere I cant stop loving him despite things. Pathetic me.
I found out he was lying and wrote that just to catch my attention. I cried. Couldnt stop. Was it relief, was it anger, grief that he could make such a joke; I dont know. I told him again, in no uncertain terms that he should stop talking to me and let me move on with my life.
After I finished with him, I was so upset with myself. Somehow I couldnt stop crying. Priyanka, she called him up and told him again that he was never to upset me again,not to talk to me again. I dont know how much that would work but there it is. She tried. I must give her credit for that. She knew him when I'd been going around with him, while his stay in India.

Anyway, to cheer me up; she said we could go out and spend some time, girls only. I had a premonition but didnt know what it might be until I finally spotted that the whole evening that I'd been outside, a car had been following us. Call it irrational fear but the court date is nearby and it could be my ex-husband who has promised me he will see me killed. I had noticed it before but didnt think much about it. But when, on the way home, it followed us to our appartment and slowly crawled by, I had chills.
Tomorrow, I call up my lawyer and I think, I need to relauch the complain of life threat with the Police. PLUS, I need to get out of here fast. I might not be safe in this city or even in India.
I dont know if it is irrational fear or just my hunch that if I dont get out, something might happen to me. But there it is. I'm too shook up to work at the moment, so am going to watch something..a movie or something to relax myself and try to sleep.

Sometimes, life goes in slow phases and sometimes, it tells you, "hightime girl, decide what you can do and get out." I wonder if I'd be fast enough and beat death.

So long!

Hello to all the wonderful people of blogland!

I slept at about Seven thirty today morning and was forced to be up by Nine. My brother had his Physical Training Exams and woke me up to ask if he looked good in his new sports trousers.
And I'm up and about since then. Ah well, might as well do something productive now that I'm up, I thought. Done with housework by now and making some soup and Curry Noodles for lunch. My bro is back and his exam went well. Didnt do good in 400 meters but its ok.

Nothing else to report so early yet. See you guys later!

Guys, the same time that Casino Royale came in, there was another Bollywood movie which hit the theatres. Believe it or not, Indians prefer Indian action compared to sauve Mr. Bond. Here's a taste of it. A song and a bit of the movie. Hope you enjoy it. I know I did! But then, I'm an Indian and lurrrrvee Bollywood.

As MMM asked me what Rava Masala Dosa was, I thought, I'd better put it on here, for those too who enjoy Indian dishes. Subville, its for you too.

RAVA MASALA DOSA:
INGREDIENTS

* 1 cup Sooji (Semolina or Rawa)
* 1 cup rice flour
* 1/2 cup flour
* 1 cup yogurt
* 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
* 1 cup oil
* 1 teaspoon mustard seeds
* 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
* 10-15 curry leaves (see note below)
* 2-3 green chilies chopped
* 1/2 teaspoon hing (asafetida - see note)
* 1/2 cup finely chopped coriander (cilantro) leaves
* 1 onion finely chopped
* Salt to taste

METHOD

Mix the first five ingredients and salt. Mix with enough into a stiff batter and set aside for 1-2 hours.

Heat 2 tbs oil, add the mustard seeds. When they splutter, add cumin seeds till they sizzle (this should a be 30-40 seconds), quickly add the curry leaves and hing and pour over the batter.

Add about 3 additional cups of water and mix with coriander leaves and onions. Note: the batter should be fairly thin.

On a non-stick skillet, add a few drops of oil. Pour one or two ladlefuls of the batter, and allow this to cook slowly. It is good to start for a couple of minutes on high flame and then lower the flame and allow the dosa to cook slowly (about 7-10 minute).

Gently turn and cook on the other side for a couple of minutes. The dosa should be golden brown and crisp in appearance. Serve hot with chutney.

Serves: 4 - 6

My nights, especially the ones when I'm not working are turning out to be very boring indeed. I'm always on a lookout for what I should do the next!

Today, not much to do. Went to see my sister as she is unwel. Some kind of flu going around and she's caught it. Then went with my brother for dinner and had RAVA MASALA DOSA. Anyone had that before? It is YUMMMMY..(got one packed too!

For the want of nothing better to do, am watching TAFFIN. Went to the video store and saw this DVD there which stars Pierce Brosnan. In this movie, he doesnt look so old (dont bother correcting me, I'd never call him old anyway. He's gorgeous!)

So anyway, I hear this movie is about a small Irish town which is terrorised by big Syndicates and a lone hero; a tough-as nails debt collector wages an all-out war, and in the end, uncovers a shocking plot that reaches the highest eche long of political power.

I'll tell you how it was once I see it.

Cheerio!

Hey, did you guys see that show BIG BROTHER?? What exactly is going on in there? Is this a media hype or are they really mis-treating the nice Indian lady actor, SHILPA SHETTY ???

I cant believe people can be as racist on the Telly as they're talking about here. I thought, the English had long ago accepted India as a friend and friends dont mistreat each other in such a manner, do they?
Did that lady really ask Shilpa if she lives in a shack?????? LOL..she ought to come here once. I think Shilpa would be richer than her, even when counted in British Pounds.

It saddened me to hear of it. I wonder, are Indians treated badly over there in England and called names behind their backs?

Not exactly Saturday night now. Its more like Sunday early morning here.

I'm sitting in my room, watching the episodes of Pride and Prejudice and writing this blog. Nothing very interesting happened today but I still want to jot down the things that did happen.

Its been a peaceful Saturday today, must say. I cleaned up the kitchen(which looked terrible after the PAKORAS that I'd made yesterday night before my parents left) and the rest of the house. Still have to vaccum clean my room though. I shall do it today afternoon.

What did I do on Saturday evening. hmmmm..lets see. After I cleaned up the house, I had a little something to eat. Ate SAMOSAS; spicey stuff. Its a traingle shaped bread stuffed with potatoes and stuff and fried. Yummy things, those.

Also today, I spent sometime with my brother. We had a marvellous time talking. My brother was telling me about his friends'antics in College. We had a good time together.

Can you believe it, by the time all this happened, it was already 1 AM in the morning!!
And now, it is 5 AM. Time for me to hit the bed with a book. I so wanted to see the Chronicals of Naria (the movie) today but couldnt get it. So instead, I shall be reading the book as I sleep now. Maybe I shall dream about getting into Narnia. After all, am still a child by heart!

See you around beautiful people of blogland. Good night and Good morning to people all over the world from me.

Over and OUT!

Finally, I shall fall asleep now. Its Six Thirty in the morning here and my business associates have conked off one by one. Time for me to go too! Thank you all friends for keeping in touch in my absence from the blog world.
OOhh..did I mention, victravels sent me a beautiful snowball as my Xmas present? Thank you Vicky.

Here's something to cheer your day! Even the evenings for that matter.