Saturday, November 21, 2015

What does a guy say to that?

“It’s the Taj Mahal, it’s a monument of love. People find that romantic.”
“It’s a tomb. There is nothing romantic about a tomb. It’s like a fancy graveyard. Why don’t people take their girlfriends to the graveyard?”
“Oh come on, you know the story. The Emperor had it built for his fav. Queen, and when he was imprisoned by his son, all he wanted was to be able to see the monument so he could be close to his love.”
“Cough.gullible.cough”
“What?”
“Dude, he was an Emperor. He wanted to build something to show off his wealth. And please, you think he knew a thing about love? What, he got workers’ hands cut off after they built the monument. Didn’t think they had someone at home who loved them?”
“He wanted it to be unique, just like his love was.”
“Hey, there was nothing unique about his love. Strip away the mystery and mumbo jumbo, and love is just like all the other emotions... Totally common. Think about it... Love, greed, hunger, anger, sorrow, joy. You find them everywhere. Every human being experiences them. Nothing unique about a King falling in love. If you want to buy into that idea, of course.” 
You scoff.
“Yeah? What makes you think he didn’t love her? What about spending ten years staring at it from his prison?”
“Umm, did I mention he wasted a load of money on building that thing to show off? Of course he spent ten years rueing his mistake. If he had used that money in better governance, he wouldn’t have been imprisoned. And his wife died in childbirth. Her fourteenth kid in fifteen years, or something. Not romantic, just sad that the woman had no say over her body, that he had no control over his lust and that he tried to use her death to glorify himself. Oh and it's a totally valid case for birth control!”
“Wow, that's harsh. And so politically incorrect. So I take it you don’t want to visit it?”
“Says who? Of course I want to visit! It’s a beautiful piece of architecture. I’m just not interested in buying the romance that people try to package it with. That’s like saying the pyramids are romantic.”
“You do realise that people do say that the pyramids are romantic?”
“See, you just proved my point. They’re tombs as well. Tombs of Kings with egos bigger than mountains. Nothing romantic about self aggrandisement!”
“Do you ever take anything at face value? Ever just appreciate something for what it symbolises or just let it have a sentimental meaning?”
A secretive smile... an almost blush... a grin. Your hand in mine.
“Yeah, sometimes. But not when I’m with you. You’re too much fun to argue with, even though you don’t counter half the rubbish I spew, even when I know I’m being ridiculous, and even when you have valid rebuttals. It keeps me happy.”
What does a guy say to that? 



Friday, November 20, 2015

The Alphabet Tag

It's been a while since I posted here, so when I recently got tagged on one of those chain-tag things, I figured I'd put my answers up here. About time this place got some action. Maggie, my blog thanks you :)

So here's an alphabetic list of inconsequential things about me:

A: Age
31

B: Biggest Fear
Having to deal with this mess of a life alone, maybe.

C: Current Time
8:15 pm

D: Drink you last had
Coconut Water

E: Every day starts with
Figuring out where I am, and what I have to do, and then water.

F: Favourite Song
Don't have one. I like music. I like a lot of different music.

G: Ghosts, are they real
Sure, why not.

H: Hometown
Don't actually have one.

I: In love with
Lemon tarts

J: Jealous of
Nah, that would take too much energy.

K: Killed someone?
I hope not. That would be most inconvenient.

L: Last time you cried
Probably last week at the end of a movie (Taare Zameen Par) when they have that art competition. That sequence always makes me cry with happiness, cause it has all these people sitting around drawing and painting and playing with colour. Nothing better.

M: Middle name
Don't have one, unless you count 'Tataiya' (wasp), which is what I called myself after a wasp stung me as a kid. Random fact: I've been stung thrice in my life by these little yellow stingy things.

N: Number of siblings
One

O: One wish
World Peace. For real. And for people to have a little more sense. And for desserts not to make you fat. Those are all parts of the same wish.

P: Person you last called
Mom, cause she's still in school and it's night.

Q: Question you're always asked
These days, 'most everyone asks how dad is. I don't think I inspire a lot of questions.

R: Reason to smile
Waking up safe and healthy. Oh, and trees.

S: Song last sung
Don't remember. Probably some old hindi song that was on TV and I sang along.

T: Time you woke up
9 am today, I was being lazy for once.

U: Underwear colour
Beige.

V: Vacation Destination
Right now, I'd love to go somewhere with a nice, peaceful beach.

W: Worst habit
Procrastination. It just makes the work pile up and then I get stressed.

X: X-rays you've had
The last one was probably of my right hand, when I'd broken it, many years ago.

Y: Your favourite food
No one thing. I like most good food. I'd choose homemade Kashmiri food over almost anything, though.

Z: Zodiac Sign
Taurus

Right, so I'm not nominating anyone, cause I don't feel like it, and cause I'm eating a burger that is asking me not to do it. And maybe a little bit cause dad has been talking to me non-stop in the background and it's giving me a bit of a headache.