The Kalaghoda Festival, 2011

Me playing the flute on Vibha's challenge.

Vibha finally managed to get me to go visit the Kalaghoda festival this year. And we did, in an "Awesome" way. We went the entire length on my trusted "Sookie" (that's the name of my TVS Star City 110 ES motor bike, in case you didn't know) from Vashi to Rhythm House. It was actually a fun Sunday, with the Sun all high up in the sky, pleasant breeze blew all day long. And it was a nice field trip for my otherwise unused legs.

It was nice to see a lot of artwork around us but very few ever caught my complete attention. One of the most interesting series was the scrap metal "Spiderman" and the "Alien" inspired from the Jame Cameron movie Aliens. Some artworks were too over-conceptualized to be called as art rather than science projects. I know I sound like a hard-ass critic and I'm sure a lot of you are dying to say

"Oh yeah Mr. No-Art-Ass, what do you have to show? Did you even participate in the festival? No? So who gives you the right to judge others' perception of art?"

Well, like I said earlier, I know I sound harsh but I'm just saying what I felt like. And if the artist couldn't connect with me through his art, then I guess he definitely needs to work on his craft. Interestingly, we caught a glimpse of Mr. Chetan Bhagat (the author) who appearred quite clueless while browsing the stalls at the festival. No hard feelings Mr. Bhagat, eh? I actually met a guy who was a photography hobbyist just like me, and the guy gave a lot good info on Black and White photography techniques and film details. Thanks man, I owe you one.

After the nice chocolate binge we had at Glee Chocolates, we moved out for lunch at India restaurant. Nice fare for Grade II place. Food was delicious and the place was clean. Can't say a lot about the ambiance though, but hey. You can't get everything right. All in all, I had fun and wouldn't mind coming back for the next year too.

The gray hair

What I tried to deny real hard for some time has metamorphosed  to a very physical, biological reality. I'm getting old(er). Few days back, when I was at my cousin's wedding in West Bengal, I noticed an extra shiny hair standing out in amidst a tuft of my otherwise black hair. The shininess particularly did strike me odd, but I thought it must be the angle of the light. When the shininess remained constant even after gently combing in that general area, it dawned to me that something was not right. I leaned closer into the mirror to get a better look, and lo! There, right smack in the front was a single all-white (gray ?) strand of hair, snaking playfully between larger tufts of my dark brown hair.

At first, I was excited that time. At 28, it's not something to be proud or ashamed of, but it definitely meant that I have crossed the next level. Suddenly, another one of those shiny hair caught my attention. I guess that's when I started to lose the euphoric feeling of finding my gray hair. There I was, staring stupid into the mirror, thinking to myself. "Is this really happening? Has time finally caught up with me?" While I admit I sound a little melodramatic, but I can only hope the readers understand. Reality and mother nature slapped me silly in the face and I stood  there, numb and confused. I decided to look at the gray hair once I got back home.

So, the day before yesterday I finally remembered all about my gray hair and I mustered courage to find it once again. What surprised me again was that it didn't take me long to find it. It was just where I found it the first time. Only this time, I had more time and bearing to make sense of it. I guess I got my chance to accept the fact that my biological clock was always ticking. I was just pretending that it wasn't. This certainly means that there are a lot of things that are going to change in my life. For instance, now I finally have to sit down and start planning about the future, about savings, about buying myself a house, about marriage perhaps ...

So I'm growing older and I'm moving on.

Finally, got meself a Stratocaster

(To be sung to the tune "Waiting for a Girl like You" by Foreigner)

So long, I've been looking too hard, I've been waiting too long
Sometimes I don't know what I will find, I only know it's a matter of time
When you love someone, when you love someone
It feels so right, so warm and true, I need to know if you feel it too

Maybe I'm wrong, won't you tell me if I'm coming on too strong
This heart of mine has been hurt before, this time I wanna be sure

I've been waiting for a guitar like you to come into my life
I've been waiting for a guitar like you, your loving will survive
I've been waiting for someone new to make me feel alive
Yeah, waiting for a guitar like you to come into my life ...