Ruminations in Sweltering August

Like several other sporadic bloggers, I too disappeared. L Some of you have been knocking at my blog, putting me to shame. I am now shamed enough to write my random ruminations.

Firewall has been installed at work, my blogs gets less attention now. (Perhaps my boss is reading this, and speculating doing what my blogging has to do with firewall at work. God forbid!) I have a pathetically slow wireless connection at home. Because it is so slow, I am unable to download anything at home. Therfore, I never reach my 1 GB download limit. It is too late when I reach home after four hours of commute. And then I am too tired to work on my laptop. For this reason, I have not been able to keep any of my blogging resolutions this year. Forgive me, if you find my comments missing from your blog for some while. I am hitting them less lest they are blocked at workplace. I want to keep reading you.

Last week was mildly depressing. There was this firewall. Slideshare, youtube, chats, and orkut are blocked. I don’t care much if you block chat and orkut, but youtube and slideshare are beneficial and educational. And I resent anything impinging my freedom even if those are the services I do not need.

This is August. Yet it is unbearably hot and humid in the city. Seems like courtesy global warming and climate change, we have only two seasons in this city: very hot summer and very cold winter. I am yet to remember what spring is like.

Then home loan EMIs went up, as RBI increased interest rates. Stupid banks never inform you, it took me several phone calls to know what will be my revised interest rate. Nor had I any idea what will be increased EMI so that I could plan my finances.

With increase in home loan EMI, I decided to increase my income. I realised that there are ways to earn (slow) money by writing online. Though considering my rate of writing on my blogs, it will be a long time when I will earn anything substantial by online writing. I promptly dropped the thought.

My sister has finished her Masters degree in Social Work. She has not been keeping well for a long time. So we took her to a doctor whom family trusts. Several tests later, doctor was yet not satisfied. He suspected she had intestinal tuberculosis. I forbid my sister that she should not even think of getting a job in hectic (but less paying) NGO sector. She should rest. I suggested that rather she should get a doctorate in the subject (she wanted to at some point of time) and work as a lecturer. She could still make her voluntary contributions to NGOs. Health comes first.

Plus now that we were two of us, we need to find a rented place to stay together. Where I do not have to travel so far to work and we can spend time together. We need a kitchen too because my sister needs home-cooked food for health reasons. A quick search and several calls later, I realised I will have to shell out 1/4 th of my salary for 1 bedroom in South Delhi (I already pay more than 1/4th for a home in another city)! Rest of expenses like water and electricity extra! Another reason to increase my income!

So I came to work on Monday with unhappiness. When I come to work and sit in my corner, magically, I start feeling better. Nova will find it strange, but it is true.

After some calls to bank, I finally got to know that increase in my EMI was manageable. Bank had assumed, without confirming with me, that I would like to increase my tenure and keep the EMIs same. I rather asked them to increase my EMI. Unless I see their actions put on paper, I can not be sure about banks. I am being vigilant about my home loan.

Finally tuned in my laptop to watch Aamir and Satya (yes, I hadn’t watched it so far!). After reading so many reviews about Aamir on blogs, I had fair idea of the story. Yet it was worth a watch. Rajeev Khandelwal’s performance made it worthwhile. Movie was never mundane and it was apt for Indian scenario. Last 10 minutes for the movie were heart-rending for me. You will have to watch to know why.

Then I watched Satya. Bheeku Matre was great, the character that defined Manoj Vajpayee. But Satya (Chakraborty will always be Satya for me) and girls (Shefaly Chhaya and Urmila) were good too. It was certainly hard-hitting story about an unemployed youth who takes to underworld. It was hard to believe this classic was directed by same guy who also created duds like Nishabd, Aag, Vastushastra and Sarkar Raj. Finally, I can boast that I have watched this classic.

Finally, Beijing Olympics are over. Indian has three medals: one gold and two bronze. Highest we ever got. But government can not claim any credit for it. By now, we all have heard and read so many times how much geeky-looking Abhinav Bindra’s family invested in his training. Wrestler Sushil Kumar and pugilists Vijender, Jitender and Akhil made a crack into quarterfinals without any decent facilities.

In fact, I had read detailed pieces in Outlook about how Akhil’s physio trainer Heath Mathews was not part of 42 officer squad (who were accompanying 52 sportsmen). He was included only after the fierce protests by the boxing squad. Mathews reportedly had helped Akhil heal and play again after he had a career-threatening accident. Incidentally, the Sania Mirza’s mother was part of entourage as tennis team “Manager”!

For all these reasons, these sportsmen to me are symbol of triumph of determination over adversity. I feel proud that I am their fellow-countrywoman!

Sister’s medical reports came in, no sign of tuberculosis! Thank God! Income hasn’t increased yet, but things already look better and manageable. 🙂

I will soon be back with my “General Knowledge” posts as Vimal says. I am thankful to everyone who awarded my blog. I will soon write more about it. I maybe little delayed in responding your comments, but I promise I will.

P.S: Oh, I went to Mussurie and Dhanulty on Independence day weekend during rains. I will soon write about it. 🙂