4 Cs of bums !

And you thought you could only grade diamonds based on the 4 Cs ? The bum enjoys the best & worst place in our life. As a random conversation item sometimes, or as an object of affection or for launching a surprise strike at other times, it certainly ain't a lady's best friend. The poor bum, as I will proceed to explain can make or break a woman's day and in turn prove to be pretty hard on the object of her outbursts !

Color: Irrespective of genetic make up your bum can be quite deceptive according to my so called trusted sources. Apparently, there are lots of magical products out there for being perfectly color coordinated with the rest of you ! Does it really even matter ? I mean, I would think that years of wear & tear of sitting on your own a*** would leave certain effects. Now I realize how that would be a dead give away for people who just sit on their a**** vs. people constantly on the move, like the proverbial wheat & the chaff innit ?

Complexion: The lesser said on this one the better. The all woman magazines don't spare anything to splash those even complexioned beauties in their summer bikini specials ! No expert comments here from me on this.

Contour: Now, if you were a qualified M.B.B.S(Member of the Big Bum Society) perhaps you'd appreciate the enormity of the problem ! An ample back side does pose some seating and silhouette issues. I won't even get started on the obsessive workouts to tone those gluteal muscles. The arduous process continues, thousands spent on limitless sessions with multiple trainers the glutes stay stubbornly there.
On the other hand, if you got lucky breaks in the films down south (in India) perhaps it'll help you retire early :).

Clothes: Ah yes ! The critical and perhaps the most important cover strategies stem from this C. Don't tell me you never look into a mirror side ways after you've worn those slim fit trousers and do a quick check on how your back looked ? Or wondered if the clothes are too tight, too lose, make you appear big or too small ? Should I pick a longer shirt or shorter one, a loser one or a tighter one ? Shopping for those perfect pants never was easy, the hips just made the challenge worse.

So..you've got it or you don't!

** The Essential Disclaimer:

• The author doesn't subscribe to the values above and will forever be an indebted and happy M.B.B.S !
• The author also feel that this post was instigated by a recent conversation & was meant in good humor ! Sorry if you think its ludicrous, unrealistic and plain stupid.
• I have to change my trusted sources soon !
  

Pune..

brings to me a flood of fond food memories, first. But I have to mention (atleast in passing ;) ) that the friends & tons of activities we managed to indulge with a generous sprinkling of travel, are cherished too. Of course, with me doing the talking..rather..writing, how can food not take a priority. Here are my top picks from Pune through my years there. Each time I go back, I manage to cover at least two on my favorite list.

• Arthur's Theme, Malaka Spice and German Bakery
  
• Marz-o-Rin - Their Zoom Sauce & Mayo are simply to die for with an unmatchable taste.
• Zamu's were good at some point, I don't know now
• Vaishali - even the water here is special for me :), and Vadeshwar in more recent times
  
• Manmeet - their chaats are tops, hygiene...who cares
• Dabeli wala outside Fergusson main gate
• IMDR canteen (in the Fergusson College campus) - Double Special chai and street style Chinese food
• Batata Vada wala near the rear gates of the college campus
  
• More Batata Vada walas in various parts of town
• La Pizzeria - I guess they are now owner of a Little Italy franchise, but it was a favorite haunt for the family about...a decade back(wow ! time does fly)
• Then there is/was a little hole in the wall shop near an old old house on Fergusson College road that sold the most awesome samosas & patties. I need to find out if they still are around !
  
• The rolls at Olympia - largely non-vegetarian but the vegetarian is fine, pretty nice
• Sujata Mastanis - they serve superb milkshakes with every possible combination of fruits & dry fruit. You need to go on an empty stomach, have loads of love for all things fruity.
• The multiple teashops - Amrutatulyas near Laxmi Road and another one memorable for me was opposite college
• Garden Court atop a little hill in Chandni Chowk for the food and scenery on a rainy day
• Fried ice cream - that we tried the first time ever in Panchshil
  
• More recently I found East Street Cafe, Flags to be nice
• Sigree, Bombay Brasserie on Dhole Patil Road
• Thai & other asian food in Magnolia in Aundh, my backyard
  
• Thousand Oaks, Sarjaa, Smokin' Joes from long ago
• Nandu's parathas
• Ramakrishna next to our school
  
• Kayani's biscuits & cake are a must buy every visit
• Shreyas, Shabri(unsure about how they spell it) and Mayur for their thaalis
• Dorabjees for their assortment of delicious goodies
• For sabudana khichdi it was Appa's near Deccan Gymkhana (I owe my pals for taking me here). For more on Appa, check out http://www.punelifestyle.com/appa_canteen.htm
• Shiv Sagar, Kamat, 4 Seasons on the Aurora Towers top floor, Mirchi Kola at some point though briefly, were other haunts.
• I remember all the little bakeries - Copper Chocs for their rum balls, Monginis for their savories, Baker's Basket for their cake
• Budhani wafers (exclusively for their potato chips)
  
• Then the numerous fancier places that we started frequenting later with great food but with no significant firsts or any memories attached.
  

I know I could go on & on with this list endlessly.

Pune for me goes beyond this list. Its about the culture, the architecture, its fantastic people and so much more. To me Pune epitomizes a lifelong celebration of life and a city of simple delights that anyone can cherish.

I so badly want a bite of Pune...NOW!

A sense of loss

..currently plagues my mind. It conflicts with my tendency to dwell on practicality, logic and better sense. It is unnerving and almost unnatural yet so familiar, that I am about to or have to let go of something yet another time; something so close to my heart, something permanent, something that I took for granted. A sense of security and well-being snatched away from me. Then I grapple for words, for objects to give it more definition.]

an·chor
1. any of various devices dropped by a chain, cable, or rope to the bottom of a body of water for preventing or restricting the motion of a vessel or other floating object, typically having broad, hook like arms that bury themselves in the bottom to provide a firm hold.
5.a person or thing that can be relied on for support, stability, or security; mainstay: Hope was his only anchor.

There are only a handful of things I wanted to be permanent. Parents & their home were almost always on the top of the list as someone to fall back on and a place to go to. And however near or far I maybe, as the years progress, I've attached a sort of permanence to them.

I want a home to go to when I wish for it. A home that I made doesn't qualify the same way as the home that I sometimes wish to run to and has my parents, my pet, my books, my toys, my music, my pictures, all the familiar sights, sounds & smells that I can feel & touch even when I am not there ! Each precious moment that my parents have carefully preserved in photos, in every object that reminds them of us & reminds us of our growing up years all untouched and kept in the same places; the familiarity, associations, memories feel like they're being snatched away. Their decision to move is well planned & in the works for a while & yet I feel this void that can never be filled.

I know I can always travel & visit friends there but, it won't come as naturally as the feeling of "Yesss...I am going home!". I know there will never again be a countdown of the days left to get home, never again the strange sadness that sets in when you know you are leaving in a few days, the happiness of ringing the doorbell & seeing smiling & welcoming faces, the eagerness of squeezing in everything you love to eat & do in a few days and so much more.

I will gain, my parents will live next door. But, I feel a stronger sense of loss over a significant part of my life and time being lost, a 2nd time over! The home we set up, grew up in, a home so alive is suddenly going away never to be seen again!

I train myself to think the reverse - "They are coming home, finally !" And, I start counting down...for my loss or my gain ? Okay stop..be positive, be happy.