Friday, November 29, 2013

Catching up

It's been long since my last post but housemanship is a busy year (Yes, even in my college!). I haven't even replied to comments on this blog, and I hardly ever get time to send postcards. What I have been doing is making new friends and enjoying work. I've also been learning the dynamics of adjusting in a workplace with a predominantly female population working together on a daily basis in close proximity. And don't we all know what happens when too many women get together? :D

One of the best things that happened to me last month was that I saw Ram Leela. And while the movie has many haters, I absolutely loved and enjoyed it, barring a couple of songs of course. What a refreshing change to have Indian cinema portray young adults in love so realistically and with a great sense of humour (who can forget the size 136 bosom? :D)  Also wonderful to see an extremely strong female lead and for a change a female villain. The movie did have many strong and sensible female characters, if I recollect, and actually all the males were the ones doing all the stupid activities except our hero. Ranveer and Deepika looking their best in those wonderful costumes never once hurt the eyes. But actually in the end the true villain turns out to be a  male only! Ha. Well, SLB (please note his middle name is his mother's name and not father's) may well be Bollywood's first feminist.

Two other things happened over the past few months, SRT retired and we had a verdict on the Aarushi Talwar case. But as this blog isn't a newspaper, I won't talk about either of those :P What I will tell you is that for the longest time, whenever I introduced myself to someone, they immediately connected my name to Aarushi's. And then I had to clarify that I am Aayushi and I am not a ghost come for revenge after my murder!

So now my humour has started to be about murder victims. I think that's a new high (or low?). At this point I would just like to clarify that I believe the Indian police, investigating agencies, justice system, and the media have all messed up in a big way in this sensitive case. My heart goes out to the victim's parents and family members.

Back to my non-newspaper blog,  I've been told very recently by some people that I come across as a snob and a very 'harsh' person. I tend to be like that with strangers at first, all high-strung and walled off. But then how else do you get people to leave you alone, I ask? So I've decided I'm just going to keep my snob disguise going and master the art of snobbishness to perfection. Since not enough people in my world have read Jonathon Rauch's famous article about introversion, I'm just going to have to keep up my snob disguise as a survival mechanism. (wink, wink)

One more thing I have been thinking about a lot lately is the dynamics of friendship in today's age, and does the term even really mean anything anymore? I know, pessimistic thoughts, but let's hear your opinions on this.

Apart from that, it seems to be serendipity that I named this blog Gentian Violet two years back, and now I am going to be a dermatologist, which is one of the few medical fields which actually still uses the chemical gentian violet (atleast theoretically if not practically!). The thought always fills me up with glee.

In other news, the search is on for a Gujju boy who doesn't run at the sound of a prospective wife who would (God forbid!) actually have to study everyday for the next few years, and be a doctor, and have to run a clinic! Yes, she wouldn't be home to serve you hot food three times a day and pack your dabbas for office with...gasp!...more food! And yes, she is so haughty she can actually write such things on her own blog! All these terms seem so alien to an average gujju household, I am fast starting to become disillusioned by my own community.

And I am sure after reading this (I'm probably stretching my luck by assuming that someone will), every prospective suitor who facebook stalks me (of course they do!), is also going to refuse to meet me. Well well, good riddance, I say. I've never curbed my writing for any reason till date, and I'm not going to start now.

In music, I've been listening to Birdy (In the moment we're ten feet tall - "Wings"), Lana (I won't cry myself to sleep like a sucker - "Damn You"), and Taylor (I had the time of my life, fighting dragons with you - "Long Live").

I've been missing my old college, and my friends, and the carefree UG days. To think we were 1st MBBS students just yesterday, when the highlight of our day was having to put up with the disgusting stench of formalin. Whenever you look back to the past, life always seems simpler than in the present. And that's probably the irony of it all.

I promise to reply to all your comments, soon! This blog is starved for some conversation. And I hope all of you are doing well :)

P.S. Since I am not sure if this author allows her comics to be shared with due credits, I am just going to link you to her superb blog! Don't forget to check out the comic about 12 medical specialities.

Here's wishing you all a wonderful, lazy, and enjoyable weekend! :D





Saturday, October 12, 2013

Lyrics and music

I seem to have lost all my creative instincts at present, so here I am, showcasing someone else's creativity.

Lyrics taken from a song I can't seem to be able to get enough of. Ellie Goulding and her magnificent voice (which goes to waste in most of the other songs she sings), in this haunting song.





Sunday, September 1, 2013

Teacher's Day

It's been a wonderful month, August. In a few days I probably won't even remember any of the great things that happened to me this month, but that doesn't matter. I've been happier than in a long time, and I've started studying Dermatology, which has turned out to be an endlessly fascinating and challenging subject. I've made good progress with my writing, and let's hope you get to see a lot more of that on this blog soon.

Next week will be Teacher's day. So here's a post, to remind myself of some of the wonderful teachers who have changed my life in some way, at some point. I am probably never going to show them my appreciation in person, but the least I can do is write a post.

The one teacher I will never forget is Dani Miss. She was one person who I am sure loved me unabashedly. I was her favorite child. I once kicked someone under the table in a fit of exuberance, and well, she just refused to believe that I'd done it. She even had tears in her eyes (if my 5th standard brain serves me right) on the last day when I went to her tuition. I visited her a few times after that, and since have lost touch, but she is very, very often in my thoughts. Her entire family knew me, because they had all heard from her how fond she was of me. As an adult, my pathological shyness and introversion somehow keeps me from picking up the phone and tracing her, but I know she would be delighted if she ever heard from me. In retrospect, she may be my favourite teacher, ever.

Next comes Kanti Miss, who is a local legend in Matunga. The lady teaches French since decades, is very eccentric and lovable, and every daughter from my family has gone to her for French Tuitions. She also charges fees at Rs. 50 per month, and throws open the doors of her house, entire living room, and sometimes even bedroom, to swarms of students. I will never forget her Sunday Morning sessions, and the wonderful times I've had with her. I loved French, and most of that love stemmed from learning it at Kanti Miss's house.

Then comes Naidu Sir, who is also on his way to becoming a local legend. I will never forget the day I first met Sir, he actually came to my house, after I had filled a questionnaire for admission to his coaching institute. He wanted to ask me how I'd got so many marks in the 9th standard, if I studied for less than 2 hours per day, as stated in the questionnaire. What he probably still doesn't know, is that while filling that form,  the minimum option provided was two hours per day, which was the only reason why I marked it. I clearly did not even study for two hours at the time. The concept of studying EVERYDAY just didn't exist for me. (Yes, I was a 14 year old girl who had never uttered the word medicine up until then). Naidu Sir, if you're reading this, and if you still give students that questionnaire, please add an option of 2 hours per month, which will be more suitable for most 8th and 9th standard students! :D

So when Sir came home and asked me how I got so many marks without studying, I told him I just did. I also informed him that I hated Geometry, the subject he would be teaching me for the next year. Anyways, once I joined his classes, what started was my first exposure to competitive studying in an atmosphere of constant hard work and setting actual goals and trying to achieve them. You must realise how drastic that could have been for me, after reading the above stanza. At Naidu's were also sowed the first seeds of fascination with Science, and with Biology. And I will forever remember his Sunday morning 7 am tests, which were an exceptionally painful exercise for me. What Sir probably doesn't know till date is, after the Monday to Friday classes, and daily homework, I never touched a book for the entire weekend off, and only started studying for the Sunday morning 7 am tests by waking up at 3 am. I just refused to touch a book on Saturdays.

After my results, I remember talking to Naidu Sir on the phone, and the last thing he told me was, "Aayushi, I hope you will stay in touch..." I fervently said yes at the time, and went on to do the exact opposite. Again, my pathologic shyness is to blame, I never feel the need to go and talk to people, I've just survived by replying to their questions for many, many years of my life. I've remembered his words and our good times at the classes many times, and pretty much done nothing about it.

Next up is Prabhu sir, Abhang Prabhu. The man who single-handedly is responsible for a LOT Mumbaikars' admissions to medical colleges. He definitely takes most of the credit for my admission. If I sit to think about it, I can not really say without doubt that I would have gotten into med school if it were not for this man. He is the only teacher who had the audacity to complain to my parents about me, who one fine day called them and told them they should make me a model instead of a doctor, because I clearly wasn't going anywhere with my lack of studying. But well, in the end, his tactics worked.

He got me to shut myself up in a room for months and study and do nothing else. He made students give up their cell phones, stop watching TV, forget the internet and their social lives. He knew what it took to beat the competition, and he made sure all his students knew as well. He used plain logic and cold calculations and coached you to perfection, with only one aim in sight: to crack the CET. No one can doubt that he had a perfect system in place. He taught us the approach to an MCQ based exams, he even taught us the best ways to bluff for MCQs, and he brainwashed the system of rote learning out of most of us.

And mostly, to add to all that, he taught fabulously well. His teachings of genetics have implanted in me a lifelong fascination for the subject. And well, I remember most of his classes being a lot of fun, because he had a good sense of humor. He also managed to create mini celebrities out of students who were rankers, with his system for displaying weekly rank lists. Consequently, when we went to medical school, it so happened that we already knew the names of many of our colleagues who went to Prabhu's, but we didn't know their faces. We just knew that this person with this name had made it to the top his rank list at some point of time.

I'm trying to think of a memorable teacher in Medical school, and well there's none who personally affected my life. That probably says a lot about the kind of Medical Education we have in our medical colleges.

Currently, I'm working at a place where I'm surrounded by many teachers, and most of them are eager to teach and share their vast knowledge and expertise. This is a first for me in many many years, and I'm basking in the feeling of being taught, for now. It's too soon to write about them, but maybe in three years, there will be another post, with newer stories to tell.

Until then, here's wishing a Happy Teacher's Day, to all the teachers I've written about, and many others who have all affected and changed my life. I don't celebrate things, and I don't wish people for anything including their birthdays, but it's high time I wrote this post.

P.S.: Please tell me about your favorite teachers in the comments section!

Source: www.andertoons.com



Source: here

Wednesday, August 14, 2013

The end of my crush on Ranbir Kapoor

This trailer. This trailer!



Frankly, the trailer evoked nightmares! Ranbir has acted so well, he resembles every roadside tapori to perfection. Just imagining an entire nation of young, influential minds, watching this trailer and this movie, and then aping Ranbir and learning tricks they didn't know already, is enough to give me the chills. To top it off, he looks utterly boring in all the scenes. The *wondrous* dance steps, and the closing scene just seal the deal. Finally, Ranbir has done it. He's acted so well, I have started to dislike him. Somehow my mind just went "ewww.." after watching this trailer. 

I still remember the very first time we saw Ranbir Kapoor. The first trailer of Saawariya to come on TV, and there he was, looking like that! (For reference watch the video below). I remember watching the trailer countless times on TV, and of course everyone either loved him immensely or hated him. The girls who hated him thought he looked too feminine, but mostly everyone loved him.  




After that, I enjoyed most of his movies, Raajneeti remains a top favourite, though it was in Rockstar that he truly stole my heart in the intense role of Jordan. That was followed up with Yeh Jawani Hai Deewani, another movie which I thoroughly enjoyed. (Now why wouldn't I enjoy a movie about a frustrated medical student running away from home? :D)

And now, he goes and does this! Makes a movie like Besharam! I now officially declare that I do not like Ranbir Kapoor anymore! I may admire him at times, but that is all. Now when people ask me "Who is your favourite hero?" (Yes, people do ask such questions all the time), I won't have an answer. And thank goodness for that, right? ;) 


Tuesday, August 6, 2013

Insert random smart title

It's funny how sometimes you start a new phase in your life, and then you look back at yourself and wonder if the person in the past was really you? Sometimes you go through parts of your life with a feeling of surrealism, and when those parts are over, and many days have passed, you start imagining those things never even happened!

Well, I understand if that doesn't happen to any of you, because well, I know I can be weird! :D

In other news, I have taken to a supposedly underground hobby/movement, "Postcrossing", an international community for sending picture postcards to strangers. If I think about one thing that has kept me extremely happy and preoccupied these past few months, Postcrossing would be the answer. There is just something wonderful about receiving mail everyday, and reading about the lives of faceless strangers, and having beautiful photos in your hands from places all across the globe. In other side-effects of this hobby, my geography, languages, knowledge about India Post and stamps, and about various countries of the world has improved drastically as well. I have also answered a lot of questions about the safety of indulging in such a hobby, and whether I now have many stalkers, and the simple answer is : no.

I have a lot of faith in the basic humanity of every person, and I also trust that a stalker would not go to such efforts as to join a website and make a fake profile about loving postcards so he can stalk and kill someone.

I would love to share photos of my postcards, and basically show them off on this blog, but I don't have a scanner and I am too lazy to get into all that mess with clicking photos and uploading them. I also came to know that most Indians don't have the time or appreciation for something like Postcards, and I guess, when there are so many other problems in the country, this may be understandable to an extent.  And yes, I am sure my postman is going to charge a double Diwali bonus this year, for the amount of cards he has had to deliver to my doorstep!

I am having difficulty trying to talk about something other than postcards, but a book I am currently reading comes to mind. Here's a quote for you:

" The thoughtful doctor, on the other hand, the one who knows the stuff cold but also realizes his or her limitations, tends to train harder, tries continually to learn, and is willing to entertain a wider range of treatment possibilities (and is more likely to treat you, not the symptoms). Because the thoughtful doctor prepares better, he's more likely to pick up mistakes before they manifest themselves, thus avoiding them."
                                        - Cap Lesesne, Confessions of a Park Avenue Plastic Surgeon 

Hmm, food for thought?

How have you all been? Those of you who have moved to new cities, started new courses, selected your fields of specialization, tell me how it goes. If you're busy studying again, tell me how that goes!

More than anything, if you're still reading this blog, send me a shout out! Themes and suggestions for future post topics are most welcome, as is any kind of conversation.

I feel like spoiling my blog for a bit, so I'm going to be talkative, this place has been deserted too long :D

Here's your comic for the day, from none other than xkcd :

Source : here

Sunday, July 21, 2013

Movie Review: Ship of Theseus

I went to watch 'Ship of Theseus' today, but only after browsing many reviews on the internet and looking at the trailer. At that time, it seemed very interesting, but also seemed to have the potential to turn into a very boring documentary type movie. Wouldn't have been the first time that critically acclaimed movies turn out to be, well, not that great. I decided to take a risk and go and find out for myself how this movie is, primarily because I liked the trailer a lot.

And 15 minutes into the movie, the reviews all turn out to be true and I have a small smile on  my face as I'm settled in and, for the first time, completely engrossed mentally in a movie. It's like exercise for your brain, watching this movie. No mental relaxation and such things.

ALERT : SPOILERS AHEAD : You can directly skip to the last stanza if you want to avoid them.

We start with a short telling of the riddle of the Ship of Theseus, very intriguing, and then jump into the movie.

First is the story of the foreigner (Arabic) blind photographer. She clicks photos guided by the sounds she hears, operates Photoshop with a software that says everything out loud for her, including a multi-digit number for every shade in her photos, and has a gadget which she points at objects so that the gadget can tell her what color the object is. And not just our basic colors, of course. And she does not believe that she is at any kind of a disadvantage, compared to the rest of us.

To me, the most interesting part of this story was the relationship between her and her boyfriend. It seemed too wonderful to be true. Even their fight was idealistic and wonderful. Also spotted in the movie is an ophthalmologist from the city (we used to study under him, he is a real life ophthalmologist) who conducts a cornea transplant for her. The girl gets back her vision, and apparently simultaneously loses her talent to take great shots. She has problems adjusting to her new life as a seeing person, and then ultimately finds peace on a river bed near the Himalayas. (Or maybe that is how I understood it, not too sure). Here we are treated to a perfectly framed scene of serene natural beauty, and allowed to watch it for long seconds, till it gets a little unnerving.

The second story, my favorite, is about a monk, who is very obviously Jain. He is a very modern and well educated monk, not like anyone you will meet in real life. On coming home I quizzed my Mom about the attire of the sadhus and some differences I noticed, curious to find out which sect of Jainism they were depicting, but Wikipedia later informed me that it is a fictitious religion based upon the principles of Jainism. Oh, well.

The monk is fighting a legal battle to enforce ethical regulations in experimentation over animals by pharmaceutical companies. We are shown scenes of him saving a centipede and observing rabbits being tested for no-tears shampoo. His lawyer/disciple asks him a lot of questions about his principles, and here is some of the movie's wittiest dialogue, and one of the deepest discussions on Jain philosophy I have ever come across.To see this on the silver screen seems to be a miracle in itself.

However, I imagine to people hearing these concepts for the first time, it must have all sounded very strange. The entire basic Jain philosophy is summed up in a song the monk sings in Prakrit, while we read the English translations. The depiction of a monk's life is very wonderful and quite accurate, and some of the best shots of the movie, cinematographically, come in this story. We see them begging for alms and going on their vihaar barefoot. In another memorable scene, this in the background, a young Jain monk is shown under the microscope, evidence for many of the rules of his religion - moving live microorganisms. There is also a dialogue where rebirth into various lower life forms, including microbes and insects,is described in an absolutely wonderful way. You will start looking forward to being reborn as such things, if you pay enough attention :D

 The paradox in this story comes when the monk is diagnosed with liver cirrhosis, and to be able to live, he would need a liver transplant and lots of drugs, by the very same companies he is fighting against. He refuses to take treatment, against all logical arguments presented to him, and starts a fast unto death. The monk is shown in the worst days of his disease and starvation, nearing death, complete with buzzing flies, bed ulcers, bed wetting episodes, and blackened lips. Scarily brilliant acting by Neeraj Kabi who plays the monk, he was my favourite part of the movie. In the end, the monk realises that the preparation of his soul for death in this life is not yet over, and agrees to treatment. Again, this is only my incomplete understanding of the movie.

The third story, which seems very relaxing compared to the first two, shows a kidney transplant recipient, Navin, who while taking care of his grandma in the hospital, comes across a man whose kidney was stolen. Navin, who otherwise does not have much of a social conscience, feels a need to help the poor man whose kidney was stolen one day before his own transplant surgery took place. After confirming that his own kidney isn't the stolen one, and reassuring himself, he traces the stolen kidney to Stockholm, and visits the city to find the actual recipient. In the midst of all this, we are treated to a shot of two female police constables playing badminton (I wonder why?) and one meandering sequence in a slum which will leave you with the feeling of having walked in the slum yourself for those ten or so minutes.

When Navin finally does find the recipient, he insists that the recipient must return the stolen kidney, that is the only way to set this right. The story has a predictable end with the poor victim of the scam happily settling for the loads of money he is offered and refusing to fight a legal battle to get his kidney back.

The end of the movie ties up all the three stories with a connecting thread, I won't reveal what, and leaves you with a very lovely feeling.

My first reaction to the end of this movie was wanting to watch it again. I've decided I love the movie so much I will buy an official dvd when it is available instead of downloading a pirated version. There aren't any morals or lessons to be learnt from any story in this movie, there aren't any easy answers, there isn't any entertainment, but it is still a pure joy to watch. Most of the scenes are just plain beautiful, that is the simplest way to say it. Wonderful actors, intelligent and crisp dialogue, NO songs, lovely sound effects, and lots and lots of food for thought. Many smiles as well.

This movie is extremely highly recommended watching, as long as you don't mind giving your brain some work to do.


Wednesday, July 17, 2013

Don't give up on the things that make you smile


This blog needs some serious lovin' from me. I've been gone too long, but I'm here now.

I came across this photo a few days back, and it immediately struck a cord. Such a simple thing, yet so effective. Don't give up on the things that make you smile. If you sit down and think about it, how many of us can actually do this? Have we been able to stay true to ourselves, in the face of rationality and ambition and the demands of society and everyday life?

I better stop questioning the purpose of our existence, and move on. Here's a random list of things that make me smile:

Cooking
Poetry
Romance Novels
Painting
Travelling
Sunday Times
Chocolate
Dogs
Taylor
*
POSTCARDS (in caps for emphasis)
Doing well in an exam
Family
Rain
Stories
Ballads

How simple and silly and predictable is the list. And yet, how easy it is to end up going for months without doing any of these things, and letting your life become drudgery.

Today, I just want to tell you one simple thing - In the next 24 hours, do one thing that makes you smile, that makes you very happy, that you're crazy and passionate about. Pamper yourself, give yourself a treat, take a break. Make yourself happy.

And let me know how that went :D

I know this is not my usual writing style. I don't do philosophy and self-help and spiritual liberation and positive attitude. I don't. But sometimes everybody needs to.

Tell me about the things that make you smile. I'll be back in this space soon to rant and rave about my life, and to pound you with unforeseeable lectures and awful humour (It's so awful it becomes funny).

Please stick around! <3

Here's a comic to entice you to stay:


Source: This lovely blog : http://literaryemergency.com/






















Saturday, April 20, 2013

Rambling which led to a post about feminism

I'll jump straight to the subject matter of this post, which is....
which is...

which is...

I guess I'll just start rambling, since there seems to be no subject matter :-|

I've been learning driving...if sitting in the driver's seat and gripping the steering wheel so hard your knuckles turn white, instead of actually steering it, and braking at the slightest of flutters in the traffic around you can be called , er, driving! Anyways, it's becoming less stressful and more enjoyable with every passing day.

I've already endured 5 shouted abuses, and 106 disdainful glares from male co-drivers on the Indian roads in my 15 hours spent in the drivers seat so far. Hah, I am sure you can't beat my stats :D  Also, not to mention the, uh, *gentle* nudge on the arm I gave to a gentleman with my car. He was quite forgiving about it, so no worries there. I told you no one can beat my stats!

After reading this post, if everyone I know refuses to ride in my car, I'll understand. I would too, in your place.

In other updates, reading about Beyonce's Mrs. Carter World Tour, has had me re watching a lot of her videos, since (sadly) she's unlikely to come to India anytime soon. And also because with the NEET results nowhere in sight, I have a lot of time to waste. Her presence on stage leaves me in sheer awe. Watch this video, if you have a lot of time to waste like me, in order to understand the woman, her prowess, and why feminism suits her so much.


And that brings us to the topic of feminism. Now this is a concept equally loved and hated. Look at these examples:





How difficult is it to understand that feminism DOESN'T mean not hitting a woman back if she hits you. If a woman is out to kill you, yes, you got to save yourself!

I have realized that many men, especially young Indians, have their views on feminism that are somewhat like this: "All women are b@#%$#s. They ruin our lives, they break our hearts, they take advantage of us whenever needed, and they are hardly the hapless beings they portray themselves to be. They always get the easy way out. And then they propagate this feminism! As if we don't have enough to deal with already! They are the last people who need any help in surviving. Because they trample all over us whenever they need to anyways!"

I hear you, I do, but feminism ISN'T about her, that woman who may have manipulated you, taken advantage of you, cheated on you, or whatever they did to you! No! I am sorry if some woman did something bad to you, but that doesn't change or take away what millions of women have to go through, around the world, everyday, at the hands of men.


Read this, and try to understand:



Source: here



You still don't think feminism is needed? Go talk to the next girl you meet, and ask her. No matter how educated and privileged she may be, if she is an Indian, she has probably faced sexual discrimination in at least some form on more than one instance in her life.

Anyways, here's what I need feminism for:

1. Being told, after doing well in a college viva, that it was probably only because I am female and good looking, and the examiner was male.
2. Being told, that it is every girl's duty to excel at household work, while it is derogatory for a male to do the very same household work.
3. Having been eve-teased and groped even before I turned 15.
4. Being scared to use public transport when I am well-dressed and alone.

These are just some of my personal reasons. I am sure millions of women around the world have millions of reasons why they support feminism, most of them much, much more serious than mine. Feminism is justified, and needed. It's time for us to understand and accept that, and stop cracking jokes on the subject.

Moving on, here's a couple of petitions for you to sign regarding the NEET PG case:

Petition 1
Petition 2

Let's all hope the end to this nightmare is near. And let's all hope it doesn't end with yet another nightmare.

I will continue my rambles in the next post, now signing off.

Let me know in the comments your views about feminism, and if you're a girl, any reasons why you may need feminism, or the reasons why you are against it. 




Wednesday, March 20, 2013

My favourite cinematic moments

I had a great day compiling this list and getting nostalgic about all these movies and watching a ton of YouTube videos. You, however, will need to have some time on hand to enjoy this list.

In no particular order, for your viewing pleasure:

1. "Nobody puts baby in a corner" - Dirty Dancing


The first video is a very poor print but the only one with the dialogue that I could find. Patrick Swayze walks in, pulls Baby out of the corner, mouths the now very famous dialogue, and then goes on stage to make a speech about how she has made him a better man.


For the actual dance sequence, here's another video, better quality. I can't tell you how much I love watching this sequence on just random days and how happy the song makes me. Jennifer Grey (Baby) dances like a dream, and of course there's Patrick Swayze, and do note the moment in the video when he jumps off the stage and proceeds to dance like a God. Need I say more?


2. "I carry your heart" - In Her Shoes

Randomly saw this movie on TV one day, and that's the first time I heard this poem. Unforgettable moment, she does read it very well. Somehow the only good video of this on youtube cannot be embedded.

3. "And my fear is..." - Stepmom

This has to be the greatest tearjerker ever written in cinematic history. It's definitely my favorite. And yes, never fails to make me cry.  The mom who's dying, the stepmom-to-be who's scared, and how they reconcile with each other and their fates. Here they are discussing their daughter's wedding day in the future, when only one of them will be there with her.


4. "You should be kissed and often, and by someone who knows how" - Gone With The Wind

What a thing to say, and what better hero to say it, and what better heroine to say it to! ;)


5. Simba is born - Lion King

One of my very best childhood memories is watching this movie in the theater. Definitely a very special movie. The animation in this particular scene is very grand and awe - inspiring, in true Walt Disney tradition of old. 

6. " You either die a hero, or you live long enough to see yourself become a villain" - The Dark Knight

The movie that garnered a massive fan base and reached legendary status, starring probably the most loved villain on celluloid in the past decade.And what a fabulous scene. The stuff great superhero movies are made of.


7. "Take off your shirt" - Crazy, Stupid Love

In an equally hilarious and endearing scene, a drunk Emma Stone is determined to sleep with Ryan Gosling after finally breaking up with her not-worthy boyfriend. Of course, any scene where Ryan Gosling is told to take his shirt off was definitely going to come on to this list. Also, if you saw both the videos at the start of this list, you will immediately understand the Dirty Dancing reference :D



8. "I'm also just a girl, standing in front of a boy, asking him to love her" - Notting Hill

A scene which always gets the audience rooting for Julia Roberts. I mean, come on, doesn't it melt your heart? Don't deny it. I also quite love it when Hugh Grant says "buggered" in that perfect English accent.


9. "You see things, and you understand. You're a wallflower" - Perks Of Being A Wallflower

One of the best movies I've seen recently. You know when you watch something and immediately develop this warm feeling and a tiny smile? This was that scene!

 

10. Boombox scene - Say Anything

You wake up to your boyfriend standing outside your window trying to make up for a fight...like that. <3

 

11. "The point was I had a sister, and she was fantastic" - My Sister's Keeper

This line has always stayed with me, as has the movie. Family drama and tragedy at it's best.


12. "I don't have the strength to stay away from you anymore" - Twilight

There's no denying that some of the lines Stephenie Meyer wrote were very good, and at times those lines actually didn't get butchered by Rob and Kirsten. Anyways, poor acting doesn't stop me from liking the movie. It's irrational, but when you like something, you just do.

Hope you liked my list. And let me know about your favorite scenes in the comments.

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Taking stock, post-NEET

It's been 16 weeks since I gave the NEET. 112 days. Almost one third of a year. No signs of the results coming out anytime soon. Seems surreal to sit and take stock of the number of days that have gone by and the number of useless things one has done with them.

And to think that an entire batch of medical graduates around the nation has been in the same state as me for the past three months; first robbed of a good two months of studying by the preponement of exams, then subjected to a torturous wait for results which have been indefinitely postponed, and an endless series of dates in the Supreme Court with no verdict in sight. I've been happily living in oblivion for the most part, but its finally getting to me. And with each day one steeps a little deeper into self-doubt and misery.

And of course the flow of well-meaning questions from people never stops, always reaching the same exact point: "And what are you doing these days?". Sigh.

To all you well-meaning people: I don't have the energy to answer and explain to you the complicated status of my professional life at the moment. And I don't need to see the judgmental look on your face at the end of my answer.

Anyways, what have I been doing?

Rediscovering myself. Making myself happy. Taking a vacation. Overdosing on romance. (Only in literature and movies, of course. Real-life romance still remains a daydream). Working, and quitting. Sleeping till noon. Earning money. Exploring new music. Shopping. Devouring novel after novel. Forcing myself to watch TV. Learning Paediatrics. Getting better. Getting fitter. Watching Hindi daily soaps.

Living the good life, apparently.

Seems I don't have much to complain about. Clearly the past few months haven't been a total waste. But I think there's only so much time a medical student can go without studying and without sleep deprived nights.

There, I said it.

In the past 6 years I've trained myself, against my will, to live and breathe in all those tomes of medical textbooks all the time. To keep giving exams on repeat. To have my head swimming with diseases all the time. To never have too much time on hand. To never have nothing to do.

So, being suddenly faced with months of nothingness, is downright absurd. The past three months have been weird. Anomalous. There's a strong undercurrent of unease. Like something's about to go terribly wrong. Like this isn't what I am supposed to be doing. That this will all turn out to be a huge prank and then disaster will strike.

Because this isn't how my life was supposed to be. No, not yet. I can't digest so much happiness and so much laziness. Too much of a good thing can kill you. So I'm pretty sure I'm dying soon if the results don't come out.

Never thought I'd say this, but I'm actually starting to miss those textbooks.

Oh, well. 

Let me know what's happening to the rest of you, in the comments.

Source: here

Monday, January 21, 2013

10 reasons why I love Taylor Swift

Yes, I am actually writing this post, with this title. I know. Announcing this to the world is, well, almost like coming out of a closet or something. That's just how controversial and loved and hated, all at the same time, Taylor Swift is. 

Anyways, without further ado, here's my 10 reasons:

1.  "This is the golden age of something good and right and real" - Taylor Swift, State Of Grace.

2.  "We're on the phone and without a warning, I realize your laugh is the best sound I have ever heard" - Taylor Swift, Jump then fall.

3.  "All those other girls, well they're beautiful, but would they write a song for you?" - Taylor Swift, Hey Stephen.

4.  "You are the best thing that’s ever been mine" - Taylor Swift, Mine.

5.  "Wasn't it easier in your lunchbox eating days? / Always a bigger bed to crawl into / Wasn't it beautiful when you believed in everything / And everybody believed in you?" - Taylor Swift, Innocent.

6.  "I can't decide if it's a choice, getting swept away" - Taylor Swift, Treacherous.

7.  "Good girls, hopeful they'll be, and long they will wait" - Taylor Swift, Sad Beautiful Tragic.

8.  "I don't know how to be something you miss" - Taylor Swift, Last Kiss.

9.  "Taxi cabs and busy streets, that never bring you back to me" - Taylor Swift, Come Back, Be Here.


10.  "In your life you'll do greater things than dating the boy on the football team, but I didn't know it at fifteen" - Taylor Swift, Fifteen.

And here's some more:


11.  "I know I don't always say the right thing at the right time or speak up when I should, but I write it all down. I get my guitar and a pen and all of a sudden, I have a chance to say exactly what I meant to say in real life." - Taylor Swift.

12.  " I'm 23 now, but I never stopped jumping up and down when something wonderful happens." - Taylor Swift

13.  "I also don't think you should ever take life so seriously that you forget to play." - Taylor Swift.



I mean, how can you not love someone who writes like that? The girl writes like a dream. Quality lyrics are so tough to find in music these days. When was the last time a song made you genuinely smile? And more than just quality lyrics, there's this endearing honesty and innocence in her songs, and somehow, if you've ever been in love, you'll find a Taylor Swift song that is your story. If not, the girl will definitely be writing it in her lifetime, sometime.

I agree she hasn't got the best vocal prowess in the world, but she's learning and improving, and hey, she can sing better than I can, and that's all that matters to me! And she is a wonderful person, she actually wears clothes, she makes millions of girls around the world laugh and cry and fall in love with her everyday. And she writes like that! 'nuff said!




However, if you're still not convinced, here's 10 more reasons for you. These should really clinch it:


1.  "He is a loser, he's a bum, bum, bum, bum" - Britney Spears, Criminal.

2.  "California girls / We're unforgettable / Daisy Dukes / Bikinis on top / Sun-kissed skin / So hot / We'll melt your Popsicle" - Katy Perry, California Gurls.

3.  "Who owns my heart? Is it love or is it art?" - Miley Cyrus, Who Owns My Heart.

4.  "Young hunks, taking shots/ stripping down to dirty socks/Music up, gettin' hot / Kiss me, give me all you've got" - Kesha, Die Young

5.  "Don't cha wish your girlfriend was hot like me? Don't cha wish your girlfriend was a freak like me? Don't cha?" - Pussycat Dolls, Don't cha.

6.  "Come here, rude boy, boy; can you get it up?" - Rihanna, Rude Boy. 

7.  "You got that hot shit, boy ya blessed/Let me feel up on your chest" - Nicki Minaj, Va Va Voom.

8.  "Who run the world? Girls!" - Beyonce, Who Run The World.

9.  "I'll just strut in my birthday suit and let everything hang loose" - Bruno Mars, The Lazy Song.

10. "All those other boys try to chase me, but here's my number, so call me, maybe?" - Carly Rae Jepson, Call Me Maybe.

Get the picture? I don't want to hear songs about sex and boys and alcohol and partying like the world is going to end. Ugh. I don't want catchy beats. Give me sappy lyrics and fairy tales anyday. Atleast they make me smile. Yes, Taylor has written some childish and teenagerish songs as well, but I swear even those songs had more substance than all these other ones topping the Pop charts.

I once read a comment on one of her video's. It went like this: "You're living in the age of Taylor Swift, you just don't know it yet." I completely agree. Most of you reading this probably don't know about the girl's achievements at her young age, or her astounding commercial success, or her crazy fan following. I don't even care if she has a hundred boyfriends which she changes every month, as long as she writes an album about each of them. That's how greedy I am for her songs. I know after ten years she is going to be the biggest superstar I knew and loved and grew up with.

I'll end this embarassingly fangirly post with this video, which may help you understand the Taylor phenomenon, and which makes my post seem quite dignified by comparison.Please note that the girl in the video is a TV actress and a famous person in her own right and not just your next fan.

And of course now all of you know who to never, ever, ever make fun of around me, like, ever! :P