Skip to main content

Changes

The things that have changed in life ever since I moved far east.

  1. I am no longer Akshay but AK. At restaurant reservation desks, client meetings, emails and receipts as well.
  2. Chopsticks are a part of kitchen cutlery and so is soy sauce a staple part of the diet.
  3. Officially an NRI now and that warrants an NRI account to be opened soon. Hate the tag.
  4. I have 700 unspent India rupees lying on the kitchen counter. Need to get rid of them before De-Moditisation takes toll on the 100s
  5. The laptop and phone now keeps track of 5 times zones. DC, Melbourne, Qatar  & home of course.
  6. Mango pickle is a highly traded commodity.
  7. Local Indian store is on uber and saved places on maps.
  8. Shaving cream is on the endangered species list. Foam is challenger.
  9. I only cross (well mostly) at zebra crossings. 
  10. Tagalog is getting added to a list of languages I know a smattering of.

Comments

RB said…
Love it! Welcome to the "I'm uncomfortable with this NRI business" club. Let's devise a new term for ourselves!
Akshay said…
In Kashmiri my granny often used to reprimand me saying ' tumse ek jagah baitha nahi jaata?'
P. said…
Totally loved putting the exotic Manila on my time zone list.

And same with local Indian store! Kabhi kabhi toh achaar section dekh ka rona aa jaata hai!

And you'll always be Akshay to some :)

Popular posts from this blog

Replay

I am in a phase of recovery and discovery. Its been a while since I listened to something with quite a zeal and passion in such a way that I pick up a pen and scribble away.  This season its John Mayer, Oasis, Lucky Ali and a few others that are constantly at my beck and call thanks to a button called - replay. Drop his name,  Push it in and twist the knife again,  Watch my face,  A s I pretend to feel no pain.. (Heartbreak Warfare) Even if your hands are shaking, And your faith is broken. Even as the eyes are closin', Do it with a heart wide open. Say what you need to say.. Hold up, Hold on, Don't be scared, You'll never change what's been and gone, May your smile (may your smile) Shine on (shine on) Don't be scared (don't be scared) Your destiny may keep you warm Stop crying your heart out - Oasis And when you're needing your space,  To do some navigating,  I'll be here pati...

Feels

Patriotism for me was best depicted when SRK (in Swades) looks out of his window seconds before he is to set foot in India. Nothing describes detachment better than the wheels of a plane seconds after take off. This was exactly the opposite - done brilliantly. Meanwhile, AR Rahman used only 5 notes of the shehnai for SRK & the audiences to feel homesick repeatedly in the film. Even those who were in India felt homesick/guilty. The first film in a long time that did not show patriotism in the light  of violence, hatred and turbulent times and still struck a chord with the audiences. Wonder where the wiser filmmakers are hiding now or are the scripts. PS: This was also a rare time when an SRK films made sense to me. (I know this comment will draw flack for me)
I often wonder what drives young men to take to arms. I realise they are driven towards a wrong cause by some men who were misled too. In the following lines I try to depict the scene of terrorist who is embarking on his task, in the hope that men do not take recourse by such measures for there are people as well as a power that awaits to make amends. Cowed down by ways of his life in a corner he sits scared, With folded hands and open palms, head bowed down in prayer, Misled by his virtues, his future on the floor, A voice inside that’s telling him, to settle all his scores. For tragedies yet to happen, all miseries he must stall, Rise for the common cause, answer Allah’s call, What he won’t know is that his heart is cold and still, And all that he plans about, is against Allah’s will. Misery in his bloodshot eyes, his lips spell out a curse, Misunderstood, oft repeated a common holy verse, Deep in prayer with beads of sweat upon his brow, he summons his men miss bred, Heaven has been...