I really do not care two hoots about how twenty twenty is about players killing the spirit of cricket, but Yuvraj's sexy kick-in-the-arse sixers two minutes ago have left the Brits red faced ...seven sixers in 10 minutes...awesome!

Crossed Jerry in office today. He seemed visibly happier than his usual, silent self (don't know him much, but that's what I feel!). The conversation goes thus:

J: Hi!
SS: Hi! How are you
J: Good..How about you..
SS: OK..Heard you are going to INX?!
J: Yea...who told ya?
SS: Have a friend who is joining it too..heard there are a lot of people from HT too
J: oh..ok..yea..am going..probably a month more to go here
SS: That's why you seem s happy
J: I guess so...

End of the conversation

For a very long time after this I kept on remembering the initial euphoria I had felt on joining HT. Crossing Vir Sanghvi in the office...looking at Poonam Saxena..nalini..the very people whose stories I had read all my freaking life..I remember my second day in office. A senior colleague had told me that my Ed says that I bring bliss into the department. That my chirpiness brings ripples of spring into an otherwise staid department. A year and some months later, I dread going to that place everyday. Not because of its threatening walls and imposingly boring structure. But, because of the spirits that reside within. Colleagues, who I can barely call mine. People, who change faces at the distance of a cubicle. Over the past few days, the appearance of a new colleague has brought me tears unwarranted.
Irrespective of the fact that my Editor gave me everyday goddamn opportunity because I prove my competence for it, these certain guys (and girls included) have a problem. The only ground on which they find that they can pass sly comments (behind my back) is my educational background. The very fact that am still pursuing my undergraduate studies, while these guys are veteran journalists gives them an itch undefined. On top of the, it barely takes a sugared smile for them to ask for contacts and references and numbers for their stories..
So, for the past fortnight, every moment that I seem a little free, I have been the but of 'kiddie' jokes. The guy even went ahead to say that people should understand that there is a certain age for studies and a certain age for working. And one should not enter professional life, if there isn't quote unquote a problem. Really?
At times I just feel like going to my Ed and putting in my papers. But am I a loser? No. Am I someone who makes these people insanely jealous? I don't know. Am I a sleeping dragon, whom these guys are tickling? Yes..for sure....

Celebrity roof

There is a White House and then there is Arindam Chaudhuri’s Blue House, discovers Garima Sharma

While everything contemporary today necessarily connotes minimalism, Arindam Chaudhuri’s Chittaranjan Park residence gracefully disagrees. In a spectacular fusion of mute, bright, cobalt, azure and a kaleidoscope of other blues, the dynamic space resonates with warmth and welcoming love, in spite of a world of blue it is nestled in.
With its unconventional structure and spaces, the duplex is an example of excellent commercial creativity. In other words, while basic pillars and beams stand as expected, a swirling wooden staircase leading to the drawing room on the upper floor, a fiberglass partition (instead of a wall) between the drawing room and the gym and an old wooden table top converted to a magnificent glass dining glass table bring to life Arindam and Rajita Chaudhuri’s creative thoughts.
The house, as Chaudhuri tells us, was designed to do away with conventionality and make way for a contemporary space. But, the inviting intoxication of love was never compromised on. The Chaudhuris have a close knit group of friends and family and every Saturday, without fail is a get together day. Keeping this priority in mind, customised spaces were created. So, while son Che Kabir’s room is on the lower floor where kids can play, an extended azure blue sofa sits merrily in the drawing room, where all sets of parents can have a relaxed time.
The striking thing however, is the absence of a proper kitchen. Is a replacement pantry enough? Explains Rajita, “We prefer having meals with our parents, who reside on the first floor.”
A happy family that lives together and eats together? Quite literally, Chaudhuri explains, “My friends say that it is a racket in place. I have convinced all my close ones to buy space in Chittaranjan Park, so that we can all live together like an extended family.”
Like the various shades of blue in his house, Chaudhuri too is a single hued man, with varying shades of the palette. As he explains, “Blue and white are my favourite colours. Even if I go to pick something else up, I end up buying blue things.” No wonder then, that from wall colours to concealed lights and from artifacts to Swarovski crystals, everything is blue in the Chaudhuri residence. While renaissance paintings adorn the walls, a sparkly floor stone in dark blue, is quite a novelty.
The Chaudhuri residence may not have 132 rooms like the White House, but within its own confines, it is a reflection of identities both homely and attractive, modern and trendy.
Arindam Chaudhuri is a Management Guru and Economist

Blue bits

A grandfather clock bought for Rs. 15000
Hollow bricks were put in walls to support the staircase made of steel and wood
A modern piano, under the stairs — a gift for Rajita
A bed with concealed lights beneath it, seems to float in air
Arindam’s Sagittarian qualities and Rajita’s Gemini streaks seem abundant in the house