A Potterhead

Courtesy-Google

I was succumbed to the charm of Harry Potter in my middle 20s. I have heard a great deal about these books, but somehow I was dismissing the thought to read it mainly because it falls under the category of Children's book. And I'm not a very patient person to read one book in a series and sit and wait for the rest to release. Not knowing what happens next in a book or a movie, basically in a story almost kills me. It is not a torture I subject myself to very often. However, one fine day, I went to a book store and brought all the 7 books in a jiffy. Those were E-commerce-free days. Now, I order all my books either on Flipkart or Amazon. It has been ages since I have visited a book store. I digress.

TBNH (Then-Boyfriend-Now-Hubby) was away in another city for his masters. I was terribly lonely, unhappy, depressed, and miserable. It took me precisely 3 pages to get hooked and from that moment no turning back. I was missing TBNH very badly, yet, I was happy, cheerful, bright, back to my normal self, a happy soul.

I am not going to discuss story or characters here. It is next to impossible. Harry Potter is primarily a story of good versus evil. It is of the fantasy genre with vivid and rich imagination, which made us to believe in the parallel world of magic. It taught us about friendship, love, solidarity, courage, compassion, sacrifice, humanity, kindness, more importantly life. One can easily get connected to each and every characters. It is not only about Harry, Hermione, or Ron, though it chronicles their life at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. None, not a single character is flawless. They all have their strengths and shortcomings. I am sure everyone who read the book can relate to at least one character, that is the beauty of it. We all have experienced the excitement of new academic year, school rivalries, fear and tension of exams, results, love-hate relationships with teacher, caught in mischievous act, being punished for it, standing up for our friends against all odds. Probably the only uncommon thing would be Lord Voldemort (You-Know-Who or He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named) or may be we all did have a Voldemort, not of that magnitude of course.

I genuinely wished for a world like that, where I can be a witch. I mostly relate myself to Hermione, which I'm sure billion others out there would do too. The one thing I constantly get teased by hubby "Ms. Know-It-All just like her. My favourite charm is "Expecto Patronum" and my patronus is always "peacock". And how I wish for "Accio". It has been almost 8 years since I read them, but still fresh in my memory. I have equally enjoyed the Harry Potter movies. I have written a essay about Potter in my interview for current job. How cocky is that? I can talk to a fellow Potter fan hours together. That easy bond only a muggle would understand. Even though I have now moved to much advanced fantasy like "Songs of Ice and Fire", Harry Potter will be my first love in the fantasy genre. It has made me definitely a better human being, and an upright and righteous person. It has something to cater to all age groups, that is why it is such a global phenomenon.

J.K. Rowling is a wonderful writer. She created a parallel world of wizards and witches, which is absurd and crazy, but convincing and believable nonetheless. I know she has written four more bestselling novels under the pseudonym, Robert Galbraith. Somehow, I am hesitant to pick those books for the fear of breaking the magic spell. I know I will do this gradually and will come to love her other works too, until then let me bask in the Potter memory.

West-End stage play called Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is going to be performed on 30th July, 2016 in Palace Theatre London, which is Harry's Birthday of course. The play is written by Jack Thorne, based on an orignial new story by J.K. Rowling, Jack Thorne, and John Tiffany. If wishes were horses....

Quantico

We have finished watching the first order in season one of Quantico. The single most thing draw us to watch this thriller TV show is Priyanka Chopra. This is our "Desi" girl's international debut and PC must be the first Indian to lead in an American series.

The plot bounces back and forth, wherein at present Alex Parrish (Priyanka Chopra), a newly recruited FBI agent finds herself to be the prime suspect in the New York's Grand Central Station terror attack. This is seen as the worst terror strike since 9/11. When brought in for investigation, Alex learns that the perpetrator of bombing and framing her is one of her fellow trainees from academy, Quantico. And that is the past where Alex's fellow recruiters and other characters are introduced to us. Now running away from authorities, she has to prove her innocence and the real culprit must be brought to book.

Shelby Wyatt, a wealth heiress and Alex's best friend; Simon Asher, a Jewish who pretends to be a gay and has spent considerable amount of time in Gaza; Nimah/Raina, twins brought in by Miranda Shaw as one; Caleb Haas with connections; Ryan Booth, undercover agent and Alex's love interest; Natalie Vasquez, Alex's rival in academy are important batch-mates of Alex's.

In the academy, the first task is to find secrets about their classmates. Alas, each candidate either is related to middle east in someway or killed somebody. Alex herself killed her father in self defense and she is haunted by it. Like her, each and every character has a deep, dark, ugly past. In another task, Alex Parish is the first one to solve the case in the entire FBI history. Duh! I mean, I get it. She is super intelligent, but first in FBI history? Here I have to mention I have a massive crush on FBI/CIA profession and secretly harboring a desire to be one, which is next to impossible I know. But a girl can dream right? I digress.

The story line is far-fetched, mishmash of Bourne series and The Recruit. It is exaggerated most of the time and seriously I did not get connect to any characters. Nonetheless, the pace is pretty fast and brisk. The two things that glued me are; one it is a classic "Whodunit" and a strand of suspects tossed around, my curious self must know it; the second is Piggy Chops.

I am not a "typical" Priyanka Chopra fan girl; however, I applaud her success. She plays a role of intelligent, bold, smart, and kick-ass agent, which is well-thought and well-written. She easily steals the show with her energy and zeal. She gets to do a lot of steamy  scenes, which we are deprived of in her Bollywood movies. Her accent in the show made twitteraties go frenzy; but I felt she managed it pretty decently, not like our desi fake-ass accented people. She is the first South Asian Actress to win a People's Choice Award for Quantico. Clearly, this girl made her mark in both sides of Atlantic.

A Decade That Was.....Being in Love

April 26, 2016 marked our fourth wedding anniversary, which obviously is known to family and close friends, so wishes poured endlessly. It is a milestone in any couple's life and I get it and we celebrate it alright. But what the whole world does not know is that we observe a different day in the calendar as our anniversary. It is May 22. Yes, exactly a decade earlier, we met on this auspicious day. The only regret is we should have met many many moons back. Well, could have, should have, would have. This is a rant by a besotted woman.

I have never thought in my wildest dream that I am going to meet the love of my life on that day. I, the introvert, snob, Miss. Know-It-All; and he the exuberant, high-spirited, down-to-earth, and the real Mr. Know-It-All. We looked as different as chalk and cheese. We became best of friends in no time. Soon we are an element where it is more than friendship less than lovers type. I was an addict of rom-com back then and all of them advocated to "play hard to get". As much as nuts I'am, I do not take relationship advice from anybody, neither movies nor books. I was 100% sure about my feelings by then; however, wanted him to do the honor of proposal. And he did. No games played. We are elevated from friends to loves/BF-GF. The first two years were euphoric and blissful despite me being constantly harassed by the hostile family members. 

But the fate has different plans. Hubby had to move to another city for his masters. We had two years of long distance relationship and that was hard on both of us, especially me. Being cut off from the family, friends had their own life to live, it was the toughest pace of my life. If I still think about those times, it  pains the same. Hubby used to make compulsory visits despite his tough University schedules and studies. I survived, rather we did. Only wizards and witches (Harry Potter) and vampires and werewolves (Twilight) were my constant companions in those challenging hours. That is when I started calling them my extended family. I digress.

It took us two more years to convince respective parents for the wedding. However, we were happy and content. We made  most of the weekends, and sometimes sneaky weekdays too.  I would like to call this our courtship period.

And it is only uphill from the day we said "I do". Marriage definitely has its advantages. Everyday has been great sleeping and waking up next to your loved one. It is not always hunky dory. We had our own shares of problems and fights. We both work on this relationship every day. Until this day we have not taken each other for granted. Our relationship is more of partnership. We are those two buddies who loves to do everything together. We have been called the best couple they have seen so far by friends and I have to proudly acknowledge that we are.

Thank you sweetheart, for putting up with a crazy person like me. I know I'm a hot-headed, reclusive, anti-social, judgmental, critical, and a total  bad-ass. I can completely be myself around you and nobody gets me the way you do. You are the best thing that ever happened to me. It has been 10 years and I still cannot get enough of you. Blame the gravity because I keeps falling in love with you again and again. Here is a toast to many more decades.

PS: Read my previous post here.

http://dreamsanddimensions.blogspot.in/2015/08/what-kind-of-man-one-should-marry.html

I know every one will go awwww after reading this, but hey this man is taken for another 70 years.

Dark Places: Book Review

Title:  Dark Places
Author: Gillian Flynn
Genre: Mystery
Publisher: Shaye Areheart Books
Publication Year: 2009

Book Blurb: Libby Day was seven when her mother and two sisters were murdered in 'the satan sacrifice' of Kinnakee, Kansas.' She survived and famously testified that her fifteen-year-old brother, Ben, was the killer. Twenty-five-years later, the kill club-a secret society obsessed with notorious crimes-locates Libby and pumps her for details. They hope to discover proof that may free Ben. Libby hopes to turn a profit off her tragic history. She will reconnect with the players from the night and report her findings to the club-for a fee. And Libby's search takes her from shabby Missouri strip clubs to abandoned Oklahoma tourist towns, the unimaginable truth emerges, and Libby finds herself right back where she started-on the run from a killer.

My take: The story is told in three point-of-views; one from present day Libby and other two from Ben (brother) and Patty (mother) in 1985. That is the day when Ben allegedly murdered his mother and two sisters. However, Libby escapes the massacre and instrumental in putting Ben behind bars. Now after 25 years, Libby is financially broke and has zero intention of working to make ends meet. She has lived her entire life on donations from the sympathetic and kind people after the tragedy. At this time, she was a approached by a killing club whose members genuinely feels Ben is innocent. Though shocked initially by their caustic accusations of calling her a liar, Libby promises to look in to things in exchange for money. She meets Ben, her good-for-nothing father, and few other people involved directly or indirectly in the murders. Is Ben really guilty or not? If he is not, then who is the real murderer? How the mystery unravels?   

I know this one is going to haunt me for a long time the moment I read the book blurb. This is my second Gillian Flynn book and I'm reading in a reversal order, Gone Girl, Dark Places, and yet to be read Sharp Objects.

I really don't know what goes into author's head. I even googled her wiki page just to check whether she had troubled, abusive, neglected childhood. Well, to my disappointment, she had a pretty normal life. Stable family, professors for parents, master degree in Journalism, and happily married with two kids. After reading "Gone Girl" I was under the impression that none of the protagonists can be as twisted or wrenched as Amy. That opinion changed the moment I was introduced to Libby Day. A kleptomaniac, lazy, liar, anti-social, selfish, violent are not the characters we are looking for in a protagonist, but it is in Flynn's world. I was repulsed from her in the beginning, but as I get to know her, she grew on me.

This is a story of dysfunctional family in all aspects. It is absolutely not for fainthearted. It has brutal and horrific murders, bullying, molestation, underage sex, animal slaughtering, drugs, satanic rituals.  The ending was a serious jolt as I failed to untangle the mystery.  I enjoyed it better than "Gone Girl". A total dark and gloomy story that stays with me for a long time. And I'm eager to get my hands on Flynn's first book "Sharp Objects".

PS: I'm yet to watch film adaptation of same name starring Charlize Theron.

Astro-NOT

"Love marriage, business problem, job problem, home problem, divorce, husband-wife problem, court matter, property matter, black magic, Jadoo Tona--Your problems solve in 3 days"
Open challenge-Baba Shah Ji, Ajmeer wale

This was a small pamplet glued on many BMTC buses. What makes people believe their problems will get solved in three days and seek help from these fraudsters?

I don''t believe in Astrology. Period. It is being passed on as science and I'm not the one to fall prey for that. Growing up with Ammamma (maternal grandmother) is one of the two reasons for me to be a rational person. She married off her five daughters without consulting the horoscope.  All the marriages celebrated Silver Jubilee and some even reaching 40 years. And the most amazing thing is Ammamma get to witness this.

Once I asked her the reason for her disbelief. She told me an incident or rather a small story. Once upon a time, there was a famous astrologer. He was consulted for almost everything by all and sundry. He married off his two daughters at a very young age (child marriage) and they continued to stay with him as child widows. An authority on Astro failed miserably at predicting his daughters' future. This was during early 70's or late 60's. I thought it over and found it to be reasonable.

Another is translated book of Abraham Kovoor's 'Gods, Demons and Spirits (Devaru, Devva, Vijnana-Kannada). It blows away all your beliefs in to thin air. His challenge for 1,00000 rupees was neither questioned nor accepted by famous/infamous God-men, astrologer, or psychic experts. He started the rationalist movement and the "challenge" is still open even three decades after his death. Doesn't it make one wonder why in a country full of godly men, astrologers, spiritual leaders, psychic specialists couldn't accept this simple challenge. A wise man/woman will understand in an instant. I'm trying to get hold of the original book now.

Kovoor's book was given to me by my dad who like to have on-and-off tryst with astrology himself. This is one of the reasons I respect him most. He gives a book which ridicules all God, devil, demons, and all that nitty-gritty.  He wanted me to make a conscious decision for myself about it, not imposing his beliefs on me. That is how I became the rational person I'm today.

It takes monumental efforts from me not to judge a person full of blind beliefs. Schooling clearly is not much of a help here. If the scientists were to start all discoveries based on  time and horoscope, human race wouldn't have reached where it is today. Most of so-called educated are accustomed to cherry pick modern technology and reek of blind believes. I agree practicing is one's personal choice and I'm cool with it. However, when that choice starts stifling someone's life, it is not choice anymore, it becomes imposition
and there I will be having problem and that makes my blood boil. 

Another thing that gained a lot of popularity in the last decade is Vastu (A traditional Hindu system of Architecture). I'm a person who likes a house bright and airy. I strongly believe home is the place where heart is. Now who can tell me how the place where I shit (sorry for the vulgarity) makes me rich/poor, healthy/sick, happy/sad? I just need good digestive system and good bowel movement. You get the drift right?

PS: "I don't believe in astrology; I'm a Sagittarius and we're skeptical"-Arthur C. Clarke 

12 Angry Men

This movie was released in 1959. I was reluctant in the beginning as it was a black and white movie. The film was listed in 'Must Watch Film' of all time, a classic I'm told.

The film begins with an end of a trail and judge instructing the jurors to come to a verdict. Here we will see only a glimpse of the accused. The accused is a teenager, prosecuted for the murder of his abusive father. Now the 12 jurors must come to an unanimous vote either guilty or nonguilty beyond reasonable doubt. The vote was 11-1 for guilty. The juror 8th thinks the accused could be nonguilty, even he is not for sure. His reason is simple "I think we owe him a few words, that's all",  which annoys all other jurors.

Nonetheless, they participate in this out of court defending and prosecuting trail. The murder was explained, the weapon, accused's background as well. The credibility of two witnesses, an old man and a lady across the street were discussed. Slowly one by one changes their vote from guilty to nonguilty except juror 3. This man's judgment was clouded by his estranged relationship with his son and the idea of a son killing his own father. Finally they vote unanimously to nonguilty. The movie ends with jury 8 and jury 9 introducing themselves.

The 12 jurors are from different background, social status, education, upbringing, and profession. The movie deals with a lot of prejudice, preconceived notion, bias, and baggage. However, they all come to one decision after a lot of logical and rational debate.

The film is about 90 minutes long and major parts were shot in one single room. It does not show the crime scene nor does it show the original trail, yet you get the complete picture of the crime. It is a classic example that a good movies can be made without the grand sets or outdoorsy. The strong screenplay and perfect casting is the strength. It lost in Oscar to another classic 'Bridge over river Kwai' and that one another master piece. And obviously I have to boast about being to 'Bridge over river Kwai''. I digress.

I am not familiar with any of the actors, but they are all brilliant and intense. I'm elated to finally watch is film, which I was postponing just because it is "Black & White". And I'm the one who talks about prejudice here. Sigh....

Anyone who is movie buff like me must watch this one for its brilliant craft and get inspired to be a better person. It is time-honored for a reason after all.

The Month That Was April

It is the busiest month of the year. I was contemplating on participating in A-Z challenge. However sanity prevailed and I promised myself to do it next year. There are only two posts in the month of April.

It is sweltering summer in B'lore like never before and it leaves me dehydrated and too tired and drained in the evening. I literally had to push myself to do the chores. How I wish for a mango shower!

There was a reunion of graduatiom batchmates in mysore. I wish it never really happened. The venue was "Silent Shores" resort and food was nothing but crap. This one was the worst food I have ever had in my life. The organizer (a classmate) included 200 rupees to gift our WhatsApp group administrator without consulting anybody.  I was furious to the core. Everyone kept mum and I had to too. People kept telling it is not a big deal. For me it is. I work my ass off to earn and I dont believe in throwing money away on worthless things. The question of contribution was put forward by a friend a few days back and we declined it vehimently.  However, I'm happy to meet a few of them. The rest of the crowd remained in the same place where I left them almost 10 years ago. Growing old and growing up is clearly two different things.

This month we visited Hyderabad for our anniversary. Visiting Hyderabad was long due and it had kept on postponing for various reasons. It is really the worst time to visit the pearl city. We short listed a few places and not crammed it up with too many "To-do-list." The places were Birla Mandir, Hussain Sagar, Charminar, and Golkonda Fort. I get to witness my first "Sound and Light show" at the mejestic Golkonda. And how can I stop myself from buying pearls in the City of Pearls.  This time I limited my purchase to 4 pairs of cute ear studs. I feel pearl studs have a claasy look, a royal kind. Osmania biscuit and Irani chai is the flavour of the city. Temperature was soaring and it was a Zen moment for me to understand Bangalore is nothing but heaven.

We have started with "Quantico" this month, obviously for Piggy Chops.

I have not completed a single book this month, which I'm definitely not happy about. In the same way it was average on watching movies. The list goes something like this-Airlift, Jism, Jism 2, Mere Brother Ki Dulhan, Waazir, Romeo-Juliet, Ankur Arora Murder Case, Om, and Sahasam. We visited In-Laws and parents for Ugadi celebration.

We completed 4 years of married life and I sound too stereotypical in saying it whooshed by in a jiffy. As much as I'm happily married, wedding day was one of my least favourie days. Well, maybe that is for another post.

How you all have been?