Besan Ka Halwa

 

[A year since the Foundation Course at LBSNAA, Mussoorie, Uttarakhand. A year since I realized ironing is more important than washing.  Here's to all my lovely batchmates, seniors, colleagues and everyone at the Academy- and the ones who will be.  - VG Dec 2020]  There's a bunch of us that Mussoorie binds Among clouds of mist and mighty minds The Queen of Hills as the folks would say I was sent to 'the Academy' for the FC in UK.  Never had I been to the town they praised Where coy new crowds to cogs-in-wheel were raised It's been a while but seems like yesterday When I commenced my FC in UK.  My foundations needed to be founded fresh Discipline needed to be drilled deep in flesh Lethargy and nonchalance to be thrown away Well, they tried their best at the FC in UK. 'Officer Trainees' across the services hailed The dress code and the seating plan nailed Quite a boarding school you see -if I may Such was the glorious FC in UK.  With sampoornanand the anthem I

Sirf mooh aur aadhi naak hi toh dhake tune Nazariya toh ussi dimaag mein tikta hai   Bheetar banda wahi bhayanak bas farq itna Ki ab naqaab tera dikhta hai. Tujhe ghar par sayyam rakhna tha Par bechain mann tez aanch par sikta hai Tujhe yakeen hai tere amar hone ka magar Ab naqaab tera dikhta hai. Tune bimaari ka bhi vyaapar kiya Tera naqaab bhi mehenga bikta hai Rangeela, matching, branded pehna Kyunki ab naqaab tera dikhta hai. Farq ye hai ki yeh naqaab farq nahi karta Par tera tu-tu main-main bhed-bhaav kahaan rukta hai Soch par dali chaadar ab chehre par aa gayi hai Isliye ab naqaab tera dikhta hai. Parantu iss do gaj ki doori mein ungli utthana Iss haath ki kya haisiyat jo likhta hai Aina toh dekh le ek baar tu bhi ae Haraf Ab naqaab tera dikhta hai.  

  Days Homebound  #29 18th Jun '20 It's a pleasure to be back at the institute after 'Days UnderDoubt'. Our curriculum is in a hybrid model: half of the sessions online and the other half physical/offline. It feels weird sometimes as we are on the same premises yet interacting through different modes. It's like a game of Hide and Seek. Or rather a treat of 'Hide and Seek.' Quite literally. When you are the last roll number in class and do not appear on the webinar panel to the lecturer, don't think the others aren't watching you sneakily snack on screen. Damn, that's what I call 'delicious' alliteration. Ashok  captures this and places his demand for a few cookies. Days Homebound  #30 20th Jun '20 Kitchen's always been my most favourite place (from stealing chocolates, to being the official food taster for mum's recipes, to being a spice-whisperer and to finally cooking regularly) but this one's special. Being a poor imita

  Days Homebound  #22 1-3 March '20 My ledger with weddings has been a short one. I say 'ledger' as one must recognise the economics of it before commenting on the social aspect of the event/construct. I say 'short' because I have only attended 5 marriages legitly. I say 'legitly' by taking into account over a dozen weddings that I have gate-crashed. ( would fondly remember the only instant in which we were identified and kicked out successfuly.) The uninvited must always help in tackling of the economics of it I believe. Good food must always be appreciated. And this time I had great company to relish the banquet.  It's always better when one is invited. And Mrigank  was generous enough to invite me to the Sangeet as well. The dress code was Magenta or Yellow...I sort of wore both- diplomatically perhaps. Reiterating my best wishes to Mrigank and Nupur here. :) Days Homebound  #23 7th March '20 It's a race against time. Before a busy month of at