On the way back home...

Yeah...at last...back home..vacation for the first time. Well, I meant for the first time from Dubai...
Yes...I am delinquent when it comes to packing my bags...my mom has always shouting at me, especially when I have been late in packing my bag before travel.I did...cleaned my room...n bla...bla...bla..
Boarded the cab, n whilst chatting with friends over phone, reached the airport in no-time. Yes, its pretty big than any airport in India[forget about Kolkata].
I am smart..so I opted for Self Check-in, gave my luggage for loading.After the immigration process then security. A little disgusting...open this & that...even my kara [steel bangle] & after a couple of minutes...heading towards Dubai Duty Free. I was excited to see Dubai duty free..as I have not seen it whilst I came to Dubai. So lets check out & buy something worthy...
I was checking the liquors as I wanted to buy some good wines & liqueurs for my cooking in Kolkata. I thought I would buy Cointreau, Grand marnier [Grand Marnier Souffle??? ;) ], Bailey's Irish Cream[Cheesecake???? ;)],  Kirschwasser [For Schwarzwalder Kirschtorte?] & some red wines...white wines...but poor...Liquor restrictions when coming to India :(
So, I could help myself with a Chianti Classico red wine & Bailey's Irish Cream & then headed to check out some perfumes. I was not in a mood to buy one..but I didn't mind checking out a few colognes...You never know..if it fits the pocket..
But ..Holy Christ...the colognes over there are damn expensive. For example, Davidoff Coolwater 75 ml is some 155 AED, but the shop below our building sells it at 65 AED!! What a difference..isn't it?
I was also checking out a couple of Diesel colognes. Fuel for Life, another one that I like --the 75 ml version is 200 AED!! But the shop from where I buy, its only 155 AED!! Wanna buy?? Naah....
Then I was checking out other shops..bought some chocolates for my bro & cousins...n then headed towards the gate.
N guess what...flooded by bengalis....hmm..so I am heading back to kolkata.
The trip was nice, except the passenger behind me...n kids crying around..n the hostesses poking in....
N finally...back to kolkata. Nothing seems to have change..specially the people of Kolkata...the pot holes in the city & the loopholes & 1000s of holes in the roads haven't changed--diversion here & there...construction here & there...traffic..horn...& the pollution....God!!! Will this city ever develop????
I thought my mom would come to the airport but I was a little disappointed when I didn't see them. Am I demanding too much???Or their excuse is "Guddu, I want you to be independent..." Hmm...ok!!!
I was afraid...I would forget my way back to home..but fortunately I didn't forget!! :)

Anyways...100s of things to do...fix a lot of things..hopefully I can make good use of this short trip back home.... :)

Vacation time...

Dear Readers/Followers,
Everyone needs sometime to relax[Kaustav says, "Chillax"], sometime to be in energy savings mode[i.e. being lazy]--So do I. I was feeling tired for a couple of months & also it is a nice time to go on vacation. For obvious reasons, I am going for a short vacation & opting for the balance to be taken the following year.
As usual, I will be available in gtalk[masterchefgaurav@gmail.com], yahoo messenger[gaurav.ghosh@yahoo.com & gg_0202@yahoo.co.in], apart from facebook[My brother will allow me to use his net connection--Hopefully].
Definitely, my contact number in Dubai will not come to any use in India, however, I will temporarily use my previous contact# in India, i.e. +919831287426[Make sure you dont call me at odd hours, the TZ of India is 5:30 hrs East of GMT].[The aforementioned cell# will be active from June 11th, 2010 after 1500 hrs GMT, i.e. the day from when my vacation starts...]
Posts may be infrequent...I have many plans...small plans & big plans...Keeping my fingers crossed to make it a successful trip back home. I want to go to Goa also...never been there...n so many plans...
I will be back to Dubai by July 31st evening & start my life afresh in Dubai from August 1.
Till then....take care...
Gaurav.

Sunday offs ...& cooking at friend's place..

"Gaurav, can you please come over to our place, with the software,", Mrs. Sahai was asking me.
It was June 27th, early morning. Father's Day, if I can recollect correctly.Mrs. Sahai was requesting for the astro software for long, last time, I went to her place but without the software, despite her endless requests.
"Okk..I am not doing anything today, I can go to your place", I replied.
"One more favour Gaurav, if you can cook something here. Paavani [her daughter] wants to make something special for her father, since its Father's Day--I was thinking Lemon Souffle...", Mrs. Sahai added.
Now its my turn to ask, "Hot Souffle or cold souffle?". She answered,"Make the cold version---our oven is not working."
"Ok...fine,so will you pick me up from Mall of Emirates, "I asked.
She said, "Yes...around 4 pm, will buy our grocery from there n dont forget the software."

***

Cooking with friends have always been fun. I remember cooking at friend's place when I was in Kolkata. All my middle school batchmates,who were with me in my elementary grades also, asked me, "Gaurav...lets cook someday--we'll help with the preparation & you do the cooking, ". Since they were ready to do the mise-en, why should I worry??Only I need to cook...
I think there I cooked, Pork Stew, Herb Rice & dessert was the Classic Creme Caramel.
In another case I cooked a special Chicken Curry[obviously my innovation] & followed by Phirni[a rice pudding, made with rice-flour & milk]. Though fun, cooking with them is tricky--if the end result is not good???

***

After reaching MoE, I caught up with Mrs. Sahai & then we went to Lulu's Hypermarket, to do the buy the ingredients for making our Classic Lemon Souffle...also she had to buy her daily needs...& fortunately, I didn't forget about the software she was looking for.
Once I reached home, I had a cup of tea, followed by astro-chat & predictions n bla bla...n then we proceeded to the kitchen for making something special for Paavani's dad. Mr. Sahai was not home by then..
I started with making the lemon custard, [got some help from them...]with eggs obviously, & then mixing in gelatin, folding in beaten egg whites & whipped cream & set....for 2 hrs...n then "Classic Lemon souffle...Done!!!"[Can you hear Gordon Ramsay???? :P]
Once I put it in the freezer to set, Mr. Sahai was at home & then started a chat with him--food, India & Kolkata, since he spent most of his boyhood in Kolkata[the then Calcutta].
After a long chat, dinner was served. I was a little worried about the souffle...went to see whether its done or not....Oh yes....its done!!
At the end of dinner, it is the dessert course....Good or bad????
Everyone had their portion...I didn't take it first...Many thing lies here, specially when Mrs. Sahai told her daughter, "I will get you the best chef in town for making the lemon souffle, " & I made it last in college--in 2004.
"Wonderful...excellent", Mr. Sahai exclaimed...Thank God, my cooking was a success. Kids also liked it. Intentionally, I made less sweet, as Mrs. Sahai is diabetic so that she can also enjoy. She also relished it..till the last tits-bits on her plate...

I am going home soon...perhaps some more cooking over there also.... :)

Call Center...or 14 months of nightmare???

"Thank you for calling HSBC Mortgage Services, this is Gaurav, may I have your loan#?"
"My loan# is ********"
"Thank you ..May I have your name & the last four digits of your Social?"
"My name is **** & the last four of my social is ****"
"Thank you Mr/Mrs/Ms. *** for verifying your account. How may I help you today??"
"My account is ......"

Yes, this was pretty cliched for around 11 months, when we hit the floor after our process training. I lost a year in college, but cannot sit idle at home[though parents had no problem in feeding their elder son], but I would feel sick. I took this noble thought of working in a callcentre & then carry on with my course. Additionally, call centre gives easy money.
Professionally, it was my first job & with all humility, I was a top performer [I am sure,my the then colleagues & trainer, Smita Shee & Lori J. Lype] will vouch this fact...ever since the day of training. I loved their training or the process training, since I was in a mortgage related process of North America. It was so interactive  & also helped me to develop my communication skills. I made a couple of friends there..weekly chilling out..or chatting for hours, weekly outing, dinner, lunch n what not???Also...number of crushes, since there were many sexy girls, working in the same BPO, but diff. process.
However, what used to suck bigtime, was the night shift...initially in winter, it was fine..as I used to sleep almost throughout the day, but during summer..my god..no sleep!!!It was so horrible.

In 2007, went for a vacation for 14 days...[It was so wonderful...], went to Delhi n then Varanasi[my first trip there] n then back to work???Ohh....no..
After I rejoined after vacation, I put my resignation. The deptt. manager was stunned & started firing me with questions..why r u leaving n dozens of reasons why I shouldn't leave. I was stern in my decision..."No...I want to join my college[re-admission in 3rd year]".He had to accept.
Unfortunately, he stopped talking to me, he started avoiding me. Well, even I don't care, but that doesn't mean that I don't understand.He took my name from Process Improvement Team & many teams....NO ISSUES!!!
Oneday, he was around my desk...suddenly I said, "These days, some people have stopped talking to me", & he replied, "Well, I may say the same thing" & we started laughing..
A couple of days he came to me & started asking me, "Gaurav, are you reconsidering your decision??". I replied point-blank, "NO" & back to calls..
Notice period for 3 months..that was too long!!! In the end, I gave him an option, "Part-time job", else no point in continuing & putting my studies at stake. Yes, I needed money as I was self-dependent & wanted to carry on self-styled life[Come on, who doesn't like that???].
He agreed n I carried on...College+work. Initially, it was agreeable, I had to miss a couple of classes ...but thats okay!!
However, an offer came from the company, a visit to Manila, Philippines & train them the process HSBC Mortgage Services, since the process was being remigrated to Manila. I was one of the contenders, I was excited too..Passport was ready long back... I had to miss 15 weeks of college[a crucial miss though...]I told my mom about this possibility, but she was reluctant as I would be missing college for sometime..
Umm..okay..I wont go!!!!
From september, College+work became hectic. My schedule was like getting up at 6:30 am, reaching college by 8:30 am, n then back home by 5:30 pm, going to work by 8 pm, at shift from 8:30 pm to 1 am, returning home by 2 am, n then checking mails, chat n then to bed by 3 am..n getting up at 6:30 am...
Health was being screwed bigtime, so was my schedule...no time for self...except weekends...
Finally...I made a sudden exit...absconding....
It was becoming too much for me....too much loads...studies, work...problems in family, in my life..n so many things..I had to leave...n I left...
Yes, it was a great learning place..I developed my communication & also I was introduced to the corporate world...had some great friends, for hanging out, team outing...boozing, lunch, dinner..potluck..n wut not??
I saw how politics works in macro-level & in micro level in corporate level & got to know that US Economy is going to fall, how does credit rating work etc. I was awarded  "Rising Superstar" award, Quality Awards, Team Top performer, n final it was "Mr.Fitness", for no sick leave!!!
People often tell me,"Gaurav, why don't you rejoin & leave culinary"....I refuse such obnoxious proposal...I left it long back..dont want to leave Culinary ...an industry, in which now I have developed a passion...

Raavan: A review

I have been hearing about this movie for a couple of years,specially when parts of this movie was shot in Kolkata & around. I was wondering why this name "Raavan",is it going to be a movie based on the life of "Raavan", the ten-headed demon of Ramayan[an Indian epic]?
While coming back from work yesterday, a colleague was talking about it. Yes, I was interested, as one of my favorite stars, Abhishek Bachchan acted in that movie as one of the protagonists & secondly, for the last 18 months I have not seen a hindi movie!!![Yes, the one before it was Ghajini!!]
So with great interest & excitement, we entered the movie theatre[Reel Cinemas, Dubai Mall]& was waiting for the movie to start. It starts with a couple of happenings, specially the local villagers[Local mafia???] targetting the cops when they were trying to enter a jungle, a couple of them were in a village fair & also few of them on their way to a village. All were beaten to death & those who were alive, were burnt to death & in the end, a tall villager, 6 feet 3 inches dances to the beats of drums!!!
This tall, guy is "Beera"[Abhishek Bachchan], who is both angel & demon in a rural town of North India[Bihar/UP??], Lalmati. To some he is Robin Hood[for he does a couple of good deeds] & to few he is "Raavan", as he has 10 forms in one place, 10 hands,10 legs & also 10 heads, the ten-headed Raavan.
To cut short, Beera is on a spree, taking a revenge when his sister Jamuniya[Priyamani] who was picked up from her wedding canopy to police station & was an object for the sexual satisfaction of all the police in the police station[ a touchy scene!!!].
Beera kidnaps Raagini[Aishwarya Rai] who happens to be the wife of Dev[Bikram, in his debut hindi movie]. Terms of release??Perhaps, Beera forgot to put any terms, but why did he kidnap Raagini??To reach Dev & kill or allure Dev so that Dev can be killed. By the way, Dev happens to be a police Superintendent & has recently moved to Lal Mati to kill the demon Beera.
To cut short, in the end, there was a good action between Dev & Beera, & none of them, while Beera leaves Raagini in his hands & leave. On their way back, Dev & Raagini were talking to each other & then started doubting Raagini's morals since she was with Beera & in his den for 14 days & 14 nights, so they have had developed some relationships...Raagini breaks apart & feels it is better to stay with Beera than Dev, who she considers the best in the world..
Raagini comes back & wanted to know from Beera, what he told about Raagini to Dev. After hearing all these praises, Raagini decides to stay back, however, in her awe, Beera starts disbelieving her, when he starts thinking why Dev would lie?Is it a trap to reach Beera??
Yes, Dev used Raagini as his pawn to reach Beera, so that he can be killed...with all military & paramilitary forces, Beera was shot, in front of Raagini...the movie ends here!!!

This movie is a loose adaptation of Ramayan, an Indian epic, where wife of Ramchandra, Sita was being kidnapped & while they were on exile for 14 years. In the movie it was 14 days. Beera is a primitive warrior, an analogy has been imposed on him, 10 hands, 10 legs, 10 minds & 10 heads, akin to mythical Raavan.
Aishwarya in the role of Raagini was excellent, specially I loved her dance skills[Rarely, we get to see nowadays]. Vikram was flawless, specially his hindi, despite he being a South Indian.Govinda was a comic relief, as if he is the Hanuman of Ramayana & often like monkey jumping from trees to trees...from branches to branches..
Excellent direction from Mani Ratnam yet again...Abhishek in the role of Beera was "okay", sometimes he was eccentric to me[perhaps the role demanded this..], with his "chaka-chaka-chaka, cheeky-cheeky-cheeky..."
Overall out of 5, I would give it 3.5--It is not a great movie, for obvious reasons, as there has been overacting. Music was not great by AR Rahman, as everyone would expect. Rest all ok!!You should see this...

Rumours, Scandals n Gossips...

Of late, I have been irregular in my posts, as days have been busy, less time for writing..more time is invested at sleep[get tired easily these days, don't know why]....
Since childhood, I have been involved in rumours & scandals. In school especially, when I was in the elementary school, my name got involved with various kind of affairs. Specially rumours floating that I wrote a love letter, addressed to my classmate & later I tore it off[of course, this happened at home], but how come the journalists[i.e., people spreading the rumours] go to know, since everything happened at home?A question, which I never asked them.
Such things kept on happening & continuing...sometimes, it was a fact & sometimes, some false reports by those reporters!!!I let them carry on...if such gossips give them a little pleasure...I have been aloof--"Don't break the rhythm", my grandfather used to say.
When I was in middle school, people got something to gossip, especially when I let them my crush/infatuation on of our class mates. Some went to create stories & history also...I enjoyed them.
Today afternoon, someone told me, "Gaurav, I heard you ......", I asked him back, "Who told you?", he replied, "For the last 1 month everyone knows, but never got an opportunity to ask you". I said, "Am I mad or what??" & we closed the matter right there.
Hmm...what is the outcome???I was in the limelight a couple of months before for some reason & someone asked, "Are you over with it?", I gently replied to him, "Hopefully, but invariably they make you famous & popular"...Good for me, if I am becoming famous...afterall, what is the use being Gaurav???

Me, Myself & I--Part 3

"Change is the only constant", I was told about this quote many years before & I share this quote with my pals, friends, colleagues & any people who I come across--worth talking to.
Yes, everything change--people change, their attitude change, their way of dealing with other people change...I change too. I have changed from my birth--my looks, my way of talking to people & dealing with them, my tastes, interests...
However, few things have not changed. Few things I hate in life--first & foremost I hate liars & lying. The reason I hate liars because from the next time, I can't believe them--I will become skeptical on what they say...even if they speak the truth..it will be a fake news to me. I have come across so many examples in my life & still facing such examples everyday--school, family, work...everywhere!!!Especially, if such lies come from people who trust you the most....
I am not disciplined--perhaps this thing will never change, so is my tidiness. I have never learnt how to lead a disciplined life & be punctual. My mother made endless efforts to bring me on track--but I never made myself available for her teachings!!Few examples, like if I have to meet someone on a given time, I make sure that I leave home at that given time[In other words, I am delinquent!!], taking up a task in 11th hour & finish off within the stipulated time--a legacy I have followed since childhood till date. During exams, interviews I become superstitious--I leave home during an auspicious time..thus running late again. Same thing goes, when I have to catch a flight/train..I will leave late!!
Though I am a believer of the philosophy "Cleanliness is next to Godliness", seldom I follow this. My profession demands this, so I try as much as I can...but in personal life???I leave it upto my visitors, friends..who have come to my room..here & in India.!!!

My taste of music have changed over the years. My mother used to sing Classical Hindusthani music, but when she used to practise, I used to stop her from practising music. But when I started growing up, I could taste the essence of music. But when I wanted to learn music, specially classical music, it was late...but still, I love music...ones soothing to ears...
Bengalis have this long drawn attachment to Rabindrasangeet..I have interest in them...so in devotional songs. Bengalis listen to Western music less--a fact, however, I listen to Boney M n whatever my father used to play[as Hindi movie songs used to beckon me more...]but now have restarted...thanks to my cousin who introduced me to James Blunt... :)

Food habits have remained almost same...kinda bland food. Quite contrary to popular belief, I can't eat spicy food--though my family members are accustomed to it. I prefer Italian food over anything[obviously, Bengali food first!!] & then Biryani. Calcutta has so many chinese restaurants[Yes..the Indo-Chine version...] that I am not crazy about Chinese cuisine[even I didn't read about their cuisine with interest]..however, can die for a plate of Hakka Noodles & Sweet & sour Chicken/Pork.However, sometimes I am picky about foods...sometimes, not.Sometimes I am hungry...sometimes not...

Being nice to people sometimes hurts, specially when you are nice to people around & they act nicely also, but stab you behind. It becomes really painful..so many things I saw & also seeing it around everyday...I was taught once, "Gaurav...sometimes you need to be hard". True--if I am flippant, people will take me for granted--at least I was not born in this earth to please people or kiss their ass!!!!I really need to be hard...

Life has been a rollercoaster rides for the last 4-5 years. Ups & downs-rise & fall--securing the ground firm & shaky ground has taught me a lot--to distinguish between good & evil & so many things. I easily get flattered & then people take me on a ride. If someone walks 1 mile for me, I am ready to run 100 miles for that person but in the end...I find that I was taken for a ride...& there another mistake....which cannot be undone.

Sometimes, I am overly professional--with my family members, with friends..when I don't care about anyone else except my guests. Yes, I dont take care of myself too..often. Missing lunch, breakfast, dinner...n sometimes no time for myself[Readers, I am not complaining!!!]
Many people chose Culinary as their profession but when understood they did a mistake..they quit. But I...no matter how hard it is, how difficult things become when I move up high in the ladder--I will never quit.I learnt patience from my mother[Though I am impatient often] & hardwork from my father.

This is as of now...more to come, unless I want to close the chapter here... :)