How I almost, mistakenly went half a day without talking.

I know. The heading itself makes you get a heart attack. I mean I WENT HALF A DAY WITHOUT TALKING!!! I still haven't gotten over the shock myself. Of course, there is a perfectly reasonable story behind the whole thing, but the occurrence of such a story itself is astonishing. Well, I guess I should stop the bakbak now, and explain the whole thing.
May I take the liberty of saying that a few parts of this narrative are shamelessly exaggerated, and I do not mean any offence to anyone through these harmless embellishments.

I have this awful cough for the past three weeks, and I've been coughing my head off. I threw up on Thursday night too, the result of which nobody got any sleep, and my mom was super-cranky all day long. I was on homeopathic medicine for a week or two, but it wasn't working as well as it used to do before. I mean, when I had a pollen allergy. So, after the whole me-throwing-up-and-nobody-sleeping-and-mom-being-cranky incident, my dad decided to take me to an allopathic doctor. I don't think that it was my constant cough as much as my mom's mood that did it, but I finally got some attention. The doctor did the whole stethoscope and flash a torch in your mouth routine, and then she told me that I have asthma. She prescribed an inhaler and some pills, and then I left. All of this happened on my birthday, in the evening, on Friday.

We ate out that night, and we came back home. And that night I threw up again. And again the night after. And again on the next. If you've been keeping track, that means that I threw up on all nights from Thursday till Sunday. All of Sunday, I had a super-squeaky, Minnie Mouse voice. And then today (Monday) morning, I woke up. My voice was alright in the morning. As in, it was intact, if a bit squeaky. But when I reached school, I found that my voice had disappeared. I could manage no more than a bare whisper.

That was when I freaked out. I was scared. Really scared. I couldn't talk! That was the worst affliction that ever happened to me. And the saddest part was, everyone was happy about it! I got a lot of compliments on my ability to conveniently lose my voice. Like I did it on purpose. Anyways, there was nothing to do, so I promptly appointed Prach to the prestigious position of 'The Mouth'. In short, I would whisper in her ear, and she would convey the talk to the person I wished to contact. It was tedious, but way better than not talking at all. I went all day like that. Talking in whispers. Which soon made me think that it would be better not to talk. So I stopped talking, except for when anyone asked me anything. Like, you know, no unnecessary nonsense. It was really sad. I mean, 'Nonsense and Irritation' is like, my motto.

And so it went, until Science practicals. I was getting fed up of having to whisper all the time. Actually, who wouldn't? And let me tell you that that complete OAF Amogh had been teasing me all day about my wimpy, whispery voice. I must admit, I was getting a bit embarrassed too. No wonder that when he started teasing me again I ended up bellowing back. I think I kind of lost control. Losing control comes in handy sometimes, doesn't it? And it's fun going off the hook.

The rest of the time, which was admittedly not much, was spent in telling everyone I met how I got my voice back. Some sympathetic, kind creatures like Namrata were good enough to congratulate me, but some of those total WORMS didn't do anything but groan and wish each other good luck.

I think the only lesson I learnt from this episode was that we shouldn't overdo it when it comes to any illness. I am firmly convinced that my losing my voice was due to my mentality that I was going to lose my voice. And it wasn't a very pleasant experience!

One more poem from the factory known as Aboli

This one is about how we all want justice from the teachers, cos they do all the talking and don't let us say a thing. That hurts me lot, because you know that I am an EXTREMELY talkative person. OK...

GIVE US JUSTICE!

What is the reason we all come to school?

I bet that you think that I'm a fool.

They say that we come here to study and learn,

While all of the teachers come here to earn.

But all day what do we end up doing?

Sleeping while the teachers go on droning.

Or unconsciously taking down notes.

From the boy upon which the whole staff dotes.

In P.E. and games, we sleepily run.

And play basket ball in the scorching sun.

At lunch, we tastelessly gulp down our food.

Cos the seasoning depends on the caterer's mood.

Shouldn't our school be a bit more fun?

Classes should have teachers who crack jokes and puns.

School trips! We don't mind if they're educational.

Or playing games that are both fun and informational.

Why let the teachers talk all day long?

We should get some time too, to sing our own song.

And if we successfully combine work and play,

Everyone will be happy at the end of the day.

A poem about my dad

Now this is a potentially dangerous poem about how my dad irritates me and is overall incredibly embarrassing. I think it's funny, but no guarantee that my dad will feel the same way!

WOES OF THE DAUGHTER OF AN OVERLY CREATIVE DAD

My dad's wearing this awful tie,

He cannot see that I'm going to die.

My cheeks turn scarlet with shame,

And I know that my father's the one to blame.

He annoys me so much wherever we go.

To point of where both of us have a big row.

Multiplexes, restaurants, even my school!

He has a knack of making me feel a fool.

Wakes me up in the morning by telling me

Sick stories while sitting beside my knee.

Or, until now, the worst by far,

Singing old songs till my eardrums char.

He scares me and like a fool I jump.

And then that big horrible insensitive lump

Exchanges high fives triumphantly

With my brother, who laughs unshamedly.

I know that it's just my youthful blood,

Teens over the world think their parents are duds.

But being embarrassed comes naturally,

And my face turns red just habitually.

My favorite music

I really love music. Mostly I listen to Bollywood film songs. And a few American pop singers. But not much.
My main source of Bollywood songs is Radio Mirchi (98.3 FM. It's hot!). But I have a website where you can listen to free Indian songs. It's http://www.musicindiaonline.com.
American pop... I really like Rihanna. Some of her songs are incredible, especially Unfaithful and Don't stop the music. I like Fergie too, but the lyrics of some of her songs are just plain disgusting. But nobody can beat the tempo of her songs, so I listen to them too. I like Irreplaecable by Beyonce, but I haven't listened to any other of her songs yet. Shakira's songs are nice too, they have that typical Indian feel to them. The beats are fabulous. The Pussycat Dolls are great too. I like Beep, Buttons, Wait a Minute and I Don't Need a Man. Britney Spears is OK. Her voice is pretty good.
In the Disney hamper, I like Ashley Tisdale and Vanessa Hudgens. Their voices are great solo and in the duets in High School Musical 1 and 2.
I listen to most of these songs online on http://www.smashitsusa.com
So overall, I enjoy music a lot, even if I don't know much about the latest hits. I like the tried and tested and I don't listen to much unless someone recommends it to me.

Money

That last post got me thinking. What is money? I know it's a very philosophical question but I had to ask someone. It's just a fancy. Human imagination. A figment of our thoughts. That's it. If some aliens landed on our planet who didn't have money back home, what'd they do? They'd probably throw all of the supposed 'printed paper' in the bank down the drain. Then how come half the world is working and living and dying for paper? Forget aliens. Suppose that all of our own people, humans, Homo sapiens just lost their minds some day. A mass brain destruction or something. The whole world. Everyone. What value will money have then? What will be the use of those bits of paper and those round pieces of metal? Nothing. Nil. Zero. I just don't understand. I know that I'm still young, and my mind and outlook isn't as developed as an adult's, but this is one question I'd definitely like answered.

A thing that's been troubling me for ages.

A year ago, when I learnt that Paris Hilton spends 4 million dollars a year on her dog, I was astounded. I began wondering: Is it really worth it to spend so much money on a DOG? I know that Paris Hilton is a maniac, but even maniacism has its limits. I sometimes wish I had that much money to burn. I would at least do something worthwhile at least, like pay a few million dollars to plant a tree plantation somewhere in Maharashtra. Or clean Pune's atmosphere. Sadly, I can't do anything but pity the poor dog, who has its sad little tummy stuffed full of cake and then squeezed into vulgar puppy tuxedos. I mean it's a DOG for heaven's sake! Spend that much on three humans and it'll be OK, but on a DOG!! It really gets on my nerves! Why can't she use that money to stop world hunger rather than spend it on a petted and pampered Chihuahua? And the dog is so small! And it's worth so much. If size meant money then it wouldn't be worth a penny. And I would be worth a lot. And my mom would be worth the earth.
So I'll just wait. And hope that I'll someday earn that much money. I can't do anything, it's just a useless observation. But it's there all the same. And I hope it makes a difference.

My First and (I hope) Last Sentimental Poem

I got one of those sentimental fits a few days ago (my friends know what I'm talking about!) and I wrote this poem about my friends group and what they mean to me. I couldn't think of a title. To be frank, I hate being sentimental. I mean, I feel nice and all, but later I feel faintly disgusted that I could ACTUALLY WRITE STUFF LIKE THIS??? Eeww. It's quite soppy and all mushy to tell the truth! Well here goes.

My friends mean more to me
Than most of the people in my life.
Some are in school with me,
And some are outside.
All of them are very close
And have a place in my heart.
We have fights every now and then
But we're never truly apart.
I've written this poem today
For all of my dear friends
Through it I'd like to try and explain
Our breaks and our mends.
I've written what our group means to me.
All the joy and all the pain.
I've written why we've stayed together
Through sunshine and through rain.

Hanging with the girls.
Watching secrets unfurl.
Huge group fights.
Crying in the night.
Cat fights in our tent.
Later we repent.
Going to the theatre.
Crying all together.
Feeling each other's pain.
Playing in the rain.
Disagreements over tiny things.
Giving each other friendship rings.
Getting giggling fits.
Throwing secret chits.
Whispering in the loo.
And in the classroom too!
Complaining 'bout the food.
Changing someone's mood.
Exchanging dresses.
Making messes.
Playing Truth or Dare.
Making the teacher stare.
Teasing and shouting.
Later pouting.
Cheering her up.
Just gupshup.
Endless phone calls.
Going shopping in malls.
Doing projects for school.
Trying to be cool.
Chatting for hours.
Using girl power.
Huge sleepovers.
Movie hangovers.
Staying up till dawn.
Rolling on the lawn.

My group is all this to me,
And ever so much more.
They are the special people who,
I dedicate this poem for.

Movie Review-Bhoothnath

Before I begin this review, let me tell you that if you are an emotional type, take at least three handkerchiefs and one cotton dupatta along with you when you go for this movie! If, like me, you end up crying the whole time after the interval, they'll come in handy. I found a whole new use for stoles too. Mine came in really useful.
This movie is definitely worth watching. The story is basically about a boy called Banku. He moves into a new house with his mother. There he meets a ghost called Nath. He is the owner of the house. They make friends, and then they have a lot of fun playing pranks on everyone they meet. Then Nath's son decides to break down the house to build a resort there. Nath gets angry, scares away the builders and insists upon Banku living there. Banku's dad does a pooja, Nath ko mukti milti hai, he turns into a star and then comes back. Typical story? Yes. But definitely atypical presentation. The storyline may be old and stale, but everything else is fantabulous!
The graphics has been done pretty well, it's none of the fuzzy, weird, mechanical looking stuff anymore. I especially liked the part where Banku's hand passes through Nath's, and the scene where the packet of Kurkure floats in midair. It seems quite real, you have to give it to the graphics people.
I absolutely adored the acting of all the actors. Aman has acted really well, you wouldn't think that it's his first movie! Amitabh, as usual, has added a lot of charm to his character. He has acted, danced and sung perfectly, you wouldn't think he's 66. Juhi Chawla has played the part of the flustered mother very well. The emotional parts have been portrayed excellently by everyone (that's why I cried! I've never cried so much for any movie, not even Taare Zameen Par!)
Vishal-Shekhar have composed fantastic numbers for this movie. Mere Buddy and Banku Bhaiyya are my absolute favorites. As it happens, I'm quite partial to Vishal-Shekhar!
So all in all, this is a really good movie to go to with family and friends to have a laugh and a cry together. Absolutely fabulous if you have a bowl of hot buttered popcorn and some Pepsi on the side, even better at a slumber party in sleeping bags! So just go and enjoy.
Aboli's rating- 3 1/2 stars.

My Family and Friends

Some of the important characters in my life.

Family:

Baapus- My dad. You could call him an intellectual. He's very serious outside home, but at home he's a complete monkey. He and my brother play these weird tricks on me, and then give each other high fives, and that really gets on my nerves. Is always on my side, even when I don't deserve it. Very hot-headed, gets angry really fast. His blog is: http://ankushjoshi.blogspot.com/.

Aai- My mom. She's round and chubby. A cleanaholic. She's so busy most of the time, that she doesn't get time to clean, and then I have to help her, and then I get irritated. She constantly nags me about something or the other. We fight A LOT and as she says, if she trys to help me with math, she ends up screaming her head off in the first ten minutes.

Omkar- My brother. There is no time of the day when we are not fighting. I mean, I bet we fight in our sleep! He's actually very cute and he listens to everything I say but when I'm in a bad temper I treat him really badly. I feel bad later. But sometimes he really annoys me. The only problem is that everyone in my family treats him like he's some kind of king, and I get left out. Of course, that's expected, seeing as I'm the older child. But it does get irritating sometimes.

Aajoba- My Grandfather. He's really helpful, but he expects a lot from me that I can't do. He's pretty old-fashioned, but when it comes to technology, he's got only the best and he deserves it! I could wax eloquent on his laptop for hours! I mean, the whole wide screen, high-definition experience. I love it! We clash a lot too, but most of the time it's my fault.

Aaji- My grandmother. She's got so many diseases that I wonder that she can stand upright! You have to give it to her, she does a lot of the housework even when she's ill. She expects a lot from me too. Gets along incredibly with my mom because they're both cleanaholics!

These are only the people who live in my house. The rest of my family is so extended that it's not possible to write about them here!

Friends:

School Friends: I've used nicknames because I don't want to disclose their real names. People from school, please do not disclose anything!

Anna- My soul mate. I can tell her anything and get good advice too. She gets angry really easily, and when she's angry she's dangerous! She's small, but powerful! I adore her.

Wuta- She's sporty and very active. Always raring and ready to do anything! We fight so much, you wouldn't imagine. I mean, over the tiniest things! At night camp last year, we had a huge cat fight that'll be in my memory forever.

Nix- She's really sensitive, and cries really easily. But she's my wackiness partner, we have a lot of fun doing stupid things that no one can understand. She's really sweet.

Prach- She's the most athletic person in our group. I can tell her a lot of things about myself. She stays away from gossip and scandals like a mouse from a cat! An excellent handball player. Does tend to be a bit pushy and is fond of pulling me down for some reason.

Chaitre- The typical all-rounder girl. She is the center of more than half of the scandals in our school. I can talk to her really easily. I share everything with her, and she tells me everything too! She's fun to be with, and gets irritated really easily. I love annoying her! Sometimes, she can be really rude, but most of the times she's OK. I hate her and I can't live without her! Shares my passion about all the HSM movies. The most popular girl in the whole school, there is no student from first to tenth who hasn't heard her name!

Ira- She is the decided head girl of our class. I mean, you know those girls who are so good in everthing that they have to be the head girl in tenth? She's one of those. Really popular, though not as much as Chaitre.

Nidhi- She's the craziest person I've met in my lifetime! We are both freakazoids in her language, and we do crazy stuff that no one can imagine. We both enjoy freaking people out. She shares my passion for books. Her blog is at http://nidhi-myonlinejournal.blogspot.com/.

Nammy- She is a lot like me and Nidhi, except that she is a lot more quiet and sarcastic. Loves books, music, and writing. Her blog is http://nammykrew.blogspot.com/.

Out of School Friends:

Anushka- We used to live in the same neighborhood in the US, and we grew up together. Now she's in Pune too, and we visit each other a lot. She's really fun!

Srijanee (Jenni)- We used to live together too, now she's in Bangalore. She's a kindred spirit, we share a lot of likes and dislikes. I talk to her about all sorts of stuff.

Deepti- She lives in my building. We're really good friends, we chat for hours on different topics. I like talking to her so much that whenever I go to her house, I end up coming home hours later than expected! She's leaving for her MBA in August, I'm going to miss her a lot! We're both bookworms, I've borrowed so many books from her. A fellow Gemini.

Dhananjay- Deepti's brother. He's obsessed with cars! Really nice to talk to. He helps me a lot with my school projects. According to one of those 'inner consciousness awakening' emails, he is my 'twin soul'. Did I mention that he is mad about Katrina Kaif and books?

Rhea- I met her at summer camp the first time. There was no looking back from then! We are pretty good friends and stay in contact even though she lives in Mumbai.

And that's about it!

Aboli