I Just Wanna Be A Girl!

This post is meant for a person who toughened me up through the last year. (No it's someone I mention often.)  This guy was there for me when I was at my lowest. I was sobbing my heart out one afternoon. All I did was call him and he rushed over. He sat by me, trying to make me smile, trying to distract me. When I started shivering, he pressed his leg against mine, trying to make it stop. (It didn't.) At the time, I couldn't think clearly enough to be thankful for him. Having him there made all the difference.  There was another time I needed him equally as much. It was a different situation and a bit more serious. Even though he didn't agree with me completely, he didn't sacrifice me. (By that I mean that he didn't change sides. He continued to stay by my side.)  He even let me play barbie-doll with him. He sat still as I had the time of my life. (There was an event in college for which I helped him with some makeup.)  Throughout the year, one of his favourite ...

As you all know, the movie 'Ghilli' was re-released recently. I only just got the opportunity to watch it. At first, I wanted to watch it to know what all the fuss was about. (I admit, I had my doubts about it. I only watched the movie once before and I barely remembered what the story was.)  Once the movie began, all my doubts flew away. The movie theatre wasn't full, but the energy that the movie's fans emanated was magnificent. It began as the first notes of music played. I could almost feel the anticipation rising among the viewers. As the hero, Vijay, appeared on the screen, the theatre pretty much exploded with cheers and claps and whistles. The same happened with the appearances of the heroine, Trisha, and the villain, Prakash Raj. I honestly didn’t expect such an uproar in honour of anyone but the hero. The audience quoted dialogues from the movie in sync with the actors on screen. The most iconic dialogue was, of course, Vijay’s opening punch line, “Intha area,...

Hanging out with 'the guys' is really amazing. Let me tell you about it.  For starters, they are not judgemental. You can tell them whatever you want to without having to worry about them looking at you differently. You don't have to worry that their perspective of you would change. Secondarily, you are very very safe with them. (I was hanging out with my brother and his friends. They pretty much adopted me.) This aspect is especially important if you are clumsy (like me). Third, they are really good listeners. Sometimes, girls are judgemental. They might pretend to care about you when you talk to them, but they might be glad that you are going through these problems.  (The next few things I want to mention might be trivial.) Fourth, you don't have to worry about food getting wasted. If you get full, they'll finish your food for you. If you don't like what you ordered, the same principles apply. They also make sure that you eat. (Read: you will be force-fed if y...

  Before I start, I’d like to say that this is a very personal post, dedicated to a few very special individuals.  Anderlin, Sharan, Shane, and Mugunthan.  Technically they are my seniors, but they have become something more. These guys are the reason I made it through the year and have become irreplaceable brother figures to me. I may not call them ‘Anna,’ but the respect they earned from me is immeasurable. I still remember the first time I saw them. I was at an ethnic walk practice. It was only my second day there and I wasn’t very confident yet.  The four of them weren’t around on the first day of practice.  That’s when they arrived. They appeared, walking in a straight line. They looked so majestic and powerful that they scared me. They came to stand in front of me and I remember chills running down my spine. None of them were laughing at the moment (you’re not allowed to laugh or smile during an ethnic walk.) I was so intimidated by them. There aren’t wo...

Before today, I’ve only driven 2 bikes – yes, the ones with gears. The first time was in a secluded location, so I wasn’t in danger of crashing into anything or falling. The second time was a Pulsar NS200, which I managed not to crash either. The second time didn’t really count, my friend was the one doing the driving. I was sitting in front of him, pretending to hold on to the throttle (I think that’s what it’s called) like a little kid.  My best friend and I have had a running joke of me driving him home. Today, I finally got to put my words into action. I persuaded my friend to pull over after we were off the main road. He obliged and let me get on in front of him. He reminded me of the controls – the clutch, gear shift, throttle, and the brakes. “Remember to only use the back brake!” he instructed. That was a point of conflict for me. I remember reading Twilight, where Jake tells Bella that the back brake is dangerous and to only use the brake with her hand. He had previous...

Most of my best friends are guys. I have always felt like there is less competition and judgment in a male-female friendship. Most friendships between girls have some level of competition between them, whether it’s over something as trivial as looks or something bigger. Some women pretend like they care, but deep down, they just want to get ahead of you. On the other hand, I have found friendships between men and women to be pure. A male best friend is someone who would be the first person to give you practical solutions to your problems. He will tell you what’s right and what’s wrong. He might sound harsh and you might think that he doesn’t care about you whereas in reality, he cares deeply and wants to make sure you know what you’re doing. Male friends aren’t going to be jealous of you if you succeed. They genuinely revel in your success and comfort you through your failures. They also are really good secret keepers and can comfort you when you need it. They can help you put thin...

  I grew up without an attentive brother figure (or rather, they didn’t really know I was around), but I have always longed for a big brother. I’ve always been on the lookout for people I could consider a big brother but was unsuccessful until recently.  I always idolized my big brothers, even though they never really acknowledged my existence. A lot of my habits and preferences are based on theirs. First and foremost, a big brother is someone whose example you can follow. You can learn a lot from them. They teach you how to look at things and provide a unique perspective. They know you inside out and know how to reassure you appropriately. He shows you that he is your number one supporter and biggest fan. They are a reliable source of information.  A big brother shows you what unconditional love is. Yes, it's his job to chastise you, but beyond that, you can believe that it's because he loves you so much that he is strict sometimes. You know that he's not going ...