Crossroads...

You know those over-hyped, cheesy yet somewhat significant junctures of your life that you can never be prepared for? Like going to school, starting college, losing your virginity,getting started with alcohol, getting married, having a baby et cetera? Well,putting an end to one's academic career(read leaving college)is one of those too.You think it'd be some grand affair with graduation cloaks, recalling funny stories about each other and shedding tears about not being able to re-live those days again, promising to stay in touch no matter what and all but unless you are some leader in your batch being equally popular among students and teachers, always organising cool events, helping your friends out with the most impressive job in your pocket, it's another one of those days when you don't feel like dragging your ass all the way back to that pathetic campus where you have been bullied or discriminated against, yawning through another set of lectures from the faculties you so hate from the bottom of your heart and finally getting drunk with a bunch of acquaintances over how this institute has failed you and your dreams. And I needn't turn up at my farewell to know that.
                                   As far as I'm concerned, mediocrity has always been my middle name. I'm not pretty, I'm not extraordinarily ugly either.I never topped my class but never came last either. I'm nowhere close to having my dream job but I DO have something to fall back on for psychological comfort(yeah, I don't think I'd be any less broke or dissatisfied if I go to Mumbai for this job but I couldn't survive the pressure
of seeing others get placed and scoring a zero for a week, let alone so many months),my love story would never go down in history but it's definitely my favourite.
                                                                          Given all these grand examples, it's a no brainer that I was never any teacher's favourite anywhere. I didn't make friends who'd die for me either. Basically, had I not been there in the class,people won't have missed much. I was pretty much invisible.So,I'm having a really hard time coming up with one good reason for showing up at the stupid campus one last time where no one cares much about me and the feeling is very mutual. The thought of pretending to be having a good time while boredom gets the better of me just doesn't sound appealing. And even though I shared a very personal bond with my students during my short stint as a private tutor, none of the teachers in my schools or colleges ever inspired me enough to delve deeper into the subjects they were teaching. Besides, my career has suffered a lot at different times for not sharing a personal equation with any of my teachers.
                                                                                                                      But,at the same time,unlike many of my other friends,I'm not angry at anyone. I have studied Leader-Member Exchange Theory and believe in it wholeheartedly. I find it very normal to accept that everyone would have a favourite and I calmly accept this fact also that I'm no one's favourite. It doesn't bother me at all. I'm thankful to God for making me normal,allowing me to have a normal life,giving me results worth at least thirty percent of my hard work and blessing me with this beautiful heart that stretches like rubber and engulfs the person I love once I love them. I'm thankful to God for making me sensitive enough to feel every ecstasy, failure, disappointment, hatred, heartbreak, passion and still not be overwhelmed by it(okay,maybe I should have excluded the heartbreak part but never mind). Moving to an alien city with an unimpressive job,leaving my family,friends and the love of my life behind,scares me beyond imagination and I'll try to fight it for as long as possible. But when I sense the end,I'll just let go and surrender to fate completely. The tears won't stop but there'd be no regret.
                                                   Speaking of regrets,poila boishakh(The Bengali New Year)is known to be a family affair among us Bengalis and my family being one of those where no one seems to be agreeing with anyone else over anything,it has always been a quiet day at home having bhetki paturi(bhetki fish steamed with mustard paste), chingri shorshey(mustard prawn) or mangsher jhol(mutton curry) for lunch.My parents don't see any logic in going out to fancy Bengali restaurants and have Bengali delicacies that are no more cooked at Bengali households and I've always regretted spending an uneventful poila boishakh. But with my bunch of girls making plans on that very day, it was anything but quiet this year. We met up at this quaint little place called Cafela near Rashbehari and boy, did we have a scandalous evening! The pictures are more than a month old but you can still see the sparkle in my eyes, right?

Anarkali gone wrong and worn as a maxi dress-tailor-made from Gariahat Market(not from my regular tailor,duh!), shoes, pouch- Simpark Mall, denim waistcoat- New Market, rings- B.K.Market and New Market, lipstick- Maybelline Bold Matte MAT 4

Picture Courtesy- Anu

P.S. I'm almost getting over multicolored outfits and I have to admit that Anamika Khanna hating them has helped accelerate my decision. So, expect a lot of monochrome and tone-on-tone on ze blog in the coming posts. Till then, take care and keep it stylish.

Of anarkalis and kolhapuris

As promised,I'm back with an outfit post!Going ethnic never meant indulging into heavily embroidered saris and salwaar kameezes with ALL the jewelleries in the world for me!And more so for Diwali.Because this is a festival where there's fire all around.So,you gotta be really careful with your silk dupatta if you want to be safe.I'm still not used to calling it 'Diwali',it's still 'Kali Pujo' for me.Or maybe that's just the 'aatel' in me-desperately holding on to my traditions as much as possible on the special days while going around tossing all the moral education out on the other days.Maybe that's my way of looking down on people and saying,'you know,I might love my American sitcoms or I might be ready to murder anyone for a glass of authentic champagne or I might not know how to express my true feelings in Bengali(I just struggle for the exact words) but I'm WAY Bengali than all of you.I value my tradition and I can't even imagine polluting an essentially Bengali festival with Western influences.'

Anarkali-material bought from New Market ground floor and tailored from Gariahat Market

Tan sling and kolhapuri-Shreeram Arcade,lycra leggings-Metro Plaza

Headband-Gariahat

Earrings-Nik nish(probably)

Bangles-a Government organized crafts fair at Swabhumi(Don't remember the name)

                                                                          Anyway,back to the outfit.The kolhapuri was an obvious choice because I don't have a pair of mojris right now.And the green with golden adds just the right amount of color to the outfit.I've had my share of fun with colorful glass and wooden bangles.Was in a more 'earthy'(whatever that meant) mood today.So,I opted for the clay bangles.Believe it or not,I used to be a really earrings person back in school.So,the earrings must be at least five years old!The headband with anarkali idea is borrowed from the genius personified,Sabyasachi.It kind of made it a little boho chic.I love that.And the tan sling is a recent addition to my collection.It looks really predictable.But I just fell in love with the color and they didn't have it any other design.So,ended up buying it.The color hasn't come out right in this picture because of the poor lighting and my camera but I'm planning one more post with this one in broad daylight.So,you'll get to see its real color soon.