22.4.06

Let's take the good times as they go, and I'll meet you further on up the road...

Of late I have developed a strange fascination for flowers. Flowers from hotels. Be it from the loo or the lobby, I love collecting a bunch and bringing it back to office. If you think I am bad then there's colleague N from another newspaper who picks up an entire bouquet. But yesterday I felt like doing the invisible man act. I had gone for an interview with the Pak band Strings. Since it had gone well, I felt happy and relaxed. There was M (who is N's colleague) with me. After all the journos had gone trailing after Faisal and Bilal to the poolside, M and I had the room to ourselves.

So while sipping on coffee, we started gathering a few carnations. After leaving the room, we tried our hands at a few orchid blooms. To our consternation, this waiter came up and stopped us. I put on a blank expression but held on to the two blooms that I had already plucked. M was busy sticking them back. "There are flowers inside if you want," he offered without thinking for a second that I might just take him up on the offer. And I did ask him. Seeing the expression (quite a bewildered one, I must confess) on his face, I stopped short and decided to scoot. With the blooms.

It was embarrassing. But what the hell, think I will do it again.

Sometimes is it not better to do what you want and not give two hoots to what the world thinks? Why not just grab the good times...In my alley, there was this fresh litter of fat little puppies of which somehow only one was left for me to pet. The other day I found it lying on the road and I started scratching it on its neck. When I realised it was weirdly quiet. In fact deadly quiet. Suddenly, a man on a scooter appeared and said, "He's been dead for some time now". I snatched my hands away. The next morning I saw him lying in a heap of garbage. The body was slowly starting to look distorted. Though I had not been overwhelmingly attached to it, I felt sad. For a life that was there. For a life that could have been. Everything is so transitory. You don't even know when you are gonna get snuffed.

So come tell me how many times have you actually done what you felt like without giving a damn about others...

21 comments:

Gamesmaster G9 said...

Face it, my dear. You are a Floro-kleptomaiac.

thalassa_mikra said...

That was sweet :). I have a favourite restaurant here in LA which always has the most amazing fresh flowers on the table. In vain have I asked repeatedly for the name of their florist, but they guard it like a state secret.

So sure, I've been tempted several times to scoot off with the bunch on my table, but the thought of facing the wait staff the next time I come over is very embarassing. If I knew I'd never see them again......hmm....then maybe.

8 by 52 said...

This Valentine's Day, R and I decided to go to Spirit. Actually, we went to Q'ba first, but it was just too expensive and we walked out. At Spirit, the waiters were most discourteous to us just because we were not a guy-girl couple. The candle on our table was not lit, our food order was not taken properly and the booze took forever to arrive. So at the end of the meal, I just lifted the candle (which was more than 500 g, I assure you) and put it into my bag. R had a hysterical fit, but I just walked out coolly. The candle rests on my bedside today and I feel really proud that I did what I did.

n.g. said...

how many times?? lady, i live my life like that.

Rohan said...

A couple of years back, was in germany for the summer. At Frankfurt airport, before boarding the flight back...was drinkin my last mug of german beer. Suddenly had this urge to collect beer coasters, cardboard ones with the manufacturers logo and message. So did that...picked up a whole assortment, a dozen of them atleast.

Still have it in my drawer, some of then are still sticky from spilled beer!

Cheers!

AB said...

Gamesmaster: Shut up. You did not answer my last query...gap filled... what gap?

Thalassa: Of course not if it's one of your regular haunts:-)

8 by 52: Am or am I proud of you!;)

Nish: Now that's living life kingsize...

Rohan: Aha this is fun. I am getting to know that there is a klepto in each of us;)

Mint Chutney said...

Each year we try to outdo ourselves with the garden we plant. I make sure there's a wide assortment of flowers and greenery. This year we have a 70 pound dog that̢۪s peeing over all my lovely sprouts leaving them as withering stalks of piss. I thought you were gonna take him off my hands? When are you gonna pick him up??

sinusoidally said...
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sinusoidally said...

During a night out in first year of med school, a friend and I had so much fun that we decided to take something from the bar as a souviner of good times. We decided to take home fish bowls that served us a Bahama Mama each. It was too big to fit in my pocketbook so I just walked out with it (as did my friend) in front of the bouncer guarding the door. He didn't say anything and until now it sits on my bookcase reminding of me that fun can co-exist with the hell of med school!

AB said...

destination anywhere: How could you pick up Dravid's of all people? Hmmph... Anyway you are forgiven because of all the books coming my way;) By the way I would have known it was you even without you telling me...

mint: Hey there and how is my 70 pound sweetheart? Give him a big big hug and as for picking him up, he has to wait till I can earn enought to support him:)

sinusoidally: You carried out fish bowls in front of a bouncer! Hats off...

Sonia said...
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Sonia said...

i've done what i've wanted to too many times, but the one that was really big was me leaving for delhi even though EVERYONE in my family tried to stop me. my uncle actually told me that he wud do watever it takes to stop me and if i went, he would never talk to me again.
i went anyway, and he still talks to me (unfortunately!)

AB said...

Sonia: Oh I wish I could go to Oman like you came to Delhi. My parents would actually bundle me up and take me back home. But if I could save up enough I think I wouldn't mind. *Sigh*

Sonia said...

Oman? why Oman? and your parents wouldn't do anything. you just don't do it cos you're worried they will. and even if they will, it's YOUR life ain't it? how much can anyone do?!

AB said...

Sonia: Because I was born there and I go back one day to see how it I now. Ok the only thing stopping me is my broke condition:(

Gamesmaster G9 said...

My dear, do you not remember foot in mouth comment made loudly in public at Sayoni's wedding?

AB said...

Huh no

Sonia said...

ah yes! being broke sucks! i should know, i've been broke for ages! but that's gonna change, i'm gonna be a grown-up and start saving now!

AB said...

Sonia: Alas how many times have I said the same...

Unknown said...

Wildest thing..hmmm uhhh I started a blog and today I write about poeple without their knowledge...sometimes even bitching, but its fun...it takes a load off me, though.

PJ

AB said...

Welcome to the blog world. But guess what bitching can get you into trouble. Word gets around. It did with me and to this day I rue it.