Chicken Jalfrezi

CHICKEN JALFREZI

ORIGIN - Indian
 
ABOUT THE DISH : Chicken Jalfrezi is an Indian speciality dish with marinated chicken stir cooked in oil and with spices.

WHAT YOU NEED :

Chicken (boneless preferably)
Oil (6 tablespoon)
Onions (finely chopped)
Capsicum (1 or 2) (cut)
Lime Juice (2 teaspoon)
Chilli powder (1 teaspoon)
Tomato Puree (1/2 cup)
Ginger Garlic Paste
Garam Masala (1 teaspoon) [depends on you]
Tomatoes (2) [Cut]

HOW TO PREPARE - 

Forget everything. Start with the chicken. 


Cut it into medium pieces. Too small and you wouldn't want that. 


Mix salt, ginger garlic paste, red chilli powder and lime juice in a bowl. Introduce them to the chicken. Mix well and marinate for 2 hours.

Now for the rest of the ingredients. Take a pan and put 2 tablespoon of oil. When the oil is hot, pour the chopped onions and saute. i.e stir till you get a golden shade of onions. I guess most of you have done the basic level of cooking. If not, all you have to do is just keep stirring intermittently every few seconds..we don't want to burn the onions or ourselves....

When that is achieved pour the tomato puree. 1/2 cup or less, depending on the amount of chicken you have. More than 1/2 cup is a sure disaster, mind you. The taste would be too tangy and then you will have to look for substitutes to negate it. keep in mind that you even put lemon juice in the marinade. So no more puree for you. Stir for 5-7 mins till a thick paste is obtained. You might want to make sure that you don't stir a lot. That done, keep it aside.


2 hours later, bring back the marinated chicken. Take another pan/wok and heat 4 tablespoon of oil and introduce the tomato puree and onion paste you kept aside to it. [Note- if you don't care about gaining weight, try cooking with butter instead of oil. One helluva aroma and taste!] Add the marinated chicken and let it cook till its ready. Add capsicum for flavor and add salt as per taste. Cook covered if you want gravy. 

Make a garnish with tomatoes and serve hot.

That's it folks. 

P.S| can't help taking a dig at Paanipuri lover. Darling, you might be pleased to know that more than enough guys know how to cook. Some are happy with preparing maggi and some like me [doesn't try to be modest] are excellent cooks.
Just so you know.

P.P.S| Sorry didn't have own pics

34 D is not the same as a 36 B!

"These are sooooooo cute! I wish they have this in my size!!! " Divya longingly puts back the light pink bra which is covered in dark pink tiny li'l strawberries.
"Ma'm Try this one... I'm sure it'll fit you like a gglooouurve"  The saleswoman literally 'coos' desperately trying to convince Divya into buying a bra after trying almost all the ones in the store.
"Oh man! I think i better ask my cousin to get me some lingerie from the states...Why god why?!" We walk out of the store leaving behind the angry saleswoman.

We Indians have pretty much been shy when it comes to lingerie shopping and most of the times end up wearing the wrong size. Thanks to the charts in the trial rooms these days that most of the women are getting 'indirectly' educated on wearing a right  fit.
Even though we have a million brands marketing lingerie, the size does vary from company to company ( in spite of knowing the size! ), so do not ever make the mistake of buying it without trying it on or make sure the store has an exchange policy.
Obviously Indian women are much voluptuous (the average population - not everyone is blessed with long legs-size zero-model like body! )compared to the other Asian women ( i'm keeping in mind the stick think Tibetian, Nepali, Singapore, Chinese women ) and the Bangalore girls have at least shopped once at the Tibetian Plaza ( Dubai plaza on Brigade road ) where they sell very cute lingerie in all colours/shapes/patterns and mostly the size which fits the thin ones! :(
Recently, I read you're supposed  to replace the lingerie every 3 months and that got me thinking.
Unless i'm off on a study trip, I'm not really bothered about them ( the pain of washing clothes on a study trip puts me off and I stack up clothes for the number of days i'm travelling.. damn! its high time i  stopped being so lazy! )
I've not really had much problem finding the 'right' size and fit, but it does make me sad when I see few of my friends who hardly wanna invest in them just because 'no one will see it ya! whats the point in buying high-priced' ones?' . I want to literally pull out their brains and scream 'Of course no one will see rite now! but you're not gonna stay young forever! and probably in another 5 years, you'll be looking at a pair of saggy sad ones' ( I'm leaving out the your bf/husband mite get turned off part :P ) and put back the brain into their heads!
I used to make fun of those advertisements and articles which wrote about 'wearing the right fit' and wondered how this small piece of clothing could 'Ooze confidence' , 'bring out the superstar' and stuff like that in you! But When of my classmates ( whom we actually had adviced a million times to wear a right one and who gave us back this lecture on 'saving money' - It was outrightly sagging!! even with piles of clothing on! and thatsy we told her ) actually 'invested' in the right fit from an expensive brand and stopped piling up under layers, and started talking more and 'poking her nose' in all things, she revealed , 'I'm glad you guys told me.. I did look at the pictures and i felt so pathetic and thatsy I literally poured all the internship money into buying good lingerie and i feel i have some weird confidence out of no-where!' (Even though she did sound like a 'healed person from one those tele-brand advertisements', we are glad we told her that and made her realize the value of 'small clothing'! )
Seriously! this is nothing to be so shy about! Its a part of your body and just the way you take care of your face,hands etc, its pretty much the same here. :) Even though it takes a lot of time to find the 'puuurfeect' one, once you've found it, its def. worth it! :)
If you aren't sure of your size, please measure and find it out! :) it hardly takes few minutes.

Images from Google 

  

:P :P 

Oh come on! nothing to be 'shy' about and block the 'pervert' in you! :P

P.S : I'm sooooo sorry for MIA... This post was there in my draft for quiet sometime and i finally completed it..I hope you guys had a great Deepavali :)

Tangled Web

This was one of my poems written back in 2007 , While I was wondering what my first post to Darlings of Venus should be , I came across this one and thought I'd share and that image something I used as a back ground design for the poem back then.

A tangled web
I've made my life
I'm caught in it
And stuck for life

Why did I lie
When I did love
I wanted to tell you
But knew not how

And I wove the yarn
that I show the world
Like I didn't know
The truth would unfold

When we had promised
To be true all the way
Why did I break it
When I had my say

When we had promised
to be true all the way
Why did I break it
When I had my way

I wished to talk
to make amends
Coz I really wanted
For us to be friends

How ever hard
I try to change
Sometimes I still
Don't act my age

But what ever I said
That's only half true
Was coz I was scared
Of losing you

To Losing It With Pride

Kudos to Maithili for coming up with a topic that is amazingly relevant to every single Darling we have here. This is something that we have all thought about, have opinions on and even contemplated upon some time or the other, I'm sure.

Growing up in a country where sex is taboo and relegated to a dark nooks of decisions, I, the eternal liver of Utopia and believer of all things perfect, am forced to become a realist. Virginity is still pseudo-sacrosanct and I don't see anything changing that for at least another decade (by which time most of us won't have to worry about virginity and related issues at all).

I say 'pseudo' for all the reasons that the girls have already covered.
That though it's taboo, elders always want to know what happened on the first night.
That guys always want their girlfriends to prove their trust in them by giving them their virginity.
That guys will go ahead and label a girl and judge her based on the state of her hymen; the fact that she loved the guy and he cheated her notwithstanding.
That it was and is never asked if the groom is a virgin, only if the bride is.
That even a girl who talks about sex boldly, discusses her life (not in sordid detail but using it to illustrate a point) and is generally outspoken is put down because they call her 'an easy lay'.

The first thing that comes under scrutiny when it comes to a girl's character is her virginity. I have heard guy friends call a girl a whore because she's gone out with more than two guys. Not at once, mind you but over a period of a year. And the way the say it, makes you cringe. And I find myself wondering if she's actually a virgin and becoming judgmental before I catch myself and blame my conditioning. Empathizing with the rest of women kind does not come easily to us, we are a wee bit hypocritical that way.

And questioning a girl's virginity remains the worst way for elders to hurt her.

Coming to the three factors:

Choice: No way, man. Though I'm all for losing my virginity to a guy I love and trust and will marry someday, we all know it doesn't work that way. Personally, I'd do it in the bat of an eyelid if I think it's the right thing to do, I have never had a problem acknowledging my hormones. And if I think it's right, I wouldn't be ashamed of telling my mother either. But it doesn't work that way does it. I couldn't acknowledge it in front of everyone  and be proud of it, can I?
My virginity is not at all my own choice. I have friends, family and the rest of the world to answer to. At least us Indians do.

Lack of opportunity: That is the biggest bull ever. Dime a dozen motels and no shame. Working parents and apartment buildings. Even beaches and public monuments. All at our mercy, if we are shameless bold. There are options dime a dozen. I have seen a woman give her husband(?) a frikkin' BJ on the beach. In Chennai of all places.
So if you want to do it, the place, the time automatically become nitpicky details which work themselves out.

Fear of outcome: This, my dears, is what keep us from losing it. Pun unintended.
Of what our bff is going to think of us. Or what our guy-friends will say if they ever find out. What if the guy himself loses interest. What if his parents ever find out and think lowly of me. What if my parents ever find out. What if I get pregnant. What if...
It's an endless cycle of questions which more often than not varies considerably with each individual and yet are essentially the same world-over.
We are unable to let others judge us and not care. We are unable to not give a damn and follow our hearts, if that's what it takes.

At the end of the day, Darlings, losing our virginity depends on our mind set. We might choose to wait till we're married (that's not prudish, it's just sweet) and we might decide to lose it to that guy who's our soul mate because it doesn't make sense and it's just the logical step (that not whory, it's just love). But whichever path we choose to take, it should be one that's from the heart AND the head, one that you'd be proud of later, one that you're ready to accept the consequences of.

And mostly, one that you will be able to tell your daughter about in 20 years time without shame.

When Life Hands You Lemons and Tea Leaves

I love coffee.
Having said that, I'll also tell you that coffee does bad things to your skin and teeth.

A much healthier option is tea, preferably without milk.
I can almost hear y'all say YUCK! but hear me out.
There is this thing you can do with tea which makes it amazingly delicious and healthy. So much so that it *helps* you with weight loss (anti-oxidants).


Without any further ado, I present to you,
LEMON TEA!!

You say "Bleh, what's new, we drink it all the time at CCD and Barista and wherever not"?
I say, you can make the best ever lemon tea at home WITHOUT using those Lipton readymade bags.

How?
That's what I'm here to tell you.
Pretty simple actually.

To make two cups:

1) Boil 2 cups of water. Do NOT put your finger in to test of the water's hot enough.
2) Add 1 and 1/2 level spoons of those tea leaves sitting on Mom's kitchen shelf.
3) Simmer for a few minutes. Just enough for the color to set it (when I say few, I mean few and not go-sit-in-front-of-the-tv-until-BigBoss-is-over few)
Note: If you're a regular tea-maker, then please note that the color should be lighter than it should be for normal tea.
4) Strain it into a glass/cup/mug.
5) Find a lemon, preferably the yellowest, most sexy looking lemon in the fridge and roll it around between you palms (with slight pressure). This helps loosen up the juice.
6) Cut it in half and keep one back in the fridge for later use. And to save it's pretty self from you.
7) Squeeze the half into your glass/cup/mug. A few drops should do. This is the tricky part for you'll have to add the exact amount of juice into your tea or it'll be either too bitter or too bland depending on what stunt you pull off.
8) Add honey or sugar to taste. Honey, if you're going the healthy road. Sugar, if you're an incorrigible ass like me.
9) Stir. (DUH!)
10) Now put it back on the stove and reheat it for it went cold while you were busy pottering around.

Sip away while you read that book/clean/chop/chat/shake that thing/whatever!

Now, there are a couple of options I will tell you of.

If you're as particular as me about food looking good, you might want to cut a sliver of the lemon and let it float in the tea. It'll add flavor as you drink (as long as it's a sliver and not a great, fat chunk that you cut out)
And maybe a sprig of mint as well, it won't bite.

Also, you can make a whole jar and put it in the fridge for when you come back exhausted in the evening. Iced lemon tea and you did not just pay 99 only for it.

Have fun making it, Darlings. And tell me how it was.

And watch The Whistleblower. It'll depress the shit out of you but it'll make you stronger for life.

Woo him this Diwali !

Prescript : I m no expert in wooing :D :D Follow at your own risk.. This is Something I was planning for my blog and thought about posting here too since Darlings of Venus is not having any posts scheduled yet for this week.. 

Its the biggg festival of the year- Diwali!! Wish you all a very happy Diwali!

So the entire week has been busy- shopping, cooking, cleaning and now you look like a pan cake and all dolled up for the festival, yea? 

Well you could still sneak a little bit of time and make it special for love ;)

1.. Try making his favorite sweets.. And if he happens to be fussy over food ( like S !! :P) , then simply get creative with chocolates! Yes they are lifesavers, antidepressants and aphrodites! Do I say more??

2..Give him a nice long massage on Narakchaturdashi ( hehe sounds funny but that is the day you are supposed to be having a good oil massage and a long bath with utna- a kind of herbal powder used for the abhyanga snan or the purifying bath)

3. So you have lit up the entire house and neighborhood with those colorful, floating diyas then why spare the bedroom? ;)

Save up a few and light your bedroom with those aromatherapy candles for your rendezvous with love

4. You have shopped, shopped and shopped till you dropped.. So play a little dressing up for him.. Do some wooing with your sexxy dress :) 

      

Dress for His eyes only :)

5. Make a handmade gift for him.. A card with happy pictures of you two could be a win win one! 

5.. Play games with him.. No not the mind games darling..  If it is the Diwali time card games, then make him your partner and give naughty hints to him all the way ;) and it is only you two playing then make up conditions to be fulfilled for the one who loses! IT should be SUPER fun!

If you are wondering which of these you can do and the answer is none, do not worry.. You can still score points with him by doing NOTHING :D :D 

Guys are easy to please sometimes ;)

-- Do not comment on how the friends' or neighbors' guy helped her clean the house, took her shopping etc etc and you have a happy guy!

-- Let him party with his dudes without reminding him to control the booze :P :P 

-- Don't call him when he is gone to Momma to celebrate diwali.. Pamper yourself at the parlor to keep your mind off the temptation or plan a girls' day out :D :D 

Soo easy no? Its simple being the girl sometimes :D :D 

Have a great Diwali people! 

Pre-Diwali, maja aali!

Today, we family went shopping!

Before you imagine me, picking up trench coats from the A/W 11 Burberry collection, I clarify! It was rasta shopping.And, it rocked.
The whole Jazz, glitz and glamor of the festival was totally radiating immense energy. I wasted two hours in NOT buying ,a change in the pair for my third ear piercing. I thought mine is a bit outdated and Diwali says "Do the new", hence.
 Digitally printed rangoli stickers reminded me of a scene from SARABHAI vs SARABHAI. Where Maya says," in cheap stickers ko tum apne hi ghar pe lagaon Monisha, ye shubh labh wagare is so CATEGORICALLY middle class"  That was when I realized I was unconciously laughing at the vendor.
The lanes full of lanterns of all possible weird shapes and sizes. Really, who has a parachute shaped lantern?! I having learnt sociology lately, I put my sociological glasses on. GLOBALISATION! the word popped into my mind on seeing Chinese lanterns and lamps. It might not be related to it, but that was the only concept I had in the syllabus. So. They do it beautifully. The marketing I mean. Dominance on an Indian festival is a little annoying I thought. Our industries need a chance. Its cheaper, but we are not allowing our prices to go down by buying Indian. This Diwali, my message to India, GO SWADESHI!

Its amusing, how my father still wishes that Diwali should be celebrated the way it was celebrated in Ayodhya on Shri Ram's return with Sita. He still hasn't accepted the fact that, diyas have been replaced by AROMATHERAPY CANDLES and flower decorations by POTPOURI arrangements.I wonder how will he react to card parties. In twitter style, #newgenfundas. He is extremely a cool dad to hangout with, but culture is something he breathes.

 Kurta sales, *Diwali Bumper Dhamaka* sales that wanted people to go through their "Rs 220 only" sarees! How sweet! I respect every emotion that a human has to offer. I tried a Kurti from the street stall, and just like Marks&Spencer disappointed me, so did this street stall. I kind off feel cheated by life. It was a beautiful kurti. Street or HIGH-street, one should know the "Art of Picking" up stuff.Some mixing and matching works like a charm. You wear a pair of ALDO's under that, and Viola! you are sorted. How cool, right?

My mother got lucky tonight! Umm, yes, she bought a 7k silk saree and gold bangles. I HATE GOLD. I am anti-gold. If Gold is Germany then I am Russia. I repel metal to be frank, but a good piece of  platinum (look-alike) is something I believe looks elegant on a lady. And, when diamond is an issue, I want my first piece of diamond jewelry to be gifted by my dad. He splurges on me, so does my brother, so does my mother. I feel blessed.

Extravagance is a great thing to have, if you are born once and if you think you deserve it. But, being extravagant at the cost of others misery, is one bad and wicked thing to do. ( I get in to my agony aunt avatar real quick )

Street kulfi! Food in any form, any place, any how is welcomed by me with open arms. I love chikku kulfi.

Imitation Jewelry is a rage these days. 130 bucks for a set, consisting of a pair of earrings, necklace and even a maang tikka. How cool , right? It was real good. I don't like jewelry though. I mean, the point I am trying to make is how, everybody wishes to look pretty on this big day. How, people want to look their best, wear their best and be their best. It's really something to adore. I am talking all this cause sociology has had a deep impact on me. How I love the subject and how people think and how surroundings make them think the way they think!

The house cleaning is getting on me! I did not really help much, but as you know about my OCD for cleanliness, stuff randomly seen around irks me. Sorry, I am just being honest. 

You want to know my wardrobe this festive season? I am doing the plain Jane thingy. I hate anything jazzy apart from sequins. And, alas! I dont get sequinned tanks, boyfriend jackets, lbd's in my size. I am cursed for life. :( Okay, so my only supporter is Westside. Each and every staff member knows me there. Thats kinda awkward.It just makes me realize, I am not going down in my size. Its a 3/4th sleeved semi-anarkali kurti, maroon an gold ( i love the gold here ), and maroon chudidar. I am doing a bothe hand mehendi and kolhapuri chappals I picked up from Hill road.
Only places like Hill road and Colaba understand my emotions.

 I love the market. Brings people together. Stalls of crackers, lines and lines of lights, stalls of sweets, of clothes. Its just a perfect blend of people and emotions.
Why emotions? I overheard a husband asking his wife," sirf dekhneka haan, lene ka nahi" . Everyone has their own thing to worry about. True, right?

All this ended with nice family bonding over Chinese food. Yes, I am still being SWADESHI, as this was not dimsum and hotpot, but shezwan and manchurian. Thats so Indian, right? Teehee!

Few things before I say bye..

• Wear your best smile this diwali! It completes your look totally!
• I am so looking forward to hot guys in kurtis!
• GO ANTI-CRACKERS. You know what it does to us, right?
• Be as ethnic as never before! pull out all your Indian clothes and wear them over the week. Pleasant change from denims, right?
• Try your hand at Rangoli!! I am planning on one! will post a picture if it turns out to be good!
• Watch your diet and if your parents are diabetic, please dont let them eat anything sweet. I am keeping an eye on mine. Stand for each other! 
• Spread love! blessed be!

Shubh Deepawali, Apoorva, xoxo.

His wish....Her wish....!

Down she slipped one side of her dress.

And a kiss was imprinted on her shoulder.

Away moved her eyes, filled up-to the brim with shyness,

and she felt a stream of thunder and cold flowing down her body by the sensation of that touch.

The lips made their presence felt for some two minutes, but the Love that was felt in those two minutes was simply unexplainable!

Meeting at the hill top was his idea. 

Sometime alone together, away from all worries and noises of daily routine, was how he wanted to celebrate his day.

He had made a wish earlier that day. 

A wish that only she could fulfill.

He had asked for something.

Something that was a step bolder, but also a step closer to her.

All he wanted was, for her to trust him forever.

To make his wish true, was her wish.

As the plan to make him happy that special day, revolved around her.

And this what, a girl can ever wish !

She trusted him, more than anything.

She loved him, more than anyone.

The love between them was different.

Hence his wish needed to be fulfilled.

As the day was just not any usual,

Today was his birthday.

She knew she had to make his wish come true.

But how, was the big question in-front of her.

Some fears, some restrictions were the things holding her back 

from making the first move.

But the people in Love, always know how it express it all that well.

He had wished for a kiss.

And the kiss was made. 

Not in an objectionable manner to either or any of them!

No boundaries ,no rules were crossed. 

Love finds its way, it's just that at times you are bound to the Watch.

The smile on his face after the kiss showed, he loved her move.

And the shyness and boldness in her actions, showed she loved him more than anybody could do!

Love is sweet.

Love is pure.

Just give it a chance.

And the whole world will be yours!

Getting candid with Suruchi

Time for the much awaited interview..

This month we have Suruchi as our Darling of the Month.. 

A teacher, a blogger and someone who leaves a smile on your face.. 

We got her for the interview in between her teaching time, feeding her daughter and her busy schedule of full time motherhood!

                                                  that is Suruchi for you.. ain't she just gorgeous?

suruchi arora : hellooooooooooo

maithilibhatnagar : Hii finally we managed to start this!

suruchi arora : yes and you got me on chat after ages-rekindling fond memories

Maithili: I was actually going through some of your posts all day to get some good questions

Suruchi: Oh my god-poor you.

Suruchi: And I was wondering what would I come up with about the usual questions-like why I started blogging and all...phew!

Maithili: Well then there’s been good amount of planning on both sides-this should be fun. Let’s see who takes whom by surprise.

Suruchi: MSM's interview was superb-smooth, flowing and intriguing, it's difficult to match up those standards. Madam, you started with the home run.

And no planning really, so if I say something very classy and oh-so-actressy I will be so pleasantly surprised

Maithili: Oh don't worry, you have to be just YOU to make this great!

Suruchi: *hugs*Now that's why I loooooooooUve DOV

Maithili: *hugs back*

Maithili: So now we can start our interview

Suruchi: Yes, before I blabber more on the starting itself.

Maithili: Suruchi means good taste right?
Suruchi: Yes-a good taste, a good interest-basically anything "good" gets copyrighted here.

Maithili: Ok so let’s hear something about your tastes then!

Suruchi: You mean apart from the chocolate bar that just got tasted and mmmmm-ed? I like music, movies, used to like reading books, teaching and a whole lot of blogging!

Maithili: We know of your love for blogging so we will move on to the teaching. Are you like that Miss Chandni from ‘Mein hoon na’ kind of a teacher?

Suruchi: Haha...how I wish-if not her IQ her statistics would do! But naah, no saree ka palloo lehraaoinghere and no Shahrukh Khan types students either. Though I manage to get one or two doting ones every year!

Maithili: Boys will be boys and every boy has a crush on one of his teacher in his school time. Any experience of the same?

Suruchi: There have been some cute students who have studied with me in senior classes and grown really fond-like one has become a pilot and still keeps in touch, another is working in the US and manages to find time for me whenever he comes visiting home. Baaki sab compliments try karte hain-just so that the teaching time gets reduced as ma'am would get all flushed and smug.

Maithili: Any pranks that you remember in particular?

Suruchi: Okay, there have been some funny ones. Like when I was teaching in a school many, many years ago, there was an essay to be written on “Nehru and his Public life” and there was this prankster of a boy who deliberately omitted the alphabet “L” in public on the entire page just to see me cringe. I made him read the essay in front of the whole class and watch him self-correct his speech, though a bit sheepishly. Then there was this little girl with whom I was doing genders-I asked her the Feminine of ram (male sheep) and she answered very confidently-Sita. Such recurring experiences light up an otherwise boring teaching day sometimes.

Maithili: Ohhh so smart students I would say! What's the most memorable line used by a student to hit on you?

SuruchI: Tch, koi memorable line nahi yaar-very non-innovative types I must say-fortunately or unfortunately they don't go beyond the "Ma'am you are looking very nice today" or "Ma'am, new haircut...niiiiiceeee"

Maithili: For getting hooked their cool ma'am helps them right? I did read somewhere that you give them ideas *looks smug*

Suruchi: Yes, ma'am-guilty for doing that a couple of times with completely love-lost soul-as in they were so droopy with hopeless unrequited love that they could give gravity a run for its money.

Suruchi: Baaki I am a very serious teacher by the way, just in case some student/student's mom stumbles upon DOV-it is hugely popular now, you know.

Maithili: Now who wouldn't want a teacher like that! No wonder you enjoy such popularity. Now turning on to your blog, more than 200 followers and in a way they have all become audience to your life now. Doesn't that make you apprehensive to post everything that comes to your mind?

Suruchi: Not at all because there is no other way that I know of writing than being blunt and personal. I don't know a flying fig about politics or social issues-all I can do is rip myself apart with the outrageous to gather some laughter or together strip the ridiculous that I see around.

And god has been kind to keep me in insane situations for these 200 people to be entertained. In fact when everything's going in order and as per my plans and very methodical, I know I have missed something. Although trust me there is loads I wanna talk about that I can't for the very reason that there are many known people among the readers.

Maithili: Do your family members read it? Has your writing ever bothered your other half?

Suruchi: My family members read my blog occasionally (like when I pull them by the collar and make them sit before the screen with a bucketful of emotional blackmail) and my better half says that he is “content with half the world reading me as he has better things to do with me instead." So gets away with "Absent" marked on My Tumbling Thoughts. Besides, he knows I am mostly bantering and exaggerating and harmless like a jalebi.

Maithili: Well, you are indeed lucky to have G support you to write what you want!

Suruchi: Yes, it has developed into a mutually comfortable zone. Stupidity is not a crime, so I get away with it. He knows I love being me and I love him just being.

Suruchi: Though sometimes I toy with the idea of an anonymous blog. You know where I can crib about my mother-in-law, do loads of blah-blah on sex and not watch eyebrows being raised and stuff and also flirt my guts out without bothering about my sindoor...sigh!

Maithili: That is every woman's dream my lady! Although you do have that option at DOV.

Suruchi: I know right, but then DOV went on to become hugely popular, so you never know. We'll let some secrets lie silent in my little heart. I decided both of us-my blog and me, can't look good at the same time, so I juggle between doing one thing good at a time.

Maithili: Speaking about looking good, why are we not getting any beauty tips from the Beauty Queen?

Suruchi: Because the Beauty Queen is losing her throne sitting so much on the net that her butt is growing too big for it! Koi beauty nahi hain yaar...it is just strategic clicking of pictures.

Maithili: Now you are being humble! Didn't you win a beauty contest once?

Suruchi: Oh my god-how did you get that random fact? This was in school farewell where I was crowned the Miss SMC and that was also probably due to the fact that I was the School Captain and hence popular. And sometimes not just love is blind-judges can be too.

Maithili: I told you I came prepared to interview you! Not too many people can be blind to your beauty darling!

Suruchi: Awwww...and full marks to Ms Perfectionist! Anyways, those who compliment us for our beauty-you know all that shoo-shaa on Fb n all...at some level, every woman knows how to demarcate between flattery for a purpose and genuine appreciation. There are very few genuine things and people around these days.

Maithili: Yes agreed on that part.. You are one blogger who speaks her mind, shares her photos and adds bloggers to her facebook account. What would you say about private life on public domain? Where does one draw a line?

Suruchi: See it is all very individualistic. I feel that if I am reading someone's thoughts over a period of time on his blog page or he on mine, there is no reason why he may not get admission into my space on facebook. And I am always the one who believes in seeing good in people till they absolutely prove it otherwise. One may and should share about their lives on blogs/social networking sites, etc. Otherwise what else is the purpose of these-we don't want to hear inspirational quotes on statuses which we can any day hear on Astha Channel on the idiot box. Although one must be careful of whom they are allowing into their private sphere for sure, especially the young girls

Maithili: A very good perspective on this! This already looks like a good topic for discussion!

Suruchi: You know a lot of people have told me to be discreet on my blog, like there was an anonymous comment once and the person said-

 “I know where you live, when you go for a walk, how many times you have sex and whom you have had crushes on...Don't you think your entire life is out there?”

And I thought even if it was, so what? Just because I wrote a post on having sex 5 times a week, does not mean that I am inviting entries for it or the fact that where I go for a walk, would make readers want to travel all the way to Kanpur to kidnap me? Bull shit is expected but not accepted!

Maithili: Wow lady! A very bold take on this! You have not written for the discussion on blog this month. Any reason?

Suruchi: Naah, just not finding time Miaths-Seeya keeps me on the toes and the festivities keep me dressed like a cake, so leaves me with less of what I really want to do. But even regarding the virginity issue-I feel it is no longer such an awaited moment as it used to be before...youngsters have little hang ups about being physical and it is growing rather silly to expect to marry virgins. Although I always tell my young friends or anyone who asks me for this advice -even if you have been in relationships, there is no need to be Satyavadi Harish Chandra to your newly married husband and vomit it all. Many men still have an ego when it comes to knowing "their" girl has been physically intimate with someone before.

Maithili: But don't you think a relation should start with a plain slate? The partners should have prior info on each other?

Suruchi: It is alright when one is being friendly with someone and then gradually a relationship develops. But in arranged marriages, one should not take the risk. And while detailing everywhere else helps, not here, when it comes to describing about your colourful past! I mean there is no reason why the naya naya husband should have to sit through a meet-my-reality session on a couch.

Maithili: Turning on from the in depth discussion to the rapid fire round now

You would have to answer these very quick!

Suruchi: Yes, but Seeya's got up from her sleep and I'll try my best to keep her from pressing onto the keys.

Maithili: 5 words which describe Suruchi-only FIVE words.

Suruchi: Lively, dependable, witty, loving and charming.

Maithili: What would do the first thing if you turned a man RIGHT now?

Suruchi: You mean what I would do to a turned on man or what I would do to turn a man on...my god, just a few words, change it all, doesn't it?

Maithili: Yes, if you turned into a man?

Suruchi: Oh, I would go and propose to a whole lot of women using as many pick up lines as possible without the fear of hearing "Tere ghar mein ma-behen nahi hain kya?” and being affected by it.

Maithili: Although I’m all ears now to hear the answer to the "turned on" man question too!

Suruchi: Haha...which part? It is easy to turn on men yaar-may be coz they are technically never turned off. They just go on a "silent" mode

Maithili: Hehe well said madame.

Maithili: If you were a type of food what would you be?

Suruchi: Chocolates, of course, they can be used in so many ways and so pleasurable-what else can be as gratifying?

Maithili: You would like to be used in those gratifying ways? Ahaan?

Suruchi: Nopes, I would like to be pleasurable, all said and done.

Maithili: If you were written about in the newspaper, on the front page, what would the headline say?

Suruchi: The headline would probably say-"A little known blogger shoots to stardom after world-wide internet sites come crashing down due to hits made on her bog"....very lame, I know, but the write up following it would be juicy as there would be mini world wars for me. Such complacent souls we are-zyaada kuch nahi maangte! There is an angel inside of me, whom I am constantly shocking!

Maithili: Well I don't mind you shooting to fame but crashing www could be heart breaking for me.

Suruchi: haha...it has to be dhamaakedar na.

Maithili: What's the most touching thing G has done for you?

Suruchi: Well, besides always wanting to be touchy, once in the early years of our marriage, I was in a really sad mood and almost cried on the phone, he came home from office, during the middle of the day and stayed with me for a couple of hours-that was a great gesture from someone who's a work-o-holic. He keeps doing little things every now and then which matter more than the big ones

Maithili: Awww that is really what matters right?

Suruchi: Yes, he isn't the types to sing songs or write poetry or read my blogs to show that he cares...but he is the kinds to bring a chocolate without fail on every Karva Chauth, to take my side when I am cribbing about something until i simmer down, to respect my parents a whole lot, even more than me, ask me what bothers me even after I tell him a hundred times that it is nothing...and all this makes a huge difference at the end of the day.

Maithili: Indeed you are a lucky woman..

Suruchi: Thank you.

                                  That's Suruchi, Seeya and G

Maithili: What turns you on instantly?

Suruchi: Gimme a witty conversationalist-any day! Wit and a good repartee-it starts and ends with it.

Maithili: Have you ever Adam teased?

Suruchi: Oh tons of times-in college we used to gang up at popular hang outs and tease some shy ones with loud comments made randomly. And then there were the times of prank calls.

Maithili: And what is the naughtiest thing you have done in such pranks?

Suruchi: I managed to get clicked with a very cute guy, first asking him to click a picture for us and then generally chit chatting and eventually he became like a group buddy-ah, good old school days!

Suruchi: Maiths, I have to go as Seeya is refusing to get distracted...can we finish this later in the evening?

Maithili: ok sure, we will continue this session later.


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Maithili: Hey welcome back to the interview.

Suruchi: Hi, thank you.

Maithili: So we were at the rapid fire round...

Suruchi: Oh god, still? Yes ma'am, shoot.

Maithili: When you enter a room what is the general reaction you get?

Suruchi: Big smiles, a mischievous wink sometimes and a general pleasant welcome and where I don't get these-I just don't enter. Also often people expect me to walk in and they give me the expectant look that ah, here she comes-now make us laugh.

Maithili: So you are the bubbly types who set the party on fire!

Suruchi: Often yes, also because I am so full of double meaning statements

Maithili: Tell me who is the person who you first turn to, when you are upset?

Suruchi: The first person used to be my mom...now there are friends coz mom used to end up being more upset than me and I ended cheering her up than being cheered. I have been blessed to find some of my best friends through the blogosphere.

Maithili: That is great! And here come to the end of the rapid fire round.

Suruchi: Phew! Thank god...I don't like rapid things so much.

Maithili: You gave some swift and smart replies! So a pat on your back for this round!

Suruchi: Thank you, thank you...Don't I get a coffee hamper or something?

Maithili: Ah we wish we could give away those, but we are pretty much bankrupt here at DOV. Okay so moving on from rapid fire, we have last two questions. Every woman goes through a rough patch... Any experience you would like to share- in love, marriage, friends or motherhood?

Suruchi: Ah, well, I had a very rough time before my daughter Seeya came along-it was almost ten years of trying for a baby and not succeeding that took its toll on me and me too. But then things looked up! There were times when you lose faith in yourself, god and those around you...when all actions are doubted as though they are aimed at a set motive-it was the lowest point in my life...and then we found Seeya. She's been like a bright star though a very twinkling one-going on and off with mischief and trouble to awakening a very dormant motherly feeling in me.

Maithili: Well Seeya is most definitely the brightest spark in your life. Also I am proud of you for giving Seeya such a wonderful life.

Suruchi: You know it was not like the easiest or most natural decision for me. I was unlike most girls who grow up with dreams of a husband and house and children-I almost never saw me doing or with all that. I was too busy doing my own things and went along with the flow. A child has brought stability in me which I lacked. And she is magnetic when it comes to gathering attention and affection.

                                     Like mother like daughter..

Maithili: I have seen that in the thousand expressions your princess gives for the camera!

Suruchi: Haha, she's gone on me-the chocolate and burger fetish, the insane love with the camera, the mockery of horror stories or anything conjured to scare her, wet kisses, nautanki and smiling to get away with stuff-I guess influences rub in.

Maithili: She is tailor made to be your daughter!

Suruchi: Or perhaps we were separated at god ji ke tailor ka mela to unite again on earth.I just hope she is not half as mad and as yearning to flirt as I am

Maithili: Ahh, now you are going to have a tough time with that.

Suruchi: I know-keeping away prying boys and the escalating curiosity of little girls-OH MY GOD!

                                       She learn't it early- the posing from her mom!

Maithili: And finally we come to the question- Suruchi's life-any regrets or guilt?

Suruchi: Yes, the only regret is I should have studied more and done something with my life before succumbing to the marriage pressure. It is absolutely necessary that girls learn to stand on their feet and make their mark before shaadi, though I make up for it in my little ways.

And guilt-naaah! What we do wrong, we make amends and life goes on-nothing is forever and neither is no one.

Maithili: Thank you Suruchi for your wonderful interview for DOV

Suruchi: You are most welcome Maiths, it was my pleasure. It was like talking so much about ME for a change-thank you for giving me my celebrity moment. Lemme circulate some muaaaahs also in the air, just for the perfect closure.

*muaaah