Name change after marriage?

I always believed that women should not change their last name after marriage. And when I got married, I was sure I would do the same. My reasons are technical. Why go through the hassles of a name change when it is not an obligation but just a stupid societal practice? What about the documentation/certificates etc that were issued on the old name? Birth certificate? Graduation degree? Passport? You need another document endorsing that the old and the new name are actually the same person! And do this for the rest of your life??!! And getting more argumentative, why should a girl give up her family or father's name just because she got married? Why should she disassociate herself from something that has been her identity for her entire life? And for whom? Society? I say - Bull shit! Men who try and impose this, I think, are way too egotist and insecure. If that is the case, they need therapy!

I am lucky to have a family that echo my sentiments - not the BS part though! Anyways, both my sister-in-law have not given up their last name, nor my mom or sis and neither will my wife do so. I think that decision should be left entirely on that individual. If she wishes to endorse her husband's name after her name, so be it. If it is her desire, I totally understand. That's purely sentimental. But doing so for reasons beyond that is plain foolish. All it does is create more hassles. Isn't life complicated enough already?

My message to all women out there: To hell with customs and societal norms - if YOU don't feel like keeping your husband's name - Don't do it!

Pissed off!!!!

Yesterday was, by far, the most disappointing day of my short professional life.

Like all sales job, my job also involves closing business and generating revenue for the organization. And once a deal closes, I get a percentage of that deal as my commission. Fair.

I closed a relatively large deal three weeks back that accounted for close to 20% of my yearly target. Now, in the industry that I cover, the region, market dynamics, and the competition, this deal was very important for me in order to achieve my quota for the year. Everything seemed settled with the order booked, license certificates generated and product shipped to the end user - it was time for me to claim the commission on this. And, out of the blue, one 'xyz' sales person comes into the picture and takes credit for the deal, claims the commission and walks off - and with the management endorsing him!

What about me? What about the four months I spent on this? What about my efforts?

Organization rules and policies they say. They are not wrong.

I still want to say, "Screw you!!!"

Woozy Indian cricket

The way team India crumpled today against South Africa reminds me of the way we played cricket in our school days. Generally matches were either 15 overs or 20 overs a side. Usually we ended up scoring between 70-80 runs. Highest scorer (and Man of the match) used to be someone who crossed 30 runs or took 3 wickets or more. It took about 2 hrs to complete an innings. See the similarities?

Any Indian cricket lover would be under serious dilemma today. How can a team that scores 600+ runs a few days back get bundled out for less than 100 in the very next innings? That too under home conditions, on a pitch created by a local curator, in front of thousands of local spectators, with most players in decent to good form etc etc. Beats me! No one wanted a dead track like the one in Chennai. And hence a seaming pitch was prepared. The result? India 76 all out. And on the same track, South Africa are comfortably poised at 223/4 - perfect example of the great uncertainties of this sport!

I think Dale Steyn has been a revelation the last couple of seasons. 22 matches for 114 wickets at just over 21 runs a wicket with 8 five-fors - this is the making of a genius. And he is just 24!

This match may have well been lost in the first hour of the test unless we see some heroics in the Indian second innings. Another flash of brilliance of Sehwag, another innings of lazy elegance from Laxman, another wallish performance from Dravid or another innings from Ganguly to reinstate that he really is next to God on the off-side! I am optimistic of an Indian fightback. All is not lost. After all, isn't cricket known for its uncertainties?

I miss Bangalore

I miss seeing the sunrise from the terrace
I miss the creme de la caramel & DBC sundae from Corner House
I miss the couch, TV remote, snacks and TV
I miss the cool breeze at midnight on the terrace
I miss the biryani & kebab from Mughal Darbar, the tandoori chicken from Chicken County, fondue at Indijoes, the buffet at Barbeque Nation
I miss driving around on my bike around Jaynagar in the rain
I miss the dinners and the early morning breakfast buffets with my colleagues
I miss MTR's idli sambar with pure ghee and masala dosa
I miss sheru - the dog in front of my house who I used to feed every day
I miss the madness of MG road, brigade road & commercial street
I miss sitting at my favorite CCD sipping iced mochachillo and reading John Grisham
I miss the irate auto wallas who just refused to go where I wanted to go
I miss the thrill of competing and winning awards at work
I miss the time I spent with my family when they visited
I miss my friends - Sumit, Abhijeet, Amit, Iya, Puja and my other colleagues from work

Dubai accident victim

By now, half the world knows about the 250 car pile up on Abu Dhabi - Dubai highway.

As per the official stats:
Total cars involved in the accident: 250
No. of cars totally destroyed: 83
Total injured: 347
Total dead: 3 (official number!)

Off the 3 dead, one such person was Mohammad Salib Khan, 29, a bus driver. He was due to fly home to Pakistan on 20th March to meet his wife and 3 year old daughter Alina, who he had seen 2 yrs ago, on this last visit home! He had borrowed money for his expenses, done his shopping and had his ticket booked on a PIA flight to Peshawar. He got married 4 yrs ago and had visited his family only once. He was eager to meet his daughter because she had started speaking. He was supposed to be reunited with his family, he was supposed to fly on 20th, happy and excited to - embrace his daughter, love his wife and take blessings from his mother!

Instead, he now goes in a box!

May his soul rest in peace. May Allah grant him all the pleasures of heaven. Amen.

p.s. I don't know him. Read about it in the papers. But I was deeply pained!

When I was a kid....

Weird things I did/thought as a kid:

1. Looked at a digital clock ticker (where we don't see the seconds) and started counting seconds from 57...57, 58, 59 and saw if the clock ticked when I reached 60!!! If it didn't, then waited for a few seconds and again started from 57!!
2. A new born baby came out through the belly-button!
3. Day-dreamt (a LOT!) of how it would be if I were invisible!
4. Used to wonder whose voice is it in my mind - and also if people around could also here it.
5. If I was doing something (eg. having a bar of kitkat), could there be atleast one person somewhere in the world doing the exact same thing at the same time??
6. Why do we have to iron clothes??!!
7. Got my head stuck behind the TV while fetching a toy!
8. Stapled my own thumb!
9. Who the %#$&%#@ invented school?
10. Girls don't eat food!

Funny that these all sound so silly now but back then, this was me and my life!

I am sure there were lots more but its a pity that I can now remember only this many! :(

Compliments??? ;)

Posting some comments that I received by folks who saw my wedding album..... :)

Ezhil: its so beautiful...she luks like a doll...man u r so lucky...ofcourse..u deserve her...have a wonderful life together..:)

Iya: Beautiful pics... great yaa... wish u the very best with Iram.. u guys look great together....

Amit: nice pics. Iram is looking beautiful and masood for some reason looking fairer :) wish you both a great life ahead

Sai: Great pics bro!! You guys look great together! Congrats!!! Let me know when you settle down and I shall call you.

Deepa: Congrats dude...wow...u both look so nice....ur wifey is damn beautiful..lucky u :-) looking forward to meet u ppl...hope u come to delhi sometime soon :-)

Tara: lovely pics :) the best is the one with the longest caption.. where you are carrying mrs salem to somewhere ;)

Sangeeta: awsome pics, your wife is really really preety... for sure you are lucky to get such a pretty wife, well tum bhi kaam nahi lag rahee hoo, most handsome perhaps in life till now. wish you both a wonderful life ahead full of all happiness of yours desire.

Tijs: sweet pictures!!! Really beautiful clothes and decorations. Awesome tie too that you were wearing at the reception. Just curious, are you not supposed to smile in pictures?

Puja: hey she is looking damn gorgeous, esp in the red, and blue one absolutely mind blowing. You also look dashing as usual. My fren who saw the pic complimented both of u :) wow that pic where you picked up Iram is damn cute.

Radhika: Lovely bride and good humor (urs!) ...u sure make a great couple :) ok now before u complain....u too look dashing! regal actually :)

Me: Thanks a lot, guys! :p