Talent Nite 2011 and a few August thoughts!

Its almost August and its time for the much awaited T-Nite already! The Talent Nite or rather four full nights of cultural events have given the students and the spouses a chance to awaken their deep seated hidden talents in a range of activities. From walking on the ramp, moving the two left feet to stepping into the shoes of Kishoreji and Lataji or just reminiscing Pablo Picasso, T-Nite promises to bring the best out of the PGPX community.

The countdown to the T-Nite events is evident with a sudden influx of emails in my rather sleepy inbox. The enthusiastic wives can be spotted running around with babies, laptops and audio speakers. Lots of spirited students are often found lost into discussions as to how they can possibly squeeze a few precious minutes for a practice session. 

The T-Nite kick off event is on the 4th of August and it will be fun to watch the thirty-something dads and moms in a back to school mode. 

Back to School reminds me of my time at boarding school in Dehra Dun. At one point, it was impossible to imagine life outside Welham. The unending promises of never loosing touch, seem to have faded away into the distant past and the girls I spent my growing up years with have been replaced by the realities of today. Having graduated from school in 2001, our batch is celebrating our 10th year reunion in October this year and I can't help repeating the cliche 'how time flies'. The promises may have faded but the memories still remain fresh as I turn another year older in August. R often tells me that I have never grown out of my days at Welham and I always tell him 'I never can!'

The little children on campus take me back to my blissful days spent at Welham. Hopefully they, like me will take with them fond memories of growing up in a playground called IIM Ahmedabad. 

This August also brings with it the release of Amish Tripathi's second book in the Shiva Trilogy - 'The Secret of the Nagas'. After the unputdownable 'Immortals of Meluha', I hope the second book lives up to the expectations. Can't wait to grab my copy!

Rain or No Rain

The monsoons have hit most parts of India barring the sun drenched, parched, scorched, dried out Ahmedabad. It seems as if the Rain Gods are unhappy for some reason unknown to the Amdavaadies. On most mornings I find myself looking up into the cloudy sky and proclaiming loudly to R - "Its going to rain today". None of my prophecies have come true till now, and more so are being repeatedly ignored with a half hearted nod from R. I hail from the Himalayan valley and to get my rainfall judgement incorrect is quite a blow to my weatherman (read woman) instinct. I was born, bred and buttered to recognize the signs of an oncoming shower. How can anyone go wrong - the clouds are there, the breeze is there, but where IS THE RAIN?

I chattered on with my incessant rantings about the missing monsoons with the fellow wives who like me were contemplating a fasting session to please the Rain Gods. It was just then that I read an email from a frustrated colleague in Delhi. My thoughts drifted back to the unbelievably chaotic Delhi city during the monsoons. Hours and hour of traffic choked roads, flooded underpasses, idiotic drivers who honk for no reason in the middle of a bumper to bumper traffic situation, sudden death of the traffic lights all over the city, truckwalas who decide to park their great vehicles as per their whims and fancies on NH 8 and a pitiful state of government affairs that chooses to overlook the problem year after year. I could see myself trapped in my Alto for unbelievably long hours on my way to and from work between Noida and Gurgaon, battling  the rampant call center cabbies who drive as if they own the roads- how I wished and prayed to the Rain Gods to end my trauma then. 

I realised that this year in Ahmedabad was the answer to my prayers and yet I had not stopped cribbing. I must have driven the Gods crazy. 

I looked up into the cloudy evening sky, and sent out a small mental note

"Dear God, 

Thank you. Rain or no Rain!" 

Yours truly, 

Kay

I have decided to let the Rain Gods get by their business in this extremely busy season of the year. As for me,  I will patiently wait with a mug of coffee to enjoy a rainy day on my balcony in IIMA.