like This....and That...

I am very nervous. I have had a lot of firsts, but somehow thinking about this one leaves me high-strung.

Last week, I very enthusiastically enrolled myself for dance classes in salsa. The classes were to be held in the office gym and that too during working hours. I figured there was no better way to kill time at work, and besides most South Indian girls find guys who can shake their legs the right way, quite irresistible. (Ask Sreesanth)

But as the moment of reckoning came closer and closer, I began to realize that I have never before asked my body parts to obey my mind and move in gracious harmony. All that I have done in the name of dance is throw my arms and legs around in random motion that resembles the celebrations of an Indian tail-ender when he hits Andre Nel for a six over long on. And that's when I realized that I was in some trouble.

What if I end up looking like a petrified jerk while all the others move lithely and effortlessly to the music? What if my dance partner realizes that I have two left feet and stamps me on the foot in frustration?

No, I couldn't let that happen. I decided I wouldn't give in without a fight. I would practice. I would at least not end up looking like a guy trying to do yogasanaas on a tread mill. NO.

And then this came to my rescue. I can't thank Paul and Neela more for bailing me out and giving me much needed confidence. "Salsa is no more than walking" - what else could I ask for! Besides, Neela's voluptuous assets has gotten me all excited again.

And so here I am, still nervous but a lot more confident than before. I sure hope that I don't put a foot wrong. Wish me luck!

Jab Bhagwaan Deta Hai...

One of the most commonly asked question to me as a child, by unidentified and mostly annoying relatives, was - "Beta, tum badey hoke kya banna chahte ho?" At which I would curse my under-developed brain for not having thought of a comprehensive plan for the rest of my life. Isn't that what 6-year olds are supposed to do?

So I would come up with something on the spot. Some job that interested me or something that I thought would help me get rich. (Money is everything. Even 6-year olds know that!) Something like - bus conductor ( what with all that money they get to carry around), taxi driver or cricket player. (The last one was purely for the love of the game. I didn't know then that it involved loads of riches.)

But, if you ask the same question to a kid today, I won't be surprised if we get to hear answers like - "I want to play for the Kolkata Team in the IPL. I hope to be bought for a minimum of 3 crore rupees. And I love Shah Rukh uncle!"

Lots of them kids are going to take up to cricket in a big way, what with the kind of money involved. And many future Dhonis and Ishants are going to play the game more for the money and less for the love of it. And I won't blame them.

Heck, Ishant Sharma is going to earn as much in 4 legitimate deliveries of an IPL match as I do in a whole year of cubicle-caged, sore-eyed and hectic worklife.

Alas, my under-developed brain didn't see it coming....