weekend this and that

what is it about power or importance that makes you feel like you can get away with anything? on friday, along with a couple of friends, i went for what i thought would be a ghazal performance in an intimate setting. there is this place that serves as a platform for artists and for the encouragement of art and literature called lamakaan in hyd. Its a nice old bungalow that's being used. the idea behind it is very unique and it strives to be not for profit...the patrons are pretty well connected in the literati circles and i guess its a double edged sword...you need to be known to bring people / performers of repute....and that in turn attracts the literati ....

anyways...in true hyderabadi style, people began to assemble a little after 30 mins of the scheduled time on a really rainy evening...the artist came in almost an hour late and began singing right away... what appalled me was however the crowd behaviour... if you want to continue to talk...rather loudly and with obvious disrespect, dont sit in a mehfil....everyone..including the patron saint of the place, his wife and particularly his son, were jabbering non stop... mundane things... like where to put additional chairs...and asking people to make more room, and the kid was busy kicking people...or exclaiming loudly after every game won on the phone he was playing with.... the singing was totally the sideshow....if you wanted that...then why do thru the pain of inviting a maestro albeit who is in the autumn of his career? if the person who is supposed to lead by example does this, naturally us herds will follow... so whether it was inquiring where a dress was purchased or dinner was eaten had to happen there! i was so disgusted, i walked out after 3 songs...the sham went on for about an hour more i think...

the portico of the place had a light fixture inside which were trapped many (now dead) critters including a lizard... kind of symbolic of what that place will become i guess....

saturday was fabulous... i had a very fun chocolate making class after a long time... in the evening, the gym proved to be a pain in the neck and so was the effing instructor...who tried to bend my back into submission and when i said i have a bad back, tried to tell me, i would not lose weight unless i did what he told me... who does 45 reps of 10 exercises on day one? who makes these guys fitness instructors? working out in a damp shirt gave me fever by the night and on sunday i was in bed the whole day... watched reruns of friends... but i'd have gladly done that minus the fever....

my brand new shiny camera hasnt still gotten to me... i am tentatively taking pictures which arent very good! i need to learn the basic settings atleast!

yesterday my cousins dropped in... i made some snacks as i wasnt sure if dinner would be suitable... fake mutton shikampuri kebabs that the hardcore carnivores couldnt make out were made of soy nuggets! K sank his teeth into them with relish till i told him it was fake! you should have seen his face! i had a fun time...and i miss those times when we just gathered at family get togethers and hung out! now we have to plan...for weeks!

its still pleasant weather in hyd minus the rains... road and drainage work in the lane continues at snailspace...so more slush and kitchad for a while i guess....