Day 2: 9 Loves

So, on to Day 2 of the 10 Day You Challenge !

Today, its 9 loves. Here goes.
I love my family and that is a given. I cannot imagine thinking otherwise so I am not even going to list down my family or any specific family members here.

1. Desi Music
Absolutely love Indian music. And I don't mean just Hindi or Bollywood. I listen to a lot of Tamil music, mostly movie stuff, but Hindi classical compilations too. I love singing and have always harboured a strong fascination for songs with a classical tone. Sometimes I have gotten so obsessed with certain songs that I played them back-to-back for hours and days so much so that it would exasperate my roommates. I have listened to English songs in school/college, mostly boy bands and even now, I do listen to some once in a while (and I used to be a huge fan of those boy and girl bands while in college) when M plays some, like Black Eyed Peas, but it does not appeal to me. Indian music will always be my true love.

2. Indian Chaat Food. 
Paani Puri, Dahi Batata Puri, Daabeli, Ragda Pattice, Bhel Puri, Sev Puri, Vada Pav, you name it, I love it. I absolutely cannot imagine a life without having chaat. Having been in the USA for 6 years now, I miss it like crazy and that's probably why I love it even more. Everytime someone moves back to India I ask them to have a plate of paani-puri on my behalf. When I was in India for a short vacation, whenever I walked into my colony, most times my legs would automatically take a left turn towards the Mafco chaat waala. Mom knew the time I would be home from work every day and if I was even 5 mins late, she knew exactly where I would be !

3. Books, Books and more books (and now my Kindle)
Most days, I cannot fall asleep without a book. That does not mean books make me sleepy. I am so addicted to reading and now to my Kindle, I carry it along everywhere with me. If I have to wait at an oil change, work late or wait for someone at work, before the start of a cricket match, I automatically start reading. Kindle has made me read more than I used to. I think it was the initial years of my life which moulded me into being that way. Lots of encouragement at home. Dad used to bring loads of books from his office library every Wed and Fri and I was hooked. Tintin, Asterix and Obelix, Malory Towers, all of Enid Blyton, Nancy Drew, Hardy Boys, Tinkle, Champak, Chacha Choudhary and of course later on novels, thrillers. Not a fan of current affairs or magazines or newspapers though. Proud to be a voracious reader.

4. Colours.
Yep. Just colours. In all shapes and sizes and items. I love colourful clothing and a lot of friends know that to be a typical trait of mine. Shopping for colourful stuff. When I was in school/college, I and a dear friend of mine Ms. M, used to love buying colour pens and pencils and write with those. Purple, Pink, Green - we loved those ! I still have a 50 colour pencils set that I bought to doodle around but haven't even opened yet. I think the sight of colours soothes me.

5. The Wind on my face.
Be it rolling down the windows and opening the moonroof while driving or standing at the door of the local train, I have always loved feeling the wind on my face. I used to think the train part in India was because of the humidity but I have since realized I just love the feeling of the cool breeze. A lot of folks I know would rather roll up the windows and turn on the AC when its hot which makes perfect logical sense but where do I think logical !

6. "Sporty" Stuff
I cannot bear being home all the time or being the "gharelu" type. I love being outdoors and mostly engaging in sports activities. I admit that I don't usually get company to do it and end up trying my best to adjust with what I can. I play volleyball with the guys now sometimes and if I don't get to play I watch. I played table tennis at college and at offshore, carrom sometimes, cricket, throwball, frisbee (I know people might be wondering how does frisbee tie in with sports) but me and my friends have played all sorts of sports with the frisbee as well. But games like Chess or Golf are not for me. Its probably got to do with my ultra-low patience level.

7. When M cooks - one of the rare days which makes it all the more lovely.
Both him and me are not big fans of this activity which reflects in our cooking. I still cook regularly and with M its been more like 3-4 times a year. And I mean actual cooking, not Maggi or making tea - for which he would set the water to boil and let me do the rest.  I consider myself an average cook. But when M cooks, one of those rare days, I really love it. It makes me feel pampered. When I landed in the USA from India, after a vacation, he had cooked up some real nice food - I still fondly recollect that !

8. Travelling and Exploring.
I admit I haven't got a chance to really tour the world yet but I still love the idea of travelling to all places far and beyond and I am glad M has similar thoughts too. Its difficult if only one of a couple has such desires. I have roamed around a lot in India and the USA as well. But I am still yearning to go explore other countries. Worlds less seen, less experienced. Life has gotten in the way at times, practical realities, priorities but we do hope to quench the thirst someday.

9. Going for walks at dusk / post dinner.
Spoken like a true Cancerian I suppose, romantic at heart. Romantic as the word defines. Fanciful, impractical, unrealistic. I will go with fanciful. Even when I was young, I used to go for walks after dinner with Mom-Dad, they still go to this day. I loved the moonlight, the trees swaying around me, meeting other people on the way. And I haven't let go of that till this day. I still pull M out for a walk every once in a while as the sun sets. Sometimes he's all gung-ho about it too, other times maybe not so much.

Thats all I have for 9 loves. Or rather that's all I could fit (when I had to pick and choose) for my 9 loves.

Next weekend's going to be 8 fears. Stay tuned.


I would love to hear your views!