Little money vs. more...

As I sit on my easy chair, all the thoughts of our MBA times together are rushing through my head. Me and Pojj, we loved going to the university canteen and eating poha. Or if we were lucky and had 20-30 rupees more, then we would binge on idly and coffee alongwith poha. Ahh, what a luxury we thought.
When Deps, bheep and me would feel rich we would go to Ratnas (dhaba near college) and eat paneer (as deps was a veg) with some butter chicken and naan. I remember we never even let the salad go waste. We always smeered the kheera with lime and added a pinch of salt to it, so the taste was tingling and absolutely fab. As I write this, my mouth is watering. But then there were days when we would feel like spending....just plain and simple, then we would go to Symphony...ahhhh...get the vodka and some peanuts ....which once turned out to be embarassing. Cuz the first time Pojj took me to Symphony (no big deal - just a resturant) the waiter recognized me and said - "Madam aaj Vodka?" Considering it was our 2nd or 3rd date, my cheeks turned red...but Pojj laughed it off and said -"Nahin aaj madam sirf nimbu paani lengi". Phew!! he still pulls my leg for this one.

The little money that we had in our pockets got us bigger pleasures...I remember the turning point of our relationship (more from Pojj's point of view - I was more or less sold out on him) was when he came all the way from his hostel (22kms) and I excitedly asked him where we were going for dinner. He gave me a shy reply - saying he just had 30 rupees in his pocket, I smiled and said, that makes it 50 rupees, cuz I have 20 , so lets go eat the paranthas. Believe me they were yummy and it filled our tummy completely.

And today, we spend on an average 2000-3000 rupees on any decent meal outside. The meal I pay for charges me for the ambience, food, cutlery and service. But I dont relish it as much. May be because the 25 rupees parantha on an empty stomach then gave me more pleasure than what a tandoori chicken and butter naan from a 4 star can now give me. We earn more than 10 times of what we got as pocket money during college and yet it seems to vanish at the end of the month. We have stopped borrowing clothes from our friends to wear for parties /dates...and our wardrobe (no matter how expensive it has become), does not look that exciting any more.

I do not wish to turn back time, but I know for one that me and Pojj both appreciate the little money phase of our life. It has made us who we are now, it has shaped us. So even if we are to face the bad times together, it would not be that bad...cuz I guess - we know how to manage little money better than more. . .

Diwali and what it meant...

This Diwali my in laws were over, it is also my first diwali post wedding. The good thing is that in my religion and Pojj's it is considered a big thing to have your first Diwali after your wedding. Something like first Christmas together...I think..
So me and Pojj before marrying each other understood that there would be some differences in the way some festivals are celebrated because we are from different religions. And yes, we peacefully agreed to respect the other persons feelings not out of anything, but plain maturity to atleast try and understand as well as stand by. It hasn't been difficult....
It was understood that since ma in law was here (women take a lead when it comes to pooja/ traditional things - atleast this is how it is for me and Pojj both) there would be pooja, aarti. I can gladly say I learnt it to an extent, since it was my first time and I also got my mom on a call and me and Pojj heard her ardaas (prayer in punjabi) .
The approach is different, but both prayers are followed by lighting the diyas at the end. I learnt that I am much happier if I am not forced into something, I would love to learn if I am not pushed, and I would respect the prayers if mine get their due when they deserve it. All this happened cuz Pojj makes it easy and so does his family, they dont push, they dont force. I would have resented if such feelings came from someone from my own religion too.
At the end of the day, I learnt that our expectations from each other are way ahead of just respecting each others religion. We choose to make life simple by not complicating it over such matters. We choose to stand by our loved ones. We choose to stay together almost three years ago....and we certainly did the right thing. :)

Weird...just weird.....

The calmness that the weather and this city brings is sometimes something that I have never experienced before. Weather is erratic today - I woke up to a blue sky and then it pours and now its partly grey and partly sunny. Its kind of weird, but the weather influences my mood for the day.
I woke up with Pojj and didnt feel the need to laze any longer in my quilt the moment I saw the bright day outside. Had enough energy to pack his lunch and make some breakfast. Then as I sit down with my tea to read the news online, it starts to pour - funny I think, but the hot cup of tea makes it easy. I read a blog of this guy who is complaining of airport tax on Hyderabad airport - which no longer exists....so I stop reading it midway. It wasn't even half way interesting, may be the crib was not good enough :)
Anyway, there's too much silence right now, it would be dark by 5pm - catching up on the murder mystery (by Lee Child) then would not be the greatest of ideas. Hmm...may be now, in some time.
Making plans for next week when my folks come down, places where I could take em and beat the weather...ahhhh...why is it getting so cold?
It is all a little weird today..guess my post today is also not half as engrossing as the ones before (for the ones who read).