Lost in Translation

Apy is on a roll. Every other day I do something, which makes me feel guilty and not just normal guilt, but a guilt that could take one’s life away. Today was another similar day. Damn! The more I think about it the worse I feel.

I have been looking for an apartment and today the HR lady, who arranged an apartment for me, called and told me that I need to see a lady at the Metro station near my office and she will show me the apartment. After reaching there, I found that she could not speak English. Well! There was nothing new in this as every day I face the same awkward language issue but today I was just hoping that we wouldn’t have to communicate much.

We would to walk to the place, take a look and return. Perfect plan!

She showed us the apartment and I decided to take it. After that, when we started to return she tried to show us the way back to station and started walking along with us to the station and just out of courtesy, I asked her, if she had to go in some other direction, she should carry on and we would manage to get back on our own. I tried to tell her the same in English but she didn’t understand a word. So, my great friend who knows Japanese slightly better than me came to the rescue. He told her, “Betsu Betsu ni, Aru-ite, Daijobu desuka?” She seemed to be a little shocked (a little hurt too). She turned, started walking and never looked back.

When she walked away, I asked my friend what he’d said, and the actual translation was “Is it okay if we walk separately?” After knowing the meaning of the sentence, I can’t even begin to describe how I felt.

Damn!!!!!!!!!!!

Once again, FK!! FK!! FK!!

I have been feeling miserable since then. The only thing I can’t tolerate is being rude especially when I don’t intend to.

Am I being ultra sensitive? Can’t help, I just am like that.

Pav Bhaji

I had been thinking about making Pav-Bhaji but was not able to find guinea pigs for my experiment until last weekend when I invited Bilbo and S for lunch. Both were happy to be a part of this experiment and I couldn’t wish for anything more. :P

But the experiment turned out to be a huge success (thankfully else I was dead). I was not sure about the recipe but ROS came to the rescue and mailed me the same. Using the recipe and some tips from Mom, the dish that was prepared was just awesome.

The pictures were taken by Bilbs.

Isn’t it tempting?

Sorry in advance for not posting the recipe. The recipe belongs to someone else and I cannot post it here. In case, you really need it, after reading the post you should have a fair idea whom to contact for the same. :P

Guilty! Guilty! Guilty!

“Excuse Me!”

I was as usual busy reading my novel on another 2 hour long office journey of mine and was startled when I heard this. I turned around to see who had addressed me so and saw a man staring back. He was tall, fair, square faced, blonde and definitely non Japanese. He was traveling with his wife and son.

“Could you tell me if this train will stop at Kanazawa Hakkei?” He asked.

I had no clue and I told him so. The station we were approaching was Kanazawa Bunko and the station where he wanted to get off at was the one next to it. Since it was a Limited Express train, he was not sure if it will stop at that station and since I was the only ‘non-Japanese’ around, he had asked me. I looked at the chart which had some details mentioned about the stops of the train but it was a generalized chart and it did not give details or may be I should say, I could not understand the chart and I could not tell whether this train will stop there or not.

So, as we reached Kanazawa Bunko, I saw a Local train standing on the other side of platform destined for Shinzushi. I told him that since that train was a local, I am pretty sure it would stop at the next station. So, they could take that train.

He thanked me and got out of the train with his family.

Suddenly, I noticed on the chart that, that train will take another track to go to Shinzushi. My stomach flipped and I shouted, “EXCUSE ME!!!” He did not hear me. I shouted again. By then every one had started staring at me. For once, I thought I should get off the train but my bag was on a shelf, out of my reach. The doors of the train had closed by then . He had already boarded that train.

I kept banging on the door out of regret. I think guilt would be more appropriate. But he did not even look in my direction. If he could just look once, I could ask him to get off that train and take some other train. Now the guilt had started to kill me. The train left the platform and I started moving randomly in that empty space, cursing myself, wondering where I had sent that family. The man had just asked me a simple question and I had no clue what I could do then. Poor man just wanted a simple help and I gave him nothing but trouble. “Damn you Apy!” As if this was not enough, the train stopped at Kanzawa Hakkei.

“FK! FK! FK!”

I tried to relax. People were still trying not to stare but could not help. I didn’t bother. I had just made the biggest Fk up of the day. I tried to call a friend but the train entered the subway and I entered a weird state of mind.

“Damn!”

What else could I do? I was just trying to help.
Oh yeah! You were a great help. In future, you better not help. Where ever he was trying to reach, I don’t think he will make it on time. All thanks to you.
But...
Shut up...

I got up and went to see that chart again. To analyze how bad the damage was.

Wait a minute! The train changed track from Kanazawa Hakkei. That means it will go to Kanazawa Hakkei and then it will go in a different direction, that means I did not put him on the wrong train, that means, well!! That means he won’t be abusing me at this moment.

I rejoiced, relaxed, sat down and smiled to myself.

Phew! What a start to the day!

Meri Bhains Ko Danda kyon Maara

I have been thinking about this post for quite a while but every time I sat down to write it, something or the other came up and I had to drop it. But today, in spite it of being Monday, I started it and I hope I will finish it.

I read a post some time back written by a blogger, whose name, I don’t think I will mention. But, I seriously did not find it funny. Not that it was supposed to be funny but the content outraged me.

This guy happens to be in US and some time back he saw an Indian guy make out with a girl in a train. This guy took it as a personal responsibility to make sure, that, that couple should feel uncomfortable and the means adopted were cheap staring. I am surprised that he had the balls to write a post about it and take pride in it. He also wanted to give this Indian guy a lecture on morality. My response to guys like these would be, “FK OFF!!!”

The guy totally forgot that he was not standing in some remote village. The people around him did not have any problems with it but this guy is “THE MAN”. They term this cheap mentality as Indian mentality forgetting that it’s the cheapness within that made him stare at that couple.
It isn’t just this one guy though. I was with a friend some time back and we were walking on the street. She was holding a bottle of beer in her hand. Some of the Indians who saw her gave her a look as if she had just killed someone. Why can’t people just mind their own business and leave others alone?

A few months back, a guy shuddered when he heard a friend of mine saying, “FK OFF” and, yes, he was a Desi. He looked as if some had slapped him hard on his face. I don’t understand why people who claim to be modern still carry on thinking like that. I mean, okay, if a person of a different generation reacts or behaves like that, I can still understand that but if some one in his twenties or early thirties does that, please tell me how I am supposed to react to that. Its not the general outlook of our country but since a majority behaves like that, it has started to become one.

I was planning to end this post, but then I remembered this incidence that happened some time back in India in Meerut. Police called it Operation ‘Romeo’ where couples were slapped by women constables. The worst part was that they slapped the girls too. The reason behind it was that they were holding hands and walking in a park. Incidents like these make me rethink if we are who we claim to be or may be we say we are open minded just for the heck of it.
There are a lot of guys who make sure that if a couple is having a good time together, they will spoil it. The means adopted are usually passing cheap comments or staring until the couple gets uncomfortable enough to walk out of that place. The question is why? Why can’t they let them be happy? Just because they don’t have someone to be with, do they have to act like this and play with someone else’s happiness? I still don’t know the reason. You can’t say that may be they are illiterate. GOD DAMN IT! The cases I am talking about occurred in US and Japan. They are not just educated; they are highly educated and may be working too. So, what next? Can we do anything about the mentality that these people are carrying? How can we make a difference? Do we do anything to make a difference? Or may be the question should be, do we wish to do anything about it?

I think it all happens as we grow up. It’s the way we evolve. May be I can’t do much to change anyone in the society but I will make sure that at least my kids know it right. The kids who are associated to me should know it right. That’s the least I expect myself to do.
I don’t and I repeat I DON’T say that those who don’t do it (public display of affection) are out dated or something like that. I just request to Please Mind Your OWN Business.

A Gurdwara in Tokyo

“There is a Gurdwara in Tokyo.”
“Whoa!! Really?” Those were the first two words that came out of my mind when some one told me about this.

This happened few months back before I went to India. I was at Roppongi which is famous for its night life. It was 2 am (I don’t know whether to call it morning or night). For me, it was still evening. I was with friends, pub hopping. That’s when I met this Indian guy. We started talking and then he told me about this Gurdwara in Tokyo. Well! I hope you don’t expect me to be sober at 2 am in Roppongi. So, me smart me, wrote down the number on my palm.

Next morning when I woke up, I realized, it was a mistake.

After I came back from India, one day another guy pinged me on messenger. He saw me on Orkut, knew I am in Japan and since he was also in Japan, he pinged me. We had a long chat and after a few days he told me that he knew about the Gurdwara in Tokyo. I was happy to hear that and this time I did not make the same mistake. He told me that it opened once a month.

So, we went to the Gurdwara on the date he had mentioned. It was so good to see fellow Indians after a long time. The place was amazing. I was surprised to see a Japanese guy playing Tabla and a lot of Japanese women dressed in Indian suits and at the end of the program they served Langar too. The word is ‘Awesome’







Some definitions for those who are not from India:

Gurdwara: A holy worship place of Sikhs in India.
Tabla: a musical instrument that is played while Kirtan (which is like singing devotional hymns)
Langar: Langar is the term used in the Sikh religion for the free, vegetarian-only food served in a Gurdwara and eaten by everyone sitting as equals.

Gosh! This was difficult in English. For more details please use Google and if someone in Tokyo is interested to go there, you can mail me at apysays@gmail.com

Update:
How to go to Gurudwara if you are in Tokyo, Japan:
The Gurudwara opens once a month. The date is not fixed as its usually announced one month before. But mostly, it’s the “Sangrand” or the first sunday that falls after 'sangrand'.

The name of the station is Myogadani. You can use the following link to find the route to Myogadani from your station
http://www.jorudan.co.jp/english/norikae/e-norikeyin.html
Once you are there, you need to get out of the station towards the main road. You will see Mc Donalds across and turn left and walk along the main road.
After 2 minutes of walk, (at a Y junction) you will see an Indian Restaurant 'Namaskar' across the road (on the right hand side). You will have to cross the road and again start walking in the same direction. Turn right at the first turning after the restaurant and you will see 'Nishan sahib' (Bright orange flag of Gurudwara) at the entrance of a building. Enter the building and use the stairs to go to basement.
You are there.

Some important email ids and phone numbers:

Gurudwara Phn number : 0081-80-5693-5541
email: bskhalsa_jp@yahoo.com

Mr. M. S. Sahni: sahni@vaishalitravels.com (You can mail him for more details. His phone number is: 0081-90-3909-5434)

Update: You may refer to this blog for more details: http://www.sikhjapanese.blogspot.com/

The Confession

As I entered my room, I saw her already there. I don’t know how she got in and for how long she had been there. But there she was, excited and naked. As soon as she saw me, an electric current ran through her. I was drunk and not interested and gave her a chilling look to let her know of the same but she didn’t seem to notice. She was excited and wanted attention which was annoying me all the more as it was quite late. I tried to tell her that I was not interested in the games she was willing to play but she had made up her mind.

I moved past her and started to change. Suddenly she jumped at me. I tried to push her away but she was desperate. Suddenly, I was fuming and I gave her one last warning but she thought I was kidding again. As she came towards me, I lost it and my hand was in the air. I missed. She was fast and I wasn’t sober. This annoyed me all the more. I moved towards her to complete what I intended to do the first time but this time she got the idea. She started to run away from me but there was not much space to run. Suddenly, she saw the bathroom door ajar and she slipped in. I locked her in.

I sat outside in my room, hands covering my face. I was still fuming. I just wanted a peaceful sleep but she had gone too far. The rules were clear and she was supposed to be aware of them. How dare she come in here in the middle of the night? I tried to calm myself and told myself to deal with her in morning but could not. Rules were rules. At last, I got up, determined to end this with as little pain as possible.

I entered the Bathroom quietly and saw her sitting there at a corner. She looked back. The night didn’t turn out the way she had planned. I moved towards her with a weapon in one hand behind me. She understood my intentions and tried to run again but this time I was prepared. I raised my hand and hit her hard on her head. She was down on the floor. I saw her for a few seconds and then bent to check if she still had life. She was gone.

Now the problem in front of me was where to hide the body. I covered my hands and dragged her out of there. I took her out of my room and left her there.

This was the true story of the ‘Fly’ that I killed last night. Well! The fly didn’t seem to know the basic rule of my room. It’s a “NO FLYING ZONE” and “Trespassers are executed”.

Roku

Roku is six in Japanese. I was tagged by Wbix some time back and I think its high time to complete it.

So here it goes:

Name six things/ behaviours / habits that bother you in a person:

1.) People who don’t really mean what they say. They comfort you and talk to you as if you mean a lot to them. However, they quit when ever ‘they’ feel like.
2.) People who live in a mess. Okay, even my room is a lil messy by the end of the week but trust me I have seen those who live in a total mess without cleaning for months. I mean you enter the room and there is this stink.. Yuckkk!!!
3.) People who don’t have ethics at all. Okay! You don’t have to set a record in ethics but I think if you don’t have some basic ethics, then you have nothing.
4.) People who cant take a stand for their actions. They talk a lot but when they see that something they said has back fired, they change their words.
5.) People who cant respect women.
6.) People who don’t value other person’s time or efforts.

Name six places you dream of visiting on a vacation:

1.) Sydney… my sweet cousin is there. Wish I could go n see her
2.) Philadelphia.. My two angels (my nieces) are there.. saw them a long time ago when they were jus a few months old.(Yeah I want to go to US just for that reason… crazy… that’s me!)
3.) France- I love the language there and of course!… women …(that’s a different story that I cant understand a bit but I like to hear it… lol)
4.) Kerala… Back waters
5.) Goa (again and again and again!!!)
6.) Singapore (was not there long enough when I went there last time…)

Name 6 things you would like to do/ accomplish by next year

1.) Would like to learn to speak fluent Japanese
2.) I am thinking of MBA… not sure if it’s gonna be next year or next to next year (if at all).
3.) I had fixed a target amount that I need to save till next year… I hope I am able to meet that target… (for that I need to cut down on a lot of parties :P)
4.) Visit as many places as possible in Japan (again that affects my point 3… lol)
5.) To be a better person (I know this sounds boring… but wtf…)
6.) Get an SLR (Again affects my point 3… Bilbs this wish is all your fault and you know why… lol)

Name six things people would be surprised to know about you:

1.) I am pretty obsessed with good food (mostly chicken)… eating to be precise… I like to cook but I prefer if some one else cooks and feeds me… lol
2.) At times, I could get as freaky about cleanliness in my room as ‘Monica’ in ‘FRIENDS’… Okay.. not as freaky as her but yeah pretty much like….
3.) I start dancing whenever a peppy number begins to play even when I am listening to my Ipod and have my headphones on… (This could be embarrassing when I am on train… lol). So, I try real hard to suppress this urge and end up tapping my feet.
4.) There are certain principles that I follow in my life and I am pretty strict to myself about those.
5.) I am a sentimental person. The amount of leg pulling and weird jokes that I play on my friends does not change that fact.
6.) I am pretty impulsive and can lose my temper easily if someone says something inappropriate. (am still working on improving this… :P)