I don't like it here....

Yeah. Really. I am not liking it here. Here in UK. In London. At work. Around my home. Agreed, lots of people like it here, and are really happy. Happy to the extent that they do not even think of going back to India. I fail to understand the reason behind their happiness. Am simply being an idiot. Trust me.

Years back, I used to be so excited talking about moving to UK. I was so excited when I took this bold step. I was super happy, when things were falling in place for flying to UK. I was on cloud nine, when I was rejecting job offers here. Finally, agreed for the current job. Wellwishers were more than happy to congratulate me, and were falling short of words to praise this bold step.(Khud ki tareef). Those jealous of me, had to keep mum (fir se). But, why doesn't my excitement/happiness/cheer last longer? I know, the architecture of the system on which I am working is kinda similar to what I have worked on, so after a few months, I will not have drastically new things to learn. But, there's less chaos and less politics(it seems) and less management involved in the daily work. So, what I have to really concentrate is only the technical aspect of work. Was't this the thing I was looking for?

Apart from finding work and starting to work, there are lots of other challenges life is offering as a good/bad side effect of moving to a new city. And yeah, it keeps me occupied most of the eves/weekends. I am doing my risk calculations, thanks to the uncertainty here. I know, I am missing the adventure/fun I used to have in Chennai/Pune. Loads of good friends, lots of good times with kids in the society, frequent visits to native town, lots of phone calls with friends (and incoming calls for credit cards, personal loan and what not), biking on the new Avenger, visits to temples, beaches, malls. Life will definitely take a new shape over here. People here are quite busy(or atleast they are expert in pretending to be busy). Even if the city is said as cosmopolitan and welcoming, I have contradictory experiences. People here smile at strangers, but they like to maintain a blank-expression-face for those they already know. I was so tempted to ask one of my colleagues at work - 'Hey A$$&^&^, do you know me' when he crossed by me in the staircase with the most expressionless face I have ever seen.

Well, enough is enough. I think, this is too early for me to judge. It's just a cross-over phase and it would too pass. I would also be comfortable with this new city and environment. So I better be prepared to make most of it, rather than lamenting.

Friendly guest house :)

It was 3-4 long years that I was planning to move to UK for career. Sometimes, it was me who was not strong enough to take the step, when certain things in life were not on track. And sometimes, it was external forces which were playing spoilsport. But yes, finally, external forces were in my favour, and it all happened quite fast. I was all set for a new and exciting challenge. Add to the silver lining, I was moving back to the city, where I had amazing times. Add more to the silver lining, Anand-Ashwini were happy to host me in their 1 bed house. Yeah, it was their own 'kulhaadi'(axe) and it was their own 'payr' (leg).

6th Aug 2010 : 7pm : I landed at Heathrow. Anand was at the airport to receive me. Straight to the picadilly line tube, then bus 144 from Turnpike Lane, and finally to NRV. Ashwini came down to the building gate with a smile. Stella was waiting upstairs (Stella Artois). We had so much to catch up. Little did we realise that it was 2 am and our talks still not ending. But, it was time to be flat.

The weekend gone just like that : taking rest - eating out - finishing some formalities. We were having a gala time - recalling so many things of the good old days. Anand was happy because he got some company for drinks, and to experiment the adventure of new and better wines and beers. Ashwini was happy because, she got a new animal to try her cooked dishes - hehehe. Well, she passed in all of her trials with flying colors. But, 'ras malai' is still pending. And I was super happy - coz I get to be the kabab me haddi of this lovely couple. But, it was too early for them to realise the meaning of 'Apne payro par khud kulhaadi maarna'.

I must say, I got some very good memories from staying with Anand-Ashwini. Some of them really happy, when we laughed our stomaches out. Few of them being - the 'Newyorker sizzlers' prank calls with Rahul-Dhiraj-Dhaval, listening to marathi and hindi and angrezi prank calls on youtube, 3 idiots watching 3 idiots together :P, and yeah, how can I forget to mention the alignement game 'Jenga' we played after having a couple of drinks. For those who dont know - Jenga (as u guessed it right) is a indoor south african originated game. We had some tough times too, when there used to be 'smashaan ki shaantata' in the house - sometimes, coz I got some unexpected rejections at interviews, sometimes work issues of Anand. But yeah, let me mention here - some of the silences were when this so-much-in-love couple used to fight. Hehehohohaha. Your fights are no more a secret, buddies.

But all in all, whether its the kissa of my 'Room Temperature' issues, or whether its Ashwini's domination in kitchen, not allowing me to help her with anything, or whether its Anand's fascination to his again-new-found-love-in-midlife - his iPhone, the time spent at this house is something I will cherish lifelong. And I know, Anand-Ashwini will think number of times before inviting any guest to their house.