HOT: RECYCLED OFFICES!

My company has finally relocated from Noida (in Uttar Pradesh) to MG Road (in Delhi), which is en route to Gurgaon (in Haryana).

The two office spaces couldn’t be more opposite in character. The erstwhile one was swanky, with an assembly-line production of white cubicles and cabins. We had a pantry, a crèche, a table-tennis space and a gym (which sadly, no one seemed to use).

The new haunt is a nightclub-turned-office, which was originally designed with somewhat rugged interiors. You have wood and stone on the floor, and whitewashed walls. The brushstrokes are still visible, on purpose, of course.

Next door you can purchase a beanbag in the most vibrant colours for 700 bucks (some say you can bargain for as little as 300!). And we eat lunch in the adjoining resto-bar, whilst lounging on plush red sofas.

Some don’t like the space, but I think it has potential and may turn out to be a real project – in a good way.

CAR BUDDIES

I get a ride from my neighbour-aka-friend-aka-ex-colleague-aka-travel buddy(aka-not mommy!) every day. We used to work together in Mumbai, and on my third day in Delhi, I bumped into him on the third floor of my building. It was a pleasant blast from the past.

So, it's never a dull ride with this guy and we end up having some very bizarre conversations, every now and then. The other day we were talking about the M word: Marriage.

He thinks I should land myself a VERY rich chap. "He will need to be either Gujju or Punju," he elaborated with absolute conviction (incidently he is Punju, too, so, I suppose it's warranted!). Something to think about.

Music is also a part of the journey. We listen to 95 on the radio and share a chuckle everytime the RJ's imaginary cow Adam moos. But of late the RJ has been talking absolute crap. So, my pal got a CD of...80's music. We listened to Rick Astley, Thriller, The remixed version of Thriller by dance duo Signature for the Britain's Got talent show and...Tarzan Boy!

The last number we listened to, twice. And my pal especially swears by what sound like gunshots at the start of the song. By the way, he is a fan of the blood, gore and violence of God Of War. That should explain it!

QBA

This weekend we headed to a lounge-nightclub-restaurant in Cannought Place, called the QBA. I expected some motif of Cuban culture. But there weren't any. So, we wondered if this was a watering hole for Q folks, since one of the gang with us was Q and loving it.

We smirked at the significance of our own conclusions. The patio upstairs is a good bet, and let's you escape the burst (sans any warning) of filmy music inside, playing to a gallery of private party folks. We arrived in time for happy hours, and ordered mojitos and white wine.

That's the beauty of Delhi life. You can reach a bar before 7.30 pm and actually enjoy the benefit of happy hours, unlike in Mumbai where you are sure to NOT reach the venue before 11 pm. Of course on the flipside, this city parties at 8 and sleeps at 11 pm.

On New Year's eve we were grooving in Mumbai. And here we were, the same group, some of who work in Mumbai and hail from Delhi, and some of us who used to work in mumbai, and hail from Goa and Pune, all sipping mojitos on a patio in Delhi, where the giant floor fans emit sprays of water, to beat the heat.

How time flies.

CHILL MAAR YAAR

The other day I got very frazzled about the liesurely pace of life in the capital. A friend of mine tells me,"Arre Merril thu chill mar yaar. Enjoy life."

Hmmm...in Dilli do as the Dilli-ites do. I could get used to this!

A GOOD YEAR

So, this is my first bday in Dilli and it’s all VERY quiet. But the silence isn’t unnerving me, too much.

Maybe, my eight cantankerous years in Mumbai of overzealous, hyperactive friends (you KNOW who you are!), frenzied partying and mean traffic snarls, is allowing me to enjoy these quiet zen moments.

Friends and family have been calling or texting, through the day. I was particularly amazed at the barrage of Facebook messages and wall scribbles by friends and acquaintances.

Will celebrate when pop and Jen land up, this weekend.

the end of cynicism

The greatest thing about my move to Delhi is that my journey to the end of cynicism is now finally complete. The start of this journey began in Mumbai itself, but the impact of being away from all things familiar and the frenetic pace, that is life in a throbbing metropolis, has hastened this journey.