This is the perfect day to start the new year on this blog. No, I did not get to go to India but a lot of things have happened between that last post and today. So far 2009 has had everything in it, the ugly, the bad, and the really really good. The ugly and bad are to be forgotten, so here’s the really really good part of last month or so. B’s K-1 Visa petition was APPROVED! It got approved by USCIS after some stupid complications and was sent to the National Visa Center from where it went to the US Consulate in Mumbai, India. From there, papers went to his house and he’s filled out all the forms and dropped them at the US Consulate in Mumbai. Now we are waiting for the “no one ever forgets” his US Visa Interview. We are expecting it to be in a couple of months. It took a lot of tiny tiny steps but we are finally very very close to being together forever.
That was only part of the really really good.
Our parents met each other for the first time on February 2nd 2007. It took exactly a year and three days for the definitive seal of approval from both families to come. The parents along with uncle and aunt went over to his house today and did the “rupiyo nariyal” ceremony which the Punjabis lovingly call “roka”. I just cannot believe it has happened. Whats funny is that my rupiya nariyal/roka happened without me!!!! Ya, my life is funny that way. Ma and Pa went to his house, did the traditional tika and gave him a coconut (to fill his empty head, hehe) and a “cover” (read lots of moolah). Both families had lunch together, shared gifts and sundry items to be gifted to each other and a rishta is being pakkofied, exchanged hugs and promise of keeping us both together as we received their blessing while being thousands of miles apart from each other. There, its officially official. I am elated, sad, happy, unhappy at the same time. Elated and happy to everyone knows why, but sad and unhappy because I wasn’t there for one of the most important days of my life. B told me everyone was in a jovial mood, had a great time with each other and are happy to have made this rishta. He got good vibes. I talked to ma on the phone later today and she oozed good vibes too. Its finally HAPPPPPENNNNINNNNNGGGG!!!!!!!!
This past weekend, my oldest aunt and uncle celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary, its next week but the party was last weekend. Everyone and I mean EVERYONE from my family was there in Mumbai except five of us first cousins in the US. B was invited too. This was the first time he met everyone in the family and oh boy! I have never heard so many good things about him before. Everyone has been telling me how wonderful he is and what a nice boy my “fiance” is and that he is a great addition to the family. For the first I know what tears of joy are. After only hearing bad things about him from the family, listening to all the compliments is just so amazing. The extended family approves too now! Again, all this with me by myself here - wishing I was there. Hiro Nakamura, could you teleport me please?
Now, the million dollar questions. When’s the wedding? Aaaah - it took a year for the roka ceremony to take place. Lets see how long it takes for the shaadi ki shehnai.
Needless to say, I’m walkin’ on sunshine.
Has anyone tried to book tickets to India from the United States within two months of the NRI season? Yours truly did. Huffing and puffing from one website to another and with each hop the numbers did a hop,skip, and jump. $2069 - aah in the two thousands, let me look for a better deal. —> click $2445 dang it, surely there must be something lower than the 2000 mark. —-> click $4005 okay now seriously, I am looking for ECONOMY fares and not the Business class fares. Wait a minute this IS in fact an economy class fare. —-> click FULL haha! You have had me. You mean to tell me there are absolutely NO flights available on the day I want to leave? —-> click $9980 aaah finally something under a thousand $9..9..8..what the ##!!!%% $9980!!!!! If ye must know, these are a few sample fares I came across during my search online. So? I have an itch to go to India. But does that itch travel all the way deep deep into my pocket to make me go? Heck no!
They say love, when it takes over, consumes all of you and makes you see no right (price) or wrong and you just do what it says. Well, the love inside my heart promptly emailed pretty punju asking him to send creditcard #, security code, expiration date and all! It so consumed me that I HAD to do the right (price) thing and that means having him buy moi a ticket. Poor thing traveled all across the Indian subcontinent (okay maybe not ALL across) and called me back to say, “Honey I think buying a ticket from the US itself would be better.” awwwwwww! Anyway moral of the story- December seems to be the second Diwali for airliners and businesses in India with flightloads of NRIs making the half way across the world trip.
Now down to being serious. It has been a looooooooooooooooooooooong time and I am not exaggerating the O’s since we saw each other. These past two months have been a nightmare with one thing happening after the other in the family. Emergency trips to India, car crashes, tooth aches - you name it and we got it! The one good thing that happened was that USCIS finally accepted out application and started processing it. Timeline trends show that we might get approved in December and from thereon it takes 2-3 months give or take for B to finally get here. I guess I could wait a few more months, but I can’t. I just have to go. Its like having to go pee in the middle of the class of that strictest teacher and you know you just have to go. You summon all the courage in you and declare - “I really really have to go”.
If I don’t end up getting a ticket in the next week or two, I will end up in Times Square on New years eve. Anyone coming?
I have also made several notes to self -#1 Be more regular on the blog. #2 Have more updates on the blog #3 Write all those movie reviews I have been waiting for on the blog #4 Visit other blogs #5 Update regularly on the blog. Okay okay done with the drama, I am not saying I promise, but I am certainly going to try. I did see Om Shanti Om and cannot wait to put up my views. Also saw Jab We Met! And have an exciting trip coming up - so will do the customary travelogue after I return 
Besides all of that, life is good
Somewhere under high security (now thats up for debate), within the walls of large looming office buildings, among millions of files, petitions, applications, approvals, and denials, lies a little packet about half an inch thick with my name and address on it. I am the petitioner and Mr.Punju the beneficiary. The fate of our relationship first lay in the hands of friends who smuggled phone calls and letters, then in the hands of our families, then in the hands of the extended family and society, and now it finally lays in the hands of a complete stranger. An officer of the Department of Homeland Security, an officer who must sift through scores of such applications for visas - immigration or otherwise and stamp it with approvals and denials. What must go through her or his head when deciding these factors. Do they get emotionally attached to the love stories of how two people met, fell in love, and have finally decided to spend their lives with each other? Do they feel the pain of all those pining for their loved ones from across thousands of miles? Do they not get that sometimes even a month’s delay might be an extra salary pack for them, but eons for those whose fates they decide day in and day out? Continue Reading »
If the 6 in a row by Yuvraj Singh and the nail biting thriller at Kingsmead today against Australia were not enough to get Indians stick their hearts out on the edge, then wait till the final showdown of the 20-20 International Cricket World Cup on Monday, September 24th.
After the miserable return in the World Cup this past year, Team India has found a renewed energy and the young guns of India have maintained their nerves throughout. I was especially impressed listening to our captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni after the match today. The guy is only 26 but speaks like a captain - like the captain of an international professional team. His spirit is unstoppable. I had missed out on watching a lot of cricket all my years in college, but now I am back on the scene and boy, its looking good! Sure, there were times in these matches where India looked like it was pushing its luck, but the boys maintained their strength and now are into the final.
Its after many years that India and Pakistan will play in a World Cup Final. What more could cricket fans across the globe ask for? Rise back from the ashes for both teams, the underdogs now the favourites in this 20-20, and a rivalry almost unmatched. Monday is sure going to be a thriller final for the first 20-20 World Cup.
Speaking of the 20 overs, I am quite liking them. I wonder if 20 over one-days are now going to be the trend? They are fast paced thrillers and are packed with a punch. Short and sweet! Not so great for the slow batsman who picks up after a few overs on the pitch but if we are getting chakke pe chakka then I am not complaining. Also, one slogan that has been popping up everywhere all across India, in all the matches is Chak De! India. If movies and sports are what it takes to bring the nation together and forget all their communal woes then yes, Chak De! India!
Unfortunately, I will be at work on Monday but sure will be following the match online. We used to always say, world cup naa jeete to chalega, but Pakistan ke aage to jeetna hi hai! And when world cup and win against Pakistan mean the same thing, then let the match begin!
P.S: found this hilarious piece about the Flintoff-Yuvraj tussle.
