Army Brat, and now you KNOW: Defamation of Defense Forces by Delhi Sultanate

Hello,

This is regarding a status uploaded by the music band Delhi Sultanate on 21 Jan 2014 at 12:30pm.

 What must have started off as an innocent expression of frustration, took an ugly turn later in the day when the status update went viral, and a few of us were blocked for having made sense on that page (me included)

A few of us are approaching the District Sessions court regarding this(a legal notice should get the message across) If I cannot do anything about it, I am sure I could a little help from the Army too. Being a public figure, one must think before making such statements. In their defense, they can quote "Freedom of Speech" without really understanding the deeper meaning behind it. They need to take extra care of what they say. Maybe this was a cheap publicity stunt, maybe they might say their account was "hacked" Convenient, yes, but I would really want to bring to light the kind of youth we are looking up to these days. 

It's not really easy to form a band and come up with good music, I agree, but it's much easier than staying awake all night in -40 C, patrolling the borders. And all that they could say about the Army jawans was- they rape innocent women. No one, and I mean NO ONE, has the right to demean someone this way. At the end of the day, they can go back to their loved ones and crib about a bad day at work; the jawans sometimes don't have a single living being to talk to for days on end. Just because they have a strong will power does not mean they have stone cold hearts. I am glad they don't have access to any internet most of the times, they would be heart broken to see this kind of stuff being said about them by the "cool guys". They gave up a life of comfort and luxury to serve our country, and THIS is no way to repay them. 

A gentleman by the name of Ashwini Mishra also went ahead to make a few anti-Army statements. I managed to get my point across to him too. I have attached screenshots of that conversation  as well. 

 

 

 I understand it might not be worthy of front page ground breaking news, but a few of us are enough to spread the word. Just want to bring to light the kind of youth we are idolizing these days. 

You can follow the conversation here-

https://www.facebook.com/delhisultanate/posts/10153724587225436  (my first comment has been hidden/deleted. I guess they found it difficult to handle an extra enthusiastic member of the so called army fan club)

And here is Mr. Ashwini's profile link-

https://www.facebook.com/ashwini.mishra.7 (this gentleman has blocked me too, I can't access his profile anymore)

Why isn't anyone standing up for this? "Army brats" only when you need cheap alcohol or when it's Army day or 26 Jan/15 Aug? Wow. *slow clap* 

But fine, to each his own. If you don't want to be a part of this, it's absolutely fine. But instead of laughing at those who want to make a difference, I suggest you be oblivious to everything that is going on here.

I have got a whole lot of "you are insane" messages and have taken them as compliments too, I'm optimistic that way. Don't tell me I am being stupid. A small step, but at least I am doing something. 

Delhi Sultanate defamed themselves yesterday. They being public figures had the audacity to bad mouth the Armed forces for Republic Day practice just because they couldn't carry out their rehearsals peacefully. This has been plain stupidity on their part. It doesn't make them any cooler by calling those who care about the fate of the nation pseudo patriots. After that, they blocked people who stood up against their irresponsible behavior. Wondering if a band like theirs should be allowed to perform any where in this country after the kind of stuff they have posted.

What is it that you do not know?

 Before I start, I must tell you that this post is something that only the ladies might like. And no, I do not mean to blame men, I do not want to sound feminist, this is just something I thought about while observing the body language of a couple having a heated "discussion" at a cafe  (Yes, I sit at cafes and write. Go on, judge me. But I'll have you know, I am very happy with my life. Not all those who crave to get away from people are depressed, some people might just need a break from all the stupidity around them) Anyway, this one is for the women, who at some point or the other in their lives, have all felt this way. It's not a bad thing, it's not wrong, it's just a part of being who we are. Some are strong enough to deal with it, while there are some who go nuts. To each her own. Meanwhile, have a nice time reading this one-

You know that feeling when you don't get a response to your texts? It's a common phenomenon these days, especially with features like "last seen at" and "read" being available on various messaging platforms.I read an article on Thought Catalog that described this as "the height of rudeness, a cyber-slap in the face. It’s lazy, it’s selfish, it’s insensitive; it’s someone being so completely consumed in the movements of their own existence that they’re unable to comprehend the feelings of others." Nailed it, eh? And this article was written by a man. 

 Sometimes, after sending out all the  random mushy messages, or even an “I miss you” mail, one wants to feel appreciated too. Just because someone understands the difficulties you face, doesn't mean you can take him/her for granted. Would it hurt to let them know you miss them too? It won’t take more than 2 minutes, I promise you. Sometimes, you NEED to make them feel special. And there is no greater feeling in this world other than knowing that you are being missed.

Here's where I would like to be extremely biased, I'm sorry-

Women have this bad habit of wanting to know everything, of being a "mother" in the relationship. Some women have that under control, while some are excessively nagging. But no matter how cool a woman is, she will never be able to deal with the fact that she doesn't know anything about her partner's plans. Nothing feels worse than NOT knowing. Put yourself in her place and imagine how you would feel if she didn't tell you how her day was? What if she were to tell you “No, I can’t” (to a point that it sounded rude) the next time you asked her for a favor? And then she'd plan out something on similar lines and tell you at the last moment? What if she wouldn't respond to your messages cos “She’s busy”? Would you expect her to call you, just to let you know that things are fine?If not, would you go through “what have I done, maybe it’s the tone of the messages, maybe I am nagging too much…no she said xyz which means she must be busy but fine, oh wait maybe her family doesn't want us to be in touch..omg what if they talk her out of this?” What if she refused to acknowledge the effort you put into everything? What if she were to give up if her folks didn't approve of you? What if you liked her for her fighting spirit, and she gave up on you? Would you sit quietly, and say “Nothing, I am fine” when she asks you what’s wrong? Would you feel guilty for feeling bad about feeling ignored?


When was the last time you surprised her? When was the last time you told her you missed her? The good part is, it's never too late. Cos hey guess what, she'll not only forgive you, but forget you ever made her feel this way. And give you a tight "I missed you so much" hug, you'd never wanna let her go. 

And the cycle continues. Love, though difficult, is a beautiful feeling.  

A "Mad-House" experience- Mad House Grill, Pune

Since the time I have quit my job, I have only been eating and reviewing. And burning off the calories every morning at the gym. I could live this way all my life, all that I need is someone to start paying me for all the eating that I do. Anybody interested?

The mood last night was Pulp Fiction. So we decided to head out to Brooklyn Shuffle. I have already written a review for it –

http://everyshadeofrandom.blogspot.in/2013/12/brooklyn-shuffle-review.html?view=flipcard

This time I tried the Chocolate Milkshake and Beef Chilly Fries along with Cheese Sticks. Sometimes, when I get too excited, I forget to take pictures. This is all that I could get from last night at Brooklyn Shuffle-

Drinking a Chocolate Shake while sitting in a booth and discussing work and friends and other not-so-serious yet relevant things in life was exactly how I had pictured my Sunday evening. There was a comfortable silence in the middle when we were too involved with the Cheese sticks and Beef Chilly Fries to care about conversing. The first bite of the Cheese Sticks was LOVE. One bite, and the cheese melts into your mouth. I wish they could have accompanied it with a better sauce- the one they serve tastes like cold tomato soup. Rating- 4.5/5

The Beef Chilly Fries looked appetizing- a bowl full of fries, covered with beef in red sauce, topped with cheese. Looks rich, but the taste was a little disappointing. Expecting it to feel a little cheesy, tomato was the dominating flavor. 3.5/5

The Chocolate Milkshake was brilliant, unlike the regular bournvita-chocolate icecream shakes we get elsewhere. Only if I would have got a bigger glass for Rs.125, I would have rated it a 5/5.

Rating- 4/5

As the evening progressed, we made, cancelled, and re-made plans for the night. We ended up going to Mad-House Grill in the end, and loved the experience so much, we might be going back soon enough.

The place looks like a Christian home in Goa during Christmas. Wooden tables, wooden flooring,  white curtains, Christmas lights, the works- this starts off on a very warm note. You can actually picture grandma cooking delicious pies and cakes in the kitchen while you take off your coats and settle down. The red menu cards with snow flakes drawn all over is one of the most beautiful designs I have ever come across in menu cards. So yes, till now, the experience had  been a 5/5.

I ordered for a Swiss Steak Mozzarella, and God bless me for that.  I was a little let down by the portion that was put in front of me (especially since I would be paying 400 bucks for it), but by the end of it I couldn't have thought of anything else that would fill me up that perfectly. I ordered a chicken steak (too much of beef doesn't go down well with me.) The chicken was well cooked, tender, juicy, the flavor had seeped in till the last layer, and easy to cut (makes a difference to the whole dining experience, mind you- you don’t want to be struggling all evening with your cutlery ) The steak came covered in a red sauce, which has to be the tastiest red sauce I have ever had. The steak was accompanied with mashed potatoes and boiled vegetables.  The consistency of the mashed potatoes was smooth, though I wish they would add a little bit of garlic (for flavor) to it.

For dessert I tried the Apple Crumble, which was a little too sweet for my liking (this coming from a person who lives on sugar must be taken seriously) It's served in a bowl, and topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. The crunchy layer on top tastes of extra sweetened sugar, if that's even possible. But as you dig into the bowl, you will find big juicy pieces of steaming apple soaked in sugar syrup. This would have tasted a lot better with a little bit of cinnamon added to it. But if you are looking at trying something out of the ordinary, you will definitely like it.

Also, the name suits the place really well. By the end of it, we sure did make it a mad house. Here are a few pictures from the madness, the rest I would leave up to your imaginations.

(BTW, that's us fighting for Apple Crumble)

Also! Do not try the Wasabi Chicken. DO NOT. Unless of course you actually ENJOY that taste. That's one of us having a "good time" after adding extra wasabi. 

Do try it out when you are looking out for a change in menu, and a whole lot of peace and quiet. The ambiance will relax you. Even the music there reminds you of home, and good old times spent with family and friends back in school. This place has a very positive, warm, and homely feeling attached to it. This automatically makes the dining experience enjoyable. And since well fed people are always happy people, you will walk out with a smile on your face.

Rating- 5/5

Fat Cat's Cafe - A Review

So today was my “Cheat Day” of the week, and I decided to spoil myself with a whole lot of sugar. Plus the Gods decided to be kind to me. How else would I taste delicious tea, coffee, cake AND sandwiches all on the same day? 

Sad part is there are very few places here in Wanowarie/NIBM that sell good cakes/cupcakes. So I usually settle for coffee. And since Fat Cat’s been pending on my To-Do list for quite some time, I decided to give it a try today. And God bless me for that. 

Situated right opposite Salunke Vihar is this pretty little café which you might not notice immediately. But prepare to be blown out of your minds as soon as you enter the shop. It’s a small place with 6 tables (2 of them inside) and gives a very warm and homely feel. A book rack at the entrance is well stocked. Added to this is the delicious smell of cakes and pies wafting out of the kitchen. Drool-inducing, to put it short and simple.

The menu sounds delicious, and the actual food item doesn't disappoint you either. By the time I got over the excitement of having spotted “bacon”, “cheese”, “quiche” and “red velvet cake” on the menu, the owners suggested we try out the Red Velvet Cake and Bacon&Cheese Toast. I would be mad to disagree, so yes, I decided to give that a try.
The red velvet cake sat there on our table, looking innocent and harmless while I clicked pictures from every angle. And nothing in the world could have prepared me to meet the awesomeness that was hidden inside the innocent looking pastry.

I don’t think my words will ever do justice to this cake. It felt fresh, as if iy were just out of the oven. The cream cheese on top gave the electric sugar rush, and then the rest was MAGIC. If you want to know what mouth melting means, have this cake. And I double dare you to have only one (Yes, I ended up taking a few more pastries home) Smooth cake. Delicious cake. Mouth watering, drool worthy, mouth melting cake. “This makes me want to be interested in all the pretty things in life”- said the friend I was with. And he claims to be too macho for his own good. So yeah, that.

The bacon and cheese toast is what I would want to eat for breakfast everyday for the rest of my life. And trust me I wouldn't get bored. The bacon doesn't smell, the cheese is soft and melted, and even after the toast is cold the bread doesn't dry up. If you haven’t tasted this till now, I suggest you do. Cos I now feel extremely sorry for all those who haven’t been here. It’s worth driving down 15km for. (Also, we packed 1 plate of this too.)

It’s been a wonderful experience. I am definitely going back again. It’s a kilometer away from my place, so maybe I can run down, eat a pastry and run back. That way I could afford to eat this everyday and not put on weight. Which reminds me – a little over priced, but you forget about that once you bite into the world of awesomeness. Only if it could last forever.

The owner is a very lucky man I must say, being married to a woman who can create magic with her cooking. No wonder he’s such a happy man. By the time I left the lace, I actually imagined myself to be a content Pusheen Cat, so yes, the name suits the place perfectly. An absolute delight to visit this place, and I wouldn't want anyone to miss out on this.

Cara Cafe- A review

A quaint little café situated near Symbiosis International University in Viman Nagar, Cara Café has quite a few delicious tasting items on its interesting menu. I have been told that the place is always buzzing with activity, and why not- it attracts a whole bunch of young crowd with it’s delicious food and inexpensive prices. When I headed over for the review in the day, I was pleasantly surprised to see a group of young kids enjoying their lunch hour, a couple of college kids on a date, a woman sitting alone and working on her laptop, a group of foreigners catching up over coffee, and a family with 2 kids having a good time.  So you get the point- no matter how old you are, you must head over to try out some delicious Mexican and Italian cuisine, alone or with a group. The menu is all vegetarian, but it really won’t matter once you have tasted the food.

The ambiance is a confusing mixture of American and European.  You have paintings depicting London and Paris, the tables lined near the glass wall will faintly remind you of a café beside a canal in Europe, some of the table stands are miniature famous red telephone booths of London….and then you have one wall covered with the view of Times Square, and a few cushions with the Statue of Liberty on them. So yes, you might be a little confused while you settle down. And then you notice the white walls and the lighting and the interesting map of the world on the ceiling (quite an ice-breaker during the awkward silences) The ambiance feels fresh, light and happy, unlike the usual congested cafes we have nowadays. There is ample of seating place(they even have an outdoor seating arrangement), good music  which magically suits the mood (while the family ate, a soft tune played in the background..which slowly changed to the latest Avicii tracks as tea time approached)and enough air to breathe.  I stress on this point since it is very important to be seated in comfortable surroundings while eating food. The ambiance (music included) here makes you want to eat more. How else do you think 2 women finished off tacos, pasta, pizza and mocktails all by themselves?

So let’s talk about the food. We ordered 2 virgin mojitos (had tried this on a previous meeting, and had loved the refreshing flavor) , one Cara Special Tacos, one Cara Special Pizza and a Pink sauce pasta. The average price of each dish is Rs. 150. The menu is all vegetarian, and the desserts are yet to be introduced. The owner did mention the menu undergoing a change, so yes we can watch out for a few more additions by Feb.

So here is what I had to say about the food-

Virgin Mojito- You know those scenes in typical chick-flicks where the girls are hanging out by the pool in their bikinis, sipping on their pink mocktails and discussing boys and clothes? THIS is the drink I would want to have in my hand if and when I am ever caught in a scene like that. It’s refreshing, gives the perfect sugar rush, and hell yeah is TASTY! Move over Ice Teas and Fresh Lime Sodas and other non-alcoholic drinks!

Cara Special Tacos- I like Mexican food, but sadly my experience has only been limited to Mexcian fast food at Taco Bell and a few local cafes. So yeah, I ordered a plate of Tacos for starters (decided to go main stream by not trying the Quesadillas and Enchiladas) My reaction when the plate of tacos arrived? – I was a little disappointed. The plate had 6 tacos, and they were tiny compared to what I had eaten at other places. So when I took the first bite of the taco, I wanted to hit myself for being this impatient. A classic case of never judge a book by it’s cover.  Crunchy, mouth watering, SMOOTH tacos.  And the cook has done a great job of adding the perfect Indian touch to it! I recommend the Cara special Tacos over the regular tacos cos of the extra cheese on top. It takes the culinary experience to another new level. And this was just the beginning.  Rate- 9.5/10 (cos hey, this is India, and we have a total of 5 places that know what a Taco is) 

Pink Sauce Pasta-  Honestly, I am not a fan of Italian cuisine, so when I say this was abso-frikkin-lutely delicious, I mean it.  The pasta was a combination of macaroni and fusilli (generous portions, mind you). Cheese was the dominant flavor, but there was a perfect mix of the spices, herbs, and sauce too. The garlic added an interesting tinge too. The texture was smooth, and I liked how there were no lumps formed in the sauce, even after it had cooled down.  I’d rate it an 8/10.

Cara Special Pizza- First reaction: “This looks cheesy. YUM..but how do we finish this?” But soon after the first bite we realized this was not exactly any different from any other pizza. (Tasted a lot like the one at Darios)The pizza is extremely cheesy (which is a good thing, FYI), but a little too bland for my liking. I like my food with spices and flavors, so this was a little disappointing.  The toppings included jalapenos, peppers, onions and capsicum, which all tasted very fresh. And a whole lot of cheese, in case you missed out on that point. Personally I feel they could add a little spice to give it an Indian tinge (and add it as a separate item on their menu) But if you prefer your pizzas bland- you are going to enjoy this one for sure.  I’d rate it a 7/10

The service here is great- the waiters attend to every need of yours, take regular feedback from the customers, and make sure everyone there has a good time. The response time is good too. I wish they had menu cards instead of over-the-counter order placements, but this will come up soon once the new menu has been finalized.

So do hop over to Cara if you are in the area…be it with family, friends, or even alone, you are bound to have a nice time there. Visit it, and do share your feedback if possible.

Cheers!

When I hate, I HATE.

So my friend sends me across a link, asking me to "HATE the guy". Well, I don't really get all badass for no reason, so thought I will read it when I get some free time. But I froze when I saw the link-

http://myarrangedmarriage.wordpress.com/2009/04/28/indian-girls-with-a-defense-background/#comment-28


It said- INDIAN GIRLS WITH A DEFENSE BACKGROUND.

Well, it took me 5 seconds to read that idiotic article, and by the end of it my blood was BOILING. I quickly noted down what I had to say. OBVIOUSLY, he hasn't allowed me to publish my comment, so here is what I have to say-

Hello there. you seem to be quite an attention seeker. One piece of advice- if your relationships go wrong, kindly refrain from stereotyping. Here is what I would like to say-

1. Defense is supposed to have a lot of discipline, uncommon in “civilians”. But you still have to see a single defense kid who has disciplined in their lives- Okay then. Hi there, I am an Army kid, and I wake up at 6 every morning. I run 5km every day, and swim a km too if the weather permits. I reach my office on time, have lunch on time, and sleep by 11pm every night. Oh also, I don’t drink or smoke. And I know many others who don’t.

2. They party a lot- Okay then, I know a lot of us who don’t. We’d rather catch up for coffee, or meet for drinks TWICE a month. Don’t know which small town are you coming from to have labelled that as “partying”

3. Drinking alcohol and smoking might be seen normal. You said- “They seem to stretch the point both ways – if they do or if they don’t – Really I don’t give a rat’s ass!” -  If you don’t, why would you write this blog in the first place genius?

4. Since their dads get transferred a lot, they understand other different cultures better. To which you had to say- “They don’t! They live in their own communities of other Army families, so they never understand anything. They seem to be isolated from the rest!”-   I’ll tell you something here – we make friends all over the country. AND stay in touch with them for the rest of our lives. We don’t stereotype people this easily, we ain’t this SHALLOW bro. We learn to adapt, something you obviously haven’t learnt.

5. They hang out with Defense kids who “understand”. And you said- “They tend to be a little snobbish/arrogant but for obviously no reason!”-  OBVIOUSLY genius, if this is what you think of them, I am not surprised that none of them have tried being your friend.

Wake up you poor little oblivious child. None of us show off our “drinking and smoking capabilities” In fact, it is YOU guys who make a big deal about the cheap alcohol that we get. Honestly, NONE of us care, we are way beyond that. Also, the “how we need to deal with them” part made no sense. Were you dropped on the head when you were a child? Have your folks read this piece of shit that you call literature gold? If they are still proud of you, I don’t have much to say about them either. YES, I shall get personal, cos YOU have gone personal with a LOT of kids here. Tell me honestly, this was to get the attention that you have always been denied of, right?

Hope you have managed to learn something since 2009. I hope you were a 12 year old when you wrote this, cos I honestly don’t want to believe people so shallow and stupid even exist.

Also, funny as you might find it, I am an Army kid, and am in love with a guy who is currently a Capt in the Indian Army. And, most of my friends are Army officers too.

Laugh away my boy. Oh yeah, hope you have a delightful Arranged Marriage.

Geez. This feels good.



Amen.

Brooklyn Shuffle- Review

Social media seems to be taking the world over by storm. So it comes as no surprise when the pre-launch activities for a new eatery start on Social Media. Must say, quite a good start at getting in touch with the local crowd through Twitter.  So yeah, I was pretty excited about going for the pre-launch lunch at Brooklyn Shuffle that weekend. The place is easily accessible. Situated right opposite Post 91 in Lane 7 at Koregaon Park, it is a cozy cottage hidden in the midst of trees.  The exteriors have surf boards, coffee tables, books, games, the works. Brooklyn feel much? Oh yeah.

The  interiors completely suit the name. Baseball gloves and bats as wall hangings, Pulp Fiction posters, colored stone walls, tiled flooring, eating booths and all that jazz.  It’s the place where you want to be away from the cacophony of sounds of the mainstream city life. Plus, you’re a part of a whole new culinary experience. You could come here at any time of the day.  Soft retro classics being played in the background, the place is divided into a lower diner area, and an upper area with tables. The seating, lighting, and even the air-conditioning wouldn’t go unnoticed or unappreciated; it’s different, comfortable, and gives you the perfect setting for a complete chilled out experience.

The first order was a Beef Chilly Steak, which in fact is a sub. I was a little reluctant about the beef, since I have never had a good experience with it before. What came to our table was enough to drive away all apprehension. The plate was beautiful; with a large sub, cut neatly into two, some coleslaw, French fries and onion rings. Beautiful! And the taste, even better! I promise you, such good beef has never touched my palette before. It’s well seasoned, cooked to perfection, in a thick sauce of the ideal consistency for the dish, completely tantalizing your taste buds. It leaves you wanting for more.

The second dish we tried was a chicken club sandwich. It came along with the same accompaniments, and tasted like any other club sandwich you have ever eaten. But nothing about the dish is ordinary- it is a beautiful mixture of presentation, taste, and ambience.

I personally preferred the Beef Chilly Steak because, honestly, nothing beats its taste. The crunchy yet juicy club sandwich didn’t disappoint us, but it couldn’t keep up to the level of awesomeness as its predecessor. The French fries, onion rings and coleslaw were the perfect accompaniments, well-cooked for both the dishes.

For dessert, we had the chocolate brownie with vanilla ice cream. Once again, very average. But I recently visited the place again to try their cheesecake and Apple Crumble. Foodporn. Foodgasm. I can’t even begin to explain. I am not a fan of apple and cinnamon, so this coming from me must hold some truth in it. Why don’t you go try it out for yourself? If –“Beyond yum” is not the first thing that comes to your mind, change my name.

Overall, the experience was brilliant. I am thankful to my younger sister who introduced me to the Beef Chilly Steak. I would definitely be coming back for it again. And the cheesecake. And the apple crumble. The interiors are welcoming and chill. The drinks are refreshing. The food is to die for. Go ahead, for an amazing experience with friends or family, or even for a casual date (can’t WAIT to take my boyfriend here, it’s good enough to take his attention off me for a while, which is saying something); and enjoy your heart out with the great music.

My dear fellow foodies, Brooklyn Shuffle Diner has arrived.