30 Questions Tag!

Alakananda (sowparnika.rediffiland.com) had tagged me twice before. This time, though, she was wiser, I guess! Nonetheless, I thought, why not try a third time – and may be surprise her! So, here I go…

1. LAST MOVIE YOU SAW IN A THEATER? On my son's insistence, I went for Taare Zameen Par. I fell in love with Darsheel Safary and his buckteeth. Lots of tears all around, I can tell you. On a personal plane, it was a sad day: curtains came down on the Chanakya Cinema, a very familiar landmark for many of us who, once upon a time, used to frequent the hall and the nearby Nirula's.

2. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING? Rajmohan Gandhi's Mohandas: A True Story of a Man, his People and an Empire. The biography gives lots of rare insights into Gandhiji's life and times. My only complaint is about the unbelievably small font size used, that too for a 745-page book! To make things easy, I am simultaneously reading the adorable Dead Famous series: this time, it's Elvis and His Pelvis! Try it, and I am sure you wouldn't regret it!

3. FAVOURITE BOARD GAME? Wordplay is an addiction (or is it an affliction?): so, naturally, scrabble.

4. FAVOURITE MAGAZINE? Outlook. Many might consider Vinod Mehta a pseudo-secularist (whatever that means) but the man has guts, a self-deprecating humour - and class. After all, which other Editor will name his dog, Editor!

5.  FAVORITE SMELLS? "Fragrance of the Forgotten Years" – I don't wish to add to that…

6.  FAVORITE SOUND? The sound of raindrops falling on the tiled roof, that too on a sultry night, back home in Kerala. Also, the clock striking three on a wintry night, meaning I can sleep for another four hours!

7.  WORST FEELING IN THE WORLD? You did your best, and you know it is real good. And then, someone who doesn't have any idea of your effort talks disparagingly about it, not because that was not good, but just to spite you.

8.  WHAT IS THE FIRST THING THAT YOU THINK OF WHEN YOU WAKE UP? To make sure that son dear takes the house key along, so that I don't have to rush home during office hours to open the door for him when he returns from school.

9.  FAVORITE FASTFOOD PLACE? The wayside wagon-on-wheels Chinese joint in South Extension in Delhi and the Thattukadas in Kerala. The Chinese joint acquires favorite status not really for the quality of food but because, once upon a time, when still a student, that was the only Chinese joint which the pocket could afford.

10. FUTURE CHILD'S NAME? We are one, and we have only one! If, however, I have to go for a name for the future, it will be Neelanjana.

11. FINISH THE STATEMENT: `IF I HAD A LOT OF MONEY, I'D…' buy at least an acre of land near Lake Ashtamudi and the Arabian Sea and do farming; also, a few pedigree dogs to take care of things around.

12. DO YOU DRIVE FAST? You joking??? You think Delhi's drivers would let me do that, unless you think 40 kmph is Formula racing!

13. DO YOU SLEEP WITH A STUFFED ANIMAL? A very insensitive question to ask, so no answer for that! May be, my wife would be happier answering this question!

14. STORMS: COOL OR SCARY? Cool, unless you are caught in one, or in its eye!

15. WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST CAR? Maruti Zen. The Suzuki guys told me the color is `Silver Moon Beam Gray’. Till then, I never knew that there is a color by name `Beam'!

16. FAVORITE DRINK: Fresh lime soda, salt and sugar in equal measure (with due apologies to VT: he would, however, agree that at least I am consistent!)

17. FINISH THIS STATEMENT: `IF I HAD THE TIME, I WOULD…' love to spend a few days idling in the interiors of River Amazon. It's not that I don't have the time or the inclination, but I need money too, you see! No package tours to the Amazon: how sad!

18. DO YOU EAT THE STEMS OF BROCCOLI? Steam it, add salt and pepper, may be a dash of lime (and some mustard sauce) – you have the whole of it! 

19. IF YOU COULD DYE YOUR HAIR ANY COLOR, WHAT WOULD BE YOUR CHOICE? Since Alakananda has already donned the patriotic mantle with the tricolor, I would settle for VIBGYOR!

20. NAME ALL THE DIFFERENT CITIES/TOWNS YOU HAVE LIVED IN: Quite

`simple’: Kollam (Quilon), Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum), and then Delhi, Delhi and Delhi… Thank God, Delhi has remained Delhi!

21. FAVOURITE SPORTS TO WATCH? An India-Australia one-day international, preferably at the MCG or the Eden Gardens. The alternative is to watch the Brazilian magic on a soccer field. If these two are not possible, then a Federer-Nadal final at the Roland Garros! (You would appreciate my tastes are simple!22. ONE NICE THING ABOUT THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS TO YOU: Alakananda didn’t tag me a third time, but I can assure you she is a very sensitive and creative blogger. Take time to read her, and you will agree with me!

23. WHAT’S UNDER YOUR BED? My bed suffers from flat foot! How sad, I can’t shove even my bedroom slippers underneath!

24.WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE BORN AS AGAIN? Call it egoism or egotism or narcissism or any other `ism’. No compromise on this: I wouldn’t like to be anybody but me!

25. MORNING PERSON OR NIGHT OWL? I would be a mourning person and/or a moaning person if I were to be a morning person! I can sit through the night but for heaven’s sake, please don’t wake me up before seven in the morning, which makes me a night owl, I guess. Also see my answer to question number six: that would give you an idea why I am not a morning person!

26.OVER-EASY OR SUNNY-SIDE UP? Sunny-side up, provided I am not left moaning or mourning, or both!

27. FAVORITE PLACE TO RELAX? Charu Kasera! Mallus will know what I mean! Isn’t it a hammock, in a way, though not hung out across tree branches?

28.FAVORITE PIE? Certainly not `humble pie’! Now, don’t laugh, I loved the Pumpkin Pie when I had it last!

29.FAVORITE ICE CREAM FLAVOUR? Pineapple Banana Ice Cream, any day: I scream!

30.OF ALL THE PEOPLE YOU TAGGED THIS TO, WHO’S MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND FIRST? I take the cue from Alakananda – and leave the field open!