Games people play

I had a thought.

Yesterday after about 2o years of my not-so short-when-you-live-it life,I bore witness to chess.
It's really hard for someone like me to play since I dont catch on to the rules and remember how much a bishop can move in which direction.

While I gave the word 'diagonal' a whole new meaning,i saw a connection between my new found love for bejewelled,long lost chess and well,what leads to love.

It's all the same you see.If you view everything as a game you have to win,you concentrate on winning.Translating this to life and lovw,no I dont think men are good enough to be won,but it's a whole new kick when they do is taken up by you.

So it depends on what move you make.Don't just think of the immediate consequences,but think of the next two moves.Be subtle,and most importantly,if you're doing really well,hide the smirk.

It is long after that the particular guy will care for you,no matter what you are so soon.It might eventually lead to that,but you gotta play it well for him to notice you first and eventually like you.Not for what you are,but what you show.

And so you play,for kicks,for attention,for love.Most of the times,most of these guys are not worth the trouble.

Then why do people play the games they do?

I shall give you this example.I know of the two books namely "The Secret" by rhonda byrne and
"The Alchemist" by Paul Coelho are the best sellers around the world.Not saying it out loud,they are self-help books with stories revolving around shephards and what not.

I don't claim to have read them,but I have a lot about these books.

The moral of the stories are that positive thinking can take you a long way.Think of what you desire and you shall get it.The universe will conspire and help you attain what you want.

The new ways of the world have already had an effect on me.Far from this,I don't think I have more than two positive thoughts in a day.These include hunger and wanting to quit my job.

Now thats positive.

With cut throat competition and filthy people at work,verchanging company,different friends at different places,the romantic past and present,you're bound to have trust issues,various genres of insecurity and a whole amount of cynicism.

Now if you were to narrate me a story of a shephard who pursues a dream of searching of pyramids for treasure, eventually fulfills it.

I mean,come on.

So what's my point?My point is,that in a way,we all play a game...to be better at work,no to be seen as the best employee and get a raise, to make a guy fall in love with you,to spend a happy life with lots of money,clothes and someone to hold your hand when you're scared at night(anacondas really scare me).

So we all need a gyan,just not from a shephard's mouth but maybe from a twenty something girl who has a boss she hates,loves designer clothes,considers her friends her soulmates and eventually gets what she deserves.Dump the alchemist and try humor and well,love in a twisted form in `Almost Single' by Advaitha Kala.

So lets continue playing

Being Single

Since the time I got back home, I decided that I will become an ardent reader. I always tried to make time to read but somehow bangalore kept me busy. Now call it a lack of friends in Delhi...I decided I'd make books my friends.

However such lines work only for my dad and my sister.

They can survive on books...I realized I couldn't.

I had 2 books staring at me. I picked up the first one "To kill a mocking bird". It is supposed to be a legendary novel and everyone who's read it tells me that. But then I couldn't go past the second chapter. I am still trying but the snooze alarm in my head always bursts out when i read the same page the 27th time.
It has it's own pros. It lets me sleep.

The other was a biography on Shah rukh Khan by Anupama Chopra. I read the first chapter. I learnt things about bollywood I already knew. Then I saw a couple of pictures in between the book, that I had already seen. I decided that this book would give me no insights or motivations to one of the greatest success stories in India. No matter how big a fan you are... I don't really recommend this one.

Then came the book that I actually really wanna talk about. Well not a lot....no...not this time.
I have been recommending this book to everyone who reads. The men don't seem to listen...however the women always seem excited.

The book is called "Almost Single" and it is written by a first time writer Advaita Kala. I got this book at a book club meeting in office.

When she entered the room, she seemed a bit arrogant and a "shallow" author. I wish I could chew my words before saying this....cuz when I got reading I thoroughly and truly enjoyed this book.

I have even been inspired to write a "Being Single", if the title hasn't already been taken.

But on a more serious note, it's a delight.Exclamation point.

It is extremely funny and very relatable(Btw that's not a word). The protagonist of the book is Aisha Bhatia who is a Guest Relations Manager in a 5 star hotel who tolerates her job, hates her boss, bonds with her friends, doesn't care much about the way she looks, and is in search for love and matrimony. She is 29 and goes through a plethora emotions at work, life, home, love and not to forget - her mom who's absolutely frantic about marrying her off and she truly believes that her girl is way past her marriageable age.

And then there is Karan. As soon as I got to know that the lover or the hero or the actor (;)) of this book is named Karan, I developed a new found respect for Advaita. After all Maya's fiance was also Karan and I am in love with the name.

Secret : Every time a guy named Karan sends me a friend request on Orkut. I don't blindly reject!

Reasons why I loved it so much.

1. It was the fastest ever read of my life. It took me an entire Sunday and yea I finished it.
2. It was the Indian version of SATC. I told you people we loved it.
But then it's all about grandma underwear (oh I so love that concept) , sex, love, stress at work, meeting the right people, marriages and the special bond that we share only with our friends.
3. The most important reason was relating to it. I relate to Aisha and at times life does become hard but then you still deal with it cuz its your own. The best part of the book is still the fact that Aisha is so damn funny!

So please read it.

To all the women I know - it's a gift! Go ahead and pick up a copy.

To all the men - Firstly it's extremely funny and care to understand us more...?? And yea...it's just not another chick-lit!