tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35750283815290813332012-01-19T22:12:46.433-08:00A humourous spin on life in a small Indian town...Sonja Chandrachudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17922833291165834902noreply@blogger.comBlogger281100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575028381529081333.post-67425112182214015142009-12-05T06:20:00.000-08:002009-12-05T06:23:32.327-08:00

‘Mommmy! Holidays are here!’ someone screeched jolting me out of a blissful kid-free dream where I lolled about on a hammock, sipping a Daiquiri, writing my best seller.... Holidays! Good grief! I leapt out of bed, poured myself a huge caffeine fix and pondered the dismal state of things to come. My days were doomed! Schools, colleges, every single institution that I depended on to give me a few

Sonja Chandrachudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17922833291165834902noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575028381529081333.post-79773274182282476362009-10-24T04:59:00.000-07:002009-10-24T05:18:48.584-07:00

From the mansions of Malabar Hill to Pune’s peths, modern Indian weddings have taken on a new avatar. Nowadays everything is Bollywood Dhamaka Ishtyle. From glitzy invitation cards to star packed sangeets to lavish wedding buffets with 17 cuisines, not to mention ample media coverage of the blessed event, Indian weddings have truly come of age. So when I received an invitation embossed on

Sonja Chandrachudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17922833291165834902noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575028381529081333.post-84758109949892678982009-09-27T23:33:00.000-07:002009-09-27T23:42:41.559-07:00

My maid scared the living daylights out of me this morning. No, she didn’t break hubby’s favorite crystal decanter nor did she ask for yet another raise. She just stood there serenely chopping onions and declared, ‘Memsahib, Diwali is a month away’ Whaat! Four weeks from the most stressful time of the year!Now, don’t get me wrong, I love celebrating festivals. I love celebrating anything for

Sonja Chandrachudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17922833291165834902noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575028381529081333.post-8828236761736856172009-09-14T05:02:00.000-07:002009-09-14T05:03:38.628-07:00

It’s truly amazing how a tiny bundle of life fills you with an insane desire to re-live your imperfect life, all over again. Welcome to the Parent Trap.‘Only when you become a parent will you understand our dreams’ was my mother’s constant refrain every time I drove her up the wall with bizarre acts of teenage rebellion and abysmal grades. Today, these very words have come back to haunt me as I

Sonja Chandrachudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17922833291165834902noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575028381529081333.post-49652614293737870262009-07-24T23:23:00.000-07:002009-07-24T23:52:57.962-07:00

Something landed with an ominous thud on my doorstep upsetting my morning cuppa. It was the bestselling A- Z Amazing Accessories Guide…Who sent me this?It isn’t my birthday. Is this a hint for me to get my accessories act together? I opened the hallowed book with trembling fingers…A is for Appliqué Aprons from Martha Stewart, a must when showing off your culinary skills to your guests.C listed

Sonja Chandrachudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17922833291165834902noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575028381529081333.post-25356249497530753382009-07-03T07:33:00.001-07:002009-07-03T07:41:36.057-07:00

RUCKUS ON CAMPUS SSC topper scores 2000%!! Non SSC students barred from State Colleges. Failed students go nuts….I wake up screaming my head off. That horrid nightmare is back again, terrorizing me. I am one of the thousands of weeping, glassy eyed parents running desperately from pillar to post just trying to get my child into a decent college while a potbellied politician plays havoc at will!

Sonja Chandrachudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17922833291165834902noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575028381529081333.post-32161871413359467982009-06-16T09:56:00.000-07:002009-06-16T10:11:58.108-07:00

It's one of those times when you are sooo swamped with everything under the sun that you just can't breathe...anyways just wanted to share a wonderful write-up on my book in Femina 17th June Pune issue..here it is...Enjoy!!And do grab a copy of my book and let me know what you think!!

Sonja Chandrachudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17922833291165834902noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575028381529081333.post-38588057932807520712009-05-21T10:51:00.000-07:002009-05-21T11:17:36.148-07:00

Mid week and I was at one of those dos where everyone drips diamonds, sips Chantilly and speaks high brow. Conversation was flowing. We had finished oohing and ahhing over the incredible shopping that exists only ‘abroad’ and were now onto exchanging notes on how incredibly talented their children were. I daren’t open my mouth coz I really wasn’t asked. Besides, who the heck in that room really

Sonja Chandrachudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17922833291165834902noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575028381529081333.post-58297176563215145552009-05-09T01:48:00.000-07:002009-05-09T01:57:49.642-07:00

I got a rather pleasant surprise this morning!!! Pleasant because normally I wake up to a household that seems to be in the perennial grip of a host of problems that could shake the combat boots off a seasoned general! Twins bashing each other over a ridiculous toy called scoobies. Maids mouthing off over which one of them works the hardest (I told them it was me) or Hubby dear quietly jazzing

Sonja Chandrachudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17922833291165834902noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575028381529081333.post-49616640126121099732009-05-02T01:49:00.000-07:002009-05-02T02:05:21.288-07:00

Here I was happily sipping a chilled Chardonnay at one of those natty afternoon brunches soaking in the limelight as I held my audience spell bound with tales from my seaside vacations when a nasal drawl burst my happiness bubble. ‘Dahling!’ My blood freezes, it’s Gucci Babe smirking pityingly at me, ‘Snorkeling is for bachhas, honestly, there’s more to a holiday than staring at a giant fish tank

Sonja Chandrachudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17922833291165834902noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575028381529081333.post-24790753226222060022009-04-13T10:27:00.000-07:002009-04-13T10:32:51.665-07:00

‘You are cordially invited to the Reunion of the 1980 batch’ read the glossy invite. I went into shock. How did they manage to track me down? I frantically my brains trying to figure out where I had goofed up and got caught by the ghosts from my past. It wasn’t that I had something to hide, but heck, trying to justify your present state of mundane Puneri life to those globe trotting ‘Ivy League’

Sonja Chandrachudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17922833291165834902noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575028381529081333.post-50907261015052004282009-04-05T06:41:00.000-07:002009-04-11T05:00:58.621-07:00

The phone rang shrill, jolting me out of a nice warm bed. ‘Who in the blooming galaxy calls at 9am on a Sunday?’ I snarled. ‘Well no one except your mother’ mumbled my husband digging deeper into the blankets. I reluctantly rolled out, grabbed the wretched instrument and got blasted by ‘Gud marning memsahib. I not coming today!’ it was Laxmi Bai on the other end, all bright and early for a

Sonja Chandrachudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17922833291165834902noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575028381529081333.post-57248762232213712062009-03-22T04:40:00.000-07:002009-03-22T04:57:51.081-07:00

'Final exams begin on the….’ My heart begins pounding wildly as I scan the kids’ calendars. No! It can’t be? Is it already the end of the year? ‘Mom I need help with these sums’ a MATH paper comes flying at me. I stare stupidly at the pages and last night’s hangover comes back with a vengeance. What is all this gibberish? Who invented all this? Don’t people have anything else to do besides spend

Sonja Chandrachudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17922833291165834902noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575028381529081333.post-71515679461081696572009-03-07T21:40:00.000-08:002009-03-07T22:03:27.636-08:00

Here I was this Sunday morning blissfully sipping my chai, trying to recover from the excesses of yet another midnight party when, ‘What is it with you women?’ My normally mild mannered spouse suddenly snorted angrily from behind the newspaper, jolting me out of my stupor. ‘One day you run riot over your rights to red roses, sexy lingerie and chocolates. The next minute you’re suing the living

Sonja Chandrachudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17922833291165834902noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575028381529081333.post-61842650490301580562009-03-04T23:29:00.000-08:002009-03-07T02:08:25.818-08:00

I have a confession to make.Weekends have begun to have a rather queer effect on me these days. The very mention of doing dinner and wham! I break out into a cold sweat... Ever since the expressway zoomed into our Puneri lives, a new breed of party animals have insidiously invaded our addas and taken Partying to an AXN art form, packing in chills, thrills and spills once night falls. It all

Sonja Chandrachudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17922833291165834902noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575028381529081333.post-7097891680551606372009-02-19T03:47:00.000-08:002009-03-17T05:02:10.968-07:00

‘It’s Valentine’s Day this weekend’ I announced gleefully to my husband throwing him a rather corny, seductive look. ‘Let’s paint the town red!’ The effect on the poor man was quite terrifying. He turned frightfully pale, ‘I don’t think it’s a great idea’ he muttered under his breath, glancing about fearfully. ‘You never know what these Ram ke Sena will do if they caught us buying a card…’ My

Sonja Chandrachudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17922833291165834902noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575028381529081333.post-32073277143671782652009-01-04T05:24:00.000-08:002009-04-11T05:02:39.654-07:00

Here I was happily hurtling through the haze of Xmas parties, merrily battling late nights, hazaar outfits and pounding hangovers, when one of those Devil wears Prada gal pals we women invariably seem to get stuck with, called up and ruined the final countdown to the New Year for me.‘Sooo dahling what’s your New Year resolve?’ she trilled loudly, triggering off a headache. ‘I hope you’re going

Sonja Chandrachudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17922833291165834902noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575028381529081333.post-21775086720059709832008-12-10T10:20:00.000-08:002008-12-11T01:05:53.177-08:00

As the year draws to an end, a certain migratory Indian descends on his hapless desi relatives turning their peaceful third world existence upside down in his attempt to assuage the guilt of abandoning his roots.Picture this event unfolding in your living room.The doorbell rings and before you can finish your ‘hellos’, your NRI visitors have flung themselves at your in-laws feet, almost toppling

Sonja Chandrachudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17922833291165834902noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575028381529081333.post-50382721337908596542008-11-30T23:54:00.000-08:002008-12-01T00:01:39.715-08:00

“2,000 miles have been wiped cleanWith tears seeping from one million feet.2,000 miles have been litteredWith dead souls no one claims their own.”News flutters achingly…just a broken bird on my porch,Begging an invitation to a much warmer home.Morning breezes whisper of wondrous changeBut fear is paralytic …and the tea just keeps boiling over…Noor screams, ‘Sita!’ as her life wastes down the

Sonja Chandrachudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17922833291165834902noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575028381529081333.post-47882378193658974332008-11-30T20:09:00.000-08:002008-11-30T23:54:30.229-08:00

The weekend has left me shell shocked.The anger is understandable but our apathy is not.When will Indians quit trying to bell the cat after its entered and massacred with impunity! Terror has no face, no name, no religion and definitely no shame...the only way you and I can leave our children a world that is stable is to make our actions speak louder than our words. And this time the wound is far

Sonja Chandrachudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17922833291165834902noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575028381529081333.post-13175529998353182932008-11-12T08:26:00.000-08:002008-11-12T20:50:47.029-08:00

BACK TO SCHOOL BLUESI got my life back last Monday morning.After two horrendous weeks of trying to entertain kids, in-laws, maids and guests, I am finally picking up the pieces of my shattered life. I was so excited, I couldn’t sleep a wink!! Wonderful dreams of having the whole house to myself without bumping into and over anyone got me so wired up that I beat the alarm clock by a whole hour!

Sonja Chandrachudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17922833291165834902noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575028381529081333.post-32503207798292954132008-10-17T00:03:00.000-07:002009-04-11T05:04:11.768-07:00

Diwali is round the corner and I’m already breaking out into humongous hives at the thought of the festive madness that will be invariably unhinged on me, however well prepared I think I am...Within this week, after you’ve packed off hubby and the kids with a warm hug and tiffin, your day will begin to take on a strange and ominous turn with the unexpected, early arrival of your usually

Sonja Chandrachudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17922833291165834902noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575028381529081333.post-10078145730116538202008-10-12T00:39:00.000-07:002008-10-12T01:17:05.962-07:00

There’s definitely something fishy in Pune’s waters, besides just the left over ganpati idols and sewage. Something far more sinister that’s changed my laid back, beer bellied, cricket obsessed, middle-aged male friends into these uber healthy creatures I don’t recognize any more!Let’s begin at home.Of late, my husband has developed a sudden and frightening interest in getting FIT. Of course

Sonja Chandrachudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17922833291165834902noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575028381529081333.post-49557252845989385712008-10-09T00:28:00.000-07:002008-10-12T01:42:49.941-07:00

‘You must be kidding!’ was my reaction when my husband, who is an avid soccer player, announced that he had fallen in love with GOLF!Edwardian images of funnily dressed old men swinging and swearing away as they try to sink a tiny ball into a hole located somewhere in the wilderness, popped up and I practically choked to my death on the lovely Shiraz!‘But that’s an old man’s game!’ I blurted out

Sonja Chandrachudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17922833291165834902noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575028381529081333.post-5807903164330325942008-10-07T06:57:00.000-07:002008-10-12T01:44:30.627-07:00

GANPATI BAPPA MORYAA!As the war cry summoning the potbellied god Lord Ganesha, rents the air over the next few weeks, everything potholed Pune city undergoes a 360 degree change…. For example... The neighborhood corporator who vanished on an overseas jaunt soon after he was elected can be spotted zealously supervising the ‘Ganesh Mandal Mandap’ down to the minutest details. When you corner him

Sonja Chandrachudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17922833291165834902noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575028381529081333.post-20998693515283957032008-10-07T06:47:00.000-07:002008-10-12T01:48:46.646-07:00

THE BANDIT QUEENS OF PUNEThere’s a distinct species that rules our Pune city roads, setting it apart from all the other la de dah metros …Nope...it’s not the poor cyclist, or the hapless pedestrian, neither is it the hanging-by-a-collar bus commuter, our beloved cousin Mumbai beats us hollow once again on this front with Bangalore coming in a close second…Just take a peek out of your air

Sonja Chandrachudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17922833291165834902noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575028381529081333.post-53244469064719824062008-10-07T05:40:00.000-07:002009-04-11T05:06:58.604-07:00

‘KYA KATTA CULTURE HAI…’…Remarked my friend who had just alighted from the land of Laloo.‘So cool yaar, just sit here and chill, while watching the babes!’ he enthused delightedly, thrilled at the prospect of getting within touching distance of the bevy of beauties who strolled past endlessly, hurrying to college.‘Are you MAD?’ I hissed, glancing around worriedly, wondering if any of the ghatti

Sonja Chandrachudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17922833291165834902noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575028381529081333.post-40163800790552572008-10-07T02:52:00.000-07:002008-10-12T01:50:04.906-07:00

Now that you and I, and the rest of Pune, are soaked way beyond the skin, you may naturally assume that I would rather spend my weekends curled up in bed, reading a comic book, sipping chai, drying out my waterlogged brains, like any other sensible forty year old. Ha! Think again! All it takes to get these creaking joints rushing out of the front door these days is the lure of Pune’s misty

Sonja Chandrachudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17922833291165834902noreply@blogger.com