Every year for me that I can think of has begun with a new hope! Infact I clearly remember every time I have been scolded on the first day of the year, that specific year has been amazingly great contrary to the saying that what you do on the first day continues for the rest of the year. Guess normal philosophies do not work for me, just like normal professional situations don’t. So January 2010 began with me cribbing about an entirely new team for the next Lakmé Fashion Week (LFW) who proved very proficient later.
To begin with, the run-up to LFW Summer Resort 2010 began with a tad of uncontrollable situations. Shiv Senas decided to bang Shah Ruk Khan (please read bang as in beat up) on the day of LFW designers and sponsors announcement press conference. So no matter how media friendly ‘My Name is Payal Dass’ was, her PR skills failed to pull media out of the chaos of ‘My Name Is Khan’. This was February 2010. The night before the conference, out of sheer helplessness of the situation and to drown myself in melancholy, I went to the retro party organised by our office. Interesting highlight of that night was in my drunkenness, I went to drop a senior who was worse intoxicated and did not even stay on my way home. (Sshh : His phone was in my hand when his girl friend called; but till date they think am ignorant of their relationship) This was how my 10am to 1am(in the night) work stress continued to breathe fresh and interesting air besides other things like my sudden change of hair style – short and red that invited compliments.
March commenced with Lakmé Fashion Week Summer Resort 2010 fittings, then the event, then the GBM LFW post party celebrations and The Game continued with Pepsi. For people reading this who I have not stressed with my professional updates, here is a quick brief. As far as March is concerned our team was first going berserk with the organised chaos of LFW and then me and my line manager (more of her) were trying to create ‘perception’ for THE GAME campaign by Pepsi…jiska Shrey kisi aur ko gaya instead of my bechari manager who got 70% of the output. The month wrapped up with my best friends coming to town and falling in love with …no not with me but the picturesque Queen’s Necklace at Marine Drive.
The best thing about working madly in LFW is I always managed innumerable comp offs and paid leaves at length (Sshh : In 2009 I managed 5 weeks of holidays ) So the first of those in 2010 was in between a weekend and a midweek holiday from the official list. Me and my colleague, a good friend cum travel buddy, Tanushree Mandal decided to explore Munnar in Kerala. It was one of the best undecided trips I have had – last minute bookings, travelling in trains and 3rd class busses, long treks, breath-taking sceneries, perfect weather, delicious Mallu food and sharing everything with a friend who was poles apart; I could not ask for a better adventurous break from my fast paced Mumbai life. April was thus the month when the planet of travel sparkled on my horoscope and its effects spilled well over the next few months.
May was scheduled for the celebrities. Planning for Abhi-Ash’s way forward in LUX to SRK’s shoot gossips for ‘Pappu and Papa’, my life was interestingly moving towards my next holiday for my former ex-roomate and a close pal, Ananya’s wedding.
In my 21 years of living in Howrah, I have never felt the Ganges so closely. On my stop over at home I and Romila, a school friend, managed a boat ride from Dakhineshar Temple to Belur Matt and back. It was fun, a little costly but a great way to detach and merge into Mother Nature. Suddenly I found the Bengali in me and I could not stop myself from buying a few sarees and wearing them as well. In the bad June heat of Bokaro-Bihar, executing an event like a wedding, where one was not part of the planning phase and has no clue on who’s who… was actually a cake walk. Putting my collars up…. everyone said I look ravishing in and will make a perfect Bengali housewife running around in a saree and taking care of all!
Incase that was too much of I, Me, Myself, I honestly thank and praise God for the grace He bestowed on me that shone on my professional journey. On 30th July, 2010 I realised the regards and love my colleagues had for me as I went through their compliments and wishes and the rocking farewell party they organised for me. But before I left Genesis BM, I managed to go to Amritsar and Chandigarh in the same month. The trip though was official for LUX press conferences….the patriotic feel at Wagah border, the bliss in Golden Temple and the 4 days of Punjabi delicacies were like a bonus to my travel kitty of the year.
And that my friend … was the end of my career …..for the year!!!!
INTERVAL
Have you ever had the perfect dream that suddenly came true out of nowhere, unexpected?! Guess what… it happens in real life …ok may be I’m exaggerating ‘coz it doesn’t happen the way u actually want it but like the saying goes “Agar sache dil se kuch chaho to, tumhe usase milane k liye sare kayanat kosis me lag jate hain” …okie here enters “The Panther Man”. Don’t bother about who I’m talking about, just know that what I thought I could not do…this person stepped in and turned everything into a topsy-turvy. Now the reference with the beginning of the paragraph like I said, normal philosophies work opposite in my case. That was in August and I’m still figuring out how it happened. Time to quote Morpheus’ from Matrix Revolutions … “What happened, happened and could not have happened any other way.”
The interesting irony of existence is that the people who are responsible for your existence in this world are the same people who continue to support for your existence and love you unconditionally. I knew it long back so I seized the opportunity of spending quality time in September with my loving family. This was also the time when revelations took place…not as in the Bible but the spirit of God prevailed. Travel continued …memorable beach-iness in Puri (Orrisa) and drive to Mython Dam (Chatisgarh) were in my words… sexy, alocoholwise flowy and foodwise extravagant (the added kilos of which I’m still struggling to shed).
Back in Mumbai in October, life was very different. In the middle of preparing for my exams, I managed celebrating Durga Puja with didi-bhai and met all my friends who I had not been in touch with but the best was I fasted on 26th! First half of November was the strangest of all, I learnt the art of doing nothing and everything with myself. Diwali being the highlight when I cleaned my apartment, brightened it inside-out and cooked chole-puri for myself. Though by the end of the month my Facebook Status looked like this:
Payal Dass
Week that Was - 20/21 Sabir's B'day full-on party; 22 - Amrita Gami 's bridal shower n farewell get together; 24- Krishna Vilasini bday bash; 26/27 - MY birthday celebrations and para-gliding.....Phew!
November 28 at 3:34pm · · Like · Comment
On my 27th birthday that I couldn’t party due to financial constraints and lack of my so called friends being unavailable, I went paragliding in Kamshet alone. Hung in the air by a parachute and few threads, overlooking a scenic valley, feeling the chill in my skin …. this outlandish birthday celebration would go with me till my grave.
Sunday, 19 December 2010
11:55:51 PM
THIS IS NOW WHEN M WRITING THIS BLOG….DECEMBER HAS BEEN ALL ABOUT HEALTH PROBLEMS, LOSSS OF HOPE, FINANCIAL BURDENS FOR MANY CLOSE PEOPLE ….PERSONALLY I DON’T HAVE A JOB AND ABSOLUTELY CLUELESS OF WHATS NEXT….THEY SAY “ALLS WELL THAT ENDS WELL”……. J
WELL HERE’S MY CHEERS TO THE ACTION PACKED AND UNFORGETTABLE 2010 CALENDER…I LOVED LIVING EVERY BIT OF IT …HOPE U DID TOO!
Hope, like the gleaming taper's light,
Adorns and cheers our way;
And still, as darker grows the night,
Emits a brighter ray.
By Oliver Goldsmith British-Irish author (1730 - 1774)
11 more days to bid 2010 adieu and a new hopeJ to unfold! Looking forward with new promises and wishes…..God Bless…Merry Christmas and Have a blasting 2011 ahead…..
