SlumDOG Millionaire

slumdog.
What is the defintion of a slumdog? Is it
a) a generalisation of dogs that roam the alleys and backways of our cities? i.e dog from the slum area.. like street dog
b) a state of mind where people think they're far worse off than they actually are?
c) the catarogisation of one who is at a disadvantage, an underdog? Who also happens to live in the slums?
d) None of the above. Its a person who has nothing

You have five minutes to choose. Which would be your definition?

SLUMDOG: courtsey of Simon Beaufoy{writer of Slumdog millionaire}:
"As part of my research, I was wandering in the slums. I was very intrigued by the cats and dogs wandering around there, who dared to be asleep in the sunshine. Though they do look carefree from the outside, they are watching everything from the rims of their eyes.It is exactly like somebody who is apparently not worthy of an existence but is actually looking at everything and eyeing everything out. Just like the boy in the game show who knows everything not through intelligence but through experience. So, I just made up the word".

In a later interview

http://http://www.journalgazette.net/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090106/ENT01/901060318

It was a nice metaphor for the lowest of the low,” Beaufoy recalls, “for this person who apparently knows nothing, who is worthless, but actually he’s been watching all his life, and he knows everything.”

Hmmm...interesting perspective. We judge people by what they know or what they have. How do we look upon a person who has NOTHING?

Just to make it clear Im not being political. Neither am I asking you to change your views. Im not self righteous. Neither am I overbearingly compassionate. If I see a begger I look away. If one of them approaches me, my eyes gaze the earth. I have no answers for them. I have no solutions. They want no pity. So I give none.

Thats the glaring truth. If you think Im cruel go look in the mirror. I know that God wants me to love. He wants me to be compassionate. But in an imperfect world Im scared to bend the rules. To grade not according to the curve but according to God's perfect standards. Thus I am found wanting.

Yeah this is heavy stuff. Im being very honest about myself. And I hope that one day. Soon. I will change this about myself. Till then. I..yes I remain the slumdog. I who have nothing to give. I who am not free of the ties of culture and protocol. I am...sometimes the lowest of the low.

Things I learnt from reading Twilight

Well I know that by know you've fallen into one of two categories. Read the book/Not read the book.

And if have read it either you think its a great fantasy novel or like me you think its a lil bit over the top.

Well scratch the lil part. I think its wayyy over the top. I mean seriously? A girl falls in love with a vampire? And to make it better the vampire LOVES her back!?! So much from Bram Strokes Dracula. Kind makes the destructive mythological creature a sorta like a care bear.

k. K. Its hard NOT to like the guy. I fell for him too. After all He makes Mr Darcy seem a tad bit dull. And for me Mr. Darcy is the epitome of aloof romantic heroes. BUt leaving Edward and Bella aside here are some things I learnt from reading Twilight:

1. Going into little, nearly forgotted towns can only get you into trouble.

2. A vampire is not necessarily a bad thing...unlike Dracula. And a cute vampire is also not a bad thing.

3. The herione never ever dies. Even when in grave danger there's always, ALWAYS someone to save her from a sudden crushing death by an out-of-control truck.

4. The new in is pale. Ditch your plans to head out to the beach this summer. Stay indoors and keep that tan off ur back!

there's much more but alas, I have to surrender my priviledges to my sibling. So im going off line.

till nect time and more from me...

ta-ta.

Silence

I wonder on the benefits of remaining silent. Silence is golden it is said. But for me silence has become a haven. My refuge. In so little words or none at all I hide my emotions and real feelings.
And one day I fear it might just burst out. That thought compels me to remain further tight lipped. I want to say so much. I want to share so much but who will understand what I am trying to say?
ONE thing for sure. My wordless world is spinning out of control.

So many questions. And so little answers.

It hurts sometimes to the point I wish I could...well its no use wishing for what I don't have. Or will not have in the near future.

So I will continue to remain silent. The Keeper of secrets. Honestly even the penatagon couldn't have as many secrets. And I pray that one day...just one day. I could let it all out. Gosh what a relief that would be.

So its like this

Today. I feel like jumping off a cliff...into a clear stretch of water.
I feel like eating a glazed doughnut. With a cup of warm milk.
Like meeting a long lost friend...cuddling a puppy.

Today im dumbstruck. Its a weird feeling. I don't feel like talking. Just listening. Observing. And absorbing. There's a riot of clolor as far as the eye can see. A myraid of sounds. A titanic moment. Where everything should stand still and then sink in.

I watch as the day unfurls and blossoms. And i feel awestruck. Its amazing. I don't have words to put my emotions down...so I say nothing. But watch. listen. and enjoy.

Thank you God and I love you. With all my heart, soul and might. For always.

Life so far

Ahh...its been a bittersweet week. And I apologise for the long absence. I honestly thought that when I came back for my hols I would be bored to death. BUt I've been busy as a bee and happy as a....(???) Well the only person I know who is all pumped up early mornings is.....ME!!!
LOL. I must be the only idiot (and a happy one at that) who luvs early mornings...you know the time before the sun comes up.

Well this happy blogger has been making the most of her vacations. And I cannot complain of bordem. ON Thursday I spent the day at Manju's and then went with her to dress Sharon for an engagement...(boring? NO way!)...these gals are my best best friends. And I could never get bored around them.

Last Friday I spent the whole day completing Zara's engagement gift...and I'm so proud of myself. As a first time Movie Maker user I did good. And she luvd it. The clip had so many memories...and I still go all ga-ga when I see it.

Saturday was the reunion of the Lyceum Commerce batch 2006. Most of them turned up...people I didn't expect as well. And I really had loads of fun. I miss you guys. *sigh*...makes me wish I could go back to school.

Now for the bitter part...the whole of yestersay I heard sermons about the Anti-Conversion bill...till I could puke. I know. I know. Its actually a big deal. BUt honestly...I wish the sermons would be less gloom and doom and more happy you know. Because no matter what God is still in control. I know that the Christians will have the victory. We will overcome.
That way Dada's sermon was much better. He really encouraged us.

To continue. Today Im off to help Aunty N. And hopefully get my eyebrows done as well..they are a hideous mess.

To all u City peeps out there..hang in there...this week promises to be a roller coaster. As far as I can tell. BUt mind you the ride is gonna be something.

More later.

Fear Factor

Venue: My home
Wat's on: Bram Stroke's Dracula on HBO
And the rest...

Well Of course I have a phobia of horror movies...I hate them yet can never resist watching them. But I never, ever watched one on my own...expect for yesterday. And now I've paid the price.
The whole night...whole night, mind you...I couldn't sleep. For some reason I expected Count Dracula to pounch on me. And you know what's worse?
Try keeping still. If the night's very quiet then even the smallest noise is magnified..till even the sound of your breath is like a gush of wind. It was simply horrible. I could hear everything. The sound of crickets, the sound of apparant footsteps outside my door...
"Don't be silly Roshanthi. There's no real thing out there. Its all your imagination."

I scolded myself. Prayed. Encouraged myself. Sang songs. And nothing worked!!! Then alright as if to mock me when I got out of bed at about 5.30 in the morning...guess what I saw? A FULL MOON!!! Staring at me in its pristine beauty. It was a sight for sore eyes...literally.

Well...thats the LAST time I watch a horror move.










ALONE....








HEHEHEHEHE. Well I can't help it..there's something about the forbidden that excites us.

Fashion Feista

Today was a good day...made some very good sales at the shop where I work. Businesses are hard hit, and Akila Aiya has decided to close the shop...its a bit sad though. He started it with big dreams...and its barely 3 months now.

Ha but we girls still have fun...eating, dressing up, and gossiping. We had a mini photo shoot today, Chooty, me and Gangi had to wear different outfits for a buyer in Sweden. Akila aiya took the foto's...thankfully frm neck down. I really dont look good in photos. As annoying as it was..it was still fun. Gosh the things we do..honestly if I could only tell all of them.

These girls are my closest and bestest friends...honestly i could not have asked for any better. Looking back its amazing how close we are...and how we have grown..
now Sharon and Zara are engaged. Manju will be a couple of years time. Gangi is expecting her first child..a boy... next April.

Well next on the list is a Goday party....and I know that its going to be a blast. The idea is for us to have an excuse to dress our worst and come...so ladies this is the right time to wear that horrible hipster and that looong, saggy kurtha you hid in the back of your closet. Combine it with shock pink lipstick and electric blue nailpolish...your on your way to looking amazingly....horrible!!! Whats more fun than looking your worst on purpose???

Well here's to this friendship...may it last long for us to have many more sentimental memories.

Ha! Should be funny.

Shock

Well Im speechless...The journalist who was shot this morning died...its just overwhelming. My dad comes in frm going the supermarket and told that he heard this from while he was shopping...everyone stood still...they were all so shocked.
Its unbelievable...he was the symbol of the term "free Media"...and he fought for the freedom of the press in this nation. For years his newspaper daringly stood up against the government to report the truth againt harsh criticism and stormy opposition. Many times their printing presses have been vandalised.

Gosh....its unbelievable. Thus life runs on in Colombo city...stained with the blood of brave men and women who didn't deserve death.

(I had better stop my current overly philosophical mood swing...its depressing)

Faith and Despair

I have Faith. I believe. Yet I despair. Lord why? Lord why are there wars all around?
Lord why does man hate his brother so much? What brings on such malice? When will the madness end?

Questions swirl all across my mind. Its horrible. Everyday to wake up and know...just know that today I'm going to hear of war. Today I'm going to hear of murder, theft, and such unimaginable wickedness.

As I read the book of Job I see the same questions asked by a man who lived over a millenia ago. Amazing isn't it? How we claim to be technologically advancing yet morally decaying? How we claim to be building our intellect but yet appear fools in the face of hopelessness, destruction and despair.

God please help. I know that maybe I'm being silly. But in every conversation today in Sri Lanka I hear fear....sadness...mixed with a supressd fury. Fury at the government for running the ecomomy to the ground, the terrorist groups and the underworld for their heartlessness and the rich and powerful for their extravagent lifestyles.

Still...the Word of God offers a rock on which my shaking fears and amounting faith can stand upon. It says that the wicked will not prosper....things will change. One day. One day. One day.

I know that since recently my posts have become way too philosophical. But writing offers me the way to let it all out. This way it does not explode in my mind. I thank God every waking moment of my life for His unbelievable grace. Its all that I have to hold onto. His grace will lead me home.

My Hols so far...

SO far I've:
1) Cut my hair (new hairstyle :)
2) Watched Lord of the Rings and read the book (THAT BOOK IS REALLY REALLY LOOOONG)
3)Read all my sis's archie comics for the gazillionth time
4) Played endless amounts of online games
5) Haunted facebook...seriously. I must be like some facebook addict(IM NOT though)
6) Visited the beach. Yeah and I wanted to see moutains. Well the beach was lovely too.
7) Enjoyed Chrsitmas.
8) Went bowling

K..this list is really bowling..i mean boring. But so far I've enjoyed my hols. THis hols (drumroll......) I learnt a lot just by being here. Seriously there's no place like SL that teaches you to appreciate where you been living before. But its home. And as they say home is where the heart is.

So what if there are bombs exploding in the most congested parts of Colombo town?? SO what if they close half the roads in the city so our ministers can fly back and to their homes?? So what if the cost of living is soaring?
Just yesterday a prominent T.V station was attacked and they lost millions of ruppees worth of equipment. This was their main studio and they lost their latest technological systems.

Walking on the road with a gold chain can put you in the peril of your life. Its predicted that soon walking home with loaf of bread can do the same.
Im being overly sarcastic. But its disappointing. And heartbreaking.

God please heal Sri Lanka. We need peace...so desperatly.

On a more happier note I really am glad to be back. I missed my friends and family. And when I go back I'm going to miss them some more.

This is Rosh signing off for now...gotta go play some more games...Im NOT a gaming addict. I'M NOT!!!!!

Wit ALL our LUV!!!

Finally today we got to meet Zara's fiancee...it was bad enough none of us got to go for her engagement after party. So we girls decided to meet them up today for lunch before Romesh flew back to Dubai where he is working. S came (the sweet thing) admist scoldings from her mom (she had to complete some paintings before tomorrw and still hasnt completed them)...and remained tensed throughtout...wish she was more relaxed...but it was nice having her nonetheless. M and her bro B who we kept bugging with my sis...the said sis and me completed our party.

Pelawatte KFC sucks. BUt its the only place where we all could meet easily....since McD's was out(thanks Z)...LOL

Romesh was really nice....so much for M's fears that he would feel odd being the only guy there (thankfully he was not)..but he was like in a duck in the water...but honestly with such nice girls like us who can help but not feel comfortable...he even said that He liked us out of her friends such a nice compliment..to which M added "You better otherwise we will squeeze your neck" ;) OF course there were dirty secrets shared....(HA...U wish!!! I'm not telling...they are secrets for a reason).

The rest they say...is told in a picture...and I've got loads...ahh we city girls luv cameras :D

It moments like this that we treasure forever...there I'm getting all sentimental again...but they were both really cute...CONGRATS Z AND R!!! We LUV the both of u.