i know it's really late to celebrate halloween but i did just that last weekend. i saw Blade, Blade II and Blade Trinity. while 'the day-walker' Blade was busy killing vampires i was busy massacring a different species of blood suckers. mosquitoes. blood flew and flowed. on screen and off screen. my room turned into a butcher's house. it was a battle of wits and pace with quite a few victorious moments. but in the end, it's like what Blade says - 'the war is not over yet, i have a job to do'.

i knew he will be back so i continued with my slayings to keep the world safe from the flying blood sucking monsters. or atleast myself so that i could sleep. i guess, while the whole world was gearing up to be swept by the 'season of love', i was busy drawing blood. which draws me to the next issue. valentine's day. it's coming back again and i have no reason to celebrate. i wish it fell on a weekend but looks like this is one of those years where my wishes are not going to be true.

valentine's days make me sweat. always. not because i have trouble deciding what to buy for my valentine but because the valentine does not exist. i know i know... it's not only for lovers, it's also the day to express your love towards your parents, friends blah blah.... frankly, my foot! anyway, i don't know who came up with that 'universal love' thing but i sure am living it. i wish i could run away from planet earth and come back the next day which brings me to the next issue - the chennai marathon.

i heard chennai ran on sunday. i did not know. talk about knowing your city. but then again, even if i knew i would not have 'ran' anyway. 'laziness' will probably top the list if i were to give reasons but i think i've been running almost all my life. running away from work. running away from responsibilites. running away from 'socialising'. and the all time favourite - running away from parents and relatives who are holding a garland, a bride and placards which says - "Get Married". moving to marriage, somebody asked me - "so, when are you finally getting married?" like as if that was the only thing left for me to do now.
i told him - "maybe next year."
"so, any girl in mind?"
"that's why, next year." my answer came out of nowhere.

a smart answer. but during that short casual conversation i finally realised why i have been saying "next year. next year". no girl, of course. and all this time i was giving all kind of excuses "i am not ready.""i need to earn more.""not mentally ready.""what about my career?""you crazy?!!!"or may be i really wasn't ready.

and if any girl thinks that only they have to face the pressure, oh boy, you haven't been to our side. anyway for those girls who are clueless about how to avoid the situation, here is something that works - join a class. any class. tell your parents that you want to do Masters in Something. Anything. if that also does not work then - RUN! just run. and please not to your existing temporary boyfriend. and for the guys, watch out for these girls and find a low paying job and tell your parents that you need to 'concentrate' on your career.

nevertheless, i am soon planning to come out with a book - "1003 ways to avoid getting married for Dummies" which is bound to help the 'young' people reeling under pressure. and after five years, when you are old (by the marriage pundits' standard), feeling like a leftover and thinking - 'why you ever did that?', don't fret. by then, i will have just the book you need - "1003 reasons why you ever did that - for proven Dummies"

anyway, with only eight days remaining and my only chance to run already gone, this valentine i am left with only one option - continue fighting the blood-sucking-monsters in a pink room. here comes one.
"bzzzzz....."
"PHAT!"
one down... 13 million to go...