You missed me yesterday, right?? Just lie, na?? And say, 'Yesssss!"But I'm not lying when I say I missed you... missed being here. I was in 'Cannes' ( I wish!!!!). Well.... almost. I was chief- guesting at the 'Cannes Experience' organised by ndtv Lumiere, a channel that is trying hard to push good cinema by telecasting award winning films. This was my first visit to the PVR at Phoenix Mills. It may be my last!! I guess the Nariman Point Inox has spoilt me - the easy access and great caramel popcorn are reasons enough to stay loyal. The pvr at Phoenix is near impossible to get to - I got completely lost, and so did my driver. It is most confusing and not even the security guards know what to tell bewildered visitors driving around in circles looking for either an exit or an entry - any route to get the hell out of that maze. You can't drive up to the place. You can't walk in. But you can climb several flights of stairs, reach the terrace and climb down again!!

Yes, there was an extra long red carpet. But nobody on it. Had I known, I might have borrowed one of Aishwarya's Rai's dreadful Cannes' frocks just to keep the tradition going. The film to be screened was last year's Palme D'Or winner - 'The Class'. Sounded promising. But turned out to be an absolute turkey. So mind numbingly boring and 'French', I hated it and left mid-way. Like most Frenchies who talk too much ( and never like regular people!), actors in the movie just could not keep their mouths shut for even a second. No snacks, no dinner. I got home at midnight to eat reheated khaana. But at least the chappatis were fresh, and the ghee (still slurping it!) made them sinfully irresistible. I thought about blogging at that hour, but my husband would have thought 'divorce'. No point. Much as I love you guys, must get a few priorities right. Kyon?

Not that I got much sleep. I was awake most of the night thinking of Sardinia. Why Sardinia? Because I have never been there. But am going! Soon. In fact, I'll be travelling a great deal starting next month... so I must make the most of our time together. Sunday is Mother's Day. Thirteen years after Aie passed away, I can still feel the soft folds of her printed muslin sarees, smell her talc, and see into those pools of trust and innocence - her beautiful eyes. I could have been a far better daughter to her than I was. It is one of my chief and enduring regrets. It was Aie's death anniversary yesterday. I missed her desperately. As I do every single day.