UPDATE: Fresh new design and fully stocked and loaded!

When I go back to visit my parents' house, I always see my 6th grade school picture on the wall and cringe in pain. The picture was drowned in my big steel braces, thick brown-rimmed glasses and a Hyper-color shirt that looked like it was a festering terd of green in the light. It doesn't end there, because I know I'm wearing either a pair of tiger striped Zoobaz (In Pistons Blue/Red) or purple Skidz. Pick your poison...

Now, I know that some of my other Indian American brothers were able to avoid a "nerd" phase, but I also know that some of you out there were in the same boat. Don't front, because I have been to some of your parents' homes and have seen the same hideous middle school pics.

If I could pinpoint when I broke out of my "nerd" phase, it would have to be the summer of my sophomore year. My parents dragged me down to the annual Patel conference and I met this foooine chick named, Pavna... Ok she wasn't fine, but she was pretty cute... Ok she wasn't THAT cute, but she was... Oh f*ck it, it's not like you will ever see her... She was foooine. Anyways, one night we were able to sneak away from the crowd and hide by the vending machines. I decided to grow some balls and asked her to kiss me. She flirtingly replied, "Why should I kiss you?" To which I "smoothly" replied, "Umm... Cuz I'm Gujarati?"

...whatever works I guess...

- Raj