Notes on My Wall...

The Top Pilgrimage Places... & Their Memories.

2012-01-20T22:16:00.011+05:30

Recently a travel website stated the top 9 pilgrimage destinations of India. The list compiled of:

Haridwar.
Varanasi
Bodh Gaya
Rishikesh
Amritsar
Vaishno Devi
Tirupati
Mathura
Shirdi.

I was pleasantly surprised to know that I have been to all but one places mentioned. Memories of the different places came buzzing alive in my head & I thought why not blog them.

Bodh Gaya is the place I have not been to. I will visit this place for sure. For reasons more personal than just sight seeing…….

I’ll jot a note across each place, so that I too may have some memories to look back on after a few years..; on the said places.

Haridwar: All that comes to mind for Haridwar is the Ganga Ghat, Ganga mata Aarti [Beautiful!] & it was my b’day then..so it was more memorable.
Varanasi: All I remember is the old Kashi Vishwanath temple & the Huge Ghats.
Bodh Gaya: It'll be happening next year or the following...
Rishikesh: Laxman Jhula! The walk on it & watching the awesome wide flow of Gangaji…pristine white; its just marvelous. Had I known about the rafting at the time I had visited [more than 10 years back..] I would have done it then!
Amritsar: Lots of memories!! Golden temple, shopping at the small bangle shop outside it, the girl in the tourist help booth, the verve at Wagah Border, the pain at JallianWala Bagh.. From a pilgrimage point of view, the temple was SO neat! & the best part - The view of the golden tops of the temple I woke up to, from my hotel room... it was Memorable.
Vaishno Devi: The walk...when you are alone, any climb looks double the distance. I remember the lonnggg walk, till I got a very fine company & the darshan in front of the deities for almost a good whole minute. That are the most impressionable memories of Vaishno devi.
Tirupati: Quite a few memories of different times, as I've been here 3-4 times. The most memorable was when I walked the climb up. One of my earliest treks if one can call it that, Gosh I remember, that one was tiring!
Mathura: I remember Brindavan more precisely & the birth place of Lord Krisha more better than any other memory of the Mathura particularly...[The whole place was covered. Brindavan-Mathura & the nearby places]
Shirdi: I remember on the last visit, I'd noticed the temple had become really huge than what it was since my first visit. The sanctum of the main shrine is Big.. & so it makes it easier for everyone to have a good darshan of the revered Saint.

That completes the list. The thing with religious places is, even if one are a non-believer; one cannot miss the peaceful feel, a calm vibe the place offers. All of these places give ample proof of that.

And I'm very grateful to God & my parents to have made it happen for me.

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Thought of the Month

2012-01-20T12:07:00.002+05:30

There's a huge difference between being Helpful & being Forceful.

Cabeeto Soup

2012-01-12T20:05:00.024+05:30

New years was brought in with high fever & a couple of other vexatious ailments. Guess all the pent-ups were burning out towards the end of the year. By the Doctor's presumption, thankfully I hadn't embarrassed myself by passing out somewhere......

Unfortunately that got Mumma super alarmed & it became her mission to get me restored by the end of the new year weekend.
The four days I was on a diet of a soup & another healthy liquid, the recipe of that I'll share later.
I'm sharing the recipe of the soup that I took daily twice a day, which I believe was very effective.
It can be called the Cabeeto soup. [Carrot-Beetroot-Tomato]
Ingredients:

3 big red tomatoes
3/4 of a big beetroot
1 red carrot
2 pinches salt
1/4 tsp sugar.
Put the tomatoes, carrots & beetroot to pressure cook.
[Shred the beetroot in a slicer or cut them into small pieces. Bigger pieces do not get cooked well. ]

After the three are cooked, use a strainer &; strain the juice out. Put the juice on boil. Add 1/4- 1/2 tsp of sugar depending on preferences & 1/4 tsp salt to taste. [For regular consumption, 1/4 tsp of red chilli powder should be added for better taste.]

The healthy Cabeeto soup is ready. Easy to prepare & can be had as a tasty filler. Not restricted to fever times only. :)

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Resolutions 2012

2012-01-01T00:00:00.000+05:30

For this year I have no resolution list.
I just resolve for three things.

Learn to let go of pain ..
Live. Live each day. You never know when it's your last.

and

Keep my loved ones near. In this too self absorbing - hectic - too busy life; its important to express.. to let your loved ones know how important they are to you.

There's never a tomorrow for that..
Its only today. Its only now.

Practice before you Preach

2011-12-26T12:19:00.005+05:30

While Aamir was never my favorite actor, I always appreciated him for the way he stood up for causes, standing up for what he thought was right. Though I may not have always agreed with his causes.. but as a public influential figure he spoke out; made a point to address causes that just were not related to his field, that was noteworthy.

Sometime last week, Aamir announced the addition of a baby boy to his family. Just for a moment I was put off by tht news [I’ll explain] & as immediately it was out of the mind as well. But then the media space, [more of print media] got me to read the news at quite a few different places, frequent times; that really got me to write this.

Since we all know the baby has arrived thro IVF, I was wondering that when Aamir stands out for what’s right & had gained a name of being one of the most thinking actors.. a perfectionist actually; I was wondering how did he miss the count of his kids & went ahead to have one more? That too thro IVF? I know its a personal matter BUT when you stand up for national causes & voice your opinion strongly; its but natural that you would come under the line of scrunity as well.

For whatever reasons his wife was unable to go for a normal pregnancy, if there was a baby to come in the picture, why not through adoption then? No, I’m not following some fancy trend.. I have always supported adoption. If one really wishes to have a baby, apart from having one biological one, I always thought adoption was a great method. There are hordes of babies in India who, for no fault of theirs are abondoned..uncared. They could do well by being adopted; especially if they get such a comfortable home.

In Aamir's case, except that maybe the wife wanted her genes to be passed on for future generations, or whatever it may be; I do not understand any reason for the baby. No flak for the the baby ofcourse! But when our country is bursting with population & we are oozing out to our limits.. how can someone as intelligent as Aamir ignore this fact? Just becoz it was from another wife? God, forbid, if he re-marries again tomorrow at some date, will he have more from that marriage too?? I wonder.

Maybe he thinks that since he can afford to give the best to his kids, he can have as many as he wants [I’m not going to talk on Sarah White’s claims…]

So, that makes his really like the other many average citizens of India & not some intelligent celebrity he’s made out to be. Coz when one chooses the smaller personal picture, then one blends among the average. One needs to walk your talk to become really special.

Some might argue that in other fields he is bringing the country’s name up..etc.

For example lets take the ‘Athithi Devo Bhava’ ad for which Aamir is the brand ambassador. The ad shows us how we need to behave with our tourists. That is good. If we start following that, we would become good for ourselves in the long run.. more than just for the tourists. If Aamir is the brand ambassador for the tourism department of our country, then he's connected to the welfare committee of our country in some way & population curbance is the biggest concern for the welfare of India. Maybe he didn't think it was important enough problem.
More than anything what I found funny was the hype over his son's name, the way it was on papers. All year round we are clued into the happenings of our dear stars, irrespective we consciously follow it or not. In all the years we've known Aamir, there's never been a mention of him being related to Maulana Abul Kalam Azad [Atleast I haven't really heard it] & now its suddenly all over everywhere. Crazy.

Unfortunately, I could not seem to ignore the line of thought all this publicity over 'his' new baby brought nor could I help myself sharing it.

I go back to my primary thought. Why don't we, the general public think before getting carried away in a sway??

2011-09-21T22:52:00.003+05:30

Someday...I'll trust, this too shall pass...

Someday... I shall heal.

13 to 30

2011-08-23T00:54:00.005+05:30

13 years old's when act stubborn, its because of naivety & innocence of not understanding.

Whereas when 30 year old's act stubborn, its mainly got to do with the festered sense of superiority & higher Ego!

Where do we lose that innocence... & why don't we drop that ego?

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Think Over!

2011-08-20T00:21:00.003+05:30

Had written a note for my page on facebook for my most active friends there to pass on a message. One that I believed would be reach out more quickly there than here.

Posting it here too as this IS the original address to my all posts. :)

Been to People's plaza at Necklace road thrice in support of the IAC movement.. & see the crowd fading by the day. As days go, the crowd should only
increase.. not decrease! The people genuinely interested are there..but the in- between ones get restless too soon.. & then there are many cynics
who don't even believe in this!

An old man is fasting there for a cause which he will most probably not even enjoy. That's Big! How many of us will even think of it.. let alone do it?
Does his cause not even deserve support by showing up at the given respective places for an hour or two?
Its not a social gathering where one shows their face once & their attendance is done. Its a social Cause which needs a little more attention &
attendance than that.
Think Over.

I'm asked what will I do there? Burn candles, shout slogans? Wave the Tiranga? Its not important what am I going to do there, what I am adding there...
Me being there is important. I am a head count.. I make the crowd. I represent my aware conscience. Think Over.

We like to wish each other 'Happy Independence Day', we like to pour out our patriotism by what not means on that one day... & we also would love to
enjoy the fruits of a correct governance; would love to enjoy the maybe benefits this draft will set rolling.. once passed, at some future date; but we do
not want to/have time to/feel to spend a little effort towards what's happening in our now. When the time has really come to do something & we got a
chance to be a part of a real struggle, we do not wish to care more. Then why do we wish each other "Happy Independence/Republic day", I fail to see.
Think Over.

If 'what is this draft going to do'...' nothing can happen in this country...' mindset was true, then we probably would never have attained Independence.
Imagine Gandhi standing up against the Britishers [who were believed to be brutal & violent towards their treatment towards Indians] & saying, 'I shall fight for
Indian Independence the Non Violent way'; how many people must've laughed or discounted him? Had today's junta been there, then I guess we would
still be struggling!! But People had more faith then... & by that very non- violent movement we started a whole new movement for our Independence then.
Think Over.

Have Faith. Come Join. Think Over.

Aaj Phir....

2011-08-17T23:39:00.000+05:30

आज फिर दिल ने एक तमन्ना की.....

आज फिर दिल को हमने समझाया..........

Happy Independence Day

2011-08-15T20:43:00.001+05:30

I'm just glad people still feel a little partiotic on couple of days atleast. That says we still feel & are affected by the country & its happenings. Coz the day indifference sets in, then there's no hope for us!

Happy Independence day India.

None to Replace this 'Junglee-Jaanwar'

2011-08-14T18:55:00.001+05:30

Today's morning brought the news of Shammi Kapoor's passing away.

A legend of Hindi cinema... he was one of the few earlier days stars who charmed people by his very presence.

One of the main face of his such persona were his exuberant songs. Known as the Dancing star of the 60's, his songs were sprightly & full of life!

There'd be a rare person who wouldn't have enjoyed his songs.

Putting up one of my personal favorites.. not a 'Yahoo' type of vivacious one, a beautiful number nevertheless.

You shall forever live in the memories.

DEMO-CRAZY

2011-07-26T17:14:00.006+05:30

A week or so back, I read an article on the Sunday times regarding the voting system in our country.
That I found Samata Party’s ex member Jaya Jaitleys statement in that article ludicrous is the least to say. [A few of her & others opinions on the voting system on the country were shared in that article.]

According to her, though she theoretically believes in the policy of compulsory voting, she also thinks it is impractical implementing it in a democracy. She goes further to state that if voting was made compulsory too, then it would be coercion of a democracy.

& that was the point that made me write this blog.

Democracy means, freedom of speech, freedom to choose. Democracy also means , ' government by the people or their elected representatives ' & 'government by the people or their elected representatives ' [Source: Dictionary.com]

If this much is understood, then how is it coercion to bring a law where its compulsory that people DO choose?? Afterall, the Government IS for the people & by the people. Right?

But if democracy means total freedom, then why do we have LAWS too? [however 3rd grade they may be] Why do we have courts & jails & parliament too? There too, someone or the other IS ruling us right?? Someone dictating/pronouncing to us whether we are right or wrong!

We have all those so that there is a unit for the welfare of the country.. [Supposedly!!]

So if we have those units that govern our actions, then by NOT protecting the country [by NOT voting, in a way we ARE harming the country] what kind of democratic freedom is expressed???

Is there no defined definition for the protection of democracy itself? How do we define it? I don't mean those constitutional definitions made 100 years back or so… but a more practical approach. A more progressive approach.

When these definitions of democracy must’ve been put inplace that time; the time, the era… the POPULATIONS of the country also was at another level altogether. So these laws were applicable THEN!

When we have everything upgraded.. & want rather demand for the best for our personal use.. why do we not think, support & demand for the upgrading of our constitutional definitions??

Why don’t the courts/government understand this is another of the baffling questions of our country’s political scene.

Democracy too should have some defined boundaries. In the name of democracy, we cannot not value the privilege that we struggled to achieve... a privilege which is absolutely free to use now.

If we have the right to be a democracy, then should’nt we protect THAT freedom & cherish it? If compulsory voting is considered coercion, then how do we plan to safeguard the country that runs on limited votes.. [in which most are sold!] Even if our politicians are corrupt…then too voting would bring a consciousness among the voters to elect someone whom they know about a bit atleast??

I mention that coz unfortunately, in our country most non voters do NOT even know who the candidates at the national central govt level are… forget the local constituency candidate. Such is the poor response & pathetic state of awareness & interest.

If not for any other practical & but obvious reasons, just becoz India got her independence after such a struggle, that is enough for some strong safeguarding laws to be in place. & by that I mean, laws of voting, laws against people entering politics…rebates for educated people forthcoming regarding entering politics etc..

Afterall, we’ve won this freedom after some serious bloodshed & struggle.. so we better be responsible towards it.

As for the now situation with politicians like Jaya Jaitley & her similar lot, whose brains are anyways somewhere ... probably on thier hip bone;

I hope those hipbones collapse so that these damned psychos & selfish politicos are never able to even get up on their feet.. forget being able to sit on a political seat again!!

What Women Want

2011-06-27T23:40:00.010+05:30

What Women want.. What do Women want??!!

Time & again this question is raised; in lighter arguments as well as heavy discussions. Since I find it amusing, I have often read about it at different pages.. different books; in different contexts.
Discussed it with friends when in the mood for fun..[Fun coz we do know what we want. Not the whole rigmarole maybe...but we're very much aware of what we basically want. ]

I've even been asked these questions by a few guy friends who are interested for whatever their reason -- getting married, recently engaged, interested in wooing a girl, just curious.. they all want to know the answer to this one.

& I must say that I am still surprised that this one is not figured out yet!

So, OK. Here's the answer to this one. Read carefully:

All that a woman really wants is to just let herself BE. Not what others want her to be.

All that she really wishes is to be free from stereotype. Not the image she's expected to live upto in the name of society or peers or traditions or culture or religion.
All that she really wishes is to be accepted for what she is, what she stands for, what she believes in.
All that she wants is not always diamonds or chocolates or flowers only... what she looks for is the way it is given. it wouldn't mean a thing to her, if those are given just because they were expected to be given.
All that she really wants is to let HER be able to choose whether she wants to be a wife, a mother, or a homemaker, a career woman, a balancing superwoman or whatever. Not to be dictated to or be spoon fed.

All this sounds like a little too much freedom to you guys? Does SHE tell YOU ever, you need to be a homemaker or a millionaire?
Does she ask you to care for her parents & then cater to yours too? Does she ever tell you you need to cook & clean & be sociable too? No, She does not. So why stereotype her? Let her BE..& then see what the results are. Your world be definitely be a happier place to live in.

[P.S: Give a woman a choice to decide for herself & most of the time she will end up doing what you want!

I know it. ]

Creative Freedom Or Creative Affront

2011-06-18T18:29:00.003+05:30

M.F Hussain passed away.

I seriously wasn’t surprised when I heard the news. I mean comeon, the man was 95, what’s to get surprised there. But the next day paper reviews definitely surprised me. Most of the creative people, socialites shared their word or two of what they felt about the demise of the celebrated painter. & Most of the people were feeling bad that he died in exile.

That was the part I didn’t understand. He didn’t go into exile yesterday! He’s fled the country a good 5 years & more.. so why are these people suddenly awakening to the fact that he died a sad death & much more blah?

5 years back he WAS indeed 90! Did these people think he was going to live forever?? Hypocrisy at its top performance comes from these socialites & public figures!!

If I am sounding like I have disrespect for the late painter; I admit I was not too fond of him.
I was very respectful towards him once upon a time. Being a creative person myself, as any other normal person I used to like such a huge artist. But the day I read & saw his nude paintings on Goddesses.. be it Bharat Mata or any other Goddesses, I lost all respect for him.

Now please don’t start off mentally chiding me if you think I'm thinking petty [??] .. nor please start off a lecture how creative people should be allowed to express! I can hear it till here.. so stop!

Just becoz a person is creative, THAT DOES NOT GIVE HIM LEEWAY TO GET DISRESPECTFUL! In any culture, by any medium!!

& its not becoz I belong to the religion whose goddesses he portrayed nude that I am provoked. [ That is there too.. but it is another topic altogether! ] India is a country where there is reverence given to the homeland.. hence the 'Mother' tag in Mother India. People will rarely have pictures of Bharat Ma, at home or on their mantles at home... nor do I personally too practice some over patriotic stuff in regards to idolizing that; but if she is a embodiment of the land called Bharat, then that is enough reason for me to respect it. & I am not going to appreciate anyone insulting it.

In the name of creative freedom if anybody is allowed anything, then I don' t even want to think of what all kind of scenarios that can crop up. then there's no telling where these 'artists' will stop! [If they do!] Coz there'll always be one there to up the creative freedom quotient!]

Every established individual becomes liable for some responsible social behaviour. When the society give you that established status, the individual too by default becomes accountable for his/her actions, whether s/he accepts them or not.
Artists are considered slightly huffy people... & 'artists' [esp with such standing in the world] like M.F Hussain just put a stamp on those ridiculous beliefs! [Remember I mentioned, I am an artist too.. Hence the clarification! ]

Every person, every action, every profession, every relation, just about everything in life is defined by some boundaries. In the name of freedom, creative or otherwise, one cannot belittle another's sentiments & try to jump the boundaries & worse, later feign ignorance about it!

When one attempts that, then all roads lead to one destination -

- Fleeing!

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9 Things I Don’t like about Travelling Solo

2011-06-15T01:12:00.000+05:30

If there are things that I like about travelling... then there are also things that I don't like that great! Being a female traveller, a few of my dislikes are based just on my experiences & what I don't like about those situations.

Here's 9 things I Don’t like about traveling solo. Will start off with the thing I dislike most...

1. You need to carry your own luggage always!! Be it a backpack or a suitcase or even a handbag, there's no one to share the load at any point of time!

2. The cost is definitely more...& that quite pinches when planning a week long trip or longer! Even if I try & go moderate, there are some things I cannot compromise on.. esp being a female traveller.

3. No one to take pics…esp good ones! How I wish at someplaces that I'd manage a good pic taken... but alas..! :(

4. While there are helpful people, some acquaintances whom one meets on the journey, at times try & get too friendly.. even after you are back to your routine world. [friend requests on Orkut/FB??!!!?? How cheap or desperate!!] Shrugging them off is a task!

5. In regards to the above point, one has to keep the alertness quotient at full range.. can't afford to let it drop any bit. Its like looking over your shoulder & managing to have fun too! Quite a balancing act that is!

6. As a female traveller, people get all curious about you. They ask questions.. personal too; which annoys the hell out of me!!

7. You ~~cannot~~ cannot go out at night. Could be restricting, but that's a point I stress on even to the bravest of girls. A new place is not the place one should be choosing to let your hair down, even if its your holiday.

8. When you travel between destinations, you have to give in to be dependent to public transport facilities.. like buses, trains.. Taking a private transport like a taxi is not only expensive, but not advisable too. So at times you end up losing a bit of time over this, which can cause upheaval; throwing your carefully planned scheduled off balance.

& lastly,

9. There are moments when you really wish that you had a companion who'd understand your tastes, your frequency... with whom you'd love to explore all these places. The one with whom you can share the experiences & whom you know will be all there with you when you recollect & re-live a place visited by, in just the way you experienced it...... At such times I don't appreciate the travelling solo bit anymore....

Guess its not possible to have all things at all times...

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9 things I Like about Traveling Solo

2011-06-12T23:27:00.012+05:30

This year I've travelled quite a bit. Not one was any of the places I had planned at the start of the year... but things that I hadn't even thought of for this year, I got to visit! That's why those trips were all the more fulfilling!! :)
& not that I planned them that way, but all the places I went worked out as solo travels.

Since I have now been travelling solo for a few of my last trips, I'll list 9 good things I like about travelling thus. Why 9? Coz I plain like the number silly! :D

Here's giving my 9 likes :

1. I am my own boss. The best reason of all! I get to decide my destinations, which path I wanna explore, which places I want to skip.

2. Once I start my travel, I decide my own timings. My own timetable. I like a place, I stay back there for a while until I wish.. I don’t have to worry for anyone else & move on.

3. I meet new people…make new acquaintances. & interacting with them, I learn ~~a lot~~ A LOT!

4. It gives me a sense of freedom to go on my own & follow my own responsibility. It also makes me feel independent within myself & interdependent on the people & place I am visiting., hence connected.

5. I don’t have to match my calendar with anyone to decide a trip. I can take off whenever my timetable is fine enough to travel. Nor have I to worry about pleasing anyone about adjustments. I'm all I need to fend for.

6. People come forward & help you. Seeing a single female traveller, quite a few people offer help if needed...especially if there are families who are travelling around too.

7. The confidence! Every new place is different & every new place give you a new experience. A growing sense of confidence - that yes, you can make it on your own.

8. Your memories are yours. No one else can live those unique experiences with you. Walking in the beautiful mist in the enchanting hills of Munnar... or the view of the Golden temple first thing in the morning... or the bus ride to Jammu & feeling a sense of awe looking at all those cantonments which protect our nation...all those are my experiences. Its like my own secret getaway, which people would hear from me.. but only I would know how it felt.

& the bestest of all;

9. The silence & the introspection. In a new place, in a new land, the way my soul connects to me —THAT is the thing that makes me love solo traveling so much!

Have I tempted you enough to try one for your own too? :)

Sunday Thoughts...

2011-05-22T20:10:00.003+05:30

There are a lot of things we deny facing for the fear of rejection. & then there are lots of things we dare to do & feel good about, once done.

Sad is when we constantly start living in the fear of what we love the most. Then we neither love it fully.. or are never over it fully.

Thought to Emulate

2011-04-02T19:14:00.014+05:30

The kind of faith I put in the 11 men in Blue... if I put 3/4th as much of faith on my own self to battle a few of my doubts...... I'm sure I'd do miracles! :P

[P.S. - The WC Final is on now & it looks very open .. actually fluctuating a lot .. but I'm ever optimistic about them. Win the Cup Boys! ]

Being a Woman

2011-03-26T00:43:00.000+05:30

Some thoughts on being a woman collected over the years; quotes have stayed with me from the moment on I've read them.

I don't have attributions to all of them so am not adding credit to any of the quotes. These are all some wonderfully expressed thoughts from women who weren't scared to express & said it the way it was.

I'll start with the one aptly suits me best at the moment:

I think, therefore I'm single. [Cheeky no? :P]
Whether they give or refuse, it delights women just the same to have been asked. [:)]
A woman's whole life is a history of the affections.
Can you imagine a world without men? No crime and lots of happy fat women. " [Lol!]

I myself have never been able to find out precisely what feminism is: I only know that people call me a feminist whenever I express sentiments that differentiate me from a door mat or a prostitute. [More true in the Indian society]

If women didn't exist, all the money in the world would have no meaning. [;)]

Because I am a woman, I must make unusual efforts to succeed. If I fail, no one will say, “She doesn’t have what it takes.” They will say, “Women don’t have what it takes.” [Absolutely!]

The average woman would rather have beauty than brains, because the average man can see better than he can think.

Men are taught to apologize for their weaknesses, women for their strengths.

SAGS!

2011-03-16T21:12:00.009+05:30

So I have come across this SAGS [Sins Against Gender Stereotypes] page on facebook a couple of times now.. & thro' that I got to read a few interesting SAGS too. What is it? It is about the things that are supposedly against the gender you are & yet you have gone ahead & tried it OR wished to try it. From random observations I have noticed that a girl with books or a laptop is considered ungirly! Reallly??? Since when??? I can't do without my books & I went & bought myself a Lappie too! Though the tag there seemed a bit old now, these observations got me interested in attempting to take a try on the other sins I maybe commiting. ;) The deal is I have to list atleast ten things which go against my typical gender stereotype. I can sure do better! Keep counting! :D

1] I am a tomboy & an adventurer at heart. I love trying adventure sports!

2] Travelled alone. Backpacked & travelled alone.. in Tamilnadu too! [Yes, I'll specially mention it, as language really IS a problem there! ] It's an awesome feeling to backpack on your own.

3] I can't get wimpy & all coy to get my way. Infact I will cringe to even attempt that!

4] I love to hoot & whitsle during cricket matches or during occasions! Not just the typical style.. but in three different ways!! It also comes to mighty use during Sankrantris. :P

5] I love watching cricket. Ok, am not a crazy over it, but I love following India's matches atleast. I cheer & shout & totally enjoy them! Ungurly?? Naaah!!! :D & I watch Tennis too!

6] Love taking pictures! & I take my own time in taking them.

7] I can definitely paint a room & change a bulb & fix minor things!

8] I can't fuss over make up all the time! Infact I prefer the natural look most times. After all that's who you originally are! So, I've absolutely no qualms about roaming about with 'no-makeup', even at work.

9] I have an opinion & I express it where I need to. & I am clued to Politics, sports, & happenings around the world. & I'm not averse to gizmo's too!

10] I am not scared of the dark around the house.. or staying alone.

11] I don't gossip. Period. I do listen when it comes.. but the urge to spread talks has never been there.

12] & Most importantly, I do not believe the need to fall in the routine about getting married off just because I have entered my 30's. I need a better reason than that. I have a mind as strong as a bull on that.

Saying all that, I'd also like to add that I absolutely dig my feminine self too. I absolutely believe in love & all that mush..; love to dress up when my mood strikes.. & I revel in the fact that I can make heads turn when I want them too :P I can be totally color co -ordinated, matching my outfits with the perfect matching earrings, bindi & bangles too!! I love colours.. & my dictionary of colours will have sunset oranges ..to muave pinks to frosted blues.. to simple ol' plain red, whites & blacks too! :))

I also enjoy collecting lipsticks, bags [though I don't have the patience to transfer contents from one to the other every week! ] I love the fact that I enjoy my cooking; whenever I get to do it. I am again totally a typical girl as I remember dates to the T! Rarely miss birthdays, anniversaries & occasions. & yes, I love flowers .. & chocolates & my floral perfumes too! Phew!! I guess I scored off with my girly girl things against all my sins alright! Now the fun part. I need to tag 12 friends..uh uh.. I don't know how many from my blogroll would do it....So, Please tag yourself. & don't forget to let me know when you are done! [I'd love to read Mayuri, Reshma, Till25 & Chai Biskut with Vrij's Sins! For the friends who are not on blog sphere, I'll await your emails. [P.S: You better reply, else the deal is, "you will be cursed to wear blue clothes pants if you are a woman and pink shirts if you are a man – for next twelve years." Choose your pick! :D

Five

2011-03-15T21:31:00.010+05:30

There are things about Secunderabad [Hyderabad] that I love.. & then there are things that make me want to just run away from this city. These annoying things aren't small quirks that I can't digest. Ofcourse, no thing, no place is perfect. But these are serious things that have plagued the twin cities for so long that at times I really think these things are enough to sometimes make me just wish to leave & not return!!

The top 5 annoying of those are:

1] Traffic: There is ABSOLUTELY no civil traffic sense here. ABSOLUTELY. I have seriously contemplated many a times what the red/orange/green lights mean to those who keep jumping them irrespective of what light is glowing there! Nor do the people drive well..nor are the traffic cops anything to rely on. Even though I've been driving since a dozen years now, my head swirls at the absurdity of it all! Its an utter chaos!

2] The Govt bodies: Chandrababu went & others arrived. & those jerks who don't know to sit well on their pots are sitting on the Govt seats - with NO basic manners, no sense of honesty- no sense of anything! Period! People are harassed & often so wary of entering those Govt offices that it is ridiculous! I mean what are Government offices if not for serving the public in a better way????

3] Autos: The menace. The horror. the anguish. Yes, anguish, for the senior citizens when they look to hire one, the horror when they open their mouths to the exorbitant fares.. & the menace at the dadagiri they exert! Autos in the twincities are a true nightmare for those who are new to the city as well as for those who have been here all life long. Why is there not a check on them??

4] The current government!! The twin cities was going on a progressive path till about the present Govt came to reign..& since then its less said the better. For garnering the farmer votes, it does NOT have to mean that you distort the current stability of a city. The twin cities were doing just fine.. & could do OK with no progress for a while too. But the infrastructure damage [In the name of repair, re-repair & re-re repair of roads & what not! ] , the civic nuisance caused by the current Govt is just disgusting! Gone... & still going to the dogs is a better put descrip!

5] & the last but the the most maximised pain in the ****; the recent Telangana jerks! Even if I was ever trying to understand their side of agitation as I am a believer of a united Andhra.. the drama, the animal approach has left not an inch of sympathy in me. They better first convince people that they are worthy of creating a new place & making it good; if still the demand has not been met, only then they can even think to think of destructing anything & everytihng that suits their fancy. & for Heaven's sake, they better STOP misleading the college students with whatever it is they are offering them!!

Ofcourse as it IS my hometown I do love it for innumerable reasons.. & quite a few would be genuineness of the place.... [ maybe I should write one on that too! ] & a few would go on basis of the plain partiality everyone has for their hometown. :)

But the above top five are the things which are going out of hand... If not acted upon, the twin-cities beauty will be marred forever.

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Baby's Day Out

2011-03-10T16:02:00.007+05:30

Technology may be moving at a lightening pace, leaving us no option but to eventually catch up with it.
I'm having a thought here for the new Born's entering the world daily.. who don't seem to be given any catching up option.
No soon must the baby had a moment to look at his/her Mom's face, flash - flash does the camera go on him/her.. & pronto they're all over the Internet!!

Poor thing would have had no idea, how s/he would have to rightaway face the world within minutes of entering it!!

I just hope we do not reach a day, where the ultrasound scan pics are also put up as status messages & comments are made as what or whom the baby is going to turn out to be like.

Phew! Scary!!

I dislike.... naah... I 'unlike' it!

Faith

2011-03-06T20:01:00.010+05:30

Faith is not always a good thing.
In the hope that Reality is not what it is, at all times ... we resort to faith.
Faith's glasses are coloured & you wear them in the hope to let them stay on, till you are in the shade.

But, sometimes, prolonged wear blurs your vision of the reality & makes you hope for something which could just not arrive -- turning fatalistic that way.

The Sun may be harsh.. but I'd rather face it that way.

No... Faith is not always good.

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Thoughts while Driving

2011-01-03T00:10:00.003+05:30

When you know where your destination is, its easy to navigate & change lanes accordingly.

When you don't know where your destination is, its always chaotic not only for you... but the others driving around you as well.

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Why Celebrate?

2011-01-02T00:42:00.001+05:30

The fist decade of the second millennium has gone by [not my phrase..read it somewhere] & I reflect by on what I lived in the past 10 years.
As I'm chronicling the decade gone by in my personal notes, one thought occuring to me is, why do we take stock of things around the new year only? Why do we resolve to do/achieve/give up things only on the new years? After all, its only as good as any other day.

Sometimes I do feel its much ado over nothing.. the Sun is going to rise the same, the day is going to be as long, my relations are going to be the same too... Yet why do we go all childlike gooey over this then?

As I think over this, I get a prompt in my head in reply...
That however ordinary the day is, there's something about new years that has most of us excited...

That something could be put as: Becoz it is defined. Becoz it marks the beginning of new. Becoz it puts a proper end to something. Becoz it gives us hope to start fresh. Becoz it gives us a chance to reflect yourself in a timeframe. Becoz it makes us resolve. Becoz it makes us count. Becoz it helps us move on. Becoz it psychologically makes us feel better about growth.

Few reasons these, but they all count somewhere.
There just a whole lot of things for everybody in 'that something'; Right?

Resolutions 2011!

2011-01-01T01:35:00.003+05:30

Its making resolutions time again! While I go back to my 2010 resolutions to check how I fared, I'm glad to tick off quite a few things of the list.

This year too there have been some additions.. some subtractions & some resolutions which I need to go consistent with. Infact, this year there were rather quite a few additions, but I'm toning them down to keep it achievable! ;)

Some are just cut copy pasted from the previous years.. & will continue being so every year.

& some are just pulled back.... they caused more harm than otherwise.

In the things I'd say I did achieve were:

I did travel a teeny weeny bit... not extensively, but did manage three short weekend getaways, which is comparatively better than the no-travel of the last 2 years..

I did get back to gardening!! Though growing veggies is yet to happen...There're flowers; colourful flowers, blooming in my garden!! :)

Got back to reading.. & how!! I've been reading pretty good the last few months & that makes me feel so good! :)

& I did learn to speak decent [definitions can vary! ;)] Telugu!

What I didn't do were:
Didn't paint, didn't exercise, have not stopped feeling guilty of being vulnerable...haven't found 'that' peace yet... :(

What I did do on & off was :

Returned missed calls... procrastination....publishing posts the same day... these are constant work!! .. & the progress is ongoing!! :P

So, putting all the revised resolutions in one order, here's my list of 2011!

1] Start exercising: What I didn't do & need, really need to start doing is, start exercising & lose a little weight! [Why is there NEVER a constant here! :( ]

2] Eat well: My food habits have totally gone for a toss... & I do see the bad results of it... Will need to strictly regularise this.

3] Sleep well & drink 8 glasses water per day: Sleeping well is another thing I need to work on. Drinking water was something I used to do.. a good habit which I glitched last year.

4] Become Assertive: I've always known I'm a little vulnerable. & overall its been kinda not that great, so becoming assertive is this year's mantra.
5] Travel Travel: Yep have to keep up with that! Will sure do better this year!!! :)

6] Start valuing my art/services more: I shall unwaveringly charge a nominal fee for my services, Tarot & Reiki.. I've realised its true, 'Value is only realised if its value is valued' ..even amongst friends.

7] I shall get back to painting: I've been away from it for quite a long while now. Need to see some colours on my canvas....

8] Learning something new: Would like to learn something new this year. Be it anything.. a language or an art form. There are quite a few things I have been interested in.

9] Will stop worrying: This is going to be tough.. but will need to train the mind to stop worrying over petty things as well as bigger things. Its not going to change the situation anyway!
10] Stay focussed & get decisive: That will get more closer to my goal. [Can't reveal it just as yet! :) ]

11] Clean away my clutter: There are things we get around collecting every year which we sometimes don't end up using.. from clothes to the files on the laptop. [atleast its true for me] I will not let clutter pile up before I've no option but to give/clear them away.
12] & last but very importantly, I have to learn to believe in the word "Trust" again. In me, for me. Made a few wrong turns last year.. that kind of shook me off. :P

Among all this, I shall consistently never stop: to be more conscious for the environment & reduce my carbon footprint wherever I can...; strive to be a better person...; follow what I believe in, even if the odds are against it...; lose hope when things look bleak...; leave my good habits. I shall also not stop expressing to my dearest people, in deeds & words, that they are most loved.

Lets all have a good year ahead.

Glad To See Your Back

2010-12-30T23:51:00.002+05:30

Yes, this is another one of those blog posts which says ta-ta to 2010.
& am I not glad to see the rear of it!

I guess I said this the last year too... but last year was more in context to the tough year my family had.. with a couple of accidents & an illness & major glitches with the home renovation front. That was physically draining.

While this year, though socially I had a very good year.. made so many new acquaintances, made a couple of friends in them... met few school friends after more than a decade... found lost touch with a couple of people... travelled a bit...completed a few pending things from the past year...
..Yet personally, somehow something was missing. I feel the year took away a very important part of the person that I am. Something dropped & just vanished. Trying to rid myself of that something has been emotionally draining. Still haven't gotten a hold of it..but yes, I am happy for this year to end.

So, for better poise & balance & peace safety & harmony & faith & whole lot of love; am I not looking forward to 2011 or what!!

Wishing everybody a Happy 2011.

99 Definitions to Life

2010-12-22T23:29:00.004+05:30

Life is:
Mysterious & intense & curious & mad & happy & crazy & devilish & angelic & careless & cautious & carefree & blithe & joyous & childlike & egoistic & self centred & lovely & sweet & charming & pleasant & buoyant & vivacious & merry & affectionate & cheerful & sentimental & touching & moving & family & dazzling & treasured & magnificent & picturesque & travelsome & meaningful & understanding & influential & humbling & mammoth & aggressive & awed & fearsome & glorious & vast & huge & noteworthy & warm & passionate & fiery & friendly & revered & admirable & considerate & imaginative & aesthetic & spiritual & physical & creative & inventive & believing & trusting & gorgeous & loud & calm & wonderful & delightful & fascinating & puzzling & blurry& attractive & cherished & spectacular & expressive & stimulating & colorful & flamboyant & salty & spicy & wicked & dumb & bitter & tired & bland & dull & soggy & sad & teary & ugly & stressful & dreadful & ostentatious & lethargic & listless & beautiful & serene & striking & extraordinary & godly & most of all; Love.

Life is all of it.. & this all is what at different moments, we define as a life what we live.

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Lag Jaa Gale....

2010-12-21T00:01:00.002+05:30

While I didn't stick to my every-month-post-one-song declaration, they had been songs that I had in my drafts section, which I somehow never posted. Here's one of them.

I haven't seen the movie but I like Sadhana's poise & Manoj's undecidedly mixed emotions to her.

Another slow melody.

Aloneness

2010-12-02T13:17:00.008+05:30

Between the interim of entering & exiting this world alone - Oh how difficult it is break the illusion that we aren't alone....

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Back Up Backfire

2010-11-27T13:55:00.007+05:30

Now-a-days, we have a back up for just about everything. Even before we venture into something, we pre-plan the back-up just in case the venture doesn't take off. Whilst its good in things,
Honest relations can never be formed that way. If you are constantly keeping in your mind that you have a back up to rely on.. looking over your shoulder; the relation is never bound to get strong enough. The first difficult waters...or even a slight lack in the relation is sure to pull your mind to your back up. Once can never be present in the current relation that way. Can't take totally, can't give totally, can't belong in the now fully.

Sometimes you have to close the escape routes to really give your best to something-- before thinking to give it up or even knowing if that is what you really want.

Not every back up is a good plan.

Saaaar, Meee too!!!

2010-11-26T12:32:00.005+05:30

I have to admit, I was no big Rajni fan till about a couple of months ago. I also admit that I haven't seen any of his movies in the cinemas till date. Whatever I have watched is on the small screen; on cable. Caught Sivaji too a month or so back.

While I liked him for all that I used to keep reading on & off about him, I never really understood the mass hysteria... (still don't as much..) I also remember having come across a newspaper space about him which I'd found hilarious then & I'd taken a pic from my phone. Never uploaded & forwarded it coz I thought it was amusing enough but not that good that I'd forward it. You see, I didn't understand his stature so well then. :P

Robot changed things. [Err.. I haven't seen that too yet...I'm going going!!] Suddenly, I started receiving sms'es about him since some time back. First I thought they were again a passing phase of the crazy things under his name, but I admit after the first 3 days, I actually looked forward to the messages on the 4th day. [that is when I decided to watch Sivaji on cable too :P] It actually grew on me. Now since I got interested in him, I obviously discovered more.
His simplicity, his philantrophy, his genuineness, his groundedness & most importantly, he as a father. [When a child talks about a parent in glowing terms, its THE biggest indicator for the kind of parent someone is.]

Coming back to the topic that actually made me go under his spell, are the impossible [Ohhh.. Possibly Only Rajnikanth! :P ] kind of sms'es I keep getting about him [I won't call them funny..coz maybe they're true!! ;) :P]

Putting up that not so clear image I have with me.. I am writing down that trivia about him for better reading too. Also, I've added a few of mine taking the total count to 50. I'm sure they're lots more..but I've mentioned my very fav ones that I haven't deleted from my phone from all these days. I'm sure it'll make better reading here!
Enjoy!! :D

1] Outer space exists because its afraid to be on the same planet as Rajnikant.

2]Rajnikant has counted to infinity twice.

3]When Rajnikant does a pushup, he isn't lifting himself up, he's pushing Earth down.

4]Rajnikant is so fast, he can run around the world & punch himself in the back of the head.

5]Rajnikant doesn't wear a watch, HE decides what time it is.

6]Rajnikant gave Monalisa that smile.

7]Rajnikant can slam a revolving door.

8] Rajnikant's house has no doors, only walls that he walks through.

9] Rajnikant grinds his coffee with his teeth & boils the water with his own rage.

10] If you google search 'Rajnikant getting kicked' , you will generate zero results. It just doesn't happen.

11] It takes Rajnikant 20 minutes to watch 60 minutes.

12]The Bermuda triangle used to be the Bermuda square, until Rajnikant kicked one of the corners off.

13] There are no weapons of Mass destruction in Iraq. Rajnikant lives in Chennai.

14] Rajnikant once ate an entire bottle of sleeping pills. They made him blink.

15] The only things that run faster and longer than Rajnikant are his films.

16]Rajnikant's every step creates a mini whirlwind. Hurricane Katrina was the result of a morning jog.

17] Where there is a will, there is a way. Where there is Rajnikant, there is no other way.

........& Some more,

18] Rajnikant woke up one day & decided he should share atleast 1% of his knowledge with the world... & Google was born this way!!!

19] Ghosts are actually caused by Rajini killing people faster than death can process them!!

20] Once Rajnikanth tickled a boy & a girl. they grew up to be Archana Puran Singh & Navjot Singh Sidhu.

21] Mission Impossible" was first offered to Rajnikant. he declined it.. & the reason he gave was, the title was insulting!!

22] Did you know, the pyramids in Egypt are actually --Rajnikant's primary school geometry project.

23] Once Rajnikant donated blood to a very small & thin child.. Today he is known as 'The Great Khali!!"

24] How did Newton die? He dies after watching Rajnikanth's movies as he couldn't bear to see Rajnikant breaking all the laws of physics which he made!

25] Once Rajnikant slipped & fell on the Indian species of crocodile; today they're called lizards.

26] Why did Rajnikant but 100 acre of land with 4 wells in each corner? ------ To play Carrom!!

27] In his childhood, Rajnikant once tossed some water in the sky..... & NASA has found traces of water on MARS!

28] Why 'Earthquake' occurs on Earth? Becoz at that time Rajnikant's mobile is on vibrate mode!
29] Once Rajnikant was on the hotseat of KBC; the computer needed lifelines to choose a question.

30] Once Rajnikant went to New Delhi.. ate a Pan & spat on a building... Today the building is known as the Red fort!

31] Rajnikant can write into a read only file!!

32] The Tamilnadu police now has a new bullet proof jacket. Its a T-shirt with Rajnikanth's photo printed on it.

33] What would've happened if Rajnikant would had been born a 100 years ago?? -- The British would've fought for their independence.

34] All those people worried about sea levels rising & drowning up small islands can breathe easy.. Rajnikant will soon finish his swim!

35] The world is not ending in 2012.. Rajnikant just bought a laptop with 3 years warranty.

36] NASA closed. -- Rajnikant bought all the rockets for Diwali.

37] Do you know what the numerical digits are repeated after the digit 9? Becoz 'RAJNIKANT's name is made up of 9 letters.

38] Paul the Octopus was asked to predict Rajnikant's death. -- Paul Died.

39] ] Facebook founder Mark Zukerberg was hospitalised... becoz Rajnikant poked him on facebook!

40] Rajnikant is thinking of changing his name to 'Rajni'. becoz he understands that there really isn't anything 'Rajni' 'Can't!'

41] Once Rajnikant participated in bike race.......... don't even try to guess what happened. Rajnikant won in neutral gear.

42] Micheal Jordan to Rajini: I can spin a ball on my finger for over two hours. Can you?
Rajnikant: Rascala; how do you think the Earth spins!?

43] When Rajnikant logs on to facebook.com, facebook updates its status message!

44] Once Rajini went for morning walk & in the afternoon police arrested him!! WHY? becoz he reached USA without Visa...

45] East India company left India in 1947 becoz Rajni was supposed to be born in 1949!

46] Rajnikant's calendar goes straight from March 31st to April 2nd. Nobody fools Rajnikant.

47] When Rajnikant looks in a mirror, the mirror shatters, becoz not even the mirror is stupid enough to get in between the two Rajnikants.

48] Rajnikant once shot down a German fighter plane with his fingers, by yelling; "BANG"!!

49] Once Rajnikant kicked a goat on the chin, the ascendants are called Giraffes today.

50] When Rajnikant enters a room, he doesn't turn the lights on, he turns the dark off.

& there's one Bonus too!! :P

51] Rajnikanth was once asked by a reporter how he felt about all the Rajnikanthers on the Internet & Sms'es? Rajnikanth replied: "Do u think they are jokes?"

Do you think these are all jokes?? ;)

I Thank...

2010-11-25T00:16:00.004+05:30

Its the Thanksgiving weekend. Although we do not celebrate it in India, we all know about it thro' the ever compacting distance the virtual world creates for us.

& though I'm not in line for discount stores online or otherwise, [India should adopt something like this..! ] I'm not going to miss the opportunity to the preeminent purpose of the celebrations. To thank God for the blessings bestowed upon me.
In the numerous many things I am thankful to God for, I'd state atleast the ones which may be very common, yet I don't thank him enough for. [Somehow I've always related to my god as 'He.']

I'm thankful:

for a complete family,
for the additions in my family, who are lovely people as well,
for my precious closest friends who understand me in & out & have accepted me for what I am,
for getting back in touch with my school friends who are my best well wishers.
for no physical defects whatsoever,
for giving me a sheltered life,
for helping me find my own person,
for my education,
for the good food I get to eat everyday,
for my beautiful home,
for the amenities of 2/4 wheeler that I move easily in,
for my few priceless possessions,
for the sensitivity that makes me feel for others making me relate to them better,
for the people who care for me even when I'm non deserving,
for letting me find the beautiful people whom I could love dearly & who encompass my world.. bringing an inexpressible joy in it,
for making me a thinking person, which lets me accept things & evolve,
for the luxuries of travelling places,

& for all the numerous little things that I take too much for granted & may have missed mentioning here but which are huge blessings indeed.

In my on & off dissensions with you over so many things God, I'll never fail to be thankful for the wonderful things you have indulged me with. I know their worth & do value them.

Happy Thanksgiving.

Marry Marry!!!

2010-11-24T22:08:00.002+05:30

Oh uh! The marriage season is on again... & again I have an almost apprehending time replying to questions that I have no answers to. [& I can solemnly swear that it is not my fault for the 'no answers.' ]

Question being, "When are you getting married?"

I sometimes so wish I had a crystal ball somewhere, where I could just take a peek & have a roughish idea! Swear that would be enough for me to reply! I don't want the time & day & the mahurat please! Let there be some element of surprise too. [For me.] I know the people enquiring may be well wishers.. but sometimes it just gets to you!!

OK, so how difficult is that? I mean I see & hear of people start looking for partners...& within a limited span of time -- Bingo!! - They find their partners!

However, I have obviously not been able to score in that limited parameter time slot. Recently in a discussion with a friend I heard, that there are two types of people. One who get married socially & ones who get married. [If you know what I mean.]

Now, where I fit in, is something that I have already shared in some earlier previous post.
Yet, I am still baffled at this very intriguing concept of how marriages are made. Seriously, are they made in heaven? Or we believe in that saying coz we want to skip taking the responsibility in case we are not that happy with it.

Or is it coz we believe, If they are made in Heaven, then we don't have to worry...it will anyways pursue us; in time.

Another friend's comment makes me laugh, "Marriages are made in heaven , to create hell on Earth!." But I know this couple is happily in love with each other.. so its was OK to hear this from her. This is her way of expressing love.

But I do wonder, what is it then which makes us look out tirelessly for this supposed hell on Earth then? Is it the same need we feel when we look for the other hell like emotion - Love..? [Naaah.. I don't totally believe love is hell... Love is very beautiful too!! & I DO believe the same about marriage too!]

But what if someone [here, me] does not find their likewise partner for a little longer than others? What if s/he does not want to give up the search for what s/he feels that is right to wait upon. What if s/he believes it is not correct in compromising becoz of various reasons..right from, peer/family pressure.. to the reason of time passing away.. to the reason of even aging by the day & the warning of slim chance of ever finding one! Is S/he wrong then?
There're quite a few more baffling reasons people come up with, trying to make you believe that its best to walk into the vows with the next available single person! [OK, that was a little exaggerated! ]

Though I do know I am right in holding onto my beliefs...; at times, these mentioned things have a way of getting in the mind make me think & think & think....

Uff! I'm all confused all over! Where am I again? Back to square one??

Waking Up

2010-11-22T10:58:00.005+05:30

So it took me a report card for me to get back here.

Report card of my blog rating which has been steadily declining from the past three months, took a dip into lowest ranges for the past month [It's ranked 31 for October! :( Well, what else can I get for posting only One single post in the entire month! ]

Not that I'm taking it as a given word on my blog...but well.. if I put it up there, it better score decent! [I'd actually dedicated a blog when I'd scored first class a while back!! See how seriously I take my grades? :P]

Anyways, the topic which also got me writing here was one which gets me thinking everytime I come across it, its just that I never bothered penning...blogging it down.

I have been catching glimpses of the serial "Balika Vadhu" on & off for a while now. Its a soap set in Rajasthan & tries to shows the culture & tradition of the place among the other whole lot of typical fooling the masses around thing.
Now, when it began, I was a bit enthu about it.. as it promoted revealing the truth about child marriages & the thing...

I DID also know that, that cause will be on the burner as soon as the serial progresses. So, in my way, I like to catch soaps when they're new..& still are under the spell of doing what they originally start out to do. Then when they digress, I stop watching them.

In this particular serial, it goes like, Its a matriarch who heads the family.. & whatever she says is the word. Nobody dare defy her or she lets hell loose.
& not one man from the family [read her sons] stand up firmly against her. What she commands has to be followed, even if its either about getting her 40 something son an 18year old bride or on some other instance getting the grandson remarried..etc... You get the drift. None can much raise even a word of protest -- even if she's wrong more often than not!

I've taken this soap just as an instance. But it is not uncommon to find such people still around, especially in towns & the interiors. While they're progressive ones too.. they're few & far in between. More often these bull headed are the ones commonly visible.

I also wonder how in the name of 'respect', 'tradition' , culture; most people..[may I add families in total too] end up becoming mute spectators to unjustness, injustice, harm done within families itself. How is it deemed to be called 'good' to be respectful even if families are being broken becoz of stupid laws...

& laws that are set by whom? Based on what?

No clue.

Most of the times these head of the families do not even know why they follow certain customs & traditions.

My understanding is people do recognize when something's going wrong, but the deep seated upbringing comes in the line of making them even realize they can & they need to stand up. That kind of thinking is sorely missing in most of the people unfortunately.

Also, I wonder if it is really then respect that makes people stay quite? Or is it fear? Fear. Fear of anything.. of not being supported, fear of standing up alone...fear of even being disregarded from the family or the family fortune sometimes.
Do people end up staying mute for this too?

I shudder to think of a few other alternatives. Not a very healthy place to be take my mind to.

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Joy Of Giving

2010-10-01T20:22:00.007+05:30

What is the easiest thing that you would joyfully give somebody?

If I was asked this, I'd instantly say a warm smile. It takes a fraction of a second, it doesn't require any effort & its free!! :)

This thought came to me when I knew it is the Joy of Giving week [Sep 26 - Oct 2] going on. I realised there are actually so many things that one can give away ...which is not only joyful to the recipient, but to the self as well.
I believe, there's nothing one cannot or can give. Whatever is worth giving can be given; only condition being, it should be from a willingness to give & not from a compulsion.

While this week is mainly celebrated to bring in awareness of philanthropy.... I personally think it would be so good if we extend it into our lives as well.

What would you do if someone came & gave you a warm hug? I'm sure you would be brought onto a big surprised smile. What if the one you have been hoping to see/hear from, got in touch with you? You'd be enthralled with joy..isn't it? What if someone you maybe saw daily but never spoke/smiled & came over to greet you? A joy would ignite itself in the heart!

Likewise, there are so many things with which we can spread joy... a look, a touch, a warm hug... a flower, a card, a long awaited book... Everything thougthful goes miles in creating ripples of joy...of happiness.

& then there are many other things touching philanthropy too, if you're willing. Stationery to kids, Blood to blood banks, Biscuits to beggars [Discourage giving direct money] your old clothes to anyone needy, books, slippers... they're just so many small things which can be given away with joy - for joy!

As the week ends tomorrow, I wish everybody who knows about this does something to add joy to the surrounding around theirs.
& Me, by my page & with a big grateful heart, give a warm hug to my very dearest friends for just being! Your being in itself has always been the biggest joy to me! :)

See, I'm already on my mission.... what are you going to start with? :)
Try it. Feel the joy of Giving.

© All rights reserved with Biraj 3Vedi. To re-print, prior permission required from the author.

Better Choice?

2010-09-14T12:13:00.000+05:30

God knows what is correct, what is right to choose.

To be with someone who U are happy with....

To be with someone who makes u happy.

Pyaar Ko Ho Jaane Do...

2010-09-12T19:26:00.008+05:30

Saw the movie Dushman after ages today. I remember it have really moved me then.. & it did today as well. A touching story of a sister's fight for justice.

Whereas all the songs of this movie made a good listening, I used to love this song more when the movie had released. Still is as good.

Putting this up for my song of the month.

"प्यार को हो जाने दो...प्यार में खो जाने दो...." Guess I should be done with the 'ho jaanedo' stage & move ahead!! :p

Hope you enjoyed! :)

My M & B World!

2010-09-03T23:04:00.011+05:30

I Admit!
Since the time I took my first Mills & Boon in my hand; more than a decade back, I have been stuck onto them. That fascinating fantasy world has kept me consistently captivated throughout the years...

To put it in a simple line for why they're irresistible for me; its for its happy endings!

Always.

The other reasons are as entertaining too!! :D

Like in the movie Inception, the plot is by someone else & some other goes to live it... likewise each book is a world which lets you imagine & live it your own way! How ideal! :P

From a century now M&B have kept women fascinated with the knight-in-shining-armour heroes to the latest urban Adonis.. & women have never gotten tired of creating these dreamy heroes!
The damsel-in-distress rescued by the TDH [Tall Dark Handsome, for the unawares] concept has been a hit for ages now! [Sounds SO cliched...but it works!! ;) ]
No wonder it is read in around 99 countries, including the latest addition of our very own India; having our very own desi authors penning down one romance after another. Am I looking forward to it? Maybe just!!

I personally call it my stress buster!
Whenever I'm in a good mood, I pick one to read...or whenever I'm just in the mood to read one, I pick up one ..& even when I'm too much under the bridge...& need a reprieve, a M&B is what I pull out. It instantly starts setting my frown straight.
Its like I don't have to think of wanting to read one or no. Its one brand, constant for all seasons, all occasions! ;)

Am I sounding hopelessly romantic?

Well, I don't mind it. Letting the sane overpowering side go for a holiday, I do let that hopelessly romantic side go silly when I am reading one happy fantasy to another!! :P

'Fantasies', which are not taken seriously. They very well don't exist in real life. Just one more reason for which I love reading these. Always makes me believe, that those too-good-to-be-true guys atleast exist in these books!! [ Do I hear the guys smirk? :P ]

Ofcourse, exaggeration plays a vital role in making these romances such lovable... where the hero is not only perfect to look at; but such a romantic devil, that will make any girl gladly jump off the Qutub Minar if he asks so!! The TDH concept of a guy is so droolworthy!! :P
& not to forget, the leading lady is So damn perfect & beautiful, that for a long moment it can sometimes lead you into semi depression wondering that why am I not like that!! Lol!

Between the span of 180 odd pages, the girl & the guy meet, get attracted, fight, restrain one another & finally realise they love each other & get together for a happy everafter!!

How smooth! Isin't it?

Novel after novel this is the same pattern followed...just like our Hindi romantic movies.
All the same..... just said in different ways. Some stories don't touch a chord...but some are sooo mushy...

How perfect it would be if real life was like that too....

Well, I dream on........
Yes, I totally admit, I am an impossible Mills & Boon fan! :P

Is This the Right way?

2010-08-16T21:35:00.001+05:30

Just becoz someone doesn't care back for you ..& causes pain to your heart; is it justified that you start telling yourself to stop loving that person or stop wishing [good] for them?

Aren't we getting into barter by that?
You may try to stop thinking of them coz it causes pain to your heart...but believing things like, it was good for nothing, worthless to care, a waste of time to love, to wish good.. & they're not worthy of you..
Are all these not the signs of barter?? If yes, then how can feelings ever be called genuine if they're into barter?

I Pledge

2010-08-15T12:17:00.006+05:30

To not wait only for Independence day & republic day to celebrate my Indianess.

To do my bit for a green India.

To follow right to information.

To promote overall education.

To be a conscious & aware citizen.

To show my respect in actions.

To not support corruption.

To apply, 'Be Indian-Buy Indian' policy as much as possible.

To be a better Indian.

What pledge did you take?

Proud to be an Indian?

2010-08-14T23:01:00.014+05:30

On the eve of our 63rd independence day, when I see people flaunting t-shirts & badges of "Proud to be an Indian", I wonder if I would ever use that phrase.

I am certainly patriotic- very.. & I'll say I'm very blessed & glad to be born an Indian. But 'Proud to be Indian'? NAH. I can't claim that.

Proud is a word I would use if I have done something which brings me a sense of fulfilment, where I would want to be credited for
or something which is mine & I derive pride from.
Talking of my first point, I can say I am proud, as I DO do my bit in most small ways to make my country a better one.
But that contribution does not count much...as I am not a public personality that people see & follow. So its my own sense of responsibility I follow.
In regards to the second point, I can Most definitely say that I am not proud to be an Indian.

How can I be proud when the most vital things that represent a nation are disheartening in my country? I did not even have to spend any thinking time over this blogpost...as I usually do.
These noted elements are all over the place.

Corruption: 60+ years...& we are STILL grappling with corruption. In every sector, in EVERY damn place, corruption is deep seated here. As I am writing this, I cannot help to mention the latest Common Wealth Games scam. HOW long does India need to battle this?? When will we have a day when our politicians stop thinking, "My money is mine & your money is also mine?!?"
Disrespect for women: This country has loads of goddesses. I mean literally. Visit any part of the country & you will see different avatars of goddesses local to that region. & they are worshipped with fervour too. No discounts there. But look around & you will see less than the least minimal percent of respect, in actual, given to women. Disrespect, rape, assault, abuse of women is as much as a part of the elite as it is of the down trodden.
Respect for people: Value of people is increasingly declining & only names are getting respected. People don't get respected for their individuality but for their social positioning. India was surely not like this.
Non tolerance: Since independence, as a nation we have become the most non tolerant for any kind of issues which takes just a flicker & the country gets burning. Did independence do that to us? Weren't we together earlier?
Accountability: What should naturally be taken care of, has to be either thrashed out from the government or drummed in at regular intervals for making them accountable. The easiest & oft used method of pushing-the-cart demonstrates the nature of out governance very well. The blame game is just not done!!!
Punctuality: Visit any government office on the time it IS supposed to start working & you will most surely not find more than half the staff there. What is it going to take to make these people self liable? How is their mindset made??
Education: Education does not ONLY mean a degree & a means to get a paycheque! Education means being aware of things around you & act! Education means the knowledge of sharing your true self. I wonder if it is taken like that anymore. We are so comfortable in ignoring things that do not help us personally, that the state of the country just gets worse.

These are only a few things which, when I think make me feel depressed over the state of the nation. Yet I very well know, it all comes from us. When each of us gets individually responsible, we can collectively bring about the change.

Easier said than done, but Yes, I trust it.

Being a believer in faith, I fervently pray, wish & hope that India does rise over these tsunamic ordeals...maybe very very slowly, yet surely & truly gets nationally on the progressive mode.
& then is when I shall truly feel "Proud to be an Indian."

Happy Independence day to all.

Its Easy!

2010-08-12T20:20:00.015+05:30

People can make your day in so many ways if you allow them. Its wonderful.

You don't have to do anything. You just let yourself BE.

I had such a week & I'm so grateful to the nice people who make my day with the smallest of things...& those small things bring big smiles to me throughout; when ever I remember it.

Today while I was getting off my cab, the cab driver tells me " Madam I was so happy when I knew that I was dropping you today."

I was surprised coz I had not seen this guy earlier.. & the way he was driving, I thought he was a new guy in town.

So, I asked him, "aacha, aisa kyun? aap mujhe pehle drop karne aaye hai? ['Why so? have you come to drop me earlier?'] & I got wondering if I had interacted with this guy anytime earlier.

He replies, " No Madam, I have see you in the cafeteria at lunch times."

Strange I thought. For a cab driver to hang around in the office cafeteria... Anyways, I kept quiet & just smiled. There was ofcourse more to come.

Then he said, " tum hamesha sabse baat karte..hanste rehte, mereko bohot aacha lagta" [You talk to everybody & keep a smile whenever I've seen you & I like that a lot." [translated from his broken Hindi]

Honestly, for a moment, I was blank. I mean what else would I react!

Then switching to English he concluded, " I keep seeing you many times, So I was very happy to drop you today."
That was a sure surprise from nowhere. I smiled at him, said thanks & got off the cab.

It juts made me think, that though not consciously, I had brought a smile to someone & someone was made happy by me.

& how much did I make an effort for that? - Nothing.

It really does not take much from us to do good actually; just being happy from your end brings about a change not only to you...but to others too.

A similar thing happened earlier in the week. I'd been to a restaurant with a friend, in regards to some work. We spent quite some time there. After we got done with our work in between snacks, at the end, the waiter gets us ice cream. When we enquired why he got it, he replied it was a compliment..on the house.

Now I have no clue as to why we were complimented that ice cream, we certainly spoke a lot to the waiter [comparatively] & a couple of other staff, as we were there for quite a while...but that didn't have to warranty any such treats!
It was a sweet gesture that made me believe there are so many ways by which your day is made, if you care to observe.

It does not matter if the person if someone important to you or no... its as simple, you get happy if you make someone's day... & it works vice versa too! :)

I'll end by quoting a quote apt for this post. " If you see someone without a smile, give him one of yours." Its pretty easy! Isin't it?

Monsoons

2010-08-07T00:48:00.006+05:30

If there is a season that invigorates me, it has to be the Monsoons!

The breeze, the air, the atmosphere!

Awesome!!!

Everything seems to be alive then. The trees have fresh leaves grown on them, the birds & bees also come together.. it feels like you can actually hear the breathing of the season.

The wind dancing on the trees, the showers quenching the depleted Earth... Ah! A sight to behold!

Unlike Summer when its too hot & humid, Unlike winters when its too dry & brittle,
Monsoons bring just the right amount of Sun, coolness, moisture & life in it.

My heart erupts on a sing-a-song everytime I see the scrubbed look of the city's landscapes & lush greens.

& I can never get enough of the fragrance of the wet Earth, fresh grass & the vivifying air to breathe in...

Its also the time my soul goes for a proper rinse..rather scrub [:P] regularly, gets washed everytime it rains & I can't help seeing the world & myself in it a lil more clearer each time.

Among all this, I agree, there is one glitch which is hard to ignore. The terrible conditions of the roads.. But it no way comes under Nature's fault. Does it?

Hmm... after all this descriptive defining, did I actually mention that I love the monsoons?

Do I need to??

;)

Happy Monsoons to all!

Thank You.

2010-08-01T18:24:00.011+05:30

Today, the first Sunday of August is celebrated as friendship day the world over.

Now, I've never been for the getting mushy over friends only on friendship day .. so its as usual a day for me like any else.
I do ofcourse love my friends [who doesn't?!] as I truly believe its such a wonderful boon to choose friends in our lives... Such a boon to have relations whom we love without any force, any obligation!
.. But yet, I have never felt the need to go shopping for cards & bands & celebrations on this day.

However since the past year or so with more & more friends reconnecting over the Internet, friends are constantly in touch in the virtual world.
Some become so connected, that life seems so good with them in it.
Among intelligent conversations, arguments, mad laughter times & a whole lot of things what normal friends do... we share everything; except the abnormality that most of them are miles & miles away.
Still they stay comfortable snugged within the heart like the old strong wiry creepers who cling to your heart! :P

Today, as since morning my phone has been beeping away with 'happy friendship day' messages & calls; I have been replying to each & every one of them, wondering that have I really made them happy for them to hold me special?
Thinking more on it made me wanna give into this day's celebration from my side over here.

Here's my small bit of acknowledgement for the wonderful friends that have touched my life & made it beautiful over the years.
Even with distances, arguments, indifference, cold wars, no talks at times... there have been/are moments of laughter, care, understanding, comfort & the realisation of a meaning each relation has brought.

To my most dearest friends,
Mayuri, Deepesh, Pavit, Reshma, ... & a couple of others who have been & still are an important part of my life;
Thank you All for adding happiness, beauty & value to my life in every way.
I cherish each & everyone of you.

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Tête-à-Tête

2010-07-31T00:45:00.009+05:30

Quite a few times in my Tete-a-tete with God, I keep telling him,

Not all the experiences that he keeps giving me are needed.

I AM a better person without them too.

Those experiences only tend to take me down as a person rather than improve me.
But God just doesn't seem to listen!!

What to do?!?!?

Do you believe that all the experiences we go through throughout life, are needed?

Share it with me.

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Unexpected Conversations

2010-07-14T22:11:00.003+05:30

Love can be expressed in such various emotions, It never ever ceases to surprise me.

On my way back home from work today, a colleague happened to mention something about guests coming over at his place & how he wished he had been home.

Then after a pause of a few minutes, he started how glad he was that his wife was there to take care of everything. He went on to add that how his wife did everything with such warmth & not becoz she has to.

In acknowledgement, I didn't feel like interrupting this heartful chat he was on upon then.. only added that he was a lucky person.

His immediate reply turning full 90 degrees me WITH the seatbelt, & saying "Yes, I am a very lucky person "; gave me such a smug feeling, that my appreciation for this guy was suddenly born.

Suddenly born becoz, he was always a colleague with whom I shared a cab. A sparingly English speaking..or rather a pure Telugu speaking guy, we hardly interacted much on our way.

But when he said, "Indeed I am very lucky. She takes care of everything..right from my tiffin box to the kids homework to this pressed shirt [pointing at his shirt] that I wear daily at work. I don't have to worry for anything happening at home."

I was really glad. I'd never thought about him... but if I would've been asked to, I would never have imagined him talking thus. He being from a lil orthodox background & roots deep in rural Andhra.

So while I was hearing him, I thought to myself as well, "its such a contented feeling to be loved such by your partner. Lucky are those people who get so appreciated & valued in a relation." He didn't mention what all she was doing... he actually mentioned what he was not doing.

He then added, "Right from taking care the impromptu guests which keep pouring in his home, to taking care of the children while they are ill, she handles every other need which suddenly comes up.. she is a very patient person."

He took me down his memory lane by telling me how he'd never even seen her till the day of the wedding.. how he'd not known anything about her & how his wife who hailed from a village, still settled in well, within his family & took such good care of them.

I think more than being with the guests he missed his wife then, & what he spoke was out of a deep care for her.
Listening to him was such a pleasant thing, that got me like, 'Lucky She!! '

But what I mostly felt was, If I'm to find a guy like this, I'd count myself damned lucky!

At the end of the day, dosen't matter if you speak a smatter of fluent English or speak the language modestly. Its how you convey that's important.

It even doesn't matter if you wear the best of clothes & have the best of appreciations from colleagues...

At the end of the day if you return home to someone who cares for you as much as you'd wish S/He to,

Life's Blissed.

Faith & Hope

2010-07-02T14:22:00.002+05:30

Increased visits to the temples...
Often helping the needy,
Few times resorting to the various future predictors to get a solution..
& at all times following all the superstitions which we trust to bring good luck & blessings... defying our own rules against them in the bargain;
When life seems to be at the crossroads, the soul in every way gets on its knees for blessings, for garnering wishes.
Hoping & wishing that something somewhere may work & someone's blessing may be granted & the wish gets fulfilled.

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Dil kyun ye Mera....

2010-06-30T22:47:00.004+05:30

As the last day of the month's here, I'm adding the song that has not left me since the past week or so. Hadn't heard it earlier & I endured sitting through its movie, only coz of this one song.

Hauntingly Beautiful.

Chicken Soup... or was it Poop?!?

2010-06-27T20:11:00.008+05:30

The rains had been rumbling in the clouds since morning & had decided evening was the time to unleash itself. It was pouring down since evening & the sky tanker just didn't seem to get empty!

By the time I managed my way the Bus stop; I was half drenched. ...& the lil space I could manage under the firestation near the bus stop was enough to get me full drenched!!

Ohhh! What a start. Am I getting cold feet already? I wondered.

My first trip with a group of total strangers ...correction, like minded strangers; yet strangers all. I didn't know what to expect.

Mulling over these very thoughts I stood under the firestation roof looking out for the one recognisable face to show up.
In the meanwhile, spotted a few members of the group & after the regualr hi's & hello's amid torrid rains, we waited for the others to arrive.

By 10:15 we all now collectively waited for the bus to arrive.
& as the bus arrived, all that was in my mind was, "Board the Bus! Then it'll be fine."

Little did we know that the adventure was waiting to begin rightaway!

One by one we all jumped in the mini stream running beside the footpath to make way into the bus....

.... & Yeeesssssshhhh! As I stepped my foot into the water... Oh hell....whhhhaaaattt! ..the water was upto my calves! Whhaaatttt the heckkk! What am I goin to do!!! My jeans is never gonna dry up!!

& I don't like it!

As if, that thought was not enough to get me slightly gloomy, as soon as I entered the bus, the stink definitely pushed me into it! The smell in the bus was pungent... of fish or of something similar.

"Oh God! I sure wanted adventure... & you sure are giving me one....." Only, I should have been more specific; 'Dear God, let me have an adventure MTO!" [Made to order] '
Will keep this prayer in mind the next time I promised myself.

Spending a night with clothes wet, luggage wet, bus smelling like a fish market... people I have no clue about...I was wondering what I'm up for in the next 2 days!!

As I settled in my seat, slowly we started acknowledging each other better in whatever limited way we could. Coz to our humourous horror, there were Onions & God -knows -what -else, sacks of veggies too stacked in there, onions & lemons escaping the jute knots & rolling out on the aisle!

Anyways, within 15 minutes or so of the journey, a senior member of our team commented that there was something leaking over her seat from up ...something which was definitely not water. It kept dripping at a constant ratio & soaking their seats & them up.

& the guesswork began.

"What is the drip..What is that smell...what could it be....." Everybody got talking about thier assumptions.

Now that's when I discovered the bestest part, which started putting me to ease soon enough. I discovered the group I was with, was a lively & a sporty group. Immediately within no time, all were cracking up with jokes & guesswork with what the colourful water & the smell be.

For, even if any one person would have shown displeasure, it would'nt have been a right start.

Ofcourse, there were no answers there to our guesses, unless someone went to the roof of the bus & checked. Since that wasn't happening, we all tried to sleep.

Within a hour or so, the bus stopped for its usual break at someplace on the highway.

Now, I hated the thought of getting down in the wet clothes & all...but the stench was so bad, that almost all of us were down before the bus could even shut its engine well!

Hmmm... standing in the sides of another bus & trying to dry ourselves from the little breeze; suddenly somebody called out to look up our bus.

& There it was!

The reason of the stench right in front of our eyes.

Stacked in baskets by the dozens, the whole roof of the bus was lined with chickens being taken to our common destination.

I really thought, OMG! We were accomadated on a goods bus [if there was anything like that!] I've NEVER had an experience like this!

Now the confusion started making sense.

The smell was of the chickens & the veggies combined together. To top that, the chickens had a free bath & that water was being showered on us too, from the windows, with added fragnance!

Again free & unasked.

Morning looked really far away....

Between the rains on the roof & the wet trails within the bus, the night passed by with a couple of more eventful things.. yet nothing as eventful as the mystery we were trying to solve:

"Was it finally the Chicken soup... or ... was it the poop?? "

Gaata Rahe Mera Dil...

2010-05-22T01:27:00.006+05:30

A new section I'm adding to my blog from this month on.

& I'll continue this atleast till the next May.

Song of the month.

There's usually a song I get consistently get hung on for days together & ofcourse & it is hummed for days together.

Isin't necessarily a latest to catch onto me..but mostly they're some old favs which I discover in my stored music .

They may be stupid to imagine now... but they've been songs I've liked when I've heard them at different stages & ages of my life, hence hold an attached charm for me.

Thought some musical notes on my wall would be good too. :)

So, here's the song I've been humming the most part of the last 10 days or so.

Cutely romantic! I like! :)

First Class!

2010-05-19T00:17:00.012+05:30

After a good four months, today's Indiblogger mail brought a big smile on me.

From the past four months since the time I've joined Indiblogger, my ranking has consistently been 50.

Last month when it brought in the same ranking yet again, I was amused & bemused at trying to figure out how it worked. :P

This morning when I opened my inbox, I was grinning away noticing my progress atlast!

- & that too by a good jump of 10 points!!

I still have NO clue of how it works & is calculated, yet I was glad & am adding it here as a small sign of my progress.

Feels like I'm showing off my report card! :P

It's good to touch first class! ;) :D

Lost

2010-05-17T22:58:00.004+05:30

[A completed old post... was lying in the drafts for a long time. Post it or trash it is the mood...so went with the thought behind these words, if its an emotion, spend it rather than wasting it. ]

'Nothing seems to be right because I'm missing you.

No other is making me feel wanted...coz you are not talking.

I am restless & I want to reach out.

I am not able to.... not because I am not brave; but because my fear of what lies ahead is more than my bravery.

I'm scared of scarring my heart even more.

I am scared of how to deal with myself.

I dunno how to....nor do I know whom to ask '

Nine Five

2010-05-09T23:34:00.001+05:30

After my meagre dinner, as I was pretty tired of the previous night's travel, so had semi crashed out by 11:30 or so.

In between Power cuts & calls from home, it was finally 2:00 by the time I slept.
While sleeping a thought was to go for a walk in the morn...but later that....'m finally drifting to sleep ...

*************************************************************************

Though I'm generally not lazy in trips, I didn't want to rush today. It was a Sunday!
... & Sundays are by default lazy!! So my walk did happen.... except that it was in my dreams! :D

A quick run over the newspaper, a few calls again, my morning had started good. A surprise call from a friend whom I was speaking to almost after five months just added to the pleasant surprises!! :)

By 10:45 I was out of my room waiting for the taxi I hired for sightseeing to arrive. Fresh, Bright & happy. :)
Going thro the sightseeing brochure while waiting for the taxi, again the thought was reaffirmed that Yercaud is indeed small. I thought I would be done by a couple of hours...

Ohh!! & there I'd planned to spend quite a part of the day in nature's lap, in peace.

Decided to just go along for now, next things next. Will enjoy whatever few places this place offered.

Good for me the taxi I hired was an official Tamilnadu tourism one & felt lucky as the driver could speak broken English! :P
Later realised, actually I got thrice luckier...on a good day.
Why?
Coz this driver guy was also a guide & pro active photographer! :D
Not only did he show me small interesting places, he also volunteered at beautiful scenic points to click pics.. Lol. Was good for me! :D

Started off my day with the visit to 'Lady's seat'....followed by the 'Gent's seat.'

Now I have NO clue why they were named so! I did try to find out, but alas, there was just no info on it there. & what was, was in Tamil! English was just about present a little to identify the places I guess.

Asked the driver too. With his limited English & my limited understanding of that, :P I could not make anything out...so I let the mystery of the names be.

BTW, these two places are the view points of the ghats from which one travels upto Yercaud.
One gets to see the snake curves & the beautiful winding roads of the ghats from these two, nearby but different places. Being camouflaged by the fog.. even in the peak of May, the ghats looked beautiful.

Next was the Rose garden on the list. I got dropped off at the top of the hill & was told by the driver that he would meet me at the exit of the park. You generally have a common entry & Exit for parks, isn't it? Honestly, I got did not understand what he meant then. I thought he was about to run away!

After making sure he wasn't, I left him at that point hoping that when I reach the exit, I do find him there!
Walked inside the park & slowly realised what he meant.
The park had a walk which led downhill & probably to the exit at some other point down the pathway.

Full of silver oak trees & long manicured paths, this garden was scenic & was a very pleasant sight to the eye. it was also pretty green & shaded. As it was a Sunday, quite a few people were out on the day & I made friends with a cute little girl whom I had met earlier at the lady's seat. Meeting kids is always absorbing, they bring life with them.

One amusing thing I did note was that even if the place was called Rose garden, there was just a small patch dedicated to the roses & that too weren't much in bloom!

Lost in thoughts taking in the place, I drifted off in some off path ...& as I was just wondering if I'd gotten lost, I spotted my guide cum driver.
Wandering near the exit with a feeling of getting lost? How often does that happen! :P

One thing I did notice while to & fro'ing from one place to the next, was that Yercaud has a lot of ups & downs. Could make that out from the taxi ride too. Wondered about the people who stay there, they must be getting so tired!

From there was a quick visit to a freedom fighter's home & then to the oldest British built church of the place, I was on my way to the place I'd find most beautiful.

Moved to Pagoda point from the church. My most fav place in this hill station. This place was housed within a Christian religious college of learning.. Now most tourists miss the actual sight seeing point, that is way inside the college grounds. I liked the peace there so went off to see what more the place offered.

I thought that was beautiful, but as my guide led me to the end of the grounds. It was AMAZING! The sights from that point, from where the city of Salem & a couple of other places nearby are visible, giving a broad overview of the towns below was amazing.

Even at 1:00 in the peak noon, a cool breeze blew in the air making it more perfect. I defined this place as the perfect place in this hill station. I also discovered a time measure unit here. A unit by which the time is measured using the sun's rays. A first for me, it sure was intriguing.

After spending a considerable amount of time at the Pagoda point, we moved to Don Bosco school. A very old & a pretty famous one, I was instantly awed by its hugeness. Obviously again a British built school, the school housed some pretty amazing playgrounds, the hostels & a small bird sanctuary too. [If I could call it that.] Had a close one to one with our national bird. & Ohhh... I can safely say its the most beautiful male ever!! ;)

Only thing I felt bad was it should've been in its own wild surrounding..or atleast had company. Peahen please! Company of Ostriches & few other birds wasn't ideal company for it, right?

Last, but not the least, visited two very old temples of Yercaud. One Rajarajeshwari temple & the other the Shevroy's temple, which is built inside a rock. One needs to duck & go within to pay tributes & duck your way out too. BTW, this temple was at the highest altitude of the place. However, I felt, the temple could do with a little outer structure development.

& it was time to get on the way back to the resort after my day out! No food did make me Hungrrrryy & unfortunately the cake I picked up on the way, was not great & did not help at all!

The bright side was that the weather & the ride back to the resort were too good & I almost didn't miss my being hungry.
Here ended my tour of Yercaud. I missed the Killenjeri falls..but that's OK. Once you've missed something...it better to forget it from the place too! :P Well yes, I did remember it here...I love visiting falls in the hillstations!

Next day with the same way 35Rs. taxi ride to the bus stop & 12Rs bus ride to Salem ended my too short yet blissed journey to a small calm place called Yercaud.

To Yercaud!

2010-05-08T23:43:00.006+05:30

A few blogs back I was contemplating to visit some place; as had been one of my this year resolutions.

I wasn't sure I could make it anywhere as I hadn't prepared anything for it .. like in finalizing a place, researching it, locating accommodation, tickets etc.

However, I believe, if the desire's deep, it gets you moving! [Atleast in certain things!]

So on May 1st I decided to check out to a place called Yercaud.
Most are not aware of this place. It is a small hill station, about an hour's drive from Salem city in Tamilnadu.
Its also called the poor man's hill station. [My finances were not great... so this sounded good! :P ]

Since I have not been to Tamilnadu much, I was a lil apprehensive as for the MAIN language problem there.
Yet, I thought, what the heck, I am visiting some place in India, I should manage.

So, with a couple of days frantic search on the net, on phone on maps, on Lonely Planet ... & after making a few reservations, off I took on the 7th May.

Reached Salem 6:30Am! Didn't expect that early to reach as the ticket mentioned 8:00. Nevertheless, obviously was glad then.

Got down & walked my way to the local bus stand AFTER just about managing to get the direction to there. That first experience did give me a lil jitter. People there really do not either understand even sign language or they don't believe in helping foreigners! [Yea, made me feel like one then.]

Wandering back to the pleasantness, its always a different feeling to observe a new place in the crack of morning. the various people out on the roads at that time of the day give you a reflection of the city's soil.
& you actually get a chance to absorb it too...as the place is not fully awake yet. I love the impressions that I form like that.

Soon enough I was on my way to Yercaud in a local bus...which was pretty crowded at 7:00 in the morning too! Learnt many people ferry up & down Yercaud - Salem for work & jobs.

Reached Yercaud & was aghast in the first 10 minutes itself! Nooo..not for the place; but I was aghast to pay 35Rs. for the taxi to my hotel as compared to the 12Rs. that I spent on the bus fare!!! Lone travelling always pinches a lil harder. Not that I'm really complaining though. :)

The first impression I had of the place was that it really looked a small place...& unfortunately was becoming a victim of expansion. That shouldn't be allowed as the hill station is not that far from the city; exploiting it would lessen the charm & take the temperature up due to globalization.

Musing on that I decided to have a low key day; i.e wanted to explore a bit on my own rather than jump on the sight seeing band. It would anyways not take long to cover this place!

So after spending a leisure morning & noon reading by the window sill of my room, at 4:00 I set off to the Big lake. One of the main centres at Yercaud.

When there, I noticed at regular distances there were these Tamilnadu tourism 'promote green environment' placards/ banners & advertisements in simple & effective ways.

Really appreciated that. A nice effort that they're making.

Spent some time there...met a few interesting/non interesting/over friendly people & moved away to catch a magic show nearby.

Wow! It felt so good to feel the awe at tricks that I thought I was done with enjoying only in my childhood. Pretty much enjoyed the show & walked back to the hotel with [suspiciously too nice!] an uncle. Told you na, met a varied lot there. People getting over friendly in the first go? Nah..Not my style! Shrugged him off politely & ended the day with books, sandwiches & tea. :

Breakfast had given me a preview of the food buds of the place..& they didn't suit mine. :(

Here ended day 1 of my 3 day trip. Ofcourse day 2 is where all the action lies, so day 2 will be up once it happens.

& Its goin to be tomorrow. Look for it!

My Morning Cuppa

2010-05-06T23:13:00.020+05:30

"Are you a morning person?"

If someone asks me this, my reply would be in the negative. I need that little time in the morn to settle in for the day...its not that I'm grouchy or anything such, its just I like to start the day on a lil quite note..with my own company.

& With One more thing.

My Morning Cuppa.

Since the time I left school, I got onto the chai habit... & chai only what Ma makes. Its a habit which has been stuck onto me & makes me feel like a dependant at times.

Its just her tea I'm addicted to..& I can make out if anyone else...just about anyone else makes it.

I also have my special glass in which I enjoy my daily dose...which you see in the pic. :D
& so, I dread the even few days she goes outta town...

Last 10 days, Ma wasn't in town & I missed my morning revitaliser... had started getting withdrawl pangs of not getting my daily dose after a few days!
Even if I make my tea, it just does not taste that way..the way she makes. & how much ever I try!, I just come a good close version to it.

I guess this is what's called, "माँ के हाथ का जादू। "

Today she got back...& so recharged I am again by her tea, that I just knew my day would be good. I knew that I had my batteries charged full!

.. & sure it was that way. :)

This is just a lil note to say, "Thanx Ma for the cup of life that you provide me with every morning... ofcourse, apart form the tonnes of other things that you do...."

Love you.

A Virtue?

2010-05-02T20:55:00.010+05:30

Being honest doesn't seem like a great virtue to have; when someone else does not understand it & you end up paying the price of being truthful.

Drenchers & Soakers

2010-05-01T15:24:00.018+05:30

Have you ever consciously noticed how people you meet in your day-in-day-out life effect you? Without them even saying a word, you connect/inconnect to them.

Have you noticed, when you meet certain people, you immediately like them..instantly feel good...find an easy camaraderie in their company.

Likewise when you meet some other people, something immediately puts you off them, you get a distinctly uncomfortable run down feeling?

I'm sure we all do feel that.
I trust people give out vibes about the kind of individuals they are, & depending upon the matching of these vibes with the DNA of our beliefs, we relate to them accordingly.

Broadly, this can be classified into two main categories.

Drenchers & Soakers.

Drenchers are the people whose presence, whose company makes you feel happy, alive & enriched. You pick up good things from them. They are people with positive encouraging attitudes. Even on their bad days, one still does not feel the rubbing off of negativity from them. Such do they powerfully weave themselves with their constructive character.
They Drench you with comfort & happiness, hence the term Drenchers.

On the other hand,

They are some people who, the moment you meet them, you feel sapped. They seem to drain the energy from you. It could be by the way they even just look at you, to the way they butt into your personal life, asking uncomfortable questions... or by filling you with unnecessary tales of others lives..or again by simply being the discouraging whining types. Rarely anything meaningful comes out of a meeting with them.
They Soak you of all your energies & hence I call them the Soakers.

Whereas the Drenchers always prod you on, the Soakers always pull you down.

Everybody has their share of Drenchers & Soakers in their lives..& goes without saying who is the preferred lot from these two.

When life's happy, Drenchers always double up the joy..& when life's down & queasy too, they're the ones who help you pull up fast.

Either ways, they're the ones one should surround oneself with.

On that note, here's a big bow of acknowledgement to all the fine Drenchers of my life.... Thank you for being there. :)

Something to Grin & Bear!

2010-04-28T23:28:00.006+05:30

This latest Tanishq adv gets such a big grin to me, that it got me writing about it the moment I first saw it. A well thought out ad this one is.

Shopping for jewellery is one of the biggest highlight in the other various preparations of the wedding, for a female.

Jewellery, for decking up & pretting oneself is safely one of the tried & tested temptations a girl is charmed with to get married, by the family ... i.e IF she does not have any other non-negotiable temptations! ;)
On a serious note, it Ofcourse it is NOT the reason on which the decision is based. Uh..uh..I'm am not getting into that line of thought now....

As for now, Enjoy the ad...& don't miss the last line![The sms] :P

Smart concept & execution.
As for us females, it's something we have to grin & bear...as it is pretty true to an extent!!
Don't you agree? :D

Happy B'day!

2010-04-27T00:00:00.003+05:30

90 Posts, Much lovely encouragements & a whole new page layout today!

Its a year to "Notes on My Wall" & am I not happy!! :)

Looking forward to more years of,

" Life, Love, Nature, Travels, Relations, Philosophy, Politics, Nonsense, Random, Images, This, That, Everything, Anything... & ME. " :-)

Where To?

2010-04-25T22:15:00.030+05:30

May is almost here & my heart, mind & soul is nagging me, "Where are we travelling this May?"

There has been a resolution to try best & definitely make a trip in May, however short or long I can manage to plan out.

Till now I haven't decided on the options.
Well, I did had decided on one perfect option...an adventure club I am a member of, takes off to Pench Tiger reserve for the weekend I am planning a holiday on.

I remember having mentioned wanting to visit this to a friend, not so long ago.
Crazily, due to some very irrational personal reasons I could not opt for this one. How I've kicked myself for letting this go!!
Anyways, Maybe whatever happens, happens for the best. [In this case, no happening is for the best...? Maybe...Dunno!!]

....Ok, moving from the philosophy & now back here again, I am thinking of options for a weekend trip or a li'l more.

Have any suggestions anyone?

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This IS surprisingly accurate!

2010-04-21T23:38:00.006+05:30

Sometime back I had taken this personality test...& today while I was reading the detailed report, it was surprisingly accurate at the kind of person I am...Well, this is the closest best definition I found.

Per the personality quiz, I belong to the INFJ [Introverted, iNtuition, Feeling, Judging] personality type.

Reading that, surprisingly I did find myself identifying pretty much with the description, compared to the other random quizzes I have embarked upon at times. & among the occupation most suitable to my types,

I have had my fingers in least 4 of the things in the category.

Psychological counselling.
Interior Designer.
Have been on & off involved in social work..
Am fond of Nutritional eating... do that for my passion

I am a certified alternative medicine practitioner [Reiki comes under that.]

Some info on the INFJ people:

"INFJs, making up an estimated 1% of all people, are the most rare type (males even more so). They are introspective, caring, sensitive, gentle and complex people that strive for peace and derive satisfaction from helping others. INFJs are highly intuitive, empathetic and dedicated listeners. These traits tend to act as a "tell me what's wrong" sign on their forehead, hence the nicknames Confidant, Counselor or Empath. INFJs are intensely private and deeply committed to their beliefs. "

Popular careers include:

Writer
Career counselor
Psychologist
Teacher, humanities
Librarian
Special education teacher
Social worker
Public health educator
Documentary filmmaker
Religious worker
Clergy
Playwright
Poet
Interior designer
Desktop publisher
Legal mediator
Chiropractor
Occupational therapist
Nutritionist
Alternative medicine practitioner
Human resources manager
Corporate trainer
Fundraising director
Organizational development consultant.

Hmmm...Very Interesting!

So, my random browsing & playing quizzes on & off, does sometimes get me to some irrefutable sites too! :D
If you wish to try that too, here's the link:

http://www.mypersonality.info/

Try it & let me know the result too!

Winds for Change

2010-04-18T00:02:00.016+05:30

Its just a few days short for a year to my blog now.

& since day one, I stuck onto this template since I wanted something which reflects my personal signature.
I like everything representing me having my personal touch.

That was the first time I realised what a task putting up a blog was. Thinking of a right name for the blog, selecting the proper scheme of layout, changing the right colours for text..& finally adding the blog background, which is generally the most impressionable; apart from the words ofcourse! :)

Now that was so tough! I remember to have searched thro' so many backgrounds before I settled onto this one.

I wanted the background to be dark, as dark consumes less power...& that went well with the environmentalist in me, as well I wanted splash of colours to be onto it too, since I can't imagine life without colours. Bright, vibrant....adding layers to life.
So, after quite a few of mixing & matching & experimenting, I was finally satisfied with the result.

Brought a BIG smile to my face.... & I still love my template as much. It's like your baby, your own work, which no matter how tiresome & difficult it becomes at times, it still gets nothing but satisfaction & happiness to you. :)

*** *** ***

Last week one of my new acquaintance friend suggested I should change the background as it is 'too straining to the eyes', has got me reflecting on changing the template.

Sure I love my template, but if there is a suggestion of it being straining to someone who'd like to visit my page, then I should be a good host too! :)

So, here I am, in the search of another suitable template..& My My its sure a task again!!
To take a break, I ended up writing about it!! :P

Thankfully, I had originally planned to change the template after one year of my blog...so in a way its happening just at the right time.

Lets see what my search & efforts bring me to...after all this can't be as difficult as so many other things we invariably deal with on a day to day basis! Would it?

Wish me luck & watch this page out! :)

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Blessedly Good

2010-04-15T00:12:00.003+05:30

How blessedly good it feels when the relations you value in life understand you, without you saving a word, understand that you need to speak, yet if you don't, will never force you to.

Will just offer the silent support. That is very comforting in itself.

Thank God for such relations.

We Blog & Therefore We Are.

2010-04-14T01:10:00.003+05:30

Guess I am the last one to capture the moments of the indiblogger meet Sunday last. Could'nt help! Had two very hectic days..& among bits of notes on the mind & draft here, I finish it now.

Sunday, 11th April 2010. Hotel Manohar, Begumpet.

Got in the hall & checked the time.2:30 sharp. Thank God! Just on time. I hate to be late.
Looked up to see smiling faces in black tees...the Indiblogger team as I noticed. One lead us to the registration counter, which after done, I caught my name on the projector screen as, Biraj "Walked in". Made me think we were live updates..like in live cricket scores! :P
Done with that, turned around to see quite a good turnout. By the time we settled in our seats, it was almost turning out to be a full house.
People..bloggers were still coming...& by around 2:50 or so, the meet kicked off.
It began with an introduction of the indiblogger team & a very interesting video. The lines & presentation of characters in the video was very neat. A hilarious spoof actually!!
Me was getting comfortable.
This was my first Indiblogger meet & though I was looking forward to this one, I didn't know what to expect!
Then was the "30 seconds of fame". As I had expected when I'd read the email, this was the introductory round of all the blogger attendees.
I called it the round of interesting introductions from varied age groups to varied interested bloggers & from varied backgrounds!
Discovered quite a few hardcore Google fans & one pronounced Microsoft Windows fan.
Realised one thing, there is nothing one cannot blog about! From cartoons, to movies, to poems to cookery to techie things to just jokes to about anything!

One particular thing I did notice was there were so many techies.. so many geeks! I mean when that quiz happened in the last part of the meet, I felt like a kid who was lost among the class of high school!!

Apart from the feeling of getting lost in the quiz... I enjoyed drifting into the crowd in the 'Scratch-my-back activity' which was the 'know everyone' activity. We had to move around with a chart on our backs, with bloggers coming in & sharing anything they'd like to. [Mostly it was Url's to their blogpages. :)]
It was the easiest way to approach & meet co-bloggers whom one may have found interesting in the "30 secs of fame" round.
I had a very interesting chart, thanx to some very exceptional comments...... :D

Then after so much mehnat, there had to be chai - naashta for the hungry souls. So, there was more mingling at the High tea. [Why is it called High Tea btw??]

The quiz round after the food round did actually make sure no one got inert &most of us were on the learning side rather than the answering side! :P

Lastly the not so quick photo session round was fun & getting us all together in one frame was sure a task for the photographer! Though he did manage it pretty well! Have to thank him for sharing the pics ...

...& so with that, we were done for the day.

Oh yes, just before we bid adieu, we did not forget to collect the indiblogger T-shirt! Thanx to the sponsors Univercell for that.

Thus ended my first Indiblogger meet.
Made quite a few acquaintances & am looking forward to dropping in their pages.

...& till we meet again hopefully soon at some other blogmeet, Happy Blogging!!

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Fear

2010-04-11T00:10:00.002+05:30

Fear is the response to an anticipated outcome to a certain thing we are very concerned about.

Fear only comes when there is either an unsurety of self... or the negative mental follow up thoughts to a certain action, we are so affected about.

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Suiting Thyself

2010-04-10T20:57:00.008+05:30

We desire something, we are on a quest.

We desire something very strongly, the more stronger is the drive for it. More difficult also it usually is to attain it.
& then if when we achieve it, we call it "Hard work paid off."

Fair Enough.

But when we don't, we are made to believe, "It was not meant for us."

How easily we glide our situations to the answers that we seek to hear in different situations, different scenarios?

Human mind is the complicated of them all.
[Not that I know of any other mindsets as such.]

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Ignorance is Bliss

2010-04-07T00:17:00.002+05:30

In regards to happiness, many a times, the statement, "Ignorance is Bliss" certainly holds true.

Because the moment you start knowing things & start comparing, Happiness starts diminishing.

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Life is Beautiful ***

2010-04-04T11:28:00.004+05:30

Life is beautiful -- Conditions Apply***
Heard this quote? If you are someone who loves quotes, I'm sure you have. I think its a superb one.

The moment you actually read it, your motor reaction would be a smile in agreement. It was the same for me. & after that was the accompanying thought.

How we grown ups add 'Conditions Apply' part to almost everything that is available to us is something which never ceases to surprise me. We have been blessed with so much as with no other living soul [& God has created so many of them]
Yet, when we get something, instead of taking a moment & being thankful for it or stopping to enjoy it, our mind immediately upgrades to the next desire we wish to achieve & we jump to get that into motion. I remember another good quote which goes;

"There are two things to aim at in life: first, to get what you want; and after that, to enjoy it. Only the wisest of mankind achieve the second." ~Logan Pearsall Smith.

There are very few among us, who actually sit back & enjoy what's achieved & then get back to the chase of the next goal. Those are the truly blessed ones who know what life is all about.

As children we never had the thoughts of applying conditions to anything. Life was beautiful, how ever it was. Even if we did not have the best of things, chocolates, clothes, toys, best of friends, school boxes, fancy pencils, conditioning ourselves to term life as beautiful or not never occured to us.
As we grow up, we are supposed to get more understanding, more mature..more in tune with life. Somewhere it seems we have forgotten the basics & to attune ourselves. We seem to have rigidly stuck onto things which make us so mindful & questioning of everything. Conditions started appearing everywhere!

Then is it because we become so mature that we start questioning the existence of the beauty itself.. & that too not becoz it has vanished somewhere or has ceased to exist... but because we are too busy to notice it.

Doesn't it make one wonder was it good to remain a kid or is it better to be a grown up?
Ofcourse both has its pros & cons...yet I personally favour the time when we just wished to grow up. Wished for a whole lot of things; whether they were realistic or not.
[Me thinks, there should be a reverse button in life to change atleast one thing we really wished for! Would'nt that be great? :) ]

Its good to have goals, to look up, to grow further in life..but is it always necessary apply conditions for whatever we have NOW.. just because we do not have what we aspire for at that moment?
Aspirations will never end.. & nor should they. The thing is to remember how much to aspire & when to get content after achieving them.

This was what my Sunday brought me to think about.
Life is all about moments, what you do now is what you have in future. & I would like to look back & have a range of things that I can see in my past. Not just materialistic things.. labels... or possessions only. Life is surely more than that. Isin't it?

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Go Charge!

2010-04-02T23:51:00.004+05:30

It's that time of the year when any crazy cricket loving individual of the country sacrifices all other pleasures & religiously sticks to the TV/Radio/Web modem to stay clued to the taking-India-by storm IPL series.

I am no great kooky of the game... just catch up whatever games I can & keep up with the progress of the tournament up-to-date.

But when Hyderabad is playing, I am mostly all glued & tuned in to what's happening. Understandably so. :)

Sadly, this year has not been going that great...yet apart from it being my home team, there are couple of more reasons that I love & root for the Deccan Chargers.

Did you know that everytime Gilchrist hits a six, apart from the whole lot of clapping & cheering & seeti maaroing, each time a handicapped child gets a modified push bike? & that has been a regular feature in all the seasons of the game. Now, that is such so applaudable.

Also, DC is the only team that does not have any really great glamour to advertise it that every other team has; except for Gilchrist & Symmonds maybe....the team does not even have a single strong Indian player to talk about.

Yet from being the down to dumps team in the first season, it went on to become Champs in the second season. That's enough reason for me to find it rocking. Sure it fizzes more quicker than a glass of soda at times, but that doesn't stop you from ordering one the next time right?

Very simply, on that note,

I'd wish the team to know, So what DC that it seems that you are following the pattern of the first season now. The result certainly does not have to be the same!

Go Charge & get booming!

& Three roaring Cheers to that!

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March.ing Past

2010-03-31T11:10:00.005+05:30

Its been a very important & busy month...a very busy month.

There had been a 100 things to attend to.. top Priority being Me.
I tried to be extra careful, extra mindful of what I did, said. Tried a total leash on my expressions, words & temper in that order. TRIED.

Didn't know where to take my line of thoughts to... where to begin with.. as all were things which deserved equal importance.

I went with the flow of days, the went on the flow of the winds..& attended to the thing that came to my mind in the mornings first.

On top of that there was always the mind talking a 1000 things at a meteoric speed, half of which as usual fell away like the dust of the galaxy stars...

Anyways, as for now, I am trying to sort the month gone by & trying to understand a certain aspect of the rigmarole of it.

March always seems the longest month to me. Wherein from my teen years it used to bring in a sense of excited anticipation for the end of the month, as finally the holiday season would begin soon...& the Mango season would start!... As of now it still seems long maybe coz its the first summer month..& the heat makes it look too long to pass through.

What am I writing this for? I dunno. Was jogging my head to write a blog for some other topic, for which today was the last day..& ended up writing this.

Feels its been a long time since I wrote something meaningful. Not that this is making any sense too......Just gave in to the itch to write.

Wishing the coming months are uncluttered & more refined.

Passing Thought

2010-03-30T23:40:00.014+05:30

In the first season of IPL, when Ness & Preity were together, the team did great... just missed out on winning the title.

The second year, when they split, the team fumbled.... yet weren't as bad.

& this year when they don't seem to be seem within 5 ft of range together,
the Punjab team is Downnnnnn & looks like on the way out!

Comeon both of you lovely couple, get back together & get the spirit of your team fired!

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The Alphabet Game

2010-03-23T00:13:00.012+05:30

Got an email couple of days back. "Know me" it said.
That took me to the time of my teens when we used to play all kinds of silly games, know me games, test your general knowledge games. It was total fun... how I miss the innocence of those days......!

That got me nostalgicising [you got the meaning, right?] & then put out this one of the most played & liked games of the years gone by.

The Alphabet game. Heard of it..?
I'm sure!

The one in which we use the first letter of an alphabet...generally your name; to answer a set of common questions.

I ofcourse twined a few of them to add a little more fun to it, than it was then. Generally it is a 10-15 second time thing per question & the answers have to be all true..not made up or peeked from here & there!

There cannot be two common answers & you cannot use any word twice.

B is what I'll begin with, as my name begins with it. & So it begins,

1. A name apart from yours: Brinda. [love that name..it means 'The incomparable one'.] Basanti too... :D

2. A boy's Name: Birbal! The intelligent. hehe..

3. Something you love: Babies!

4. An Animal: Bears...Panda bear! So cute.

5. A thing : Balloons!

6. A City name: Bangalore. Have great memories.

7. A street in the city: Begumpet.

8. A Country: Bermuda [Of the triangle mystery.]

9. A Colour: Brown..the colour of Earth.

10. Something you wear: Bright colours.

11. Food stuff: Biryani! [Hyderabadi! :)]

12. A Drink: Bournvita....once upon a time, for many years. Buttermilk.

13. A fruit: Berries. Strawberries.

14. A flower: Birds of Paradise.

15. An occupation: Book reader. :)

16. A sport: Bungee Jumping!!!

17. A movie title: Biraj Bahu! :D

18. A Song: Now this is really tough!! "Bade aache lagte hai..."

19. Something found in the bedroom: Bed.

20. Something found in the bathroom: Bucket!

21. Something annoying: Bad traffic! Burping out loudly! Bad breadth/odour, even from a safe distance!

& the game's done.
I put it up here for remembrance...the next generation may just not be ever knowing these...!

Btw, how long did it take you to play?

Experience

2010-03-22T22:50:00.005+05:30

The best part of experience is, it not only makes you realise & understand things better, it also gets you empathizing from then on. You relate & react better when likely times arise.

A humanising experience altogether.

The worst part of experience is, that not all experiences are necessary for growing up.
Those useless experiences negate the growth rather than making us positive.

Do you agree?

Happy Anniversary!

2010-03-12T00:04:00.009+05:30

When certain relations are made in life, we never know where they will lead us.

& when we look back at a few of them, they look so grown...from the small saplings to flowerful trees which shade us, add beauty & wonderment at the growth of it into something so marvellous.

Such one beautiful tree in my life is my dearest friend.

It doesn't seem long since I met her...but today it is some 18-19 years back that day had passed by. & till date I am everytime surprised within to note that indeed such a long time has passed.

Like I have been surprised from the past 15 days or so..& have her told her enough number of times, that I don't believe it is her 10th wedding anniversary coming up!

A full decade.

Time passes....& all we can do is just reflect at how baby fat got converted into woman fat...[:P] among a whole load of other things!

Sometimes I wonder if time just swapped us or what in a sudden stroke before this decade? Considering what our aspirations were at that time & what we are upto now! :D

Living moments of each others lives that make it for double mazaa & sometimes double sazaa too.......... [ Had to add that! :D ]
By sharing celebration times, the sad times... not haven spoken for almost a year once!! ..bitching about our fave topics... [;)] eating ice creams at 2:00 in the night at your place....[:D] making upto 40 new year resolutions[!!] ...being there when it was required..not required. Just being there.
We've shared all..& there's always more that keeps coming! :)

I have lived the moments of feeling Vedik first time in your tummy... to holding Trishu in my hands.. & have truly savoured them. But you know that.

& you've been the almost participant audience for my increasingly entertaining life too... :P

With the kids growing up, So were we in different ways, it's been a journey of discovery of self & rediscovery of our relation & today when it doesn't take me a moment to pick my phone & call you at any given hour, I reflect at the blessings we get in the name of certain special people in our life.

You just make me comfortable in whatever I may be doing/am to be doing... make me laugh my head off with the at the most silliest of jokes, that nobody else would even smile at....we've been enjoying the crazy ride. [TOUCHWOOD!]

& though I know offlate I have been pouring you with more of grim & less of laugh...
this tells you BBC, that you are loved a Lotttttt & you are among the most selected stars of my life.

& how many ever times I say "Love You" & "Hugs & kisses", there'll always be more to come. :))

[Here, I see a duty to clarify for all the crooked minds, we're NOT lesbians!! She is Happily married & I am Happily....in Love.]

& to you Mrs. Reddy, A Very Happy Wedding Anniversary! *Hugs*

God S M S

2010-03-08T23:52:00.019+05:30

God,
When I really am annoyed with you & don’t believe that you are really doing any work up there, there come up messages like these… & not in my mailbox…right into my extremely limited phone inbox; sms'es at the most aptest of times, when I’ve really needed them. Like you are sending a Save My Soul message just for me.

Makes me bite my tongue & grudgingly accept that you Indeed are doing things up there. [First, by playing, then trying to correct the wrong moves...!??! ..I know I am being sarcastic. Helps at times!! : ]

Coz though I don’t feel like trusting you…my heart forces me to acknowledge your care. [I mean I don't understand why you make us fall on sticky grounds & then pull us up?!?!]

Moving away from my heedless ramblings; these are the Save My Soul messages that poured in my inbox along with quite a few other Women's day messages. Hadn't realised it was Women's day till then.

I knew for sure that these were sent to me for a purpose. Three messages of one kind in one morning! Doesn't happen usually.

"Do not count what you have lost, Just see what you have now...
because past never comes back, but sometimes future gives back what you have lost."
A prayer to start your day with, “God when I lose hope, help me to remember that your love is greater than my disappointment & your plans for my life are better than any of my dreams.”
“May God give you what you deserve not what you desire, because your desires may be few, but you deserve a lot more.”

Though I still have no clue of what I was being made understand, [Coz sometimes deciphering the codes Does get difficult! ] So I will end here with one of my own prayer for now. It's actually another one of my favourite quotes.

"I know God will not give me anything I can't handle. I just wish that He didn't trust me so much."

[ I hope he reads & remembers this. ]

Finally Down

2010-03-07T23:11:00.010+05:30

Know what it is to have a sword hanging on your head...for a long time & though you are not waiting for it to fall down, subconsciously aware it will... someday?
When it does fall down, you do not know whether to not cry at the pain because you knew it would someday....or to totally suppress the pain as it serves you right because YOU needed to be prepared for that escape...or just given to your feelings & Cry, just cry; to let the pain wash over the time?

Or just feel all of the above & realise that it is now finally down & then act wisely...remove it from wherever it hurt?
[Though how it is possible I have not the slightest clue.]

I do not know the answers to this, I wish, truly wish I did.

© All rights reserved with Biraj 3Vedi. To re-print, prior permission required from the author.

Happy Holi!

2010-02-28T18:30:00.006+05:30

लाल काला पिला ... गुलाबी हरा नीला॥

खुशी के सारे रंग रौनक भर दे , मुबारक हो सब को ये रंग बिरंगा त्यौहार।

A Beautiful Story

2010-02-24T22:04:00.006+05:30

A beautiful story to share in the month I've dedicated to Love.

It is an episode narrated by a nurse:

" It was a busy morning, approximately 8:30 am, when an elderly gentleman, in his 80's, came in to have stitches removed from his thumb.

He stated that he was in a hurry as he had an appointment at 9:00 am. I took his vital signs and had him take a seat, knowing it would be over an hour before someone would be able to see him. I saw him looking at his watch and decided, since I was not busy with another patient, I would evaluate his wound.
On examining his wounds I noticed it was well healed, so I talked to one of the doctors, got the needed supplies to remove his stitches and re-dress his wound. While taking care of his wound, we began talking.
I asked him if he had a doctor's appointment this morning, as he was in such a hurry. He told me that he needed to go to the nursing home to eat breakfast with his wife. I then inquired about her health. He told me that she had been there for a while and that she was avictim of Alzheimer Disease (memory loss).
As we talked, and I finished dressing his wound, I asked if she would be worried if he was a bit late.
He replied that she no longer knew who he was, that she had not recognized him in five years now.
I was surprised, and asked him. "And you still go every morning, even though she doesn't know who you are?"
I had to hold back tears when I heard his answer. He smiled as he patted my hand and said,
"She doesn't know me, but I still know who she is."

I realized that true love is neither physical, nor romantic. True love is an acceptance of all that is, that has been, that will be, and that will not be. "

It's All About Love!

2010-02-14T01:17:00.007+05:30

Whether in a relation or not, whether single, looking or not even looking; Love is a feeling which crawls inside without a warning. Even the most cynical feel this emotion within at some point or the other. Its another thing if they never acknowledge it.

Love's an emotion which can only be felt, an emotion which fulfills our beings only when lived to its fullest.

I don't celebrate it... yet I like this day for it makes a whole lot of people feel loving around the world. & thanks to that, whole lot of people feel belonged, cared for & cherished.

Its just a nice way to remind ourselves & express to the fact that we happen to overlook in the rush of living day to day.

Its nice to think of happy faces, content smiles...& that is a whole lot of positivity & energy emulating.

Wish we could not depend on such days only to be felt loved, not depend on occasions like these to feel free to express the love, we have such an amazing capacity to hold in our hearts.

So Wish...!

My Fav Love Lines from the movies

2010-02-09T21:55:00.005+05:30

Of all the romantic movies I've seen so far, some lines have really been too good to forget. From them, these are a few..absolutely mushy.... I'm sure have missed out more, this post will keep getting edited. :)

"ज़र्र्रे ज़र्रे में उसी का नूर है, झांक खुद में वो न तुझसे दूर है ।
इश्क है उस से तो सब से इश्क कर, इश्क है उस से तो सब से इश्क कर,
इस इबादत का यही दस्तूर है।
इसमें उसमे और उस में है वोही, इस में उस में और उस में है वोही ;
यार मेरा हर तरफ भरपूर है....."

-Dilli6 [The ONLY sensible thing about that movie. : ]

********************************************************************************

Harry: I love that you get cold when it's 71 degrees out. I love that it takes you an hour and a half to order a sandwich. I love that you get a little crinkle above your nose when you're looking at me like I'm nuts. I love that after I spend the day with you, I can still smell your perfume on my clothes. And I love that you are the last person I want to talk to before I go to sleep at night. And it's not because I'm lonely, and it's not because it's New Year's Eve. I came here tonight because when you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible.

[Awww..This very dialogue made me go & get the cd of the movie....from the movie, - When Harry met Sally]

*****************************************************************************

April: You should've got on your knee.

Will: Just shut up! Here... I wanna marry you because you're the first person I wanna look at when I wake up in the morning, and the only one I wanna kiss goodnight. Because the first time that I saw these hands, I couldn't imagine not being able to hold them. But mainly, when you love someone as much as I love you, getting married is the only thing left to do. So, will you, um, marry me?

April: Definitely. Maybe.

-Definitely, Maybe. Howww romantic....

****************************************************************************

Melvin: "You make me want to be a better man."

Carol: "That's maybe the best compliment of my life."

-As Good As It Gets

******************************************************************************

Dr. Marcia: Tell me what was so special about your wife?

Sam: Well, how long is your program?... Well, it was a million tiny little things that, when you added them all up, they meant we were suppose to be together... and I knew it. I knew it the very first time I touched her. It was like coming home... only to no home I'd ever known... I was just taking her hand to help her out of a car and I knew. It was like... magic.

-Sleepless In Seattle. [ Where are such guys??]

******************************************************************************
Michael: Kimmy says if you love someone you say it, you say it right then, out loud. Otherwise the moment just...

Julianne: Passes you by...

Michael: Passes you by...

- My Best Friend's wedding. [Very true]

*****************************************************************************

William: I live in Notting Hill. You live in Beverly Hills. Everyone in the world knows who you are, my mother has trouble remembering my name.

Anna: I'm also just a girl, standing in front of a boy, asking him to love her.

Notting Hill- Hugh Grant, Julia Roberts, Classic chemistry!!

******************************************************************************
Ike: Look, I guarantee there'll be tough times. I guarantee that at some point, one or both of us is gonna want to get out of this thing. But I also guarantee that if I don't ask you to be mine, I'll regret it for the rest of my life, because I know, in my heart, you're the only one for me.

-Runaway Bride. [Richard Gere was SO SO charming!]

*******************************************************************************

Jerry: I love you. You... complete me.

- Jerry Maguire [Somehow the number of times I've sat to watch this movie for this dialogue, I've ended up missing it.]

*******************************************************************************

Girl: "What color are my eyes?" she asks, facing him with her eyes closed.

Boy: " Well, at first glance your eyes are brown. But when the light hits them, they change to amber. And if you look really close around the iris, the color is pure honey. But, when you look into the sun, they almost look green....that's my favorite."

- Monster in Law. [Sighhh! ]

********************************************************************************

February Effects

2010-02-08T21:37:00.008+05:30

Its That week..the love week, if it is called that. & somehow this year, my thoughts have been going in & out to that thing called love. February is being funny with me this time.

& maybe becoz I do not have anybody to call my own, I'm wondering how would I love him to be, He, whom I'd love to call my own.

Honestly, right now the immediate thought that came to my mind is, I wish for someone like my cell phone. My darling! [Now, that's the first ever time I've called it that... but I know its worth now, so I shall acknowledge. :P] Told you, February is being funny with me this time.

My phone had been with me for almost 18 months now..& its gone through a lot. It is a very modest piece, no hi-fi stuff, not even a CAMERA! [That should be provided with EVERY phone model according to me!! : ]

Anyways, my phone in the last 18 months must have taken a fall some 18 number of times atleast & in all kinds of surfaces. [OK, 18 times is maybe a littttle exaggerated, but 10 I've counted. Whatever.., The beauty is that it's still been good to me, & that's what's counting. & touchwood to that! ]
Point is, even after being a simplest of pieces, having been thro' a li'l less than careful handling, yet, it has been loyal to me..with nothing ever happening to it; except maybe the battery splitting & falling out a few times.

I wish for a man like that. Who even if I fail sometimes, he'd be sound & solid behind me. If I fall anytime, he would gently pull me up again & ease the pain just by his words.... Will support & give me reassurance that, "It's all OK. I'm still here."
& Even if I do not live upto his expectations at times, I will be happy in the knowledge that, "Yes. I'm secure in his love, in our relation."

& in understanding, I too shall naturally overlook his lil peeves like no camera, limited memory... [remember..? :P] et al.

Coz I do know for all of this what I am wishing & hoping, I know very well that I am worth it & special...& whoever I share myself with would be as much more special too.

© All rights reserved with Biraj 3Vedi. To re-print, prior permission required from the author.

Love is...

2010-02-06T00:52:00.002+05:30

When you feel someone has really gone inside...somewhere deep within.
When you are unable to find out how deep, where inside is he stuck.. & you wonder how on Earth will you remove him from within there.

Love is,
When you finally recede & realise that he is hidden himself comfortably, somewhere within you, your existence...
...& You don't mind it.

© All rights reserved with Biraj 3Vedi. To re-print, prior permission required from the author.

Messages from God

2010-02-03T21:38:00.010+05:30

Sometimes when you really need some kind of guidance, some kind of sign & no reply comes to you from anywhere, that's when a message from God comes & it just seems like what the doctor ordered. To me they come in the most obvious of forms in my mailbox & I immediately start calming down.

These have been some of the Wonderful messages I have received on the occasions I have felt lost..& sometimes the messages have joined me in my happiness too..

"On this day of your life, Biraj, I believe God wants you to know...
....that you are part of a Larger Whole, and you are
never, ever alone.

It is tempting, during difficult times, to feel very much
alone, as if you are taking this journey in solo form,
with no one at your side, and no one on your side.
Nothing could be further from the truth.

You are an aspect of The Divine. God lives in you,
through you. "I am with you always, even unto the end
of time" are not just pretty words. They are truth."

"On this day of your life, Biraj, I believe God wants you to know...
....that every day--nay, every moment--you will have a
chance to be Right or to be Love.

Your choice will define who you are.

You will not have to think but a second to know
exactly why you received this message today."

On this day of your life, Biraj, I believe God wants you to know...
..that there is no 'right way' to do anything, there is only
the way you are doing it.

Never be afraid to "try your hand" because you don't
want to might make a mistake or not do something
"right." Success in life comes from being willing to move
into Unchartered Territory.

Always remember: Life begins at the end of your
Comfort Zone.

You will not have to think but a second to know
exactly why you received this message today.

On this day of your life, Biraj, I believe God wants you to know...
...that wisdom is learning what to overlook.

William James said that, and he had it absolutely right.
And someone in your life right now is hoping, praying,
that you will overlook their faults, their foibles, their
most recent mistake.

Will you? The Universe invites you to say yes.

You will not have to think but a second to know
exactly why you received this message today."

Yes, I've never taken a second to understand why I received the particular message on the particular day. It only reaffirms to me the message from above, 'Go on Girl, I'm looking over you!'

& I can't Thank him enough for that.

Let's Connect

2010-02-01T22:32:00.006+05:30

I can't help liking February. Its the month of love.

Before anyone starts smirking, I'd like to add that, yes I do love the word Love. Hopelessly, hopefully, mindlessly, mindfully...esp since I've been touched by it. I do know how it feels.

But hey it isin't about 'love-love' only. We can always use a good reason to do something more good. Can't we?

The world of urban cities we live in today is such that we need two OS at home, even if there only are two people residing there. We are thus called modern day people!

We are taking our relations so much for granted, that we forget...rather bypass connecting to the person sitting in the same four walls, with whom we are intimately related, for whom we claim to work so hard, whom we claim to love so much; but we login to the world's wicked window's [www!!] to get in touch with a whole lot of friends out there.

I have nothing against the WWW's at all. As a matter of fact, I am communicating myself through that very medium.

But there is a line for all, an understanding for how much is allowed. That seems to have blurred. Nobody's fault actually. The way we have begun to live, this has become an naturally extended ununderstood reality of life.

I sometimes find it difficult to believe the dictionary meaning of the word, Connect. We feel we are connecting to the people we love, value, through these mediums, yet we do not connect to the people who deal with us in our everyday life, who really cherish us. Love is expressed rather very strangely these days.

Did someone change the meanings while I was looking somewhere away?

No?

Good!!

So, let's correct those little flaws before they turn out into failing glitches of our life pattern.

Let's connect. Connect to the people we love, connect to the humans around us. Who make up our life.. & let's try to abstain believing that connecting to some acquaintances or a random strangers out there, over connecting to the people who have been with us through a period of time, is going to give an inner sense of happiness.

Let's get real. Let's connect to real people.

January

2010-01-31T19:02:00.006+05:30

So January has been a quite month.

There have been quite a few thoughts started..but somehow haven't been able to frame & complete them.

There's a lot to pen down...but somehow it's happened that when the thoughts are flowing, there is no page around ..& vice versa.

Also, when there is a lot of pent up stuff, rather than pouring it out, the opposite happens & all which has to be thrown out... it goes in & takes up unnecessary place & causes a lot of friction until its pushed in the ignore/let go folder. Pre-occupies the mind so much too, till that happens! :O

Wish I could find it easy enough to flush it all away. Too many experiences, too many observations & a li'l of the way I am, has me this way.

Now that January's ended... am I not looking forward to a better February!!

..If not anything else, it's time to be happy just becoz it IS the month of Love. :)

Hats Off!

2010-01-14T23:31:00.001+05:30

There are very few people who get me under they spell within their first introduction. & Am I not under this amazing guy's spell??

Amazing is really not the word here...Agape suits better!!!

Watch it & decide for yourself.

Agree with me?

Resolutions 2010

2010-01-03T02:21:00.019+05:30

Every year I make resolutions & every year I try & follow them to quite an extent, except the really fanciful ones that I add only for effect & the good feeling it brings to me.

Good thing is, from the last year, the list is getting more realistic. Age does that to you...makes one stick to serious resolutions only... so that you could be serious about them. [Godd! Do I sound ancient?? :P]
Infact, the carried over resolutions from the past year[s] are the most important ones that need to be addressed.

Every year, I also elatedly tick a check on the resolutions achieved. :))
This years list looks more better achievable.. but have a few carry forwards to attend to first. So, excluding the carried forward ones, these are the resolutions of the new year.
[To Start & Stick to following all the resolutions jotted down.. is the uncounted top resolution!]

I shall feed my love for travelling. Shall travel to discover atleast one good place this year.

I shall start exercising again. Oh Yes! More for being healthy & feeling fine.

I shall try to set a deadline for procrastination. [Yep..you read right. :D Honestly, that helps!]

I shall start reading books! That good habit had got lost in a long break.

I shall get back to gardening. [How I miss growing my veggies & colours!! :( ]

I shall return the missed calls that I get. [Maybe not all....yet most of them. [That is a start!]

I will finish the posts that I start....as well, I shall also finish & publish the posts that I start within 3-7 days. [Tough!]

I will not be guilty of being vulnerable...just because something does not go my way. Had it gone right, would I ever feel guilty?

I will NOT lose any more weight!! [LOL! Don't want to look sick... :P]

I will more consciously for the environment & reduce my carbon footprint wherever I can.

I have to learn to believe in the word "Trust" again.

I have to find peace in whatever I do. [Since I learnt what is more important to me, I can't afford to lose time at useless places/things]
I have to get around speaking decent Telugu! [After all, I can Read & Write it!]
I have to be more receiving. [Will start accepting gifts.. :P which I would find very difficult earlier.]
I have to get back to painting .
I shall never stop: trying to be a better person; follow what I believe in, even if the odds are against it; lose hope when things look bleak; leave my good habits. [All these become the sacrificial lambs first thing.]
& finally, Will Definitely express to my dearest people, in deeds & words, that they are most loved.

Grounded & achievable right? Let's wish at the end of the year, I gladly tick ALL off!! :) Happy New Year to All.

31st December

2009-12-31T23:44:00.003+05:30

31st December.

A year of life gone by...or a year of life gained?

The Best Song of 2009

2009-12-24T00:59:00.006+05:30

Some songs are just excellent. How many ever times one hears it, it never grows out. One such song this year was the one that I have put down here.

I really end up hearing it, everytime. If you know what I mean.

Thought should put it down here as how strong this song stays for me, I'll see as the years go by.

"Ajj din chadheya, Tere rang varga

Phul sa hai khila Aaj din

Rabba mere din yeh na dhale,
Woh jo mujhe khwaab mein mile
Use tu lagade abb gale
Tenu Dil da Vasta

Rabba aaya dar pe yaar ke,
Saara jahan chod chaad ke,
Mere sapne sawaar de,
Tenu dil da vaasta

Ajj din chadheya, Tere rang varga

Baksha gunaho ko,
Sun ke duwao ko
Rabba pyaar hai, Tune sab ko hi de diya

Meri bhi aahon ko,
Sun le duwao ko
Mujhko woh dila...maine jisko hai dil diya.

Aas wo pyaas wo, uske de itna bata

Woh jo mujhe dekh ke hase,
Paana chahun raat din jise
Rabba mere naam kar use,
Tenu dil da vasta

Ajj din chadheya...Tere rang varga ...

Maanga jo mera hai,

Jaata kya tera hai,

Maine kaunsi, Tujhse jannat maang li
Kaisa khuda hai Tu,

Bas naam ka hai Tu

Rabba jo Teri itni si bhi na chali

Chahiye jo mujhe, kar de tu mujhko ada

Jeeti rahe saltanat teri,
Jeeti rahe aashiqui meri,

Dede mujhe zindagi meri,
Tenu dil da vasta

Rabba mere din yeh na dhale, Woh jo mujhe khwaab mein mile
Use tu lagade ab gale,
Tenu dil da vasta

Rabba aaya dar pe yaar ke,

Saara jahan chod chaad ke
Mere sapne sawaar de,

Tenu dil da vasta

Ajj din chadheya, Tere rang Vargaa........

Festivity

2009-12-23T00:04:00.009+05:30

Festivity is in the air! Wherever you go, there's lights, brightness & bedecked ambiance all around.

There's a joy in the air & even if you are the non-noticer types, you can't help to sit back & notice the tinge of excitement in people & things around.

The whole world wears a festooned look at this time of the year.

I too love festivity... who doesn't? :)
It gives a message of joyousness, celebrations & something to look forward to.

The bling & the aura of the climate apart from the usual gaiety, also sometimes makes this thought in me to creep out; -
In earlier days, we used simple lights, candles & bare decor to mark happiness in the air.. & yet we felt it deep within our hearts.

That was evidently visible on our selves. Now even after the replete kind of shouting of the festival time from everywhere, do we really feel it in our hearts? Is it now an occasion for us to let ourselves realise that its time to celebrate? To pause & let the year go by & welcome a new one..so that we don't miss the passing & advent of a new one?

Earlier, simple diyas were enough to bring out the happy sentiment & mood, now even if we light up the city, we don't have that much light in the heart to feel that joy to celebrate...no time to feel the occasion, except spend a bit, do a few typical customary things & make oneself realise that we are supposed to feel joyful.

Is life slowly becoming lifeless?

Somehow, this year's parting has gotten me in that mood. Sometimes all this merrymaking gets to me in this way.

For few many other times, I'm as happy as you to bring in the new year with all the dazzle which outshines any philosophical thoughts as I churned out above!

Wishes for a Very Happy New Year to All! :)

Does God also need a God?

2009-12-20T00:06:00.011+05:30

Since the time I was very young I remember being rewarded or appreciated for any good thing I did.

From getting good grades in school to scoring well in boards.

From helping some positive thing to doing any deed which was worth getting appreciated.

There used to be a small or big reward everytime.

In teen years too, when individuality develops, we get appreciated, rewarded for turning into responsible people.

& so is the common pattern.

We may not always win jackpots as rewards, but small/big token rewards in the form of happiness, satisfaction or even some materialistic surprises, do find ways to the fine deeds that we practice. & it makes us feel good. This does not mean that people always do things in anticipation of rewards only...I'm mentioning the general human pattern.

At every stage we get rewarded as a form of encouragement.
Be it at any place.

Sometimes I wonder if God believes in it too?

He is constantly testing us..& sometimes those exams become so cumbersome that one feels that it is better to give up & fail rather than keep the attempt on to complete it.

But, he does not even accept that. You have to sit thro' those phases of the so called exams for the designated time he has decided upon; attempting to work on every question he's thrown at you.

Bading the time for every question you wish to pass, every effort that you wish it succeeds, makes me on occasion think that God has pretty healthy sadistic tendencies.

Else, he definitely would not have made good people guinea pigs & have this twisted testing system in place.

This definitely does not encourage in any way.

I'm wondering over & over, has God also got corrupted in this corrupt world, has his plan also backfired from what he originally set out to do? So is he showing his displeasure this way? What does he wish? Is he also lost at times like most of us?

Tag

2009-12-18T23:46:00.013+05:30

Took this tag from a random blog I was surfing. Looked very interesting to me. After pinching it a little, thought would try my hand too. Sometimes these questionnaires make one think about things small/big that make us up.

Thirty Three.

1. What is your current obsession?
Going on a holiday. Even if its for the weekend. I'm due for one since quite a while now...esp as I had a very hectic year.

2. What was for dinner?
Khichdi, Bhaakri, Tomato curry & Dahi.

3. What is the meaning of your name?
Biraj means Welcome. :)

4. What are you listening to right now?
Silence of the night. Actually, I can hear the fan throwing its breeze & occasional vehicle sounds.

5. What do you think about the person who tagged you?
No one did. I picked it from my random flipping through blogs.

6. If you could have a house totally paid for, fully furnished anywhere in the world, where would you like it to be?
A cottage among the hills of Munnar......Wishhhhhhhhhh!! :)

7. What was the last thing you bought?
Face wash.

8. If you could go anywhere in the world for the next hour, where would you go?
Where Else.

9. Which language do you want to learn?
Spanish. Near home, I wanna master speaking Telugu... after all I can read & write the language! Would like to learn Bengali too. Its a sweet sounding language.

10. What’s your favourite quote?
Really can't pick one! I am a quote aficionado. the latest to become my fave, I'll put here:
"The grass is not, in fact, always greener on the other side of the fence. Fences have nothing to do with it. The grass is greenest where it is watered. When crossing over fences, carry water with you and tend the grass wherever you may be."

11. Who do you want to meet right now?
My dearest friend ...................

12. What is your favorite colour?
Tough! Umm..Wine red.

13. What is your dream job?
Where someone pays me for travelling!! Or a child psychiatrist. Or an editor for some meaningful magazine!

14. What’s your favourite read?
No permanent fave read, pick whatever frame of mind I am in. But can read Mills & Boon anyday! Total stress busters! :P

15. If you had $100 now, what would you spend it on?
Save it.. for something I plan soon enough.

16. What do you consider a fashion faux pas?
In Girls, Innerwear peeping out of the low jeans & not knowing how to carry certain clothes!! Yet, they go about wearing them. Looks very cheap.
In Guys, there's nothing much to judge on, but yes, dressing in clashing colours is a big NO NO.

17.What are three cosmetic/makeup products that you love using? Name them.
Deos/Perfumes: Lily of the valley deo is my current fav.
Lip colour ...Earth Matte & Pink rose.
My dolphin earrings & pendant something I really love. I'm quite possessive & frugal in using it.
Smile is another best cosmetic I use a lot! :)

18. What are you going to do after this?
Post midnite? Ponder...till I crash out. That's the general pattern.

19. What are your favourite movies/songs? Name upto 3.
So many movies & songs....
Ye lamhe.. is an all time fav song from Lamhe & the movie is among my favs too.

20.What kind of haircut do you prefer?
The one that I wear! Maybe a lil longer... for Guys, Short hair please!

21. Who according to you is the most over-rated style icon?
Shahrukh Khan, Bipasha Basu & Aishwarya Rai.

22. What inspires you?
Anything, Children, Nature, People.

23. Give us three styling tips that always work for you .
Be yourself. Be sincere. Be clean.

24. What do you do when you “have nothing to wear” (even though your closet’s packed)?
Pick whatever comes in hand in the 3rd attempt!! :D

25. Coffee or tea or milk?
Tea. In the morning.

26. What do you do when you are feeling low or terribly depressed?
Ponder, write, listen to songs, Basically like to be left alone then.

27. Which other blogs do you love visiting?
Apart from the fave list of blogs that I follow, I generally like random surfing.

28. Favorite Dessert/Sweet?
Laapsi... & home made Fruit Salad, Chocolate Bomb...quite a few actually! :D

29. Favorite Season ?
If you have read my earlier posts..Do I need to even mention this one?
....Monsoons....

30. If I come to your house now, what would u cook for me?
Depends if I know your taste or no. Else, simple ghar ka khaana. :)

31. What is the right way to avoid people who purposefully hurt you?
Depends on Who is hurting you....you can't ignore everybody.....

32. What are you afraid of the most?
Losing the relations that are dearest in my heart.

33.Is it possible to be in love with two persons simultaneously?
Love as in 'Love-Love'? - No.
Else we do love many people who make up our life.

I'm tagging Mihir & Abhishek....Mayuri, you mail your replies to me!
Anybody else wanting to try..just tag on...its fun! :)

Tra la laa la laa!!

2009-12-09T15:48:00.010+05:30

Ever know how it feels to get rid of a guilt & finally enjoy what you really wish to do?

I did not, till a while back...
...Merrily, I know that now! :))

For the longest time now, I had been into consciously trying to eat right, counting my calories...trying & exercising when I can, follow healthy food habits [well, that is more becoz of a passion..] in order to reach THE perfect weight [in my eyes] for ONCE...& hold that on for atleast 6 months time at a stretch.

Being a true Gujarati, I have this sweet tooth..[which seems a bane sometimes... :(] & I more than less had a problem containing the perfect weight on the correct needle for a consistent amount of time.

But the effort did finally pay off.....Hurray now!!! :D

I have somehow, miraculously [Touchwood!!] been able to hold onto THAT desired weight, THAT desired inch measure on the measure tape for a successful 6 months now!!!
Feels as if I broke the jinx of FWS. [Fluctuating weight syndrome! ..Yep, I've termed it so! :P ]

Can't express the exhilaration I'm feeling over this gleeful fact. :D

The result of which has been that I have been able to enjoy my most fave desserts, Laapsi/ chocolates/cakes/ice creams with relish ...& without a trickle of guilt!!

OK, before you think of letting me know,if I continue that, I'll be back to the FWS; lemme assure you, I do have that mental note very boldly etched at the back of my mind...so I won't trip! :D

As for now, let me just INDULGE!!!! :D :P

Happy Day!

2009-12-08T23:48:00.009+05:30

Life seems to be in such a rush these days..that everything else; except for a few very wanted things, are happening like stars that twinkle galore in a village sky.

I try to pause, try to catch a few breadths only to find that my mind though exhausted, has already reached the next 'to do' place & is waiting for me to catch up.

Among such zombie days, when refreshingly comes a day that suddenly takes you back to a past event, enjoyed happiness, in years gone by, that is when for a brief while, life suddenly looks up again & we automatedly reach out to that sphere where that particular delire was enjoyed.

Today is 1 such day. & though I am too tired & also unwell; to rejoice that happiness, my heart has been smug all day & I am with a shimmer smile about me.

Happy Day! :)

Which Way?

2009-12-07T13:05:00.009+05:30

Just because a relation/idea doesn't mould in the shape we desire it to,

Should it be abandoned or should it be allowed to take a form of its own?

I often ponder over this question. Whenever there is something that we see not going right...the way we had anticipated it to; should we put in more efforts to improvise it...[& in the bargain, ALWAYS be prepared for it to misfire & break...]

...Or should we just let it Be... & let it embody in a unique [Wishfully, delightful] cast of its own?

What Scrabble Taught Me.

2009-12-03T20:26:00.010+05:30

Offlate, I have been addicted to playing scrabble on the net. That is what is taking up my whatever li'l free time these days.
As I had gotten back to it after a really long time, expectedly I was out of sync. & so when I lost all of the initial 9 games like 9 pins... the modest plume I'd feel on my word power also got lost with that!

Now, armed back with a few forgotten tips from my friend & scrabble partner, I am getting better again.
Scrabble for me always was a game to test & improve my word power & I concentrated on just that- Improve my word power. - By trying on forming new words all the time.

If you have played scrabble on the net, you would know that it has a word dictionary where you will find 2 letter words, [which most of the time I have no knowledge of!]
There are also premium squares which help in scoring more by suggesting where one can place the high value alphabets. Those boxes do win games if used well.

So, along with enhancing word power, it is also important to balance playing on the right squares with the right letters to score more & win.

So far so good. But when I set off on scoring high & on 2 letter words, the word formation took a toss.. & vice-versa. Getting both of them working was requiring quite some practice!

That is when I learnt a profound lesson. Life is so similar to this game.

Where making words & improving vocabulary is important, it is also important to score fast & high even if it is coming from meaningless words! :)

Likewise in life too, its good to strive for an anchored life, but it is also necessary to know what it means to let loose & live life off the edge & enjoy that ride.

Commonly, while attempting this, most of us sway & fall & then stick on one side only.

Scrabble re-taught me how to play right to get the game well. The word game as well as the life game.

Yes, it needs loads of practice, but once got right, it'll fall in an euphonic rhythm.

...I'm off to practice... Chao!

10 Uneducated habits of Educated Indians

2009-11-28T13:52:00.010+05:30

Consistently over my growing up years I have noticed a few uneducated things that educated Indians do. I have not seen much of a visible change through the years, though there is a visible change in the lifestyle of our times.

Here are a few habits I have recorded which have been invariant as long as I can remember.

1] Littering: Making the roads a dustbin is subconscious embedded in us ...atleast most of us. Be it a guy from a high flying car or 2 wheeler driving techie, they all do this. Wonder what will it take to wake this subconscious?!?

2] Spitting: Some people are SO aware of the environment, that they feel it their duty to stop the wastage of water.. albeit in their own ridiculous way. So they spit right wherever they feel like. On the road, pavement, inside buildings, staircase walls...basically everywhere where one would not need to water it away.

3]Act as mock spectators: There are so many times wen we see accidents happening on the roads, & we just act as spectators. Honestly, people who are not that educated often are seen helping these people in need. Wonder where do we leave that education to? To plain indifference?

4]Talking on the phone while driving. Now almost EVERYBODY does this. With Bluetooth or without. When there is a rule, shouldn’t it be followed? If not for the law, atleast becoz its for the safety of us & others!

5] When we want to get our work done, its OK to bribe, but on the same, when there is a discussion on, we never cease to complain & complain. I do agree this is really easier said than done. Staying in the same pond, we too do invariably get forced to drink the same water, but then don’t sound as if you are Harishchandra’s avatar & crib about India. If it means that strongly to you, abide by it!

6] Indifference is our middle name: If we see anything around us which, as being educated citizens require attention, we shall only provide proverbial comfort! That is, IF we aren’t getting late for am appointment, job, movie, etc..then we think of providing help. Else, its generally, “too sad, but I have other things to attend to ,not my business."

7]Free ka maal wastage: Everybody loves freebies. Including me. : But how do you handle it? Many times we pick up tissue papers from the hotels, free food at work place, fill up our plates & not complete it & waste off half of it. Even the xerox'es at work place, we waste copies of it...just becoz its free. Why? Why??

8] Acknowledgement: While most will bend down & not only fake smile.., but smother artificial compliments to people who make a personal difference for gains; I wonder why is it so difficult to even acknowledge a nod, a smile to some attender at a restaurant, a security guard at a theater, the watchman of the building. Surely it will not take away any high qualification/money by doing that.

9] Exercising rights: OK. We are in a democracy. So everybody is allowed to exercise their free will.
But when I see perfectly well educated graduates/MBA’s/CA’ S..[yes I did confirm the levels of education from the plenty of non voters! Coz I could not believe these are educated people!!] not exercising their votes; but rather talking like some buffoons from a place even further down from villages, I am lost for reactions. What is education to them???? Just getting a paycheck of a so & so amount? Or where there will be some kind of something for them? By voting isin't there a lot for them? I do not get that, But certainly are some rules in democracy too right? I wonder why isin’t voting made a compulsory law? Coz as it is, though with or without the law, many things don’t work here, atleast it will make some tiny winy difference. Atleast that!?

10. Driving etiquette: More than etiquette [I wonder how many people can relate that word with 'Driving'!], its about basic manners. When there is a car/bike breakdown of a hapless person on the road, [God forbid if it is a busy road!!] the poor s/he would rather hope to dissolve into the ground beneath, than hearing the impatience in the other commuters vehicle horns & glares! There is rarely a sentiment like, stopping by & offering help. But there is ALWAYS the sentiment of blazing the horns away & act insensate.

These are the few things which I so hope that slowly yet steadily get out from our society & make us think of ourselves as being 'truly educated.'

© All rights reserved with Biraj 3Vedi. To re-print, prior permission required from the author.

10K Run...Whatta Fun!

2009-11-27T20:36:00.010+05:30

Sunday Morning 4:30 .

I woke up with the sudden alarm with a start. Hardly 3 hours back I had got into bed after going for an impulse movie last night..& now I am awakened by the mind clock ticking off earlier than it was supposed to. Uggghh! why can't it let me sleep!!

For more than 3 years now I had been wanting to go to the 10K run which happens annually on a November Sunday in my city. & for more than 3 years I had failed to make it...mostly due to lack of good company, [Such lazy friends I have.. & the active ones aren't in town! :O]

However, this year I decided, company or no company, I am going to be there. I will have loads of company once I get there.

Also, importantly I wanted to participate before the enthusiasm ran out of me. Next year is again far away...& killing procrastination was one of my this years resolutions!

For the nescient, The Hyderabad 10K Run is a 10 km run that goes around the Hussainsagar Lake. It is divided in 3 categories. 10k[regular], 5k [for beginners..] & half marathon [21.1 kms]

I was a beginner..but a confident one! If I run, it has to be for the 10k..however long I can make it.

So, here I was, at 4:30am, contemplating my decided options... I decided to wait till a lil dawn descends, so that I could start.

Hmm..so at 4:30Am, I was trying to get back to some more sleep, obviously very tired with the shindig of the previous night's impulse as well as my current erratic work timings.
Since I was already up & 6:30 was not far away, for the briefest of moment I thought I should straightaway attempt the half marathon! Thankfully, that thought flew out of the window with the cool breeze as immediately as it arrived!

Indeed half marathon!

I was apprehensive on how much I would make it in the regular 10k itself..half marathon looked like a sudden horrific nightmare. Reminded me of a scene in some movie made on a novel, 'Do Biga Zameen', how the hero suffers to reach the end point..& finally loses his breadth. I had similar filmy images of me trying to complete that Half marathon & desperately trying to reach the finish line & die on it!
Thankfully such nightmares don't become a reality.

5:40Am.

I was ready & waiting for a li'l Sun to be up. While waiting, I suddenly fell into a cat's nap! Now this NEVER happens...so before I realised, it was already 6:00 & I was in a panic mode. I was sure that I wouldn't be there on time..& that was so disappointing!

Yet, I did start. Unfortunately the road was cordoned off for 2/4 wheelers to quite a far off place & I had to walk quite a mile before reaching People's plaza. the destination for the start of the run.

On walking I realised I had almost 5kms to reach People's plaza! &*%$#@!!! I had to fall of that nap today of all days?? I would never be on time. :(

Anyways, I walked upto 3.5 kms & then stopped as I saw the Hyderabadis in full flow towards my direction. The run had started!

I caught up with quite a few known faces as well as friends & turned around to continue the run, which, at that moment seemed like trying to cross The great wall of China!

In the expanse of 10kms., I saw a varied mix of very interesting people. People propagating causes, people running with their families, a couple of celebrities, kids, many corporate employees displaying their company logos, quite a few number of foreigners, photographers, bands playing to entertain, beggars on the roads looking strangely at this Sunday morning hulla, few residents from their balconies... totally enjoyed it. In our daily lives, very few times one gets to actually watch & register the happenings around us.

As I took the 10k run, here is the route that was charted for this one:
People's Plaza, Necklace Road, as the start & end point. - Sanjeeviah park -Sailing Club [Here I resisted the biggest temptation to run away home...as home comes in between these 2 points! :)] - Tank Bund - Ambedkar Statue -Secretariat -Lumbini Park road- & then back to People's Plaza.

Though I totally exhausted myself even less than 5Km into the run, somehow I kept going, also with good timely help of a quite younger cousin, whom I accidentally met there. God Bless him.

Finally, when I did reach the finish point, the joy & exhilaration were indeed most fulfilling. The pains of the long run... jog & the eventual walk all suddenly gave meaning to the effort. Like some rewarding experience we gain after doing some worthwhile work.

All in All, 10K run was a lot more than 10K fun!!!

© All rights reserved with Biraj 3Vedi. To re-print, prior permission required from the author.

Democratic India?

2009-11-18T15:05:00.010+05:30

Sachin Tendulkar.

Who is he?
A Name? A Brand? An Icon? An uncommon man? A citizen of a democratic country, An Indian?

Where does one put him into? Can't right?

Coz he IS all of these!

When this man recently gave his opinion on something related to Mumbai, it all was over the news for totally wrong reasons.

Wrong reasons & Sachin? You may wonder; as Sachin is known to be one of the most soft spoken giants of the cricketing world.

Rightly so, it was not HE who was wrong, but a certain Mr. Bal Thackeray .

Now there was a time I used to like Mr. Thackeray for his standing against for what was wrong & calling spade a spade. Afterall, in the name of a soft & aggressionless country, there was a lot of crap happening on which Mr. Thackeray had taken a stand.

But that was earlier.

With time I guess a sense of proportion has gotten lost within him along & his confused warring family. The internal game of oneupmanship is being played nationally.

Being defensive & protective of your motherland is one thing & becoming a bigot is another.

Over the years The Shiv Sena has slowly & steadily become a pro-creed group within India, who have been choking the very spirit of the country for which they had started off to defend in the first place.

When Sachin made a comment that 'Mumbai is for all'; that comment was published in Mr. Thackeray's mouthpiece 'Saamna', asking Sachin not to ruin his image by interfering in political pitches. 'Affectionate warning' is was called!

Whatever that means!! :O

Mr. Thackeray seems to have forgotten that APART from being a legendary cricketer, Sachin is as much a part of India as he is...& India is still a democracy....so I just checked!

He has a total right to express whatever he wishes to!

Also, from being so much to so many Indians & his demi-God status he has acheived, I'd like to add, ESPECIALLY becoz of what he is, he has even more rights to express what he wishes too. After all he has got a lot of good glory for the country. People commenting on him should check the their contribution levels with Sachin's & then probably think of opening their mouths!

It is his right to express..or rather EVERY Indian's right to express anything unless it is inflammatory or criminal of nature. & even a primary school kid would be able to decipher Sachin's statement correctly! & I am pretty sure how correct the kids would understand Mr. Thackeray's statement too.

Safeguarding your interests, your heritage, your culture is fine until you do NOT trespass & suppress others rights to express.

I am very sure that this new pitch Mr Thackeray has put his foot into, Shiv Sena must've lost many of its erstwhile supporters.

Rest, as the party seems to be going, they will only be left with people who do cater to their current inclination towards denigration of the party. A gloomy regression towards the once validated party it used to be.

In ending, I just hope Sachin knows what exact importance to give to such 'affectionate warnings.'

A plain royal ignore!!!