Albums…no.. albums. Yeah, albums. I hate albums. Especially if they do not belong to me.
I hate them so much, that I have even stopped visiting my friends and relatives. Here is what happened when I last visited a friend’s place. (name kept confidential to prevent the person’s identity)
It all started because Prachi (Lets say), my friend wanted to take a whole lifetime to get dressed for dinner. I being the punctual person, reached bang on time to discover she had just gone to take a bath. After she slammed the bathroom door shut, I turned towards the Femina magazine lying around and buried myself deep into it. I still cannot fathom what made her mother to think that I was bored. She walked up to me, with something that seemed like a pillow from a far.
“You have not seen Viren’s marriage photographs have you?”
Viren was Prachi’s brother (or sister? Can never tell). I hated him. One he wasn’t that cool that he thought himself to be, and two he hated me coz he thought I was the reason behind his sister’s low grades.
Even before I could lie that I had seen it before, and liked it, she was beside me on the couch. She was excited and understandably so. Viren was her only son and his marriage was probably her biggest single achievement in life. But why the &^%$ did she think I would be interested, I would never know.
“Nice couple, heyn?” She asked.
“Yeah. They look so happy at the moment. Poor Chap! Doesn’t know what’s in store for him,” I said. I got a cold stare, but the torture went one.
Pointing to a picture of a man and woman who looked like they were straight out of X-Files, she said: “That is his in-laws. Nice people. They even bought me a saree.”
“Wow. Great.”
“Ho… you should see the color of the saree. It is amazing. You don’t get these colors south of Baroda. Will show you the saree next time, I washed it in the morning and it might be wet.”
I let out a sigh. It was a close shave.
“Or would you want to come to the terrace?”
“No aunty, that is fine. Prachi has anyways come out,” I blurted out in sheer desperation. She was my ticket to freedom, and I was going to use her as a human shield wherever necessary.
By now, Prachi had come out. She saw me looking thro’ the album, and shouted at the top of her voice: “Mama, show her the one where I am wearing the pink lehanga. Ohh…Deeps that’s a killer.”
I tell you, it’s a sin to be punctual in this era
Monday, August 31, 2009
Thursday, August 27, 2009
18 Till I Die
Yesterday, while filling up a form, I had to tick beside the check box of age group 18- 24. That is when it struck me, I am gonna be 24 and in a year I’ll be checking in 25-30 Years Age Group. As if somebody just smacked me with a bulky and solid rod of reality leaving me spell bound. I went into flash back trying to figure out, where I lost my years from 18 to 23.
Time seems to have stopped when I was 18. It was just yesterday when we had those sleepless nights one day before exams, when we were bumped out of class for being naughty, when we would lie to our parents for catching up with friends, bunking classes for watching movie on the first day, line up outside Principal’s office, those morning assemblies, morning prayers, House on duty, wrong uniform line, forging parents signatures on report cards, promising ourselves to perform better next time, gossip sessions outside cycle stand for hours after school, punctured tires, ripped seats, wet paper ball games, evening tutorials, preparing time tables one month before exams, re-scheduling time table every day, messed up room, yelling mom, no sense of responsibility, secret crushes, borrowing money from friends to lend another friend, spending more time in canteen/ foot ball ground than in classes yet giving lectures to juniors on importance of attending class, tension before results, declaration of results, comparing marks, promoted to next year, parties, night outs… blah blah blah…. I can go non-stop but that’s not what this post is about.
I have all these memories so clear in my mind that I seem not to have grown beyond 18. I have never thought of myself as a working woman, always considered myself as a kid. I am still the same as I was 6 years back (not including the extra kilos), only with some sense in my, then, empty head; an ounce of responsibility and slight maturity.
I have always known my age but it’s only when those small irritating kids of passengers travelling with you call you “Aunty” that you realize you are no more 18. In 6 days I’ll be 24. Where did time fly, where was I all this while. Is this some kind of time- travel, or was I sleeping while growing old and putting on weight? I guess when they say “a person is as old as he feels” holds true. Can’t believe I am saying this coz when I was 18 and someone said:
“Age is what you feel it to be”, I would say “yeah right!!! Grow up!!!”
When they would say, “That man never grows old who keeps a child in his heart”, I would say, “Cut the crap!!!”
Well! I was naïve back then. And Now:
“Wanna stay young for the rest of my life,
Never say “no”- try everything twice,
Till the angles come, and ask me to fly,
I’m gonna be 18, till I die.”
---- Brian Adams
It’s very difficult for me to grow old coz I have a child alive in me, I have a heart full of love in me. As I grow old I realize that I love those most whom I loved first, my family (that includes Mishti). Age is merely an issue of mind over matter. If you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter. Plus I can’t stop time. Everybody is bound to grow old, but we have an option of staying young.
“We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing.”
---- some wise person
Time seems to have stopped when I was 18. It was just yesterday when we had those sleepless nights one day before exams, when we were bumped out of class for being naughty, when we would lie to our parents for catching up with friends, bunking classes for watching movie on the first day, line up outside Principal’s office, those morning assemblies, morning prayers, House on duty, wrong uniform line, forging parents signatures on report cards, promising ourselves to perform better next time, gossip sessions outside cycle stand for hours after school, punctured tires, ripped seats, wet paper ball games, evening tutorials, preparing time tables one month before exams, re-scheduling time table every day, messed up room, yelling mom, no sense of responsibility, secret crushes, borrowing money from friends to lend another friend, spending more time in canteen/ foot ball ground than in classes yet giving lectures to juniors on importance of attending class, tension before results, declaration of results, comparing marks, promoted to next year, parties, night outs… blah blah blah…. I can go non-stop but that’s not what this post is about.
I have all these memories so clear in my mind that I seem not to have grown beyond 18. I have never thought of myself as a working woman, always considered myself as a kid. I am still the same as I was 6 years back (not including the extra kilos), only with some sense in my, then, empty head; an ounce of responsibility and slight maturity.
I have always known my age but it’s only when those small irritating kids of passengers travelling with you call you “Aunty” that you realize you are no more 18. In 6 days I’ll be 24. Where did time fly, where was I all this while. Is this some kind of time- travel, or was I sleeping while growing old and putting on weight? I guess when they say “a person is as old as he feels” holds true. Can’t believe I am saying this coz when I was 18 and someone said:
“Age is what you feel it to be”, I would say “yeah right!!! Grow up!!!”
When they would say, “That man never grows old who keeps a child in his heart”, I would say, “Cut the crap!!!”
Well! I was naïve back then. And Now:
“Wanna stay young for the rest of my life,
Never say “no”- try everything twice,
Till the angles come, and ask me to fly,
I’m gonna be 18, till I die.”
---- Brian Adams
It’s very difficult for me to grow old coz I have a child alive in me, I have a heart full of love in me. As I grow old I realize that I love those most whom I loved first, my family (that includes Mishti). Age is merely an issue of mind over matter. If you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter. Plus I can’t stop time. Everybody is bound to grow old, but we have an option of staying young.
“We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing.”
---- some wise person
Monday, August 24, 2009
National Concern
I am glad our National animal is a Tiger. It is proud animal, just like we Indians. While I understand, beauty is but skin deep (never really seen a skinned tiger), I would still say tigers are beautiful animals.
Wonder what would have happened if a Pig was our national Animal? Or for that matter a Donkey…or a Mule. Or how about a Mouse? A dog? Or a skunk?
I would not want to live in a country where the National emblem has a Mouse. Would be a big let down for all Indians, except Lord Ganesha, who would love to see his vahanam being patronized.
A Donkey would not make a good sight on our coins and rupee notes. Agreed the merchants in Tamil Nadu display a donkey’s picture in their shops to boost sales (I am not making up this belief), yet, I do not think he would look good on a coin.
Imagine Indian cricketers sporting a skunk on their chest when they enter the field to take on Australia. The Kangaroos would run away. For the uninitiated, skunks are small beings that let out a very stinky substance when challenged and you are doomed for life….well almost …because it will take you a fortnight to get rid of the stink. That is, if you take bath daily in tomato juice.
Everything said and done, am glad our National Animal is not Man. Would have complicated things!
Wonder what would have happened if a Pig was our national Animal? Or for that matter a Donkey…or a Mule. Or how about a Mouse? A dog? Or a skunk?
I would not want to live in a country where the National emblem has a Mouse. Would be a big let down for all Indians, except Lord Ganesha, who would love to see his vahanam being patronized.
A Donkey would not make a good sight on our coins and rupee notes. Agreed the merchants in Tamil Nadu display a donkey’s picture in their shops to boost sales (I am not making up this belief), yet, I do not think he would look good on a coin.
Imagine Indian cricketers sporting a skunk on their chest when they enter the field to take on Australia. The Kangaroos would run away. For the uninitiated, skunks are small beings that let out a very stinky substance when challenged and you are doomed for life….well almost …because it will take you a fortnight to get rid of the stink. That is, if you take bath daily in tomato juice.
Everything said and done, am glad our National Animal is not Man. Would have complicated things!
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
The Art of Living
Today I am gonna write about something that I truly believe in. The Art of Living organization. All those who know the person that I am, would also know that I was never a person who could sit at one place and meditate. I was never a person who could maintain peace of mind. I was always worked up. With my mind always racing and tension always surrounding me, I could never relax or be at peace. This would agitate the anger in me and as a result I would always end up blasting my loved ones. (Especially my mom, since she was the easy target).
Then I was introduced to Art of Living. (Thanks to Aatish and Jayesh). When I first heard of it, the first thought that came to my mind was “Ramdev Baba” from “Aastha Channel”. Only I know how much it annoys me when my mom turns on that channel while he is preaching. With all due respect, I personally am not fond of people who preach, for two reasons; one, it’s boring and two; I don’t think they themselves follow what they preach. I mean, it’s very simple to say “Expectations reduces joy, so do not expect”. But at one level, all of us do expect from our surroundings. Don’t we? If a human stops expecting from the people around them, from the surroundings, we would not be humans but would be considered God. This is all that I tried explaining Jayesh, but he won’t listen. All he said was, “Come, do the course and then we’ll talk”. It was pointless arguing with him, so I attended the course.
Four days (or was it five?), changed the person that I was. Now I was much more relaxed, calm and peaceful. I was in a state, which in older times was achieved by saints after years of meditation. Contrary to my personality, now I was more cool, composed and yet cheerful, joyous and happy. I could now smile in every situation. I could now face trouble with a smile. All this in just 4 days. It was beyond my expectations. There was no preaching what so ever. All we did was breathe. It was simple. I was surprised to know what I was missing in life. I was happy (not that I wasn’t happy before), but this happiness was combined with peace of mind and no botherations at all. In short, I was happier. Apart from all the above I got a Guru. H.H. Sri Sri Ravishankar. He is fondly called Guruji, since he is the master who has guided our lives in this direction.
I am writing all this today coz a few days back I convinced one of my friends to do this course and she came to my room to discuss her experience yesterday. She felt the exact same thing that I had experienced (and still am). I could feel the change in her. She was smiling, like never before. She was calm and had no thoughts bothering her. I repeat, the experience is beyond explanation. I could see that she was full of gratitude for me, since I made her do the course. It wasn’t actually me. It was her Karmas. She was handpicked to do the course, me being just the medium.
Just wanna tell you all, that there exists such a course which has an answer to all your botherations, to all the queries that you have always had. All you need to do is make an effort to go and sit in the course and rest all will be taken care of. Do it to know you better. From your entire lifetime, just devote 4 days for yourself. You have spent all these years for worldly possessions, now it’s time for yourself. Go for it. It will rock your world and teach you the Art of Living. For all you intellectual people who think that they are smart enough and already know the Art of Living, In Jayeshs’ words, “Come, do the course and then we’ll talk”.
Then I was introduced to Art of Living. (Thanks to Aatish and Jayesh). When I first heard of it, the first thought that came to my mind was “Ramdev Baba” from “Aastha Channel”. Only I know how much it annoys me when my mom turns on that channel while he is preaching. With all due respect, I personally am not fond of people who preach, for two reasons; one, it’s boring and two; I don’t think they themselves follow what they preach. I mean, it’s very simple to say “Expectations reduces joy, so do not expect”. But at one level, all of us do expect from our surroundings. Don’t we? If a human stops expecting from the people around them, from the surroundings, we would not be humans but would be considered God. This is all that I tried explaining Jayesh, but he won’t listen. All he said was, “Come, do the course and then we’ll talk”. It was pointless arguing with him, so I attended the course.
Four days (or was it five?), changed the person that I was. Now I was much more relaxed, calm and peaceful. I was in a state, which in older times was achieved by saints after years of meditation. Contrary to my personality, now I was more cool, composed and yet cheerful, joyous and happy. I could now smile in every situation. I could now face trouble with a smile. All this in just 4 days. It was beyond my expectations. There was no preaching what so ever. All we did was breathe. It was simple. I was surprised to know what I was missing in life. I was happy (not that I wasn’t happy before), but this happiness was combined with peace of mind and no botherations at all. In short, I was happier. Apart from all the above I got a Guru. H.H. Sri Sri Ravishankar. He is fondly called Guruji, since he is the master who has guided our lives in this direction.
I am writing all this today coz a few days back I convinced one of my friends to do this course and she came to my room to discuss her experience yesterday. She felt the exact same thing that I had experienced (and still am). I could feel the change in her. She was smiling, like never before. She was calm and had no thoughts bothering her. I repeat, the experience is beyond explanation. I could see that she was full of gratitude for me, since I made her do the course. It wasn’t actually me. It was her Karmas. She was handpicked to do the course, me being just the medium.
Just wanna tell you all, that there exists such a course which has an answer to all your botherations, to all the queries that you have always had. All you need to do is make an effort to go and sit in the course and rest all will be taken care of. Do it to know you better. From your entire lifetime, just devote 4 days for yourself. You have spent all these years for worldly possessions, now it’s time for yourself. Go for it. It will rock your world and teach you the Art of Living. For all you intellectual people who think that they are smart enough and already know the Art of Living, In Jayeshs’ words, “Come, do the course and then we’ll talk”.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
I am 755837839th richest person in the world!
I have always knows richness as a relative term (it brings so many relatives with it). But, my dad being in the Indian Army, we never got an opportunity to mingle with our relatives. Guess, that explains my eagerness in finding out where I stand in the big bad world and how many relatives am I blessed with.
I have always wanted to begin this journey of finding out how many people are richer than me, but the moment I would hear about the rising population of world, my enthusiasm was curbed. Knowing fully well that I will never be able to complete this survey a gentle person created this website. The journey will end tonight… at the doorsteps of a website.
I’m the 755837839 richest person on earth! Check out this website to feel good about yourself and I am sure you'll stop cribbing about your pay package.
http://www.globalrichlist.com/
Funny, I felt happy after trying out the website’s “Find out how rich are you” calculator. Man! Didn’t know I was this rich. Neither did I know the world was this poor!
With the pittance that I get in my company, I have managed to beat so many people from all over the World, in the income stakes. To be precise, I am amongst the top 12.59% richest people in the world. Phew, and I thought I was bankrupt! This definitely calls for celebration!!! Cheers
I have always wanted to begin this journey of finding out how many people are richer than me, but the moment I would hear about the rising population of world, my enthusiasm was curbed. Knowing fully well that I will never be able to complete this survey a gentle person created this website. The journey will end tonight… at the doorsteps of a website.
I’m the 755837839 richest person on earth! Check out this website to feel good about yourself and I am sure you'll stop cribbing about your pay package.
http://www.globalrichlist.com/
Funny, I felt happy after trying out the website’s “Find out how rich are you” calculator. Man! Didn’t know I was this rich. Neither did I know the world was this poor!
With the pittance that I get in my company, I have managed to beat so many people from all over the World, in the income stakes. To be precise, I am amongst the top 12.59% richest people in the world. Phew, and I thought I was bankrupt! This definitely calls for celebration!!! Cheers
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Sisterly Love
I went back to my room. Everything was just perfect, at the right place. My room looking clean, like never before. Those yellow curtains brightened up my room leaving the dazzling sunlight behind them. The room looked attractive with pink bed sheets and neatly arranged belongings. The mesmerizing fragrance of incense sticks increased the already existing aroma of my room. Everything looked fantastic. Yet, something was missing. Something was incomplete. Ah! It was her. I could feel her absence.
The moment I dropped her to the station, I had tears in my eyes. I am sure her heart was heavy too. But since we are, “Oh! Don’t be too sentimental” sisters, and “I am not dying, just going away for a while” sisters, and “We don’t hug each other enough but we have immense love for each other” sister, so no one spoke anything to each other. Last time when we expressed our love for each other, that I can remember, was, when Shanu mailed me from Singapore “Di, Thanks for all the love you showered at me in the form of unlimited shopping while I was there in Mumbai. I love you and I hope you know that, so we shall not discuss this mail hereafter”
She was in Mumbai only for 3 days and I re-lived my past in these 3 days. I had everything planned. Places to visit, movies to watch, shopping to do, everything was scheduled time to time. Even though most of it didn’t tally with my schedule, we did manage to have a lot to fun and I am sure she experienced my LOVE again. Can’t believe 4 days back I was full of enthusiasm and excitement, running all over the city, making plans, re-stocking my room with chocolates, collecting her favorite movies, and now she’s gone.
The first time she left for Singapore, I cried my eyes out. I was nothing without her (I still am not). When I was down with Jaundice, she would attend my classes. She would lose weight if I was sick. She would motivate me to study. She would guide me in every step. She would improve my fashion- sense. No one could tell that she is my younger sister (of course! height parameter not being considered). And then, when I received her first letter, I was thrilled. Almost in tears, my hand shivering with excitement, I managed to read the first sentence which read “Di, please don’t cry on reading this”, and I burst into tears. I finally had to take help of my friend to read out the letter to me.
I know I don’t say it enough, and I also know that you are very much aware of the fact that “U R my favorite” (of course! After me)… But here, I just wanna let u know that I love you beyond limits and that u r my inspiration in whatever I do. I would be nothing without you. And also let you know that I am all senti right now, so you can ask for how much ever LOVE you want, before the moment dies….
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