Forever...

Forever is the most corny word I've ever come across. Anything suffixed wit forever becomes corny by default. Whether its "I love you.. forever.." or "Best friends forever".. Aaarrgghh.. whoever comes up with such hackneyed phrases should be nailed to death! I mean come on.. I've let more intelligence than this, out of my ass! I am not denying that I may have used the same at some point in time in my life, but then again, everyone has had our heads in our ass sometime or the other!!

Back in college, when we were all younger, thinner and quite frankly dumber than now, we would give every incident more importance than it was due, think friendships would last for as long as we would live. I am alive now, in my prime, but where are all the relations I swore I would carry along? They are non-existent. Some, I had to let go, some let me go but a solid few of them stuck along. Is this forever? Well.. NOTHING is forever!

It's just like an ancient barter system. You give some, take some. Tangible or intangible, this "some" does play an important role. As a wise lady had once told me, every person in your life is there for a reason, to teach you something which only he/she can. Once their work is done, they move to their next destination. If a person is still there in your life, then probably the work is still in progress. Retrospecting, the line has absolute truth in it.

You need certain heartbreaks in your life to strengthen you to the core. So you need those people stepping in your life, pulling your heart out and making a mess out of your life. It's only then will you learn how to recollect yourself and redeem your life. They need to move out of your life just as mysteriously as they had moved in. Coz if they remain to stay, the work will never be done. You'll never find the strength.

On the other hand, there are people who stay for a real long time. Probably as long as you would live. These "best friends" of yours are required. Coz what they have to teach will take a long time for you to learn. So they stay, teaching you new lessons every mode of life.

You might think the tough decision is whom to take along and whom to let go. On the contrary this is the easiest move! You just need to live. Live through the experiences, live your life. When the going gets tough, you find the toughs backing you up. The rest are blown away in the winds of change. They were never meant to be there for longer than their life span in your relationship! Don't get bitter or bogged down by their exit. Instead, look at the one's that are still in your life, enriching it with their very presence.

To all the people who were a part of my life, in one way or the other, thanks for making it as long as you did and an even bigger thanks for moving out! Quite frankly, even for someone as heartless as me, its kinda tough to show the door all the time! Moving on is so much more peaceful yet happening than holding on!

People come, people go, you forget some, some forget you - just don't miss the lesson each one had to share, for then, you would've missed more than you can afford to bear!

Creepy Guy

Disclaimer : This post is dedicated to one of the finest creepy guys in my life!

"How can we be happy if someone in the family is sad?", he said.

I was an emotional wreck. But  these words managed to divert my attention for a bit.

Whaaaaat?? I am his family? Gosh! Do I cry out aloud or do I be happy and welcome myself to whatever creepy thing I am supposedly a part off??

I look at the pair of hot legs carrying a smoking hot lady and I think, family it is! So there we were, a family - a kid, a hot moma and the creepy guy.

This incident marked the first experience of my latest and probably one of the best gangs I've ever had. It all started with one guy.  There were additions to the family in terms of conjoined twins, again showed way by the creepy guy.There are a plenty of names I use generously to indicate his presence - Cheap, Irritating, Annoying, Cheap.. oh wait, I've already covered that! I think he would be begging me to stop! So lemme  zero down on one name - CREEPY GUY! He would vehemently disagree, but then these are the benefits I get for owning the blog!

Had I known he would cling to my life for this long, I would have said no to "Love Aaj Kal" (or would I??) Had I known what a creepy smile would be flashed, I would've have never asked him to smile!
Had I known what a fantastic driver he is (shivers!), I would not have the guts to sit in that sassy thing he owns! (hot moma agrees!!)

<sigh> Now that I've committed more mistakes than I probably should have and there's no turning back, I might as well go ahead and congratulate myself for all the mistakes! For had it not been for them, I would've lost out on an all in one friend/philosopher/photographer/joker/teacher/punching-bag/partner in crime and believe me it would've been my loss entirely!

From feeding me junk and making me miss my gym to commenting on my increasing waistline - he's committed all the sins a man probably can! But then again, by getting me coffee at unearthly hours, nursing my injuries and lending me an ear when it mattered the most, he has more than made up for that!

The amount of perseverance in this guy has to be applauded. He's almost like a reincarnated form of Mother Teresa! He's fought every attempt made to take him out of my life until I shrugged my shoulder and said, "Fine dude, you win!" I couldn't be happier that he did win. "You are like a rose", he said, "we just need to learn how to deal with the thorns to have you in our lives". Dealing with those thorns is not an easy job, but what can i say to a person who's hell bent on getting pricked to keep something which probably isn't all that worthy, in his life! There's indeed nothing much you can say to a person, who holds your happiness at such esteemed heights and ensures your smile never leaves you (even if its for good!!!)

There was a time when the only thing i liked about him was his i20! (and no I wasn't alone!) But now that the i20 is gone, I am forced to open my eyes to this fantastic personality who has enhanced my life in more ways than I can mention. From laughing at people's miseries, to going out of our ways creating new miseries for them, we have done it all! (I still hope i20 is gonna be shared between dude and moi!)

Creepster, I haven't seen a person more giving than you. I don't know how you do it, but you are simply the best at it. From making the devil wear a "parda" (i still don't believe you said that!) to singing loudly in the middle of the bay, you have been a 24/7 entertainment channel! To see you chasing your dreams is so endearing. You make me look beautiful in your photos (oh yeah people.. kick-ass photographer!!) but you make me feel even better by being a part of my journey.

Here's to your life, which I hope would be more beautiful than the most beautiful pic you've ever clicked (me on the enfield!). Wish you a HAPPY HAPPY BDAY!

P.S: I am bad with dates. Please refer this post every time I fail to call you on this day!

Simply beautiful!

Pre-requisite :  Watch Kung Fu panda!

"I am not a big fat panda. I am THE big fat panda." I had goosebumps the first time I heard this. This made me think, the major source of inspiration is always provided by something or someone you least expected it from!

I've always been a fan of animated movies. There's something about them which is so surreal but still one feels connected to them. People term them "fairy tales" and laugh them off their head "it's just a movie.. its never gonna happen in real life". Again, its just the way you look at life. Would you rather say "Oh.. I just have one slice of pizza left <sigh>" or would you say <burp>"Just done with 3 slices of deliciously yummy pizza! Should be able to fit in one more <eye the leftover slice greedily >"

 Life is just like that pizza. Yummy, slurpy and God damn delicious. Would you rather crib about the one left over slice or enjoy the 3 slices and make way for the 4th??  In life you may not get what you want, you may not get what you think you deserve but you get what you require to live. If you think otherwise, then you've been cribbing about the one last slice of pizza!!! In the end, its not about what you have or how much you have. It's about how well have you utilized what you've, which brings me back to the main topic for today!

Simple characters leading simple lives and doing something extraordinary with it - pretty much sums all my favorite animations. It's always the simple things in life, that get better of human beings <adult kinds>. An adult brain is almost always cornucopia of thoughts. But as Master Oogway would say "Your mind is like this water my friend, when it get's agitated it becomes difficult to see. But if you allow it to settle the answer becomes clear". Stressed about your life, your work or just in plain despair and wanna run away? Master Oogway would also say "One often finds his destiny on the path he takes to avoid it "

Most of the times, finding the solution to a problem is an extended task. The solution may be simple as hell but its that simplicity that takes time to be discovered! Embrace life for what it is, rather than what you think you can make out of it. Lower your defenses and breathe through every pore. Un-complicate your life and say hello to simplicity!

 P.S : This post has been a draft since I saw Kung Fu panda! Today's the day I give it, it's due!

Pox.com

After long evading session of word games, looks like I finally feel my throat again! It hurts a bit.. but what the heck.. YEAH!!

I am sure by now you all know what a self-obsessed narcissistic I am. So brace your self as I ramble on and on about the latest entry in my life! I thought 21st Century Pox was a cool name, but check this one out.. POX.COM! Its almost like my coolness has become directly proportional to  the number of little soldiers with victory sap on my body!

I had mentioned something about 80-20 principle in one of my earlier posts (if anyone can get the name of that post without looking for it in my blog, I will dedicate a post to you!!) So coming back to the principle. If I were to apply it on my life right now, I would say that the pox constitutes about 20% of my life. (If i were better at math, I am sure the percentage would've been a lot lesser!) 80% of my life would now depend on how I am gonna take up to it!

Again, going back to one of my posts (prize remains!) its important to chose one's destiny. It's very uncanny how the world changes accordingly, how it dances to your tunes! After initial skepticism of the SCARY SCARS, I told my self, what the hell are those? I guess half of our fears will disappear if you just let the event unfold and not be scared of the unknown.

Will there be a rebound or a relapse? According to the experienced souls NO!

Will  I recuperate in time to avail the actual leaves I had applied in office? I don't know.

Will I be allowed to take those leaves after this fiasco? I don't know.

Most importantly, how long will these scars last? Again, a mixture of experienced souls opinions and a lot of "I don't know".

Just reading the above lines, I feel so positive that there is no sure shot answer to anything! Its just meant to unravel on its own, at its own sweet time. Rushing into them can only mean colliding a truck at 200 km/hr or coming under an elephant (whichever is more painful!)

I've heard to a lotta stories from n number of people. People who've lost limbs and can't go back to their previous life. People who've some serious issues and are not even aware of their life right now! When I see all this, I can't stop thanking my luck. Bickering about small things in life, right from zits to a ponch, from grey hair to a slightly-messed-up-but-far-away-from-self-destruction-of-a-bone-structure. I've been rocking all the way!

No, I am sure as hell,not unraveling mysteries for you (or praising myself to no extent!)You are reading about a person who is scared of a cockroach. As in SHIIIIT SCAREED!!!  But now, I am OK being with it in a room (like Kms apart, but a start nevertheless!!) So what I am saying is why fear something that has no structure? When its nothing but a bunch of "I don't know's". Instead face whats there in front of you (like the cockroach for ex) (yiikkesss.. i hope pox has nothing to do with bladder control!!). Face it till either of the 2 seize to exist, either you or your fear. (I could have sworn this line was mine, but a have a feeling somebody might have already ripped it off!!) Time to reunite with your fears and bid them a farewell. once FOR ALL!!!

21st century POX!

I always believed in joining the dots and giving the picture a meaning. Little did I realize that my entire body would be submerged in a million of those ugly dots!! I thought having a back ache at this age sucks. But you know what sucks more? CHICKEN POX! Reminds me of this episode in F.R.I.E.N.D.S, where Phoebe is down with the pox. "How can I've chicken pox! I don't even eat chicken!!" she says. Now now, I am ill remember? Any crap would make sense to me!!

Now you must be wondering, why on earth am i sitting in front of a comp while all i should be doing is taking rest. My friends, rest is not an option when even lying down is turning out to be painful! I love it when people run errands for me. Right from changing my sheets to bringing me food. But for the past few days, the "princess" treatment is kinda too much to handle! Especially when the "princess" is all set to audition for Lady Frankenstein! Just received a call from a "well-wisher". He was kind enough to offer to take a pic of mine and show it to me sometime in future when I demanded to watch a scary movie! It's astonishing how a human brain works!

Okie.. I've been staring at the monitor for over 10 mins now. I must be really ill. I am almost never short of words! So I guess i am gonna muster all the courage I've and get done with this.

All this while I thought health was the most hyped thing. I've never really fallen sick apart from a few cases here and there of some allergy/ food poisoning. Yes, I do have some other issues but for my benefit, I shall not bring them up now. So as I was saying, I've been the "I can never fall ill" types. Put me up with a bunch of coughing wizzards or sneezing witches, I am gonna stand my ground and contract nothing! So when that first boil came up, I was like whaaaa.. guess some sortaa viral. Lets get it checked. Next day that lone soldier was visited by few of his relations. Alarm bells rang! DOCTOR! SOS!

As I look at the first boil that appeared on my hand, must I say, he's swelling with pride! The juices of victory ready to spill out at slightest contact. GROSE! Next time I say, I wanna experience it all, I am gonna be more careful! Here's what I've to say to you,

Dear Mr Pox,

I know you love me. Don't blame you. People with brains can't get enough of me. You are still a brainless pox. My body has become your temple. It's kinda touching how you wanna make a mark on every part that constitutes me. You did make me realize that health is indeed everything. I guess being the thick skulled that I am, I wouldn't have realized it any other way. You have ensured that I can't talk much, instilling faith in the proverb, "silence is golden". You have kept me away from junk and sweets for a reasonable amount of time, putting it on my face, that a healthy diet is the starting step to losing weight.

Also, thanks for instilling the fact that I am different - you came to me during winter, you came to me when I am an adult! You must really care for what I think of myself!

 As I look at the mirror now, I know I am still beautiful. Inner beauty is always there to stay. It'll probably take me a while to get back to being a rockstar, but all in good time. After completely invading my body (and throat) isn't  it time for you to leave me? You have enjoyed my company for this long. Don't get them jealous! Ok ok.. I am sorry I said I have really high immunity. Forgive me and leave me alone! and yeah.. take the scars with you PLLLEEEAAAASSSEEE.

P.S : Thanks for giving me company, Achmed the dead terrorist!

Stuck in a jam!!!

After a long hard day at work, I find myself in the bus - drenched, parched and completely drained. My eye lids are yearning to touch one another and have a moment frozen in time. My brain is fighting sleep with such valor, that I feel like recognizing its valiant  effort with a pat of appreciation! Surely my eye lids could care a rat's ass about me being flung across the ignition box of the bus, right through the wind shield, at the slightest of breaks! (the prospects of which seemed highly likely looking at how our gallant driver was maneuvering his royal vehicle!) Balancing myself on that god damned seat was a herculean task. Adding to this, I was battling mosquitoes with every ounce of my left-over energy. Fighting my sleep off, I was consoling myself - Tomorrow is gonna be rocking! All these tasks, being done by one person. ME! I feel like I am a mean, trying to be lean, massively parallel processing machine!!!

After a prolonged music session, I had to bid goodbye to my ear phones. After listening to people filled with "everything close to crap", my ear drums were screaming to be rescued from music of any kind! Hence I exit my music player, switch off the radio and gape at the world outside the bus. As I look outside the door, I see a world fresh out of a shower. Flying roaches, barking dogs, bickering people, everything seemed to be alive and in motion, apart from the traffic. All the bangaloreans know what I mean when i say TRAFFIC!

I guess it's pretty safe to say, traffic jams are almost like a knowledge hub. I can now name almost all the popular brands of automobiles and their latest versions. And why? Coz I can see a live demonstration of their updated, upgraded features in front of my own tired eyes. All I need to do is look outside the window! Being gadget-illiterate, I just have to spot people with opposite interests as mine. And then I see them removing one gadget after the other from their "magician's hat" - working, pretending to work, showing off their latest acquisitions! (I finally know what an I-pad is! YIPPIEE!!)

I see the best and the costliest of vehicles stuck at the same place for minutes together. Suddenly my eyes move to the side of the road. A bunch of workers on their cycles, seem to be enjoying the rain. And worst of all, they seemed to give two hoots about the traffic! I was plonked on a not so comfortable seat which was atleast 10 times more comfortable than those cycle seats. As one of those rare days, I had worked for more than 8 hours. I saw no reason to smile, let alone enjoy the whole scene. I presumed that these workers worked for minimum 8 hours daily, earned much lesser than what I did when I started my career and they sure as hell have no transport facility provided by their employers. But there they were, happy and smiling, as if they knew something I didn't. I should be jealous!

Jam persisted. I was still stuck there. But these guys managed to disappear in no time. They coolly lifted their cycles on to the pavement and pedaled away to obscurity! And there I still see Mr Merc standing right beside our bus, with its majestic aura doing very little to help the situation! I guess expensive is not always comfortable or convenient!

People run behind riches all the time. Run at a break-neck pace. Not realizing that if and when they finally get them, they might just be stuck in a jam. A jam from which they cannot flee as the risks are way to high. Even if they wanna get back to simple living high thinking, simple living is now a distant dream. They cry in vain, wanting to get back to where they started off, for they forgot to enjoy the journey. Journey from a cycle to Merc, which might have opened avenues, changed perspectives, taught them a life changing lesson, was not lived well as they believed destination mattered the most. Now when they turn to look back, the path is obscure and the journey has faded. You can never bring back the past to enjoy moments you had missed earlier. Don't let things fade, live your journey, for only then when you reach your destination can you say "I HAVE ARRIVED".

Thunder Bolt

After having watched the video, I can finally comprehend why this event hogged the headlines and the flash news for as long as it did! A typical story of another hero biting the dust. As an Indian with some interest in cricket, "heroes biting the dust" is something I can relate to very well!

Coming back to the video, we can talk lengths about what might have happened, what caused the false start, was Yohan Blake behind this and blah blah blah. We can have multiple rounds of discussions on the same and make it sound intelligent, but that does not change the fact that we may never know what transpired in Bolt's head for 0.10 seconds. What we do know off, is his reaction post 0.10 seconds. From his early realization of the false start to his interview later on, this man is an inspiration.

"Looking for tears? Not going to happen," said Bolt. "I'm OK."

When asked - Enough to run the 200 meters?

"You'll see on Friday," he said

And boy did he show us what an real athlete is made off! Come Friday he did become the fastest Jamaican!

When I first read this news, what struck me was not the false start (googled it 5 mins back!) or the reactions to it, instead in was the attitude of the man who was so close to realizing a dream, when it was snatched away from him. 

Many of us have been in similar situations. When we think we are so close to accomplishing something, we realize we were deluded. The success continues to successfully dodge us in a game of dodge-ball! With every missed strike, we feel the chill imparted by the failure.  "Man chooses is his own actions". What would you chose? It is an easier option to feel victimized by things happening to you than take control of them. It is convenient to say, "Probably it's not meant for me. I've better things in store, you know" than to say "Let's see how I can tame this wild colt". Don't forget, the wildest of colts make the best of stallions. 

In a game of dodge-ball, it doesn't matter if you miss your strike. You aim and hurl the ball, until it catches the target. There's no other way of winning it. You take as many aims as you can and get your target where you want it! It's a very simple rule of success. If you missed, in your first chance, that does not mean you are gonna miss in the next 10 chances. 

This reminds me of a certain certification I was taking up. I log in to the test, with almost zilch preparation. As I see the first question, I give myself a not-so-gentle tap on my head. 

You should have prepared well! You had time! Voices in my head never seem to stop!

Oh.. shut up you, I went to the next question.

My eyes are wide open now. Damn! I might get out with a 10%. It's gonna be embarrassing!

Being the optimist that I am (ya right!) I braved myself till the 5th question.

Ok.. that's it. I am freak-en screwed! Might as well end the test and throw some lame reason like ehh.. mmm.. HEADACHE! 

But as the 6th question threw itself on my screen, I began to calm down. It's just another experience. Max to max, I am gonna flunk, I might have to give it again. So its not all lost! Let's get done with this and treat myself with a nice cuppa coffee for going through with it. What say?

I endured the entire process. Guess, I was rewarded for it. I passed. I PASSED! It is again one of those small incidents that make me thank myself for not giving up early on. This is when I realized, it's not about the first 5 questions. Hell, it's never about them. If you get them right, well.. yeahh!! But if you don't then pull up your sock and then yeahhh!! It's never about what happens to you, but how you deal with what happens to you. If you can "yeahhh" in your failures, you can be happy no matter what! This does not guarantee an easy 6th question, but it guarantees a way of life which only enriches you a whole together different way!

There are times in life, when we given up either before starting the race or during the initial lap. We are apprehensive of the outcome and scared out of our wits to face failure. So we give up. Give up, giving millions of reasons. Give up, without even sparing a thought that success might just find a way to us, looking at us trying so hard. If you are hell bent on giving up, I reckon, you give up on furnishing reasons! Just remember - Failure is accompanied by multiple reasons, success is accompanied by desire.

The gossip girl

Off late I've developed a fresh perspective to the phrase - "Get a life!" The more people I seem to interact, the more I wanna throw the phrase at them, rather, drill it in their brains! I guess it is just a human tendency, which makes one talk about "others" more than concentrating on which direction their life is heading.

Picture this scenario - a plane is about to crash. You have just one parachute and there are two of you. Instead of letting the other person use it or using it urself, you throw the parachute off the plane thinking, I die, he dies too! Now, how many of you think that was a wise decision? As of now, the number of raised hands is ZERO! Now, let’s align this scenario to our day to day activities. How many of you have given your life a back seat and spoken lengths about something or someone that’s completely irrelevant to you? There you go. I can see some hands up in the air. As for the rest of you - Liar liar pants on fire!

By the "virtue of gossiping" people can be classified into 2 kinds - natural talent and acquired talent.

Naturals are the ones that were (if I could say so) born with this exquisite gift of playing detective in others life and concocting stories par excellence. In short, their motto is your business is my business!

Acquired are those who well.. let’s say, try to fit in a society of naturals. With time it’s tough to differentiate them from naturals!!

After doing a lot of thinking, I've come to a conclusion that nonsensical conversation pertaining to people who play zilch role in my life, occupies a fair share in my daily activities! And 90% of people with whom I've such "intellectually stimulating" conversations are dispensable! So what does that say about the standard of life or people I've in my life?? Answer might be slightly disturbing and might just activate my hunger pangs!<shivers> So let’s turn a blinds eye to that!

You might be a virtuous person with high regards for your life. But suddenly you find yourself in a pack, that feeds of entertainment obtained from multiple souls! As its said, man is a social animal. I can't reason it out, but I would like to emphasize on the last word of the sentence. ANIMAL is what he becomes feeding of other's lives! Now coming back to the actual essence of the line, all we humans crave for, is acceptance, from society, from the pack. Just to receive it, we fail our morals and drop the standards set by us, for ourselves. Its rightly said that an intellectual is an idiot amongst a bunch of fools. I guess we finally give up being intellectuals and try and fit in into the tom-foolery happening all around us! You don't exactly know when the conversion began. But it picks up speed in no time and before you know it, the music plays and lyrics go something like this - "Welcome to the pack!"

Now are you gonna revolt against the system, stick to your principles and be called a sociopath? Or will you just nod your head, join the fools and be "one of them"? It's a very tough decision to make and even tougher to live with. It’s hurts to be laughed at, hence laughing at someone becomes an easier option! "Every one does that. After all, we are also bound to be an integral part of someone's conversation! So it doesn't matter" , we think. But does it really not matter? Is it right to rattle away to glory about someone who barely know? can't appearance just be deceptive? Why is it that something that trivial becomes the centre of your solar system?

I've had to wear this mask for way to long now. Had to get sucked into a vacuum of nothingness to entertain you, bringing that ugly smile on your face at someone's expense! Talk about people, coz that's the only language you understand. Discuss their lives coz quite frankly, nothing of yours is worth being spoken about! I’ve had to patiently smile, fake attention/sympathy/support and look "interested" in the shit load of crap flushing out of your mouth. You think I am one of you. But guess what? I don't need to be accepted any more. And I reject you from my world.

This is for all the expats -

You crib and complain about the universe conspiring against you. My lips twitch. There's just one person I am mocking. It's you.

You repeat a story staler than fruits untouched for a month. I just wanna puke! Something is making me sick. It's you!

You talk about people not concerning me or you, I laugh. Don't forget to notice the subject I am laughing at. It's you.

Food for thought – If you think someone is fat, ugly, with no character and blessed with a million flaws, be sure you are looking into a mirror!

P.S:  "If what you want to tell me is neither true, nor good, nor even useful, why tell it to me at all?"  - Socrates

Swan Princess

For all those who believe in God - God couldn't be everywhere, every time. Hence he created angels to watch you, to help you succeed, to cushion you when you fall, to hold your hand and get you back on your feet, to give you the gentle push you need, to propel you ahead. I have been blessed with many such angels, who've guarded me with their lives, who's endless support has been my wall, who've pillars of my strength. This post is about one of them.

Year 2003, First semester BE ECE, Physics lab:

Lecturer : All of you form groups of 2 and conduct the experiment.

Being the little, shy me back then (I know, hard to believe now!!!), I look around with a blank expression. Someone choose me please!!! 
I saw people pairing up, like they knew each other for ages! Suddenly my eyes fell on this lovely lady, who sported a similar blank expression on her face. Both of us gave an acknowledgement nod to one another and there you go.. my first ever lab partner!

It hardly took me any time to warm up to her, as her innocence was extremely endearing. Till date I keep wondering, how can someone so beautiful have such a clean heart! - A quality, that I am sure all of you agree, is quite frankly ENDANGERED!! Her focus in life is as brilliant as it can get. (I wish I had 10% of it! sob sob)

The "swan princess" as I call her, has been an integral part of my life since that day in the lab. The "head and bushy bushy tail", "hanging upside down", "is this an age to faint" makes absolute sense with her. (If you haven't understood what the above phrases mean, then probably you are not supposed to! please read further!)

Our long walks in the college grounds, even longer talks in our "sacred" midnight convos, joint attacks on a certain "earthling" I know are memories that I shall always cherish!

Often, I would be apprehensive about her life ahead. Someone with this kinda purity and innocence deserved someone equally special to hold her hand and share her life. Someone who knew the worth of what he had and would treasure her for life. Someone who would consider her smile precious but her tears priceless and would never let them trickle down. All my fears vanished when he did make an entry! My first few words to him were "take care of her". I never had to say those words again, it was pointless! She was his queen from then, for ever.

I watched her on that stage, greeting people with her beautiful smile, knowing a lotta things were about to change and wishing the change is acceptable! Things have gone topsy-turvy since then. But its only managed to strengthen our friendship. As I see her today, living her dream, striving to make it the best she can, I feel extremely proud to be a part of her journey.

Today, the happy couple celebrate 3 years of happiness. I find it tough to digest that its already been this long! In these 3 years, I've seen her grow from a girl to a woman, a journey well supported and enriched by her other half (won't call it better coz you two are beyond that!!) Her madness is still intact (Mr "Swan Princess", my condolences are with you!!)

So here's to one of the best couples and best individuals I've had the good fortune to know, HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!! I wish you a lifetime of bliss and good luck!

P.S : Ting ding ding

Les parents

This is one of the most special posts for me. As I proceed with it, I am completely overwhelmed with happiness and gratitude for my loving parents. What completely amazes me, is the selflessness of their love and how my dreams became their goal. As I recollect every small thing they've done for me, I am convinced that there are a million more which I've overlooked! I may never be able to describe their sacrifices in words but this is my earnest attempt to thank Pa and Ma.


Scene 1: (year 1994)

P&M : Could you please let her play with you guys? She's too shy to ask!
Bullies : Definitely! <looks at me> Join us!
Moi : <all smiles> Thanks!

20 mins later

M : I still haven't got a chance. Can I serve?
B : Is it? Well, you'll get your turn.

Another 20 mins pass by.

 By some mysterious way, the ball evades me every damn time!

Moi : <Alright. This is humiliating! I don't wanna be an audience on the court! Wait! I can't go back home. What will I tell Pa and Ma>

I quietly make an exit to our terrace. The only place I knew, where my sobs would be unheard.

10 mins later.


P&M : What happened dear? Shouldn't you be downstairs playing with the kids?
Moi : I can't! They won't let me. That throw ball isn't mine. Nor is the court. I am never playing again.

In no time, I was a proud owner of a kick-ass throwball, which was hardly used in years to come! But what the heck.. Yeaaaa!! I had my own throwball. I didn't get my own court. But I had my own throwball! I was cool!

Years have passed by since this incident. There was a cornucopia of things - chocolates to cakes, samosas to lavish dinners, school uniform to my first pair of formals, cycle to car - I got them all. Some after a fight and many without even asking!

I was their little princess then. I am their warrior princess now! Nevertheless a princess. Being the only child, I had the word "pamper" being redefined for me.

 I have always been a night watchman. So waking up early is like going to concentration camps! Especially when one of my receptor organs is out of order (which still persists, as I don't recognize the alarm sound till date!) So I leave my last minute exam preparation to reader's imagination! Now that I've established how waking up early doesn't suit my needs, I am filled with guilt for all the lost sleep Ma had to suffer coz of moi! As if waking up is not a big task in itself, waking up a sleeping giant can scar you for life! And scar them, I did, with all my short comings.

I know for a fact that I am neither the first not the last child to think this way. We all know this deep in our hearts. We all realize how indebted yet unbelievably lucky we are, to have someone love us so selflessly. I am sure you remember their obvious presence in all parent teacher meetings, annual day functions and every special occasion of yours, while you were growing up. Now that you are all grown up, have you ever given a thought as to how to make a special day out of any normal day, for them?

Ma just walked into my room while I was writing this post. I couldn't get myself to show the post to her. I just realized that as expressive we are, we hardly emote in front of our parents. In my lifetime, I would've showered a million "I love you"'s to my fav people, but the number of times I've said the same to my parents can be counted on my finger tips! I always think, there's no need to explicitly display love, they know it! Then shouldn't that hold good for others as well? Sometimes it is very vital that you state the obvious. The gleam in their old eyes is absolutely priceless.

Ma said she was bored. I've locked myself in my room since morning. I pretty much have useless weekdays. Come back home from a place I hate going to and again lock myself in my room. Weekends are for me exclusively. I don't like sharing my time. That leaves my parents with almost zero time from me! Again I am upsurged by guilt. While I was growing up, there was never a time when I received no attention. From feeding me meals to listening to my non stop mouth-running, they've always been there!

As you read this post, I am sure it would strike a chord. For as I said earlier, even though there are a lot of mistakes to commit, all of us end up committing the same ones time and again, this being one of them. It's time to acknowledge your parents, for all that they've done. Their love, anger, never ending support and care is what makes you, whatever you are today. They've spent the prime of their life chasing your dreams with you, never giving up on you, making sacrifices which you probably do not even know off, skipping their special dinners to fund your classes, work overtime to meet your desires - the list is just too long. Acknowledge the love before its too late, for this is the purest form of love one can ever receive.

I've been thinking of writing this post for quite sometime now. The idea was encountered when Pa was dropping me off to the bus stop. It's kinda strange, in a nice way though, that two decades back Pa would drop me to my school, carrying me in his arms! Guess something's in life never change!