You..

There are a lot of things in our daily life that can get hair at the back of necks stand. We fear so many things - dark, unknown, roaches and the list just keeps getting bigger. But there's something that forms an integral part of every person's list at some point or the other - rejection.

People really don't take rejections well. The worst part about this, is the pattern that develops. A string of rejections can kick in the poison that corrodes the soul. If you don't believe me, ask yourself. After being declined by the first person you ever proposed, rejection is the first thought that enters your head when you are on the road way to your next proposal. I understand the fear. But I also understand this can be curbed and taken care of.

I have always believed that if you are being rejected by a certain set of people snubbing your ideas, you and your thoughts are surely not worth the place. For good or for worse, you need to figure it out! Life unfolds according to a plan. Everything has its place, everyone has a purpose. Rejections faced by you are probably the signs trying to tell you something. Listen to them.

Failure at work can probably mean either you slog your ass hard or find your calling and slog harder. Rejection letters from companies could mean they are not worth your time. Roses crushed under heels could mean that there's a better person waiting for you, whom you would have never met had it not been for a rejection. So as you can see from the incidents, its all a part of the plan, the big picture. A wise person had once told me, you can connect all the dots only in hindsight. 

 Some people just don't have to wait till they are bald to gain wisdom! This one, is for one of them. The rest could use this as a pointer!

I see you, putting a brave face in front of the world. I know you are hurting. Even through your pain, I feel immense pride as I look in your eyes. These are the eyes that will provide the world a vision. I see the strong arms being thrown helplessly in the air; the arms, that will work tirelessly to build things from the scratch. I see the shrugged shoulders; massive shoulders being built to carry an empire. I see the finger, curled into a fist and wonder if they are even aware of the strength they possess. Your attitude to life is an epic in itself.

You are not like anyone I've ever come across. You are plain simple you. Your dreams give birth to your life. Your meant to breath life into your dreams. It's said - The finest of steel has to go through the hottest of fire. The more you sweat on the training ground, the less you bleed in the battleground. This is your training and it might get hotter. Promise me you'll never give up. Not coz giving up is cowardly. Coz giving up is not you. It's never been you. 

I am fortunate to be a part of the fire engulfing you. I take pride in being a part of your training, however insignificant and small it may seem. The wildest of colts make the finest of horses. Embrace your rejections as they are paving a path to your fine future. Your knowledge will set you free, your power will set you sailing. As I see you sailing through the storm, I see the clear skies ahead. Stay put dear soldier, stay strong. Winds of change are on their way.

All mine

I have always believed that what's yours cannot be taken from you. It always finds a way to come back to you. At the same time you cannot take into possession what's not yours. It will not remain yours, even if you were to safeguard it with your life. Now now, a very simple principle, ain't it? Then why is it so hard for a certain numb skulls to understand it? Oops, I answered my question! If you are numb, you ain't feeling anything right?

This post might as well be a fruit of frustration! But lemme try to objectify it as much as possible.

Long back a friend had told me something, that continues to haunt me till date - Expectation is a mother of all fuck-ups! You know what? It sure as hell is! Lets rationalize it. Why do we expect? Is it coz we think we deserve things? Or is it coz the person next door has it and we don't? The sources are disparate but the destination is the same.

People say, have realistic expectations. Now can these people please rise up to the occasion and tell me what exactly is a "realistic" expectation? Is it certain "cult" of expectations that are limited to your bounded brains? Something you perceive is achievable to you and hence generalize it coz you think you are the end of the world? So if my logic is correct, anything I think I deserve or can achieve that's beyond your limited and chained thought process is gonna be condemned! Once again, I am not even gonna delve on the realms of who gave you the right to write my life story!

Time and time again, I have been shaken up by my reliable sources asking me to come out of my "ideal" world. Well, if a world were honesty and truthfulness precedes manipulation is called ideal, then so be it! I dance to the music of my song. That's the only dance I know. If you wanna change the music to suit your ear drums, be assured I am gonna step on your toe. You could then go and cry to your mama!

I am not complaining that the world is claustrophobic. I am just saying that world can be such a better place to be where every breath one takes need not weaken one's spine! Looking around, I know its a tough job for me to survive being me. Can I emerge victorious? If I were to change even a single set of thoughts, it would be a small victory. Nopes, I don't wanna preach. Why would I? I am just a restless soul in mid 20's. How much of world have I seen? I have lived a principled life, guarding my values for they are what make me. You all are intelligent enough to recognize that success does not succeed values!

So why am I writing this post? I write this post to address people - believers. In the end, the good shall prevail. Sounds cliched right? Well, most of us haven't lived a full life. Meet me at the end of yours and we can discuss this then! For all you simple honest buggers wanting to live your live your way, there's still hope. Hope, that arises from each of your hearts. Please don't buckle under "peer pressure". You are answerable only to the person you see in the mirror. Dance to your music. Dance like no one is watching. Don't forget to give a "gentle" hook to anyone who tries to re-tune you. All the best warriors! See you on the other side!

Roo!

This one is gonna be rusty. Multitude of reasons attribute to the rustiness. A night spent roaming the streets of Bangalore, sipping delicious road-side "chai" at an unearthly hour, battling mosquitoes, cracking and comprehending jokes caused by extreme sleep deprivation, fighting with every ounce of left over energy to drive a super-cockroach out of the bath room, decking up at wee hours irrespective of the limited audience, begging for beverages to stop our eye lids from meeting; there you go - a short animated description of my first ever night out! As I re-read the above words I feel I may not have done enough justice. But come on, cut me some slack - this poor soul hasn't slept the whole night! (Lets discount the fact that I had my body pasted to the bed for a good part of the day today!)

Now that I am done hyping the whole episode, lemme tell you the real reason behind the "night-out". For those who are regulars here, you may recollect a post where I talk about a few angels in my life. Last night was dedicated to one of them - the best human being I have ever come across, an angel in true meaning of the term, a girl who redefines humanity (nopes, I am not going overboard and I can have people vouch for this one!)

Out of sheer distress comes the cause of your happiness and happy I was riding on the pillion seat of the biker girl. Happy I was, through a series of unforgettable (almost unimaginable) situations, be it stress testing a scooty for its pace or facing a principal who had clearly left his brains at home or taking turns to wake up each other to prepare for a Godforsaken exam or taking a walk whilst hunting for masca-chasca biscuits!

Without really spending a lot of thought I christened her Roo - my jittery attempt at cutting short a highly intellectual name. And boy oh boy did the name stick around! She's perhaps the most simplest person on earth, her humbleness will not go unnoticed (nor will her long legs!) The biker girl kicks ass whether on bike or on her strong long legs. Over 6 years of knowing each other, being inseparable in college (yup, hand over shoulders in ALL the photos!) we have come a long way. When someone this special decides to walk down the road of commitment, I am always left wondering. How can there be a "better half" to someone who's the best in the world! I guess my questions are answered today!

As I see this tomboy transform into a beautiful maiden holding hands with a man of her dreams, I know that  this is just a beginning to a beautiful journey - a journey of love, a journey of togetherness, probably the only road trip she hasn't been on till date! I see the sparkle in your eyes, I see the contentment behind the excitement, I see the love behind the curtain of shyness, I see a blissful life ahead!

Roo, you deserve the moon, the stars and everything this universe has to offer! You a "daaaaaarling" (if only you all could see her cringing now!). Don't ever be afraid to take what's yours. Words may not always help you describe things. So, I am not even gonna attempt on showing you how beautiful you are. Here's wishing you a lifetime of bliss. (May you be the success couple that change my opinion on marriage!)

P.S: You still have to pay me for unleashing the "Sand-mundu-man" on FG and moi! Ahaaaa

Trippinnn..

Just back from an awesome weekend getaway. What's surprising, is I am happy to be back home. In fact, I am even raring to go to my work place (strange eh??). As they say, truth is sometimes stranger than fiction!

My weekend trip to Hyderabad initially intended to be a "catching up with old friends (no pun intended!)", proved out to be much more than that! Last minute accommodation arrangement, early morning talks with long lost friends (and their husbands! Time has some grace after all!), "innocent" auto drivers conceding to my "negotiation skills" (Didn't you appreciate that Poosh??) and the super hot "cold wave" has been more than refreshing!

This was supposed to be my trip, as in MY TRIP, where I intended to carry my happening ass to all the places I wished without any human support! I must be God's favorite child, I had company ALL ALONG! (not that I am complaining!) I remember some one calling me anti-social (wait a minute.. that surely must be my alter ego! I rock with people around!). Having such fun people around me 24/7, I must be super cool!

What began on an auspicious note with a super yummy breakfast (once again, thanks auntie!!! Did I tell you, you rock???) ended on a jaw dropping event of announcement of an engagement. (not mine people, not mine) This probably would mean one more trip next week to a land I don't particularly like for a man I completely adore! (Hope I get my spa vouchers Poosh. Read my previous comment, I have EARNED it!)

Confused reading this post? Congrats! This attests your normalcy, although I would still say this ain't a good enough proof to hide your insanity! This post is more of a blabber post. I am just happy! (I just got back remember? Not been to work yet! I guess I have a good 3 hours between me and a (hopefully not) foul mood!!!)

For all those who think work sucks (yes, I am addressing the 99.99% of people reading this) take my word for it when I say, real life is outside work! Take a break (have a kit kat if you don't suffer from "weight issues!") One small trip, an encounter with people friends/strangers alike (believe you me, strangers can prove to be really S-T-R-A-N-G-EERRRSS!) a new place or an old place revisited is enough to keep you going till your next seizures! (remember the very frequent life-is-boring seizures??)

I am so kicked! I even called my yoga instructor and fixed up my "yoga plans" starting tomorrow! (Yes flab, you sure as hell are out of my body. New year seems to be bringing your end. *wicked laugh*)

Gotta scram now. Now, now, what do I do before I end a post? Say something (usually the first thing that hits my head!) and make it sound intelligent. (Yes, if you don't get what I mean you fall in negative IQ region! Now read and say.. ahhaaa epiphany!) I don't see any reason why this post should be any different! So here I go - Celebrate your time, for you know not what awaits for you tomorrow. (trust me you'll have a tomorrow. You most definitely will!! Else, when will you repent over lost time??)

Anyways people, here's wishing you a great week ahead! Will be back with my stories (hopefully more happening ones!) Till then, keep reading! C'est la vie!!!

Bon Voyage!

Travelling means different things to different people. For some it’s a passion, for some it’s a hobby, for some it’s a way of life and for some special people its life itself. Some travel to explore the world outside, while some travel to understand the world within. Some for developing a feeling “been there done that” while some for opening new avenues in life. 


As much as I talk about travelling, I haven’t done a lot of it myself. But I am hoping to, in the near future, which forms a big part of my new year resolutions! From whatever little travelling I’ve done, I know my actual reason behind wanting to travel. And it’s a lot more than just being photographed in front of a famous monument! I’ve always been intrigued by people and their culture. The best part being that it is almost an inexhaustible resource. Even if you have met a million people, learnt about a trillion cultures there is always more waiting to be discovered! This knowledge gives me a reason to go on my expedition with more vigor!
My first ever memorable trip to the Andaman’s was first in many ways. The first time I got to pick the location, first time I changed the itinerary, first time I met people who left me awestruck, for their passion for travelling was really overwhelming! ‘Backpacking’ is a very cool term. Really! Anyone who tells me “I went backpacking to XYZ place” gets me to applaud their attempt. I know what are the challenges people face when they wanna travel, most of which, prohibit them to do so. Money, society, blah blah forms a formidable barrier. So anyone who crosses this barrier manages to earn my respect!


In Havelock islands, I happened to bump into a passionate traveler from Holland. It took me a while to register what she meant when she said, “I sold my house and every single thing in it before I started globetrotting.”Once it did register I could hear my head reeling. WHAT??? My heart was in my mouth when I learnt that she had bid goodbye to her husband only coz she wanted to travel all around the world. With no security and no one to bank upon, she had set off on a journey, probably to find herself. Being used to my comfort zone, I thought that what she did was completely opposite to everything I ever believed in. You need your comforts, you need your people, you need somewhere to get back to, you need someone to get back too. But there was a part of me who kind of understood her. Most of you reading this would think this an act of sheer stupidity. Think again.


That was the first time it hit me, one can have all the materialistic things and worldly pleasures. But these cannot buy inner peace or help you find your true self. As I continued my conversation with this enigmatic woman, I discovered how uncomplicated her life was. Her entire life was in her backpack. A small “bathroom kit” with an even smaller mirror, few clothes which would soon find their way out to make place for the new ones, a book ,just about enough money and lots of memories. She believed in never having to repent. She danced with the locals under the moon light; she clicked pictures on her i-phone; she found a place on the ship deck without any complaints, when she saw that her seat had already been occupied; she travelled with no expectations; she travelled to live and lived to travel.


I may not remember her face, but I can never forget her spirit. 


May this serve as an inspiration to aspiring travelers. May this give you strength to jump the formidable walls and explore the world outside. May this lead you to the road of self discovery. Bon voyage!