RANDUMB THOUGHTS

Hi, How Are You.......?

2015-10-31T04:43:00.002+05:30

Years later and miles apart, she finally gathered courage to ask him over a cold text on an October evening. Shocked and ravaged that it took her so long to want to reach out and ask him.

"Scarred...Marred...Devastated...Shattered...Broken into pieces... Would you even understand this? Do you really want to know the cruel truth?"

He was certain that his reply would not garner any kind of empathy about his loneliness from the only woman who broke his heart, his appetite for love. He composed his feelings, took a sip from his half empty can of soda, and replied -

"I am wonderful".

Rules of Staying Unbroken......

2015-10-31T04:09:00.001+05:30

He always kept his things neat and tidy, until she stomped out of his life. That's when he realized the mess they had created. His heart was in shambles but the rest of him was just okay. He kept wondering - "How long does it take for this mess inside to disappear, to be sane again? It hurts".

And then, he found her staring at him in one corner of the cupboard's top shelf. The slate was their book of life. He had tossed it away the night they fought, the night she left him. He could throw the slate away but not the words written on it, in permanent marker.

Rules of staying unbroken

Don't call. Just show up.

Don't say sorry. Just fix it up.

Don't walk away. Just stay.

CURIOUS CASE OF ELEVATORS

2015-07-05T02:55:00.000+05:30

I use elevator everyday, whether it is the office building or my apartment. But seriously, it is one of the most awkward places to get stuck with people you don't want to (unless he/she is your crush). And I, definitely, don't want to get stuck with the following people inside an elevator:

1. The earphone/headphone guy: Okay, we get it. You are listening to your fav song. While I and rest of us are stuck with you, we can't help but hear the gargling sound from your earphones, trying to share the "awesome music" you think it is. Boy, lower it down.

2. The leaner: He is typically a lazy guy who can't keep his head straight off. The moment he enters inside the elevator, he will lean on you. No amount of discomfort shown by your face will affect his head. To keep your temper down, you might as well give your shoulder to lean on, before he forcefully does.

3. Office crush: Wooo... Your office crush... with you..... in an elevator..... wow.. Thank your stars and enjoy the 5-10 sec ride. But don't act creepy by staring at your crush constantly inside the enclosed box.

4. Attractive people: Being inside the elevator with these kind of people might prove to be uncomfortable. You will spend rest of the time, staring at them, then the mirror and thinking if you look good enough.

5. Madonna types: People falling under this category try to hum their favourite tune in a so-called low voice, but we can't help it. If by any chance, she is going to 8th floor and you are 1-2 floors below her, prepare yourself to sing with her, to bear the torture in a better fashion. If you can't shut them up, join them!!

6. Boss: Even if you get along, being stuck with your boss inside an elevator is terrible. No amount of fake smile will save you from those awkward pauses and silence.

7. Chatterboxes: These are extrovert human beings who chatter and blabber about the latest episode of our favorite tv series or movies or the latest trending topic. They are the best source of office gossips and rumors.

8. Big Bag Theory: These people can be detrimental. They turn left and right and slap us with their bags.

9. Always-in-a-hurry ones: These people repeatedly push open/close buttons every time someone gets in or goes out of the elevator. it's so annoying to watch.

10. Poor Hygiene Ones: Curse your day, if you ever get stuck with them. Prepare yourself to hold your breath till he or you reach the desired floor.

MEMORIES OF K.V SCHOOL DAYS...

2015-04-28T01:18:00.000+05:30

Now that I've been working almost closer to two years, I sometimes go back to past and smile over thinking about my golden school days.

I've studied in various Kendriya Vidyalaya (K.V) schools over a period of 15 years and the experience has been amazing. There are countless memories related to my school. So, I have decided to jot down few of them, and if you are a KVian, you might agree with me.

So, shooting off:

1. School starting at 7.30am and you have to get through the main gate at least 5 minutes prior to the time. Even a minute late, and you have to stand in "late line", which was by the way, super fun. :D

2. I sort of miss waiting for my school bus at my "STOPPAGE" and frantically searching for a window seat. Last seats were reserved exclusively for senior high school kids and few of the front ones for teachers.

3. Wearing white shirt with navy blue skirt, and later on advancing to wearing navy blue kameez with white dupatta and salwaar (for girls) and for guys, wearing white shirt with navy blue half pants (boys crib a lot for that!!!) and later as they advance to senior high school, half pants grow into full pants.. And yeah, no full sleeved shirts for either of the sex.

The one thing that dreaded girls was "RED RIBBON". Even if your hair has grown little below your ears, you have to tie them into two braids on either side... Naah Naa... Red Rubber Bands are not enough. Uniform checking was done by prefects or monitors during morning assembly. If you forget your ribbon, borrow from other class girls.

4. Every Wednesday/Thursday, white uniform. You should remember to wear your white uniform on that day, otherwise a separate queue would be waiting for you (making you look like an outcast). On this day, we would have our PT exercise drill session by PET Sir.

5. Morning assembly programmes were super boring. With the beat of drum, you have to march in to the assembly ground from respective classes. You have to stand according to class and section wise, height wise with "ONE HAND DISTANCE" in a straight line.

I miss our morning prayer ("...Daya karna hamaari aatma mein shuddhta dena....."). Our pledge in English, Hindi and Sanskrit, where girls used to add in few more words, so as not to offend their future husband - "...All Indians are my brothers and sisters..." and you could hear few girls whispering "except for my future husband".
Then we would have Thought for the day, followed by News, and then a special presentation (which could be anything- a poem, a small skit, dance, song..) and would ultimately end the assembly programme by singing our National Anthem.

Saturdays include singing of community songs like, "Bharat ka swarnim gaurav kendriya vidyalaya laayega....", "Hind desh ke nivaashi...", "Aata ootavu saare raan...", "Ae maati re, mora maate...", etc.

6. Greeting teacher in chorus, when they enter classroom "Gooooooooooooood Mooooooooorninggggggggg Maaaaaadam/Siiiiiiir". First period was always taken by class teacher who used to spend half an hour in taking attendance, and chances are we used to forget saying "Yes Madam/Present Madam".

7. Having separate CW (classwork) and HW (homework) notebooks and carrying them daily to school, apart from text book, rough book and school diary.

8. My excuse for not doing homework were either - "There was no power at home last evening" or "Dad came back from office late last evening".. Now when I think of it, it's hard to understand the correlation between my dad's late arrival and incompletion of homework.. lol... :D

9. Having two breaks- small break for washroom purpose and a long break for lunch. We used to finish our lunch like godspeed during small break and play during lunch break..

10. If a teacher wasn't present, it was the duty of the monitor to maintain silence and discipline in the class. Writing names of those who were found talking, on the blackboard. Making a guy sit beside a girl or vice versa as a form of punishment.

11. Playing Name/Place/Animal/Thing during free periods.

12. Copying down blindly from blackboard written by teacher without any understanding and if you fall behind in speed, it used get erased by duster and then, disturb friends to copy down the rest.

13. Eagerly waiting to hear "End Period Bell".

14. Practicing March Past for Republic Day and Independence Day.

15. Hard to forget our school Houses:

Tagore House
Ashok House
Raman House
Subhash House

In some KVs, instead of the above we had:

Ganga House
Brahmaputra House
Cauvery House
Narmada House

16. The worst day for any KVian is 31st March, day of results. Your heart beating fast when class teacher gives away report cards one by one.

17. Happily skip classes to attend rehearsals for any school function.

18. Roaming around the corridors in the pretext of going to washroom.

19. 11th grade students eagerly waiting to become teacher just for one day, on Teacher's day.

20. Waiting for that one day, apart from birthday, when we could wear casual dresses without any restriction - Children's Day.

21. Having cotton candy or stick pepsi after school hours.

22. Always forget to carry scissor and other stationary stuffs for S.U.P.W classes.

23. Parents Teacher Meeting more scarier than a horror movie.

The list goes on and on. No matter what, nothing can beat like sweet memories of school days.

D For......

2014-12-31T20:42:00.001+05:30

During one of our serious jobless moments, my imaginary friend Timmy and I were sitting, looking at the same dull point of our whitish ceiling. Tim opened his mouth (sadly!!) without turning his head:

"Rini, when you get old, will you dye?"

I stared at him for complete five minutes. "Die??"

Tim: God, never understood how on earth I became YOUR friend???!!!??

Me: Errr.. May be, I created you out of MY imagination??

Tim: Haa... Don't change the topic now.. Coming back to the topic, It's not die, miss... It's D-Y-E. Dye your hair.

I looked at him, being not so pleased. "If white/gray hair suits me, I won't.

Tim: And what if it doesn't?

Me: Grrrrr.... I would simply shave off.

Tim, looking very happy: It would be nice to look at.

Me (angrily): May be you should just die!!!

Tim: Lol, may be we should stop using that word.. Too much of chemical, I say..... From now on, no one in this room will say die..or dye..or any word starting with D.

Me: Dinner?

Tim: Except dinner.

Lamhe... Long Lost Movie................

2014-10-26T22:29:00.001+05:30

Sridevimania is long over, but that doesn't mean I can't cash in at this late date. Here I am, anyway, whether you want me or not - and I come bearing the so called Bolly movie "Lamhe".

Yash Chopra’s neglected baby born in 1991 fell flat on its face during the race to the top of the box office at the mega-hurdle called “incest”. More than two decades after its release, Lamhe is the Chopra movie most likely to be called an "overlooked masterpiece”.

As an unapologetic member of the minority cult which deems this movie its favorite, I have to say it is a big time exaggeration to call this movie a masterpiece. Overlooked, yes. Masterpiece, no.

Lamhe shows its quality – in its performances like Anil Kapoor’s earnest confession at the climax or Anupam Kher telling his best friend off; in scenes like the one in which Pallavi’s husband gently informs her about Viren’s feelings and advises her to continue her friendship with him or when Anita first recognizes that Viren and Pooja aren’t exactly platonic.

In case you’re one of those who hasn’t watched this movie, here’re some things you should know:

Q. Is Lamhe really about incest?
A. Nooooooooooooo, how can you have such a doubt!!!???!!! The movie is all about this guy (Viren) who falls for the daughter (Pooja) of his first True Love (Pallavi). Now go with your imagination....

Q. That doesn't sound too bad. Then what’s this hue and cry with the incest thing then?
A. You can call it the "then state of mind of the public"... Thing is Viren became Pooja’s guardian after Pallavi died in childbirth and she looks exactly like her mom. Now what can the story writer/scriptwriter/director/ possibly do if the child is the mirror image of her dead mom.. But! The thing to remember is that he never laid eyes on Pooja for those 18 crucial years when she was growing up into her mother’s double and all the day-to-day raising was done by his old nurse (Dai Jaan). Besides, she‘s the one who chases him (rolling my eyes)!!!

Q. By the way, why name the movie Lamhe?

A. Duh, it means Moments. You see, Viren spends his whole adult life hoarding the few moments he spent in Pallavi’s dazzling presence and Pooja threatens to do the same with the few moments she spent in Viren’s considerably less dazzling presence, and then Viren realizes that all the dazzling moments he spent with Pallavi have been replaced by Pooja’s dazzling presence. Too much of razzle dazzle!!

Q. Wait a minute..... Don't tell me this movie features clean shaven Anil Kapoor?

A. Yes! How else then can you differentiate between the immature youth who fell in love with Pallavi-who-looked-straight-through-him (Moochless waala!) and the oldie goldie who falls for the fun and energetic Pooja-who-idolizes-him-even-though-he-ignores-her (Mooch waala!).

Q. Who else are in this movie?
A. There’s our favourite filmy maa Waheeda Rehman who is a total darling. Anupam Kher is great, especially if you and in this matter he himself didn't know that this was going to be the character he plays in every single YRF movie from then on. Deepak Malhotra as Pallavi’s husband and Pooja’s father is hilariously statue. And then there’s Dippy Sagoo as Anita the woman-who-ought-to-have-known-better-than-to-spend-years-mooning-over-a-wet-blanket. I’m very sad Dippy Sagoo’s career never took off (I secretly blame that wet blanket). Too bad, Dippy Sagoo!

Q. Should I watch this?
A. Do you like happy endings, older men, spunky young women, Sridevi and Anil Kapoor? Lata Mangeshkar crooning melodiously in the background and warm woolens in England? Then this is the movie for you! Otherwise, not so much.

Q. You really like this movie, don’t you?
A. Do not judge me.

Last but not the least, Lamhe is a great movie released in the wrong generation. It was a daring move for Yash Chopra to tackle a taboo topic such as this in a professional mainstream manner. This movie bombed at box office all too unjustly because the audience could not handle the subject matter - a love that ignores the boundaries of age.

SOCIAL MEDIA: HATE ME IF YOU CAN!!!

2014-08-17T23:57:00.000+05:30

With every passing day, I'm starting to dislike Google and social media. It was really good during school and college days. How could anyone possibly think of even doing their projects without adding the main ingredient, namely, Google.

But frankly, I do not like Google or any search engine for that matter, anymore. And I don't like Facebook too nowadays. it's the main culprit for making my life more complicated. I can't ask my friends anything anymore.

"Hey ABC, Did you like the latest bolly flick, Singham Returns?"
"Check my Fb status."

"Hey XYZ, Which state are you supporting in the kabbaddi league?"
'Darn Rini, check my tweet.. And yeah, retweet."

"Hi PQR, how was your vacation in Goa?"
"I have uploaded pics on fb"

"Hey LMN, what was the meaning of the word you mentioned the other day on whatsapp?"
"Google it yaar."

Well yeah, Google is awesome when someone tells you something so obvious that everyone else seems to know about it, and you secretly Google later, without admitting what an ignorant fool you are.

And yes Google is super cool, when you are chatting with someone online and they talk about something completely alien to you, and you could go and Google in a new window, and come back to chat feeling like Einstein.

Yes, it has its pros. But I miss that good old on-the-face stuff, even if it be “Don’t you even know that??” or “Where were you when this was taught at school?”

Now they hush you off to references, even if it be about their own life. Now I'm in that fear zone where I am expecting replies like “Why would you ask me how are you, didn’t you see my daily morning status?”

Or maybe I will go surprise a friend and say “guess who?” and in turn reply would be “wait, let me take your picture and check among my Facebook friends.” And worse, come back saying “Nope you are not there, you better add me first 'cause I don’t talk to (Facebook) strangers.”

I'm not exaggerating, merely sharing experiences. Admit it, people have already stopped talking to you 'cause you didn’t ‘like’ their new profile picture. Or comment about their cover photo.

And remember your childhood times when you had a small party and forgot to invite some friend or another, and could hide it all up later? Nope pals, that's not happening anymore 'cause some super brainy would happily post it online and caption it “fun times!”

But frankly, this is not my problem at all. All I want is for my friends to reply to me when I talk to them, without sending me off to the internet for my answers.

My Experiment With Tweet Sized Stories

2014-05-11T19:58:00.000+05:30

Lately, I have been trying my hands on tiny, one tweet sized stories. It's really fun. People who don't know what these tiny stories are, **drum roll** yes, you guessed it right, they are tinyyyy, which can fit within one tweet. You just need to catch hold of a theme and start weaving a story around it.

This is my first tiny tale and the theme apt for today is "mother's day". Here it goes:

One look at her today and he knew he had to tell, words he always wanted to tell it aloud, feelings which were in his heart but never mustered it up.
"I love you and will always do it till the end."
Wiping her tears, his mother smiled.

MY IRRATIONAL ANXIETY MOMENTS!!

2014-05-04T00:28:00.000+05:30

Are you one of those people who has spasms of irrational anxiety or AM I THE ONLY ONE ON THIS PLANET????

In school, I had a total freak out melt down one night when I realized that I was supposed to go on a picnic with school friends over the weekend and I didn't know what kind of bread to use for our sandwiches. Do they like white? Wheat? Whole grain? Multi grain? 8 multi grain or 9 multi grain? How many grains sum it to be called as "multi" and how much less is 9 multi from multi grain bread?? Is it even a thing? As if the difference of few grains will turn this whole world upside down!!! Should I buy sweet bread or cheese bread? What's honey oat bread? Do they mix honey in it (I can actually write for hours and hours about bread and still remain confused)? I had no idea and it kept me up the whole night. I ended up buying multi grain stuff and it was completely fine and my anxiety was all for nothing.

But then last evening I had to go to the grocery store to buy milk. And there I was again, confused as usual.1% skimmed or 2 % skimmed? The difference between 2% fat and 1% fat is 1 whole percent!!! Like, that 1% less of fat will give me 1 less of ab to my belly. I just don't get it but still got freaked out. It also didn't help that I forgot which grocery store I was in and I got totally turned around and had a mild panic attack when I thought I was supposed to be by the dairy products section but instead I was over by the toilet paper and I felt personally victimized by the grocery store for confusing me even though it was 100% my fault.

So then I started thinking about other things that make me have irrational panic attacks, and since I'm super nice and generous I'm going to share the list with you.

1. When my phone battery charge dips below 10% and I don't have access to a charger. Or when my phone freezes and I'm convinced it's going to be dead forever and I'm going to lose all my pictures and text conversations.

2. When I go to a grocery store and either, I can't find the items I need or somebody else is standing right in front of them. I end up spending hours pretending to be interested in the packages of groundnuts or something while they finish looking at the different kinds of corn flakes because you better believe I'm not saying "excuse me" and butting in front of them.

3. When I'm in queue at Mc Donald's and I can't decide if I want to stick with my Mc Aloo Burger and Pepsi or try something different and all of a sudden it's my turn and I haven't decided but there are a bunch of people behind me and I am totally holding everything up.

4. When my landlord tells me that he's going to come over with an electrician this weekend to fix some broken outlets but I haven't had a chance to clean the kitchen. Now I can't and my plans got changed and I wasn't ready for it!! (panic attack!!)

5. Whenever my leg or hand is dangling off the bed someone, or worse, something is going to grab it. Well, if it’s someone they’ll probably slice my legs whereas something such as a demon or entity would aggressively drag me to hell.

6. Any time I see a spider or any crawly or rapidly running insect, only three things come into my mind.... KILL/MURDER/DIE!!!!

7. This one is related to my 6th point of anxiety. By any chance, if that spider or that bug manages to escape, I worry it’ll come back with several of its friends and attempt revenge.

8. When my mom/dad/brother/close friend/anyone whom I decide to call or text, doesn't text back. I'm sure it's because they are kidnapped or have met an accident or in jail.

9. Half open closet doors. I wait for a hand to slowly come out from there and pull me inside forcefully, like in those horror movies.

10. When looking into mirrors, I always wait for that scary moment when my reflection won’t match up with my body movements.

11. Looking out of windows at night. Even the tiniest sliver of curtains that leaves the tiniest amount of window exposed is definitely being looked through by some type of crazy psycho killer who plans to jump inside, slice my hands and legs and do other slasher movie thingy.

12. By closing my eyes in the shower I feel susceptible to all types of monsters/murderers take advantage. I truly believe that the moment my eyes are shut, a bell rings automatically, informing all interested parties of my helplessness. It’s the WORST when I have got shampoo in my hair, dripping down my face but I freak out and risk exposing my eyes to the painful and burning flowy shampoo lather so that I can get a glimpse of my murderer and confirm my safety.

Dreamy Love...Forever and Ever

2014-05-01T01:16:00.000+05:30

He: Can I tell you something?

She: Yeah, go ahead...

He: I love you

She (laughs): Shaaaaat uppp.. you don’t.

He: No but I will love you

She: (smiles)

He: You are smart, intelligent and witty…

She: No I am not!

He: You may not seem to be but I know you are

She (smiling): Thank you

He: You are also real and original… And that makes it so easy. You don’t act one way and think another. Even your wit and weirdness are beautiful to watch.

She: Now that, I agree.

He: You are also beautiful. Don’t ask me in what way. You just are..

She: (looks down, feeling shy)

He: But…

She: (looks up)

He: I would know all this only when I meet you…

She: (smiles again)

He: And then… I will always love you, forever and ever..

MY MOM.....

2014-04-05T05:15:00.000+05:30

To my very special mother,
On this normal day,
I'm writing you this poem,
Since there are some things I would like to say.

Thanks for thinking I'm funny
Even though I am really not
And even though i hardly say it
I love you quite a lot.

Thanks for taking me places
I couldn't have gotten on my own
And for always making our house

Feel a lot like a home.

Thanks for always being there
To make sure that I'm okay
So I know that if I need you
You are just a hug away.

Thanks for all the good times passed
And the ones that are still to come
For always being a person
I'm proud to call my mom.

You can't choose who your family is,
But if it was something I could do,
I know if I could go back now
My choice would always be you.

Life...As It Is.....

2014-03-31T23:00:00.000+05:30

Life can be full of light and brightness,
On silent days with plain blue skies
Or life can be like pitter patter raindrops
That falls like tears from your ruby eyes.

Life can be the ever dreamy heaven
That you will only reach through hell,
But you won't know that you are happy,
If you haven't been sad as well.

Life can teach lessons in a hard way
But you will be wiser once you know
That even roses need both sunshine
And a touch of rain to grow...

If you can't be a poet, be the poem!

2014-03-31T22:14:00.001+05:30

You can write for hours on hours,
Of all the things you wished you could be,
But the truth of the matter is simple,
People are not poetry.

And I know that you wish you weren't awkward,
That sweet words could roll right off your tongue,
But your time here is too short just to worry,
How each single sentence is strung.

It's okay to be rough around the edges,
To be bruised up, broken and scarred,
But it's not okay to let people tell you,
That it's a reason to change who you are.

Your hair doesn't sit neatly,
The way a poem sits so neatly in a line,
And sometimes you might feel like a word,
That nobody has learnt to define.

You might not be a star that lights a dark path,
Or a bird that could teach us to soar,
But it's okay, because you are too complex,
To be crammed into one metaphor.

It's okay not to know what you are doing,
Since your feelings don't have to all rhyme
Though a poem once complete is eternal,
You have the freedom to change over time.

You are much more than can ever be written,
there is no title to say "This Is ME",
You can't be trapped in the lines of a notebook,
Because people are not poetry.....

MY MEMORY IN MORTUARY........

2014-03-08T11:23:00.003+05:30

On a saturday night....

"OMG! I'm suffering...."

And as expected, my imaginary stupid (but sometimes sensible!)friend,Timmy, popped up.I should really find out how he does that (and stop him!).

“From what, milady?”
“Tim, i think it's a disease...”
“And the name is...?”
“Wise men call it amnesia, some call it dementia, people like me try to call it alzh… alzh.. err its complicated”
“Caught you Rini. You have lost memory, like Aamir in Ghajini. Where are your tattoos, if i may ask? Let me get needle and ink. I will be more than happy to do the honors!!! ”

“Shut up, you idiot!! I did not lose memory! Just a tiny bit on the outer side.”
“It has sides?!!??”
“Oh yeah, it is like a huge football, which comes with an inside and an outside.”
“Really? You mean, inside is full of air?? Hehehe... Enlighten me, anyways.”

“Oh Tim, you see, the inside is like a bank.You save your best moments in it. So anytime you want to have one, just unlock it and get one out.”
“And the outside?”
“Hmmm... It contains less wanted moments. it is like the stuff you carry in your purse or bag - bus tickets, chewing gums, bills.”
“Why are you so worried then? Erase them completely. And then, you will be tension-free”
“No Tim! You never know when the bill would come back to you and say ‘Remember me?’”
“Oh right. You would not remember the bill.”
"Tim, you are drifting away from my problem!"

"What's the problem, then?"

“It becomes harder when, unlike purse, the 'outside' of memory holds people.”
“You forgot people, Rini??”
“Naaah... Not all of them. There are these people Tim, I know I have seen them somewhere but I can’t place them. And problem is, they remember me!”

“Now, I get it. Ladies and gentlemen, let me introduce you to DEBTORS THEORY!! (drum roll.....).
"God Tim! I really had lost my mind when I created you! Plus, I'm the only lady here, sans any gentleman!"
"Whatever Rini... According to Debtors theory, people always remember their debtors, but debtors never remember people.”
“TIM!!!”
“Okay okay you have no money”
“I'm goin to kill you, you monster!”

“Fine... what is the trouble”
“Thanks a lot for asking so soon. Problem is they smile, I smile. They call by name, I smile. They ask questions, I smile.”
“You are a little too cheerful perhaps.”

“What is happening to me, Timmy?”
“You must be dying.”
“No I am not!”
“Oh well, no harm in hoping.”
“That’s it! You are dead.”
"Hey, but I'm your only good looking imaginary pal, Tim, the greaaaa...."Ouuuucccchhhhhhh"

TANISHQ WEDDING AD (2013)

2013-11-03T23:39:00.003+05:30

A wedding is considered one of the most important days in a person’s life. In many cultures it serves as a complete transition into adulthood, a permission to be a new family. Through out the ages weddings have been used as an expression of happiness, success, duty and prosperity. In the marriage ceremony, a couple makes a public declaration of lifelong commitment to love each other. A commitment, by its nature, is a challenge. Saying ‘I will’ to those vows obliges you to forgive and be forgiven. It will be tough at times! So marriage is a risk, but a risk worth taking. There’s plenty of evidence to show married couples are more likely to be healthy, wealthy and wise.

A wedding ceremony is something which every girl dreams about. It is and will be one of the more memorable events in her life. Lot of emotions arise inside her. There is the anticipation of new life, excitement to share life with someone else, then there is fear of the unknown, mixed with certain anxiety about what could go wrong, and if she is an Indian, then those cheesy romantic scenes and songs of Karan Johar's movies make a tiny home in her mind.

No wonder Indian jewellery companies make advertisements that almost always focuses on weddings or allied events as the trigger for purchase. Now, watch this advertisement:

Tanishq, an upper-middle class brand of jewellery from the house of Tata, has given us a lot of creatively visualized ads with Aishwarya Rai swirling and simpering in surreal landscapes in the past (which apparently Sanjay Leela Bhansali got inspired from...lol). However, in this ad, the brand cuts through a lot of cultural clutter and gives us a refreshing perspective on two ideas - one, that it is perfectly normal for the mother of a young child to remarry, and for the groom to accept the woman and her child as a matter of course; and more importantly, by choosing a non-fair, not very young looking woman as the lead in the ad, Tanishq breaks away from the extant advertising and cultural norms.

When i first saw the ad, i was a bit shocked noticing the fact that a commercial can be so bold to make a statement which, in Indian society, is still not very acceptable. But they did it and have done it with elegance. It may not be the best ad but it is good to notice that we are getting matured.

I loved how the ad makers played with us when they give that split second shot of the groom looking angry. The audience starts to think "ahhhh, this one's gonna be an evil stepfather..." and then he surprises us all by carrying the little girl with a smile.

I liked the ending where the child innocently asks "aj se daddy bulaoon (Shall I call you daddy from today?)"...heartfelt ..truly!

A huge salute to the agency who did the ad, the guys who approved the budget and the teams that did the convincing.

A SEPTEMBER EVENING

2013-09-29T22:08:00.000+05:30

My favorite months are March and November. November 'coz that's when my birthday comes and March 'coz... ummmm... May be 'coz I have the right to have a favourite month for no reason (sarcastically rolling my eyes)!!! But for most of the part, I don't need a reason to like something. But this September evening, I feel good that it is September. I don’t think it’s 'coz of the season. The rains are a little silent now but I am not sure if they are completely gone. I still feel cold in the nights and at the strike of 6.30 in the mornings (That's when I usually go for shower on weekdays!)..Then I notice how cold, cold is. Otherwise I just drown myself under a pile of blankets or clothes, whichever it is I find sprawled on my bed.

Everyday, I can see the evening turning into twilight through the glass windows at the other side of the office. And then, there is this blindning (darn, there is no such word but i refuse to correct it!) sun. Why can’t it always be this way, throughout the day? The sun up there and twilight down here. That way we can still have days, just darker and more walker-friendly.

I don’t know what suddenly made September so dear, but I feel it is that window I look at to see the changing color of the day, is the reason for my growing love towards September. The color that makes me want to jump out of the office and soak in the outdoors, and one that makes me want to drown under that pile of clothes sprawled on my bed.

IGNORANCE IS INDEED, A BLISS!

2013-08-09T22:47:00.001+05:30

My friends and family complain that I'm a forgetful and a teeny weeny ignorant person (strange thing for a woman!!). I am not like Aamir Khan in Ghajini but I do forget things. But finally, I learnt that it is good to be ignorant to a certain extent. Whenever I read or hear about something new, no filters start working on my head. I read it as it is written, I hear it as it is told. However, I have learnt that there are people in this world who tend to pass it all through a filter of prejudices and opinions and all they have read in the past, before letting any of that in. They doubt everything. So you see, I can see the goodness in something faster than them. I may sound innocent or naive (you can call me stupid too) here, but if it takes so much work to trust anyone or anything and you have live your life till the end with a suspicious and alert mind, would you ever be completely happy?

I keep hearing people (look closer my friend, you can find them in your huge line of relatives) interpret simple, straightforward words to come up with inner and double meanings. My only reaction is WOW!!! How on earth, do they manage to dig so much into those simple words, I can never ever understand. Wouldn’t it be real tough for people to say every line after injecting a lot of hidden meaning into it? According to me, life is not a drama with heavy dialogues. It is just life – you live, you don’t act. You react, you don’t direct. You are you, not someone else!

But guys, people do it – a lot of people do this. It irritates me to the core. I could be standing in a park, telling how beautiful a violet flower is, and for all you know, someone may think I am trying to look at a man somewhere near the violet flowers – 'cause of course, a woman in this planet, doesn’t simply stand and admire the beauty of flowers.

Here is another one. I may say I've plans to go out next day and my listener may think any one of the following:
“It is to avoid me, from calling her”
“It is to show me she is busy”
“It is to make me jealous that I am doing nothing”
etc etc etc...... (the probable list can go on and on and on!!)
Very few take it as it was said: “She plans to go out next day”

I really hate it when I'm misunderstood. But sadly, that happens a lot. So, I try to be extra cautious when I am with such people and make it all the more worse. For it never works for me when I try to be something. You have to be nice, not try to be nice. 'Cause then you are trying to prove, to please, to convince. It doesn’t work.

So guys, try not to be that way and to help you with this, the only advice I will give is be ignorant, naive and probably tell your brain not to overthink (like I do!! hehehe)......

MY MUMMY'S DIALOGUES!

2013-06-28T16:57:00.003+05:30

Okay.. I don't want you guys to think of me as an ungrateful girl. I love my parents... I really do.. but seriously yaar, there are few things which irks me about them. I do something, they have a problem... I don't do anything, still they have a problem... But again, I love them.. :-P Coming back to the topic, we all have that mother who constantly, like a broken tape recorder, yanks the same thing again and again. I heard it mom!! You don't have to tell me repeatedly every moment of my life. So, here are few dialogues which my pyaari si mummy says all the time....

1) Mein aaoon!! (Shall I come! or indirectly, it means Don't make me come): No guys.. This only looks like normal two words.. but mind ya, it isn't.. It is more scary to hear than a life threatening call from a terrorist group.
"Riniiiii.. You are speaking too loud on your phone..shall i come!!!????!!!" or "Riniiiii, You have been speaking for too long on phone..shall i come!!!???!!!" or "Riniiii.. What do you mean by you can't find those pair of socks?? Shall I come?? If I find it, then you will see what I am gonna do to you!!!"
Me: *starts shivering (with fear)*

2) Agar tu exam mein 80% se upar nahin laayi, kaamwaali ko nikal le tujhe hi kaam pe lagaa doongi!! (If you don't score more than 80% in your exams, then I will make you do all the household chores): I have been hearing this since the day I started my schooling...lol... It is one of her favourite dialogues. It's like I already had a job offer in case academics decides to ditch me!

3) Mein dekhoongi naa!! (I'll see): This dialogue is usually combined with the above dialogue. "Riniiii.. Why aren't you studying for your exams?? I'll see how much you score this time!!"
My reply: "LOL"..

4) Tere jab bachche honge tab tujhe pata chalega (When you have kids of your own, then you will understand): What am i supposed to understand, mom? It's like you have already instructed my unborn kids to take revenge on me..ek naani ka pratishodh (a granny's revenge). :-D

5) Hey Ram!! (Oh my god! Particularly Lord Rama! :-P): My mom uses this sentence, like 1000 times a day. "Hey Ram, Riniii.. Your room is a mess!" or "Hey Ram.. Maid isn't gonna come today" or "Hey Ram... It's raining outside!!". I don't understand what will Rama do in such cases.. Like, he is gonna come and clean my room! Although I secretly pray that if he could come and save me from 'Maavan'.

6) Aaaah-haahaaa-ha!: This is the sound she makes to boost her own morale when everyone at home, except her, doesn't like what she has cooked. For obvious reasons, we (by we I mean, dad, bro and me) can't complain whatever and however she cooks. So we eat silently, giving each other sad looks. And all of a sudden, we hear "Aaaah-haahaaa-ha.. This veggie curry is sooo delicious. I bet no one can cook like me". And rest of us at the dining table think at the same time, "Yeah, no one can really cook like this!! (yiiikesss). And by any chance, if I open my mouth to complain, i would get to hear dialogue number (3) and (4) with complete details.

7) Pura dinnnn (All day): "Riniiiiiii All day you are doin' taka tak taka tak sitting in front of your computer or on cellphone..Are you running a million dollar company?? What important business have you got?? Cell phone.. Computer..Computer..Cell phone... We are also alive..Talk to us..... blah blah"
Me: Duh!! o.O

8) Pata nahin saas ke ghar mein yeh kya karegi (Dunno, what she is gonna do at her in-law's house): This is a typical dialogue which every Indian mother tells her daughter. "Riniiiiii.. Learn cooking... Pata nahin saas ke ghar mein tu kya karegi...." or "Riniiiiiiiii... Keep your room clean.. Pata nahin saas ke ghar mein tu kya karegi..."
Me: I guess my saas doesn't know to do all these stuffs.. o.O

9) Kahaan jaa rahi hai? Kab waapas aayegi? Itne saare friends kab banaaye? Ab yeh Meena kaun hai? Ab Sunita kaun si dost hai teri? Kab bane dost? Tune toh kabhi bataaya nahin mujhe pehle! (Where are you goin'? When will you come back? When did you make so many new friends? Who is this Meena? Who is this Sunita? When did you become friends with her? I have never heard of Meena before?)
I don't think I need to explain this harrowing experience which I go through all the time!! :-D

10) Tod de.. Naa naa beta.. Achche se tod de... Sab toh muft mein milta hai.. Sab kuch tod de!! (Break it.. No no.. Beak it properly... You get everything for free.. Break everything..)
Get to hear this, if by any chance, my phone slips from my hand and falls down.. It needn't be just phone. Even a pen will do the same work, effectively!! Grrrr....

11) Yeh hotel hai kya!!??!! (Is this a hotel?):
Me, back from college: Mummy, what's for lunch?
Mom: Whatever I have cooked, eat quietly!
Me: Mom, not cabbages again :-( :-(
Mom: Rini, Is this is a hotel? No no.. tell me.. Is this a hotel?? Eat whatever has been cooked!!!"
Me: I don't want cabbages. I just had them yesterday. Not again!
Mom: So, you mean to say that you want new dishes everyday? What about a slap? want to have? No no.. tell me.. How many do you want? I can give them instantly!!
Me: I love cabbages.

12) Haaaayeinnnn.. Haaaaaayeinnnn.. Sunaayi nahin de raha hai (Can't hear you):
(Mom in kitchen and I am in my room):
Me: Mommmmm... I can't find my shrug!
Mom: Haaaayeinnnn.. Haayeinnnn..
Me: Shruggggggg, Mummy...
Mom: Sunaayi nahin de raha hai..
Me: SHRUGGGG!
Mom: DRUG!! Rini?? You have started to take drugs??? This is why i never wanted to live in a big city.. omg.. What will I tell everyone? My kids are spoilt... Btw, is it heroin or cocaine?
Me: o.O

13) Pura chor hai (Complete thief): I dunno if a person can be a complete thief or an incomplete one but that's what my mom says.
During cricket match, India is batting and there, Dhoni goes out without making any run.
Mom: Yeh toh pura chor nikla (He has turned out to b a complete thief). Aaj toh India gayi (Today, India will lose for sure)!!
Me: Duh!

This list can go on and on and on. But the above 13 are my all time favourites.. Hehe... My mom can act like a Lady Hitler sometimes (err.. may be most of the times), but in the end, she is my mother.. a sweet and the most lovable one. Love you, Mummy.. :-*

SOLVING CROSSWORD PUZZLE!!

2013-06-19T13:52:00.002+05:30

My imaginary friend, Timmy and I are trying to solve a crossword puzzle (yea yea, you all are thinking right- Great Minds at Work!!)....

Timmy: Rini, you are slow at this.

Me: Okay, Mr. Einstein. Tell me a type of melon.

Timmy: Water

Me: Smartpants, it is a 4 letter word.

Timmy: Pani

Me: Great... So, what's the word for a mixed feeling of anger and aggression?

Timmy: Grrr.

Me: Timmy!! It's a 12 letter word.

Timmy: Hmmmm.. Then write 11 R's and prefix it with 1 G. Grrrrrrrrrrr.. That's so simple, Rini.

Me: Wow. You are so good at this, Tim. What's the place which is filled with confusion, mess and uproar? Mind ya, it is a 6 letter word.

Timmy: Sweety, I don't think I have to tell you this one. You know this very well... ;)

Me: Oh yea, how can I not know this.. it is My-Room!

SUICIDE: WHEN IN DOUBT, DO NOT CHECK OUT!

2013-06-13T22:25:00.001+05:30

There was no reply, no reply at all. He must be busy; he must be busy with his ex-girlfriend he once so passionately spoke about. I was in torment. I cannot live like this, waiting for someone who doesn’t bother, who always finds excuses why he couldn’t call me. We lived in different states. We hardly met. How am I supposed to reach him? The anxiety and agony was too much to bear. It made me forget about the boy who had a crush on me, my parents who would love me to the end of their lives, and my sister who is my best friend. People who were still in my life, inspiring me, pampering me, loving me, missing me. And about me, that I was in one of the best colleges of India where people dreamt of studying.

I swallowed 10 tablets of Death, thinking never to look back again. I swallowed them fast before I change my mind. Now I was at peace that slowly that pain would end. I started analyzing everything. My life in college, my friends, my career, my parents, who loved me beyond everything, unconditionally. They sacrificed a lot for my studies and always made a point to fulfill my every demand. Oh, and when my time came, I repaid them like this. I started to think about my younger sister-she was in school. She loves me too. I remember when I got admitted to this college and had to shift to Gujarat, she used to call me and cry every day, she missed me like anything and it almost took a couple of months to get her back to normal. Poor thing, she would have to live without me now, throughout her life she would just miss me and couldn’t do anything about the pain. Was my love for the boy greater than the love of these people? No. but it was too late now.

I was scared now. I was scared of how much pain I am going to cause to the people who considered me their pride, love, life, everything. They never abandoned me, they never cheated on me, and they were always there whenever I needed them. They loved me without any conditions, any expectations. And what did I do? I stabbed them in their heart. Now their hearts would bleed for me. I have almost killed myself now, for a boy who doesn’t bother. God, what did I do? How can I undo this? I was already losing my mind. There was nobody home. My roommates were out. I could have called them, and told them, “please come, help me”. But what could I have possibly said that I have tried to kill myself. Could they ever reach in time? I was sure now that nothing could be done.

I was losing it, losing what people call life. I was waiting for that moment when my brain would stop thinking, stop remembering things, because it was painful. Painful, that I would die, without telling them goodbye. I have wasted my life of which I could have done so much, I could have been a fashion designer, I could have launched my label, I could have fulfilled my dream. I have killed that one chance which I was given in the form of life. I have closed my door towards God’s gift and I am dying. Weird, why now? I should have thought it before.

My vision was getting blurred. Were those tears that made it difficult to see or the pills did start taking their toll? Darkness, yes darkness was invading my universe. I was blinded. My eye lids were so heavy I couldn’t keep them open. Blackout.
Faintly, what I remembered was that I was in the washroom, vomiting. My friend was standing outside and crying and shouting. Finally, I fell on the floor and TOTAL ECLIPSE.

There were people who were tying my hands and legs, because I was crying and shouting out of pain when they were inserting a pipe down my nose and throat. Gosh, it was painful, suffocating. I wanted to break free. Am I dreaming? Am I dead? I murmured,” don’t tell to mom dad please”

After 3 days in the ICU, when I opened my eyes after what seemed an eternity, I saw my dad standing there at the door; I realized that I was still alive. They saved me. My friends took me to the hospital in time. I was saved. My dad sat by my side. He had tears in his eyes. I said,” SORRY, I AM SORRY PAPA”. And we cried together.

I don’t have any one line moral to tell you folks. I realized what is important when I had a brush with death. Don’t let any failures take charge of your emotions. Suicide is no way. It’s just a tragedy that leaves scars on your loved ones for a lifetime. Don’t even think about it. SAY YES TO LIFE !!

Disclaimer: The above is not related to the writer's personal life.

BACKGROUND MUSIC IN LIFE.........

2013-05-24T21:13:00.000+05:30

It is amazing how music can change the whole atmosphere around you. Not only yours, but others around you.

I am at this crowded bus stop, all the rush and hush of the city at its peak. The buses, the cars and bikes, the people – it is total chaos. Ping, comes the music player. Pong, plays the song. And then you look at the same crowded place, the same people and vehicles. And you get a totally different feeling.

I get into a bus and even as I am being crammed by a dozen others sharing my same spot, it is really great. Not the cramming, no. The music effect. I look at people I pass, through the windows. And they all seem to make movements to match my song. Like in the movies where you have these songs in the background to bring the effect. It works in real life too, if you have a set of ear phones with you all the time.

A man rushes after the bus, another just stays still outside a shop, a third glances at his watch, a fourth signs a paper. A lady seems to scold someone, another just stands at a bus stop. A boy picks out his mobile phone. Two old men walk, talking. The tired expressions, the bored ones, the cheerful ones – they were all perfectly fitting into the rhythm of my song.

Pause. The song is over. The real world noises are back for a few seconds. Pong, the next song begins. This time, a love song. Wow. Cool. I now choose my actors. I see someone on the road, and then look at the next person of the opposite gender and imagine they are “the lovers”. A man becomes the hero of two women, a middle-aged lady for a twenty-something fellow. There is a girl rushing towards my bus. A guy far away is parking his bike, I imagine, looking after the girl who (might have) just ran out from the shop. He has a secret crush on her. He goes back, she is inside the bus. Maybe she looks back, I can’t see her.

But there is a problem when you play love songs. Pretty soon you forget about all your real life actors from the streets and buses. You end up imagining scenes with a single person taking the lead role. No doubt, it is yourself. You picture your every movement is now on screen being admired by your one-and-only – that slow smile, that gleam in the eyes, that slight swaying of the hair – that sudden brake in the bus and the sudden fall!

It is absolutely lovely. Adding background music to real world. It is amazing, really. And you wouldn’t even need an MP3 player if you are imaginative enough. You could play it in your mind. Although, I must warn you, it could land you in trouble – cause you end up acting to your song and the onlookers who cant hear the music, may – just may – raise a brow or two. But chances are, if they have known you too long, they will know not to find it unusual to find an overly-expressive girl being overly-expressive for no reason at all.

INDIAN SLAP..... MIND IT!!

2013-03-24T23:11:00.002+05:30

I still remember the other day when i took an auto rickshaw to reach from point X to point Y, when in the middle of my journey the engine started sputtering. The driver clearly had a gold medal in chewing tobacco. Without caring about any traffic, he promptly pulled up and started to check the engine. He quickly decided to execute an engineering miracle. I was inside the auto when i heard "phataaaaaaaakkk" three to four times. I got down to see what really happened. And there he was, SLAPPING the engine.. and signalled me to get back in. Sure enough the engine roared its way back to life.

The truth about us, Indians, is this. We are the "slapsters". Whether it’s a battery down remote control of a TV, an old radio catching dust in the corner or even our kids, we can fix anything with a slap.

Guys, think really hard. Why is it that when an object (living or non-living) goes weird, our first instinct is to give a tight slap? Is it because we saw that was the only way to keep our hot tempered Sreesanth focused on the cricket match without giving monkeys a bad name? Or is it because we have grown up listening to the classical slapping sound of Zakir Hussain’s Tabla? Or may be it is because that was the climax of most of our TV shows and the credits started to roll... A thought to ponder over...

Or is it because we are a big time attention seekers? And a slap is the best way to get it? Indian men never punch each other when their cars meet with an accident on the road. Most, and by most I mean 9 out of 10 men, act like they were going to land a punch but let loose a tight girly slap. Slaps and bullets make more noise thus attracting a bigger crowd.

During school days, our teachers used to slap us and never really punched.. Not even the hardcore sports types. Taking a punch is manly for guys, but getting slapped degraded their reputation 1000 times over. Is it that we are all slapping each other to avenge our humiliation from childhood?

Slapping has a much more revered place as compared to other forms of violence, if you look down the history of Indian culture and vocabulary. People are more likely to say “Kaan ke neeche bajaaoonga” (Ill give you one tight slap below the ear” as compared to “ek ghoosa padega toh battisii bahaar aa jaayega” (Ill knock your teeth down with one punch).

But seriously guys, our Indian slap deserves some kind of credit. I don’t know if our lives would go on smoothly without it being employed everyday in almost 2/3rd of our daily activities. But its just another thing we’ve started taking for granted. Let's not talk about it to the millions of women being abused by their husbands everyday.

LETTER TO OUR DEAR PM

2012-12-23T21:10:00.001+05:30

Dear Manmohan Singh

How do I start? Hmmmm... Lemme just tell you that I'm very disappointed with you. I read it somewhere that you can find an intelligent and capable Sikh through the quality of his turban. Have you ever noticed that even your closest Sikh advisor, Montek Singh Ahluwalia, ties his turban in the opposite direction. I noticed that during your administration, other capable Sikhs like Harbhajan Singh never learnt how to tie one, J.J. Vallaya started keeping a pony tail and the other spin legend - Maninder Singh tried slitting his wrist. I feel your lack of turban tying skills has had an adverse impact on the Sikh community.

For someone who single handedly pushed upwards India’s economic revolution through reforms we had but no choice to make, your current form worries me. Infact, I was very proud of the fact that the Sikh community is perhaps the only one which has no beggars, and then Sonia Ji made you PM.
So, I am writing this letter to offer you my advice over few things. So, lets start...

1) Terrorism: Now I know why people have been spitting on you about being soft on terror just because you don’t hang Afzal Guru but I can feel your pressure.. Its understandable... Being a Sikh how can you hang anyone who’s got a Guru in their name? Your religion has ten and they sacrificed their lives for the country already. So how can we make another one a martyr? I totally get it.
You should at the earliest, fence India’s entire border regions with the 30 foot cutouts of The Great Khali with Rajnikant and Chuck Norris' jokes here and there. Not only will it scare the future Kasabs trying to enter Mumbai etc but also provide employment to hundreds and thousands of artists across the country who are broke and poor.

2) Price Rise: I can understand the fact that it is difficult for any PM to handle the price rise due to global economic meltdown. People don't understand this. But I am with you, Mannu. I realise what a genius you are by not giving the rotting leftover food grain to poor people for free. In one of his lectures, Shiv Khera had told, "For an individual to be successful in life – the most important thing is having the hunger." I know what you're trying to do. With this wonderful plan of starving people even though we have the capability to feed them all, you are actually empowering them and creating the desire in them to be successful. Oh yea, i can smell social entrepreneurship and capital venture.

3) Tackling fiscal deficit: I know the economist in you is dying to tackle this problem single handedly. My suggestion to you is to sell the states of Bihar and Jharkhand to Japan. I guarantee you that these Japanese will invest in anything, especially any shit connected to Buddha. It makes sense, Mannu. Firstly, we already have existing Japanese tourists who visit every year. Secondly, the rate at which these states have been bringing down Human Development Index and GDP, it will portray a better image for India. Thirdly, lets not argue on the fact that its almost next to impossible to govern these states given the amount of corruption, murders, kidnapping and Naxal presence. It definitely needs the highest possible amount of discipline which only Samurai warriors have. Also, teen suicide rate in Japan is almost equal to farmer suicide rate in these states- thus making it an excellent socio-cultural fit.

4) Indian sports federations: I just want you to implement one simple rule when it comes to our sports federations. Please Mannu, make it mandatory for the chief of such federations to have/had or be able to play that particular sports. That's all i ask for. We don't ask him to be a champ in it, just be able to play. Like, if V.K Malhotra is Chief of the Archery federation, he should at least be able to hold and lift the bow for 5 minutes. 5 minutes is all this nation asks for. And for god' sake, can you please remove Jagdish Tyler as Chief of Judo Federation. Do you realize he joined it to defend himself from your Sikh community, if you know what i mean.

5) Gay marriages: Now that you have lost 90% of your supporters, there still lives a community who will definitely support if you do something for them. Mannu, its time you make gay marriages legal in our country. Won't it be fun if we have more of weddings and receptions in the country? more of yummy food!! How can you not appreciate this being a Punjabi?? It will be better for our country, it will attract more tourists and you can proudly stand tall and show to the world who's their daddy!

Last but not least, i hope you haven't got bugged up reading my letter. Its time Mannu. We want to hear what you've to say and know your true side than listening to your monotonous speeches which your speech writers feed you.

So please, make an effort, loosen up a bit and lead us. We are waiting.

Yours
People of India

A MOMENT OF GRIEF.......

2012-10-29T23:46:00.001+05:30

We always lose someone we love,
Sometimes we blame God
But everything has its own ending
A happy ending sometimes...
Some go to heaven, some go to hell
But at least they can't feel the pain
on this mean world anymore...
How people treated them while they were still alive.
When they were still alive,
We did our best to push them away.
But when they are gone,
We want them back....
We want them during the times
our house feels empty without their noise,
our phone being silent without their calls,
our nights without them...
the times when we need their advices...
the times when we need their hug while we are crying...
Their memories keeps us alive,
Their memories makes us to smile....
Makes us laugh, and at that point
Makes us cry sometimes....
We grab their clothes, their favorite stuffs
and pretend its him/her...
The last smile he/she gave you
while he/she was gone
The time he/she said.....
"You'll be alright, I'm goin' to watch over you"
The are not gone, he/she is just somewhere
Somewhere he/she can rest peacefully...
It tears our heart apart
Every time we smell their scent
Every time we see their photos...
The most hurtful part is when we left something unspoken,
We sometimes blame ourselves too..
Why not us!! Why it had to be them??
Life recycles,
When someone leaves,
Someone will come...
They are just like angels,
They are meant to be with you for a short time..
Make you happy,
Feel alright when you're down...
Death teaches us
How to love someone so much
while they are still alive...
Death is not a sad thing,
He/she will meet someone in heaven,
Someone they really love,
Who passed away long back...
We can't control death,
But what we can control is time
in our own ways....
Because somewhere out there...
He/she is just watching you...
Still helping you...

(I wrote this to help my friend who recently lost her mother. R.I.P)

I AM SORRY....I REALLY MEAN IT....

2012-10-06T23:30:00.000+05:30

“Would 'sorry' have made any difference? Does it ever? It's just a word. One word against a thousand actions.”- Sarah Ockler

Welcome to the 21st century where hardly any conversation is made without the word- no my friends, it is not f!@#k, though it is equally gaining popularity. it is the most magical word we homo sapiens have created. Ladies and gentlemen, i present it to you, "SORRY".

The word sorry is abused these days a lot by people. I am no exception. Now i feel that people no longer mean it when they say, like ‘sorry we are closed’ or ‘sorry I kept you waiting’. I even get meaningless apologies from TATA SKY (DTH connection) when they frequently interrupt the telecast due to rain, and used to apologize with a screen that said ‘sorry for the interruption’.

The value of sorry has started to diminish. Nowadays, if you really mean it, you have to specifically say so, like ‘I am sorry and I really mean it’ or ‘I am really sorry’. By the way, I am really sorry I don’t know who Sarah Ockler whom i have quoted above, is.

Every person offers apology for anything these days. Sorry has just become a word. It is free of cost. And it comes with the added advantage of making receiver happy. Like a husband saying sorry to his wife for forgetting their anniversary. However, there are still few people who think it is below their self esteem to utter sorry, no matter how wrong they are.

My funda is simple. I, too am a human. I too make mistakes and sometimes have hurt people and and knowingly or unknowingly, it will happen even in the future. If my actions have caused any harm, offense, discomfort or inconvenience to a person, I apologize straightaway. Haa.. I apologize to you for this blog.

One important thing should be kept in mind. Timing. If you delay, the issue could get complicated and the injured party might not be open to your sorry business. But you surely would always be able to better Vatican’s timing, which apologises a few hundred years after the injured parties are no longer around, like when it apologized to Galileo in 1992 after 359 years. And yes, if you don’t ask forgiveness now, it is quite possible that tomorrow you may no longer feel guilty!

I have come across people who give fake apologies. They are good at giving false apology, which sounds like a real apology without taking any blame for the action. Like the thief who is sorry that he is sentenced to 10 years prison and not that he is a thief!! Then there are few people in this world who get angry if the apology is not accepted. Like this guy in a movie who was caught two-timing and was shouting at his girlfriend, “I told you I am sorry. NOW what is your problem?”

A really good method of apologizing is to seek forgiveness by bringing out to the other person’s good self. Probably getting a little emotional also helps. Like the other day when my mom was out of town and I was strictly instructed to water the plants which I happily forgot to do. I told her, "I am really sorry, but the beautiful mother you are, both from outside and inside and the kind hearted personality you have got which I hope to instil in myself one day, I know you'll forgive me". I got my favorite chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream that day.

But men, if you want a successful relationship or a marriage, then you must be willing to apologize to each other. Whenever you're wrong, apologize to your wife; and whenever she is wrong, apologize to her, like a true man

Just remember that to err is human. You will commit mistakes. small and big ones. You'll hurt people whom you love and who love you. The best way to correct wrong actions is to try lying, blaming others, making excuses or justify your actions. Or you could sing Akon's "Blame it on me".

If nothing works, open my blog and read this post. I don't know whether it will help you or not, but it will increase my page views count.