LIFE is What You Make It!

The Umbrella Couple

noreply@blogger.com (Geevika Bhatia) — Thu, 13 Oct 2016 18:21:00 +0000

Sometimes life unfolds such experiences that fill our hearts with gratitude and warmth and leave an indelible mark on our memory. No matter how old we get or how long it has been, we can still recall it as it happened and go down the memory lane only to get drenched in the warmth of those feelings all over again. We all have such experiences and so do I. There is such an incident from one of my travels that I found worth sharing. These days when we feel that the world is a scary place, where it is hard to trust the people we know, that incident made me believe in strangers. It reaffirmed my belief that there is still lot of goodness left in people all around the world.

I have given this experience a name - ‘The umbrella couple’. Sounds strange? Actually, I stole this name from a story that I read in 8^th standard in my English literature class and I still remember it – The Umbrella Man by Roald Dahl. Apart from the ‘umbrella’, the similarity that I could draw is like I did not forget that story I read in 8^th standard, I will never forget the meeting with the umbrella couple. However, the difference is that the umbrella man in that story was a negative character who used to steal an umbrella only to offer it to the people in exchange of some money and with that he would buy himself a drink at a pub. But here, the umbrella couple – The guy and the girl are the real life heroes. So, let me begin.

In June this year, me and my husband Vivek, traveled to Hong Kong. When we travel abroad, I never got the reason why Vivek always gets a local number without a data pack. So whenever we get lost on our way, I never miss any chance to blame him or fight with him as we cannot call upon our friend – ‘Google maps’ for help. Though, secretly I have always admired it because in the absence of the internet pack in our smart phones we are left with no choice but to talk to the strangers and ask them for help. Moreover, I believe people are the face of any region and what is the fun in traveling to some distant place if you would not talk to the people who live there. You never know when you make a friend for a lifetime. However, I must admit that in Hong Kong this did not turn out to be a good idea as most people do not speak English and hence language created a challenge to communicate.

It was the third day of our stay in Hong Kong and we were trying to get back to the hotel after exploring the city for the whole day. We were traveling back by MTR (the metro trains) and like always we were using a map to find out which station would be the nearest to our hotel. So, we scrutinized the map and decided on a station to get down that seemed closer to our hotel (closer at least on the map :D ). We got down at the station and then we did not know through which gate we should exit as there were a number of exits in different directions. We did the ping pong and chose an exit gate to try our luck. Just kidding! We tried to use our logical minds and got out from one of the exits and guess what? We did not know where we were and how we could reach our hotel. And then left with no other choice, Vivek and I tried asking people in our own ways.

There was a small market as we came out of the station. Vivek started asking the shop keepers and the people standing outside the shops. I took the other way and instead of getting inside the market area I started walking outside on the pedestrian. The moment I looked around I saw a young couple crossing the road and coming towards me. I asked them if they could tell me the way to reach my hotel. To my luck, they knew English and understood what I was asking. They smiled at me and that made me feel a bit relaxed. The guy took out his phone to locate our hotel on the Google maps and then to check for the red bus which would go to that area. By the time Vivek also joined us. We discussed and tried to figure out but somehow even they could not find out which bus would take us to the hotel. Still they did not let it go and to help us, they pointed us to the bus stop and told us to ask the bus drivers there. To solve the communication problem with the bus drivers, we took a picture of their phone screen (google maps showing where we want to go) to show it to the drivers and ask which bus will go to the area.

This lovely couple was congenial and that was a surprise to me as most of the people I have tried talking to, in Macau and Hong Kong, either shooed me or gave me a close ended answer. Initially I found it rude but then I understood that they were not being rude. Either they did not know English or it was like the way they talk. This couple was all smiling and chatting. They asked us from where we are and the reason of our travel to Hong Kong.

And then as getting lost on our way was not enough, it started pouring like anything. This is how Hong Kong weather is. One moment it is hot and sunny and the next moment it starts pouring. We all ran to the market area to get a shelter. Hong Kong people always keep an umbrella with them as they are aware of the tricks played by the weather. The girl asked me if we had an umbrella to which I said no. I assured her that it is not a problem as the rain will stop in sometime and then we will leave. The couple bid us a goodbye and then Vivek and I kept standing in the shelter. To protect us from getting drenched we stood in a way that we were facing the direction opposite to which the couple was headed. Few minutes later, we heard a voice behind us – Excuse me! It was the couple again. The girl was holding a new umbrella in her hand which they bought for us from a store down the lane. They offered it to us saying – This is for you. Vivek and I looked at each other not sure what to say. Humbled by their gesture, we thanked them and requested them to tell us the cost of the umbrella to which they refused. We requested them again and again to which they kept smiling and refusing. And finally the guy said - It is a gift for you. Enjoy your vacation! Welcome to Hong Kong! And then they left.

We were so aww stuck by the kindness of the couple that we did not even ask their names or we could have asked for their picture. We felt as if we did not thank them enough. Their idea of asking the bus driver really helped and we got the bus. However, we were so overwhelmed that Vivek and I did not speak a word on the way back to the hotel.

The moment has gone but it has left a strong imprint on our minds. Vivek has carefully kept that umbrella as a souvenir from Hong Kong people. And this incident made us believe that we find all sorts of people around the world, some good and some bad. But the goodhearted people still outnumber the bad ones. People still help strangers even when they have nothing to get in return. As I said, people are the face of any region, the umbrella couple kept the pride of their country and left a mark of Hong Kong on our hearts forever.

We will never forget them – The umbrella couple. We felt that we did not thank them enough for their kindness. We don’t know their names and there is no way to get in touch with them again. So, through this post I, together with Vivek, want to thank them from the depth of our hearts, for reassuring our trust in humanity and for giving us a memory that we will treasure for the rest of our lives.

Here is a picture of me and Vivek where he is holding the umbrella.

The Umbrella Couple

Marriage

noreply@blogger.com (Geevika Bhatia) — Wed, 05 Aug 2015 18:08:00 +0000

An Overrated Institution or A Sacred Bond

Disclaimer: Marriage is the most talked about and complicated relationship. I wanted to write about it since so long; however, writing about such topics had never been easy. I know that writing about marriage would surely trigger questions about my age, my marital status, if I am married then on which side my marriage is going – an overrated institution or a sacred bond. Depending upon my answers to these questions I will be judged and readers will make their opinion about this write up. But let me say it before I start. It is solely my opinion that I am sharing here with you. Every individual is free to express his/her views and it is not necessary that everyone else has to agree with it. However, the readers’ comments are always important to me and are most welcome.

People tend to be on one side - either marriage is an overrated institution or it is a sacred bond. But I believe that it can be on any side. It is an overrated institution when two people marry for all the wrong reasons and it is a sacred bond if you find that one person who gives you all the right reasons to spend your life with (I know the count is low :P).

So let’s start with what I meant when I said – ‘all the wrong reasons’. Many of our actions are derived by the reactions of the society we live in. What will the society say if I will do this or if I will not do this? Marriage is one of those actions where society plays a crucial role. As soon as you reach a certain age in your life, suddenly everyone you know gets interested in your plan of getting married. People, relatives or family n friends, will not lose a chance to ask you or your parents about when the marriage is on charts. Not only questions, people do come with all sort of suggestions as their only aim in life is to get you married. They will suggest – ‘This is the right age, you should get married’. They will try to scare you to death by saying – ‘You will lose all the great prospects if you cross certain age and what more, your biological clock is ticking and there will be complications later’. Do these people imply that marriage is nothing but a license to have sex and to start making babies? If you did not listen to their warnings and have crossed the age that they have declared legitimate for getting married then it will be a matter of time when you will be drowned in the torrent of mindless anticipations about you. They will start gossiping and speculating all sorts of problems, physical or psychological, that are reasons (of which you yourself are not aware) for why you are not getting married. Such people must be roused from their slumber - “Come on man! Get something important in your life to focus on. ”

And finally parents succumb to this societal pressure and start the process of emotional blackmail to make your life miserable as if it is already any less of it. They will give all sort of reasons to convince you that how marriage is the most viable thing to do in your life. They will say – “You can spend your young age alone but everyone needs a companion in old age. What will you do then?” or “All your friends are getting married because this is the right age.” or “Your cousin who is younger than you have decided to marry.” If you have younger siblings then you will be held responsible for spoiling their future as it is inherent in our society that elder should marry before the younger among siblings. And if you did not get tricked by any of these reasons then the last one that is infallible and works in most cases – “How long are we going to live? We will not be with you forever. We want to see you settled and happy.”

A girl’s parents will spend every minute worrying that how their daughter will survive alone in this cruel world. She can live alone, can earn well, can compete in the corporate world, can travel alone, can manage everything in her life but she still is not capable of surviving alone and needs someone to protect her. I mean, really? A boy’s parent will make the guy guilty of not carrying forward their family name as if progeny is the only thing marriages are meant for. They will suggest – “You need someone who will take care of you and manage your home.” Oh puh-leez! If a guy is not capable of taking care of himself then he should not marry as he is a kid and only grownups are allowed to marry. If he can’t take care of himself, how will he be able to take care of his wife? And yes, let me make some sense here, if he needs someone to manage his home then he actually needs a house help not a wife. There exists such parents who think that if their child is not acting responsible in his/her life then he/she will become responsible after marriage. ARGH! From where do people find all these mind boggling highly illogical ideas?

Now as society and parents are playing their parts perfectly to set the stage, it depends on individuals in question as how they will act in their roles. There are cases, not much though, when the individuals are more eager to board the flight of marriage. Don’t take me otherwise as there is nothing wrong in it unless you are well prepared to take off. The reasons can vary with individuals. Some find themselves left alone as most of their friends have either tied the knot or are soon going to do the same and hence they have no one left to call or spend time with especially on weekends. Girls (ok, I agree, not all of them) usually fantasise their wedding for years before the actual time comes as an extravagant affair shown in our happy ever after Bollywood romantic movies (Have you not seen any Karan Johar’s movie?). And guys who usually have a run-away-from-commitment attitude as it is the biggest threat to their so called freedom, get ready to marry only because of their parents and most of the above mentioned reasons. For guys, if they are already seeing a girl and are serious about her then there can be a case when they want to settle down or if there is a pressure from the girl’s side. (Here I must share that I asked a number of guys as to why a guy want to marry other than any of the reasons I have mentioned and I did not find any. So, if you have one, please do share.)

Do not marry for society, parents, financial security, for free and regular sex, progeny or just for the sake of it as everyone else is doing it. With all these wrong reasons do you think a marriage will last forever? Did I hear you saying yes? Then I must say you are more or less right. Why? Because this is how our society is. Couples spend their lives together not out of love but out of helplessness. They will live in regret but still will not step out of marriage because of their families involved or if they have kids and not to forget – ‘What will the society say?’. Also dissolving the marriage makes life even more complicated especially for women because of the embedded prejudices (there are still so many) in our social system. Even if you are not much effected as you are surrounded by people of your age who understand your situation but your parents (living with or away from you) will not be able to escape from the societal harassment.

Nobody wants to make life a living hell. Nobody wants to bear the burden of a relationship where you are not happy or are bound to stay together without respect for each other. Then why to enter this overrated institution called marriage. Is marriage really required? The answer is NO. There should be no compulsion of getting married as it is your life and you have all the right to decide if you are happy being single or want to share it with someone. There is nothing in life that a guy or a girl cannot achieve being single. Does it mean I am anti-marriage? The answer is again NO. Confused? Let me explain. Recently I read these lines and it is something I strongly believe in:

“There should be no compulsion to get married. There’s nothing worse than being married to the wrong person. You should only get married if you find someone you admire, who will help you understand and fulfil your life’s purpose. And you, in turn, can help her fulfil her life’s purpose. If you are able to find that one person, then marry her.”

-Amish Tripathi, Scion of Ikshvaku

So true. Isn’t it? Marry when you find someone you actually admire. Marry when you find someone whom you respect which is even more important than love. Marry when you understand it is about equality and not authority. Marry when you are strong enough to support not when you are alone and are in need of support. Believe me, to be alone is much better than to be with someone who make you feel lonely. Marry when you are mature enough for emotional attachment and not afraid of commitment. Marry when you find a companion for the rest of your life not just for old age. Marry when you find the right person (no matter when) and not because the clock is ticking. Marriage is between two individuals to complement each other and not to complete each other (as no one is incomplete).

I know it is not easy to find the right person but if you find the one then never let him/her go. And if in case you do not find such person then my friend there is nothing more awesome than being single. The sole purpose of life is to live happily and enjoy every moment, be it alone or be it with someone special. Choice should be and is always yours.

P.S: Here I have talked about the picture before marriage. I have not touched the part of what happens after marriage that makes it an overrated institution or otherwise as there is so much to talk about. How about a part-2? Stay tuned…

To My Sweetly Annoying One!

noreply@blogger.com (Geevika Bhatia) — Tue, 14 Jul 2015 20:57:00 +0000

Okay, so it is time to give my not-so-different “Thank You” speech, something like which you must have heard many times on television in various award shows. Winners usually have a huge list of people to acknowledge for their success but don’t worry, my list is too short with only one name on it.

Let me first clear the whispers inside your head that are curious to know what award have I won? Sorry to disappoint, it is not an award that I have won. It is a PMI certification exam that I cleared (of course with all the flying colors) two days ago. I know, it is not something big to brag about but remember I said it is a ‘thank you’ speech. :)

So, I would like to thank Mr. Vivek Tyagi for the support and trust he had shown in me, without whom this would not have been possible. OMG! See, am I not truly inspired by what I have been hearing since my childhood? All right, just one more try. Please.

I want to share the credit with only one person, who is the most sweetly annoying to me, my husband. Yes! He is sweetly annoying and the line – “I hate you like I love you” gives the right words to what I feel about him at times. I think most of coupled people can relate to what I mean but if you did not get it yet then hear the song ‘True love’ by Pink.

Coming back to the point, taking a PMI exam was not the challenge. The actual challenge was the preparation. I wasn’t really sure about the determination and dedication that I could put into study. It has been years since I had taken any exam that required some discipline and regular effort. Moreover, my office hours and the traveling do not leave me with much of spare time to study. And it is here, when he did his part and that really made a difference.

As soon as I would reach home and that is mostly after 9 p.m. he would help me with the dinner and then say – “Geevika, I think you should go and study now”. He would not come into the room till 12 as not to disturb me because he knows we just can’t stop chit chatting when sitting together even if it is the silliest thing we are talking about. And even when he would come into the room, he would be wide awake, doing nothing. Doing Nothing! Okay, so actually most of the times he was playing on his mobile, even at those late hours at night and then he would say – “Don’t worry, I will not sleep else you will feel sleepy.” This is what he did for so many days. I discussed all the stuff I was studying and he suggested many things that could possibly work for me. He would suggest – “I think you must study that topic too. You should not leave any stone unturned.” At any time, I would talk to him about all the crap that was going in my head related to the exam, the moments when I was panicked and he needed to calm me down and to get me back to the pace.

Many times, I found him annoying too. Sometimes when I felt tired and wanted to sleep, he would be after me to study for half an hour more. He would not let me sleep and would say things like – “this is not the way people prepare for an exam when they want to succeed” and to which I would say, “Why are you behaving like Dad (My father, who played the same role during my education)?” I would say all the wrong things – “you are torturing me” or “I know better how much I have to study”. I fought with him and yelled at him, to which he mostly went quiet or did not say much in response.

A day before my exam he had to go to Bangalore for a few days for some official work. The evening when he had to leave, I was helping him in packing and doing the usual stuff when suddenly he caught me and said, “Why are you so quiet? Is there any tension or problem?” I actually did not expect him to catch what was going inside me. I was going through studied-all-still-not-sure syndrome that usually happens a day before exam. He laughed and said, “You know what Giku (a nick name he has given me. Yeah yeah, I know it does not make sense but when did nick names ever make sense.)? I know I will not be here with you on your exam day. So if you feel low at any moment just think about me and I am sure it will bring a smile on your face and you will forget about everything that might be bothering you.” And we both laughed at it. He then said, “Jokes apart, just don’t think that you are taking an exam. Don’t worry about what will be the result or don’t worry about the money you have spent, if in case you are thinking about it. Just think that you have studied well about something and now it is time to test your skills. Believe in yourself, take it easy and I am sure you will do it.”

Next day when I was about to start with the exam suddenly his face flashed in front of my eyes, and he was smiling naughtily like he usually does and I remembered what he had said last evening. His thought actually brought an ear to ear smile on my face. Believe me, I had never been so sure about any exam that I had taken in my life. I was confident that I would clear it in one go. And yes I did it!

It will really demean the depth of our bond if I will thank you Vivek for being there with me, believing in me when I was in doubt and for being my strength when needed. But I should tell you that I am so blessed to have found my only sweetly annoying one in you. :)

P.S: In our lives, at every step, our loved ones always support us and believe in us. But we take their love and support for granted. Everyone needs acknowledgement or appreciation when they are doing something especially for you. I need it, don’t you? So don’t forget to appreciate your loved ones for their efforts that they are making to keep you happy and motivated. Today is the time, now is the moment. Express what you feel. Appreciate and acknowledge their love.

We are soul sisters!

noreply@blogger.com (Geevika Bhatia) — Wed, 10 Jun 2015 19:34:00 +0000

I have written this poem for one of the finest people I have met in my life - Mahima. She is my friend and my soul sister. Since the time I have started writing, she has been asking me to write a poem for her. Firstly, I laughed and thought she must be kidding. But later, I came to know that she was serious about it. Today is her birthday and I have tried to scribble few lines for her. Mahi, may be it is not as good as you expected, but you know, my feelings behind every word are true.

So many people we come across in our lives

Some walk with us a few steps and some a few miles

Only a few leave their footprints on our heart

Which remain there forever no matter how far we part

You are one of those to me, Mahi.

People may miss judge you as a facetious person

As you are many a time joking and kidding around

A few have known the mature, calm and loving you

I am glad I have met that unseen side of you.

In you, I have seen the most patient of all

The one who will bounce back if there is a fall

You are the one living with the truest spirit

Spreading happiness around with no limit

I have seen your tearful eyes when I cried

In you all my secrets confide

I have seen your laughing with my laughter

With you everything seemed much brighter

Our lengthy talks when we pour our heart out

And feel so relaxed as if there is no doubt

We have done all the crazy things together

Those times are memories forever

Every morning, as it was the most important task

“Geevi, what are we going to eat today?” you’d ask

Now, there is no one to tempt me for the tasteless food

Pizza, noodles or dosa nothing now tastes as good

You used to say – “Wow! Geevi you are so intelligent.”

Did not matter if it was ever relevant

And I was always ready to answer this as we knew

But now I can’t reply – “haina!” as I used to

Now as you have gone so far

Nothing can ever be the same as it was

No one can know what is going inside me as you could

No one can read my face as you would

Whenever I think of piglet and Pooh

It reminds me of us – me and you

Distance can never made us part

You will always have a special place in my heart

There can be some relationships so strong

Not by blood yet they last lifelong

You are a friend, a motivator

Mahi, we are the soul sisters!

APATHY - the best revenge

noreply@blogger.com (Geevika Bhatia) — Thu, 10 Apr 2014 17:34:00 +0000

Sometime ago while reading a book I came across a quote that caught my attention - “There are four basic human needs - food, sleep, sex and revenge.” My immediate reaction was - Really? I read it again. Oh! don’t take me otherwise, I agree with the first three needs but Revenge? I mean, seriously? How can revenge be a basic need for a human?

When I thought closely, may be not a basic need, but isn't revenge or hatred something that somewhere derives many of us. At some point of time in life, every one of us must have done something or thought of doing something to take revenge. Though revenge is a BIG word however, in many situations when we get hurt, we want to hurt or wish that the other person would go through the same pain which we have gone through. Like, it can be your lover or your ex who cheated on you and left you emotionally drained and broken or may be a relative who had done wrong to you or to your family that would take years to come out of it or have an everlasting effect on your life. In fact, there are very common scenarios when we say – ‘Let the time come and I will show you’.

Then over the period, the feeling of revenge gradually turns into hatred that dwells in us day and night. We start living for only one reason just to show the person who has hurt us that we can do anything. In fact to prove that we are doing really better without them or even after what they have done to us. We start doing things to show off and every moment of life is spent in proving something to someone. We set goals in our lives to prove ourselves to others and not because we want to feel accomplished and good about ourselves.

And here I have a question. Do you actually think that living a life to take revenge or in hatred, is a life worth living for? You are giving that person your whole life and its purpose, without even knowing it. You are living each moment of your life for others and hence making them the sole reason of your existence. It is like locking yourself and giving away the key to someone who will never let you free.

“Holding anger is a poison...It eats you from inside...We think that by hating someone we hurt them...But hatred is a curved blade...and the harm we do to others...we also do to ourselves.”

-Mitch Albom (The five people you meet in heaven)

Yes, hatred is in the basic nature of humans and it is easy to fall for hatred when you are hurt. Few years ago, I would have acted in the same way (not exactly though, but closer to this ;) ), if someone would have hurt me. Time changes and so we learn and evolve. And then one day, when I was reading Shiva trilogy by Amish Tripathi, I got words for what I learnt. He has written:

“The opposite of love is not hate. Hate is just love gone bad. The actual opposite of love is apathy. When you don’t care a damn as to what happens to the other person.”

So true! Isn't it like when we love we give a part of us to the person we love. And same is what happens when we hate. We give away a part of us to the person but this time that person is just not worth it. If you hate someone that means you still feel something and are carrying that person in your mind and that person can still get to you in some way even if you choose not to speak to him.

Believe me, there can’t be a better revenge than apathy. I know it is easier said than done. It is hard to implement. But, at least give it a shot. I strongly believe in – ‘Fake it till you become it’. Start with pretending that you don’t give a damn and then with time, you actually won’t give a damn and can stand with that person in the same room unaffected.

It is your life and it is only you who should decide what you want to do with it – giving it away for someone who once did you wrong or living it for yourself and your loved ones? Why to waste any single moment of your life in hating someone or for someone who does not deserve? You can have peace, when you first make it with yourself. Therefore, whatever happened or who so ever hurt you in anyway, let it go, not for anyone else but for you. Don’t carry any baggage of hatred. To move on happily, learn to forgive but never forget what it taught you.

Life is so beautiful and we get it once. Live every moment and celebrate life. After all, Life is what you make it!

P.S: Don’t forget to share your thoughts and experience. It is always wonderful to know what you all think about it.

Food for the Soul

noreply@blogger.com (Geevika Bhatia) — Wed, 01 Jan 2014 17:11:00 +0000

I recently noticed that unintentionally I have used the term ‘Food for my soul’ sometimes while doing updates on networking websites and I even use it unconsciously in my mind. And when I noticed I realized that I always use it for something that is really close to my heart. This may sound odd :d so let me explain - Why I use this term for something that is dear to me or what do I actually mean when I say – ‘Food for my soul’.

Food for my soul is not that I cook some kind of food and give it to my soul to eat but it is something that I do for myself and that makes me feel alive, something that makes my inner self contented. It strengthens my soul, giving it all the energy it needs to keep going and something to look forward to. It is anything that stirs as the happiness in my heart; curve my lips into an arc and twinkles with a shine in my eyes. It is the thing that I do effortlessly yet putting in all the zest unknowingly.

Food for your soul can actually be anything like any of your hobbies. May be you still follow it or you used to follow it but now you don’t get time or you just ignore it. However, I personally believe that there cannot be anything that you can leave behind completely if you are/were passionate about it or if you ever loved to do it. I am sure, even if it is left behind somewhere in time, whenever you will get a chance to do it you will not be able to stop yourself, will grab it with both the hands and will end up doing it and that too with great enthusiasm.

Okay so now, try to give it a thought, if there is anything that you used to do with all your heart and is now nowhere a part of your life. Or if there is anything that you always wanted to do but haven’t done it till now. Of course there is. So, here you go! :mj

Don’t think or wait for anything to happen to start with it, just do it. And please, don’t give an excuse to yourself that you don’t have time. It is as much required as you give food to your body. Initially it can take some efforts like you will find yourself thinking – ‘What the hell am I doing? I shouldn't have started it’ or ‘It requires time and effort and I am short of both’. All you have to do is to be determined and soon you will be glad that you started.

One of the ways I feed my soul is Writing on this blog. I used to scribble here and there but I started this blog when a friend gave a push that I can write and must start with it (May be that friend did not want to bear the torture of my writing alone :P) Now, it is a way through which I share my thoughts with you all and feel so blessed when you enjoy reading it and appreciate. Writing is kind of a vent where I can pour my heart out and know how people think about the same thing. Though I don’t write frequently but I never lose the touch.

Other exigent food for my soul is Reading. I read a lot and there can never be a case when you don’t find a book with me. No, it does not mean that I just keep books with me but I actually read them. I believe it helps me evolve and let me understand the world around me in a better way. I won’t say much as there is so much about reading that my last blog post was all about it, here is the link to it – Yippee! its a half century

Another thing that is dearest to my soul and that actually made me to write this post is Dancing. Recently, a talent show was held in my office and without giving it a moment of thought I knew I would be participating in dance. Dancing has always been a hobby since childhood but it was lost somewhere after college. And when I got a chance this time how I could have let it go. I ended up participating in both group and solo. Believe me, every time I rehearsed I wanted to do more no matter how much I was in pain physically. For dancing it has always been like - Yeah Dil Maange More <3. It is for sure one of the best feelings to dance as it is said – Dancing is like dreaming with your feet.

Apart from these, there is one more thing that feeds my soul (no less than anything else) is to Paint. I am not a voracious painter these days like I used to be earlier but sometimes I do paint. And when I start, it doesn't let me go away till I finish. If not with actual colors and brushes, I will just draw something on a piece of paper. Here is one that I did recently:

Rangoli - Diwali 2013

Rangoli - Diwali 2012

All these things let me feed my soul and feel happy and content. I don’t do these things every day however, I never let them go away completely from my life and how could I? These things make me feel good about myself and accomplished. And that sense of achievement – ‘Yes, I did it!’ :e is beyond any expression in words.

So, find the food for your soul that can let you feel ‘Out of this world’. Everything is important so is to find time for yourself. Satisfaction and sense of achievement is something that everybody needs. There must be something that you do for yourself and look forward to. Make it this New Year’s resolution (but don’t break it like you do every other year ;)) and start with a thing you loved to do or will love to do.

I would love to hear about what is your food for soul. So, don’t forget to share your experience and thoughts about it.

Yippee! It’s a Half Century

noreply@blogger.com (Geevika Bhatia) — Fri, 13 Dec 2013 08:23:00 +0000

Hey! I’ve scored a half century guys and still Not Out :e. Wow! Isn’t it amazing? Oh! Are you wondering if I play cricket? No, I don’t. Then what is this half century about?

Well, I was just updating my ‘Currently Reading’ shelf on GoodReads (goodreads.com - the world's largest site for readers) and as soon as I clicked on ‘I’m finished’ for a book (For One More Day by Mitch Albom), I noticed that I have read 55 books. At least GoodReads’ stats say so :tup.

Now, those who like to pick up a book only when they are sleep deprived ;) must be saying in their minds – How could you and what is there to be so happy about it? And those, who are into reading, must be thinking – what’s the big deal? Just 55 books? But I am sure those who read must be able to understand what an amazing journey I have had while going through these books.

I had never been a reader, neither in school nor in college. I never read books except the ones in my course every year. In fact I used to hate reading and whenever I saw anyone reading I was like – BAH! (Sorry for this :( ) But then a change happened and I am glad that it happened as now I cannot think of living without books and reading. They have become an inevitable part of my life. I now realize what I had been missing when I was not reading. Yet, it is better late than never, right? Soon I will be celebrating my second birthday as a reader ^_^. Did I hear a few of you saying – ‘2 years and 55 books, then it is okay’. WOH, what a relief!

No! Seriously, do you really think it is the number that matters? Of course I am happy with this sense of achievement of scoring a half century however I strongly agree with –

“In the case of good books, the point is not to see how many of them you can get through, but rather how many can get through to you.”
― Mortimer J. Adler

And believe me, books actually change you, but only for good. I started reading when I was going through the lows of my life and picked up a book so I could get rid of all the crap going on in my head. Initially it took some effort, but soon I read one after the other and then I never looked back. Ask me, what will I consider as one of the best moments and I will say – Reading a book while sitting on a window side, with a cup of coffee, which I am sure, would remain untouched as books are like drugs and reading is an addiction which makes you forget the world around you and that too with all the positive effects.

I have been asked one question many times and by many people. One day, a friend asked me the same question – ‘What do you get out of these books?’ :/ Of course she does not read and was pissed off with me as it is usual between us that I don’t hear to what she says when I am reading. When I heard her question, I smiled and then laughed but only to enrage her more. I replied – ‘I won’t be able to make you understand what I get from them. It is something that you won’t understand unless you experience it yourself.’

Here I am trying to put in words, what they actually mean to me or an answer to – ‘What I get from them?’

Like wind in the boundless space

You let my imagination soar

In this one lifetime

I got so many lives to explore

I discover world after world

As we voyage through times

I meet different people

And live through their lives

I laugh with them

And you join my laughter

I cry with them

And you give me a shoulder

When I feel their pain

I scream holding you tight

I celebrate their love and happiness

With utmost delight

I undergo several emotions

Through your pages

The time spend with you

Give me experience of ages

You help me grow wiser

With each day passed

You bring me hope

When everything seems so dark

You give me strength

When I am scared and broken

You motivate me

When I feel discouraged and shaken

You bring the answer

To my every question

You are the mirror

Where I can see my reflection

Together with you I travel

Not just in the outer world

But I travel into my own self

With so many lessons learnt

You are the most patient

Telling me a story every night

Through you I understand

The secrets of life

I know you will never leave me

Unless I decide to go away

Whenever I’ll come to you

You will love me back the same way

You have been a teacher,

A motivator and a counselor

I feel so fortunate

As in you I have found a friend forever.

These are my views about reading and books. If you are a non-reader, start reading and experience the magic yourself. If you are a reader, please share your thoughts. I would love to know about - ‘What do you get from books?’

That's like My Man

noreply@blogger.com (Geevika Bhatia) — Tue, 22 Oct 2013 18:51:00 +0000

This blog is written as a part of Preeti Shenoy's book - 'The One You Can Not Have' (TOUCH) Thursday no. 3 writing prompt.

The writing prompt for TOUCH thursday no. 3 is:

Anjali is a character in the book. She has dated 6 men and rejected all of them. She is still looking for Mr. Right. She feels it is hard to get what she is looking for.

If you are a woman, write 3 things (or more) that you really want from men.

Hey Anjali,

I got to know that you are in search of your Mr Right and have already rejected 6 men. Woo hoo !!! Not bad ;). So, let me tell you that we are travelling in the same boat and I too have met a few guys (Well! I can still count them on my fingers) and I don’t know where my Mr Right is hiding. But never mind as it is perfectly OK to wait for Mr Right than to be with Mr Wrong.

When I was a girl, ahem ahem ;) Yeah, I should say ‘I was’, then I had a huge list that consisted more of my fantasies inspired by those ‘out of the world’ romantic movies but now when I see myself as a woman my checklist is more specific for how ‘My Man’ should be like. Here, I am sharing it with you for a thought.

A MAN - with a SPINE: Oh! This for sure does not mean the physical thing that we call a backbone :) , but you got it right, I mean the real man. My man should be the one who can take a stand for what he believes in and hence what he says and does i.e. not a player of words but a man of action. He should be able to make out what is right and what is wrong with a clear view of what he wants from life. A man with such a personality will surely be able to take a stand for “US” when required and will never hesitate to say – ‘Yes! This is my woman’.

RESPECT – give n take: When I say respect, I mean respecting me as an ‘Individual’ who has a freedom of thoughts, actions and expressions, has her own likes and dislikes and is capable of decision making. Far above, respecting me with no preconceived notions (as there are many embedded in our society) that being a woman I am supposed to do this and I cannot do this. Here, family back ground can play a vital role like how a woman has been portrayed in his family since his childhood – one who is meant to sacrifice with nothing to ask for or a partner in every walk of life.

TRUST – makes or destroys: I am a working woman and so I spend 10 hours of my day out in office, working with and meeting different people and sometimes going out with colleagues. I have so many friends and we catch up whenever we get time. And in such a case, I want someone who trusts me, which I believe is the base of a relationship. So, someone who keeps calling in every few minutes to keep an eye on me or someone who listens to others and not what I say is a BIG NO!

PARTNER – for life or parents: Well, I am definitely looking for a partner but is the guy looking for a daughter in law more than a partner? Believe me, once I met a guy and the first thing he said was – ‘My only demand from you is to keep my parents happy and the rest is none of my business’ and the same moment I knew that my answer is a NO! I agree that it is the guy who walks on thin ice when it comes to make a balance between his wife and his family and there is nothing wrong in expecting that the girl will take care of the family. However, this is where he has to act smart and keep the balance. A guy entering into a relation must know that while his lady is trying to keep his parents happy, taking care of his wife is for sure his business.

P.S: I have a wish that my man would love to read books.

Apart from these, l believe, when a guy trusts and respects you, love follows. And other thing is loyalty which is like common sense to a relationship and yes it is not really common ;).

Marriage is a celebration of choice for a life time. I hope my checklist can help you in some way and I am glad to share it with you.

Happy Searching!!!

Edited for the following reason:

As mentioned, this write up is written as a part of writing prompt TOUCH Thursday no. 3, and this write up got a SPECIAL MENTION in the results:

http://justamotheroftwo.blogspot.in/2013/10/touch-thursday-no4-and-results.html

I refuse to be a Victim

noreply@blogger.com (Geevika Bhatia) — Fri, 21 Jun 2013 20:33:00 +0000

It’s been so long that I have been thinking about an issue or I should say a common situation that many women must have faced at some point in their lives. No! I am not going to talk about any kind of sexual assault or any harassment that women face but an issue that somewhere tells the mind set of our society towards women and one of many other ways in which a woman is disrespected.

A few days ago it happened to me that I posted a picture of mine on a social networking site. There was nothing new in posting a picture but to my surprise I got a few compliments or you can say remarks that made me to think – ‘what is so extraordinary with this picture’. In that picture I was wearing shorts and it was clicked on some day when I was out with my friends. I got remarks like ‘so hot’, ‘damn sexy’ and some more of such types from a few and I took them as a compliment, though I thought why I never got such compliments when I posted a picture in a saree, salwar kameez or chudidar. Is it that a woman in these attires does not look hot or sexy? Or is it like people think of you with a different perspective when you wear shorts?

So, what happened was, one of my acquaintances, a guy, after looking at that picture, asked me for a date in a derogatory manner that I really felt offended. I refused for the date and did not say much at that time and thought, like many other girls would have thought in such a case - I should have not posted this picture. Many people would think that it’s wrong on my part to post such a picture on a social website being a woman. After a few minutes of disgust, I understood what was actually wrong. There was nothing wrong in the picture and not even in the clothes I was wearing but there was something wrong with the mind set of the person as he might have concluded that the clothes I am wearing are portent of depravity and a girl who can post such a picture can take any brusque remarks and can easily be asked for a date in any disrespectful manner and she won’t mind.

And this was just an incident that makes me to think there is nothing new in this situation. This has been the trend of the hypocrite and major part of our society – people make such hue and cry about the crime against women, of sexual assaults, harassment and rape cases. They talk at a great length of how wrong it is to disrespect a woman and what should be done to change our society. However, why to go that far, isn't it the basic thing that we are missing – to respect a woman irrespective of our prejudice based on what she is wearing? How a woman’s clothes can give us the liberty to think that she is immoral, easy to approach and easy to be laid? How it gives us the freedom to use derogatory remarks and hence to humiliate any woman? How does her apparel let us assume that she is a fair game to receive any unsolicited attention?

Here I am not talking of that part of society that is illiterate but the part that is very much literate and considered as accountable. And the irony is - not only men but the women themselves are a big contributor to women’s disgrace. Many a times, women are heard making a remark that the women are harassed as they implicitly ‘ask for it’ through their attires. But this is a well-known fallacy and this is a discussion for another day.

My concern here is about those women who accept to be a victim of such disgrace, who accept the guilt of the sin which they have not committed, who have sanctioned the tag of being immoral without any question. I will try to explain it with an example. I had been in a relationship with a guy who was well educated and was working in a renowned MNC at a good position. But these factors did not make any difference to his mind set. I was not supposed to wear western clothes because he considered them as a harbinger of immorality and so was declared as a taboo for me. After a bit of resentment I gave in and accepted the decree. This was my first sanction as a victim. Later, one day I showed my photographs of a visit to some place to one of my close friends, and I was wearing shorts in those pictures. My friend who is an MBA from a reputed institute, to my astonishment, he said – ‘this is what freedom means to you? ’. He gave me a lecture on the societal standards and declared me as someone who is devoid of morality. I again did not say anything and this was my second sanction as a victim.

I was amazed as the guy with whom I was in a relationship and my friend they knew me for years, still they judged me with what I wore and just forgot about what kind of a person I am. I have also heard many similar stories from my friends and many other women wherein they gave up their freedom of choice to wear what they like to because of similar situations.

But this time I decided - I refuse to be a victim and I won’t sanction anyone’s judgement against me. I refuse to accept as guilt that I have the right to decide what I like to wear like any other person in our society. I refuse to accept as guilt that I wear what pleases me and not to invite anyone’s unwanted attention and remarks. I refuse to accept this form of gender discrimination and hypocrisy where a woman’s character is judged by her clothing. There is nothing wrong with what a woman choose to wear but the regressive mentality of people, which presumes that the evil is in the apparel. It’s not the clothes that are harbingers of immorality, but it’s the mind set and gaze of people that is immoral.

Therefore, I want to assert that every woman should stop accepting the tag of being frail and ask people by what right they pass the judgement based on what she decides to wear. Why to bear with such a ridiculous demeanor? Don’t be silent; speak up as silence is taken as a weakness and your approval of being a victim.

Also, I like to assert to everyone - ‘Never judge a woman’s character by what she wears, like it is said - never judge a book by its cover’. Start with this and I am sure things will change for better.

If this is Love, I admit

noreply@blogger.com (Geevika Bhatia) — Tue, 07 May 2013 19:21:00 +0000

What we had, was never about YOU or ME

It was the best because together we made it “US”

Our togetherness was a union of hearts, so perfect

Though for a short time, but a complete union nonetheless

People spend their lives to search for someone special

Life comes to an end but the search does not

I am the blessed to have found my perfect half in you

As you are the reason for the contentedness I got

If this is love, I admit.

I am never alone as if you are with me always

I want to look beautiful as if you are looking at me

My eyes twinkle as if you are smiling at me lovingly

I smile suddenly as if you just said something to me

I think in a way as if I am sharing my thoughts with you

I listen to the love songs as if they are meant for us

I close my eyes and feel the warmth as if it’s your embrace

I am living as if I am the one who own all the love you possess

If this is love, I admit.

I am nothing but you as I am living you in each moment

The belongingness I feel makes me feel complete

Life has never made so much sense as it makes now

And I am so much into you, sometimes I need to retreat

As someone will see you in my eyes, catch you in my smile

Someone will read you in my thoughts, smell you in my fragrance

Someone will feel you in my songs, find you in my poems

Someone will hear you in my words, appreciate you in my appearance

If this is love, I admit.

There is nothing left with me as I have given you all I had

I have given you my strengths and my weaknesses

I have given you my dreams and my needs

I have given you my sorrows and my happiness

I have given you my ego and my attitude

I have given you my will and my pride

I have given you my heart and my soul

And I finally won after losing myself to you

If this is love, I admit.

Would it have been purer if we would be together forever?

Few relations are better left unnamed

Would it have been truer if we would have said ‘I love you’?

Few things are better left unsaid

What if we will not be able to make this life’s journey together?

Few steps I walked with you made this path worth walking for

Now the only thing that matters is – you will live in me forever

And there is nothing I am afraid of anymore

If this is love, I admit.

Who said we are apart and will never be together?

You are mine in a way no one can ever get anyone

And even you cannot take this away from me, never!

I am yours as it is the only meaning of my existence

You are there wherever I go, any path or any destination

You walk beside me holding my hand assuredly

You brought the peace and calmness to me

You are the answer to my questions, you are my ecstasy

If this is love, I admit.

So here I say it as I never said it before

I LOVE YOU….

And this is for every breath that I will take from now on

Every smile I will fake no matter what I’ll go through

Every move I will make in my own world

Every step I will take away from you

But I am sure, we will meet where this world ends

Beyond every right and wrong, our souls will reunite

As we are the soul mates!!!

I admit this is love.

Thank You Dad

noreply@blogger.com (Geevika Bhatia) — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 18:28:00 +0000

I remember those days when I was a kid,

It was a morning ritual before I went to school

You used to iron my uniform and polish my shoes

I always made faces, for how you did is not so cool.

On the way to the school

Sometimes even when I was not asking,

you used to buy me some candies

not missing it a single morning.

In the evenings, when you came home after work

Without showing a sign of tiredness on your face

You became a horse for me to ride

And asked me if I want to go to grand ma’s place.

When our travel game got over

You used to hold me in your hands up in the air

made me to dance on the song you sang

“Jimmy Jimmy Jimmy Vijaya butter”.

When mom cooked the dinner

you cooked up a new story for me every night.

You fed me the dinner from your hands

And everything seemed to be perfectly all right.

Whenever you wanted me to accompany you

somewhere without mother

I never agreed until you bought me some chocolates

Even when I cheated on you, you always laughed rather.

As I grew up, candies turned to money

Whenever I came to you before leaving and said – ‘Papa’

You understood, smiled and gave me some rupees

I requested you not to tell mom

And you always kept the promise.

During my exams, I always slept without worrying

Because I knew that you would spoil your sleep

Not once, not twice but so many times,

To wake me up early in the morning.

While I grew up I started thinking

that its mom not you who understands me.

A gap was built between us,

I did not care about the reason and let it be.

You started teasing and laughed at me that

I am a mamma’s daughter

But somewhere we were aware

that it was the truth behind your laughter.

I shared all my secrets with mom

never told you about what’s going on

and never asked for your suggestions

until you used to ask or reckon.

I got irritated with the questions you kept on asking

I fought with you on every little thing,

Misbehaved and yelled at you

when I thought I was right and you knew nothing.

When I started living away for my job

I called up mom daily and shared everything.

Even when we talked, I fought with you and disconnected

You needed to ask mom about my health and well being.

Time changed and I learnt my own lessons

What I thought was a generation gap was your experience.

Every reason you gave to me now makes sense

Everything you said and suggested was life’s essence.

You believed in me and supported every decision I made

You made me stand taller when I was so afraid.

You taught me to be strong to face life each day

You stood by me and assured everything is gonna be ok.

You always tried more to be a friend than just a father

I failed to respect those feelings and did not bother.

You raised me like a son and taught me to be independent

But what I brought to you was only disappointment.

I feel ashamed as I never appreciated anything you did for me

How I became so thank less and did not notice.

I cannot forgive myself for making you to cry

All you wanted was my happiness but I turned a blind eye.

But now I know why fathers are so adorable and precious

For whatever I have done, you treated me like a princess.

You are the best man I have ever known in my life

I won’t be able to thank you ever, no matter how much I try.

I want to say it now as I have never told you this before

Dad, I love you from my heart’s core.

Though I have always been called mamma’s daughter

But I love to be my dad’s little girl forever.

Papa ki pari hoon mein (I am my dad’s angel)…

Don’t Want You Anymore

noreply@blogger.com (Geevika Bhatia) — Sun, 14 Oct 2012 16:59:00 +0000

What made you think that it’s you

Who helped me stand taller

I never needed you

To make me feel stronger

You knew me since so long

Still judged me with what I wore

You thought you know it all

And who will ask for more

So now go, go away

I don’t want you anymore

You were always indecisive and confused

Never able to take a stand

Worried about the whole world

With no guts to hold my hand

How can I be such a fool

To cry for someone so fake

I was too brave & my love so strong

For you to take

So now go, go away

I don’t want you anymore

What you had was surely not Love

Else you would have fought or tried to stay

You were enjoying the moments

Like it was a game you love to play

To see if your charm still works

You never lost touch with your Exes

Wanted me to dance to your beats

And that’s what the truth is

So now go, go away

I don’t want you anymore

The matter of the fact is

What I felt you never cared

And I went crazy for

All the love songs you shared

So I am letting you go back

To the world from where you came

Because now I know

For you it was just another game

So now go, go away

I don’t want you anymore

Those “I love you’s” were so meaningless

And you were wearing a mask

You only preached words

With no actions to ask

But now I am thankful

As I got rid of your lies

Better late than never

Once said someone wise

So now go, go away

I don’t want you anymore

This time you got it wrong

As you don’t know me at all

You might have left me broken down

But were not able to break my soul

Baby it is you who has lost

Someone who loved you a lot

And I won coz I am free from

All the Pain and hurt that I got

So now go, go away

I don’t want you anymore

Whatever was there between us

Is another lesson learned

Perfectness is not the only thing

That can make love stand

I am sure I’ll find someone

With love so true

Who will stand by me till the end

Not pretentious and hollow as you

So now go, go away

I don’t want you anymore

I won’t shed a tear

Or lose a blink of my sleep for a hypocrite

I know I deserve someone better

And you are not worth it

Nothing will change

Coz now you are gone

Till the time I know how to love

I will move on

So now go, go away

I don’t want you anymore

Did I Tell You

noreply@blogger.com (Geevika Bhatia) — Wed, 26 Sep 2012 19:53:00 +0000

Did I tell you

I never believed a relation can ever be perfect,

With you I experienced the meaning of togetherness

And the perfectness of ‘us’.

Did I tell you

Being with you meant completeness,

When we understood the meaning of each other’s silence,

When we brought out the best in each other.

Did I tell you

That our endless conversation every day,

All those magical moments that we spent together,

Made the life worth living for.

Did I tell you

Our togetherness forever was something I dreamt of,

And for you, I wanted to be everything,

But I know for you I meant nothing.

Did I tell you

I thought it was love and you were the one for me,

But for you it was just being with any other gal,

And to talk to me was a habit that you changed.

Did I tell you

When you said my name crosses your mind sometimes,

I wanted to tell you…

I’m living every moment with you.

Did I tell you

When you said you look forward to see me,

I was dying to be in your arms

and everything else does not matter.

Did I tell you

When I cried before you,

It was not because I was weak or needed sympathy

But I was unable to hold onto what I felt for you.

Did I tell you

When you called me fake

There was a lump in my throat but I could not cry,

And the pain was so severe when you mocked at my feelings.

Did I tell you

When you thought I ignored you

I hid all what I was feeling and what I wanted to say

I cried silently, as I was sure you would never understand.

Did I tell you

When you said you are letting me free,

I did not want to go…

I wanted to be a captive in your love forever.

Did I tell you

When you said we can never be together

You made a choice

But for me it was helplessness like a death sentence.

As now you are gone

I still live in the moments that we spent together…

I still love you the way I did…

And I have kept you in my heart forever…

The only difference is,

I have learnt to live this half life

And understood that may be you are not in the lines of my hands

But I was destined to experience love in you and with you.

May be today I mean nothing to you

But you will realize it one day

No one can love you the way I do…

Jab Hum Tum Met

noreply@blogger.com (Geevika Bhatia) — Sun, 09 Sep 2012 19:02:00 +0000

after 5 years...

In every love or I should say to-be-love relationship, there comes a phase when you can feel that it is more than a friendship still you cannot name it as ‘Love’. This is the most amazing phase of a relationship, with lots of uncertainties and confusions, when the other person has not confessed his/her feelings, no proposals, when silence has its own language, still you feel so special in some moments that your heart sings ‘chahe tum kuch na kaho maine sun liya’. It is when you do not even think about what future holds for this relation but you prefer to live in those charismatic moments and find yourself on cloud nine.

Here is one of those days from my life when I experienced being on the top of the world - ‘aaj main upper, aasman niche’. I met an old time friend, should I call him a friend? No! Same situation, when I knew that it’s not just friendship but somewhere I knew it’s not yet love. We knew each other from past 7 years however; we met only a few times. The relationship was on and off, and even when we were in touch it was only through phone calls, SMSes or chats. But there was an invisible bond, so strong that somehow it always kept us together. We never had any awkward moment when we had nothing to talk about, even if we were talking after an year or we were talking every day for hours. Then came a day when it happened that we decided to meet or correctly, the destiny decided for us that we should meet. I asked myself - Is it a date? No! friends don't date. Friends? huh whatever. I still remember the excitement I had, it was weird. I was not able to get the reason of being so happy – ‘aye dil bata yeh tujhe kya hua’.

A night prior to when we were supposed to meet I played a prank. We talked over the phone that night and I told him that I would not be able to come as my parents wanted me to spend some time with them. Though I could not see him but I was able to feel the despair in his voice. He suggested me a number of excuses that I could make. I was glad as the prank was unintentional but I came to know that the excitement and craziness is not with me only – ‘Jo hal dil ka idhar ho raha hai, vo hal dil ka udhar ho raha hai’…

Next morning, I left to reach the place where we had planned to meet. Oh I forgot to tell you, I did not know why, but I pampered myself to look the best that day. I wanted to listen through his eyes, even if he would not say it – ‘You are looking beautiful’.

I was standing on the roadside, my eyes searching for him, my heart beating faster than usual with both excitement and nervousness at the same time; I was waiting for him when I felt a tap on my left shoulder. I turned into the direction but he was standing on my right side, and this is what he always does. Yes, this was the moment when we were standing in front of each other after 5 long years, my heart skipped a beat - ‘Dekh ke tumko hosh mein aana bhul gaye, yaad rahe tum aur zamaana bhul gaye’. I don’t know how, but we hugged, though it was a small hug but it happened.

We walked for some time to reach the bus stand, talking and laughing all the while. It did not seem for a single moment that we were seeing each other after so long. Again, I don’t know why but there was a constant smile on my face all the time and same with him. For my smile he was the reason, and I hoped, I wished that I was the reason behind his smile. We were about to cross the road when he gently held my hand and we crossed the road. I just kept looking at him with surprise while crossing and he did not budge as if nothing happened. May be it was nothing but for me it was more than anything. It was the softness of his touch, it was care, it was belongingness, and it was everything – ‘tune chua aaj aise, main kya se kya ban gayi’.

We reached the bus stand and boarded the bus. The bus was crowded and none of us got a seat. We were standing and he was around me, I mean he was standing decently but in such a way as to protect me from everyone in the crowd. I felt so secure and what else a girl wants – someone, whom she loves, protects her from all the evils in this world - ‘tujh ko jo paya to, hai yeh lagta kyun, bahon mein bus teri mehfooz hun’. Did I say ‘she loves’? It is not yet love but soon going to be.

After some distance, I got a seat and then after some time he got the one beside me. All this time he was looking at me, observing me (from a small grain on my arm to my nail paint, from the darkness of kohl in my eyes to the silkiness of my dark long hair), smiling all the time. And how I knew it? I saw it all from the corner of my eyes. He was not able to take his eyes off even when I was looking out of the window. He was so happy to have me with him and so did I, as if a child had got his favourite toy after asking for it for so long. It made my day and yes his constant observation, his twinkling eyes, his bright smile said it all – ‘You are beautiful’. At least I heard it and later he confessed it.

We watched a movie and don’t ask me which movie. Though I remember the name but who was interested in the movie? We were more interested in each other, talking to each other all the time, sometimes about the movie and sometimes our own stories. After movie, we were just roaming around in the mall, while walking and looking at the surroundings our hands rubbed many times, and a moment came when of those many times our fingers intermingled and we held each other’s hands softly and walked. There were no words and no glances exchanged but the silence had its own understanding – ‘Khamoshiyan gungunane lagi’. Were we in love? No, the fall has just begun.

We came out of the mall and he asked me if I want to have an ice cream, how could I say no to him for an ice cream? While we were having our ice creams, the bus came and we got in. When we got the seats, I saw him struggling with the ice cream as it had melted and he had it all over his hand. He was looking so damn cute fighting with the melting ice cream, puzzled and looking for something to clean it off. I gave him a tissue and his eyes twinkled again like a kid. Yes, many times he behaves in a way that makes him as adorable as a kid.

All the time he was talking and believe me I love listening to his talks, though I know many times they are silly. Through the window of the bus, he was showing me different places and his stories about those places. We reached a market place where we went to a restaurant. We sat down opposite to each other and he asked me what I would like to have. While asking, he forwarded both of his hands towards me and then he held my hands lovingly. Everything happening was just like a dream. It was happening so quick like the blow of wind and I was leisurely flowing with it. I wanted the moment to freeze and last forever. But he went to place the order at the counter and I was still not able to take my eyes off him. How can looking at someone make you feel so much at peace? - 'ek din zindagi itni hogi hasin, maine socha na tha'.

We then came out and started walking in huge open area in the market place. Our conversations have always been endless and so we were again talking and laughing. Time flew and his friends started calling him as he had to catch up with them to go back to his place. He was making excuses to them and trying to spend some more time. And so was I, wishing for some more time with him. Both of us did not want time to pass by. But finally we had to go on our separate ways. He walked me to the bus stand from where I would get the bus to my place. We boarded the bus, I got the seat and he stood in front of me to say bye. But he took his time to leave and somehow we ran out of words. This was unusual between us. I wanted to tell him to stay by my side forever and never let me go. Sometimes you are not sure if you have the right on someone to express all your feelings even if you feel the person is yours. And here the confession was still to be made. He left - ‘Chaha tha yeh kahenge, socha tha vo kahenge, aaye woh samne to kuch bhi na keh sake’.

We reached our respective places and informed each other. There was something I was missing now. There was something that I left with him. The whole night went thinking about him. I questioned myself if he felt the same about me like I felt for him? Was it something more than friendship for him or…? I did not want to think of the other option. The whole night was spent vacillating between – ‘may be yes’ or ‘may be no’. The next day when I was working in the office, my phone beeped. It was his message which said:

“Hai nasha teri meri har mulakat mein”

It brought a big arc smile on my face and an answer to my dilemma. I knew I have fallen for him and so did he. Yes it’s LOVE.

Assurance

noreply@blogger.com (Geevika Bhatia) — Thu, 23 Aug 2012 19:21:00 +0000

Come hold my hand and assure that you are by my side forever....

Walk with me and assure that we will always be together.

Put your arm around me and assure that you are here to protect me...

Dance with me in the rain and assure that you are madly in love with me.

Look into my eyes and assure that you understand my silence...

Move me closer to you and assure that you are longing for my fragrance.

Don't hide your eagerness and assure that you just wait to see me each day...

Stand by my side and assure that you will never give up on us come what may.

Make me smile and assure that my happiness is all that you want...

Sit beside me and assure that i have a shoulder to lean on.

Accept me as who i am and assure that your love is unconditional and pure...

Wipe my tears when i cry and assure that to all my pain you will be the cure.

Hug me tight and assure that you will never let me go...
Kiss me and assure that I belong to you.

Where are you – HAPPINESS?

noreply@blogger.com (Geevika Bhatia) — Mon, 20 Aug 2012 17:54:00 +0000

I saw everyone eccentric in search of something, something I too was longing for. Something so much desired that makes them run from dawn till dusk. Everyone wants it so badly and trying to make it their own forever by any way possible.

Everyone has his own way to search for ‘it’. Someone is searching for it in money, some in relationships and some in love.

Do they still get ‘it’?

I too tried to search as I was told many times that I don’t know the importance of the thing that makes the world go round – Money.

But what I saw was, children trampling down the faith and love of their parents for money, parents who spent every moment of their days, every ounce of their money, their countless sleepless nights, and their love and in fact spent themselves for their children.

I found siblings to belittle the ties of blood for money – those who spent their childhood together, sharing their toys and candies, sharing laughs and cries, sharing clothes and secrets, and promised to hold on to these fragile strings of warmth and affection throughout their lives, they too forgot everything for money.

I saw the closest of all, husband and wife not left virgin with the spell of money – the two souls who once swear to complete the other, who took the vows to face any misfortune protecting the other, who promised to be together till their last breath. Money demeans all those vows, making them worthless.

I was disappointed when I was not able to get my share of ‘it’ in the most precious thing the whole world is inclined to. I needed to think again, where should I go, where should I look for ‘it’?

I then tried to move on to the next treasure, the one that makes people crazy and dumb, makes them dive into the sea of emotions and then fight to come out of it to find their own existence – Relationships.

I started with zeal and zest to find it this time for sure. But what I saw, no relationship was even close to give me a sign for what I was looking for. All of the relationships were choking under the burden of selfishness, expectations, hurt, lies, greed, false egos, fear, hollow pretensions and shallow personalities.

Parents coerce their kids with their preferences and priorities on the name of love and care they have given by far. Whether it’s related to choosing the life partner or deciding on their ambitions/career, their consents are biased because of the societal standards. Should they not let the child decide? Not all of those expectations are meaningless and their support and blessings are always required however, are the hollow pretensions for the society so much precious that it does not matter how the life of their child will shape? Children are supposed to agree to what parents have chosen for them, is it a scale to measure how much the children love them in return? Or the purest form of love, that parents have, too has its limitations to succumb to selfishness and egos. The worst form of it is honour killing. Does it prove that their honour is so big that killing their kids is a mockery of life and this relation?

Likewise, children are no less in proving that they too are not selfless, and have their own motives (I think everyone knows what I mean as children often set up such examples) to be good to their parents. Once those motives are fulfilled they tread their own path no matter what their parents go through. Or they are so much settled in their lives that they just don’t have the time to think about the old people who cannot be of any good to them now.

Talk about brothers and sisters or talk about husband and wife, no relationship is spared. Siblings are suffering from the burden of self-interests and their false egos. A marriage is no more a relation of trust and respect but of controlling and dissatisfactions. It’s bearing the load of despair and uncertainties.

So, I asked myself once again - where should I go and search for ‘it’? I have already tried money and relationships, the most enduring as people believe. But it was all in vain.

Now I thought I should try the last but the most eternal of all, as it is called, something that is beyond forever – Love. I heard people say, Love is God. It makes people to forget themselves, purifies their souls and allows them to experience the feeling without which life is meaningless. I was sure that this time I will succeed and no one can stop me to have my piece of ‘it’. How long will I be kept away from it?

Someone cannot think and then fall in love. It’s as natural as flow of river, as a blow of wind, as flowers bloom, as we breathe. But does this fall truly give a rise to anyone? Is Love as pure as it is called and believed? Or just saying the three words ‘I Love You’ is left as something that can be said to anyone but that no more fathoms the essence of life. Is falling for someone is so hollow that love now means having a girlfriend or a boyfriend rather finding a soul mate? These days, saying ‘I Love You’ is as quick and plain as it is to say ‘Sorry, we are through’. All happens in a spur of the moment and not as a call straight from the heart.

I saw some people who swear to have experienced love in its purest and serene form. But somewhere they too agree that life becomes nothing but a suffering that is brought by love. The crux of love is pain and soreness. Or somewhere love too perishes at the dawn of distrust, useless expectations, lies and hurt.

So I sat down as I found ‘it’ in none of the three most searched and believed treasures. They were all empty for me. I again thought - where should I go now and whom should I ask for ‘it’? Time passed and I realized there is still some where I have not yet searched.

I searched you here, I searched you there,

But at last I found you somewhere so near…

You are the link between my heart and my lips when I smile,

And I was looking for you running around so many miles…

I saw you hugging the subtle things we think are redundant,

At last, I found you hiding in the womb of every moment…

I heard you in the screams of kids running out of the school when the bell rings,

I smelt you in the fragrance of wet soil,

I breathed you in the breeze at the time of dawn,

I listened to you in chirping of birds at twilight,

I saw you twinkling in the bright star-studded night,

I drenched myself in you with the pouring rain,

I measured you in the expansion of clear blue sky,

I felt you in the tenderness of flowers,

I appreciated you rolling down from the eyes in fortunate moments,

I caught you peeping out from the innocence of a child,

I searched you in the prayers to God,

I got you as a gift in the blessing of elders,

I earned you in the faith of people,

I cherish you in the love of my friends,

Happiness, you are in nothing still in everything,

You are nowhere but within me,

All that matter is how I look at the things…

How I cannot honor you?

noreply@blogger.com (Geevika Bhatia) — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 18:05:00 +0000

Every moment you brought me a puzzle to solve,

You said this is a challenge and I need to evolve….

You put a question on every step of mine,

I tried hard to answer but you always declined…

You snatched everything that was close to my heart,

I was asked to live when my inner self was falling apart…

You tried to tear me down into bits and pieces,

I thought to fight the battle till my last breath ceases…

I faced the hurricane when I was mere a leaf,

I succumbed to the situations like a fall from a cliff…

Everyone turned out as a stranger, who meant the world to me,

Loneliness pierced through my soul and I yelled for relieve…

You only rewarded me with the things I never asked for,

I was caught in the tides while I can see the shore…

My soul bled, helpless I screamed, I begged,

It seemed as if I was the most unblessed…

With no mercy, no compassion and when pain started to throttle,

A cry came out – WHY ME?

The easiest was to surrender but I decided to look straight into your eyes,

No matter how strong you are, I will get the answer to all my cries…

With all my courage collected, I stood up to give you a woe,

But what I got to know, I mistaken a friend with a foe…

You played the tricks to teach me the lesson of hidden truth,

You introduced me to my strength when I was waiting for other’s ruth…

For all the enigma and confusions,

I learnt to take my own decisions…

For the obstacles that came on my ways,

I learnt to carve my own path, whatever anyone says…

With every fall I learnt to rise again,

I can stand up to any storm or hurricane…

Those who turned their backs when I was in my lows,

I learnt to distinguish my friends and the foes…

For all anguish and pain I’ve been through,

I learnt to laugh at the blues…

For everything that I lost as I walked down the aisle,

I learnt to be self-sufficient and to move on with a smile…

With every pointed finger I learnt to believe in me,

I learnt to live to the fullest in every moment of thee…

For every eye full of hatred I learnt to Love again,

I grew and progressed with every laugh of disdain…

You are the best teacher, how I cannot honor you,

LIFE all I want to say is – Thank You :)