Smiling Mystic Cloud :-)

An Unsolved Jigsaw ...

2012-08-31T23:49:00.000+05:30

Swirls of white smoke fuming could be seen all around the tiny me. Mesmerized , awed and with little knot of fear tucked in heart , I looked around to find the source of it. Mystic it was, I could see everything(or should I say shadows of it) still I was not able to make out anything. Initial few hurried attempts went down the drain when to my utter shock ,the harder I tried to run, to touch anything, to think , to concentrate , it all resulted in blanket of smoke becoming denser all around me .It was like a marsh. Huffed and puffed I was , stayed right there where I was with not an inch of muscle moving. The wisps of smoke swirling started fading out and the whole scene became clearer. Soon , I was in front of a cluttered stack. Lying besides it was a tattered yellow sheet of paper tapped at various places. A closer look at it made a shiver run down the spine. There lay in front of my eyes a detailed plan of my life with a few blocks added later and few crossed out or rewritten in different way. The irony of the situation was the stark difference in the way it was in detailed plan and how all the things heaped up in a clutter. Little self-pitied, I picked up a thing or two to examine and all the other things started to topple. In an attempt to gather and maintain a balance, I was just too occupied to notice in which order they were supposed to be. There was everything one can think of to find in a platter. There laid tenderness of love wrapped in a scented tissue ,stiff determination bundled with a rock solid will ,emotional tears in a tiny half – filled bottle , memories scattered in the form of photographs – some old and battered ,some still smelling just fresh, a jar filled with stones of all shapes and sizes with still gaps visible in between.

A file stuffed with all the facts about me , few sheets brought proud smile while other punctured it. There was a thick diary documenting me with few pages left blank in the middle, some crossed out in an angry way with cuts still visible across the sheet, some written in hurried writing, some had tiny dried flowers pressed in between and fragrance still lingering, some were of glossy paper with a ring of laughter hidden while some wore a solemn look and were rough. While flipping it , I can feel tears rolling , few little droplets reluctant to leave the corners of eye or sometimes pouring like a cloud burst or just a moist glint in eyes. But how to put the jigsaw puzzle pieces in the right place is a task in itself. Perhaps I would be able to better direct my life when it is in more structured form or should I just leave it like that to let the destiny decide what it has thought for me . With life moving at such a pace , it is becoming increasingly difficult for me to analyze what is happening around me and how things need to be planned for a better life ahead. May be the love for a much sought after ‘better life’ is making me not enjoy the present one with clouds of uncertainty and anxiety hovering above. What is the best way ? To look up the limitless sky and count the stars or just caress the grass as you pass through green pastures and stop to take in the sweet fragrance of the violets.

Yum bee aye – The new way of life!

2012-07-28T17:23:00.002+05:30

A fresh shower of rains welcomed me into a new city, new way of life with a sprinkle of drops on my face. I rubbed my eyes which still had droplets of sleep residing in them .Even the plain water has become acidic and a ritual splash burns the eyes. After a splash or two only, I could gather my senses which deprivation of sleep has slowed down. Yes, I am in MBA world and have been inducted recently only (you can gauge that from my tone which reeks of crib).Being a part of this was the most sought-after thing for past few years and all that revolved around in my brain were tiny bits of quant formulae or abstruse words .

Now after being inducted in elite world of prospective managers, I find myself all muddled up in the tons of information, jargons and theories around. Is that what I expected from my next two years of life? If I say yes, would you all give me dirty looks on why I am in complaining mode!! Ok, Yes I had a fair idea but it is just that we choose to turn a blind eye in our case. Ignorance is bliss! No , not anymore ! Here, at every stage being the ignorant one makes you feel stupid or whether you are not worthy enough to take this prestigious seat. Oh no, I am going down the well full of such pessimistic thoughts.

Not just coping with the ever increasing heap of assignments, presentations, role plays ,pre readings, post readings is the only task that is on the top of my brain stack, but coping with new city ,new environment ,new people is the similar one.I have hardly been out of my hometown, pertaining to being the capital and almost all the things at easy disposal and not much molded to live beyond the comfort of home. Here I am ,away from the hustle bustle of Delhi to much quieter metropolitan. Things look different especially when we start comparing and comparison come running natural.Aren't we all biased about our hometown and that bliss we found there is not anywhere. But but.. isn't this biasness is not letting me welcome myself into this new city with open arms? Yes !!

Though saw some of the famous places in the city and also partied once here, there is lot more to do to fall in love with this new city ,my gonna-be home for next two years and most importantly with this new way of life.The hectic life is to be inculcated within myself to enjoy each and every moment ,to come out with a big smile be it little quiz,competition,exam or assignment deadlines ,everything! MBA is a lifetime experience and not to be downed in cribs.

Blogathon over ,what next ?

2012-07-08T03:40:00.001+05:30

As everybody who was irritated by my every-day post is now breathing a sigh of relief for one whole month.When I thought about participating in that month long blogathon last year in June , I never assumed that it is going to be such tough for me to write everyday.Sooner than later all my creative juices just dried down and as it is advised that not much dieting is good for health ,similarly not too much blogging is good for the mental health!Generally it is advised to write one in a week.Even I have always thought the same but implementation and planning always have some gap.May be while balancing lots of other things ,I would be again as active as I was in my peak time in blogging.Time management is just creeping in my veins with only a week down in IIFT.Perhaps when I was more free than I was not able to pen down many a times.Lethargy is one big enemy.

But it was all gone when I was running in blogathon.Sometimes,I used to writing in half sleep with no time to edit ,sometimes picking up notepad with a clueless mind and end up writing what I never thought would write.Such things do come up only when you are under pressure .Though participating and completing was totally personal decision ,still a will to complete the same was one thing that kept me going even though I was much fatigued in first week end only.

Selecting different themes for the different weeks though helped me stay on the better side of the narrow line opposite which there is only one thing : quit.Writing about the street food of delhi was one thing which I incorporated.There were elements of angels and devils in my posts too with some optimism and pessimism sprinkled here and there.

So,what's next ? Now ,since my geographic location is changed(still a delhite by heart ) , I will be writing more about the new city and my experiences here.Since professional writing is also going to be part of my learning,my writing is 'expected' to be better and hopefull more mature.But these are only hopes,expectations,aspirations but to see whether it actually gets implemented that is the one thing which only future will tell.

Signing off for today :)

Sand Dunes: Part 3

2012-05-31T21:44:00.001+05:30

A stroke of mascara, a hint of gloss, tinkling of ear rings and Paridhi was ready. Today from morning itself she had a spring in her step and a constant smile on her lips. Checking herself again in the mirror, she stepped outside to get an auto rickshaw. Today she was meeting Amu after a long wait of one month. Its been two years since her best friend has got promoted to be her love of life.

After initial hiccups in the beginning of the journey, some bruises here and there, their car is now back on track on a smooth road ahead. Problem was not in not knowing each other temperament but every relation has its own flavors and conditions. To gel with them is always a challenge, once you have understood, everything becomes fine. Still there are arguments but not important enough to reconsider decisions. They are just a part of life now, like bubbles that you notice but blow it away and not take seriously.

And what brought some sense to this little girl, is the real truth of life. We all have heard it often that do not take anything for granted. But only when the fear of losing someone or something looms over, then you realize the real importance of that someone/thing in your life. Then all the small arguments look irrelevant in front of whole life.

When she was sure of what she wants in life and from that moment, life seemed better. She was lucky to have someone special by her side always .Bestest friend for life in the real sense, with whom she can be just herself ,no pretentions and no fear of getting judged every moment.Even Amu is now happy with a sense of peace settling in.

One say that love stories should have happy endings. I say that they shouldn’t have any endings at all. Love is for life and it goes on and on till you take your last breath.

Life is like a sand dune, one moment it is here and as the wind of time blows, it moves to entirely different place, changing in its shape and slope.

Sand dunes: Part 2

2012-05-30T23:26:00.001+05:30

Sitting with her face hidden in palms, Paridhi looked so different than her six month ago self. It was hard to find any trace of bubbliness on her teary eyed kohl smudged face. It seems like all the tensions of the world have fallen on her petite shoulders. Though in reality, problems weren’t much intense they just had bad impact on her. And most importantly this time around, she was finding herself alone.

The relationship where transition seemed utterly seamless has changed its colors too. Naive Paridhi just thought that being bestest friends to being in relationship won’t change much. But as it applies to all other things it was true here too. You have to be there ,to understand it. She still loved him liked Amu like before .But some expectations and responsibilities shift their position.

You are never answerable to even your bestest friends but from day one of being in one such relationships it changes too. Expectations take a major turn too and some things which never was there crawls in the form of insecurity and possessiveness. Soon the discussions, explanations lead to argument, smaller to bigger. More you want to end or avoid them, more they creep in from nowhere, usually from any harmless topic.

She just want to have some peace and she knew Amu would want the same. How to be just normal? They could find an answer for it. On top of all, the exams, submissions, presentations, inability to concentrate on studies, poor grades were taking their toll on her poor mind and body.

Tears rolled down her eyes and she whipped them clean umpteenth time, before trying his number again. He has switched off, his phone after a rough argument .She wanted to call it peace. Weak she has become from within, she wanted to just run away to some place far away from all this. A peace of mind ,that’s all she wanted as of now.

Sand dunes : Part 1

2012-05-29T23:25:00.001+05:30

Cool breeze was flowing playing with the tresses of Paridhi. She was sitting on a rock far away from the crowd gathered around the bon fire. Few minutes before, she was also with her buddies, playing truth and dare, the most popular one which almost all bon fires witness. But all the time, her heart was yearning to sit in peace on the river side. On the pretext of calling home, she strolled towards the open bank.

The breeze was so cool and refreshing that all the tiredness of the day vaporized in minutes .After finding the perfect spot on a rock, she settled herself .Clad in a loose earthy tunic and shorts ,with hair tied loosely with a silk scarf, she blended perfectly with the picturesque setting.

Lost she was in thoughts, that she didn’t take notice of the faint footsteps coming towards her. Only when a soft familiar voice whispered ‘Pari’ ,her eyes darted sideways. Two tea glasses of tea and her bestest friend Amu (as she lovingly called Arman) were waiting for her. Usually the chirpy bubbly self Paridhi was today in mood to be her usual self. She gave a warm smile, took the glasses from his hand , placed them on stone and extended her arm to pull him up. She was a mystery to others and sometimes to herself too but she was often surprised on being an open book for Amu. Without her uttering a single word or giving any intentional hint, he used to know everything just by looking at her. This time, also when breeze was giving her a little chill, he was there with her stole which she has left behind near bonfire and tea, her favorite. Silently, they enjoyed every sip of hot tea in the pleasant weather. They usually have an umpteen number of topics to talk about and can talk anything under the sun. But today, both preferred silence.

Paridhi looked at him in between the tea sips and saw Amu looking at her too with the usual twinkle in his eyes. But there was something else too today which was different. His eyes were glittering with overflowing affection with hint of love, so much that she blushed for the first time.

Full moon light was enhancing the blush on her cheeks and moist glint in his eyes. Their hands rubbed past as she adjusted her stole. She was surprised on how the same touch is now so different ,so special than the past. In the past, they kept on playfully punching each other whole day along and didn’t feel a thing. She held his arm and rested her head on his shoulder. Nothing more to be said when everything was understood in that eye contact.

It was a magical night with moon light glittering on the river, a soft chilly breeze blowing past, Orion her favorite constellation twinkling in the sky and Amu sitting beside her.

Lost Shutterbug: Far Away!

2012-05-28T20:53:00.000+05:30

When we are on journey ,we tend to look ahead more rather than enjoying the current place.Perhaps,inquisitive nature of a man sums it up.And more often than not,lens do tend to cover far away views .

Presenting in this post the far away views that lens have captured:

Even when you are far away from hustle bustle of city , you still want to keep a check on the city life.Yes,not much from home we are!

Even the faraway views has limitations : curves ,bends,shrubs and mist.This photograph has it all.And there are such junctions where we are unaware of what may come next.

As the sun sparkled in the dawn , many folds of mountain range become visible.. till it meet the horizon.

A thin roadstrip stretching past our vision .. daring to follow it to nowhere.

Wordle Special

2012-05-28T19:57:00.000+05:30

There is an adage : A picture is worth a thousand words. But when you literally mean it ,wordle generates.
Now,first thing first : what is wordle? A cuddly word!! :P It is a tag cloud of the words most commonly mentioned on a site or a blog.While you are writing [and that too at such frequency],you don't realize that there have been some words which you use more than others and even if you haven't set a theme ,some common lines can definitely be seen.For that realization ,wordle is there which tells on the face,that what you write about.

Presenting you all ,my Wordle for Smiling Mystic Cloud:

Wordle is today's theme for WordCount Blogathon! :)

Life is Life not a race!

2012-05-27T12:00:00.000+05:30

A dilapidated building often reminds me of a past which lost its charm. An abandoned car on the roadside with deflated tires and sand-soaked chassis depicts how things are forsaken when they become a history.

I was rushing towards a bus-stand as I was late yet again for my office. And there I saw a very old lady with a frail body which had borne the brunt of time, exhausted due to heat and unable to get hold of the surroundings around her. She was clueless about the direction she was going in. Some people who were as short of time as I was still tried to help her out, someone offered her water. Some tried to know about where she was up to but her inaudible voice was of no help. I stayed there for a few seconds unable to decide whether to leave the scene and catch my bus or go over to her and try to help. And like one clock-phobic, programmed machine I saw myself moving towards the bus-stand to catch the bus. But with each step that I took my soul cursed me and made my feet heavier. And my mind plunged into a thought.

One has often heard ‘life is a race’ and it indeed is. The ones with stronger legs running ahead and the weak are proving to be laggards. And in this clock-driven mad race we merely squint over the ones who are behind us. And those include the ones who have grayed their hair in the run-up of life. The generation which held our tiny fingers once and led our way to the other side of the road. But haven’t we missed one thing that those strong hands have now gotten feeble. We treat our older ones with huge respect, take care of all their needs and make sure they spend later years of their lives peacefully. But are all of them lucky enough to receive that care? The answer is a no for sure. Government has some plans (like the ones it has for everyone!), NGOs are there and so are the old-age homes. But like any other government scheme, or non-government support is not able to help each and every needful in this vast and populous country, the policies meant for lending help to the old are not sufficient. There are many out there, struggling with their survival, traveling miles in extreme heat or cold, receiving ill-treatment from their kin. Their best years are behind them, they are no longer sturdy enough to resist the atrocities of life. They need our help like we did when we were kids, and it’s not always a TV show, or a charity program or membership in an NGO which would act as a channel through which we could do the needful. Just look around, be it a bus-stand, railway station, roadside, market; anywhere we can easily find old people trudging through the path in want of their destination.

So I reached the bus-stand, and I saw my bus approaching. I was still thinking about that old lady. In that same moment I gazed around. And there I found a very old man, with a bent spine standing with the help of a stick. This time my mind was clear, I could get late for a few more minutes but I had to help him out. I left my bus and approached him. He was quite oblivious of the route numbers but he knew the place he wanted to go to. I held his hand stopped the bus going to his destined place and helped him go inside and find a seat. This was my bit, the small bit of help which was not meant for any charity but was a responsibility. A responsibility that I should have had shouldered a few minutes back when I saw that old lady or many such people in the past. These people are not those deserted old buildings, they are the roots over which we have grown and became whatever we are today. And no matter how many fruits a tree bears it gets nourished through its roots only. They don’t deserve to be left out to battle alone with their miseries.

Words no matter how strong or hard-hitting are still words if not translated into action. And these are not just words but also an appeal. Go out and help out, shell out a few minutes, help them catch a bus, bring them some water, guide them through the road crossing, find them their destination. We all are humans and we are wired to be social and helpful only if we let our instincts make us help someone and suspend our reservations for a few moments. Because we as a society are one, be it young or old we all need to support each other. And it is what they deserve, a calm, peaceful, secure life and it is our duty to let them have one.

This post is a guest post by entropyatmax Thankyou! :)

Human : A social Animal

2012-05-26T23:33:00.000+05:30

Human is an animal [Oh yeah the basic instincts] and also social one [atleast that is what is expected out of it].We all interact with fellow buddies and spent most of our time on the interaction part. That’s how we seldom get bored. There are so many out in the world, so many different interests , cultures, habits ,so many things to learn from .The more the merrier.

Remember the times when we used to meet often, spend time talking and talking, play games, share a cup of tea. That’s how we used to interact, not much into phones even. If someone lived far away, a sweet letter every month used to be exchanged. Now, things have changed and we have changed too. We just want to do everything conveniently .Between me and others there is a wall[the barrier I meant, not the facebook or twitter wall].Important things like which friend of yours is getting married or already got married or who is moving away to far flung places- all we get to know from such graffiti on walls.

These are the platforms created for the convenient communication .Let it be one of those, don’t make it the only way to communicate. Popularity of a person or I say credibility is measured by number of friends or followers in social networking sites. How much a person actually interact with the ‘friends’ is a mystery. The people whom you know best may not be there in your friend list even. Does that make them less important for you? A simple No. Facebook or twitter is not the world.

There is a saying that a person cannot have more than a certain minimal number of actual friends. But going by the statistics, it’s hard to agree. Even when we click photos, we mostly do it with the intention of putting it online for others to see, admire and yes ‘like’.

The need of the hour for each one of us, is to be back at being a animal. Venture out, roam ,do real stuff ,play Pictionary while traveling, do gardening instead of Farmville [though not advising indulging in mafia wars or playing poker]Those would be the moments that would be flashed in front of your eyes as you leave the world. Not the decorated perfect timeline that you have managed.

Akanksha is now searching for photos to gel well with this article and post it online for others to like or comment! Such is life!!

Open letter to the phonies!

2012-05-25T22:50:00.000+05:30

Hello Dharlings!!

Hows life sweety? Hope you are just as awesome as you always are. Oh my Gawd!! You are looking so young and charming. Muaah !!

Now, with the above maple syrupy lines I would have got your precious attention here. You can wear your grandma glasses to read the tiny words and between the lines too, here nobody is judging you.

Yes, this open letter is for you, my dear fake honey! Now, don’t cringe, you won’t be able to move your facial muscles much, thanks to recent Botox injections. There are few things which normal mortals would like to ask the best-creation-of-god [as you think of yourself], but never dared to ask you on face. Reason of which is more related to being polite than being intimidated by your aura.

Have you seen yourself in mirror or any reflective surface without the layers of makeup? Have you done any tiny winy bit of introspection on people who always surround you like you also? If you think every guy is after you only, think again, you may end up alone. Do you have people around you, whom you like not because they wear nice clothes or are powerful?

When you think that others are way lesser than you, can you list one real parameter which qualifies this judgment? When you try to fake a alien accent, do you really think people appreciate? Please don’t sulk or utter the words not-to-be-used here or grind you teeth or tap fiercely perfectly shaped nails (they might get chirped).

It’s time for you to decide to look away from reality by just waving your hand and saying ‘jealous worthless people’ or to think on why this letter has been addressed to you. If you took the second option, try being just you, the real you and have some small talk with nobody but your inner self. Ask some real basic questions. Are you actually the person you show to the world or just a fake clone of yourself?

~ A mere mortal

If I started blogging today then..

2012-05-24T21:51:00.001+05:30

There would be some things which wouldn’t have changed but some definitely have changed. It is difficult to say that this time I would have definitely selected blogger to host the blog. Wordpress could have won the race. But now, I am just too lazy to switch hosting sites especially when I have got the site name registered.

There could have been changes regarding how the blog startup. When I started it years back, I was a chirpy college kid and that time it was fashionable to have one. Every cool nerd kid used to have one, irrespective of how much one actually post. I started it as a personal blog and didn’t plan anything for future that in which direction I am going to take it or anything. The content and writing style was much different than recent ones. Though now also, you can detect typo errors but that time it was plentiful. Another difference is that, previously it was just the writing and nothing about publicizing it which I do now. :P

If I would have started it, now it would have launched with a bang, probably with some teasers. There might be a central idea around which all the blog posts revolve. A little sprinkle of maturity could also be found.

But all said and done, I still think that if I would have to start it now, I probably wouldn’t have started it. The schedule is much more hectic and life many folds more busy to start something new. If I wouldn’t have started back then, then nobody would have told me that I can do better than regular and random writing or ever encouraged me to keep on writing. I have never imagined myself writing anything besides class notes and exam sheets. On seeing the re-visitors ratio such high, I get a motivation to keep pushing myself to crawl further. Crux of the matter is that if I wouldn’t have started when I was an enthusiastic kid, this whole experience of blogging for me wouldn’t have kick started and today I would have been busy in something else than this.

P.S. I still like my first blog post the most: A post that describes me truly, written with not an intention to be put on blog but actually the reason for starting this blog and naming it.

Read it here: My First Blog Post: Smiling mystic cloud:The reason behind

Commitment Blues!!

2012-05-23T00:03:00.000+05:30

Best way to frighten somebody is to cry out aloud boo..!! No,that a passe now; new age word is commitment!
Be it of any species or any breed, it just searches for and presses the panic button and pressure increases.

Haven't you experienced the moment of awkward nervousness when one fine day you are happily engrossed in doing some work and some snooty person comes,taps and asks for commitment for finishing the same by end of day!Though you may nod your head,but scenario changes completely after that.Now,you are struggling to complete the task instead of doing it carefree.

And isn't it the similar case in relationships .The slight hint of commitment is enough to puncture the ever inflated confidence of a regular Casanova.A dizzy feeling and mumbling of words followed by a desperate run is a common symptom found in people suffering from commitment phobia.Sometimes,such commitment blues are not only because of general phobia but commitment to a specific person.When someone demands,that's when you think about it and react . Commitment is not a cone of ice cream but a sip of bitter coffee.When you drink it ,you are pretty sure about why you are having it and how much you want to have it.It's no casual but comes with a well headed decision.

It is a strong word which has different impact on different people.Some draw strength from it ,some get shattered like glass,some act like parasites while some just feel burdened with pressure of it.

But I feel that it is a crazy word ,it brings security and balance but also attracts fear of not able to sustain and insecurity of losing it.One just has to know how to fine tune it to do the right amount at right moment to not go on its bitter side ,rather enjoy the sweet stability that comes with it.

Open letter to spitting sprinters!

2012-05-22T23:36:00.002+05:30

Dear [Not-so-dear] Spitting sprinters,

Of all the people who are collectively working towards degrading the surroundings, only your breed has been able to let the blood out literally. Bloody stains we could all see. Sometimes I doubt that investigating agencies could get confused while taking samples that whether it is real blood or just another betel nut spit.

First thing first, I fail to understand the correlation between happily chewing betel nut and proudly spitting it around. If that taste is so bad which makes you throw it out, then why have it?[ I presume that whatever you have is edible] .Even if I set aside your wish to chew whatever substance you want,still second question lingers on , that why are you always on the spitting spree, be it from moving bus or while just passing by a lucrative red stained corner,seriously Why??. As per my observations, places which gets the maximum remain the public ones. If spitting is such an indispensable habit of yours, why not in the space between your bed and bed-side table or in the expensive decorative plant kept in the drawing room?

Third another genuine question that pops in my inquisitive brain is why not on all public places , why you people are so selective ? I mean our metro stations, airports, malls also need such abstract art that your creative spitting styles make. I suspect that there is a strong motive behind, you all have paid taxes too and you want to show that it belongs to you also.Right?

Before you wipe your lips and try to show the beautiful pale yellow teeth in a shameless grin, let me have the opportunity to try to answer all these right away, because I am sure you cannot complete a conversation without spitting .

You just love the flavor of betel nut , that tobacco laden pan that gives you a high and cannot forgo this habit. You take immense pleasure in making your mark wherever you go.Since it’s hard to do something worthwhile to do that, easiest way is to red mark it. Oh, you are so proud of you and your entire breed! You may demand a nationally recognized contest for spitting sprinters. Moreover, spitting inside a spittoon looks like your right of freedom to spit is being taken away by restricting in a mere spittoon .That is why one can find red stains all over it rather than inside.

Common people it’s your saliva, keep it to yourself! Not even tiny ant walking on the road needs any of it. And if it is a medically recognized problem, please keep a personal spittoon of silver, wood, steel or whatever fancies you. That would be highly appreciated.

Thankyou!

- An irritated citizen

Haiku Special!

2012-05-21T22:33:00.000+05:30

Today it's Haiku day at WordCount Blogathon! A word which I was unaware of till I Googled.

Haiku is a Japanese poem of seventeen syllables , in three lines of five,seven and five. it is an unrhymed syllabic form.Since it is so brief,a haiku is necessarily imagistic ,concrete and pithy ,capturing a single moment in a very few words.The most important characteristic of haiku is how it conveys,through implication and suggestion ,a moment of keen perception and perhaps insight into nature or human nature.

Though at first look, it looks a simple set of three lines but as you read examples and with each , a picture is sketched in brain with just seventeen syllables.That's the beauty of Japanese haiku!I sat and tried doing English version of Haiku and managed three of them. Each has a different fragrance.

                                                           Gentle Sea breeze ...

                                                           Soft touch of hand
                                                           Gazing at Orion

Croaking frog ...

A splash in mud puddle

Chuckle on lips

Rhythmic music ...

A swirl of frills

A Beat skipped

I hope I managed to draw some rough strokes of images in mind by these.Hope to write more in future. :)

Lost Shutterbug: Back to History!

2012-05-20T22:36:00.001+05:30

A picture is worth a thousand words .. Every picture has a story behind it .. Photographs do have all such notions attached to them and they are true, even a picture full of stupidity has a story, a smile behind it.

Some pictures don’t have only the memories attached to it but also takes you back at the history, or atleast the history book. Part of historic books and souvenirs of glamorous past: historical monuments.

Let’s have a look at the great architecture of the past that still stands tall and beautiful.

Now in the seven wonders of the world ,Taj remains the epic of beauty ,the serene beauty that remains as beautiful as ever ,irrespective of angle from you see it. It can make even a dried tree look good!!

The seat of power has now become the symbol of power with the Indian Flag being hosted here.Red fort of Delhi welcomes you to the Old Delhi, Delhi 6!

Gateway of India become gateway to India literally when the terrorists entered through this and attacked mumbai few years ago.

Qutub Minar ,remains steady and tall always.Now one can not get inside it as it has been closed years before after incidents of suicides emerged.

Adalaj Well,a step well in Gandhinagar though may not be a monument but its architecture and carvings are worth visiting.

Red Fort of Agra though lost its popularity to its Delhi counterpart but it is first if the lot and seat of power before capital shifted to Delhi.Situated at such a location that a clear view of beautiful taj is seen from here.

Sometimes , looking back at the history gives you motivation to achieve greater heights in future.

So,while taking step ahead just keep an eye at the back also.

Is being good goodie?

2012-05-19T22:51:00.000+05:30

One basic question: Is it always like that if someone is good than life should only throw candies and be fair? Answer is just the opposite. Life seems more unfair to those who play fairly or such question pop in the head of those only!

How many times we have come across good people in misery asking lord that why such bad things happen to them only, what is their fault, they have never done anything bad. Always the good girl chooses the bad boy, if we see through little filmy lens!

What we do is think in a very linear manner. If we do good to others, in return good will happens. So simple! Is it so simple? No, Life is a complex ball of game. It has so many parameters which decide various dimensions of life. Even cycle of karma is not that simple. Most of the times you get results of your deeds not in this life. (If at all you believe in karma cycle)

Sometimes, it happens like who is involved in all the wrong deeds is seen to be getting all the gifts of life. And, then it pinches the most. First thought that come in mind is to fall for such easy benefit reaping deeds. That is the easy part I guess. Hardest part comes when you have to be patient and strong enough to stick to good even if it’s giving no good. Bad things are more lucrative and easy to fall into.

But some things in life should not be just done because those are easy to do, rather it’s a matter of choice on how you want to lead life at your own terms and good will reap good fruits one day, when that one day will come, nobody knows.

The Freebees' Magic!

2012-05-18T23:17:00.000+05:30

No .. No..am not directing bees at you which are free to strike you hard with their sting. Though , I wish to do that for some :D Here, I am talking about the sweet freebies! The title was just to instill some fear of bees :D

Catch A Toy - Fun claw machine has been part of childhood of almost all of us.Such meticulously we tried to catch our favorite cute little dinosaur and teddy from the lucrative machine full of those ,but that devil claw always used to drop the toy at the last moment.But hope to catch that cute little one someday always lingered on.Idea of getting one as free seemed more fascinating and fulfilling than simply going and buying one,though we are spending the same amount of money in both the cases.Isn't it?

Freebies are something which are everybody’s favorite, because for the simple reason; these are free! People don’t even mind the stupid thing thrown at them in the name of freebie attached. The greed for more and more in less money has driven all the rocket sales up .Only a name of some random freebie attached with something garner such response from people for it as if on what treasure they are laying their hands. Attaching such freebies is a good marketing strategy .It ranges from giving a packet of shampoo with a magazine to morning newspaper in metro. Even a packet of spicy corn rings also has a free cheap plastic cockroach ring inside. Big retails chain gives all sorts of attractive offers and freebies on massive bills .And we like poor victims unaware of the shrewd strategy fall for it, every time .So sad!

Are we such innocent people? Isn’t it like ; the moment we see a banner shouting out Sale, the tongue starts waging, eyes hypnotized, mind calculating the probable benefit, feet lead you to the shop, hands start putting every possible thing on Sale in the shopping basket and pocket getting empty fast! Yes, such is the magic!

But we eventually forget that we end up buying much more additional stuff that we actually need and that only result in cluttering your already over packed room/wardrobe. Even the shrewdest and calculating human fall for the love of freebies. Not in the opposition of such offers but sometimes troubles come attached in the form of freebies too. Now an old trick though, but quite many have fallen for the “You are the lucky 500^th visitor that has been chosen for 1 million lottery prize, please provide you account details” mail. Though we may laugh aloud, but people like us fall for such only.

Nothing in this world is free; everything has a price tag attached to it, though sometimes it may be invisible. As the popular adage says:

There ain't no such thing as a free lunch!

Exam-O-mania!

2012-05-17T23:44:00.000+05:30

No sleep in eyes, heart beating fast, loss of appetite, and sparks in brain– such symptoms may well be associated with a love lost person. But same applies to the one struck in exams too. Probably here such actions are more intense.

Exam scene can vary from one with a blank stare fixed on same page for last 30 minutes, one with clenching hair and mugging up all that one can find marked in book as important, one walking fast here and there with pen in mouth and photocopied notes in hand to one hungrily swallowing big gallops of Maggie with mobile on another hand asking important topics or sometimes even syllabus. Exam scene in hostel is even more chaotic with everyone gathered around a bed where a comparatively more geek fellow is teaching or explaining a complex diagram or algorithm and all others scratching their heads on hearing such alien words.

Exam stress is the epic in stress moments .It though is short lived but when this stress is released you can see a sigh of relief on everybody face before tension for results and more exams start hovering again. In college we had a thing sorted out that whenever a season of exams get over, it is mandatory to go out most probably for a movie or lunch out! And, we have seen quite a few pathetic movies because of such commitment to our decision but those were sure stress buster. Before that a bare two hours of sleep before exams was enough to keep us awake in exam to pour all the data that we have pasted in our head. Exams bring out the birds in us I guess: owl or chicken .I am more of owl kinds to be awake till the wee hours and some others were chicken who were wide awake for revision in the early hours of day.

Exams are the love of no one but the bitter reality that is faced again and again. Love of not even of the topper people, though results can be their favorite time to show off. One cannot chicken out or avoid some mandatory ones. Though there are people who are struck in some or the other exams all the time, probably love for studying, eh?

Though myself not being the carefree types, still a non-believer in all the hype that the exams generate. First of all, it’s just exams, not the only core of life. Secondly, nothing will happen if the results are not super duper types. Though, am not denying the fact that you won’t be securing good percentage or convert in good college or job but.. but that is not the end of life .And that is one of the various things in life that you get. Moreover, if the hype is reduced and is handled with better ease than some of the extreme stress will evaporate for sure and at least those mistakes that happen because of nervousness would be negligible.

O Exams ,go away and let there be peace!!

Sprinkle smiles!

2012-05-16T22:48:00.000+05:30

We say negatives vibes move faster than all; I tell you smile is more powerful and infectious. Given how bad your mood is, a smile from a baby cools you down for few moments atleast. Smile grows as it spreads. But for sprinkling smiles all around over the dust of negative vibes, the source has to be happy too. A plastic smile would not do. A shortcut to smile is as useless as not smiling.

In this dark world, happiness has become pricey; it does not come by default .There are some happy ways which people have to embrace to the smile sprinklers: Some people have the in-born quality of livening any damp environment with their lively presence and witty remarks. They bind the group with an unseen force of joy and chuckles move around like bubbles. For people to gel with you, one has to be reach out to others and be approachable .It’s hard to imagine a sulking looking person sitting in a corner to attract such attention or a person with a constipated look to have people likeness at first go.

Being good listeners and taking everybody along, gives people a sense of comfort and help them to open up as well. The shell of awkwardness has to be cracked to let yourself free and laugh. Sometime, all a depressed person wants is to be just listened. Patient listeners are hard to find these days.

But for all the above to happen genuinely, one thing has to be there: person should be in love with self. The whole confidence one gets to be a lively joyous one comes from the self love. Complimenting oneself is not bad at all until it reached the height of obsession. Doesn’t it happen that when you have donned a new dress and is looking prettier than usual, there is an unmistakable spring in step and smile on lips? Also, complimenting others for little things is an important gesture too. There is hairline difference between complimenting and flattering. Genuine complimenting does make someone happy and frequent flattering brand you as fool and tarnish your image as someone-not-to-be believed.

So, pack you basket full of scents of positive vibes and flowers to tickle people to have chuckles around.

Spread the smiles |Be Kind | Be Happy!

I need a break!

2012-05-15T22:38:00.000+05:30

Do I? Yes, I do need one. After a lot of introspection by my brain on its own condition, it has realized that going at this pace won’t do any good. And fastening it is definitely not on cards. Nor I want it to be lazy and fat. I do seem like a confused client who is just not able to describe its requirements and still wants everything sorted out all by itself.

My mind has become slow, puzzled and incapable of processing large complex data thrown at it. When I am concentrating at some work and some other person queries about something different, I give a confused look scaring people away who must have doubted themselves that have they asked the right person. In simple words, context switch takes too much time to save the current state of registers and upload the status of next one.

Probably that is the reason why I need a break from everything. Not only break from work is must but also break from the monotony of life. The shackles of needless expectations, tensions, restrictions, muddled priorities just need to be broken. A normal routine seems like a burden. My love for blogging is slowly evolving into a responsibility of an ‘avid’ blogger or a compliance of being participant of Blogathon! No, this should never happen. My soul cries in a muffled voice to be free, if not for always, atleast for some time. Everything needs not to be a duty to be performed.

Give my brain a hint of that it may get a break, it starts imagining a evening at beautiful beach with cool breeze flowing past, a chilly morning in lap of snow clad mountains, a rainy road and cup of tea and pakoras, a adrenaline rush after rafting or a moment of fear before jumping down in bungee jumping, a quite shikara ride. Not a moment of peace in starting imagining even.

Loose wired brain and imagination running all over the directions for a break are all the signs I need to sign off and go somewhere. For some time, I need to cut off the logical, practical, analytical part and everything makes me all mumble jumble.

I need a break..I need a break from all these! I need to breath in the fresh air, see the beauty of nature, hear the sparrows chirping, feel the nature around. In short, rejuvenate myself, to be free to be myself.

Probably, you need one also, because I can see your head nodding too! :)

Hope is a big word!

2012-05-14T22:46:00.000+05:30

No matter how frequent or how many people keep on cribbing, how dark is your life or how many cob webs are there in your head, there will always be one thing sitting in the corner of your mind smiling, which keeps you going. Yes, it is hope.

Hope, though seem as a small four letter word but sometimes it becomes the backbone of your life. It is the magic wand which makes people believe that something good will surely happen someday. And its importance can be fully realized when your life is based on it only!

In the eyes of mother whose child is in coma for years, a wife whose husband has gone on war front, an unemployed youth who is sitting idle since recession, a student who failed and is in the same class for last three years, a lover who got dejected by his love of life: you will find a hint of hope floating amid the harsh waters of sadness, depression, anxiety. And, this is the reason why people just hang on to life, does not let one fall easily.

Sometimes, we don’t want to have a reality check and just want to believe that someday justice will happen. You will get what you want. But that is not how the universe works. People have unbounded desires and practically each of such cannot be fulfilled. But nothing can murder the hope. It is like a ghost, will haunt you always but cannot be shooed away.

If you have ever rolled eyes on seeing how a boy/girl is not giving hope of getting his/her love of life love back, then pause and think for a moment. May be that hope is putting some smile on face, a blush on cheeks, a nervous feeling on seeing that someone special. Maybe that hope never gets its desired end, mostly are not but being hopeless is no good either. Hope helps you from falling in the pit of depression and sadness.

And, being hopeful does bear fruits sometimes .Everybody has read the story of an ant trying to climb a wall and its success after 16 failures. If that little ant dropped its hope the moment it fall on ground for the first time, it would not be able to climb to top ever.

Hope is not just a four letter word, it is much bigger than what it seems to be. You just have to realize its power! Just never ever let it die!!

Lost Shutterbug: Friends in Journey

2012-05-13T20:36:00.004+05:30

Journeys are important not just because they take you to destination but also for the experience. When you travel, destination can be already visited but every time journey experience will be something different. Sometimes co-travelers change – the old aunty, fat uncle, cute girl, geeky guy, or another route, another climate – there are so many parameters which decide the uniqueness of the journey. I should not forget about the people and others that we meet as we go ahead.

The cow that looked at you with pleading eyes for food or the gray langur that snatched the banana from your hand or the fat buffalo that decided to nap in the middle of the road and does not even bat an eyelid while you keep on honking. These all have been or will be our partners in journey that have/will welcome you in the new region.

Presenting few of such animals that welcomed me in the journeys, hope to get welcomed by others too in future ones.

Taken while on journey to Lothal from Ahemdabad. A herd of cow headed by an elder cow like a leader of gang while others in back are busy gossiping. So alike the humans!

While on a trip to Mount Abu, at the break of dawn we found a herd of sheep grazing and roaming in an almost dried field. We have heard of wool getting dyed later on, here the sheep was marked with color, perhaps for the color coding followed by various shepherds.

A couple of ox working hard in plowing a field at the monsoon time with lush green background. Work environment may be good with pleasant breeze flowing but when you are knee deep in mud, it’s hard to say that you are enjoying it. Taken on a journey to Alibagh from Mumbai.

Grey langurs are omnipresent in India. Be it plains or mountains or forests, there are always there to welcome you, with the beady eyes stare and quick check for any food. This photograph resembles so much of an old villager perched upon a stone, sitting patiently perhaps smoking a bidi/local cigarette, watching everyone as they passed.

This mighty yak looked so helpless and stone faced as people sat on it and clicked unending photographs around it. Photograph is taken in Kufri, Himachal Pradesh .

Hope to find many others like these welcoming me in their regions on my future trips.

Happy travelling and happy memories!!

In the Bylanes of Chatori Gali:Food Walk:Chandni Chowk

2012-05-12T23:41:00.000+05:30

Greed is a bottomless pitcher, how hard we try to fill it,it will remain empty. Greed is never satiated, and same applies in case of savoring food delights. Give us a spicy tangy one, we will ask for bland and when provided that we demand for something sweet. Main question is how to get everything good at one place. Chandni chowk is literally bylanes of chatori gali, here average food is better than available in other markets.

Be it golgappas,dahi bhalla,rabri falooda , jalebi or chole kulche and even daulat ram ki chat. Special food tours are also arranged in this area having stoppage at most of the famous shops. In college time, we used to have our own food walk in the name of getting books for next semester (Nayi Sarak).Chole Kulche at Nayi Sarak is one low fat option available here. Try Lotan ke chole kulche, which are considered the best. Moving on you will find a crowd outside a shop on the main road,having adjacent street going straight to Chandni chowk metro station .That shop is known as Natraj which serves the best creamy dahi bhalla with special black masala sprinkled on top of it in good amount.The curd is creamy,evenly thick textured and sweet.It also serves tasty aloo tikki too,which is fried crisp in desi ghee.At first look,it looks like only take away counter, but only few know that there is upstairs sitting place too, where you can have all the same delicacies in peace and give some rest to your legs.

Golgappas is one thing for which I didn’t find a specific shop/street vendor which sells awesome ones.Though one in the dingy bylanes of khari bawli, sells good ones. If any one knows a specific awesome gol gappa vendor,do let me know.Here ,one can find a variety of chat which is not much available at other places. It is daulat ram ki chat ,a wiped froth sprinkled with jaggery .It is worth a try and vendors can be find in the corridors of main road.Another sweet dish,favourite of many is available here,which is jalebi.Shop which is famous for it has its name on it only:Jalebi wala at Dariba kalan.Jalebi here are quite thick, soft,fried in desi ghee and filled with sweetness. As soon as you put it in mouth, the sweet liquid oozes out.Another option for people having sweet tooth is rabri falooda at Gyani, Fatehpuri. It requires a good amount of walk to the end of the road to relish rabri falooda at gyan. Here you will find queues at every food joint. But a good experience to roam around and keep having different flavors n different treats.

In the Bylanes of Chatori Gali:Bittu Tikki Wala:Netaji Subhash Place

2012-05-11T22:45:00.000+05:30

Name of Shop: Bittu Tikki Wala

Type: Street Food

Location: Netaji Subhash Place

    

Ambience: Its a take away counter.   

Price:Rs. 60/full plate

Taste:4.5/5

Service:There is always a little queue.

Of all the street foods, if I don’t mention aloo tikki or
golgappas ,it would be a sin for me – a staunch lover of both. I never miss any
chance to gorge on these be it random visit to market or wedding function. One
corner which has made a place for itself specializing mainly in aloo tikki is
Bittu Tikki Wala.It has got BTW registered as trademark, owning to such
popularity. It started with first outlet in Netaji Subhash Place,Delhi  and now has opened few others  in NCR. Situated near Netaji Subhah Place
metro station ,it is convenient to go there. And we used to do exactly the same
when in college.

Here is an option to take half or full plate of aloo tikki
chat .It is apt at this corner , firstly because it is little on higher side in
price(compared to others) and secondly because a plateful is little heavy for
one with all the extra add ons. There is always a waiting line owning to office
and college crowd. Here the menu consists of mainly two things tikki and dahi
bhalla.We once tried dahi bhalla as well but it was not great,so since then we
sticked to what is best.

Pretty large Aloo tikki(Potato patty) : crispy from outside ,with
a perfect golden colored skin and tasty filing inside .A calorie rich treat
which is not to be missed. Apart from the actual tikki ,the chat is an amalgamation
of a lots of flavors. Spicy and tangy comes from green mint chutney , dash of sweetness
is added by red tamarind  sauce, flavors neutralized by thick sweet curd with lots of
additions like pomegranate seeds ,cottage cheese cubes, onion slices ,reddish
shreds ,tomatoes ,cabbage and sprinkled special masala. Making it a sumptuous delight to be relished.

Here the tikkis are fried in olive oil and are hygienic. Probably
one of the reasons behind such prices. It can be clubbed with masala lemonade
or ice cream shakes from Gyanis, sold in the nearby shops. And a frozen pan
from Hori Pan Bhandar is a must after that to complete the experience.

Today's food for thought: 

Eat like there is no tomorrow , such tasty food comes rare!!

Happy Gorging!!