Sunday Stealing: The Strange Question Meme

Part 2

26. What color is your watch?
I have one Brown and a Black

27. What do you think of when you hear “Australia”?
Racism

28. Would you strip for money?
No

29. Do you go in a fast food place or just hit the drive thru?
I prefer the drive thru.

30. What is your favorite number?
Two

31. Who’s the last person you talked to on the phone?
My dad.

32. Any plans today?
Nope.

33. In how many states have you lived?
1 state.

34. Biggest annoyance right now?
Am not annoyed right now.

35. Last song listened to?
An Arabic song..."Ya Dab Dab" by Nancy Ajram. I have no clue what the song means but I like it's sound.

36. Can you say the alphabet backwards?
Nahhhh

37. Do you have a maid service clean your house?
No

38. Favorite pair of shoes you wear all the time?
Anything that is comfortable.

39. Are you jealous of anyone?
I dont think so. They are time when I probably am envious of certain people but nothing harmful. I am quite contended with my life.

40. Is anyone jealous of you?
Again, I dont think so.

41. Do you love anyone?
TRUELY, MADLY, DEEPLY.

42. Do any of your friends have children?
Yes. Quite a few of them.

43. What do you usually do during the day?
Wash, clean, vaccuum, cook, read....

44. Do you hate anyone that you know right now?
No. They are 1 or 2 people I cant stand, but 'hate' is too strong a word.

45. Do you use the word hello daily?
Yes.

46. What color is your car?
Silver grey

47. What size wedding ring do you wear?
It fits me well and looks good on my hand...who cares what size it is?

48. Are you thinking about someone right now?
No.

49. Have you ever been to Six Flags?
No

50. How did you get your worst scar?
I got it, a couple of years ago, in the form of a 'person'.

Precious Smile

Sometimes a smile can convey more than words. A smile can complete your day. A smile can give you a good night’s sleep.

A long time ago V, me and 2 other friends went to the Al-Nakheel beach to spend the evening. We packed home cooked food, grabbed some chips a bottle of Pepsi and we drove off to have some good time. It was nothing less than a picnic. Infact it was a picnic.

The Nakheel beach is a beautiful place with lovely parks throughout the stretch of the beach. On either sides of the road you will find families having a good time and kids playing football, flying ‘spiderman’ kites, riding tri-cycles… It is a place full of life. And there is always the appetizing aroma of barbeque in the air.

After a while I wanted to take a walk in the grass, barefoot. I love the feel of grass on my bare feet. V joined me. We then noticed a shadow, from the park lights, of a little girl, not more than 6 years, following us. We turned back and she ran away laughing. I noticed that girl a while ago running around and playing with someone who I thought was her father. She again slowly started walking behind us and we turned back. She seemed to enjoy this small game as she kept doing it and laughing. She gave us 2 pamphlets that she picked up in the park. I made a boat out of it, V made a rocket and gave it to her. She took it and ran away giggling to where her family was sitting.

She kept coming back with more and more such papers and we kept making the same things. She seemed to enjoy it all. She said something in Arabic that we didn’t understand but we knew she was having fun.

We started having our dinner and still the kid kept coming. We offered her to sit with us and eat but she handed over some more papers. We finally served some food in a plate and gave her thinking she will eat. She smiled, said something, took the plate and went back to where her family was sitting. After about 10 minutes, she came again and stood before us extending the plate as if asking for more. She again went back with the plate to where her family was sitting.

After some time, I saw her walking towards us with the plate in her hand and a smile on her lips. I was about to serve her some more food when she said “Khallas. Shukhraan!! Shukhraan!!” (Finished. Thank you!). She left the plate next to me and ran towards the beach, washed her hands, came back to us, gave a contented smile and said something and ran away. We couldn’t follow what she said except for ‘Shukhraan!!’. But her smile conveyed more than her words.

What she did next was so unexpected. As we were packing our stuff and getting ready to leave, she came to me and gave me a small packet which had some leftover popcorn. She shoved it into my hand, again said ‘Shukhraan!’, shook my hand with her innocent smile and ran away.

Yesterday, for some reason I kept remembering the smile on that little girls face. It was priceless! And it made my day. Again.

Pleeease Teachaaaa…

I have recently started giving tuitions to 2 kids, a girl and a boy. They are in class II and U.K.G. respectively. Schools here have reopened after 3 months of vacation. When I agreed to teach them, on the request of their mother, I was glad that I will have something more to do, to kill some time every day. I was excited as teaching is something I have always enjoyed doing.

The boy cries everyday refusing to come to tuition. His mother literally pushes him inside my house. On the first day, when he sat sulking in a corner, I told him I’d give him a cup-cake if he came in and did his home-work. It worked. The next day, to my surprise, he said, “Teachaa, first you give me cake, then I do my home work.” Too smart. I realized soon that he is a ‘born negotiator’ . He has to negotiate for everything and anything. I say, read this spelling aloud 10 times and he will say “Please teachaa, 10 times no reading. Only 5 times.” When I say write One to Twelve, he says ‘Please teachaa, I no write. I tell. Please…please….please…please…” Yeah, he will keep on saying please till he realizes that there is no use.

On the first day, just to brush up, I gave the girl some additions and subtractions.. “2 in the mind, 3 on the fingers. After 2…3, 4, 5.”

I smiled to myself. That was how we all did our additions. She has a whole lot of questions like, “Where you ‘buyed’ this dress teachaa?”, “You know rangoli teachaa?” “For tuition we have summer holidays teachaa?”

It is amazing how kids can surprise us. They all do the same things but in their individual style. Their questions are so innocent and concepts so simple. They don’t even need a joke to laugh. They are always excited about something and have always have something to tell. But soon I realized that teaching some one that young is not as easy as I thought. Their attention span is short and they keep getting restless by the second.

Children are sure are a different world altogether.

Sunday Stealing: The Strange Question Meme, Part 1

1. What is the color of your toothbrush?

White and blue

2. Name one person who made you smile today.

My hubby. But it's still 8:10 am and I am sure they will be more people by end of day who will make me smile.

3. What were you doing at 8 am this morning?

Washing the morning tea cups.

4. What were you doing 45 minutes ago?

Making my breakfast.

5. What is your favorite candy bar?

I dont like candy. Too sweet for my liking.

6. Have you ever been to a strip club?

Nope.

7. What is the last thing you said aloud?

"Bye!" to my friend on the phone.

8. What is your favorite ice cream? How to choose?

Belgium Dark Chocolate.

9. What was the last thing you had to drink?

Water

10. Do you like your wallet?

I LOVE IT!

11. What was the last thing you ate?

A banana.

12. Have you bought any new clothing items this week?

No.

13. The last sporting event you watched?

Cricket on tv last night. I cant even understand the game but hubby dear was watcing and I just happened to see now and then.

14. What is your favorite flavor of popcorn?

Plain salt.

15. Who is the last person you sent a text message to?

To my hubby.

16. Ever go camping?

No.

17. Do you take vitamins daily?

Not everyday. I keep forgetting taking them sometimes. (Guess I need some memory pills.)

18. Do you go to church every Sunday?

No. I dont go to a temple everyday either and have never been to a mosque.

19. Do you have a tan?

Nope.

20. Do you prefer Chinese food over pizza?

Oh yeah.

21. Do you drink your soda with a straw?

Sometimes I do.

22. What did your last text message say?

The last message was a service message from my service provider. It was in Arabic so I have no clue what it means.

23. What are you doing tomorrow?

Nothing different from what I'm doing today.

24. Favorite color?

Black, White and shades of Yellow.

25. Look to your left; what do you see?

I see a wall.

Sunday Stealing: One Long Meme (Part One)

1. The phone rings. Who will it to be? Either Nidhi or Seema, my friends.
2. When shopping at the grocery store, do you return your cart? Ofcourse. Arn't we supposed to?
3. In a social setting, are you more of a talker or a listener? Talker.
4. Do you take compliments well? Nope. I start feeling embarrassed.
5. Do you play Sudoku? No.
6. If abandoned alone in the wilderness, would you survive? I think so.
7. Did you ever go to camp as a kid? No.
8. What was your favorite game as a kid? Hide and Seek I think.
9. If a sexy person was pursuing you, but you knew she was married, would you? NO. And I am happily married so persuing anybody is out of question.
10. Could you date someone with different religious beliefs than you? I could, as long as the other person respects my beliefs.
11. Do you like to pursue or be pursued? A bit of both.
12. Use three words to describe yourself? Happy, Sensible and Loyal
13. Do any songs make you cry? Oh yeah. Quite a few of them.
14. Are you continuing your education? Formal education, no. But the process of learning is something that will never stop.
15. Do you know how to shoot a gun? Nope.
16. Have you ever taken pictures in a photo booth? A photo studio but not in a booth.
17. How often do you read books? All the time.
18. Do you think more about the past, present or future? A bit of all. But more about NOW.It keeps me happy.
19. What is your favorite children’s book? I love Tinkle comics. I still buy them in railway stations.
20.What color are your eyes? Dark brown.
21. How tall are you? 5.2 1/2"
22. Where is your dream house located? My dad made one opposite the sea in my home town. I will make the other in the middle of nature. With lots of greenery, in a small quaint place. Definetly not in a big polluted noisey city.
23. If your house was on fire, what would be the first thing you grabbed? My cell phone. A couple of years ago, it would have been my handbag 'coz I would have all my stuff, wallet, ID, cell phone, charger...everything in there. Now I hardly use my handbag.
24. When was the last time you were at Olive Garden? We dont have one here.
25. Where was the furthest place you traveled today? While answering question no. 22, I travelled all the way to my Dream house. "Someday. Somewhere."
26. Do you like mustard? I do. It is the best part of a hot-dog.

TV is Boring.

Gone are the days of the “Saas Bahu” drama. Now it is reality shows everywhere. Not that the saas bahu serials were any good.
I once, long time ago, did make the mistake of watching 2 episode one of the “K” serials with my aunt. I had no clue what it was about them kept the women folk glued to TV’s. They were so irritating, annoying and ridiculous.

And now reality shows have taken over. They are there on every channel. One hardly get to see a decent entertainer on TV these days. Unless ofcourse you are a sucker for either gross or bitchy stuff.

There is so much bitching and foul language on the show that there is more “beep” than their actual talk. I learnt swear words in college and my little brother in school. Kids these days are probably learning all that in play school itself. The thought itself is horrifying. Contestants are just not tired of bitching about each other. How negative can one be?

And then there are another set of shows which are so gross that make it difficult for me to have a meal if watch it even for a couple of minutes. Cockroaches, spiders, snakes…yukkkk. How the hell can one just let them crawl all over? And that too half naked. Seriously, aren’t the contestants half naked most of the time? I am not prude but am not out of my mind either. I sometimes wonder if all these people are confuse between being modern and being western.

What’s the point of having so many channels when we don’t get decent stuff to watch. I wonder if it because of lack of creativity. TV channels compete in being gross and bitchy and disgusting.

Seriously, TV, these day's is such a bore.

How many other things are we missing?

I am blogging after so long that I almost forgot my blogspot password. I guess I have a tendency to 'shut off' every now and then.

I read the following article, an email forward, I thought I should share it. I don’t know if it is a true story as claimed, but then, it could be.

Washington, DC, Metro Station, on a cold January morning in 2007. The man with a violin played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time approximately 2 thousand people went through the station, most of them on their way to work. After 3 minutes, a middle aged man noticed there was a musician playing. He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds, and then hurried to meet his schedule.......

4 minutes later:
The violinist received his first dollar: a woman threw the money in the hat and, without stopping, continued to walk.

6 minutes:
A young man leaned against the wall to listen to him, then looked at his watch and started to walk again.

10 minutes:
A 3-year-old boy stopped, but his mother tugged him along hurriedly. The kid stopped to look at the violinist again, but the mother pushed hard and the child continued to walk, turning his head all the time. This action was repeated by several other children. Every parent, without exception, forced their children to move on quickly.

45 minutes:
The musician played continuously. Only 6 people stopped and listened for a short while. About 20 gave money, but continued to walk at their normal pace. The man collected a total of $32.

1 hour:
He finished playing and silence took over. No one noticed. No one applauded, nor was there any recognition.

No one knew this, but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the greatest musicians in the world. He played one of the most intricate pieces ever written, with a violin worth $3.5 million dollars. Two days before, Joshua Bell sold out a theater in Boston where the seats averaged $100.

This is a true story. Joshua Bell playing incognito in the Metro Station was organized by the Washington Post as part of a social experiment about perception, taste and people's priorities. The questions raised: in a commonplace environment at an inappropriate hour, do we perceive beauty? Do we stop to appreciate it? Do we recognize talent in an unexpected context?

One possible conclusion reached from this experiment could be this:
If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world, playing some of the finest music ever written, with one of the most beautiful instruments ever made.... How many other things are we missing?

Sunday Stealing: The "Leave It to Meme" Meme

1. Who was your FIRST date?
Ok. What exactly do u mean by a date? Sneaking out to meet someone is counted or is it the flowers, dinner, present and all that?

2. Do you still talk to your FIRST love?
Yeah! He is one of my best friends.

3. What was your FIRST alcoholic drink?
Beer. (Thank daddy.)

4. What was your FIRST job?
Telemarketing Executive

5. What was your FIRST car?
It is a Toyota Carolla. (I dont drive it though. Hubby, it's all yours ;) )

6. Where did you go on your FIRST ride on an airplane?
To Chennai (then Madras)

7. Who was your FIRST best friend & do you still talk?
My first best friend was Aruna. And yeah! We still are best friends and talk a lot.

8. Whose wedding did you attend the FIRST time?
It was my mom’s cousins wedding. I must have been 5 years old.

9. Tell us about your FIRST roommate.
3 of us in a 3 bed-room flat. Does that make us roommates? I never really had a ‘room-mate’. I only had flat-mates.

10. If you had one wish, what would it be (other than more wishes)?
I misplaced/lost a shoe box with a lot of precious possessions of mine. I just wish I some how could find it. If I find it, I will believe in Miracles!

11. What is something you would learn if you had the chance?
Khatak (and Indian Dance form) and Salsa!

12. Did you marry the FIRST person you were in love with?
No. But I married the man I first fell in love with as a woman.

13. What were the first lessons you ever took and why?
Kuchipudi. It’s an Indian dance form. I initially took the classes coz my mom loved the dance but then I started to eventually enjoy it. My first stage performance was when I was 3 and a half years old. I enjoyed being on stage ever since. Thanks mom!

14. What is the first thing you do when you get home?
Wash my feet.

Hot And New

A couple of days back, while surfing channels at Tanz’s house, I stopped to watch an interview on a Telugu channel. Actually I stopped to see the guy being interviewed. He looked nice. And then he looked familiar. And then I started thinking aloud “Is this Vamsi?”

“You know him?” Tanz asked.

“This looks like Vamsi. He is from Vizag and he was 1 year my junior in college.”

What impressed me more was the way he spoke in fluent telugu unlike a lot of other new comers who talk as if they were bought up in some foreign country.
Today when I called to talk to my mom I asked her to go see the new movie “Ooha Chitram”. I told her the hero is from Vizag and was my junior.

She said, “Yeah, Vamsi nah. You don’t remember him or what?”

“Remember??? Did I know him?”

“Yes you do. He is Rama aunty’s son. Dr. Rama aunty. You, Raja, Vamsi, Radha, all you guys used to play together.”

Apparently we were neighbors when we were kids. ‘Rama aunty’ does strike a bell but I have no memory of Vamsi Krishna.

Ofcourse there is one new comer with every movie these days but Vamsi Krishna is definitely one good looking guy I have seen in Tollywood in a long time. No, I am not saying this because he is from my home town or because he was my junior. Neither because we played hide and seek as kids. But because I really like his looks. I actually think he is pretty hot!!!

I sure will watch his movie when I get a chance and hope he is a better actor than most of the wannabe’s.

Kisses And A Cake

Giving a surprise to your husband is a challenge in this place. I could never give V a surprise gift in the last, almost 1 and a half years that we have been here. Simply because women cannot go out alone to shop. I tried doing it by secretly buying a shirt or a belt but he would invariably know as he would have to atleast be in the same shop that I enter.

But then, we have friends to help us out right!

Tomorrow, is V’s birthday and I was determined to give him some surprise. I asked my friends, to buy a packet of Hershey’s Kisses (V always wanted to try them but never did for some weird reason) and a Chocolate Cake so I can surprise V at 12 in the night.

I just sneaked out (V is fast asleep) and got the stuff. They surprised me by buying not just a cake but a huge Ice-Cream cake from Baskin Robbins. I am so damn happy and thrilled that finally, with the help of lovely friends, I am able to surprise V.

Thank-you so much Tanz, Taslee and Nidhi!!!

Happy Birthday Sweetheart!!

Away, like always.

I have’nt blogged in a while now. For no particular reason though. I guess I was going through ‘keep your thoughts to your self’ mode. I have been drifting away into the world created by Anita Shreve and Dannielle Steel. After reading The Kite Runner, I couldn’t help but buy copy of A Thousand Splendid Suns. Beautifully written, but, The Kite Runner is the winner.

Turning 30 (last week) has been no big deal. I don’t feel any older. Wiser? Yes! Happier? Yes! More in love with life? Yes! And I am glad! The only disadvantage of turning 30 is being reminded of the fact that my biological clock is ticking. But then, isnt every birthday a reminder of something that you wish could wait longer?

My neighbor who is also my friend, came back last week from India with her 5 month old daughter. The baby is so adorable with a cute little dimple on her right cheek. V and I had planned a surprise and filled a room with balloons, some toys and a chocolate cake for the mother and the baby to cut. The mother and me spend the afternoons together having lunch, watching a movie and playing with the little one.

V and I will be off to India on a 3 week vacation in another 10 days. The freedom from the burkha, being able to walk alone on the road, sitting in a coffee shop by myself, watching a movie and meeting Shalini (who is now Mrs. Shalini Krishna) are the little but very exciting things I am looking forward to.

Seattle’s Best Coffee is my favorite coffee. On my birthday, we went to Rashid Mall in Al-Khobar and spend a hour having coffee. A coffee mug collector that I am, V bought me a coffee mug. Starbucks, according to me, is all snob value. In a small shopping mall near our house, we discovered a small coffee shop called ‘Coffee Shop’. I burnt my tongue while taking a large coffee-hungry sip. But the coffee was absolutely delicious. Steaming hot and mildly bitter.

Talking about hot…I like Shruti Hassan. She is hot and talented. Mothers looks and fathers talent did do a great deal for her. I haven’t seen her act but her singing is definitely good. And did I ever mention that I don’t like Deepika Padukone. She is so over-rated. I don’t like Aishwarya Rai either. As an actor, she is over-rated. As a model she is fabulous. And her fake accent…goshhhh it’s so fake.

There is this very interesting blog V came across and I loved too “SAND GETS IN MY EYES”. A must read. I have become an instant follower as I relate to it like all the other expats living here. Her writing is brilliant, funny and interesting.

Sunday Stealing: The Finish The Sentence Meme

1. I've come to realize that my last kiss...lasted longer than I thought it would.

2. I am listening to...my clock tick-tock.

3. I talk...a lot when I am excited and I am excited most of the times.

4. I love....every minute I spend with V.

5. My best friend/s...are all happily married.

6. My first real kiss...is not for anybody to know.

7. Love is...what makes life beautiful.

8. Marriage is...a lot more than just a commitment.

9. Somewhere, someone is thinking...of the person they love the most.

10. I'll always...remember the people who make me happy.

11. The last time I really cried was because...I hated to stay away from V for a month.

12. My cell phone...is on charging.

13. When I wake up in the morning...I wish I could sleep longer.

14. Before I go to bed...I remove my glasses and turn off the reading light.

15. Right now I am thinking about...finishing and posting this meme and get back to my reading.

16. Babies are...God's most beautiful creation!

17. I get on Myspace...Nope.

18. Today I...had a peach after lunch.

19. Tomorrow I will be...doing the same stuff I did today.

20. I really want to be...as happy as I am right now, if not more, all my life.

...until they met

“Hi!” he said. She could hear his smile.

Even after four months, even before listening to his voice, she knew it was him.

“I am coming home” he said, “will you come to meet me?”

She trembled as she put down the phone. She wasn’t sure now if she was surprised or shocked. She wasn’t sure if the call was real or fiction.

She didn’t want to think of all that today. She didn’t want to question. She didn’t want to wonder. She just wanted to enjoy the moment. The moment that brought back blush to her cheeks, a smile to her face and life to her smile.

That night she slept like a baby. The questions and doubts could wait, until they met.

The Kite Runner

"For you, a thousand times over!”

Khaled Hosseini’s The Kite Runner has been lying around at home for a year. V told me to read it but for some reason I kept pushing it. I finally picked it up 2 days ago.

Ofcourse it is a great book. Beautifully simple and wonderfully written. I feel a little guilty saying “I enjoyed it”. The suspense and the mystery of the story kept pushing me not to put the book down but a heavy heart and misty eyes made it difficult for me to not-put-it-down. It made me smile and the very next moment broke my heart. I wanted to know what happened in the next paragraph yet wished the book ended. Every page is a surprise, or should I say a new shock? Tears trickled down my cheeks quite a few times while reading it.

Childhood, innocence, friendship, jealousy, hope, pain, fear, regret and redemption. And more. All of them so beautifully knitted together.

And when I finished reading the book, I wished I hadn’t finished it. I am glad it ended but sad it’s over.

Sunday Meme on A Monday

1. What thing is nearest to you ? Apart from my laptop the TV remote.

2. What is your ringtone ? Agency.mxmf

3. What was the last message in your inbox ? From my friend Aruna

4. Who is your best friend ? Aruna and V

5. What is the brand of your TV ? Samsung

6. What schools did you attend? St. Joseph’s Girls High School and Heritage Residential School (both in my home town Vizag)

7. Do you own a MP4 ? No.

8. What song are you listening to now ? Am not listening to any song at the moment. Watching a Telugu movie on TV.

9. Did you kiss anybody in the past 2 days ? Of course. I am a happily married woman!

10. Have you ever kissed someone you met in the blogosphere? Nope and never intend to even in the future.

11. What would you want to call if you weren't your current name ? I don’t know.

12. Would you be happy if you had everything ? What is “everything”? I am happy with my life and that is everything.

13. Are you always thinking of someone special? Not always. I think of a lot of other people too.

14. Tell us of your most desperate dream? I have a few dreams but am not desperate for any at the moment.

15. When did you last laugh till you cried? Last Thursday! Thanks to V!!

16. If you had a crush, would you tell them you love him/her now ? Nahhh… I am smart enough to know the difference between a crush and love. I am already in love and haven’t had a crush in a long time.

17. If you could be anywhere in the world now, where would you want to be ? Any place where I would have had the freedom of taking a walk by myself, sit in a café with a book or go watch a movie with V in a theater.

18. When was your heart last broken? Ages ago. But it doesnt matter. I am very happy today!

19. Whose birthday(s) is/are coming up? Mine!

20. How many email accounts do you have? Three but I use only one!

Too Hot to Handle

With the temperature fluctuating between 48 and 52 degrees Celsius, spending even 15 mins, at a stretch, in the kitchen has become next to impossible. The water from the tap, from morning to night is hot enough to make a cup of coffee and I am not exaggerating. And in the afternoons I probably can just make noodles in that water even without using the stove. And because I have the killing desire to keep my kitchen sink dish free, I bought a pair of gloves with which I can wash my dishes even when the tap water is hot.

V and I have finally started going for our brisk walks in the evening. The weather for sure is lousy but we couldn’t delay it any further. We realized we are growing out of our clothes and we don’t have enough space to stack any more clothes than we already have. By the time we are back from our walk, we are drenched in sweat. Literally. It’s even worse for me with my burkha over my clothes. When I am brisk walking I don’t like talking. That is one time I don’t want to talk. I need to be with myself and preferably with my headphones.

I am getting a new fridge in a day or two. And I got a new hair cut 2 days ago. This time an inch shorter than the shortest I ever had. I made it that short on impulse but am not regretting it. Some think it’s cute some don’t like it. I think it’s ok. And V thinks it’s cute.

In one of my previous posts I mentioned that I had a good I wasn’t ready to share yet. Here it is… My dear friend Shalini got married last week. I hate it that I couldn’t be there, but I couldn’t have been happier for her.

I have been in no mood to entertain any guests at home. I am not in a mood for formalities and pleasantries at the moment. I prefer sitting in my bedroom with a book, some music and a bottle of water. My landline also is off its hook for most part of the day. After I finish The Guardian by Nicholas Sparks, I have The Kite Runner by Khalid Hosseini and Danielle Steel’s Mirror Image and Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts to read. But am not sure which one to read next.

For some really odd reason, I have not been able to open my blogspot and Face Book from home. I don’t know why? I have asked one of my best friends Aruna to publish this and my previous post for me. This is it for now. Got to get back to The Guardian. The story has taken a twist and I need to know what the creep, Richard Franklin, is upto to next.

Discovering Peace

Sometimes you ‘experience’ moments that leave you with a feeling of fullness. A feeling that you cannot control. A feeling that you cannot explain. A state of bliss.

I felt that early this morning. When I was talking to my in-laws. They, finally, after more than a year of persuasion, have enrolled into the basic course of the “Art of Living”. Just talking to them about their experience made me feel at peace. Even without realizing, tears started rolling down. It was a spiritual moment.

Like everybody else, they were reluctant about the idea. They gave every excuse possible (which do not really qualify for an excuse), like anybody else would. I have never persuaded anybody for anything as much as I did my In-laws to do the course. I must admit that there were times when I thought there was no use explaining it to them. My mom-in-law always listened to me talk about it and a couple of times I heard her tell people “My daughter-in-law is a follower of Guruji.” I never missed the sense of pride that she had in her voice while mentioning it to others. We talked about it a lot of times but somehow her enthusiasm never lasted beyond the conversation.

Three days ago she had called saying that somebody had come home to tell that there was a class starting in the building right opposite to their house. That day, again, after cajoling her, I had decided that I was never again going to talk to her about it. It is not in my character to push someone so much.

Just 3 days of Pranayam and Sudarshan Kriya and my dad-in-law said, “I cannot explain the feeling” and my mom-in-law said, “I am at peace with myself.” Isn’t that amazing?
I just want to say…

“Amma and Papa, I am so glad that you two are doing the course. You deserve the tranquility and the new found sense of being. You have picked up a good habit; make sure you don’t give it up.”
Jai Guru Dev!!!

Some of The Best Moments in Life

There are times, moments in life that you want to capture and hold them close to your heart and mind. There are moments that you want to last for more than just that moment. It’s not just the happenings but also the memories of these moments that make our life so special and beautiful. Some of the best moments are...

1. Falling in love.
2. Laughing till your stomach hurts.
3. Enjoying a ride down the country side.
4. Listening to your favorite song on the radio.
5. Going to sleep listening to the rain pouring outside.
6. Getting out of the shower and wrapping yourself with a warm, fuzzy towel.
7. Passing your final exams with good grades.
8. Being a part of an interesting conversation.
9. Finding some money in some old pants.
10. Laughing at yourself.
11. Sharing a wonderful dinner with all your friends.
12. Laughing without a reason.
13. "Accidentally" hearing someone say somthing good about you.
14. Watching the sunset.
15. Listening to a song that reminds you of an important person in your life.
16. Receiving or giving your first kiss.
17. Feeling this buzz in your body when seeing this "special" someone.
18. Having a great time with your friends.
19. Seeing the one you love happy.
20. Wearing the shirt of a person you love and smelling his/her perfume.
21. Visiting an old friend of yours and remembering great memories.
22. Hearing someone telling you "I LOVE YOU"

Corporate Mails

A couple of days ago I got a forward that had a list of e-mails written by employees of various companies. I thought they were funny enough to share with you.

"Since I have to go to my village to sell my land along with my wife, please sanction me one-week leave."

From an employee who was performing the "mundan" ceremony of his 10 year old son:

"as I want to shave my son's head, please leave me for two days.."

· Leave-letter from an employee who was performing his daughter's wedding:

"as I am marrying my daughter, please grant a week's leave.."

"As my mother-in-law has expired and I am only one responsible for it, please grant me 10 days leave."

· Another employee applied for half day leave as follows:

"Since I've to go to the cremation ground at 10 o-clock and I may not return, please grant me half day casual leave"

"I am suffering from fever, please declare one-day holiday."

· A leave letter to the headmaster:

"As I am studying in this school I am suffering from headache. I request you to leave me today"

· Covering note:

"I am enclosed herewith..."

"Dear Sir: with reference to the above, please refer to my below..."

· Letter written for application of leave:

"My wife is suffering from sickness and as I am her only husband at home I may be granted leave".

"I am well here and hope you are also in the same well."

· A candidate's job application:

"This has reference to your advertisement calling for a ' Typist and an Accountant - Male or Female'... As I am both(!! )for the past several years and I can handle both with good experience, I am applying for the post.

I actually saw the following mail.

"It’s my gratification to inform you that, I will be captivating my Annual vacation preliminary Mid of Oct/07 to end of Dec/07, in the nonappearance of me, if you necessitate any Administrative Support, please match up with my reliever Mr. XXXXXXXXX, you may accomplish him on this extension 2924.

All the Customer Feedback System Related Thinks Has been explain & Handed over to Mr. XXXXXX if you have any CFS related issue’s please communicate with him, extend your full support to XXXXX."

...not yet

She kept telling herself that it was all over.
...that she had to let go...that he didn’t love her anymore.

But she kept remembering his face, his smile and his voice. She remembered the way he touched her cheek and the way he played with her hair.

She knew she had to get over him, that she had to move on. But then she realised she wasn’t ready...not yet.

The A to Z Meme

A
• Are you available? Absolutely not.
• What is your age? I feel young so the number doesn’t matter.
• What annoys you? Emotional blackmailing.
B
• Do you know anyone named Billy? No
• When is your birthday? 2nd of July
• Who is your best friend? Aruna to name one.
C
• What's your favorite candy? I don’t like candy.
• Crush? None at the moment
• When was the last time you cried? I think 2 months ago. I don’t remember why.
D
• Do you daydream? Of course!!!
• What's your favorite kind of dog? Golden Retriever
• What day of the week is it? Sunday
E
• How do you like your eggs? Omelet
• Have you ever been in the emergency room? Not as a patient but was there when my brother had an accident.
• Ever pet an elephant? Yes.
F
• Do you use fly swatters? Nope.
• Have you ever used a foghorn? Nope.
• Is there a fan in your room? Nope.
G
• Do you chew gum? Yup!
• Do you like gummy candies? Nope.
• Do you like gory movies? Nahhhhhh…
H
• How are you? Awesome!!!
• What's your height?. 5 feet 2 and a half inches.
• What color is your hair? Black with streaks of brown.
I
• What's your favorite ice cream? Belgium Dark Chocolate (slurp… slurp…)
• Have you ever ice skated? Nope.
• Ever been in an igloo? No.
J
• What's your favorite Jelly Bean? What’s that?
• Have you ever heard a really hilarious joke? Lots of them
• Do you wear jewelry? Sometimes.
K
• Who do you want to kill? Nobody.
• Have you ever flown a kite? Yes.
• Do you think kangaroos are cute? Yeahhhh…
L
• Are you laidback? I don’t think so.
• Lions or Tigers? Tigers
• Do you like black licorice? No.
M
• Favorite movie as a kid? I don’t remember
• Ever shopped at Moosejaw? No.
• Favorite store at the mall? Lifestyle stores
N
• Do you have a nickname? Chubby, Tripper, Rach…
• Whats your favorite number? 2
• Do you prefer night or day? I am a nocturnal being.
O
• What's your one wish? Stand at the Eiffel Tower and look up at it when the lights lit up.
• Are you an only child? Nope. I have a little brother.
• Do you like the color orange? Nahhh…
P
• What are you most paranoid about? Cleanliness
• Piercings? 2 on each ear.
• Do you know anyone named Penelope? No.
Q
• Are you quick to judge people?
No• Do you like Quaker Oats? Oh yeah. I have it every other day for breakfast.
• Know anyone that makes quilts? No
• Do you think you're always right? No.
• Do you watch reality TV? Sometimes.
• Reason to cry? Women don’t really need a reason to cry.
S
• Do you prefer sun or rain? Sun
• Do you like snow? Yes
• What's your favorite season? Spring
T
• time is it? 9:31 pm• What time did you wake up? 6 am
U
• Can you ride a unicycle? No.
• Do you know anyone with a unibrow? Yeah.
• Uncles do you have? Yes
V
• What’s the worst vegetable? I love vegetables.
• Did you ever watch Veggie Tales? ???????
• Ever considered being vegan? Nahhhh…
W• What's your worst habit? Obsession with cleanliness I guess.
• Do you like water rides? Ohhhh yeahhhhh….
• Ever been inside a windmill? No.
X
• Have you ever had an x-ray? Yes.
• Ever used a Xerox machine? Yes
Y
• Do you like the color yellow? Shades of it.•
What year were you born in?: Haaa haaaa…smart one.
•Do you yell when you're angry? No. I find sulking more satisfying ;)
Z
• Do you believe in the zodiac? A little.
• What's your zodiac sign? Cancer
• When was the last time you went to the zoo? 2 years ago. Indira Gandhi zoological Park in Hyderabad.

Dont Be Lazy

People who throw kisses are mighty hopelessly lazy.

-Bob Hope -

The 29er Meme

1. What bill do you hate paying the most?
Credit card bills.

2. Where was the last place you had a romantic dinner?
Last week at home. My hubby made noodles and we had it out of a big bowl. Its amazing how sometimes the simplest of things make you feel special.

3. How many colleges did you attend?
Two. (Graduation and Post graduation)

4. Why did you choose the shirt that you have on right now?
Coz I feel damn comfortable in it. I bought it for 70 Rs a year ago.

5. First thought when the alarm went off this morning?
“It’s already time to wakeup?!?”

6. Last thought before going to sleep last night?
“I hope I feel better tomorrow morning.”

7. What do you miss being a child?
Innocence. Experience ruins it all.

8. What errand/chore do you despise?
Ironing clothes.

9. Have you found real love yet?
Oh yeah! I am married to him.

10. What do you get every time you go into Wal-Mart?
I have never been to a Wal-Mart.

11. Do you think marriage is an outdated ritual?
No way! I think marriage is an important and a sacred ritual.

12. What famous person would you like to have dinner with?
GEORGE CLOONEY

13. Ever had to use a fire extinguisher for its intended purpose?
Thankfully no!

14. Somewhere in California you've never been and would like to go?
All of it. I have never been there.

15. At this point in your life would you rather start a new career or a new relationship?
Nahhh…I am in a relationship I wouldn’t want to change for anything. And I have my priorities set and career is not on the top of the list.

16. Do you have a “go to” person?
Yes. My husband.

17. Are you where you want to be in life?
I am on the right path to where and what I want to be .

18. Over the years, what about you do you think has changed the most?
What has changed the most is the way I look at life and how I handle it. As I grew up I realized that life as simple as one keeps it.

19. Looking back at high school were they the best years of your life?
High school was great but not the best years of my life.

20. Are there times you still feel like a kid?
Of course! A lot of times :)

21. Where was the hang out spot when you were a teenager?
I did not hang out when I was a teenager.

22. Who do you think impacted your life the most?
Someone from my past I dont want to talk about.

23. Was there a teacher or authority figure that stood out for you?
No. Never have been in a situation that needed someone to stand out for me.

24. Do you tell stories that start with “when I was your age”?
No.

25. What is the scariest thing that has happened to you as an adult?
Sometimes I have nightmares. They are scarier than reality.

26. What advice would you give to someone about to get married?
Always communicate with your spouse.

27. What advice would you give someone starting their first job?
Respect your work and make sure you enjoy what you do.

28. If you could go back and change one thing you did, what would it be?
It sounds cliché but I don’t want to go back and change anything.

29. If you could go back and change one thing someone else did, what would it be?
Too many things here ;)

Am Sleeping All Day

I have been a mess for a week now. I have been terribly weak with no energy to even make a cup of tea. My medical reports are normal, which is good, but I don’t know what’s causing the weakness. All I have been doing is just sleep all day. Reading even a few paragraphs is like a big task.

I am too tired to write anymore than this. So, until I feel better, I will follow my doctor’s advice and sleep.

8 DONTS

[Written for You've Been Tagged!]

There are a lot of Do’s and Don’ts in life. My top 8 DON’Ts are:

1. Don’t burn your bridges.
It is a small world. You never know when again you might have to face an old employer or a friend. By burning your bridges you are only closing down on opportunities in life.

2. Don’t take a decision when you are confused.
When you are not sure which way to go don’t go. When you’re confused, step back, clear your mind, take some time to think, and then decide.

3. Don’t bring up old issues/problems when in an argument.
The key word is ‘focus’. Bringing up old issues will not solve your present problem. What’s over is a closed chapter.

4. Don’t ever stop communicating with your spouse.
Always talk to your spouse about your concerns and worries. It is important for a couple to share not only happy thoughts but also the fears. By communicating you will not only be happy but you will make your lives simple.

5. Do not make casual calls to your married friends after 9 pm and before 9 am.
Gossiping can wait until tomorrow. Don’t disturb your friend and his/her family between 9 pm. And 9 am. It is family time for them.

6. Don’t ever stop learning.
It is important to learn new things. It keeps you young, energetic and sane.

7. Don’t forget the lessons learnt.
We all make mistakes in life. But it’s important we don’t repeat our mistakes.

8. Don’t forget to laugh.Laughter sure is the best medicine.
A sense of humor will help you sail through the toughest of times.

...love like

She sat looking into the sea, her eyes searching for something...perhaps an answer or a sign.

The wind blew her hair across the face and reminded her of the time he said “You have lovely curls” as she tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. Something that fell in her eye reminded her of how he used to look into her eyes endlessly and say “your eyes speak more than you ever can.”

The sound of the waves reminded her of the moment when he whispered “I love you” in her ear in the middle of the road.

She frowned. Sometimes she hated her ability to remember details.

She looked down at the bunch of cards she was holding. He had given her for Valentine’s Day. 14 of them.

“1 for each day” he had said.

She read them all over again. The peacock feather he had once given her slipped out of one of the cards. She smiled to herself again only this time she felt a tear trickle down her cheek.

She took a long deep breath and stood up. With her eyes set on the horizon she thought, ‘Beautiful illusion...love like!’ before turning back and walking away.

It's Him Again

Last night I met him again. I was boarding the train to Vizag, my hometown, and I saw him making his way through the luggage in the compartment. He was politely smiling at all the teenage girls and ladies who were gasping at the very sight of him. He was wearing light brown trousers and a black t-shirt. I followed him across 3 compartments. He sat on his berth and noticed me standing there with thousands of words in my eyes. He smiled at me and I died.

Everybody in the train was staring at him, their eyes popping out but he seemed to be unaffected by the attention. I wanted to talk to him, wanted to touch him once, hold his hand and have endless conversations. I just wanted to drown in his eyes. It really didn’t matter how he felt about me. I was awestruck by his very presence.

It was as if my prayers were answered. He looked into my eyes and flashed his killer smile. His smile said he could read in my eyes how much I adored him. He said “why don’t you join us” and made space for me to sit next to him. I sat down still not able to believe that my dream was coming true.

In no time, we started talking as if we have been doing so for years. We were laughing, sharing ‘chai’ from the same cup (how romantic!), taking pictures and pulling each other’s leg. And I somehow convinced him to stay over at my place while he was in Vizag. He said he would do so only if I promised to show him around the city and be with him as long as he was there.

We reached home and I introduced my family to him and everybody was more than thrilled to meet him. My dad even shared a drink with him. After dinner just when I was about to kiss him goodnight I heard a voice say, “Baby, its 6 o’clock. Don’t you want to wake up?”

“We were so close” I said smiling impishly, still lying in bed and my husband immediately knew who I was referring to.

“ Ohhh…what did he say this time?” he said laughing.

I sat up in my bed and thought, yet again, “George, you’re just a dream away!”

Sunday Stealing: The Twenty Firsts Meme

First Job: A tele-marketing executive at the WelCome Group [Grand Bay, Vizag]

First Real Job: Analyst at Deloitte for the Knowledge Methods and Support Team.

First Favorite Politician: P. Chidambaram

First Car: Yet to own

First Record/CD: Nursery Rhymes by Preeti Sagar

First Sport Played: Volley ball

First Concert: Euphoria

First Foreign Country Visited: Nepal

First Favorite TV Show: Malgudi Days

First Favorite Actor: Shah Rukh Khan

First Favorite Actress: Sridevi

First Girlfriend/Boyfriend: “Devil” (That was the code name)

First Encounter with a Famous Person: None yet

First Brush With Death: Thankfully haven’t experienced any. If I have to it rather be the real deal.

First House/Condo Owned: A 2 BHK apartment in Vizag (my hometown)

First Film Seen: ‘Chinnari Chetana’ Telugu 3D movie. I was 4 or 5 years old when I saw it. It was a 3D movie and that being my first movie I thought one always needs to wear the 3D glasses in theater.

First Favorite Recording Artist: “ABBA”. The music of ABBA was also one of the first that I remember listening at home.

First Favorite Radio Station: The All India Radio. It still is one of my favorite's. It is one radio station that hasnt changed in years and I love it for that.

First Book I Remember Reading: I don’t remember the name of the book but I remember it was a small story about a fox and a hen. I had it for many years.

First Meme You Answered on Your Blog: The Twenty First’s Meme

********Grab the list and make your list of your Twenty Firsts.********

Marriage vs Friendship

[Written for "You've Been Tagged!]

According to me friendship is a relationship based on respect and trust (Love OR Friendship?!?! ). Marriage is a lot deeper than that. A marriage involves commitment and need compatibility too.

A friend is one thing and a ‘best friend’ is another. I believe one can have more than 1 best friend and you are lucky if your spouse is also one of them. My husband and I are each other best friends. But we also have other best friends from the opposite sex.

It is unfair to expect your spouse to give up on the friends that he/she has made even before you knew him/her. You are really lucky if, after marriage you and your spouse become best friends. Your life will rock! But why should that change what you share with your other friend…irrespective of what sex they belong to.

Having said that, it is my responsibility to make sure that my friendship with some one of the opposite sex does not affect my marriage. Whatever the reason, I cannot let my marriage suffer. For me, marriage is a sacred relationship. I wouldn’t let anything in this world affect what I share with my husband.

It is sad that a lot of women and some men too are forced to give up on their friendship and their best friends after marriage. I wish every person realizes that friends are valuable and ‘best friends’, even more so.

...not after today

“I can't fight my feelings. I am attracted to her. Emotionally too.” he said.

Her heart stopped beating for a moment. She couldn’t breathe.

“Say something” he said.

“What do you want me to say to that?” she said breathing again.

“I am telling you because I don’t want to cheat on you. I can’t handle the guilt. And I don’t even know if I can meet you again.”

“I know what you mean. You will not have to cheat on me. Not after today” she said.

He could hear the sound of her heart shatter as she disconnected the line.

In the Company of a Kid

Say KIDS and the first thing that comes screaming to my mind is ENERGY!!!

Where do they get all that energy from? They hardly eat anything, take hours to drink a glass of milk, but the stamina they have to talk, play, jump, laugh and sometimes to cry their guts out is unbelievable. They need no reason to smile and laugh without inhibitions. They so effortlessly make us laugh too. They have the most amazing sense of humour!

We can never escape their embarrassing questions. They seem to have mastered the art of embarrassing the grown-ups. And no answer we give them is good enough. With their short attention span they keep our minds running and chasing their thoughts all the time. They are inqusitive and restless all the time to touch, feel and question about everything that catches their eye. They are scared of weird things and always have stories to tell. An empty coke can, a small match box or even a paper napkin will keep them occupied for hours.

I have a neighbour who has a 3 year old and a 3 months old. I spend atleast an hour with them everyday. The mother sometimes has a tough time handling both of them. Imagine trying to put the little one to sleep while the older one refuses to stop yelling or demands all attention telling some tale with all the excitement possible.

Sometimes it is difficult to imagine that we too were as innocent and happy as a child. Play with a kid for some un-ingibited laughter. It sure is a stress buster. And ofcourse, they are capable of teaching us a lot.

A Wife’s Perspective.

My views/opinions expressed here are from the perspective of a wife, based on the observations, discussions and exchange of experiences from the past couple of years. These are questions that I am sure all of us have asked ourselves at some point or the other.

When a girl gets married, she is expected to bring changes in her behavior, expectations and her lifestyle, to suit that of her husband’s. She is expected to leave her family behind and adapt to her ‘new family.’ Her parents tell her ‘now they are your parents. You must listen to them and obey them.’

But what is expected of a boy getting married? Is he told that now he has another set of parents he needs to obey? Does he bring about changes in his lifestyle? Does he leave his dreams and expectations behind?

A woman who obeys her husband and in-laws is a ‘good wife’ but a man who obeys his wife is ‘henpecked’?? The change somehow seems to come very naturally to women. Men change too. But, they are criticized saying ‘he has changed after marriage.’ Display of emotions or change of priorities is considered a sign of weakness in men.

A woman does not worry that her parents might get insecure after her marriage, but, a man does. Why is that? Is it because the woman’s parents are very secure of their relationship with their daughter? OR because they ‘willingly accept’ the fact that she now has her family and priorities? OR may be both! They are happy that the husband becomes the most important person in her life. And the wife has no qualms admitting/declaring the same.

How often do you come across sons who openly admit that their wife is the most important person in his life? Well, it’s not because she is not, but because by saying so he could be hurting his parents. It would make them a little (or may be a lot) insecure. Men prefer being diplomatic in such matters. They want to keep everybody happy. (Atleast that’s what they think they are doing.)

When a son takes care of his parents’ needs and securities he is considered to be doing his duties. When a daughter does the same, people call her parents a liability. Why? Does a girl love her parents any less than a boy?

I have heard a lot of parents praise their sons-in-law openly but haven’t come across parents praising their daughters-in-law. Not even 1/4th of what they brag about their own sons or daughters. It is very easy to say ‘she is lucky to be married into our family’ but how often do they consider the possibility that the family is probably luckier to have her?

This could be never ending. All I want to say is be fair and get real. Don’t treat a woman any different from a man. Long gone are the days when the daughter-in-laws would listen to any crap just because it is coming from her husband or in-laws. She is staying with her in-laws does not mean she prefers not staying with her parents. Stop challenging the daughters-in-law. Why risk spoiling a relationship before it has even had a chance to grow?

All these could be minor issues and quite common too. It is natural that in any new relationship there will be insecurities. How well you deal with them depends on how sensitive you are. Everybody has their side of the story…parents, husbands and in-laws. Most of us (the women) are lucky to have the capability and maturity to understand the intricacies of relationships and how to work around them. Some of us are lucky to have in-laws who are more broad-minded than others. But all of us are lucky to be women. We have a mind strong enough to admit our priorities.

Spiritual Joy Ride

Everybody has life changing experiences in their lives. I am no exception. Mine was like a joy ride, bungee jumping, scuba diving and paragliding put together. Can you imagine that? Anybody who has done the ‘Art of Living’ knows what I mean.

His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, fondly referred to as ‘Guruji’ and ‘Guru Dev’ is the founder of Art of Living Organisation. He is one of the most charismatic persons I have ever come across. His aura, grace and poise will leave you enthralled.

For almost 7 years, before I did the first course, a lot of people told me about the Art of Living. I must agree that I had a lot of misconceptions about the Art of Living before I did the course. I was apprehensive and unsure. And then one day I enrolled for the Basic Course. And trust me when I say I have been at peace with myself ever since. I am focused and contented. I experience spirituality. I am happier, healthier and stronger. I am aware. It is something that one can only experience. It is an out-of-the world experience.

One major misconception that people have is the Art of Living is for people who are sad and suffering. The Art of Living is for everybody who breathes. For everybody who believes in life. And the ones who don’t believe in life haven’t experienced it yet. Those of you, who know what I am talking about, will agree with me. And those who haven’t heard of the Art of Living or considered it yet, go ahead and do yourselves a favor. It is no less than a joy ride. And, you will never regret it.

For more facts follow the links:
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: The Peoples Guru
Experiences across the Globe
Indo-Pakistan Youth Peace Initiatives
Art of Living Service Projects

Laugh for Wrinkles

Laugh a lot, and when you're older, all your wrinkles will be in the right places.~ by Anonymous ~

After a long break

I have been away for a loooong loooong time. I was in India for a month and came back home last week. I had very limited access to the internet the last one month. Now I know I have a lot to catch up on. 3 things I missed terribly the last one month were my husband, my turtles and the blogs I ardently read. I had a lot of stuff to do while I was there and have a lot more stuff to do now. By now, I am sure, some of my friends would be thinking I am dead or something.

I did a lot of furniture shop hunting, window shopping, met up with friends. I saw Delhi 6. What a disaster the movie is. Slumdog Millionaire was nice and enjoyed Dev D. I watched Dev D it with 2 of my cousins and my mom. Taking mom along was a bad idea but it was too late by the time we realised that. She couldn’t leave ‘coz it was a late night show. I kinda like Abhay Deol. He looks good and acts well. He is a ‘paisa vasool’ for me.

The day I was leaving Shalini (one of my best friends and one of my fav. People) gave me a great news!!!! I will not reveal it yet (I am a little superstitious you see.)

After the activity filled break, I am back all geared up and charged. Most of all, I am glad I am back home.

Happy Sad

I am excited, elated, happy, nervous, tensed and sad. Yeah I am feeling all these at the same time in almost similar proportions.

For some time now I was hoping to take a break from this routine here. I needed freedom. I needed to know I haven’t lost my brains completely sitting at home here. I have been dying to talk to people other than just family friends and acquaintances. I fear I had forgotten how to speak to anybody else other than my husband. Yesterday, after a 3 hour conversation with my mom-in-law, she said “Dear, you need a break. Why don’t you come here for a month.” (I wonder if I said something that made her realize that I am losing my brains here.) And how sweet of her to listen to my yapping for 3 hours!!!

Though my husband and me have been thinking about me going to India for a couple of weeks, we never took it too seriously. Suddenly, this morning my husband said that it’s better I take a break. (I suspect he needs a break from me.) So one call to the travel agent and the tickets are booked for tomorrow morning. I have to leave home by 8 am.

I have been looking forward to a trip like this. Infact I told my husband that on our next visit to India, I didn’t want him around me for atleast a week. And now, the tickets are booked and I am not sure how sure I want to go.

Yes, I want to have the girl talks with my mom-in-law and want to listen to my dad-in-law discussing insane traffic and irresponsible drivers of Hyderabad. Want to catch up with my mom on the family politics, discuss with my dad on how to make life easy and freak out with my brother.

A matter of 48 hours or less, and I will be able to do all that and more. But all of a sudden I feel a little sad. I am so used to my husband that I cannot now imagine a month away from him. I already miss him so terribly. From the day I landed here, we have been together every single day. And feeling so miserable emotionally is new to me. I am not very sure how to handle this. It is 11:30 now and I haven’t even started packing. I am delaying it. I realize I haven’t had breakfast and am still not hungry. I did not even touch my coffee after I got to know my ticket is confirmed. Oh my God!!! I have become an emotional wreck. I know I need this break and will make the most of it.

But right now, this very moment, I am nervous, tensed and sad, excited, elated, happy.

Love OR Friendship!?!?

[Written for “You’ve Been Tagged!”]

According to me, Friendship is a relationship that is based on trust and respect. We meet a lot of people at school, college, work place, neighborhood etc. but only few become friends. That is because there is something extra that we have with these people. And there are some people with whom, even if we meet/talk after years, we feel like nothing has changed between us. That is because, irrespective of the distance and time, we still respect them and trust them. Sure respect needs to be earned, but if I respect someone but do not trust the person or visa-versa, it is not friendship that I share with that person.

Love is a bond based on friendship. I might not love every friend of mine but to be able to love someone it is important for me to be able to see a friend in him or her. Love for a person increases or decreases not with time or distance but with the trust and respect that I have for a person. I know I love a friend, when, I really cannot explain why!

Both friendship and love are important in a marriage, I believe, a marriage works best when there is friendship, love and compatibility. Never-the-less, if not great, it can still be good if there is friendship and compatibility. A lot of relationships work not necessarily because there is love, but definitely because of respect and trust.

It might take a lifetime to be able to love a person. But it is the friendship that makes the wait worthwhile!

I am lucky, like most others, that I did not have to compromise. My husband is my best friend, I love him, unconditionally, and ‘Thank God’ we are compatible. [Touchwood!].

Can you?

You love simply because you cannot help it. ~ Kim Anderson ~

Smell...

“Nothing is more memorable than a smell. One scent can be unexpected, momentary and fleeting, yet conjure up a childhood summer beside a lake in the mountains...”

~Diane Ackerman ~

Woman

One is not born a woman -

one becomes one.

~ Simone de Beauvoir ~

...holding on

She read it all over again. She knew it by heart. “I will write soon” was what she was holding on to…for 4 months now.

Right Here Right Now

Sometimes your days become so monotonous that everything that you do is in a flow...from the time you wake up till the time you fall asleep. There are days when I want to break the routine. Well, that’s why I guess we have weekends!

Right here, the place that I live in, there is really not much I can do by myself. So I am stuck indoors all day. I can only dream of walking alone in a park or even in the street. I so long for the days when I can do all that I enjoy doing outdoors, even if on my own...like,
1. Window shopping (with out being bothered about my husband waiting outside the store)
2. Walking in the aisles of the supermarket looking at every product I want to without either the intention to buy OR the pressure of ‘Done?’ (I once told my husband that I hate it when he says ‘hurry up!’ so now he asks ‘Done?’. Smart @&&!)
3. Sitting in a corner seat of a cafe and reading a book (not bothered about how long I’ve been there or how many coffee’s I have had)
4. Taking a long walk in a park with the pleasure of not talking or listening to anyone
5. Go watch a movie on impulse (even if I have to watch it alone)
6. Go to a vegetable vendor in the street corner where I can bargain (adha kilo bees rupai...kya bhaiyya..pandra lagalo...aur sabji lene hain)
7. Dress up and go for dinner (here dressing up means wearing an ‘abhaya’)
Well, there is more to the list. I look forward to doing all that on my next visit abroad (yeah, I have to go out of this country to do all that. I live in Saudi).

Right now, I am enjoying the pleasant weather (sitting indoors ofcourse). The winter is over and the summer has not set in yet. BTW- I hate winters. I dislike everything about winter...cold nights, dark mornings, dry skin, frizzy hair, thick clothes...
I am reading The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson and taking care of my two pet turtles (Tilu & Bhole). I have so much fun just watching them eat, swim and crawl. When I talk to them they actually look up as if they understand. Tilu is docile and Bhole is a bully. They are so tiny and want so little.

I am dancing to the tune of Marjani and just can’t get enough of You get me Rocking&Reeling (I especially the Hindi lines of the song. Both from Billu Barber). I am a sucker for romantic songs (anything romantic actually) and am still listning to Kucch Khaas Hai and Marjawa from Fashion. I am loving the music of Delhi 6 and looking forward to watch the movie.