The first

This is the first ever award i'm honoured with on this blog. Angel was sweet enough to extend it to me cause she thinks i am suffering from the writer's block and hence not seen updating my blog in quite a long time. Really speaking, I don't have anything to write. And on somedays when i have so much to write, it becomes difficult to put them in words.So I wait for that feeling to go away unless it is taken over by something new.If this is what is called a writers' block, then may be i've been sufferring it from. Thanks alot, Angel, for it has given me a reason to buck up my seat belt and continue writing. And am sorry for accepting it almost after 2 weeks because i am a little aprehensive about the rules. But rules are meant be broken. ain't it? Go down to see if I break any of the rules.


Rules are :
That I accept this award, link the person who has awarded me so that it gets clear that the person who has sent me the award is real, write down 10 honest things about myself, extend it to 7 other bloggers and then leave harassing comments on their blog.
Phew...

10 things about me :
Filling things about me is a difficult part.I ignore it in slam books, orkut and FB. However, I am gonna be brave and write down any random thing that comes to mind right now. Here it goes:

1) Many people don't know but im a hell moody kind of a person.I'll do things I like and whenever i like. This pisses off many people. Anyways, who cares? I believe in being a little selfish and living life on my own terms.

2) Phase i am going through right now is the favourite part of my life, if not the best. I am learning new things and a lot about life. I am glad its happening to me and it is happening now! When i'll look back to these months after few years, it will be such a wonderful memory!!

3) I was a tomboy when i was small and i think that's still there in bits and pieces in my being.

4) I have the inner desire to learn atleast one musical instrument, probably a guitar, i guess.

5) I love body art. Be it piercing or tattoos. But it should be in moderate. I don't wish to be another Sapna Bhavnani with tattoos all over the body, I'd love to have a small one either on my arms or near the ankle.

6) I hate sarcasm, politics and diplomacy.It just puts me off. I'd like people to be frank and out spoken rather than mincing with words.

7) I have mentioned this too many times on the blog - I realise things late. It can be anything and it has now become a part of life.

8) I am bad in giving suggestions. Very bad. When people come to me with their problems I ask them if they have consulted someone else and those lucky ones who did, I ask them to follow their advices. God helps the unfortunate ones.

9) I love music but I suck when it comes to singing. I don't even sing in a bathroom, forget about displaying that skill in public. Music has always been my passion. I've discovered Jutin Bieber's "One time - acoustic one" if any of you is interested in adding it to your play list. One of the melodious songs I've heard in a long long time.

10) I love kids and like to pamper them as much as I can.

Ok, now the award goes to :
Baljinder - He has been very kind enough in reading my posts regularly and leaving comments which has made me feel good about me sometimes.

Angel - Rule doesn't mention that I cannot award the same person who has awarded me. So this is for her again from me for being such a lovely lady.

Adisha - I love the way she writes and her comments are truly honest.

THE Peacocks

I really don't have much to write.Or there is so much to write I cannot put it in words.So I am taking an easy way out. I had recently been to Ahmedabad with family and clicked some pictures of our national bird. It was really a delight to watch them roam and run freely in the gardens. I've captured some, not all before they could shy away from the camera. As much as I had loved them to open their feathers like a fan and put on an ostentatious display, I was pretty satisfied with whatever I could watch.

I am Happieeee

Im happy, in fact very happy. There are many people in our life we meet everyday but that one person will always stand out distinctively. That one person with whom you can share every damn thing on earth. That person who understands you inside out. I am really happy to have him in my life who can love me, care for me, understand me and will always be there in the worst of time.
That person is responsible for making our days happier with each passing day.Filling us with unconditional love :-)

A story.

Arranged to Die

Ria had almost given up to her parent's demands. Her parents wanted her to marry a well settled man of her caste. May be an NRI. But she had some other plans. Ria was in love with a guy which belonged to a caste different than hers. Moreover, he was just a beginner, making ends meet, smart moves and his presence felt in the world and most importantly he loved her dearly.

There was a phone call on the morning of 27th November '08, the day after terrorist attacks in Mumbai. Since she was home, unusually this late, she was forced to talk to him. With decency. With utmost respect. She atlast decided to meet this NRI who had called her last week too and who was once her neighbour's best friend. Now settled abroad, earning and spending in dollars. Place was fixed at a coffee shop few lanes down her house and it was decided that they'll meet at 7p.m.

She arrived half an hour late, quite an exception to her punctuality habits, because she was least interested in this pre "arranged marriage" meeting. He was seated on a sofa, his back facing her as she entered the shop. She could recognize him even without looking at his face. After all they had lived in the same colony for years before he moved abroad for higher studies. In those years they had nothing to do with each other..
"Hi. I am sorry to be late. I had already planned for shopping with my sister so that took in some extra time."
"It’s ok. This news about attacks and television kept me busy. Didn’t realise how the time went by."

Exactly. Even she didn't realise how the time went by and she couldn't convince her parents for her marriage with a guy she loved in last two years.
"I'll have a tropical iceberg. That’s the only kind of cold coffee I like in this shop."
"Fine. I'll have a mango frappe."

He called the waiter and placed their orders. He was polite, chivalrous like every man is when he is sent on a mission of searching a bride. He ought to behave well.

Both felt at ease.

"Its strange how we never spoke till the time we were in the same colony and are now sitting here to arrange a marriage." she said.

“I know. I was a bit hysterical in meeting you after my first phone call. You seem to be disinterested, so I thought of not taking this further. But yesterday, mom insisted me in calling you again, asking you to meet and then leaving the rest to God."

There was an awkward silence until her coffee and his drink arrived.

"So did you get your nose pierced because it’s in fashion or it has some religious meaning to it?" he said, hoping to break the silence and her connection with television rather than himself.
After asking that he was careful no to smile.

It took some effort to maintain the conversation, but they applied themselves to the task with admirable determination. Atleast they both could discuss the attacks at ease. And when they exhausted this subject they moved on to their families. The next subject was college life and friends eventually leading to office and work.

"Its time for me to leave" she said.
"Yeah sure. I’d give you a call and let you know."

He opened the door for her and got her an auto hired to reach home. She thought him to be a decent man. Neither did he came to pick her up nor offered to drop her home inspite of them living in the same colony, just a few houses away, the moment most of the men would chance upon. But her heart was still beating for the only man she loved more than she could love herself.

After reaching home and narrating the events to her parents she went to sleep in her room on her bed. The thought of marrying someone else would probably never let her sleep, how much ever she tried. Neither she could betray her boy friend nor be a disgrace on her family. Moreover, the guy she met today had nothing to do with the troubles she was facing and she'd never like him to be a part of it. She emptied down the box of sleeping pills she had carried in her night suit, gulped it down and prayed for the peaceful sleep.

Sunset pix

I love clicking the sun. I have never seen a beautiful sunrise atleast in Bombay so I have a secret passion of clicking sunset anyday. Here are some of the pics I have clicked, which I feel proud of.

Where do we go from here?

First of all a very Happy Independence Day to everyone living in Pakistan and India and to all those who is either a Pakistani or an Indian.In the past and in recent times too alot is being said about India and Pakistan.Will they reconcile?No one really knows. No one knows what does the future hold for both the countries. But the fact remains that people in these countries are not as bad as they are projected out to be.Our culture, language, history, faces, traditions are so similar.Then how does people who fight in the name of country and religion expect us not to acknowledge each other? Everyone has a good side and a bad side.Why is it that only a bad side of a person or a country is revealed? Its more difficult when the country is a developing one and the whole world's eyes are set on them.I am pretty sure that the good deeds will out do every bad deed and these two countries will shine like never before quite soon.

Many thoughts have been passing through my mind since yesterday.So I finally decided to jot down everything that I feel. In school when I was in Hyderabad I actively participated in every Independence day or Republic day function. Either singing patriotic songs with my sore voice or performing plays or giving out speeches on how wonderful our freedom fighters were or reading out a pledge. Many of my friends and teachers appreciated it and it motivated me. You won't find me doing any of that stuff now. I seriously don't know the reason. Independence day now has become a kind of a holiday for me where I can go for shopping with friends and family, like I did yesterday.And believe me I wasn't alone.There were many on the streets and in the mall enjoying their holiday and most of them have also gone on a vacation. 15th August has indeed brought a great weekend for sure!

Why does it happen that we only find flags being sold out on these kind of occasions and that too on streets? Why nothing is being done for people living on the streets atleast on this day? Prime Ministers have been giving out speeches for last 62 years for the development of this country like it has become a business. Why nothing that is said being put to actual practice?

Thursday evening while I was traveling in an auto from station to home I met a kid selling flags at the signal. He insisted a lot on buying it but I somehow kept refusing him. Later, I ended up buying that flag from him for 30 bucks when the actual price was only 10 bucks. No I am not upset that I paid him 20 bucks more. Now look at the other side. Why was he forced to lie? Wasn't anyone there ready to buy a tricolour? It only showed how desperate he was to re-cover the cost of the flags which might not get sold. Anyways it may have helped him.

Every 15th August morning I wake up to patriotic songs that are played outside my colony in the slum area. It goes on till afternoon and later they are quite happy playing fast bollywood item numbers for entertainment. Why only on days like these are patriotic songs being sung by the participants on a reality show? Do they fear of not getting voted if they sang such songs anytime during the contest?

Why do people leave such a beautiful country and move abroad whether to settle down or for earning that extra buck which would make their lifestyle oh-so-happening? India needs youth like us to support her, make her beautiful and make her reach amazing heights. We need to be the change to bring the country out of corruption and of everything that it is presently going through. Don't you all think we can bring her out of terrorism, poverty and illiteracy? We have IIT's, IIM's and more such educational institutions to prosper the country. Then may be we wont find students going abroad for higher studies and eventually settling down there. In past 62 years India has shown amazing improvement and it will definitely shine in the coming years. We have shown to the world we can do it and that is why our every move is being tapped upon. Why does US has to interfere in every Indian affair? Let us be. We have done and we can do without the world's powerful country. We can be the world's powerful country only if we start believing in ourselves. On our capabilities and on our strength.

However this day remain to be the most memorable one for every Indian. I am sure you all know why. We now only look forward in getting freedom from our fears, from terrorism, from illiteracy, from poverty and from corruption.

Why do we feel nice when someone compliments us?

Is it possible to complete the incomplete story in one life?

Why are men not allowed in the women's queue for taxi but women allowed in the men's queue?

Why are fingers always pointed at a girl?

Is it necessary to get married?

Why does the world seem to be in peace when you are lying down on your mother's lap and she ruffles through your hair?

What makes the heart skip a beat when someone special calls us by our name for the first time?

Why do we have to hold hands while crossing the road? Does that hand remain clutched to ours even in the crossroads of life?

Do you dance in the rain?

What makes us so stupid?

Why are the friend's surprises always special?

Is there really a soul mate for each and everyone?

Why do we more often miss life's small happinesses?

Why is rainbow made of seven colours? Neither a colour less nor a colour more?

Do guardian angels really exist?

Is it true people meet again?

Can you answer all the questions life shoots at you?