The Special Person

When you come to know that someone’s first thought of the day is you, it overwhelms you. It astonishes you. You don’t know what you have done to deserve such attention; and it makes you feel extremely special and loved. That someone, is always willing to take your calls – so much so that they will set aside whatever they’re doing, just to talk to you for 5 minutes.  Rarely does it happen that they miss a call from you; and if it happens, they will promptly call back as soon as they get the time.The person  is always there for you; who can find a solution to all your problems. Someone who loves you so much, that it gets annoying, because they are worried about your well being all the time. It is a very gratifying feeling to have such a special person in one's life.

This special person is my mother. 

In the process of growing up, we forget about our parents. I assume that this is especially tough for a mother whose life has always revolved around her children. Suddenly her children have new interests, new friends, maybe even new people they love. In the midst of all this, we may just forget how unconditionally a mother loves. You don’t talk to her for days (which never happens in my case) – and the next time you call, her first question would be about your well being. My mother drives me insane sometimes with the amount of questions she asks: What did you have for breakfast? When did you sleep last night? Are you taking care of yourself? Is everything alright or is there something you want to share? Mind you, these are asked on a daily basis. I have to answer such questions repeatedly, everyday; and it irritates me to no end. More often than not, to each question I give a sarcastic answer – which doesn’t answer her question at all. Yet, she never fails to ask these questions, every single day.. in the hope of getting a proper answer someday, maybe?

My mother is my friend, and I like to think that I am hers. We gossip, we share our views (which means that I try to impose my views on her!), we support each other, and sometimes, we also fight. This is when I have to remind myself of the things she does for me as a mother – and as her child I should be respectful and loving towards her; and that she is always there for me does not mean that I can take her for granted. 

My mother holds multiple roles in my life – but perhaps the most important one is of her role as the person I can depend on, forever. I don’t know if there is a word to describe such a person, but if there is, she is the perfect example for that. 

Once, I asked her, to define what happiness is to her.  She simply stated: ‘The happiness of my two daughters.’ That one sentence sums up the important position we hold in her life; and I hope we are able to make her happy! 

Happy Mother’s Day, Ma. Continue to be the strong woman that you are! 

Trip to the mountains

Himachal is a state very close to my heart. I was fortunate enough to spend a part of my childhood in Shimla, the capital city of this beautiful state, and even the name of the state brings back vivid  memories of a very happy childhood spent there. Thus, it was nothing short of a very pleasant surprise when I got to know that I would be travelling to Himachal, as part of the Lakhon Mein Ek Campaign being conducted by Pratham. Travelling for work isn’t always fun, but if your organization is sending you to the place where you can reminiscence your childhood, who would not love to go!

I arrived in Shimla a few days ago. It was like stepping back in time. Everything seemed to be just the same as I had left it, a decade ago. My favourite eateries on the Mall road were just the same, with the signboards intact as they had been back when I was a child. The shop across Town Hall selling hot gulab jamuns was still brimming with tourists and locals alike – and need I mention that the taste was heavenly? The Krishna Bakery on the Mall road still sells its world famous momos – and I could even recognize the owner there! The optical shop next to Gaindamall Stores which gave me my first pair of spectacles was still there – it hadn’t closed down, nor had it expanded! The familiarity comforted me like little else can. While of course, in ten years the city had changed, but these little things were what made me feel closer to 13 year old me.

I digress. The purpose of my coming to Himachal wasn’t reminiscence, but to assess learning levels of children, and help them improve, in whatever little way possible.  And today, I visited the first of the many villages which I will be visiting in this week. I would love to use words like how inspiring the visit was, and how it has motivated me even more to work for the development of the society– but honestly, I only felt jealous. Jealous of the simple life the people are leading, jealous of how the people are so loving and caring – not just to each other, but even to strangers like me. I was forced to sit and eat lunch with them, and that reminded me why Indian hospitality is unmatchable!

Not to forget the kids! It was because of them that I was here, after all. It is always refreshing to talk to kids – and here when we were giving them group activities to be done, it was such a delight watching them help and tease each other!  They started an impromptu competition amongst themselves (They called themselves Tiger v/s Cheetah); and each group promised me that it would be the winner the next time I visit them. Which led me to ask what they would like as a prize for the winning group; and their answer really did inspire me-

“Didi, please notebook le aana! Bohot kami rehti hai”

“Aur pencil bhi chahiye!”

And that, was the end of Day 1. Looking forward to more inspirational days ahead!

A year has passed!

It was twenty(something) years ago, that I was born, and I ‘met’ the best person in my life, my sister.

It was some ten years ago, that I met the best person in her life. (I was replaced, *sob*!)

It was one year ago, that the best person in my life, and the best person in her life, got married (finally!)

It was during this year, that I also realized, that I would be irreplaceable in my sister’s life (Yay! *relief*)

Congratulations Di and Jiju, for completing one year of married life. I cannot say togetherness, because God (and you both) only know how long have you been together. Seems like ten years to me….yes, people, it’s been that long!

How often do you meet someone, make them your ‘best friend’ only to end up falling in love? Yes, this sounds like the plot of Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, right? I know. Love for SRK probably inspired my sister to follow the plot line, and lo and behold, the epic story of ‘A n B’ was written.

In short, they met, on the first day of college. My sister, the arrogant girl from Delhi, my Jiju, a humble and down to earth boy from Banaras. As expected, sparks didn’t fly, from either side. Both were too busy being interested in other people to notice each other.  As destiny would have it, they became lab partners, and then ‘best friends’. They were such good friends that they helped the other (try) to get their dream partner. And neither of them succeeded… clearly, they suck at matchmaking! (So don’t even try doing that for me!)

And now, imagine a cloud lifting if you will... and romantic music in the background... autumn leaves flying. The cloud lifts, and they see each other in a new light. A clichéd story to the core, they realize – ‘the one I was looking for has been here all along!’

Yes, this is the story of How they met…and fell in love. How they got married is a completely different (and long, and adventurous) story. It was years and years of persistence that finally culminated last January.  28^th January, 2014 is etched in everyone’s mind as the day nobody ever thought would come. It was a gala festival, a big celebration, the best month of my life! To see both of them finally get married and be so happy remains till date, the best moment of my life.

My sister is still the arrogant girl, from Delhi. My Jiju is still the humble and down to earth guy from Banaras…and yet they make it work.  Seeing them together makes me believe in the power of love, and friendship and family.

Di and Jiju, wish you all the happiness in the world. Both of you are wonderful, awesome, amazing, caring people, and I feel lucky to call you family. (This last part for Jiju only :P)

I love you both lots!

(And now I want some return gift. Thanks.)

(Also, Didi will probably scold me for calling her arrogant. But now it’s done)

Was it magic?

 

There was once a girl and her dog

One loved food, the other loved frogs...

It so happened one fine summer’s day,

When the sun was blazing away;

The girl and her dog were home alone

And the heat had gotten to them both.

 The poor girl sat in her room, trying to study;

While the dog was roaming about, “probably being grumpy!”

She decided to find the dog, and see if he needed water

“Surely, the heat for him must be a bigger bother!”

Lo and behold, what should she find:  

The dog in the other room, sleeping like a child! 

The AC was switched on, and the room was cool

She was shocked, and felt like a fool!

“Is there someone else in the house, waiting to attack?

(The dog could have been courteous, and invited me perhaps)

After all, who else could have switched on the air conditioner?

Surely a dog is not capable of this endeavor…”

Yet nobody else in the house she could find,

Was it the dog or was it some power divine? 

It was a mystery, and it remains so till this day,

Who did it, nobody could say!

There was once a girl and her dog,

And one was smart, the other was not …

Is he the culprit? ....I don't think so either! 

This may or may not have been inspired by real life events, that depends on who you are deciding was the smart one... 

PS: The above poem is dedicated to Tom, who is the cutest and the best (also the worst) dog ever! 

My favourite things

Going through my old posts, I realize, not only have I been a tad bit infrequent, I have also never written a post about the many things I love. ( I may or may not have been inspired by the song My favourite things!)  After all, an aspiring writer (yes , that's me!) should first write about the things they love, the things they turn to when they are feeling blue. Such things are easiest to write about; minimal amount of thinking is required!

Coming back to my favourite things, I must admit I never thought about this until very recently. You think you know yourself very well, and suddenly if this question is popped to you; you fluster to give an answer that best defines you. After having thought a lot about this; I have realized I love the following things : (in no particular order)

Food

I am an Indian. I am a Delhiite. How can I NOT love food? I am a self confessed foodie; and there literally have been times when I have eaten myself sick. (that's nothing to be proud of, I realize) I appreciate good food, I (now) understand the work that goes behind making a good meal. Food is something I definitely turn to when I'm blue! Food is a primal need, no wonder it goes a long way in making me feel better.!

 Reading

I somehow have those 'feeling blue' days quite often, and I cannot rely on food all the time. Being a girl dictates that I watch my weight all the time (Sob!) As much as I would love to eat all the time, I cannot, and that is when I turn to reading. Reading offers me an escape that little else can; I can read  and for a while I can become the character in the book, whose life is being determined by another human just like me. It is fascinating and rejuvenating to live as someone else, in another world, even if for a short duration. I have always recognized reading as a hobby, but it was more because of lack of any other activities in childhood. Reading was a pastime, something I turned to when I didn't have anything better to do. Having always been a shy child, books were the world of solace; they were my first friends. Reading has developed into a habit which now proves to be very beneficial; and of course I love it when I find someone with similar interests in books (it is an excellent conversation starter for someone like me; who otherwise finds it difficult to talk to new people!)

Writing

The reason for this blog. The reason for this post.  A corollary from the above point (Ah, the mathematician in me awakens!)  While reading is truly wonderful, writing is a level beyond that. Writing helps me express myself better, and in the process, I understand myself better. It has always been a creative outlet .. ( and here, a sense of deja vu! Have I written those exact same words before?) Writing connects me to myself, helps me analyse my feelings ...and helps me in stirring up the (very) occasional post for this blog! 

Nature!

No! I am not about to embark on speech about how we must be thankful for this beautiful nature mother Earth has given us (although we must be thankful and stop all the environment degradation....) 

No, by nature I mean the beautiful patterns nature weaves out for us in the form of trees, flowers, rivers, mountains, sunrises and sunsets, clouds.. The list is endless. The thing which makes me most peaceful is the beauty of nature. Just sit in a park, or near a river or an ocean; and witness the beauty all around..and not just the natural beauty, also experience the beauty of innocence of children playing, the beauty of a teenage couple sneaking glances at each other as they walk together, the beauty of an old couple walking hand in hand, the beauty of a mother with her child, the beauty of people with their pets. Families, and groups of friends, all these things make me feel a little less lonely, and make me feel blessed for having such things in my life.This gives me the tranquillity when my mind is in its (alarmingly often) agitated state... 

There. I just described the things I love in this world. Just writing about these things make me happy!

In case you aren't particularly happy right now; try listening to the song which (sort of) inspired this post : 

 

And if you still don't feel happy, just remember a few of your favourite things! :D