Life is a kaleidoscope...and I love to explore as much as I can. Here's life from my spectacle...Follow me for my take on books, food, movies, travel, parenting, relationships, social issues and anything interesting I come across…Bienvenue!
Throughout my
growing years, I teased my mom for one thing – whenever I would fall sick or be
in pain, she would start crying. I remember once when a dog had bit me, on our
way to the hospital, mom was crying more than me. She had heard how painful
anti rabies injection was and she was scared about how I would tolerate the
pain. As I joked that she looked more like the patient than me, she said, “You
will understand my pain when you become a mother.”
Mom left me few
years ago, but her words have echoed in my mind several times ever since I
became a mother…
After my delivery,
when my intravenous cannula was removed, I rejoiced thinking, “The pain is
over!” Little did I know a new challenge awaited me – of witnessing my baby in
pain during vaccination!
As the date for
the next monthly vaccination drew near, anxiety gripped me...
The initial
mandatory vaccines were administered by the pediatrician while I was still bed
ridden. But, as the date for the next monthly vaccination drew near, anxiety
gripped me. The mere thought of the needle pricking my baby’s soft skin and the
imaginary sight of my little angel wincing in pain gave me goose bumps.
Like
all new moms, I too have lost track of how days become weeks, and weeks months.
When a festival is around the corner, my elder sister or my MIL act as
reminders, suggesting the bare minimum rituals I should follow.
This
morning, as sonny boy and I went to the park for our daily dose of Vitamin D, I
was delighted to see a burst of yellow. Women dressed in yellow, yellow flowers
shouting to be picked up at flowers, the familiar freshness in the air and Pandal
with Ma Saraswati idol in the colony school – I didn’t take a moment to realize
Basant Panchmi – Saraswati Puja is here!
While
my family doesn’t practice any ritual as such, apart from wearing yellowand
preparing sweet yellow pulav, Basant Panchmi occupies a very special place in
my heart. Having spent 12 years in a Bengali dominated school; the festival has
been a special occasion each year. After all, this was the only day in the year
when we could wear the dress of our choice to school instead of the boring
uniform! Unlike most kids who save the best dress for birthdays, girls in my
school dressed their best on Basant Panchmi. The three day long celebrations provided
us the much awaited break from classes, freedom to dress up as we liked, lot of
fun, amazing Bengali sweets and bhog, and much needed blessings from Ma Saraswati
before the final exams would haunt us!
A Day Before
A
day before the festival, all eyes would be trained towards the school gate as
we waited for Ma Saraswati idol to arrive. The moment we saw the tempo, we
would leave everything and rush to the foyer. The entire school echoed with “Bolo
bolo Saraswati Mai ki Jai” as we welcomed the goddess with flowers, songs
and impromptu dance!
The festival
For
us, this was the day of freedom, fun and festivities! Our usually over
protective parents gave us the luxury of giving the school bus a miss. Instead,
we girls took our sweet time to dress up our best and arrived at the school on
our own, in groups. The security situation wasn’t as sorry as present, so the
authorities let open the gates of the senior wings and one could enter and
leave school premises at our own wish. For teenagers of a girl’s school, this
was nothing short of living the college dream once a year! The senior girls
would seize the opportunity to flaunt the best sarees and imitation jewellery,
even as the eyes of senior teachers scrutinized the depth of their blouses!
Best part would be the Pushpanjali time, when each one of us would pray to Ma
for good marks and a bright career! Sounds of “Bolo bolo Saraswati Mai ki Jai”
would fill the ramparts as those who waited for their turn took to dancing and
singing! Wish we had mobile phones with cameras back then! The alumni also took
this occasion to take blessings from Ma and thank teachers for shaping up their
careers so well.
Morning
gave way to the noon in no time and the aroma from the makeshift kitchen in the
classroom signalled that the Bhog was ready. Our teachers displayed their
culinary skills as they pampered us with the most delicious Bhog – the traditional
Khichuri! After Bhog, we would dash to grab our boxes of Prasad which contained
an assortment of the best Bengali sweets one could think of!
Awwww! I miss my school!
As
we progressed to senior classes, the later part of the noon became hangout time
with friends at Connaught Place before we returned home.
Visarjan
This
was a moment that came heavy on our hearts as the thoughts of Ma parting left
us teary eyed. Moments after the tempo left the school premises, taking Ma
away, we would keep looking at the gate with gloom. Then the teachers would
lovingly ask us to return to our classes and be good students till Ma returned
next year.
More
than a decade after leaving school and more than a thousand kilometres away
from school now, I still feel the fragrance of flowers and incense sticks
afresh in my mind. As I recall those wonder years, I pray Ma Saraswati for
blessing my little one with knowledge and creativity the way she has been
generous to me.
To,
the Goddess, the mother, and the power – Bolo bolo Saraswati mai ki Jai !!!
Sharing
few pics of my visit to the Alma mater few years ago
Ours was an arranged marriage.
Unlike majority of my friends who boasted of love marriages, their “I Do”
stories and lot of PDA (Public display of affection), mine was a rather shy affair. The only aspect I could
boast of was that unlike poles attract, for we were poles apart yet we
felt the sparks enough to say yes after just half an hour of meeting! Like most
arranged Big Fat Indian weddings of our times, our “I Do” was a rather shy
moment in front of our families. As for PDA, well before we could even break
the ice, we were married, almost like a miracle!
So here we were, a newly married
couple, trying our level best to know each other and bridge the gap between
those unlike poles. As a new bride, I was in the “impress your hubby” mode,
whether by whipping up lip smacking meals, dressing to kill, or charming him by
my creative attributes.
One morning, sitting on my desk
and sipping on my morning cuppa, my mind threw an amazing idea of impressing my
cute, lovely and shy hubby. I used to send a Good Morning mail with an
inspiring thought to my team, few friends, boss and super boss every morning.
As I was drafting the Good morning mail that day, I thought, “Why not add HIM
to the mailing list?” I knew he was the intellectual types. So, with all good
intentions of impressing my hubby and starting his day on a beautiful note, I
marked him too in the mail and hit the “Send” button.
Within seconds, I started
receiving the usual replies of appreciation and Good morning wishes from my
colleagues. But my eyes were desperately looking for this one name in my inbox,
while my fingers promptly kept hitting the refresh button. “Would he have liked
it, or thought it as yet another forward mail in his inbox?” I was curious to
know the reaction.
My wait was short lived, for
after few minutes, my eyes finally spotted what they had been looking for. It
was a reply from him. He had loved the mail and replied, “Loved it baby, just
like your cozy cuddle this morning!”
But, before I could even recover
from recalling that morning “moment” we had, I was disturbed by a “Hmmm…cozy
cuddle” from the next workstation! I was awakened with a start. Was someone
peeping into my PC? No.
A moment later, my eyes went wide
with shock looking at the mail, as if they had witnessed the sun rising from
the west!
My loving hubby, impressed by my
gesture didn’t waste much time in seizing this moment of praising his wife.
However, it so happened that in a hurry to shower his love, he selected “Reply
All” option instead of “Reply”
The rest, as you can all guess is
indeed a memorable moment of my life!
His debut attempt at PDA was read
by my friends, team, my boss and to my horror, even my super boss! As I saw my
friends share naughty smiles and girls say “Aww, so romantic”, I felt like
forcing my tomato red face into the PC screen. A moment
later, my mobile flashed with his number. The poor thing had realized his mistake and apparently tried to recall the mail. But the arrow had already left
the bow!
After a moment of silence on both
the sides, suddenly both of us shared a laugh!
He - It just happened, I swear!
Me -Yeah, I could make that out
He – They must be teasing you na!
Me – Hmmmm (Going super conscious
with all eyes on me)…they find it too romantic (almost whispering)!
He – But I loved it!
Me – What? (Whispering, with my
face going cherry red by now)
He – Your morning cuddle, and oh,
uh, the morning thought as well!
Me – Well, what was the thought by the way?
He – Ummmmmm
And we both burst out laughing!
The ice was melting faster than
we had expected. A true soulmate is the one with whom we can share a good laugh,
I had heard. This funny PDA moment proved it as well!
Mornings have
something magical about them. No matter how low you might have felt the day before,
morning is bound to bring freshness and positivity. They have the power to connect
self with the inner self; the perfect time for meditation. No wonder you will
find students waking up early mornings and study topics they find otherwise tough
to comprehend. Fitness enthusiasts too find mornings the perfect time to rejuvenate
the body and mind.
Until recently, I wasn’t
a morning person. I loved staying late till nights and enjoying my solace. Subsequently,
mornings were limited to waking up with a start and managing to get ready for
school or college just in time.
I discovered the
power of mornings few years ago when I went for a residential MBA. While our
schedule was super hectic with us racing against submission deadlines, there
were few who managed to keep their cool. There is more to life than just a good
CGPA, and these people very well knew this. They spent early mornings to think
about themselves, count their blessings, plan for the day ahead and take a step
a day towards a healthy body and mind. It is always good to imbibe good things
observed and that’s exactly what I did. The view of rising sun in the hills
from my window just acted as a motivator.
With time and
changing circumstances, I too developed my own way of utilizing the morning
time effectively. Here’s how I learnt to turn a simple morning into a gold
morning
1.An early start with warm water
Waking
up early and having a glass of warm water with lemon juice and honey is an
excellent way to save the body of the toxin abuse throughout the day. It also
ensures a good bowel movement and everyone knows the good it does to your skin!
2.Half an hour tete a tete with fitness
We
might be full of excuses to escape the fitness routine, but half an hour is
something each one of us can take out for a healthier us. Go out in nature and
look at the rising sun. Listening to the message of nature can give such a feel
good factor!
Just
looking at the sunrays brightening the sky and birds chirping bring such
positivity! Don’t walk with weight loss in mind. Walk at a comfortable pace and
take each step as a step towards positivity. Trust me, you will be able to walk
a lot more than you do otherwise and enjoy each step
3.The tea time is an excellent Me time
We
often rush into tea time or club it with newspaper. The next time, brew a nice
aromatic tea and sit in peace, savouring each sip. Focus on the aroma and the
freshness it infuses. Make the tea time a Me time, when you can plan things for
the day and make small note.
4.Brush off the negativity
For
most of us, brushing teeth is something often done in a hurry. The next time,
you brush your teeth, think of it as cleansing time. With each stroke, you ward
off the germs, negativity and lethargy and you will enjoy the brushing
experience! The final cleanse takes away all germs and brings about a sense of
freshness, just like the fresh morning. Use a good toothbrush that gives soft
but thorough cleaning.
The new Colgate 3600 Charcoal Gold Toothbrush
is an excellent choice to begin your mornings with, for it effectively cleans
teeth, tongue, cheeks and gums. 100% antigerm bristles fight germ growth on
your brush for upto 90 days. The Charcoal infused slim tip bristles clean and
remove stains. With 17 times slimmer tip bristles, Colgate3600 CharcoalGold Toothbrush reaches deeper in between teeth and along the gumline.
So,
tomorrow morning, don’t just wake up. Wake up to a Gold Morning! with #Colgate360GoldMornings.
There’s a famous quote “The world is a book, and those who do
not travel read only one page.” True to these words, my hubby and I are
passionate about travelling. Be it a long weekend or festive offs, we are off
the beaten road, exploring new destinations. Road trips give us that adrenaline
rush, Delhi-Mumbai and Delhi-Kedarnath base camp being some of our memorable
road trips.
But what happens when an avid traveller is kept away from her
passion? Well, she feels like a sick person. Exactly that’s how I felt when I
became pregnant. We had recently relocated from Delhi to Mumbai and had not
spared even a single long weekend to explore the lovely getaways around Mumbai.
However, the moment I made that call to my parents and in laws to give the good
news, the first advice, rather order from them was, “Now apply brakes on your
travel and relax at home for nine months.” Relax at home! But setting out off
the beaten path was our way of relaxing, away from the maddening rush of the
city!
Did pregnancy stop me from enjoying travel? The answer is a
big NO! Pregnancy is not a disease. I did two solo air travels during pregnancy
– first, shortly after I discovered I had conceived, and the second in 7th
month.
Like a good girl, I obeyed my doctor and elders and avoided
road trips till I completed the first trimester. The severe morning sickness
was also a big factor keeping me away from travel. However, the situation
improved by the time I hit the second trimester. Morning sickness was gone and
I regained my energy levels. Hubby and I were craving to travel. We knew once
the third trimester would begin, we wouldn’t be able to hit the road for a long
time, and then we wouldn’t be able to travel with an infant that comfortably.
So, towards the end of my second trimester, we cashed on a long weekend and
went for a memorable Babymoon! Not for a second did pregnancy come in the way
of enjoying my trip, thanks to few basic rules I followed. I am sure these tips
will come handy to all my expecting friends who love to travel!...Continue Reading
I’m the most disappointing person when it comes to New Year resolutions and fulfilling them. Often when I am asked about my New Year resolution, my prolonged thinking mode & silence turns people away. Saves me the torture! If you were to ask me if I have ever made a New Year resolution and fulfilled it…you will be bored to death waiting for an answer.
It’s not that I never made resolutions. My childhood that fortunately was free of the World Wide Web and mobile technology saw us exchanging handmade New Year greeting cards (Buying expensive cards from Archie's Gallery were reserved for Birthdays and special occasions). Making New Year resolutions then was as important a ritual as exchanging cards. If you didn’t make a resolution, your celebration didn’t go complete.
So I too gave in to the trend and made these same funny resolutions every year –
Losing weight –This one placed itself on priority every year. After all, have you ever met a girl who feels she has the ideal weight? However, success or failure of this resolution was relative. If the girl sitting next to me in class was heavier than me, it felt like resolution achieved at the beginning of the academic year itself. But if my desk partner turned out to be a hot chic, the resolution always felt broken. By the time New Year’s Eve came back, knocking on the door, I was already in the SWOT mode and always felt I needed to lose weight.
Getting first position in all sections – This was my parents’ all time favorite. Typical Indian parents keep pushing their child for more, even if their offspring is a child prodigy. Even if I ranked within the top three in my class, I always saw a “You could have done better” look while I knew friends whose parents pampered them even if they scored just above 80%. The only time I felt like a scholar was when I used to go to Nirula’s to show my Report card and enjoy the free Scholar’s double Sundae! (Nirula’s used to offer free special Sundae to kids who scored 90% or more in their final exams!) Looking back now, I realize this was a blessing in disguise, for if you aim for moon, at least you get the stars. But back then, the pressure ensured this resolution was scripted at the top in my copy on every New Year’s Eve.
As I look at them now, I laugh out loud! If they weren’t fulfilled the first year, why did I hope for magical results every year?
With time, the resolutions changed from everything one desires during adolescence to the ambitious 20s. By the time I was into 4-5 years of corporate grind, I saw myself making resolutions like “meditating for 15 min every day, spending less time on phone etc.” Soon I was married and resolutions changed to “calling mom everyday for 15-20 minutes.”
Things I was supposed to do immediately were transformed into resolutions, whose progress one usually monitors by the time it’s time to make new ones.
And then, blogging happened…
I had gone for a residential MBA post marriage when blogging & I discovered each other. It was love at first sight and soon we couldn’t spend nights apart. Contests were a new thing to me back then and participating in any and every contest sounded exciting to me. Seeing my name in the winners list gave me a high that even a good CGPA didn’t.
The momentum broke once I returned home. Job, home and responsibilities jumped the line and claimed priority attention. Writing for contests then usually meant fire fighting few hours before the deadline for submission. As for impromptu blogging ideas, I began to maintain a Word document and whenever an idea popped, I promptly noted it in that document.
Soon motherhood took over every other thing. Contest deadlines were missed, word document was filled never to be reviewed, and the blogger inside grew tired of complaining. Even if the deadline was comfortably far, creativity would have mercy on me only a day before submission deadline.
Few days ago, I missed writing for a contest that really interested me and it hurt, not because of the prizes, but for the opportunity it gave me to test my writing skills vis a vis hundreds of other blogger.
So, this New Year’s Eve, I resolved to do something for the stuff that’s so close to my heart.
Writing for contest posts well ahead of time. I know my mind throws fabulous ideas a night before the deadline, but nobody has banned drafting a post and saving in drafts, well before deadline to be modified later.
Also, I intend to work on the frequency of posting. An average blogger who posts periodically is far better than an amazingly creative blogger who plays the hide and seek. I know it won’t be easy but as Mr. Hubby tells me every time, there is always time for what we really wanna do!
P.S. Somehow I have come to realize that often, the toughest or next to impossible tasks are dumped under the cover of New Year resolutions…As if, poor New Year will give in to pressure of our dreams and aspirations and magically transform the impossible into possible. My sympathies with the New Year!
Sangeeta joined us as our domestic help last year. A widow and a single mother, her whole life revolves around her 6 year old daughter, Gauri. Like a typical Indian mother, she sacrifices her comforts to give the best possible to her daughter. However, with poverty and soaring prices playing spoilsport, all she can manage is her daughter's school fee and basic necessities.
Gauri often accompanied her mother to our house as she loves to play with my 4 month old baby. A very bright kid, she is every mother's pride.
However, a child is a child. Few days back, when Gauri came to our house, she wasn't her usual bubbly self. Instead, she wore a rather sad look in her face. I asked her mother if all was well. A worried Sangeeta told me Gauri's birthday was approaching and like any other kid, Gauri too, wanted to have her own birthday party. "Tell me Memsaab, I can barely manage 3 square meals, how will I fulfill this tough wish?"
Somehow that evening I just couldn't get Gauri's sad face away from my mind. Every child has a right to happiness, and I really wanted to do something special for her.
The next day, I asked Sangeeta to invite Gauri's friends to my house on her birthday. "But memsaab, aap kaise..." Sangeeta hesitatingly said and I immediately told her to stop being so curious if she wants to see a big smile on her daughter's face.
Now, it was my time to get going and organising Gauri's little birthday party!
Since, my objective was to make Gauri feel special and bring a smile on her face, I ordered this smiley cake for her
Also ordered this pretty frock for the birthday girl!
I decided to prepare McCain smileys for the kids since I was sure the kids would love the taste and the Smiley would immediately bring a smile on their faces! McCain smileys are delicious mashed potatoes, seasoned and shaped into happy faces. The smileys also offer the following advantages -
Goodness of Potato
Cholesterol and trans fat free
Ready in three minutes
Goodness of potato
Pre cooked in pure vegetable oil
Since I was preparing for kids, nutritional aspect could not be ignored.
Energy
209.27 Kcal
Total Fat
8.31 g
Saturated Fatty Acids
3.93 g
Monounsaturated Fatty Acids
2.15 g
Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids
2.23 g
Trans Fatty Acids
0 g
Protein
4.72 g
Total Carbohydrate
28.90 g
Sugar
0.32 g
Cholesterol
0 mg
approximate values*
All I had to do was to preheat oil and deep fry the smileys for about 3 minutes and bingo! We were all set for the party!
On the designated day, Sangeeta brought Gauri and 3 of her friends to our house. The girls were initially hesitant however, were soon enjoying the yummy food and music!
As I gifted the frock to Gauri, she was all smiles while her mother, had tears of happiness!
While we all do things that makes us happy, doing something to bring a smile on someone's face is a joy much more fulfilling!
Thanks to McCain, I could manage to make a 6 year old feel so special and bring that million dollar smile on her face!
Smiles double when we share
Happiness doubles when we care
One should also think of the others, once in a while
McCain Foods (India) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of McCain Foods Limited in Canada. Since 1998, McCain has been engaged in agriculture R&D and in development of frozen food market in India and subcontinent countries. McCain products are used by leading fast food chains, hotels, restaurants, catering companies and are popular for in-home consumption.
If I were to ask you, “What as
per you are the most important things one needs for survival?” The typical
answers would be – Air, Water, food, money etc etc. However, the last couple of
days taught me there is something else that we take for granted however, is
essential for survival – SLEEP!
The last couple of months have
been somewhat torturous on my sleep. The last trimester of my pregnancy,
coupled with the humid sultry summer of Mumbai had me waking up in the middle of
night not knowing what to do.I would simply roam around the house like a
zombie, have a glass of water, feel the kicks of the baby and plug into some
good music that would help me sleep. Initially, everyone would wake up with me
to offer me a glass of water and suggest ways to get a sound sleep. But, soon
as this became a daily phenomenon, their sleep too preferred to keep them away
from giving me company.
As I would crib about my sleep
issues over morning tea, mom in law would try to comfort me by telling me it
was perfectly normal and soon I would be able to get back to my normal sleeping
routine. I would count the days to my due date, smile and say, “ok….x days to a
good sleep”.
I still remember the time when I
was about to be taken to the Operation Theatre. I told my mom in law how tired
I felt due to sleep deprivation and once the baby would be born, the first
thing I would do would be to have 6 hours of uninterrupted sleep! She smiled
and told me, “Once the baby is born, all you will do is rest, rest and rest!”
What could be better best! I wondered.
However, if everything goes well
as planned, life wouldn’t be so exciting, isn’t it? Since the day little S was
born, I haven’t been able to manage even the basic 6 hours of sleep! Mom in law
and I have become such a pro at these midnight jagrans that I once even
suggested her we can open our own jagran mandli! The baby, it seems is a true
nocturnal, for all formulas to make him sleep at night fail. However, in the
morning, when it’s time for us to get up and get going with the daily chores,
little S makes up for his sleep, even without us having to make an effort. So
the moment he is asleep, even if we are starving, we rush to take a nap coz we
never know when the volcano erupts!
I have tried to keep curtains drawn in the
morning to give an impression of night. Still, he knows its daytime and he has
to make up for the sleep loss. When kids are basically innocent and not knowing
anything, how do they understand whether its night or day?
Did some googling on sleep and
found this interesting chart on how much sleep do we actually need
Also found this interesting link
on how sleep affects our body…
So for all my friends who are
ready to welcome the stork in their homes, I offer an advice my friends too
offered me but fell on deaf ears – Make the most of the sleep time you have coz
once the little one arrives, you will find sleep more precious than any other
thing!
P.S. I was telling mom in law how
great it would be if we have a sleep God. We could appease him to make our kids
sleep at night! Need I mention her reaction? Lol!
This morning, there was a strange
air of enthusiasm at my place. Mr. Hubby & my MIL, who usually are glued to
the newspaper and tea were up quite early and switched on the TV to witness
International Yoga Day celebrations live from Rajpath. India has long been
famous as the land of yoga. However, an initiative by our country being
accepted worldwide has given us Indians another reason to feel proud. As
Rajpath became Yogpath, the whole world witnessed the magical qualities Yoga
has to offer.
My association with Yoga goes
back to childhood. Fortunately, my father has been practising Yoga actively
years before I was born. As a small kid, I remember waking up to witness Papa
practising Yoga asanas in the garden. I would stand behind him, with eyes wide
open as if witnessing a miracle and hoping if I too could join in. As I grew
up, Papa would often make me do light Yoga during my holidays and weekends. More
than a fitness regime, Yoga would be time for me to bond over with Papa and he
would patiently explain me each asana, correct me whenever I went wrong and
tell me stories of his experiences with Yoga to inspire me.
However, despite papa’s attempts,
I was never able to be as active as him with my Yoga. Summer, winters or
monsoons, Papa would never miss his 30 minutes of Yoga. Even if he had a
morning train to catch, he would ensure to wake up early and finish his round of
asanas, a habit he follows till date. I, on the other hand have always been
ready with my excuses – early morning school, winters, summers, rains, exams,
late night studies, I would always have an excuse. Papa always tells me once
you become regular with Yoga, the body itself demands the daily dose just like
food and water and one just gets addicted to it.
The one asana that always had me
impressed was Sirsana. I used to see Papa stand on his head in the
perfect Sirsana and wonder how he did it. Later I realised it wasn’t just
me who was impressed. See this scene from the movie “Coolie” where Amitabh
Bachchan tries his hand at Sirsana. My elder sister, a big fan of Mr.
Bachchan was so inspired after seeing that movie that she challenged herself to
do the perfect Sirsana and managed to perfect it within 3 days! I too
managed to do it but only with the support of a wall. While I always saw it as
a cool asana, later I learnt it is highly beneficial for increasing blood flow
to brain, improving memory etc.
I became genuinely serious about
Yoga after we moved to Mumbai. With our Sunday walks at Lodi Garden gone, we
were looking forward to some healthy option. It was then that we discovered
weekend Yoga classes near our place. I felt like the happy child in a
playschool every time we went for these classes. We would look forward to
learning new asanas in each class and then practise them at home. There were
however, 2 things for which I loved my Yoga classes – the laughter sessions
and the Yoga Nidra. Initially hesitant with the laughter sessions,
I soon discovered their magical power of de stressing. Similarly, Yoga Nidra
took us to levels of relaxation like nothing else. I soon saw myself practising
Yoga Nidra whenever I had trouble sleeping or carried office stress
home.
Recently I discovered another
facet of Yoga. As an expecting mother, I joined a prenatal Yoga Camp and was pleasantly
surprised how Pranayams and asanas can relax us during the later phase
of pregnancy. Each time my mind gets into the worrying mode, I follow the Pranayam
and breathing techniques I have learnt at the classes and am de stressed
within minutes.
Yoga has become an inseparable
part of my life now. Like every expecting mother, I too wonder how I will get
back in shape post delivery. But, having read the success stories of many
Bollywood stars who got back in shape post delivery purely basis yoga, I am
inspired and confident I too shall be able to make it back in shape. I am
looking forward to my Yoga classes with Mr. Hubby again and hope someday I am
able to inculcate the habit of Yoga into my children the way my father has…
Friday
evening witnessed me in super excited mode…I looked elated like a kid whose
parents are about to take her to Disneyland. But I am a simple girl with simple
wishes; after a week of slogging at work, the idea of 2 days off to my lazy
self was enough to bring a smile on my face. Hey, everybody feels that way,
then why am I saying this on my blog?
Because
fact is, weekend life too, like a coin has 2 sides…
Wanting
to laze in my bed till 10 on a Saturday morning, I was engrossed in my dreams
when the alarm spoiled my plans. “Uff, what’s this?” I grumbled in my sleep,
when Mr. Hubby reminded me he had to go for a meeting today. Being a typical
Indian wife, I wouldn’t have liked the idea of being in bed till 10 while Mr.
Hubby got ready and moved about his own business. “Once I send him to work, I
will catch up on my sleep!” I consoled myself and proceeded towards bed tea and
newspaper.
Newspaper
is always a cut short business on weekdays however; even today my eyes were on
the wall clock. Soon, newspaper too, was added to the “do it later” list and I
was off to the kitchen.
Once,
Mr. Hubby had left for work, I realized sleep had vanished. Just when I held my
beloved newspaper in my arms, mom in law rattled off her wish list, “Today we
are free, let’s do x, y, z….” and gave me a long list from laundry to grocery
shopping, dusting, etc. “But I am not free, I am busy! It’s my hard earned off
and I need to laze around, chill, blog and just pamper myself!” Now, any mom in
law would have frowned at this, but not mine. She simply smiled and reminded me
of a word called “responsibility”. “Why can’t we live in a service apartment?”
I rebelled like a cranky kid.
I wondered, was life all cool before marriage
and responsibilities? Perhaps no, weekends were all about pedicures, manicures,
hair spa, changing nail paint, planning wardrobe for the upcoming week etc etc.
Every
weekend, we try to fight the pile of “to do” list for the “me time” and before we
are nowhere close to satisfaction, the weekend winks and bids adieu, leaving us
at the mercy of merciless weekdays. As if that’s not enough, there is a section
of people, whose favourite habit is asking people on Monday mornings, “so what
special did you do this weekend?” Now, one doesn’t go mall hopping, shopping or
movie watching every weekend. I have seen people under such pressure to avoid
being termed uncool that even if they have spent a quiet and relaxing weekend
at home, they save themselves by saying, “we went out for
family dinner to XYZ yoyo restaurant”
even if I spotted them getting Dosa packed from the neighbourhood Dosa kiosk!
What
then is the idea of a perfect weekend?
Perhaps
it’s all about taking the day it comes. One may plan a bit in advance for more fulfillment however, if things take a different route, just sit back and enjoy the beauty
of serendipity!
Its
when one thinks beyond self and cares for how others feel
That
they truly strike the “Dil Ki Deal”
It
is often believed that one who has money and power only can make a difference
in someone else’s life. But an incident from my mom in law’s life taught me how
a simple housewife decided to follow her heart and strike the perfect Dil ki
deal.
In
the old times when salaries never matched the mouths to be fed, monthly rent
from a small house in West Delhi was a big help to Ma’s monthly budget. My
father in law’s job demanded him to stay out of town, so it was ma’s responsibility
to collect the monthly rent and manage the household budget.
It
was Diwali time. Sweets, clothes, crackers, customary gifts…there was so much
to be bought and ma knew all this went beyond her budget. Banking on the 10th
of the month when she was to receive the monthly rent, she decided to visit the
tenants.
As
ma rang the doorbell, the feeble frame of the tenant’s wife appeared at the
door to usher her in. The tenants were a humble family of 5, a couple and their
3 kids. Ma knew of their not so good financial condition, but as she entered
the house, she knew there was something wrong. Although it was Diwali time, the
festivity was nowhere to be seen. The family wore a sad look on their faces.
When ma inquired about the well being, the tenant’s wife told her that their
youngest daughter had taken ill. All their savings had gone in the treatment and
the treatment still required them to pump in more cash. “This Diwali has no
meaning for us, for we can’t light up our own child’s life”, the tenant’s wife
said, controlling her tears. Despite the turmoil in their lives, the tenants
were an honest couple. “Behanji, that we are facing this crisis doesn’t mean we
would hide away from our duty. Here’s the rent for this month”, the lady said
as she handed over the 800 bucks to ma.
Speechless
at their sincerity and the cruel game destiny was playing; ma left the house
with a heavy heart.The neighbourhood
kids were bursting crackers however; a thousand crackers burst inside ma’s
heart and created the noise she couldn’t ignore. She could not erase the image
of the family’s faces from her mind. For a humble housewife, the monthly rent
meant a big help, yet her heart felt heavier with each step. Something in ma
forced her to return…
The
surprise was evident on the face of tenant’s wife as she opened the door. “What
happened behanji, I counted the money and it’s the right amount. Hope all well….”
The lady went speechless as ma held her hand and handed over the money back and
said “The child needs the money more. Take the money and use it for her
treatment. Its Diwali time, hope this small contribution does something to
brighten up your child’s life.”The lady tried to offer the money back, but ma
assured her she could repay when the child recovered.
As
ma walked out, her heart was filled with satisfaction from the deal she had
struck. She might not have been able to pamper her kids the way she wanted that
Diwali, but she had listened to her heart and had struck the #DilKiDeal
