Came across an interesting fact about men and women in a book I recently read. This is how it goes:

"The most powerful force in a man's life is his intense desire to impress the person he loves the most. And the most powerful force in a woman's life is the need to be appreciated, loved and cherished for what she is."

2 decades and 4 years

Date: June 1^st, 1986

Time: 1:00 am

The day when the world celebrates the international children’s day was a perfect opening to my arrival. Mom says that I was of no trouble at all and that she actually enjoyed her time at the hospital munching on jell-o, yogurt and chicken.

Date: June 1st, 2010

Time: 10:15 am

Here I am today making a soft and quite landing on 24. There goes another year of my life. Yes, I am getting old. Can’t help sighing over how quick the years roll by with the wink of an eye. I wonder if I am ‘old enough’ to start scanning my face for wrinkles or worry over when that nasty grey is going to sprout over some unknown corner of my head or if I should get my memories regularly checked, in case they are beginning to fade. Okay! I am going overboard but the fact is it gets quite uneasy going through this day as the years go by. Getting old sucks and I find solace in scourging adulthood on the heaping responsibilities that fall upon endlessly (sometimes out of nowhere) making life stagnant, timeless and ‘un-awesome’. I love the independence and so cherish for more but running the errands are tough. I don’t deny that being an adult is fun but it gradually wears out with age and finally one decides to ‘settle down somewhere with that someone’ and then the routine starts running on its own as though time has jinxed itself. Baah!

Just a funny memory made me smile right now. I was at kindergarten and it was my birthday; the only day I wouldn’t have to wear those pinafores. So, I got chocolates for everyone and as per tradition, had to stand up front listening to friends sing to me. I remember going through the dilemma (yes, at such young age) if I should sing along with them. It was my first time under the spotlight and I couldn't remember other kids singing on their D-days since I had my eyes locked on their chocolate boxes and lips desperately trying to sync in with the others. Eventually I made up my mind and started to sing! Funny part is no body found it odd. Thank God those kids weren’t so bright then unlike now.            

            

Anyway it’s been two decades and four years here. Truly a pleasure in a million ways. It’s Happy Birthday to me! “Wink!”

The Unexpected!

Believe it or not! I have been awarded with the beautiful blogger award! Yaayy! It finally feels great to be recognized for what you write rather than estimating one’s blog by the number of visitors dropping down for a peep.

Anyways, I have been awarded by my little friend Magali @ Life etc. Thanks a lot! XOXO!     

There are a few rules for the award, some of which I thought were absurd. I will just put up what is necessary.

1. Share 7 things about yourself.

2. Pass on the awards to 6-7 different bloggers who you think are the best.

It's as simple as that. So let me kickoff with my 7 "characteristic features".

1.Born and breed for more than half of my life in the tiniest pearl island - Bahrain. Proud to be part of two unique countries.

2. I dream on opening up my own book store when I get really old. Books on everything you could possibly imagine. I even have ideas on having small reading sessions for kiddies (inspired from 'You've Got Mail'). Reading makes up most of my life and is absolutely necessary for my survival.    

3.I used to be a super nerd back in school with real geeky glasses. But I guess I straightened out alright in the end. I used to be the typical teenager with pimples, mouth full of braces, long stubborn hair and yes my dorky glasses.

4. I have to spend at least an hour everyday on my own. Maybe to reflect on varied ideas, think of how or where I will end up in 10 years or just sit there staring into the green and play with my hair with music.

5. Close friends say that I am a lot sweeter than required and that people get an incredible urge to take advantage of this. It’s true to an extend but the fact is I ain’t that meek people!  

6. As a kid I have had a blend of transitions of what I would want to become when I grow up. Starting from being an astronaut, archeologist, painter (inspired by my mom), news reader cum reporter, author of a thriller (always been a dream), designer, social worker, a kindergarten teacher, editor and lately the bookstore dream.

7. I am an engineer by profession but it was never my cup of tea. I quit two jobs in a year and I am still in search of what I want.

So this is what I have got. And as per the tradition, I would like to present the awards to:

Anirban @ It's a Miracle!

Anand Nair @ Like a Fish in the Net

Dave Fry @ Dave Fry's Picture of The Day

Magali Vaz @ Life etc

Prerna Malik @ The Mom Writes

Sachith Rajagopal @ Perception

A Tribute

This is a tribute to a magazine that made up most of my childhood and teen years. “YOUNG TIMES – CELEBRATING THE SPIRIT OF YOUTH” by Khaleej Times. I still remember when my dad got me the magazine way back in 1995 and from then on I simply fell in love with it. I waited for every Tuesday evening after dad got back from work to grab on to my favourite comic strips (which included Marvin, Blondie, Hi and Lois, Archie, Hagar, Beetle Bailey and a bunch of others), those short fiction columns, awesome posters, classic cover stories, Sanjeev Kappor (of the Khana Khazana fame) columns, word puzzles, Stampaid by Uncle Malik, music countdowns and what not! Call me childish, but I would always make sure I wouldn’t end up reading everything in a single day and would carry on till Monday evening and get ready for Tuesday. Oh those days bring in such warm memories and truly wish I could go back in time.

This time when I got back to Bahrain, I must have gone to every single store in the island in search of the magazine, though in vain. I thought they must have stopped their sale in the country but ultimately a few day back I heard (via facebook) they halted the publication altogether which is why I was prompted to write something about this incredible journal which I am sure has been cherished by millions of children for the past 25 years or so.

After a dig into my old treasures, I caught hold of a few old copies dating back to 1999. These are a few snaps. (Apologies for the terrible flaw in my shots)

Modern day nomad

I have gotten lost with time and travels for the past one year and two plus months. Today as I sit to write this piece of thought my mind wanders over everything that has happened till date. This has made me believe in destiny. I was/am destined to be what I am today.

As a newbie to the great city last year, I had no clue as to what was coming. All I had was a nervous heart and a bag full of dreams. I had not felt so light since my days in Bahrain. The city lifted me to a new dimension, created new hopes and I got days that I would never forget. Work was crazy but who cared. As long as the paychecks were fat and on time, nothing mattered. There were days when I used to catch the late evening bus, sit by the window with the wind on my face and wonder what more I could ask for in life. I loved everything around me (except work) and I loved the people who cared for me. My friends were great especially my roomie. If not for them, nothing would have gotten so perfect like the way it was. We would enter our room everyday with huge shopping bags and later at night laugh out on our stupidity and gossip out like crazy. Other than for the occasional bouts of homesickness, we were living life to the full, sharing every moment with laughs, tears, late night food poisoning, rat hunts and everything possible.

Three months went off like a flash. And then again I was off to another new city. Just that this time I didn’t feel so ecstatic. The place was familiar and so were the people. But yet there was something odd that I realize now. The people I met were so fresh and extremely cordial. I hadn’t come across such people for ages. I had stopped thinking that such people existed anymore. Every morning they all had a great eye-blinding smile to offer, great attitude and every ready to be at your service. It was as if the world was again a better place to live in. I loved taking long walks sometimes alone and sometimes with friends among the busy streets. The city was as good as the previous one in its vibrancy. There was an added advantage; I stayed right opposite to the big political HQ. The live violence, protests and strict policing wasn’t a very pretty sight but this was reality. The people who we usually see on our television were regulars on the streets. One thing that troubled me every weekend were the bus rides that I had to take back home. Nothing better than this would give you a stiff neck and a creaking back for a whole day.

Months again flew by and one fine day I was back to the place I always wanted to be in. You always know what you want the most. And to be here was mine. The feeling to be about ten years younger and carefree is awesome. I belonged there and to me, this was the best place in the whole world. The camera kept clicking in my hands every second. I didn’t want to miss anything. Life was perfect for the third time in a year at a different place and yet again I was left thinking what more I could ask for.

And again I after a few weeks I was back to the city where everything started out. The feeling to be back was great and to be with the people who meant so much to me was the cherry topping in my life.

And I am back after my nomadic days, looking out for another chance to crave out perfection in my life. Every place I visited has brought out a new shine inside me. Everything that has happened at each place was a path that led me to the new one. Life straightens out on its own as it is destined to be.
A new year has come and I hope someone who knows me would truly tell that I have become a little mature and a little of a better person. Don’t get me wrong. I am not asking for compliments. Critics are invited. More than that, I hope I have brought only smiles to everyone I have come across. So people go have a great year!

A few things that have left me thinking for a while

Why haven't I posted something in a long time? I almost forgot that I own a blog!


Babies are the best in the whole world. And to grow up with one at 22, is even better. Try to make them smile by screwing up your face or by singing lullabies (its tough to get the pitch right!) and the minute they sprout up that cheesy grin, oh boy, that itself can make your day shine as bright as ever.


Waiting for something, that you so eagerly expect to happen, is a pain in the neck. But it sure does make life a lot interesting with all that hope and positive energy building up in you.


If 'Slumdog Millionaire' was such a phenomenon, what on earth happened to a movie like 'Traffic Signal'?


Somebody once told me (or did I read it somewhere?) that luck is the sum of opportunity and preparation. I believe luck just pops out of the blue when you least expect it. Its a luck to get lucky!


Not an avid follower of politics myself, but its a hats off to the UPA government. If not for them, this place would have fallen like a pack of cards ages ago. While recession takes its toll, its only in India where you can still find a job for yourself (sort of an irony in my case).


Finally for the time being, ladies and gentlemen, I am a certified engineer. Whoohooo! An engineer with a pretty job offer in hand but is still unemployed.
Now who on earth thought that recession would pop out of nowhere in the exact year when I had to graduate. Is that destiny or the game of toss called......LIFE? Hmmmmmmm...

Confessions Part-I

This post is an insight of what has been wriggling inside my tiny head for almost half a year. I’m tired of waiting for a miracle to hit me. But there always this ray of hope that you want to cling on to, which makes things turn in your tummy. This is the truth about life.


College; somewhere I dread going to even till the last few months. I swore to my friends I wouldn’t miss this place at any cost for the fact that it had made my life weirder than ever. Even while performing these acts, I knew I would eventually be wrong. The reason and perhaps the secret was that, I kept going back to the same place everyday for four years ‘coz of a few irreplaceable people without whom I couldn’t get my day worked out. I required regular doses of their laughter, smiles, tears, rebukes, kicks, pokes, hugs, advices, winks, pull/slap on my cheeks to get me going; I got addicted unknowingly.


Today I’m left with an immense desire to go back to the old days, to be with those people, and have those quality times which I denied I wouldn’t miss. Life has been a living hell now without all the fun I’ve had. There have been occasions when I’ve returned back to college and had strolls around the corridors and classes that once belonged to us. Although, I saw new faces and couples at each corner, my mind went racing through the maze of old pictures of myself in their place.
Memories and thoughts pass by my eyes everyday. I look upon to a miracle to return those moments and people who touched and changed my life forever.

My 1st ever blog !!!

Everyone I know kept advising me to write a blog to spent time. I guess it isn’t a harm to try out what it’s all about. At this very moment, I really have no clue as to what I should write about. Maybe I should start off with my experiences that I have had for the past 22 years.
Thanks to my god sent parents, I was brought to this world during an early summer of 1986 on June 1st. Fortunate I was since the day I unbolt my minuscule eyes, to be bought up in a beautiful world where I got more than anyone could ask for. I grew up amidst strong Indian cultures and principles which I’m truly proud of. As for every child, my mother taught me ‘the golden rules’ of how to present myself as a good Indian girl to anyone and everyone. And my father, who I miss a lot, trained me with his strong ethics and morals. I remember my mother trying hard to teach me my mother-tongue whenever she got me in her hands, though she never succeeded to a great extend. My parents were and still are my entire life. Apart from them, years later I was introduced to my elder sister. We were bought up in totally two different dimensions. I guess we got acquainted initially as ‘just friends’ rather than as siblings. I never understood why we were separated. It took us years to recognize each other as bonded-sisters. During most of my upbringing, I usually felt I was my parent’s only child. And as every only child, I used to talk to myself. And that was my ever-favorite hobby and it still is. I used to always think to myself that I would never have a complete family. For 16 years, I was separated from my sister and during the rest of the years when I finally got to live with my sister, my father left for work. It’s sad but I guess that’s just the way life is. As long as we get together once in a year, it’s all right with me.
Like the two sides of a coin and like every other kid, my childhood had bad memories along with the good. More of them are the good stuff, but the bad were the worst I could get. I have learned to put the bad past behind my head but at times when they sneak in back, it stings. Luckily in recent years and hopefully for the rest of my life, I have had people around me with whom I could trust to share my thoughts that twirl inside my head.
My first school is where the very best of my early memories dwell. The 11 glorious years in the beautiful school where I’d learned to acknowledge myself in a range of aspects. The level of exposure and diversity I received developed me enormously. At a young age I was used to converse with people from all over the globe from various ethnicities. And I loved meeting up with new boys and girls my age. I was popular around the school as a great nerd. It was funny people classified me as a nerd only because I had ‘nerdy glasses’. But that never bothered me. I wanted to fetch good grades and amass the opportunities I came across. There were of course the usual kids to push and pull as well as the tight competition with politics to dominate. That didn’t bother me either even in spite of regular speech treatments to be serious from my beloved parents. It’s amazing the kind of push and pressure kids are subjected to by parents which in a way can cause the child to be resilient in their own way. And in turn results in what psychologists call ‘rebellious teenagers’. Anyway coming back to my early school days, I had my personal list of favorite teachers and subjects as every other kid. I clearly remember my first proposal way back in 4th grade which totally freaked me out. From then on I made sure I wouldn’t attach tight strings with boys. I guess it was a result from the shock I received. But now thinking of that very day, draws a smile to my face. I smile because of the innocence we were all swathe in. I truly hope that sometime in the near future I could meet up with that guy and perhaps thank him for the soft spot he had for me back then.
One of my best reminiscences was during the weekends, when my parents would take me out to the beach and I was allowed to have as many ice creams I wanted. My parents would chew on pop-corns with me in the middle (sweeping my tongue off the ice creams) and have long strolls on the coastline and later sit by one the benches and watch the tides. Another was the shopping spree at midnight and getting back home in the early mornings with tones of goodies and fresh French croissants. I admit I was pampered a lot by my parents but never spoiled.
Years rolled by, met wonderful boys and girls, build great friendships, got rugged by some, rugged a few myself, when finally it was time to bid adieu to my second home. Time had come for me to go to a new place, a new country. I was unhappy with the decision my parents made. I tired my best to get them out of it and suggested alternative decisions, but in vain. My parents had made their decision without hearing what I wanted. It was decided my father would stay back and me and my mother along with my sister would stay in our big abandoned house in the new country. From this time on, I was made to do things that I never wanted.
I moved to my new place when I was in my sweet sixteen. Wasn’t as sweet as the name goes. I hated the place the moment I came. It was as though the fortress I was incubated in all these years had crashed down. I was expected to adjust and get along with the people and surroundings like every Indian girl should. All the decisions were made and I had to abide by them at any cost. Then a day came when I joined my 2nd school which I would categorize as the 2nd phase of my life. Gladly this period of time passed off with the snap of a finger. I was in the school of two years. And I don’t have a single happy memory to preserve. I didn’t have my personal list of favorite teachers or subjects. Ironically I don’t even know what I did for those two years. I had people around me whom I couldn’t trust and to me their greatest satisfaction was to see other people’s misery. I was blown off by this impudent nature revolving around every person in the new place. Everyday was like a dark cloud that hung over me. I’d an awful lot of experiences in the two years and above all I missed my father and the great life I once had. I had lost my essence of living life.
The two years never meant anything to me. I had made a lot of new friends but a handful turned to be true. I desperately wanted to get out and be the happy girl I was. But once again I was made to stay back, this time for another four years! These four years were the 3rd phase of a new beginning. It was indeed a new fresh start because I was shifting to college and that to me was a big landmark.
My college wasn’t in any sense a college! It was more of a school with really weird rules and bizarre people in white. At the beginning I’d a notion that these four years could be worst than the previous two years. Initially, I was a loner since I turned to be one of the very few day scholars. I hated the place and used to run back home whenever I could. Another reason was that my father got home and I wanted to spend more time with him than with a bunch of strangers who never seemed to notice me. Though things weren’t good at college, I was hardly bothered since my father was finally home with us. For a very brief time, I had my complete family. I knew I was waiting for this moment for a long time. I felt so protected and thankful to god for his mercy.
Few months later my father left back for work and I was left raw to be unnoticed in college. I attained a couple of good friends by then but my desire to bump into new people went missing. I knew I’d changed and didn’t know who to blame. The first year in college was my roughest one. I got to meet new people through the few friends I knew and hence the chain grew. Things started to change when everyone slowly acknowledged me or at least my name. I was feeling better and soon had the urge to change back to who I once was. Things definitely headed for the best and I could see myself in smiles all the time. And by then I had become proficient in judging a person within a few seconds of conversation. I believe that quality helped me handle a person with ease.
The four years went off in a flash leaving behind a trail of beautiful memoirs. It’s beautiful since I found myself enjoying life after a brief downcast. Although not in complete, I have regained my essence to live with fun and smiles. I have learned and come across many experiences to be the person I am now. I have learned my lessons well and have achieved ‘self-satisfaction’. Though at times life was unfair, I believe everything happens for a reason and one has to receive the challenges with a justified mind. There’s nothing better than living your life to the extreme. I’m very excited and a little nervous to know what life holds for me in the near future but I am totally prepared to accept the dares thrown at me.