The 'Bold', the 'Beautiful' and the 'Ugly'!

The three adjectives precisely explaining the three events that either caught my attention, changed my mood or stressed my little brain in the fortnight that zipped by! Made me feel good, happy, sad and worried.
Its one of those days when your a little relaxed that its over but not really happy about it! Thats how the last two weeks have been!

I read about the Aamir Khan brave act! And i love him for that! In a society thats still to understand 'surrogate pregnancy' or 'test-tube babies' and is miles away from accepting these, hes sort of been a torch bearer! And i loved the way he handled and raised the whole story! For a celebrity of his calibre... to bring out an important portion of his private life..and put it up to the world so clearly, boldly and wonderfully is such a mature way of handling a sensitive issue!
I watched 'The Dirty Picture' last week. And what a 'pretty' picture it is!! Bold role again! Vidya Balan is A-Class in the film! Sensuous but not vulgar. When u actually spare a thought and try and analyse things and situations from Silk's point of view, u wonder if shes to be blamed or the society! And unfortunately the situation remains unchanged even today!
Unconventional is still unacceptable!! Whether right or wrong... nobody cares!

My best friend's wedding!! :-) Yes!! Coming up soon!! Got the news last night and i havent been so very happy lately! -)) The memories of my courtship... all the attention i gathered then... the late night gupshup... the crazy wedding planning and the experience of being through it put up a big broad smile on my face. And am soo soo excited about she going through it all!! :-)
Wow! Life has beautiful ways to make up for the not so beautiful things that it offers!

Temper tantrums!! The ugly part of u and me! They say mood swing is a prelude to excitement!! :) But guess there is a range of age when it can get far from exciting! :( One moment u see them smiling and with the blink of the eye they turn snappy! And u are left wondering if its something to do with 'split personality' or 'stupid mind'! And all i wished for was 'if i could just disappear by the click of a button!:-(

Bold, Beautiful and Ugly;
For Life is like this only!
Cheers for sailing through it! :)

*Seasons Greetings*

Love this part of the year! After the April-September 'No Holiday' season, its such a joyful moment to see the 'red dates' re-appear on the calender! :-)) Thank God for Sundays, else Life would have really been 'black' n 'blue'! ;-)

September saw me 'de-activate' my facebook account!! (Source of Inspiration: One of my good old friend:)) Am liking the whole feeling of not knowing whats going on in my social circuit. Since they cant help but give us a peek-a-boo of their personal life, i thought i will get a lil more sane instead! ;-) But on a serious note, i do sometimes miss logging onto my fb page (considering i was almost close to being addicted to it) But i thought i will do something more constructive when i have soo many things to do in the pipeline. And friends are never too far to keep in touch with. Don't need a 'wall' between us, what say?? ;-)
For better or for worse.... i don't know.... but am off it! :)

September also saw me suffer terribly. Had an embarassing 'manly' voice for a good two weeks, fever, bad pharyngitis and cough that gave me very few moments of peace. What it taught?? That i need to take serious measures to get back into shape, get fit and improve my sad physical state. Am triyng! May be i need some more motivation! Or probably some complimentary criticism to get me moving!!

The ages ago planned- long pending visit to abhijit's favourite place- Karad, happened in October. And it was a welcome break! :) Realised that 'childhood' beats all the phases in Life!! Saw how wonderful it was to re-connect.... with the 'old, spectacled teachers' .... with the 'grown up to be soo different classmates' .......with the 'uncle in that shop' where i used to eat this after class and buy that for birthdays.
Lifes Pretty! :-)

What goodies are in store??
Well, I will be off soon to celebrate Anu-Abhi Anniversary II ;-))))
EXCITED- HAPPY- WAITING
Diwali s almost here!!! 3 days in a row off!!! No College!!! Reason enough to celebrate!!! ;-)
Come December and the festive season, weekend get-a-ways, dinner dates with Mr. Hubby will continue :)

The fun part of my 3 seasons of the year ( Exam Season- Work Season- Holiday Season) is here!!! :-)
SEASONS GREETINGS TO ALL OF YOU!!! :-)))
Cheers to the days ahead!!! :)

What must it be..??

SUNDAY!!!! One word that can brighten up faces! And one day that pumps you to put up through the week! It was a cloudy, lazy sunday morning. Me and abhi were off on a short drive to a near by tapri to start the day with some garam idli-vadas and dosas! The day was planned. The weather- awesome!
Chatting and giggling we passed by the known lanes. I saw a tiny tot in an over sized night suit, holding his father's hand. The two were probably out on a stroll. The kid looked adorable and a little confused. As the father walked cautiously watching his steps, the child looked up.... up in the dark clouds... unaware... happy and so very carefree!!
As we drove nearer, we caught a better glimpse of the two! And for a moment.... i had a lump in my throat. Its not very hard to recognise a child with Down's Syndrome.
What crossed my mind, to tell the truth, was whether to thank God for what he has done to me and my near and dear ones or may be try and know why Hes been so mean and heartless to some others!
What must it be to not look and be able to behave like the rest of the world? What must it be to looked on with sympathy? What must it be to have a world of only a handful of people around? What must it be to comprehend that we are loved by many but unwanted by many more!! What must it be to see tears in our mother's eyes and deep inside believe that we're to be blamed? What must it be to gradually realise that Lifes a lot more tough on our side?
AND what must it be, for the two lovely parents to see their child go through all this knowing that they were never at fault!!!

The Sunday just breezed off. But what is still lingering on is that little one's smile! Innocence probably is this!!!!
Its a different mind but it still is a mind! Very intelligent. Very calm. A heart more loving than you and i can understand. A smile that does not know to fade and go! The eyes are as glittering as any of us have. The dreams are just as awesome as the feeling of joy!
How i wish i could be as strong as you!!
For what must it be to walk with pride and hope and joy inspite of the all the worries walking by?? Courage surely is this!!!
Cheers!!!

In sync with 'Superman' !!! ;-)

Sometimes my ability of multitasking surprises me!!! And more often the ability of not doing anything other than 'mundane' overshadows it!!! ;-p
Some days are the 'superwoman' kinds and some others are the 'jobless, face-booking' kinds.
Last month and a half has given me NO time to spare! Journal club, seminar, scientific paper work, conference registrations... to mention the least! And i realised that 'its manageable!!' :-))
The harder i think, the tougher it gets! The less i ponder and faster it ends!!!
It began with the usual 'oh no monday again' attitude!! And my eyes popped out when i realised that i had my seminar the same week!!! The write up... well almost over!! The slides... about to start!! Many breakthroughs and theories i concluded that week, trying to understand how two micro-organisms could cause seroius 'g(h)um' problems!!! PUN Intended!!! Totally!!! ;-p
A few social commitments here and there... the seamingly never ending clinical work quota... and the conference registrations that were pouring in were enough to keep me busy for the rest of the days!!
Working for some big event like this National Conference definitely is an exposure of sorts. Trying to read and understand and then only guess what the member's name / email id possibly is, is a task in itself!!! Now i know why my teachers used to hate checking exam papers!!
My mind has this amazing capacity to do one thing, think something else, plan a third thing and then forget everything at the end of the day and sleep with the belief that everythings appropriately done!!
So there!! Suddenly i was all excited about going for a PG Convention coming up in sometime. But before that i need to finish my paper work that am planning to present there!! Oh Heaven!! Why did i suddenly don the role of an 'enthu cutlet' and decide to conduct my own new scientific study was what killed all the excitement!! :( And more so left me wondering how could such an idea crop up in my sane mind???? ;-)
So i began my rounds to Mr Statistician, pleading to finish my work sooon! And then get back to knowing the mechanism behind how one 'spirochete' manages to move around!!! :((
Sleepless nights in the literal sense!! Home- college- clinical work- conference- journal club that was a mini seminar in itself- and then the actual seminar!!! Not to forget my absolutely marvellous scientific study!!!!
Well, half s got the 'green tick' and the other is still in the pipeline!! But i've come to like being busy!! Am enjoying doing it all!! And no! Its not without quality!! Its decent at the end of the day!! Touchwood! :)
Its a conscious effort now to cut down browsing on social networking sites. What goes on in my life need not be an hourly update to the world!! :) Taking steps to get into my job completely!! Making an effort to manage time well between family-home and my academics!! Finding time as well, to do things i like doing-- like this!! ;-)
And i realise that its all 'manageable'!

If only i could fly...... then 'Superman' would have had some company!!!! ;-D
CHEERS!!

Live it UP!!!!!

For most of us, Life revolves around money and honey :-p But isn't there more to life than the big bucks and small family??? Sure we all know there is!! But we're somewhere engrossed and lost in the circus of life!

As kids or teenagers or even as well settled adults today, we all do, at times, recall how we wished to do 'this' and enjoyed doing 'that' and then just blink and sulk that "Oh! i wish i had the time!" :(

Opening a restaurant or a dance school, having your painting up at the Jehangir Art Gallery or wanting to be a 'rare' sane politician, coming out with your own book or having the 'best' private garden.... how wonderful are these dreams!! :-) :-)
Give them a chance! :) Live it UP!! :)

Cheers to the Cherished Hope!! :)

'TEAM' INDIA- The Champions!!!!!!!

There is this line in the movie 'Chak de India' where actor Shahrukh Khan, tells one of his colleagues that "Jeetne ke liye taqat ki nahi, niyat ki jaroorat hai." I cannot think of a more apt phrase for our Team India who have just lifted the 'Cup that Counts'!!! :-) :-) :-)

In a country like ours where probably the 'only' thing that unites ALL the Indians is cricket, this Team has given their nation one fantastic day that every Indian will cherish for years to come!! Din bana dala!!!!! :-) :-) :-)

Hats off to every mortal who was a part of this team!!! You've now joined the club of the 'history makers!!'. Sure there must have been tremendous amount of hard work, planning, bad phases, a whole lot of decisions made, criticism, and not to forget the expectations and the pressure!!!

But one thing that beats all this and takes away the cake is the maturity, calmness, the no-ego, no-inhibitions display by everyone in the team!!! Happy for all. Constructive in taking any and every criticism!!

You guys have truly redefined 'sportsmanship' which was somewhere lost in this big bad world!! You've shown us that Victory truly favours the brave!! And that the world will be a much much better place if we all give in a little extra to work on the inter-personal relationship aspect!! :)
Its not about Kirsten, Dhoni or Tendulkar, its about working as a TEAM!!

Congratulations TEAM INDIA!!! You surely are having a very well deserved last laugh!!!! :-D

CHEERS!!!!

The Last Wish

Strong, Powerful, poor or angelic, all of us come down to the same level when we fear of an encounter with death.
However unaffected or mentally prepared we may claim to be, somewhere in the small corners of our hearts and minds we all do hope that death sees us only in the fairy distant future!

And when someone so direly pleads for Euthanasia or mercy killing, its impossible and depressing to even imagine the extent of pain/torture/suffering she/he must be going through. Soo much as to seek for death!!!!

Whether our country gives passive euthanasia a nod or no is yet tobe seen. I have tremendous respect and faith in our Supreme Court.And am sure that their decision, may or may not please all of us, but it surely will be a very very wise one!

But what i want to bring up here (in Aruna Shanbaug's case) is that the culprit should not be forgotten!!!! Shameless and disgusting, he surely is! And his actions need an equally brutal punishment! So, few years of imprisonment by NO means match up with the more than three decades spent on bed by this lovely lady for no damn fault!!!! Like you and me, she must have had many wonderful plans and big, bright dreams but life turned out to be more than unfair!!!

JUSTICE is desperately needed here!!!!!!!! Probably more than mercy killing!!!!!!
And am sure this must be Aruna's 'last wish' as well!!!

Cheers to her last wish!!! Hope the law takes notice of this and caters to justice soon!!!!!

My Companion

A little tired and thirsty i was as i rambled through a street @ 3o'clock.
Soon i realised there were many like me who had no better thing to do on an afternoon @3!!

In that crowd i saw this girl who seemed to follow me all through the turn!!
I stopped, and so did she! I knelt and she was down on her knees!!
Oh i know this idiot, my good old friend, whos been with me no matter where i went!! :)

My first meet with her as a tiny tot, and all amused i was by that 'small black moving spot' !! ;)
I remember playing with her for hours together, laughing and giggling as we mimicked each other.
Somedays she was tall and lean. And on others stunted like me.
Sometimes she trailed behind and somedays she would run faster than me!!

I danced and she copied me, i laughed and i could see her cheek rise up in glee!!
But when i cried, she never shed a tear; when it was dark she never was near!!
So as i grew up, i lost touch with her.
Although she walked along i never really bothered!

Today wen i was lonely, she bounced back tall and dark;
And quick came a smile on face, and joy in my stride to the park.
I have this thing in my mind now, that no matter where i go and no matter how lonely i am;
There is this dark black moving spot thats just always clinging on!! :)
A great mood uplifter.... a superb morale booster....and an instant smile maker!!! :)


REMINDING ME ALWAYS THAT AM NEVER WALKING ALONE!! :)
Cheers to the Sun!! Cheers to the meadow!!
Cheers to the sunshine!! And cheers to the 'shadow' !!! :)))

Sense and Sensibility!

Was reading the Times of India this morning and came across a news on Aamir Khan's latest movie 'Dhobi Ghat' being banned in Kolkata because the movie, more so the 'movie title' seemed derogatory to the washermen community. I have seen the film, and i didnt really come across any remark /gesture ridiculing the washermen. Infact, am a mumbaiite and i remember each time i passed dhobi ghat @ Mahalaxmi station, my dad fondly told be about the place and the people working there. Something somewhere must have probably seemed unpleasant to the men concerned. But understand that it was not made or meant to be that way!! Mind can think in any which way!! Why not just hold it back sometimes?? Else it will make living miserable someday!!
What i really didnt like about the movie and geneuinely feel that the Censor board should have edited was the 'chain smoking' act by Mr. Aamir Khan. I really felt it was absolutely not needed!! Smoking for sure, is not the prime requisite to build up an image/character!! It really should be banned on screen atleast!!! (I thought it was until i saw Aamir holding it and very 'stylishly' taking in puffs!!!)

I also read some days ago that the UP government is all set to put a ban on girls wearing 'jeans' in their state!! Ridiculous!! Guess there are more important issues in their state that they need to look into rather than telling others how they should dress up!! Don't think its any of their business on how someone dresses up unless it really is vulgar!! A college/ academic institute coming up with such a rule is still understandable!! Why cant they come up with mandatory girl education instead!!! Would do more good to all!!!

And then we have riots and bandhs over linguistic issues!!! Maharashtra must be topping the charts here am sure!!

Someone was telling me the other day that their close acquaintance had a child- thanks to IVF. And what shocked me was the 'ridiculous laughter' that followed! And it was all about not being able to have their own child!! BIG DEAL!!! Not everyone is fortunate!! Or may be some are just 'blessed' to have these special children!! Should they be talking about 'the brilliant advances that science has made or the flaws created more often by God' was what baffled me!!

Examples of how mind functions in absolutely erratic ways!!!!
Is it sooo difficult to be a little sensible and rational????
For Heaven's sake cut this crap!!!!!
Wipe the boundaries for once!! Leave money, position and religion aside!! Have a different and a more realistic perspective!!

BE A LITTLE REASONABLE!!
Cheers!

The power of a 'break' ;-)

'Break' ke baad ho, ya 'break-up' ke baad;
U come out 'refreshed' dono ke baad!! ;-)
There are more good things to a 'break' than one!

After months of tiring schedules or just boring, monotonous lifestyle, prolly all tat can create magic n make our ' oh the routine life' a lil different if not interesting, is a goood 'break!'.
I recently had one! After a lot of pondering.... with just less than a week left for my seminar!! And wen i was back, i was actually looking forward to gettin back to work!!! (which is quite a rare site ;))

There are times wen i need to catch up on my sleep n its a dream wen am at work!! :( Bt i still do manage to get myself a 'power nap' in our pg room wer everyones alarmed to wake me up no sooner thers a 'knock' at d door!!! And yes!!!! i hv been caught sleeping away to glory by who better than my 'boss'!!!!!!! And wat followed is not to be told!!! ;(
Bt nevertheless, 'power naps' do work wonders!! ;-D

Be it a book, or a song tat u love listenin to, a loong drive, a yummy meal wid pals or a chat wid a frnd or chhodo yaar- just a cutting chai..... wen all tat u need is a break, the smallest of things give great joy! :)
A break from people, a break from work, a break from the monotony or just a break to freak out!! Very important, very much needed!! And more than anything, a lot of funn!! :)
Like this famous phrase goes, 'All work and no play makes jack a dull boy.'
And so, 'work n play' n tat will make the dull boy happy again!! :)
Go ahead... do not think twice and take the much needed break..... give in to temptation......... and plunge into the fun land once in a while......
And wen u do get bck, u surely will praise ur mind!! :-)

Have a splendid 2011!! With work n fun alike!!
Cheers to the new year! :-)))