Some Days...!

Some days I yearn to meet her again,

My younger carefree self.

Some days I try to remember how life was,

When I was accountable just for myself!

I miss being out and about,

Stepping out anytime, at a whim!

Not worrying about nap-time schedules,

And packing snacks and toys for him!

I miss relaxing on vacations,

And actually putting my feet up, doing nothing.

Not being on-the-run behind a frisky toddler,

And worrying about him falling and hurting.

I miss savoring fancy meals at restaurants,

Relishing every bite and sip.

Not gulping down my portions,

And taking turns in entertaining the little imp.

I miss sleeping in,

And unplanned lazy days.

Not being rudely awaken by little kicks and jabs,

And planning mealtimes and play-dates.

I miss catching up on movies,

And being abreast with the latest music in town.

Not swaying to the 'finger family',
And watching the wheels go round and round!

I miss hanging out with my buddies,

And just chatting, teasing and gossiping through the night!

Not discussing brain-draining toddler tantrums,

And potty training woes, sigh!

I miss dressing up pretty.

And taking time to decide between the blue and red.

Not hurriedly settling in for my usual 'mommy-clothes',
And styling up my boy, instead!

I do miss a lot of aspects,

Of my life before I became a Mum,

But I also am in love with my beautiful present,

With my sweet little Honey Bun!

Some days I just like to let my mind wander,

And reminisce the years bygone,

Some days, I allow myself to look past my blessed today,

And be in awe, of how much I have grown! 💛

Threenager!

There is this little man,

Who has super powers,

He runs the show at our home,

We function under his orders!

He carries a special meter,

One that tests our patience,

A task master that he is,

Makes sure we are often tested.

He has the biggest heart,

Forgiving comes so easy to him,

He has the most sparkling eyes,

And the cheekiest of grins.

He teaches us everyday,

What unconditional love is,

With his generous showers of cuddles,

And sloppiest of kisses!

He 'beeps' his way about,

Pretending to be a vehicle,

Entertainment unlimited,

Our precious little miracle!

When I manage to sneak in,

A few minutes of quiet without him around,

I end up humming to myself,

'Wheels on the bus,

Go round and round!'

He has perfected the art,

Of making me question my sanity, one minute,

And tugs at my heart strings, the very next!

I love the version of myself, I see in his doting eyes,

To actually be that person, I try my absolute best!

When I count my blessings,

You top the list, 

Oh my sweet little Threenager,

I love you to bits! 

Sonshine!

One tiny little being,

Toddling around at home these days,

Has us wrapped around his pinky,

And swaying to his ways!

Each day promises,

Adventures anew.

With this mini in the house,

Moments of lull are oh-so-few!

The joy he finds in the smallest of things,

Makes us embrace life tighter,

The charm about his teeny self,

Makes our lives, a whole lot brighter!

Watching him grow so sweet,

Swells ours hearts with pride,

Seeing our pint-size get bigger,

We wish time would freeze, just a while!

The epitome of happiness,

Smiles come so easy to him,

Even days of cloud, clear away,

When Sonshine smiles through the grim.

The hearty laughter,

The wide-eyed gaze,

The messy hair,

Oh, that cute face!

The crinkle-nosed grin,

The belly giggle,

Those first baby steps,

With the cutest wiggle waggle.

The constant chatter,

In the sweetest baby babble,

Oh you little drool monster,

Dribble dribble drabble!

The sloppiest kisses,

The warmest hugs,

The sleepy-face cuddles,

And the pyjama tugs.

Those squeals of chuckles,

Naughty beams,

Hysterical tummy tickles,

Ah, and the deafening screams!

Precious is every moment,

Spent with our little dude.

Unparallelled is the joy, 

Of creating memories with our bundle of cute!

Baby-steps into Mommy-hood!

It has been just over a month... since the most advenjoyous roller coaster ride of my life began... since my daily routine no longer has a predefined structure... since my everyday revolves around a tiny little being. A tiny little being, that I birthed.

Exactly 40 days back, we welcomed our little son into our lives and hearts. It was a moment when anxiety, pain, ecstasy, bewilderment, love, contentment, exhaustion and relief bundled up into an emotion ensemble was felt all at once!

I have heard a countless number of times from others, of how a baby changes ones life and how priorities, routines and lifestyle completely revolves around the new member upon its arrival. Being well informed, I felt prepared enough to face it all. But when reality struck, I figured that nothing really prepares a person for the experience that comes with this life changing event. One just learns by actually living through it. I am doing just that, everyday since.

It is overwhelming how all of a sudden I am completely responsible for the well being of another human being. Absolutely every single aspect. That incredibly cute little person comes with very high maintenance. It amazes me how a little baby only a few days old into this world communicates its needs through nothing but wails. Well mostly. Then there are these adorable body language signals they give out to indicate hunger, sleep, discomfort and even boredom! Interpreting and understanding them is an art, I am yet to master. 

And the life changes? Oh, its funny how life changes. 

My computer table has been converted into a fully equipped diaper changing table!  It is where our little Gladly Pooper ( a nickname I gave him for the number of times he poops! Hope you don't mind it Mr.Bradley Cooper :P) loves to hang out!

Waking up every couple of hours at nights to nurse and change him is becoming habitual to the otherwise sleep-loving me! Making the most of these midnight wake hours, catching up with fellow new-mum friends at 2:30 am to check on each other has become a new norm. What used to be carefree chats about movies, music, clothes, gossip earlier have now been replaced by discussions about our bubs, with jargon like 'diaper-rashes', 'feed-schedule', 'nap-times', 'colic', 'cluster-feeding' popping up in our talks. 

Clipping those tender baby nails while the baby is asleep; successfully tip-toeing out of the bedroom after tucking the baby in bed; completing a chore with one hand while carrying the baby with the other and hurriedly finishing up a meal before the baby wakes up...  give a new high these days!

Oh, there are times when I feel overcome with frustration. Rocking the little one in my aching arms for hours only for him to wake up in a second when laid down to sleep; being jolted awake by shrill baby wails amidst a small sleep window, nursing the hungry little baby through the dark of the night struggling to keep open those drowsy eyes; puzzling over why a well-fed, well-rested baby bawls so loudly and trying ways to soothe my Baby Gaah-Gaah. These are moments when I wish my baby came with a manual!

Erratic sleep schedules, unfinished hobby activities, limited social life and sheer exhaustion take its toll on me at times. There are times when I wonder when my routine will get back to normal and then I realise and tell myself, "Oh hello mom, this is the new normal!"

People tell me these initial few days are tough and as he grows up things will be easier. But I do not wish to fast forward my days with him. I cherish every second I spend with my baby boy, through the good and the not-so-good days. Its not forever when he will fit so snugly in my arms. Its not forever when he likes to cuddle up and nap on me. Its not forever that his fingers and toes remain soft and pink. Its not forever that he is going to be solely dependent on his mother for his needs. 

As a new born baby he is trying to figure out the ways of the world, which I brought him into. As a new mommy, I am learning to be patient and cope with baby care. Everyday we learn something new. With each passing day things get better. We are in this together and that gives me the biggest strength to keep smiling during the tough hours. 

Every time I look down at his perfect little cherubic face, my heart swells with pride and joy. What a beautiful creation he is! This tiny miracle is mine. I treasure him with every bit of my heart and then some more.

When I count my blessings, he tops the list.

Oh, Baby!

The moment I spotted the double bars,

My mind drowned in ecstasy.

And just like that began the odyssey,

Our beautiful journey of my pregnancy.

We are a team since, you and I.

In this together for months 9.

Everyday thereafter, I am never alone,

You, always with me, oh sweet child of mine!

From just a flicker on the monitor,

To a cherub frolicking in my tum,

Oh, watching you grow so pretty,

Is such a pleasure, my hun!

Seems ethereal...

The first time I heard,

Your beautiful heartbeat.

And the countless time I felt,

Those gentlest kicks,

Of your littlest feet.

The rolling and swishing,

Tumbling and twitching,

Oh, those tiny hiccups,

That make my belly go bouncing.

Those naughty elbow jabs,

Jiggling after every meal,

Ouch! Those occasional painful punches,

You sure are full of  zeal!

Now as I sight the finish line,

And prepare excitedly for our first meet,

I yearn to cuddle you tight with all my warmth,

Breathe in your scent. Kiss you sweet.

Oh, baby! We await your arrival,

Your father and I,

Make us dance to your little tunes,

Take the center stage of our lives!

Games we play… Life and I!

Every day a new scene unveils, telling a story as it passes by.

Every day is crafted by, the games we play, life and I.

When I feel sorted-out, life drops me off at a crossroad.

When I sink into ambiguity, life leads me down the right route.

When I lean on a shoulder too long, life shoves me into solitude.

When I embrace loneliness, life treats me with friends anew.

When I ride high on success, life tugs me down to taste failure.

When I dare challenges, life applauds my endeavour.

When I smile at the glaring sun through shades, life counters with heavy showers.

When I learn to dance in the pouring rain, life hides the clouds under covers.

When I wallow in self-pity, life turns away and moves on.

When I lose sight of tomorrow, life picks me up and hugs me warm.

Every day is a brand new start, like a drawing board clear and white.

Every day I hope to paint, a picture ever so happy and bright.

When life puts me in darkness, I admire the grandeur of the moon.

When life paints my days in shades of grey, I await the rainbow that would surface soon.

When life mocks at my dreams, I dress them with colours more vibrant.

When life decides to pamper me, I indulge with no regrets.

When life rewards me with blessings, I celebrate with gratefulness.

When life rebukes me for my flaws, I retrospect with willingness.

When life ignores my prayers, I strengthen my faith.

When life seems to be a drag, I create memories while I wait.

And thus I learn to step up to life, by doing just whatever it takes…

So, when life gives me lemons, I plan to make lemon cheese cakes! :)

When Memories Outlive Lives

15th September 2014

My maternal Grandmother stepped into her heavenly abode yesterday. She was 82.

As a strong sense of loss gushes over me, I also feel relief. This confession may sound inappropriate to many. But honestly, that is the predominant feeling flowing through me since the time I heard about her demise. There are times when you love someone very dearly, that you would rather have God take them away, than selfishly cling on to them while they suffer mere existence. This was one such instance. I am relieved that she is rid of pain and illness and is in a better place now. 

The last 75 days were hard on her. For most parts of this duration, the hospital was her home. She depended on medical tubes and life support to be alive. Shuttling between being unconscious to being in a semi-conscious state, my Grandmother was critically ailing. There is no doubt I will miss her profoundly and that none can take her place, but I am glad God has decided to put an end to her worldly sufferings.

Grandma was one of the gentlest human beings I have met. There was an invisible halo of pure love around her. She only had nice things to say about people. Expressing gratitude does not come easy to many, but that was one of her strongest qualities. She felt much obliged even for the smallest of help anyone did for her. Without holding back her words of gratefulness, she generously served them to anyone, she felt deserving. Though weathered by the many hurdles life has hurled at her, Grandma lived her life with dignity and self-reliance, to the best extent that she could. Widowed at the tender age of 30, she brought up her four children and made them the wonderful people that they are today. She played the role of a loving and dutiful Grandmother to her eight grandchildren and helped each of her children raise them all. 

As are most grandma-grandchild relationships, ours was a special one. She always had a word of praise for me and had time to listen to anything at all that I wished to share with her. She genuinely cared and took interest in my life. She came over and stayed with me the few weeks before my wedding and was my personal beautician! From homemade face-packs to hair oil massages… oh, I was coddled like a princess! Grandma loved it when I let her pamper me and of course I loved it too! 

I recollect the three days that she spent with me last year. Her fondness for my preparation of a cup of coffee in particular, is a memory I treasure. My husband and I are coffee-drinkers. Hence, I was forewarned by my mother to prepare a special cup of tea for Grandma every day, as she preferred tea over coffee. On the first day of her visit, while I made our usual cups of coffee and was about to begin brewing her tea, I guess Grandma felt experimental and decided to try my coffee! So, she too drank coffee along with us and the rest, as they say… is history! The packet of tea which I had purchased especially for Grandma remained unopened, as she chose to drink coffee for the rest of the days that she was with me. Every evening witnessed the same ritual. She would eagerly wait for her coffee, slowly sip on it relishing every single sip with a smile and then shower me with plentiful words of praises for that simple cup of coffee. It amused me how such a small thing could make her so happy! For many months thereafter, even until our last telephone conversation, she made a mention of how much she liked my coffee! 

These beautiful memories and many more similar ones of her, are precious to me. I feel blessed to have been able create these with Grandma. They shall remain with me forever. I shall rewind and play them in my mind and relive those priceless moments with her. 

She ever so loved reading my poetry and prose, and called me the ‘writer in the family’. It gives me great joy to realise that I have been a reason to paint a smile of pride on her face. Hence, it was only befitting that I dedicated a post to her. A humble tribute to try conveying what she really means to me. I can imagine her reading this write-up, cradled in God’s arms and occasionally bursting into shy giggles. 

Oh, how I miss that gentle smile of hers…

May her loving soul, rest in peace!

Price of Life

When he came to,
Everything was a blur,
Amidst the dizziness,
His gaze fell on her.
Her tears-stained face,
Had grief etched all over.
Those fine lines of wrinkles,
Appeared magnified that hour.

The turmoil within,
Had blinded him of life.
The angst he felt,
Dominated every emotion else.
His young self couldn’t cope,
When his exam-scores plunged negative,
The floor beneath his feet,
Seemed to cave in.
Tomorrow and beyond,
Looked black as night.
Hope, he saw none,
Was enveloped with shame and fright.
Just one door opened,
Welcoming him with open arms.
He walked on like a zombie,
Without any qualms.
Seconds passed slowly.
He, dizzy from loss of blood.
In his moment of weakness,
He only wished he was dead.

But, the world was not done with him yet.
God did not want him back yet.
Aide reached him in the nick of time,
Scooping him off the lap of death.

He winced with pain,
His wrist hurt from the slit.
But the ache in his heart was deeper,
As now, he was blanketed with guilt.
How did he not think of her?
At his mother he looked, with rue.
How did he lose sight of all else?
And decide this was the only cure? 
He was lucky to be alive.
And given a second chance.
A chance to live his life,
And not trade it at any price.

Life is precious, treasure it.
Problems are temporary, face with grit.
Failure is not the end of the world.
Suicide is NEVER the means to an end!

Keep it simple silly!

There have been several occasions in life which have left me puzzled, misunderstood, distressed, frustrated, bitter and at the end of the day absolutely clueless of what really triggered it all and wondering if at all things would get back to normal! With spirits looming low, I sullenly trudged along these phases only to realise in due course that it was all in the way I dealt with those situations that had made them so hard to handle. Had my choices of reactions been different, things would have been so much simpler. I had meekly allowed my negative energy to work its way on my mind and body and hence affect my life. Time and again I realise life is simple. It is we who complicate it.

Life did not come with a manual guiding us on how to deal with it. That is probably a reason why we resort to the easiest option to solve an issue when faced with one, which often results in only complicating it further! As paradoxical as it sounds, it is truly difficult to keep life simple! It takes patience and practise to get it right.

Let me introduce you to some notes I have penned in my life’s manual thus far:

You are awesome! Love yourself – We are our own best critics. But often times we are over judgemental of self that we lose sight of how awesome we really are! Use a few seconds of everyday, to acknowledge how blessed you feel to be the person you are. Smile at yourself in the mirror and genuinely feel good about what you see. A lot of time, effort and emotions is wasted wanting to be someone else. At those times remind yourself, no one in this world can play your role better than you!

Keep those emotions at bay! – We humans are an emotional lot! Detaching ourselves from our emotions has got to be one of the most difficult tasks for us. Emotions are good and their display is healthy. But let them not rule you, instead use them at your convenience and will. Making a decision, addressing a misunderstanding, countering a disagreement and several such instances in life require you to don on your hat of practical thinking rather than enveloping yourself in your emotions. The more you let your emotions participate in such situations, the more complex the situation seems, leaving you as an emotional wreck!

Sharpen your patience, not tongue – There are those unpleasant instances in all our lives, which we wish we could revisit to erase out those words, we lashed out in the heat of the moment. Blinded by anger, nasty words are exchanged which are deeply regretted eventually. They serve no purpose, but only scar relationships and wound hearts. Leash your tongue at these times, patience is what you need instead… patience to calm down, patience to weigh the situation and patience to collect yourself to react in a manner that is composed and matured.

Advice if you must, don’t impose – Advice is something we all are ready to offer, aren’t we? Asked for or not, we are armed with our own words of wisdom and to top it, affix expectation of adherence to it. We like to consider ourselves experts and want to be listened to. Well, this holds well when someone is really looking for your wisdom and leans over for your words of comfort. But in general, remember to give only what is asked for. Impose not your words on others. Unasked for advice by itself invites irritation and if expectation rides along… be warned, you are steering towards a danger zone!

Hang on. This too shall pass! – Nobody escapes the testing times in life. Life is a package deal. There are its highs and there are its lows. It is human weakness to wallow in self-pity and sadness, but this does anything but help overcome the situation at hand. Nobody can be rid of these episodes. They have to be faced and they are just a phase! Brace yourself with grit and optimism, and march along the darkness for sooner or later you will beam at the light waiting at the end of the tunnel! Keep in mind, if He puts you in a situation, He will show you a way out too!

Hold on to your reins – Your life is yours; sketch it in the colours you like. If there is anybody who should make decisions in your life, it should be you. This makes you solely responsible for every action of yours and none else to blame. Take on the expectations, if any thrust on you as motivators and not burden. Walk towards your own dream and live by your own values, not somebody else’s. After all you only have this one life to do all that you have planned for yourself. Live it up, your way!

Money doesn’t love you back! – Money can buy all the luxuries in the world, but can it buy love? The piece of paper that we created to give our lives some order needs to remain just that... a piece of paper! But, in the times of today sadly, love and relationships are tossed into the bin in favour of luxury and comforts in life! Little do we realise money cannot buy us happiness and money does not love us back. Let not material comfort prioritise over the most important aspects of your life… relationships.

Move on, live today! – We all cherish some of fond memories of yesteryears. Just their recollections brings with it nostalgia and warmth. Well, so long as the memories of past bring joy to you, dwell in them as often as you like. But remember to consciously filter out those memories that are hurting, bitter and hold you down. Brooding over yesterday, you forget to live today. There is no way to change the past. Things have already happened. Learn to close doors and move on. Living in the present is the only way to be happy!

Yes, life really is a simple as you want it to be. And life is a never ending journey towards self-realisation. With each experience and episode in life, we figure out something new about life and self. Use these learning to make the best out of your life and you will realise how much you love it.

Happiness is a choice you make, choose to live a happy life and always remember to keep it simple silly! :) 

Kid Sister

The one that started it all! In 1994, a ten-year-old me penned this down.... my first poem! :)

A kid sister is more than fine,

I like to have her all for mine.

I like to watch her play in the sand,

While she is wearing a pretty little band.

But sometimes I don’t like a kid sister,

Because she would be a big pester.

She dirties her blouse and messes up the house,

And she enjoys chasing a big fat mouse.

She walks on her toes,

Into the kitchen of course.

To get some jelly,

And feed her belly.

Moments...

[dated : 3rd May 2004]

 

They walked together,
Hand in hand,
Leaving behind footprints,
On the beach sand.
Moonlight smiled upon them,
As the water kissed their feet,
Cool breeze ruffled their hair,
A lovely tête-à-tête.
She nestled her head,
On his shoulder,
Looking at the vast stretch of blue.
The moment was beautiful,
The timing was perfect,
And he whispered, ‘I love you..’
She smiled and looked,
At his handsome face.
She loved him too,
And told him so.
As they begin their new life,
As husband and wife,
They are glad they have each other,
For now and for ever.

365 days of ‘We’!

Very often I catch myself pondering over and musing about my beautiful life, smiling fondly about the treasured memories I would love to relive and grimacing upon the not-so-pleasant events which I wish I could mend. And, today as I sit myself down and let lose my heart and mind to rewind to do what they best love doing, a major milestone (…which I prefer terming as ‘smilestone’ :) …) in my life pops up and comes to the fore. Day-365 of our adven-joyous journey together as man and wife, is just round the corner! Oh my, even as I type this, my heart blossoms with joy and am overwhelmed with loads of memories flooding in and warmth oozing from deep inside! Yes, it truly is an ecstatic feeling of celebrating a year of togetherness with my very own special someone!

Over this one year, I have come to realize, that there is definitely more to this nuptial knot than merely that of a being pronounced husband and wife. A companion for life, no matter what; a shoulder to lean on, when all else let go; a hand to grasp, when I need the reassurance that am not alone; a buddy to share my every smile; a best friend to wipe away my soulful tears; a pal I can fight with and then forgive in no time; a confidant to bury all my secrets; a sweetheart to be pampered; a tutor, who teaches me things I never knew even existed; a fellow dreamer, with whom I dream up and bring to life our future together; a very special person to care for, shower all my love on and feel really lucky to be able to spend each day of my life with… All rolled up into one is to me, my life partner!

"There is no more lovely, friendly and charming relationship, communion or company than a good marriage." Author ~ Martin Luther

It really amazes me how someone, whose existence I was oblivious to until just over a year back, could all of a sudden mean the whole world to me since the moment he came into my life magically, sweeping me right off my feet. And it amazes me further of how the two of us magnetically connected to each other as if to illustrate the clichéd saying ‘Made for each other!’ On a practical note, I love to relate ourselves to this cute quote I picked up from our favorite sitcom a few weeks back "We are not too good to be true, we are good enough!"

The courtship days were like living through a dream. And ever since I set my foot onto the threshold of marital land, life has only been lovelier (…my life has always been lovely; this just takes it to the next level!). Yes, I have been told several times that it is but natural for any relationship to seem all glossy and rosey in its infancy stage and some even say the shine may wither of with time and monotony. Blaming fading colors in relationships on destiny is but an easy escape route for many. However, I have always been a believer that the paintbrush is in our hands and the choice of the colors we want to fill in the canvas of life, is entirely ours. As an enthusiastic amateur artist, I learn of new colors almost every day and willingly blend them into my canvas. With each passing day the glitter in it, only increases making me look forward to the days to come, with the same excitement as I have today.

Splashes of some new-found colors I have added to my palette:

Live, love, share… life!

Life is the best gift you can ever get, live it up royally. Now that you have someone to share it with, love it even more. Create moments to last for a lifetime. Dream big, go out there and make it reality. Laugh much. Love lots. Be there for each other. And remember, when shared, happiness doubles, sadness halves and memories multiply!

You, me and we!

Being a couple means you are not single anymore! Very obvious, isn’t it?! Yes, obvious in the terms of living together and going by daily routine as a couple. But, making conscious efforts in taking time out of everyday madness for those special moments, I would like to call ‘we-time’ is essential. Learning to like what each other likes, appreciating differences in choices and opinions, venturing out to try new things are the essence of the ‘we-time’ moments.

At the same time, amidst the warmth of togetherness, giving each other some ‘alone-time’ and private space is much needed to balance and refuel the ‘we-times’.

Let go of me, Ego!

Well, not always are things going to be in perfect harmony. Clash in interest, thoughts and attitudes may be causes for some petty bitterness at times. On such occasions, all that is required is to swallow your pride and apologize for the uneasiness caused between the two of you, whoever may be the cause of it all, and just moving on. But by letting your ego rule you, simple misunderstandings get blown out of proportions causing damages, you would regret later.

Next time ego strikes, take a moment to think of how precious this person means to you, and if you want to let an invisible futile ruler ruin this sweet relationship, even a little bit. The answer unveils itself. Tell yourself ‘let go off me, ego’ and patch things up with your loved one!

"Apologizing doesn't always mean that you're wrong and the other person is right. It just means that you value your relationship more than your ego" Author ~ Unknown

Change the want to change!

It is human instinct to want to change something to their liking. And sometime so, without giving a try at understanding why things are the way they are. The same is the case when it comes to their relationships also. People are always ready to jump in and give their advice (even if unasked for..!) in order to ‘change’ somebody. But the reverse is not always welcome, they feel interfered with. ‘I am the way I am, I cannot change!’ So, how does this biased approach help? It doesn’t! Hence, instead of wanting to change an aspect of your loved one, try to understand things from their point of view. It takes patience, maturity and understanding, but eventually you will learn to accept, respect and like the way things are!

"True love does not come by finding the perfect person, but by learning to see an imperfect person perfectly" Author ~ Jason Jordan

Talk, talk and talk some more

Talking in person is by far the most effective means of communication. Keeping that channel of communication clear and open is vital to keep a relationship healthy and strong. A lingering thought worrying you? Talk it out, share it. A painful moment, you cannot handle? Confide, cry it out. A misunderstanding hurting you? Ask it aloud, clarify it. Just as with cheerful chats, even for those more difficult ones to clear out difference in opinions, a simple open conversation can do unbelievable wonders. Choked emotions are like volcanoes waiting to erupt. Calm yourself, gather your thoughts and sit down for a simple heart-to-heart talk.

The pure feeling of absolute openness between beloveds, is something to be experienced, cannot be explained.

"Success in marriage does not come merely through finding the right mate, but through being the right mate." Author ~ Barnett R. Brickner

Feel it. Express it. Mean it!

How often do you let your loved one know, he/she is truly loved?! When was the last time you did so? You may point out, ‘Oh come on, what is the formality, she/he knows I love her, there is no need to say in words!’ Well, there is. Dear ones aren't to be taken for granted. 'Expressing' does not always need to be in words. Speaking your heart out (…even the very obvious), simple acts of love, warm words of gratitude, heartfelt appreciation is all it takes!

Don’t shy away from expressing yourself. Let it come from the very bottom of your heart! When you truly feel lucky to have somebody in your life, just let them know and make their day!

"A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, always with the same person." Author ~ Mignon McLaughlin

A day in a wife's life!

After a couple of minutes of groggily tossing in bed, she decides it was time to drive away those last few sleep bugs out of her head and get started with a brand new day!

She turns over and looks beside her and finds that her husband had already woken up and was having a shower! Her eye brows shoot up… ‘Oops… am late!!’ she thought to herself as she quickly shoves away the comforter and runs her hand thru her hair and gathers them into a high pony tail and jumps out of bed. At the same pace, she swiftly wraps herself in a morning robe, brushes her teeth, splashes cool water onto her face and gently wipes dry. After a movie which ran past midnight, the previous night, waking up early wasn't easy! Yes, now she is all set to face another beautiful day!

She walks into the kitchen, where the neatly arranged see-through boxes of provisions and eats welcome her. Browsing through them, she plans on the breakfast menu. ‘Hmmm… should I go for Samiya Upma today as well?’ she wonders holding a jar of vermicelli in her hand. By now, she had learnt her husband’s favorites and this topped the list. Also, considering the time availability and the convenience factor, breakfast usually had limited variation. So without further thought into it, she settles for Samiya Upma. 

In a while, he comes out of the shower and goes to the kitchen to check on his wifey… who, in the meanwhile is done with the upma, which she serves into 2 bowls, and tops it with some crunchy savory snack. The two of them settle down in front of the TV and enjoy their breakfast together.

Another half hour and a cup of hot filter coffee later, it is time for him to get to work. After a good-bye hug, a smile and the usual reminder to come home soon... she sees him off, shuts the door and then looking around the house, wonders… ‘Now… what!?’

Well, it was only 10:30 and she had an hour before she went about preparing lunch. When one is not bound by any set routines to follow every day, one gets to chalk out his own personalized itinerary each day. Which, at times is great… but on the other hand, it could get difficult to keep self occupied the entire day, without letting boredom strike in. 

She does the dishes in about ten minutes and then she walks up to her laptop and decides that it was chat-up time with her best friend, a fellow young home-maker residing in the other end of the country. The two connected on a daily basis between their household chores to exchange notes on house-wifely anecdotes, recipes, menu ideas, new movies, old friends, marriage bliss and basically about everything under the roof! They were each other’s boredom busters as well.

As she chats with her friend, she suddenly jumps out of the chair and walks to the laundry bag… She remembers she has to put some clothes for washing. She gathers the soiled linen and dumps them into the washing machine. Keys in the specifications, ensures the process starts and then resumes her chatting…

“Oh…and guess what… he absolutely loved the Thai Green Curry that I tried out yesterday… :) I liked it too!! Hehe…” she beams as she types to her friend. “What’s the menu there…? Today I plan to make Rava idlis with sambar and chutney… he likes the way I make sambar :)… but hey, I need the recipe for chutney… u r the expert there… .” On and on goes the chat and at the end of 10 mins, she is enlightened with the recipe to make coconut chutney with a hint of coriander flavor. She is happy! After a couple minutes more of girlie chitter-chatter, she bids temporary goodbye to her friend and gives herself a quick bath.

It is around 12. A meticulous person as she is, ahead of cooking, gathers all the ingredients she would need for the new trial recipe that had been planned for the day and carefully strategizes the sequence of operation. She goes that extra measure and takes utmost care to ensure that lunch and dinner always had variety…. As you see, she believes that ‘variety is the spice of life’! With abundance of time on her hand and with immense passion for cooking up something new, she entertains herself by trying out new recipes every so often, for her sweetheart. 

As she gives the final touch to the batter for rava Idlies, she makes her routine call to her mom, back home. Amidst the usual mommy-daughter chatter, she arranges the batter onto the idly plates with expertise and places them in the cooker that is kept on one stove, while the alluring aroma arising from the wok of steaming sambar kept on the other stove, lingers in the entire house. It takes a few whizzes of the mixer, for her to get the chutney in shape!

Three quarter of an hour later… the delectable meal is ready and is neatly arranged on the table, complete with fine garnishing to treat the eyes. She smiles with satisfaction and gets herself to clear the extra vessels that were used in the process of cooking.

Pleased with things, she permits herself to take a little break… just then… “Beep-Beep-Beep” the washing machine cries for attention! The clothes are washed and are ready to be dried… there goes her break! She collects the clothes from the washer and orderly lays them for drying in the balcony.

It’s nearly half past 1 now, and he is expected anytime. Well, she has a few minutes to kill… which she ends up spending reconnecting with her friend… who too is in the ‘lunch-ready-and-waiting-for-honey’ status! The two update each other on the lunch preparations and “wow!” at each other’s recipes. In just a few minutes, the front door is heard being unlocked and he is home!

“Hey, he is home… will catch u after lunch!” she tells her friend and hurries to greet him with a warm welcome smile. He smiles back and plants a kiss on her forehead… he looks forward for this lunch break, to be home with her for a while, leaving behind work tension back in office. The unavoidable mesmerizing aroma tingles his nostrils and he heads straight to the table to check out what feast awaits him. “Yummmmy!” he exclaims as he quickly washes up and settles down to devour the goodies. No words can fully express that feeling of joy and contentment she feels as she adoringly gazes at him relish the dishes, which were so lovingly prepared.

After the lip smacking lunch, she clears the table real fast to settle down next to him to watch TV for a while. In an hour he heads back and she is again back to the question… “Hmmm… now… what?!”

A nap was an option, but today she wasn’t feeling sleepy… she had plans to do some grocery shopping. She had a list made out which she tears out from the notebook, picks up her handbag and she rides her way to the super market. She spends an hour and a half there fetching every item she has mentioned in her list, making sure she got the best deal available. On her way back home, fresh carrots in a roadside veggie stall catch her attention… she halts! “Carrots!!!” she mentally exclaims. He loved Carrot Halwa and she had just discussed the recipe with her friend the previous day… yes, she would try her hand at the delicacy today!

Pleased with her shopping, she reaches home and relaxes a bit and gets on call with her dad for a fun chat. In a while, unpacks her shopping bags and puts away all the items in order.

Subsequently she recollects the clothes drying in the balcony, which by now would be ready to be folded, sorted and kept away in cupboards. Having done that, she then logs in to chat-up with her friend once again! They gossip on for about an hour, before our wifey decides to start her big project of making ‘Carrot Halwa’ for her sweetheart.

Putting her heart and soul into it, she works step by step on the recipe. A quick call is made to her mommy for some expert advice at a point in the process, where our young chef is confused about certain proportions… and the advice that follows is carefully applied. Delighted the way the sweet dish is taking shape, she hums along with her favorite music that is playing out loud! In an hour the yummy halwa is ready and is decorated with thin slices of almonds.

She walks to the terrace for a break and witnesses the sunset. She misses him. Misses him badly. “Hmmmm…” she sighs as she admires the beautiful setting alone and spends a few minutes lost in the world of admiration. She settles down on her comp for about half hour of blogging, her favorite hobby.

It was 7 and she heads back to the kitchen to make dinner. Gobi Parathas this time! The menu was decided way back in the super market and the raw materials were all gathered for the process to begin. In an hour’s time, she has completed all the tasks at hand and is ready for her hunny. She has laid out the table for two, with placemats, plates and serving bowls and… the tasty goodies for the night. And she waits for him. An hour goes by and then the lovely sound of the door unlocking is heard. This is like music to her ears and she immediately gets up to greet him. “I missed you today!” she confesses to him as she drowns in his hug. He missed her too and was so glad to be home-sweet-home at the end of yet another hectic day at work, with his loving wife!

She warms the parathas and they sit down for meal. “What did you do today?” he enquires and to that she happily jabbers on and fills him in about what her mommy said, the wise cracks her dad made, the secret joke she shared with her friend, how the super market billing personnel missed out accounting for a deal and tried to over-charge her, how lovely the sunset was…… he patiently listens and participates in the animated conversations at intervals.

After dinner she surprises him with the Carrot Halwa which makes him grin from ear to ear! Oh, she wouldn’t trade such moments for anything else in the world. She loved these moments with him. In fact, she loved every moment with him.

It has been almost 4 months now, since she quit her IT job with the plan of giving herself a break and then eventually getting into a career lesser hectic, a decision she felt best in order to enjoy and do justice to the lovely new role she was getting into… that of a wife! Nearly 3 months back, she tied the knot and ever since has been making the most of every single moment of being a full time home maker, by being a doting wife to her charming husband. He means the world to her, and she finds no bigger joy than keeping him happy and pleased. Today as she enjoys the joys of wedded life, by catering to every little need of her husband and bringing that special smile to his face after he devours the scrumptious meals that she so devotedly prepares, she feels it’s the best decision she has ever made!

They indulge themselves with the delicious carrot halwa… as they catch up on some amusing shows on television together. At the end of the day, they retire to bed. As she lay there beside the man of her dreams… she thanks god for making her life so beautiful. She snuggles closer to him and he cuddles her and whispers "I love you!"… “Love you too” she says… who was glad she had him, and felt lucky to be his wife!

The choice - the welcome break!

The day dawned as usual… (…or so it seemed…!) Crows shattering the morning silence with their humdrum chirping… sunlight streaming into my room replacing the murkiness of early morn... and a sleepy me tossing and turning lazily in my bed. With my eyes still shut, my hand reaches out to my cell phone placed next to my pillow… hmmm… uh oh was it time to wake up from the alluring dream that I was presently dreaming…. to get ready for yet another lackluster day at work!?

It was 7:30! Argh… on an ideal day it was the time I would have to bid good-bye to dreamland and unwillingly begin my monotonous morning chores. It has always been difficult to get myself going through these daily routines on time. I disliked running behind time, I wanted time to go at my pace!

Well, but today… something was different! Something was pleasantly nice about today… something was positively special about the day… something that made a half-sleepy me, smile! Woah… instantly it hit me loud and clear, it was my first day post resignation! A feeling of complete freedom set in…

My mind raced back to the development of the recent by gone months… I recollected… the magical proposal, the beginning of a beautiful trance of my journey into life’s next chapter and the way it all just dint gel well with my current career life. Oh yes, as I stood at this crossroad in life where I had to make choices, I have made the choice which I felt best and have decided to give myself a little break from work to enjoy the lovely new phase in life that is awaiting me round the corner…!

After 5 long yrs of IT life, when days seemed to have its own set itinerary… a feeling of liberty like today’s… was heavenly! There was so much I have wanted to do for myself, at my own tempo… but had to shelf for obvious reasons… busy work-schedule!

Starting today, for the next few months (...until my heart is ready to take on work-life again…) my life is completely going to be in my hands and the clock would tick according to my tunes! Keeping the cell phone back in place, I snuggle cozily for another session of sleep… extended sleep! Blissful! Swiftly drowned into my enchanting paradise again… drifting into the lovely days ahead… of my BIG day… and the happier days beyond… life really seemed beautiful…

…for now, it was a hearty farewell to everything to do with work-life… and just complete-unlimited personal happiness and contentment! :)

Exam Fever!

WHACK! Got him. I had finally managed to eliminate the mosquito, which I was aiming at for the past few minutes. It was 10:52 pm. Sunday. I was at my desk with my books open in front of me. I suppose, I was studying.

Yes! I was doing maths, not one of my best subjects. I had my exams – BOARD exams, in two days. BOARD EXAM. Those words used to scare me until a few days back and now,… I was actually going to experience it.

I wished that I could fast forward my life, by a month, when I would be free of exams and could have fun. But that was fantasy. Coming back to reality, I had my MATHS BOARD EXAM the day after tomorrow.

The atmosphere was so silent. I could picturize people in my neighbourhood cozily cuddled in their beds, asleep. “Then why do I have to study?”, I wanted to ask. But to whom? Everyone went through this phase in life once too, so I am no exception.

MATHS. MATHS. MATHS. The open books kept saying, or so it seemed. My mind kept wandering and now I decided I had to solve some problems.

I kept hearing, “And the Oscar goes to …” quite a few times, which crept through the closed doors to my room. I tried so hard not to think of the Oscar Awards Ceremony that was going on, on television. Not fair that my little sister gets to watch it when I cant. She was the only one, beside me, awake at that hour. Studying in class 7, she was enjoying life, while I sat and slogged with Maths. Trigonometry at the moment.

After sometime, I decided to get serious and care les about the happenings of the surrounding. Just as I pondered over a mystifying problem, my sister barged inside and started chanting, “My Hero got an Oscar, my Hero got an Oscar.” Huh! Do I care? I would have if she had solved my problem for me. Thanks to her, I got distracted again. This time, I gave up and decided I would continue on the morrow. It was 11:45pm. Almost an hour and I had managed to do only 6 problems.

Well, that was how my life was when I was in class X. I still remember that day – 3rd of June, when our results were put up on the net. I sat up till midnight to check my results. I couldn’t believe my marks and rechecked to see if it really were mine! I had managed a 81% in Maths... after all that!! I was thrilled and overjoyed. I made the most of it in my class XI. I watched as many shows as I wanted to compensate.

But in spite of all this, there is still a fear of BOARD EXAMS inside me. There ought to be, this year, I face it all over again. This time, it will be more scary.