Taking Stock: On the Eve of My 22nd Birthday

Today during my IR lecture my mind wandered (as usual...it's Industrial Relations and Labour Law...come on!) and I started thinking of my life.....this tends to happen to me on the eve of my birthday almost every year, so I am not surprised.

Firstly all the wonderful things I have had in my life:

1. My closest circle of friends.....those who are always there for me. You guys will always be the first in my life! Sanaya, Vidhi, Kirti, Mukul, Bhavik......that's you guys!

2. A beautiful relationship in which I learned to love, respect and cherish and also let go.

3. My family with whom I have managed to go beyond the troublesome college years finally.

4. A wonderful brother and a wonderful sister...who btw is getting married this year....it's going to be awesome!

5. The determination to go in for whatever I have wanted to do, be it acting, singing or dancing or writing scripts or directing.

6. Knowing I have a talent I can nurture....and writing a book finally this year!

7. An amazing childhood, with its great memories.

8. St. Xavier's College...this just speaks for itself.

So what do I want to invest the next few years of my life in?

1. The field of HR definitely. I am polishing myself for it and want to give it my best.

2. Writing....it's my life.

3. Adopt a child or have one. There is nothing more precious than the lessons that a child can bring to your life.

So hope all this comes true. Actually I will make it come true!

The Story of Life

My life has a superb cast but I can't figure out the plot. ~Ashleigh Brilliant

I have a tendency to complete novels in one go because I can't stand the suspense. Sun (of the Sun, moon and star trilogy) likes to savour her books so she holds on to them for long, Star also loves her books a little slower than me. Moon? I? I don't take books till I know I have a 4-5 hour one slot commitment that I can give to it, to my liking.

But my own life! It's such a slap in my face! I have always written the story of my own life. I have it in control..or always have. But right now, circumstances are such that I have control over the small things, but the big ones..either I can't see or they are really out of my control.... I am working on the pieces and waiting for the bigger masterpiece (thats what I hope it will be) to work itself out. I am actually hoping for a miracle....which is NOT me! This is one story that is taking really long and its complicated, but at the end I hope its really worth the wait! Because for once I am holding on! And being very very very patient! God, I hope You are listening!!!

Best Ads I Have Seen

So my last blog post has led me to the idea for this one. I appreciate, respect, and (hell!) even worship creativity in all forms. Ads are some of the toughest spot for creativity where the story is to be told in 30 seconds or less. So here's to the best ads I have seen till date!

1. Limca (2008)

2. Wonderful Doodh: Hey any ad that can make milk interesting: hats off to it!

3. Respect the National Anthem: One of the most poignant ads that are not didactic but make their point....

4. Surf Ad: Daag achche hain: these ads changed the way stains were perceived...and I am guessing saved a loooot of kids from "daant".

5. One Black Coffee Please: No one remembers the product but all remember the ad!!

6. Dove Evolution Ad: A calculated risk that paid off!!

7. Cadbury Old Ad:

8. Close-up: Kya Aap Close Up karte hain? became a catch phrase

Taking the Bite

I remember this one Dairy Milk ad that I used to love during childhood where this woman had a huge bar of Dairy Milk in her hand and she took a huge bite of the whole when her boyfriend/husband who is a cricketer hits a 6 at a crucial moment of a match (personal score 99 and team needed 6 to win from 1 ball) and she runs dancing onto the field to celebrate it.

I loved that ad for its sheer child like pleasure on the girl's face and always wanted to take a big bite out of a whole big Cadbury once, and I have never been able to do it....can you believe it? Because I almost forgot what I really really wanted to do. And then my dad got me this hu-uge Fruit and Nut (which btw is my only favourite Cadbury chocolate) that came rushing back to me. And guess what? Today morning I took that bite....which I have wanted to since I was 6 or 7. And the pleasure of it was awesome. I also shared this moment with a very special friend.....and nothing could have been better!

So note to self: I am going to make a list of all childhood dreams I have had and can accomplish now and go ahead and do it! It feels amazing!

To My Brother on Raksha Bandhan

Dear Brother,

When mom got you home, I really didn't want you! I was the only child and was enjoying it.... and you were such a tiny thing, crying and dirtying your nappies the whole day...you were no fun! You got all the things I really wanted. I had to take the blame for all your shaitaanis. And you always fought with me! I really didn't like you!

But boy I am glad mom kept you! You are really fun to be around now! You are there to hear when I need to talk. You are a great ear (and a really strong stomach) for all my secrets. You are always around when I need something and the best part, you don't let me pay! You get me these surprise gifts like the one today when I am least expecting it!

Bro, you are growing up to a great person and you will always be one whatever you do in life! And I love you! So boy I am really glad mom kept you around!

Your sis.

The Bucket List

My best friend (one of them) is coming home on the 20th of October. She just confirmed it! So the blog today is dedicated to her. We have been coming up with a list (a bucket list) of things to do as soon as she comes back!!!

Hug! Just hug....... its been loooooooooooooong. She has always been my first hug for the day. Miss it!

Go home (to Xavier's)

Marine Drive together.

Stay overs!

Go shopping (though I generally hate it...with her it's actually fun!)

Chaats!

Movie marathon, F.R.I.E.N.D.S marathon, SATC marathon!!

Come home soon jaan!! Miss you!!!

Why I Love my HR Classes

Yes! I love my HR classes! All of them (well...may be we can qualify...but what the hell! I still love them!) So call me a geek...... I am proud to be one.

So not to digress from the topic....I really like my HR classes.. because the faculty is great and so is the learning. I have waited out a year of subjects I really don't understand to reach here.... and it's been worth it!

But the best part about the class is that we are a class that creates a safe and positive learning environment. Note: "Class" here refers to our faculty too! We are a class where questions (however stupid) are encouraged and discussed upon, by all. Where even the faculty is not afraid to admit that they are learning. A class where we all are allowed to make mistakes and then catch up with the rest if they have reached ahead. And we are a class where everyone pitches in.

Its a great experience to learn like this. Such opportunities, unfortunately, are few.

Independence Day

Over the years, the meaning of Independence Day has changed for me.

In school, it was a day to go to school despite it being a holiday, one of the few days of the year, when we sang the national anthem and one of the two days of the year, when the national flag was unfurled. But it was still something I could relate to remotely.

During college, I-Day was associated with Malhar elims, and except for the morning flag ceremony, it was just another day of college festivals. Independence day still had some value.

Today, it was a day I caught up on some long pending sleep, and rest and went for a movie.

It's not that I am not patriotic.

I still sing the national anthem aloud before every movie, despite people staring at me as if I have lost it, India is the only country I want to live forever, even as far as travelling is concerned, India is the first geographic region I want to explore, and all my dream destinations of travel are in India. Hindi is still on top of my list as a favourite language and the dream languages I want to learn are all India: Bangla, Punjabi et al.

I truly believe in the potential of India, if I didn't why would I love every bit of it? Why would I want to stay here and help build it?

I really respect what our leaders and forefathers must have gone through to get us the freedom, we sometimes take for granted. My only point of contention about this day is that as a newer generation, living with new experiences, struggling with the concerns of our time, as a generation struggling to find leaders we can look up to, we find it difficult to relate to this day.

It's not that we aren't patriotic; any one would just have to say one word against India to see how passionately we love it and defend it.

I love my country! And respect it!

Fairy Tales

There is a question I have often asked a lot of my friends and colleagues often: "Do you believe in Fairy tales?" Don't get me wrong: It's not about whether they believe in magic or something...that's what people have a choice to believe in and I don't argue or question that. My question actually means as to whether people believe in happy endings? Whether they believe that good things are up for them.

Knowing how tough the world can be and how tough it can make people, I have always expected the answer to be a cynical no......And people have managed to again wonderfully surprise me......YES they do! In all their varied ways of accepting such stuff....declining in the most unbelieving way, shrugging, to smiling and saying nothing but accepting it, to an outright unembarassed yes, to a squeal of "YES!"

People still believe in fairy tales! And no! Don't be cynical: My sample consists of both MALES and FEMALES...and all of us do believe in happy endings...whatever may be the trials we go through....ah! the strength of hope! That's why we fight the bad times.

And that's why Bollywood is such a money spinner! It's all our fairytales acted out for us! And there is always a happy ending! I HEART BOLLYWOOD!!! And I HEART FAIRYTALES!!!

For those who say they don't believe in fairytales, just a question: Why do they read them out to their children? Why give them false hope?

So let me quote a few of my favourite lines about hope:

If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: “Hold on!”

To the power of hope!

Surprising Friends Week (1)

Ok,

So I needed something to do which would make me happy...really happy...apart from the work I have been doing so I intend to make this week a surprise-my-friends week. The first of this goes out to the two people whom I call my best friends..and who are otherwise known as the "Celestial Godesses", "Sun-moon-and-Star", the "Colgate-Pepsodent-Close-Up trio" etc.etc....

You guys make my life special. There aren't words special enough to express what the both of you mean to me...so here are some words, Vidhu would definitely recognise:

"To the "US" we've created! To morning coffees, veg lunches and hakka noodle dinners. To always having a shoulder to cry on, an ear to be heard and arms when needing hugs. To farewells and reunions, books to discuss, to horse riding (throughout the nights). To friendship that saw a lot of good times and defeated a lot more bad ones!"

I love you guys!!!

The Wedding Carnival

My daughter is the BIG 2-1....On your marks! Get set! Go! And its started! The race to my father's and mother's sure-shot step to Heaven (read: my kanyadaan) has started. A girl barely turns 21-22 of age and the "all the grooms' moms and groomsmen" start looking at her as a chunk of prime meat to be fought over.

Joining my parents in the Great Indian Wedding Carnival to find me a "good" (read: same caste, well-educated, same caste, earning well, same caste, decent-looking...did I mention same caste?) groom is my Great Indian family...which would include: my well-meaning aunts (but with serious issues) who have tucked in the pallus of their bandhanis and sallas and turned into the best of the salesmen as far as their "chosen boys" are concerned. There is cut-throat competition among them and I guess I should just get out of their way and let it be amongst them...

So now from a whole world of orthodoxes, and traditionalists, and modern-traditionalists (yeah they exist among Indians; they appreciate western culture and can allow the women to work,but they want her to be of the same caste and accomplished in all household duties), commitment phobics, fat and balding Gujjus and some downright creeps (Oh the stories I can tell from Dida's and my experiences!) a groom will be chosen for me. To hell with checking for compatibility (ummm....thoughtwise..I can't even mention the other types of compatibility for fear of giving my aunts and parents aneurysms)... according to all if he is of the same caste, well-educated, and earning well,....well......he is a good match.

But all this has its side benefits:

1. They are struggling to and will have to struggle a lot to find me a groom who will be as educated as me in my community.

2. The laughs at seeing my aunts snipe at each other trying to "sell their boy" to my mom and dad.

3. Listening to some of the really weird demands people have of their future spouse/ daughter-in-law. What an eye-opener to the study of human nature!!

But trust me: the laughs are worth it!!!

The Bumble bee Story

This is another one of my favourite stories..which I think of when many people tell me I don't have what it takes to do something.

Aerodynamically and by the laws of physics the bumble bee cannot fly. The body-mass to wing length ratio and the shape of the bumble-bee are not designed for flying. So by the laws of science, the bumble-bee cannot fly, should not fly actually.

Yet it does....WHY???

Simple, because the bumble-bee does not know it is not supposed to fly!

In life when people predict failure for you, if you trust you trust yourself enough, DON'T LISTEN TO THEM!!!

People have been known to be wrong, you know!

So go for it! As I always say: Toss a coin!

To My Friends

The mind chow today in the Mumbai Mirror (keeping in mind the season today) read, "The most beautiful discovery true friends make is that they can grow separately without growing apart."

This is so true as I have realised over the past year. My closest friends, Vidhi, Sanaya, Mukul, Rohan, Radhika moved out of their home (and country too in the case of Vidhu and Sanaya) post graduation to discover themselves, be independent and assert who they can be. We are growing in our own ways now, finding ourselves and yet we have begun to appreciate each other even more (if that were possible!)

I really really miss them, a lot especially when I think of how easy my life was around them. How simple life can be with a great support system around you! And they always were a great one!

Thanks to you guys (and Kirti) for making life so much simpler when I wouldn't even have to think before I could hold my hand out for support, because it was always there. I appreciate it! All the more now!