2016.

I know, I know. We are not in 2016 yet. We make all these resolutions and decide to change our lives from January 1st every year, year after year, and set goals for ourselves, but I am only coming to realize off late that it doesn't matter what date it is, what time it is, or what moment it is. On that note, let us review the year that was.

1. To be able to do lunges/squats comfortably with a barbell. - Acheived!

2. To be Bikini ready by the end of December. - Nope. Not quite there yet.

3. To start saving money (seriously, I spend everything I earn. Like, everything. Need to be more responsible) - Still working on this one.

4. Take 2 international trips and 2 trips within India. - Well, I took 1 international trip and 4 within India. Does that count? I think so.

5. To take a leap of faith careerwise. - I don't think I am quite there yet.

6. Buy a DSLR - Nope.

7. Take food blogging more seriously. - A little bit, yes.

8. Replace my entire wardrobe (except any 5 items that hold sentimental value) - A big yes!

9. Finish another Marathon. - Didn't happen.

10. Travel with Lover. - Yes.

2015 started out on a great note but I cannot say the same about the note it is ending on. I am glad that this year is getting over and I am positive that 2016 will bring in happiness and success for all of us. I have been writing these checklists for years now, but I don't think I will be continuing to do so anymore. I am going to look at the bigger picture, and just be grateful for everything that I have and pray for the well being of everyone around me. I hope 2016 makes me a better person, helps me exercise wisdom and maturity, and give me the strength to hold on to my one true love.

May the force be with all of us.

2015 Checklist!

Hello again!

First of all, if you're reading this, let me wish you a very very happy new year. Hope 2014 was a great year for you and even if it wasn't, hope it gave you the strength to see it all through and never give up. Wishing everyone a fantastic 2015!

As for me, 2014 was a year which at the end of it has left me with no major complaints. Every year I sit down on the same date and try to summarize the year that was, realizing how much I learned and grew as a person, but this year taught me how to prioritize my feelings. It taught me to value myself more, to make myself happy and content, to feel accomplishment, and go to bed with a smile on my face. All of this, but not in a selfish way. I really think I deserved that. Almost no one can fiddle with your mind once you start being happy with yourself!

Lets see how I did in 2014, here we go!

1. Lose Weight. Get Fit. Build Stamina. CHECK! Although this change occurred only post late November, I am going to give myself credit for it. I really do feel I have become more fitness oriented, not in the "lose weight" kind of way but more like leading a healthy, fit and strong lifestyle. I workout for 2 hours, 5 days a week and have managed to lose 8 kilograms of pure, unadulterated fat since 22nd November 2014.

2. Run a Marathon: CHECK! Well, lets not call it a Marathon, it was a Walk-a-thon. But I did it. I only did a 5k walk in 55 minutes. But I did it. I have built my stamina way more and can cover close to 10 km now, but I did it. On to bigger marathons this year! :)

3. Travel More with Lover.: FAIL. There is a reason. He moved to my city in September for a project. Since he is now based out of Bombay, it has been quite hectic getting him settled in, and him adapting to the pace of Bombay, while finding a place to stay, managing work, home, maids, cleanliness, bills etc. We just haven't had the time. But he's settled here now, for few months at least, and travel is definitely on the cards.

4. Get a Flying Job.: FAIL. To say that Aviation in India is going through a bad phase would probably be an understatement. As much as I love to fly, I have started to think practically. I am giving myself till the mid of 2015 where I'd focus on flying as my career completely. If nothing happens, I am prepared for a switch.

5. Learn to Let Go: CHECK. I have realized that the more I try to force myself to let go of things, the more I cannot. So I finally decided to go with the flow and I am very happy to report that I am not having emotional breakdowns in the middle of Ghulam Ali Ghazals anymore!

6. Value people who value you: CHECK. I have made it a practice to value peoples' emotions towards me, especially the positive ones. Sure, I have my special someone who I drive crazy with being stubborn and the least understanding person ever, but in general, I have learned to value words spoken by people who know the value of words and feelings.

7. Help the needy. CHECK. CHECK. CHECK.

8. Learn to Listen: CHECK. I must confess, I had the toughest time dealing with this one until after September 2014, but I am learning to listen. I am learning to shut up as well.

9. Write more often. CHECK. I have been fairly regular with my food blog this year. But I can still improve on the frequency of my posts!

10. Learn a new Language. CHECK CHECK CHECK! Oui, you're reading from Mademoiselle Ashrita who has completed her beginners level in French speaking! :) This month I am starting with level 2! YAY!

80% again! Damn! Needed to do better!

Alright, lets set some goals for 2015.

1. To be able to do lunges/squats comfortably with a barbell.

2. To be Bikini ready by the end of December.

3. To start saving money (seriously, I spend everything I earn. Like, everything. Need to be more responsible)

4. Take 2 international trips and 2 trips within India.

5. To take a leap of faith careerwise.

6. Buy a DSLR

7. Take food blogging more seriously.

8. Replace my entire wardrobe (except any 5 items that hold sentimental value)

9. Finish another Marathon.

10. Travel with Lover.

All the best to me, and to you! What are your resolutions this year? I would love to know!

Snip.

You know, I have realized that having to lose weight is not just a physical but a mental process. Once you dig deep enough to get to the point where you're so lost, you don't know what to do or say or think, when you break down and cry like a baby, when you let go off that tough exterior, you lose a lot of emotional baggage and that shows on the weighing scale as well as on your body too. I am still a work in progress as far as all this goes, but I think I am ready to be out with the old and in with what and who really matters.

Over the years I have spoken about de cluttering and letting go but when we say we let go of things, we sometimes bury some emotions just because we are not in the state of facing them at all. Those emotions, in our opinion are not worth the hurt and tears, but they cause us more damage than we can think. Every time we talk to someone we are seemingly opening up to, we speak about either having some emotional skeletons in our closet or having gone through a lot in life and being able to feel the pain of some people because we experienced it at some point in our past. Did we really deal with those emotions at all?

I guess we need to fish out all those buried emotions from inside, and deal with them, cry over them, and when we talk to people the next time, we think to ourselves that as much as we are aware of how it felt, we are so glad that we are not in a place that we can feel it anymore.

I just wrote a Dear John letter to my jerk of an ex boyfriend. Although it has been several years since we broke up, I guess there was some part of me that kept certain emotions locked inside. It would have been another story if it was anything happy but all those memories are of disapproval and betrayal. I wrote to him saying that I forgive him for everything he did, not because of any other thing but for my own peace of mind.

I feel light headed already. He will probably send me an email back with a list of swear words I would have never heard of, but you know what, I forgive him. I will update on how this affected my weight loss goals next week. 

2014 Checklist.

Hello Blogosphere!

I guess the relationship between me and this blog has become that what is between two people who were once best friends, but now only end up calling each other on Birthdays (New Year in this case) but that doesn't mean one bit that they do not love each other. They just understand the absence. The annual phone call (blog post) becomes introspective and self evaluative which is always a good thing, but one thing remains constant, that comfort level like you just met yesterday, and updating each other on life happenings is just so much fun!

So here I am, in that introspective and self evaluative mode, with last year's checklist, and in full swing to make a new one.

2013 Checklist:

1. Get fitter, leaner. FAIL. I have been neglecting my health all of this year and really need to buck up and make a change in my routine for my own well being.

2. Think a million times before letting people into your life. Check. I am of the kind who refuses to let go of things. Be it people or instances which hurt me. While I am still working on that, I have been very very careful about letting new people into my life. Funny thing is, the more I try to shun some people away, they carve their way into my heart. I am only thankful and I feel so loved that I earned not one but two beautiful friends this year.

3. Get your dream job. Check+Fail Baking has been going on full throttle *touchwood* and my creative juices have been flowing in full swing. Whatever keeps me creating new stuff everyday definitely makes me happy! But still waiting for my Flying job!

4. Reward yourself more often. Check Just yesterday I was talking about this same thing with someone, saying that I have decided to reward myself more often. I have been shopping for myself steadily over the second half of this year, and maybe spent a bit too much on myself but hell, I love it!

5. Try not getting hurt by what other people say about you. Check+Fail Like I said in point 2. above, it has been difficult to let go. But I have been making a conscious effort at not letting those things affect me. Still need to work on it though!

6. Travel more. Check Traveled to Mussoorie this year for a wedding! Then the numerous Delhi trips, Miami happened, and I know its lame but being a Mumbaikar I only managed to reach Lonavala this year! So a big Check!

7. Manage a Piggy Bank. Check. I have been lousily managing one. But yes I have been managing one and thats what counts :P

8. More Shoes, More Make up! Check People! I have 8 new pairs of shoes and a whole new make up wardrobe! *happy dance*

9. Give up on Aerated Drinks except Soda with a squeeze of Lemon/Sweet Lime. Check I actually have grown over Aerated Drinks except I crave for Cola with Pizza or Butter Chicken.

10. Love the love like you never loved anyone else. Check. Check. Check. I am head over heels in love.

80% ain't bad!! :D I am happy!

Here goes my checklist for 2014:

1. Lose Weight. Get Fit. Build Stamina.

2. Run a Marathon

3. Travel More with Lover.

4. Get a Flying Job.

5. Learn to Let Go

6. Value people who value you.

7. Help the needy.

8. Learn to Listen

9. Write more often

10. Learn a new Language.

Lets see how this goes! Bring it on 2014! 

Expectation v/s Acceptation

When we are with people we love and/or care about, we tend to do somethings and expect to be taken for granted. We expect them to just let it go. When we're close to someone, we expect them to know how our mind works and how we may or may not have reacted in such and such situation. We expect them to understand us when we are not able to express, we expect them to listen when we just wanna go on and on about nothing. We cannot help it, we just do. It is a part and parcel of every single relationship, be it personal or professional. A boss expects you to work, you expect your boss to pay you the salary. You expect Mom to to make you food when you're young and she expects you to score well in exams. You expect your boyfriend to do a certain set of things, as does he. We have to face it. We cannot help but expect, but what is more difficult, is to accept.

Acceptation is the mother of all bitches. Accepting your significant other as they are, with or without their baggage, now that is the real deal. Accepting that your child is only an average student, is an achievement. Accepting that you have grown up and may as well help Mom out with making meals at home, is a huge step. Accepting your salary coming in 15 days late in bad times is something we have to make do with, and that your employee is a lazy ass is the kind of acceptance a boss has to deal with. Acceptance is the hidden reality in every single relationship, be it personal or professional. We cannot help but expect, but we have do put in a lot of effort to accept. When we're close to someone, we have to accept them for who they are, whether they are the kinds who would go on and on even when we don't wanna listen or never utter a single word when you want them to talk. We have to accept. Because there WILL be expectations. There will be Faux Pas. The real question is, do we want to accept?

When there is acceptance, there will be more expectations. But is the person worth it? Is he or she worth investing into?


I know you are.

Love, thou art a funny, funny thing indeed.

Here’s why I get in trouble time and again, coz I love. I love love and I love to love. Love for me is not something that is between people who are intimately involved or in a relationship or married, but way more than that. I am the kind of person who would also say “I love you” to friends, or just people whom I love.

But with love also comes a certain degree of possessiveness. And that is fine by me as long as it does not result into over possessiveness or obsession. I also get protective and possessive about everyone I love, which is why I have had hard times when my friends started dating guys and I felt like they were ignoring me for no reason. I was a kid back then. Slowly I learned how things worked and worked my way around it.

But this, this was something special. This was love. Every time I said to you that I love you, I got a warm and fuzzy feeling in my heart. I thought it was the same with you. But there I went assuming and I made an ass out of you and me. So when I saw you say “I love you” to her, I died a little inside, and when I saw her say “I love you too” I died a little more.

It’s funny because we’ve been through our share of hard times and eventually reconciled but now its making me feel whether it was just for the heck of it or was it truly because you missed me?

Now when I even think of saying “I Love You” to you, I cringe a little, inside.

Walking down the memory lane.

I have been staring at this empty typing box for 5 minutes before I actually started typing. Too much to be told, things that were never said before, bonds that no one understood, and an utter load of confusion. But alas, there are no regrets. Hope still keeps the day alive.

When I look back at the first post on this blog, I see what a long way I have come and how many changes took place, I am a completely different person now. In retrospect, I just grew up. Still growing up. Growing more aware of everything and the conscience has started to matter more than it ever did, till date. I am becoming good people, people! Time to change my blog link? I don't know that yet.

I met people who changed my life and molded me into the way I am today and I am thankful to each and every one of them. I am sorry for the things that should have been but did not turn out to be, and I am happy that what was meant to be happened in that moment. The sad part is that I don't know whether I would be able to love anyone the same way ever again. I don't know if I will be able to trust someone again.

But what if someone came along and made all that numbness and void go away?
The hope still remains.

55 Word Story - Theme - Café

15^th July. It was his birthday. And this was their ritual. Every time they would end up at this coffee shop where they met on the day they started going out. A small kiss happened, and she walked to the restroom. Soon, he followed. Making out in the Café bathroom was their annual birthday ritual!

55 Word Story - Theme - Apples

The day he first saw her on webcam, from thousands of miles away, she was wearing a bright green dress. Her cheeks, though, were turning Red. 

“You look like a Green Apple!” he said. 

And there was no looking back. She still thinks of him every time she bakes an Apple Pie in her oven.

55 Word Story - Theme - Party

“Hey, what plans?”

 “Just at a party.” 

“And you didn’t call me?”

 “It’s private.” 

“Whatever!” 

She hung up, angrily rushed home only to find him lying on the couch watching the match.

 “GOAL!!! Now THIS is what I call a party! Also, could you grab me another beer?”

 “Ughh! Men!”

 she got him chips too.

55 Word Story - Theme - Language

It started with an awkward handshake. Table for two at a quaint coffee shop. I knew he was looking at me all along, but when I looked at him, he looked away blushingly. I couldn’t help but arrange and re-arrange my cutlery. Playing with my hair. Not a word spoken. Body Language at its best.

Life, like it is.

I have been learning this more and more as each day passes - Life is unpredictable. Just when you think you've got it all figured out, it pulls you down to rock bottom and just when you have almost given up and have no more hopes, it shows you how beautiful it is. The more we get comfortable, the harder we hit the floor when we fall. So I am trying consciously to not take it for granted. I say that every time. Let us hope I stick to it this time.

I spoke of a plan. But I have realized that although there is a plan, you have no control over it. It is all destiny. Now I know some of you would come up with all that "I make my own destiny" and stuff like that, and I myself believe that destiny does not mean you leave everything up to it and stop doing things on your own, but there is a plan.

As for now I am trying to cope up with the changes in my life. Things seem to look up but I can only embrace all that with open arms - with a slight reluctance in my mind that it can change any moment, any time. Perspectives have been changing and things are being re considered. Procrastination is taking a backseat while de-cluttering steers the vessel of my life. Funny how a hot cup of coffee and the perfect weather outside can string out all the thoughts like unwinding a ball of yarn.

Hope everyone is doing well!

This was not part of the plan

This was not part of the plan. This, my life. My close friend told me that maybe this was a part of a bigger plan. I certainly hope so. I wanted to be somewhere else. I wanted to be someone else. I wanted to be with someone, forget someone else. I do not rant here. I do not want to rant here. I should not rant here. On another note, maybe my life is taking a turn for the better, coz it couldn't get any worse, really. I am thinking of shutting this blog down. Too many memories. But then again, I can erase them from here. What do I do with my mind? Funny.

Of wishes and hopes and everything else.

2011 has been an interesting year so far. I don't know if it's me who is growing up or whether the world is just more in my face now. I can see so many changes in myself, it's remarkable. Don't know if it is a good thing or a bad thing, but I feel better about myself and about the world so I guess it must be working out for me. Suddenly things which did not matter a lot start making a lot more difference. Like

Hot Pink Pumps
Slutty Red Lipstick
Oh yeah, the Chanel Nail Polish
Dolce Vita Nude High Heels
That Vero Moda Dress
Going for Muesli with Strawberry Milk over Doughnuts for breakfast
Oh, the Skirt I saw at Zara
A Louis Vuitton clutch (First copy would do too, I am not very pricey like that)
All that chunky jewelry
My Kohl, although it stands at the same place as it always did. Right at the top.

Materialism, You may think? I think not. I would settle for something that is not a huge brand. But I did realize the importance of these things. I mean I know I went all out about inner beauty and stuff like that, but if you feel beautiful inside, you gotta make sure you feel beautiful outside too, right?

Why think of something that you would only dream of wearing when you can go ahead and get it? It's mostly about me feeling good for myself. I no longer call women who wear bright red nail polish as sluts. Because I started wearing it too. If you wanna call me a slut for that, go ahead! But it makes me feel good about myself. Why would I want a man telling me how beautiful I am when I know it for a fact myself? So I have decided to go ahead and make doll myself up, for no one else but myself.

Last month I went out and bought a pair of my first ever High Heels. I am not too tall, but I am not short either. 5 feet 7 is a decent height to go with flats OR heels. But I thought to myself, you know what? you need to go ahead and get these pair of heels just because you have always dreamed of it and never really had the courage to try it on coz you felt too conscious. I tried them on, I felt great instantly. The following week I bought them. Best. Decision. Ever.

The next thing I did was to buy me Hot Red Nail paint and a Dark Red Lipstick. I tried it on. I felt good. I did not know I could look so much prettier with a little bit of make up. Now I must clarify myself here, I am still not in favor of cake-like layers of make up on my face. I think I am naturally good looking like that. No concealing needed in that department. A little bit goes a long way, but a little bit of bold goes even longer. So I bought them too. I wore them to a party last week. Best. Decision. Ever.

I bought me some chunky jewelry and decided to make use of my long hair for once by tying them into various hairstyles each day. Not too loud, but people are noticing the difference. More than the people, I am noticing the difference. I am in love with myself, and I fucking love it. The best love is self love, but then again it is like dancing on a sword, you gotta be very careful you do not cross the safe zone or it will end up cutting you.

I try to stay healthy because I love myself. I do not feel like gorging out on junk food anymore. When I do, I go ahead and eat it. But mostly I have been making smart choices when it comes to eating right and living right. Did it affect my weighing scale? Not a lot. Inches? A LOT. Besides, it makes me feel healthier and more motivated.

I think life has taught me many important lessons in the past and I will always use them as my guide towards what not to do and how not to be a major asshole. But the best thing is, since I love myself, I make sure that I am not letting myself down. Do I feel a void? No. Is there a void? Yes. But it doesn't matter. I'll get through it. Let me put on some of that expensive new blush I bought myself and shadow my eyes so that I hide all that behind it. I love myself. I waited for the 6 hours that lasted 45 days, I will wait for the 24 hours which would last 6 months at the same rate. I will wait. Will I be the same? I think not. But I will wait. Let's see how many more materials I stash in my already full closet.

How has everyone been? Has 2011 changed anything for you?

Prose Mashup : You Found Me v/s Remembering Sunday

He woke up from dreaming and put on his shoes
Started making his way past 2 in the morning
He hasn't been sober for days.....

The sudden realization of urgency makes us more impatient with every passing tick on the clock. Search for it inside, outside, around and beyond... Only to ask ourselves.. What exactly am I looking for here? Can't think straight, loss of focus, never knew that a void this huge existed within.

Where were you
When everything was falling apart?
All my days
Were spent by the telephone
That never rang
And all I needed was a call
That never came
To the corner of First and Amistad

You get comfortable with your discomfort. It doesn't even hurt anymore. Loneliness feels like a sweet, sweet pain. You scream it out loud, but no one can hear it, coz' you've built a soundproof wall all around yourself. I recently read somewhere- sometimes, the walls that we build around us aren't necessarily there to keep people out, but to see who cares enough and is worthy enough to break in. But all that you get to hear is your own echo, and you think,' I'm okay that way'. You let someone into your life and they just break your heart into pieces then walk all over it. Maybe the only person that you can trust is yourself after all.

Even though she doesn't believe in love,
He's determined to call her bluff
Who could deny these butterflies?
They're filling his gut
Waking the neighbors, unfamiliar faces
He pleads though he tries
But he's only denied
Now he's dying to get inside

*humming to self*"Lost and insecure.... You found me... Lying on the floor.. Surrounded... Why'd you have to wait, where were you?... Just a little late.... You found me.." WHY NOW? you were not here when you had to be, then why bother now? You could have just lied to me, you know!

Why'd you have to wait?
To find me, to find me...

Turn off that radio, take a nice hot shower, look at yourself in the mirror, It looks unbearable. But hey the good side is that you have now perfectly learnt to mask your emotions behind that fake smile. No, but the eyes don't lie. A silent tear rolls down your cheek...

I'm not coming back ,
I've done something so terrible
I'm terrified to speak ,
But you'd expect that from me
I'm mixed up, I'll be blunt, now the rain is just
Washing you out of my hair and out of my mind
Keeping an eye on the world,
From so many thousands of feet off the ground, I'm over you now
I'm at home in the clouds, and towering over your head

.... you wipe that tear, and then you smile at yourself. Perfect. No one will notice.

Well I guess I'll go home now...
I guess I'll go home now...
I guess I'll go home now...
I guess I'll go home.

Rotten Apples

It really sucks when someone you are awfully close to goes missing without any notice. I mean, what are you supposed to do? Wait for them when there are no signs of them showing up day after day after day? Or are you supposed to be worried about them when there is no way of reaching them except for email and messages to which you receive no response? Are you supposed to be angry at them for not being available, or are you supposed to feel the constant blues?

Our mind is really funny... Sometimes it gets attached to an idea of a person, the person we want to be, or the person we want to be with, or the person we want to fall for, just the whole idea is so amusing that we start living in an illusion which makes us happy and keeps us going, gives us the motivation to move ahead.

The point which confuses me is, since there is an almost invisible line between reality and illusion... How far can we go? How far could we believe it? People come and go but some of them, we really want to stay besides us. So do we let the real person go and keep staying with the illusion?

Don't know if any of you is familiar with this feeling...
Life's a bitch like that!

Why I love Christmas...

Christmas holds a special place in my heart since I can remember. It's not just a festival for me, but a complete season. The atmosphere is buzzing with the festive spirit all around the world, and it times the perfect mark for closing the ends and opening new beginnings. Now before any of you start to think why am I so biased towards Christmas, let me clarify... I have my reasons for why I love this beautiful season!

When I was a little girl, I used to write notes to Santa every year and put them up in my socks every Christmas eve, and the morning excitement knew no bounds :) One year I wrote to Santa to get me a big ol' Christmas Tree, and guess what, I got it! :P A 5 feet long artificial tree <3 I have managed to put up a Christmas Tree almost every year since then, and I decorate it with lots of cotton and all those small gift boxes, and bells, and ribbons, everything!

It's funny that even when the time has changed, and decades have passed by, Christmas still manages to evoke the same feeling in my heart, every year, year after year. I found out who my Santa was, and grew up eventually, but the excitement still remains! Add to it, the weather is beautiful this time of the year, and there is no noise, smoke or pollution involved. The carols playing in the background make you wanna smile instantly, no matter how sad you are.

This Christmas is quite different to me as compared to the last few years. It does mark the ending of an end and the beginning of a new season, of love. It marks the beginning of a new person, a new attitude, a new approach, and a new goal. So this December, I put an end to all the misery and promise myself to remember myself, and cherish the people I love. I apologize to everyone whom I have hurt, knowingly or unknowingly, or have spoken badly of. I forgive everyone who was bad to me, and hurt me or made me upset. I do this because, 2010 was a really bad year for most of the people including me, and I hit rock bottom, but now I have nowhere to go, except up. So here I am, starting on a brand new page, with nothing but smiles and love to give, and forget all the pain and sorrow.

Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and a very happy 2011 :)
Me.

Celebrating Monsoon - Love

It has been raining steadily for the whole last week. And it's about time I celebrate the next aspect of rain. The previous one was Inspiration, and this one is Love. Love is incomplete without rains, and rains are incomplete without love. The sweet smell of love and the freshness of the moist air captures our hearts and triggers a beautiful emotion somewhere deep inside. Anyone in love will have a special something to share about rains. Be it with their partner, or even alone.

People have shared beautiful moments associated with rains and the weather, right from sitting by the window to having piping hot "bhajiya" or "pakore" with tea, to taking bike rides or long drives with their loved one, splashing water on each other in the rainy puddles, or even just walking in the rain with an umbrella in the hand but not really using it as a means for covering yourself in the rain, but as an excuse to be sticking close to the one they love. Recently, I even heard from a friend who is happily married that they took the huge decision of standing by each other forever when the whole family was against them and they had met for the last time to call it off, but it rained heavily, and that rain completely changed who they are today to who they could have been today. In my case, it's just looking at the sky pouring down on me and just the feeling of the raindrops on my body makes me feel loved.

If I am speaking of rain, and love, and dedicating a song to all of you, I cannot forget the classic which wins my heart over everytime I listen to it and makes me fall in love all over again every time I watch it. Do watch the video, you will not regret it. Celebrating love this monsoon, bollywood style!

Pyaar Hua Ikraar Hua
Movie: Shree 420 (1955)
Singers: Manna Dey and Lata Mangeshkar

Pyaar hua ikraar hua hai pyaar se phir kyun darta hai dil - 2
Kehta hai dil rasta mushkil maaloom nahi hai kahaan manzil -2

Pyaar hua ikraar hua hai pyaar se phir kyun darta hai dil
Kehta hai dil rasta mushkil maaloom nahi hai kahaan manzil

Kaho ki apni preet ka geet na badlega kabhi
Tum bhi kaho is raah ka meet na badlega kabhi
Pyaar jo toota, saath jo chhoota
Chaand na chamkega kabhi

Pyaar hua ikraar hua hai pyaar se phir kyun darta hai dil
Kehta hai dil rasta mushkil maaloom nahi hai kahaan manzil
Pyaar hua ikraar hua hai pyaar se phir kyun darta hai dil

Raatein dason dishaaon se kahengi apni kahaaniyaan
Geet hamaare pyaar ke dohraayegi jawaaniyaan
Main na rahoongi, tum na rahoge
Phir bhi rahengi nishaaniyaan

Pyaar hua ikraar hua hai pyaar se phir kyun darta hai dil
Kehta hai dil rasta mushkil maaloom nahi hai kahaan manzil -2
Pyaar hua ikraar hua hai pyaar se phir kyun darta hai dil

.....

Here's the video:






Have fun people! And do share your special moments associated with monsoon :) If not share, cherish them for sure! :P

The world is mixing!

I love Russell Peters. I know people form opinions about him and some of them really hate him saying he is a racist person etc., but I find him very funny and he is one of the greatest comedians of these times. Yeah maybe some of us cannot stand his jokes, because they might be related to us in some way to us. Anyway, so he had said in one of his shows that, ‘The world is mixing’. He actually concluded that part saying that in the future everyone is going to be a strange mixture of Indian and Chinese people :P And recently, I have come to realize that it’s coming true. The change has begun.

Let me start this way. I hate the kind of people who try to show that they’re above everything else. They would be working in NYC, but they would try to be more Indian than Mr. M.K. Gandhi. Of course, they’re just posing. So there is this guy I knew some 7 years ago. I remember him now because he is a junior of one of my close friends and they study at the same university in the US. And well recently I found out that we have common friends [an acquaintance for him] too. Now since my friend mentioned him, I got this whole flashback of the times when I knew him. He is still like what he was 7 years ago.

This guy was trying to ask me out back at that time. It was all in vain, I was seeing someone else. Back then he used to lecture me as to how stupid he thought people [Indians] were, when they used terms like ‘dating’ and ‘seeing each other’. He used to find it totally un-cool. He used to think we are copying the west. Now my friend told me that he still inquires about me, as in who am I going out with etc. and he still thinks the same way. He says that, Indians try to ‘act’ cool by embracing the western culture [and failing at it miserably] and they just show their cheapness by using words like ‘dating’, and ‘seeing each other’ and ‘proposing’. These are the kind of people I hate in particular.




What I would like to convey to him, and all the other people who think alike, is that first of all it is none of your business what am I up to. Secondly, how does it matter if I, or anyone else, not just Indian, but Nepali, Pakistani, Puerto Rican, Italian, Scottish [or any person coming from anywhere else in the world except from the US of A] consider dating? Or even if we don’t then what is your problem in that? Now if you were so Indian yourself, you would not be asking me out 6 years ago, when you were 20 and I was 15! And my friend even mentioned him trying to eye on this girl at the university today. How fake can people be!

And he brags about being Indian. About Indian arranged marriages and culture. There is a unbelievable count of extra marital affairs in these marriages. And what is wrong with dating anyway? Why can’t two people just enjoy the courtship period. I think it is way better to be dating than marrying a complete stranger and then finding out that you are totally incompatible even if your ‘kundli’ says so. Tomorrow even if I do go for an arranged marriage, I would actually make sure that we are compatible before I even say a yes. In short, I will date him before marriage. No one can do anything about it. That’s just how I am :P And another thing, dating does not mean getting physical all the time. People really need to understand that.

Since I have already mentioned so much, I think this post would be incomplete without mentioning live-in relationships. Live-in relationships are becoming more and more popular by the day in India. That does not necessarily mean we are copying the west. It just makes sense to the people who are into it. They are not a menace to this society just because they live together while they’re unmarried. Most of these couples are very responsible individuals who want to make the right choice.

Lastly, I would like to end this post by saying that whether Indian or American, whether Straight or Gay or Bisexual, whether Hindu or Muslim, everyone has the right to make a choice, and live happily. They are not answerable to anyone and no one has the right to pass any judgment about them. It’s a way of life. We need to accept it. The world is really mixing now. Love is really above all odds.

Love can only be created, not destroyed. It can be converted from one form to the other. The total amount of love in this universe will increase exponentially in the proportion of the rate of spread of love.

:)

I don’t know why I posted this :P maybe I was just angry at that guy.. haha. Oh yeah, and do watch the 'world is mixing' video above :D

Celebrating Love with my 50th post :)

Hello Everyone :)

On my 50th post I want to dedicate this song to all those who have ever been in love, are in love, and will be in love, and to all their special someones!

Brad Paisley - Then.
[You know it's dedicated to you :)]

I remember, trying not to stare the night that I first met you
You had me mesmerized
And three weeks later, in the front porch light
taking forty-five minutes to kiss goodnight
I hadn't told you yet
but I thought I loved you then

Chorus

And now you're my whole life
now you're my whole world
I just can't believe the way I feel about you, girl
Like a river meets the sea,
stronger than it's ever been.
We've come so far since that day
And I thought I loved you then

And i remember, taking you back to right where I first met you,
You were so surprised
There were people around, but I didn't care
Got down on one knee right there once again,
I thought I loved you then

Chorus

And now you're my whole life
now you're my whole world
I just can't believe the way I feel about you, girl
Like a river meets the sea,
stronger than it's ever been.
We've come so far since that day
And I thought I loved you then

I could just see you, with a baby on the way
And I could just see you, when your hair is turning gray
What I can't see is how I'm ever gonna love you more
But I've said that before

And now you're my whole life
now you're my whole world
I just can't believe the way I feel about you, girl
We'll look back someday, at this moment that we're in
And I'll look at you and say
And I thought I loved you then
And I thought I loved you then

:)

Never fall in love, always rise with it :D