Coming a long way !

I am not a secure person. Until now. But for the longest time I felt this need to keep everyone around me happy; even if that meant letting others walk over me. My fatty would get so mad at me because in that process I would never be happy and the walker would always have something to crib/complain about.
In retrospect it amazes me now - how little I thought of myself and the less importance I gave myself ! How everytime I wanted to and should have been selfish - I wasn't.

Eventually, I learnt. Like always ! Somehow, through experiences and after buckets of tears, I'm here today. Happy and confident ! Glad.

I haven't changed. But I'm more secure now. I have people in my life who adore me so much that it scares me. They wouldn't want me to go anywhere. And if I did, then I had to get back ASAP. They will stick by me. I don't need to be told so. I just know. They will aww with me and they are my Manpower !
It's not the issue of "being taken for granted." And even if I do - so what ? Isn't that why we're all here ?

I know you want the best for me. And the feeling is mutual. I also know that you will be honest to me. Mutual again. I know that I do not have to tell you every second detail of my life; but you will still care after weeks ! You may not pay attention to the characters in my stories and vice versa but we know that we have to narrate the story at some point.
I may have not met you in years/months/weeks - but you kept my faith and belief in friendship and adoration alive. I don't want to be the standard that others have to live up to because that's just - again - scary ! But I want you to know that I'm secure. And it feels great !

I have learnt. I have grown. I never thought I would get here. I'm proud of myself.
I don't have to make you happy. I don't have to be answerable to you. I don't have to lie. I don't have to be fake. Now, if I don't like you - I tell you or you'll just know. Pretenses, maybe because we do live in such a society. But the buck does stop at some point.

I'm Me and you adore me for that.
True Story !

There is no surety but there's tons of assurance. That in itself is more than enough no ?
There are no false promises. In fact there are no promises at all ! So much simpler and easier our lives are then.

And yes at some point if ever I can't handle it all - then - there will be lot's of jars and many many storage space ! Saving it all for 'those" days.

<3

How to Save a Life !

The Fray - How to Save a Life

Step one you say we need to talk
He walks you say sit down it's just a talk
He smiles politely back at you
You stare politely right on through
Some sort of window to your right
As he goes left and you stay right
Between the lines of fear and blame
You begin to wonder why you came

CHORUS:
Where did I go wrong, I lost a friend
Somewhere along in the bitterness
And I would have stayed up with you all night
Had I known how to save a life

Let him know that you know best
Cause after all you do know best
Try to slip past his defense
Without granting innocence
Lay down a list of what is wrong
The things you've told him all along
And pray to God he hears you
And pray to God he hears you

CHORUS:
Where did I go wrong, I lost a friend
Somewhere along in the bitterness
And I would have stayed up with you all night
Had I known how to save a life

As he begins to raise his voice
You lower yours and grant him one last choice
Drive until you lose the road
Or break with the ones you've followed
He will do one of two things
He will admit to everything
Or he'll say he's just not the same
And you'll begin to wonder why you came

CHORUS:
Where did I go wrong, I lost a friend
Somewhere along in the bitterness
And I would have stayed up with you all night
Had I known how to save a life

CHORUS:
Where did I go wrong, I lost a friend
Somewhere along in the bitterness
And I would have stayed up with you all night
Had I known how to save a life
How to save a life
How to save a life

Of Traveille !

There's something about being on the move, of packing up and just hitting the road. Rucksacks with bare essentials sometimes and super exclusive travel bags for our luxuries at other times. Stepping on the accelerator, or being a pillion or settling down for some good ol' country road bus drives or train journeys or tucking away in the whir of an aircraft that whizzes us away to happiness is just something we all do, whether rarely or regularly. Hence traveling and going places is so much a part of our lives, so much so that the concept of not indulging in this activity does not exist.

People always ask me whether I'm a mountain person or a beach person. And this is a question that I don't have an answer to and perhaps never will. I have tried making this choice to see what my preference may indeed be, to no avail. I don't think I can ever make that choice. Mountains have their share of enigma, mysticism and beauty. To make my way past winding roads moving higher and higher to reach peaks amidst clouds and mist is something I cannot describe. Mountains encompass forests, richness, beauty and a diversity of so much our world has to offer us that picking individual aspects of this experience doesn't make sense.

And then driving along a beach to watch the endless sea, boundless in time, space and charm brings me to the other end of the spectrum. To just watch the waves play their game, to dive into the sea, to have the wind crash against me or to just walk along the coastline has its own sense of peace. The roughness of the sand, the harshness of the salt hitting my eyes, the gasp for my breath when a wave overpowers me makes a beach experience what it is. Not to forget the sunrises and sunsets. And seastorms of course!

Sprinkle in good company, food, spirits and all that makes an experience complete, and voila!

Travel = a pure form of joy and bliss which is something nothing else can compensate for!

And the best part is that these become parts of our bigger journeys as well.

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The writer was my classmate and is currently teaching at a "prestigious" institution in the city. She loves to travel, photograph, write while sighing, planning and dreaming. A sooperly enthu and spontaneous child who enjoys her space and comfort zone ! You can read what she has to offer at http://babushka-myjourney.blogspot.com/

Someone ;)

Someone is totally restless.
Someone has her own language.
Someone likes to cook.
Someone likes to give everything and everyone a chance. Almost.
Someone 'hearts' Abhay Deol.
Someone loves to travel and loves planning them even more.
Someone is a hopeless romantic.
Someone likes to 'sigh'.
Someone knows how to make cocktails.
Someone knows how to party.
Someone is pwetty ;)
Someone is impulsive.
Someone has Dreams.
Someone is passionate.
Someone is feisty.
Someone is awesome.

Someone. I don't know who but Someone. :)

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The writer is a close friend living in Mumbai. A great traveling companion and an even better party host. A personal favorite drama queen. You can read his thoughts at http://basic-principles.blogspot.com/

Bollywood Dreams !

‘Aisa pehli baar hua hai

Satrah atrah salon mein

Undekha unjaana koi

Aane laga khayalon mein’

If you know what I am referring to you are undoubtedly a teenager from the 90’s! The stanza above is Simran’s first few lines in Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge(DDLJ). The poem goes on for almost 2 minutes where Simran describes her mystery boy who keeps her busy dreaming.I was 13 when DDLJ came out into the theatres. I loved the movie…watched it a couple of times in the theatre and I knew every dialogue by heart! And just like Mahi from Bachna Ae Haseeno, my little sis and I kept hoping we’d meet a Raj when we went to London for our vacation.

DDLJ is definitely the romantic movie of the 90’s. The SRK – Kajol magic, the serene landscape of Europe and Bollywood’s very own Punjab came together in this magnum opus to create history.

I remember a conversation with a friend once on why everyone in our generation wants to have a love story. He said we grew up watching DDLJ…not Deewar. After the melodramatic 70’s and the garish 80’s, the 90’s in Bollywood were all about the romance. To be precise I think the romantic wave started with the debut of the first Khan in 1988 with Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak and the next Khan with Maine Pyar Kiya.

We grew up believing that love had to happen. Bollywood made us believe that we could find love on a class picnic like in QSQT, at a wedding like in Hum Aapke Hain Kaun or maybe ‘this is not friendship…it is love’ like in Kuch Kuch Hota Hai.

But none of this happened and we spent hours talking to our friends on why finding love is hard…I mean it is so easy in the movies. The truth is love doesn’t happen like in the movies…you will not find a cute Raghu Jetley (Dil Hain Ke Manta Nahin) if you are trying to run away from home. The chances are you will have some creepy looking man who will try to make conversation with you and you will try to continuously look through him…or act busy with your headphones.

I always thought that I’d find an Akash (Dil Chahta Hai) in my life. A guy, who is spontaneous, has no qualms making a fool of himself to just get your attention and is willing to ask for your love in front a bunch of random people!

Well, as you must have guessed I didn’t find an Akash. But I am not saying I didn’t find love. In fact it’s funny but I think I found love when I had stopped looking! I met him in college. He was the most unapproachable person in class and at times intimidating too. But somehow that never really got to me. I could talk to him for hours…and he’d listen to me hours. Friends around us had started seeing more happening between us than the two of us had…

And so finally one day we decided to start seeing each other. When we took that decision, there was nothing ta-da about the situation. It was simple, and it was real. There were times I’d hope something really filmy would happen…but it never did…The sound of his bike as he came home to pick me always made my heart race. Him singing English songs I had never heard before as he strummed his guitar made me smile. Not answering my calls as he had again forgotten that his cell was on the silent mode made me mad.

Somewhere all this and more made us fall in love and 3 years later we tied the knot.

I guess, the moral of the story is that love is not as complex and as dramatic as in the movies. It usually creeps up from behind quietly and hits you before you know it. Dreaming Bollywood dreams is not silly as long as you have an eye to catch signs of a simple and real love story coming your way!

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The writer is my ponjee's older sister, a marketing executive living in Bangalore with her husband. She's a complete idealist, optimist and believer. Loves the spas, traveling and Bollywood.

http://roller-coastering.blogspot.com/

Happy Quarterversary !

Terrible hair day. It annoys me. But knowing that I have an outlet makes me feel better.

Today you turn 3 months old. And I'm glad this is what it is. You have not only made me feel better but also let others think, opine and given them something to look forward to !

So,
Happy Quarterversary !

Thank you,
Friends and Family for reading, commenting, suggesting ! Most importantly loving.

To celebrate - Three of my favourite bloggers have written for Flying Without Wings. While one has spoken about the beauty and sigh-ness of traveling; another about Bollywood and the dreams of love; finally, lines about Someone (shy-ness) ! Thank you.

Let's hope this fire in me does not fizzle out and I want to and continue to write. Many Many !

Happy Reading child(s)

Bahaaron Phool

They are pretty. They are colourful. They are as good as getting rainbow hugs !

Most of us love the idea of giving or receiving flowers. The dressy ones or a pretty arrangement. Even the wild ones make us happy !

My one ponjee loves lilys. She would get one/few for herself and be excited all day. I, adore carnations. They are cute and seem so adorable. The pinks, whites, purple ! All of it.

Flowers at weddings - as a decorative piece or an accessory for the women; is gorgeous and such an integral part of our celebrations.

Flowers when you're ill, sad, happy, tired, bored - doesn't matter. It's still flowers. They could be bought and delivered personally or sent across seas. Way better than the "online ones."

When you arrive at the airport or when you leave for a land far away - flowers remind you of the pretty place you hold in someone's life !

It's the colour, texture and fragrance that gets us all excited and heart fluttery.

At the end of it all - it really is the thought that matters :)