Double Trouble - Being Twins!

Birthday cake,
Candles too,
For just you two.

Birthdays shared,
Together cared,
Year after year,
Sharing the day.

Drying each other’s tears,

Singing countless songs,

Living and laughing,

the lives you share,
People say, just look at this pair!
Two separate people,

Yet hard to compare!
The tricks you play, Oh what can I say?

Survived through it all,
Passing every test,

Trials together you bore,

So strong you have been,

 oh super girls!

You are your mom’s sons,

Bravery, put up tons.

Happy birthday my dears,

The special relationship that you share,

Is surely hard to compare.

Inseparable indeed.

Five Sentence Fiction: Waiting - For How Long??

For how long baby, will I have to wait?

It’s been ages since I have even seen your face,

I stay up counting stars in the night,

Can’t get you out of my head,

Even for a while.

I need to know the truth,

My faith in you is fading away.

What is it that is taking you so long?

I know you love me,

Then why did you disappear?

Come soon, 'coz the pain’s getting unbearable,

Let’s show the world that we are inseparable.

Remember, I’m here, waiting,

Keeping all the doors open for you,

'Coz I’m sure some distant day,

You'll come back and make my dream come true!

P.S: This post is for http://lilliemcferrin.com/five-sentence-fiction-waiting/

Within Marriage, Romance Can Truly Abound!

22nd October, 2013.

Karva Chauth.

For me, it was not just a fast but something that had yet a deeper meaning. Like many other married women, I too had undertaken the Karva Chauth vrat (fast) to pray for seeking the longevity, prosperity and well being of my husband and to seek blessings for a happy married life.

My day started early in the morning, before sunrise, I woke up to have my sargi (a festive meal) given by my mother-in law. I was very conscious that I should not eat anything or drink water on this day. Observing a strict fast and abstaining from food and water for the entire day is tough, but my love for him kept me going. Yes, I love him, ‘my husband’ – it is a kind of unsaid love. We have had an arranged marriage, it has been only a month since then, so it is taking us a bit of time to get to know each other and discover more about each other. But as far as I have known him, I am already in love with him, for the kind of person he is. He has become a 'soulmate' now. 

Nowadays, Karva Chauth is very popular among youngsters too, who fast for their partners or simply fast to please God for a good life partner! Never mind the cacophony that some feminists create over this “chauvinistic” tradition; but fasting after you are married is a romantic occasion, I believe. This event reflects joy, splendor, brightness and happiness of a married life. There is something romantic in fasting for the man I love! I’m too filmy, I know.

This is my first Karva Chauth after my marriage. So obviously, it is an occasion to indulge in a lot of fun and frolic. So here I’m all decked up, like a newly-wed bride, having used up all the sola (16) shringaar items, wearing a bright red saree (well, red defines marriage) with a beautiful necklace that my sasu-ma gifted me this morning. Feeling absolutely bridal, I’m flaunting the things that symbolize and reflect the marital status of a woman – the exquisite henna designs on my hands, sindoor (vermillion) on my forehead, Mangalsutra, Bindi and colorful bangles.

In the evening, we sat in a circle, with my sasu-ma narrating vrat kathas (stories) and chanting prayers. Around 8.30pm, it was time for the puja. The puja thalis were all set. We were all waiting desperately for the moon to show its glimpse. So, it was all about the moon and the men! I lit the karva (earthen lamp) in my thali. I saw both the moon and my husband through a sieve and performed the aarti. He offered me the first morsel to break the fast.

As he fed me, Viraj said, “So, Patni won’t you feed me back?!” Surprised, I said, “Sure.” That’s when he revealed that he was fasting too. It was his expression of love and care for me. That was the moment I discovered his love for me. Love needs no words, for actions are enough to show that you care. I asked him back, “But, this was not needed Viraj.” He replied back, “Why not? If you can fast for my well-being, then why can’t I too, for my wife’s well being?” Well, I couldn’t say anything more. All I managed to utter was, “Thank you. That’s so sweet of you.”

A while later, after all the pujas were done, Viraj came over and secretly asked if I could go on a drive with him. We took everyone’s permission and went for the drive - that's when he presented me with my first romantic gift ever - a solitaire platinum diamond pendant necklace. The jewelry box had a note kept which read, “Chehre pe hasi chha jati hai, Aankhon main suroor aa jata hai, Jab tum mujhe apna kehti ho, Apne pe guroor aa jaata hai!” He left me speechless. It was very romantic and emotional for me at the same time.

He said, “I love you, Aaradhya. I often may get occupied with my duties and responsibilities, but now after having this pendant you will know, I love you always. You know, in the hierarchy of metals, platinum is the most precious and 30 times more rare than gold! To signify and celebrate the highest level of our relationship, our marriage, something this pure is needed, something so durable that stands the testimony of time! I want you to wear this everyday for the rest of your life, so that our love and bond never fades or tarnishes.”

Yes, I loved him. He loved me too. But we never said that aloud to each other. But marriage is such a bond that romance has to abound in it! Not being able to contain my happiness, I told him, “I love you more than my life, Viraj and I pray to God that I leave this world in your arms. I am proud to be Mrs Aaradhya Viraj Sharma. Thank you for being mine! We are forever. This pendant will be the most coveted piece of jewelry I will ever possess. It is so pretty and dazzling white!” I gave him a quick peck on his cheek and hugged him tightly and snuggled up like a small child.  

Karva Chauth gave me an opportunity to spend some quality time with my husband – rather rare given our frenetic work lives. Marriage is a joyous decision of staying together - a decision destined to change our lives forever. It is the foundation for a lifetime of everlasting love and romance.

My husband is more than just a life partner. He becomes my protector when I’m in trouble. He respects me, comforts me and cares for my happiness. This bond I share with him is such a sacrosanct one. We now realize the importance of each other in our lives. This day has become a symbol of our unflagging loyalty and love for each other - the kind of love that begins and never ends. It’s the day we achieved a deeper, more enriching and personal satisfaction out of being in love. The realization of this rare moment is my ‘Platinum Day of Love’ with my 'soulmate'!

It has kept the love experienced between the two of us budding and has brought us closer. Such days are never planned. This has been the day that made me experience immense satisfaction of being with my better half. Indeed, unsaid words are useless, unless you utter them. Viraj and Aaradhya are meant to be. And there is nobody else I would want to spend the rest of my life with, apart from Viraj.

I still can't believe that I have ended up with such a sweet husband. I am blessed to have him. Marriage is more than just a piece of paper. It's a commitment for life. And I am glad that I will share my life with not just my husband but also my best friend, the love of my life. I am proud to say that I love this man, and I am truly loved back by this man, hamesha and forever. 

I feel soulmates are not necessarily life mates; but your life mate surely becomes your 'soulmate' because marriage is powerful!

P.S: This is my entry for the Platinum Day of Love Contest powered by Indiblogger. For details: http://www.preciousplatinum.in/en/about-platinum/platinum-day-of-love
Also, this post is for IndiSpire in response to ~
Soulmate not necessarily is life mate. What do you feel? Express your take... #soulmate

Enjoy The Coffee!

A group of friends visited their old university professor.

Conversations soon turned into complaints about growing 'STRESS' and 'TENSION' in life.

The professor offered them coffee. A while later he returned with coffee in different kinds of cups (glass cups, crystal cups, shining ones, some plain looking, some ordinary and some expensive ones.)

When all of them had a cup in hand, the professor said: "If you noticed, all the nice looking & expensive cups are taken up, leaving-behind the ordinary ones. This is where the problem lies. Every one of you wanted the best CUP, & that is the source of your STRESS & TENSION. What you really wanted was "coffee" and not the "cup"! But everyone still went for the best cup.”

He continued, “Friends, life is like coffee; jobs, money, status, etc are the cups. They are just TOOLS to hold and contain life. Don't let the CUPS drive you. Enjoy the COFFEE! Sometimes, isolation from competition and being remote from the rat race teaches us some valuable lessons in life. Solitude gives you the privacy to be physically alone for some time with your thoughts. What we lack is people with vision. We lack thinkers - people who can think for themselves and formulate new directions!"

He continued, "Solitude, my dear friends allows us to concentrate on who we are and what we really want. It is a long, uninterrupted talk with oneself. It helps us to gather ourselves and focus. In solitude we ask ourselves - 'Am I really happy?' You know your secrets the best. It is okay to have doubts. Self introspection helps in finding oneself. Truly speaking, all of us are lonely in this competitive world, at such times what we really have is our own self! It is okay to be alone, but not okay to be lonely. Solitude is the best society, sometimes."

What do you run after? CUP or COFFEE?

P.S: This post is for IndiSpire in response to ~

Solitude teaches some of the most valuable lessons in one's life. Comment or weave a story on this theme. #Solitude

Girls, Because You're Worth It!

 
No, I’m not promoting any L’oreal product! :P

What I mean to say is, “Girls, don't be unworthy and don't take the unworthy.”

We need to teach our daughters to know the difference between a man who flatters her, compliments her and the man who spends money on her, who invests in her.

The difference between a man who views her as a property and a man who views her properly, a man who lusts after her and a man who loves her, a man who believes she is a gift to him.

And most importantly, we need to teach our sons to be that kind of a man!!

Most of the relationship problems arise when we undervalue ourselves and consider the wrong kind of attention to be right. Maybe because it feeds our ego or it validates our fear of not being good enough.

Some men revel in egotism and dominate their partners. If they don't feel their partners are good enough and not valuable enough, why are they with them? They are equally stupid for making such choices.

If you don't believe you are worthy, no one else will, girls. Don’t let your fears and insecurities override your self-respect. Believe that you matter! ‘Coz you do! Because you are worth the best!

Amazing Facts About Mumbai's Lifeline - Local Trains!

As they read, Mumbaikars will love this, and the other city-wallah’s can read and enjoy the Maximum City’s daily life through its never dying lifeline - The Mumbai Local Train.

1. Mumbai Local Train, where a person thinks he won a crucial battle if he gets a window seat in the local.

2. You should be the bravest man on earth to catch a Virar train to Borivali during peak hours!

3. When we, Mumbaikars are late for college/office, whatever maybe the reason, we always blame our poor local trains for the delay.

4. No space for even an ant to step in, still, while boarding the train people scream "arey! khali hai bhai, poora train khali hai!"

5. Getting in an empty bogie of a Mumbai train during peak hours and asking, "Yeh first class hai kya?" :P

6. The awesome moment when you don’t have to move towards the exit, you are simply pushed towards it by the crowd!

7. We don't believe that the train is going to arrive until the time indicator displays "01 min remaining."

8. When we are in a fully packed train, we always feel like wanting to sit. But, when the train is vacant, we stand at the door enjoying the breeze playing with our hair!

9. In Mumbai suburbs, there is a invisible station between Borivali and Kandivali known as “Thambevali.” The train never fails to halt there!

10. Nobody remains “UNTOUCHED" once they enter the Churchgate fast local. :P You can experience a body massage, all for free!

11. Act dead if someone asks for your seat in “MUMBAI LOCAL” *a stupid gesture* But here, you find all kinds of people, ignorant ones and also the caring ones, though you are no one to them.

12. No matter, how thin or fat are the three people already sitting, someone still argues to occupy the 4th seat!

13. In every local train journey you will find at least one person asking “arre yeh platform kis taraf aayega??”

14. “Agla Station Andheri” puts everyone in the train in ‘Ready to Fight’ mode!

15. If a Borivali passenger enters in the Virar Train, then it is an inexcusable Crime! 

16. Only Mumbai local travelers know what is “Video Coach”:P (For those who don’t know, it means the first class ladies coach
attached to the gents compartment with a square cut in between)

17. You have the following set of friends if you are a Mumbaikar - School Friends, College friends, Building friends, Office friends and yes, “Train friends”, a species unique only in Mumbai! 

Despite the daily struggle, I love the city I reside in. Nothing beats it! Despite just anything, I love Mumbai – A City That Never Sleeps!

Mumbai Meri Jaan!

Something Worth Knowing - RBI Guidelines.

*IMPORTANT*

Dear All,

Because of writing or unwanted signatures on Indian currency notes, Indian Government loses Rs 2,638 crores each year.

Please refrain from writing anything on currency notes as then they cannot be used for STD transactions.
e.g.: We don't find written notes in ATM.

When will we learn to value & respect our own currency??

Have you ever seen a Dollar bill or a Pound with anything written on it?

Nothing is so damn important to be written on a currency note!

RBI RULE FROM 1st JANUARY 2014: ANY BANK WILL NOT ACCEPT ANYTHING WRITTEN ON NOTES. YOU CANNOT DEPOSIT SUCH NOTES IN BANK.

BY ORDER,

RBI

Fight That 'Why Me?' Feeling..

We all experience the aching emotion of feeling wronged by life, when our suffering seems unjustified and others seem to live a perfect life. And you wonder, why me? 

We all invariably experience setbacks. We question the fairness of life on losing a promotion or a disturbed relationship, or on suffering a chronic illness. We are all sometime or the other crippled by thoughts of self doubt, self blare and self pity. 

Overcome such despair by -

Gratitude: 
Thank God for all that you have, because you never questioned God 'Why Me?' when HE blessed you with all the good things. In a moment of despair, we quickly blame God and take our blessings for granted.

Faith:
Don't take it personally. Every pain is an integral part of life's evolution. Believe that whatever is manifesting is for our highest good. Learn lessons instead of being judgmental.

Kill the fear:

The fear that whatever is going to happen will scar us forever, is what paralyses us. Take it as an experience. The wound is the place where the light enters you.

Fight that ‘Why Me?’ feeling with positivity! Keep negative emotions at bay. 

So What Leads To A Rape?!

Attraction leads to romance. When Shah Rukh Khan is attracted to his heroine he sings songs, doesn’t rape her!

So what leads to rape? DESPERATION leads to rape.

Every girl has a right to dress up as she wishes.  So don't place it on the length of her clothes. Even if you leave a scantily dressed lady minister at night on the road, nothing will happen to her. Because the consequences of such acts done to a minister are known. But when it comes to normal girls, the rapists know, they can get away with it easily. So it is not lack of clothes on a girl’s body, but lack of consequences. The laws of this country are not so apt and stringent.

The length of clothes on her body is not a measure of her character. And the height of audacity?! The questions are fired on the girl herself after rape.

Why was she alone?  Why was she do scantily dressed? Why was she drunk? 

However she is, that doesn't give anyone a license to rape her. 

The police say she wanted something to happen, so she was out so late! So, tell me, why were the men forcing her, if she herself wanted things to happen? Was it like the girl meant 'Hey boy, do you want to come up on me?’  And the guy said 'Run!'? 

We often blame it on the western culture?  Which western culture? The same that has given us IVF, birth control techniques, or electricity and bulbs? Because of which we can leave our homes even when it is dark outside?

Being biased to a particular culture is plain hypocrisy, according to me. What leads to rape is the dirty mindset of a few desperate men, and nothing else.

If at all it was limited to only girls wearing short clothes or being drunk, but then what about these nasty men not refraining from raping even 4 year olds???