2012, the year that was!

As clichéd as it might sound, 2012 has been one of the fastest years ever in my life. To think of it, I was celebrating new year, then my birthday and once work started I just have this distant memory of travelling back and forth, enjoying the travel more than the destination many a time. Then there was this time when I had to manage home all by myself when mom and dad were abroad for a while. After that I got to take a wonderful holiday to Kashmir, one place that I’ve wanted to go for so long and glad that my wish was granted. Now, all of a sudden I see myself coming back to the New Year again.

I shouldn’t be complaining since I like being busy (not pretending to be busy), but 2012 was hectic indeed. I had a lot of things to do and I’m happy that something was keeping me occupied.  I had time to read, I had time to write, I had time to blog, I had time to read what others write and write about what I read. I had time to learn swimming, something that I’d promised myself during the New Year 2012. I had time to listen to music, stay up to date with what was happening on Facebook, and got hooked on to twitter. I never missed listening to my favorite songs from the latest albums, ‘Dil Se’ and ‘Kun faya Kun’ on a daily basis. I took time off to sharpen by driving skills and I’m pretty comfortable driving on the road, especially on the flyover, still I’m a bit cautious. Trying to perfect it by the end of next year ;-)

Enough Said. Is there a Solution?

It is indeed a sad day for all of us. One of our sisters, who was one among us had to leave the world. Well I wouldn’t say she had to leave, she was forced to leave, after the horrible treatment meted out to her. And isn’t it surprising to realize that the very people who were responsible for her condition are still present amongst us? Alive and kicking.

Over the past few days there has been an outrage in social media, condemning the incident. The blame game started and people blamed the government, the Police. Some notable citizens went further and remarked that women should be modestly dressed and went on to speak something that they had to regret later. These days anyone and everyone seem to be giving advice to others, just because a medium of reaching out to the larger audience is available.

All said and done, after all the incisive back to back interviews, discussions and debates, how different are we today? Have we been able to witness anything close to a solution for this? Has the young girl’s death not taught us a lesson? There is a lot of hue and cry but what exactly are we going to do about it? Shouldn’t justice be served and shouldn’t the culprits be punished. Shouldn’t this send a message to all the perverts there who think they can get away with anything?

Book Review : Once Upon The Tracks of Mumbai By Rishi Vohra

We live in reality. Some of us live in our dreams too. For a few it is just a dream, but for a few it is an ‘Alternate Reality’.

Once Upon the Tracks of Mumbai by Rishi Vohra, takes us through the life of Balwant Srivatsav, set in the backdrop of the Mumbai suburban railways. He comes across as an introvert who finds it difficult to communicate with other people. He is unable o express himself clearly and no one seems to be able to understand him, except perhaps his friend, the one person who treats him the way he wishes to be treated, Vandana.His family is not particularly proud of him and he chooses to distance himself from them to avoid unnecessary tension in the family. The book deals about how he deals with various people, how he realizes his own potential in the most unusual circumstances and how he creates a mark for himself in an unassuming manner.

Balwant Srivatsav or Babloo as he is known lives in his own world and keeps to himself. Being the elder of the two sons of Amar and Sudha, he grows up devoid of the love and affection from his parents. He is physically fit and mentally sound, but he has trouble maintaining a conversation with people. He finds it difficult to assimilate words spoken very quickly and hence is left to keep staring without a clue as to what is going on. He is content with his daily routine and is not bothered of anyone other than Vandana. Vandana is portrayed as a very independent woman who dreams to make it big in the advertising agency. Being beautiful and intelligent, she is a bit wary of men but finds a good friend in Babloo. Sikander, his childhood friend, promises to set up Babloo’s with Vandana. But he has his own intentions.To that purpose, Babloo introduces Vandana to Sikander who seem to strike a chord from the beginning.

What Chennai Means to Me!

This post is part of the blog tag titled, The CBC Tablog where CBC stands for Chennai Bloggers Club. About 35 bloggers from Chennai are participating in this blog tag; everyone will write about their favourite city Chennai and what it means to them. So here's my post for the CBC tablog titled, What Chennai Means To Me. Thanks for passing the baton to me Bhushavalli Natarajan!

Who said you have to like something only if it is perfect? In fact it is the imperfections that makes something all the more lovable. Chennai might not be the best city for others, but for me it will always remain special and close to my heart.

Chennai. My home. My heart.My world. Chennai has given me a life, a wonderful family, a job , a passion, memories and tonnes of happiness. What more could I ask for?

Sunset @ Marina, clicked by me.

Here is Chennai from my perspective.

Anna Centenary Library 

Beach (Marina/Bessy) 

Chennai Super Kings 

Dhabba Express (best buffet!)

Egg Sandwich (Outside Alsa Mall) 

Filter Coffee 

Greams Road Fruit Shop 

Home :-), Higginbothams 

Idly with 3 chutneys 

Jilabis in Dhabbas 

Kodambakkam , Kancheepuram Sarees

LandMark 

Music Academy 

Nungambakkam

Ootta Vadai :-) 

Parthasarathy Temple 

Queues outside anywhere, specially Long ones. (ATM, Stores offering Sale and Discount, Billing Counters, temples, Cafeteria, Boarding a Flight) 

Rosary Matric, Rajinikanth

Satyam Cinemas, Santhome Church 

Taj Coromandel (Golden Dragon and Match Point) 

Upma

Vanakkam with Both hands folded 

Whistle (oh yes I can ;-))

Xerox Shop (I spent half my engineering waiting there :-) ) 

Yoga 

Zardozi silk sarees

I haven't been to Heaven but I know how it would be, because I live in Chennai :-)

This post will be succeeded by Bragadeesh Prasanna who blogs at Prasanna's Ramblings.  

Previous posts in the Tablog

Susan Deborah's post.
Anne John's post.
Aravind Kumar's post.
Bhushavalli Natrajan's post.

The Pleasure Of Walking.

Image Courtesy : FreeDigitalPhotos

I usually don’t get to walk much, unless I specifically set out for the very purpose. Having been gifted with a two wheeler, which is always at my disposal, I don’t have the need to walk unless I feel so. Today, I was placed in a different situation where I wasn't in a position to use my vehicle. But I had an impending meet up which I did not want to miss. So I decided to walk a bit and travel by public transport. I walked up to the nearest bus stand, took a bus, and got down at a point where my friend had agreed to pick me up. Later that day, I asked me friend to drop me at the nearby station,  took a train back home and walked the remaining distance.

This might seem odd for someone in Chennai, considering that most of them are equipped with their own mode of transport or are kind-hearted to donate large sums to the auto drivers. Somehow I desist these money hungry auto drivers who charge a fortune just for a 3 km ride. Leave alone being fair, there is a limit to which one can demand from others. So instead of complaining,  I choose to avoid them totally and opt for the  buses/trains as the last resort.

Book Review : Shades Of Love.

Shades of Love. An Anthology of Short stories.

I am not a big fan of love stories. Sometimes it’s too sweet to be true and I try and keep my hands off books , that claim to be an out and out romantic story. Come on, I can’t read pages and pages of all what some people claim to be unconditional love. When I came across this book, Shades Of Love, I presumed it to be another one of its kind. But then I happened to notice another line that said “An Anthology of short stories”. I like reading short stories, thanks to a lot of bloggers (my favorite short story writer is Partha Sir, who blogs here ). So I decided to go for it and read it.

Shades of Love, comprises of stories written by twenty five different people. The profile of the contributors include IT professionals, management graduates, students, journalists, architects, writers,  teachers, dancers and people from the field of medicine. Before reading the book, I read the short note about each contributor and I was surprised by how people from such diverse backgrounds nurtured the spirit of writing despite their mainstream profession.  Kudos to the Editor Ankit Mittal for such a nice initiative and a wonderful compilation of stories.

My Letter to the Prime Minister.

The Viewspaper organized a Letter-A-Thon Campaign "PM Ji Samjho Ji" where people were invited to write a letter to the Prime Minster offering constructive criticism. I would like to thank the Editorial team for having invited me personally to write in the campaign. Here is my letter. You can also read it here.

You can read the other letters here.

Image Courtesy : The Viewspaper

Dear Prime Minister,

I write to you as a citizen, who is concerned about the direction in which the nation is headed.

I have always admired you as an individual and your profile, but somehow things don’t seem to be going in the right direction, for some time. Everyone has their share of bad days; You just seem to be having all of them together.  I don’t wish to add fuel to the fire and point out why things went askew. Past is past, there is no point talking about it now. We can only hope to make sure that we do not repeat the past mistakes.

In this letter, I wish to outline certain things, which would definitely help the “aam- aadmi”. More than just helping the common man, it would help the nation too.

Lighting Up Lives!

I read this somewhere about Bringing Light to People's Lives.

                       'I do not want to be the Sun in your life, and give light when everything is bright.'

. 'I wish to be the Moon in your life and give light when there is darkness everywhere' 

It is easy to stand by someone when many people are already supporting him,

                       But it matters a lot, to stand by someone when no one is there to support him.

Happy Karthigai Deepam :-)

Chennai Bloggers Club , 1st Anniversary Meet.

 A few of us from the Chennai Bloggers club(Oh yes, by the way we have a bloggers club, exclusively for the  bloggers who belong to Chennai) took the initiative to organize a meet to celebrate the first Anniversary of the club. We planned, a lot. We were skeptical about the numbers. Still, the meet was on and we kept our fingers crossed.

The Chennai Bloggers Club . Photo Courtesy : Rajiv Nagarajan

It was heartening to see so many of them turn up and head across to join the others in conversation. As I always keep saying, it is nice to get to know a lot of people, from different backgrounds. People whom we would not have normally met in any other ordinary circumstances. I knew many of them even before the meet, so I took the initiative to introduce people to the latest entrants to the group. I did have fun talking with each and everyone, old friends and new friends , catching up with what was going on in their life. It was really nice.

We spent about 3 hours together. A wonderful 3 hours, I should say. There was fun, frolic and laughter. Thanks to a suggestion from one of our members, for the benefit of everyone we asked people to introduce themselves to the group. When people were telling about themselves I couldn't help wondering how a small art, the art of writing, could actually bring so many of us together. Making a rough list of the profiles of the people who were a part of the meet, I can confidently say that there were people from about 8 different professions there. 

Isn't it interesting? How one small passion among so many different people, brings them all together?Not just in the virtual world, but in reality too? It's nice to get to know the face behind the blog. The face behind soul stirring poems, wonderful stories and tempting delicacies. It helps build the friendship that is cultivated over the Internet and goes a step further and helps us know the other person, on a much better level.

As outgoing as I am, I never miss an opportunity to socialize.It's always nice to know people and even better when one is able to maintain the contacts and establish a good network. Thanks to many things in my life, I've a wonderful network of people and more importantly, I might not talk to them every now and then, but I know how to maintain my contacts, lest their memory feels I don't deserve a space there.

This was a wonderful opportunity for me, to meet new people and get to know them well. I'm overwhelmed by how people recognized me by my name and blog. At the end of the day, what matters is the impact you leave on people.

Here's to the Chennai Bloggers Club and the wonderful Bloggers there. Cheers! 

Of Random Conversations with the Soul #4

Silence is Golden.Indeed.

A few days back I was at the beach. The timing couldn't have been better. It was almost 11 in the night. The silence was so welcome and it felt to be nice, standing at the shoreline and listening to the waves.  They were trying to say something. There was some music that my ears could perceive and I stood there, ensconced in the silence, listening to what their soul was trying to express.

Another morning, I’d gone to my terrace  to inspect what the previous day’s rains had done. The sun was just waking up , the clouds seemed  fresh, the birds weren't up yet. The ordinary surroundings seemed so beautiful to my eyes. The calm temperament seemed to accentuate its beauty. And still, I could hear something, I could hear the gentle winds passing by and it was soothing.

I normally come across as a garrulous person. As in, I talk when it is required and when I talk, I talk a lot. I don’t restrict myself with one word answers. But at other times, when I’m on my own, I prefer being silent and absorbing in everything around me. It’s like getting time to spend with oneself.

Sometimes I feel the strong urge to break away from the crowd surrounding me and dash off to some place where I can just sit at peace, without having the need for someone or something to accompany me. I need a silent atmosphere and I relish that to every bit. It’s not about being lonely but it’s about spending some time alone. As much as a social animal that I am, I value the time that I spend with myself (no, I would not like to call it, being alone, I would like to say I enjoy spending quality time with myself)

Though I manage to squeeze time for myself, the time spent is considerably less. After all, the prime purpose of life is to feel happy. Only if I spend some time in peaceful contemplation will I be able to figure out what exactly would make me happy. Only if I pursue those interests would I be able to feel happy. And for me, that peaceful contemplation would come only when I’m left alone away from the hustle bustle world. Only if I know myself better and explore what lies hidden in my mind and soul and deep within, that I would be able to work towards making me feel happy.

Now I realize why I was looking forward to spending some time in silence.  The key to happiness, my happiness, lies there. The key to finding that inner voice.

Through My Eyes.

 It was a bright Sunday and the weather was really good. Nature looked at its best. It looked even better, though my Nikon D70  :-)

A heartfelt thanks to my uncle, TRS for having given me his camera. I'm enjoying every moment with it :-)

This picture was clicked near Santhome,
Sunset always gets me excited

This picture was also clicked near Santhome,
 I'm never tired of admiring this.

This was clicked near my home.
 Some things make sense only to some people.
To me, it made a lot of sense.

Is there a better place than this to hangout with our dear ones?
Up above, with no one to disturb.
The three of them seem to be having a nice time,
 don't you feel so? 

Celebrations : Now and Then!

This post has been published by me as a part of the Blog-a-Ton 33; the thirty-third edition of the online marathon of Bloggers; where we decide and we write. To be part of the next edition, visit and start following Blog-a-Ton. The theme for the month is 'Celebrations'

A few years back...

Festivals meant a lot of activity around the house. From cleaning up to gearing up for the festivities, from new dresses to tasty treats, from visiting temples and relatives houses, there was so much of fun and excitement. It was something different from the routine. It was an uphill task, yet the sheer thought of doing it all for a festival, would wipe out all the pain and make one feel happy. These celebrations gave us an excuse to come together as a family, share our happiness and strengthen the bonds of love and affection. It gave us an excuse to put everything away and spend time with our loved ones, lost in an entirely different world, where you were forced to have third helpings of food, your stomach hurt from laughing with everyone and you actually witnessed your elders reliving their younger and carefree days,with nothing to worry about apart from how many sweets one could mange to eat without being reprimanded. Celebrating these special days meant a lot of work, but as long as it made everyone happy, no one was actually bothered with the workload.

Image Courtesy : FreeDigitalPhotos

Now

Everyone is busy. Everyone is hard pressed for time. What was once done with a lot of interest and with devotion is now being done as a formality and not purely out of interest, though some people really wish they had just a little more time to do things as they were done before. They aren't to be blamed. With the nature of work and the arduous travel which people are subjected to, on a daily basis, one looks at these festivals as a time to relax and wishes to keep things simple.Today a lot of this is commercialized.  Before, these celebrations gave us an excuse to come together as one large family. Today it might not bring all of us together, given that people are spread out around the globe, but we do sit back and wish people were together as those good old days. There was love in what people did before, today it has just become a part of the routine. But one thing to be appreciated is that, we still dedicate at least some time to be with our friends and family. We might not get to meet everyone in the family, but even if it just about 4 people, we do ensure we spend time with them and catch up with them. After all, what is life without people, and what is life without celebrations!

The fellow Blog-a-Tonics who took part in this Blog-a-Ton and links to their respective posts can be checked here. To be part of the next edition, visit and start following Blog-a-Ton. Introduced By: BLOGGER NAME, Participation Count: 00

Random Clicks #1

I once happened to meet this person who said he was working for Google. I couldn't believe what he said. Judging my reaction he said " I know you do not believe me, just turn around and ask anyone there, they will tell you the truth", and he pointed his finger in one direction. I turned around and looked in that direction. He was not lying.

This picture was clicked near Velacherry,Chennai when I was travelling in a bus

The other day, while walking back home from work, I noticed this van. I did not read what was written on them till I saw someone step out, counting cash. It was then that my brain registered the words "Mobile ATM". Automated Teller Machine became Any Time Money. Now Any Time Money, even at your doorstep!

This picture was clicked near Kodambakkam, Chennai

Travelling in Chennai Buses.

For the past 6 months, my life has been centered on 19 B. Given that I've to travel to the IT corridor from the heart of the city, boarding the bus at T.Nagar seemed to be the most viable option. This was one among the very few buses that took the shortest route to reach Old Mahabalipuram Road (OMR). So, the minute I came to know that I would have to travel to OMR on my own on a daily basis, I did not have to worry, the AC bus option was available for me.

Travelling in an AC bus, that too in Chennai, is a different experience. I am not sure about the other AC buses that run in the city, my knowledge is limited to 19 B .The people, the attitude of the driver, the rapport of the conductor, the constant music that is always played, everything is a new experience. But, wait there are a few similarities between travelling in an AC bus and a normal bus. For instance in normal buses the conductor would sulk if you do not tender the exact change, the conductors in AC buses are no different, but they do not harass.

Local Tea Party, SA and Evam’s Stand Up Tamasha!

Image Courtesy : Google

 Imagine what all could go wrong at work. Just imagine every little thing. Now, that is exactly what happened to me at work . The previous week went as bad as it could get and I was desperately waiting for the weekend. You know why, I’d plans with my friends :-)

Yes, we are a bunch of crazy people (read Chennai Bloggers) who would travel all over the city just to taste good food. So When ‘Eat Chennai’ was happening we definitely had to go there and try out all those ‘Street Food’. Plus there was this Stand Up Tamasha by Evam, and I heard it was not something to be missed. So we made plans for both.

Of Raised Voices and Intimidating Persona.

The other day while I had to wait for almost half an hour to board a bus to get back home, I noticed a dog and a cow facing each other as though they were gearing up for a big fight. The dog kept barking every now and then and the cow stood there unfazed by all the tantrums thrown by the dog. I sensed that the cow wanted to move in one direction but the dog kept blocking the way, with all that it could muster.

Book Review : An Idiot, Placements and IntervYOU.

An Idiot, Placements and IntervYOU by Toffee (Taufeeq Ahmed) takes one through the experiences of the author during the 'placement season' of his college life.The author walks through the entire process, right from the preparation for the Aptitude tests to the various levels of selection, depending on the recruiting organization. He gives an in-depth analysis at each stage, describes every intrinsic process that normally takes place and guides us on how we should tackle the various difficulties that might crop up.

For a person who has been there, done that and procured a job, this book would just be telling things that already they know. But for a person who is just about to take that first step towards bagging their dream job, this book would help them in more than one way. Those who were placed through ‘Campus Recruitment would probably be able to relate to what I say in a better way.

A Day with the Clouds.

The other morning (read 4.30 am) I was reluctant to get up and leave for office. The fever was at its worst.When Ma is at home, she usually cajoles me to get up with the sweetest tone, specially when I'm not well.Since I was home alone, I thought it would be convenient to switch off the alarm and call in sick. Somehow I could hear my mom asking me to get up in the same sweet way she usually does. I got up and went to my balcony and this is what I saw. 

Book Review : Circle Of Three By Rohit Gore

Three people, different in their own way , live in different parts of a city. Can they make a difference in the life of the other two?

Circle of three by Rohit Gore takes us through the lives of three distinct people, who are initially unaware of the others’ existence.  They are in the same state, facing their own set of problems for  different reasons.  The story is about how they happen to come across the other by sheer destiny, how the three of them, once strangers, become the world to the other and how each one of them helps the other overcome their grief and start a new innings in life.

Thirteen year old Aryan Khosla, Thirty three year old Ria Marathe, and Sixty Three year old Rana Rathod have one thing in common. They are lonely and deserted by their family. Aryan , the soft hearted but mature minded kid is almost ignored by his parents and bullied at school.  The lack of a good friend and a companion, forces him to keep all these thoughts to himself and he reclines to a shell where no one else is allowed. Ria Marathe, is an enigma.  Once a famous scriptwriter in Bollywood, now refuses to meet people and step out unless absolutely necessary. It would be obvious to anyone that she has been struck by tragedy and she is going through a tough time. But is it so intense that it forces her take the extreme step? Rana Rathod is a long forgotten author, whose books were a rage, years back. In the process of trying to make a comeback, he is humiliated and dejected .He finally meets people who think of him as one great author. How the three of them come together, the circumstances which bring them together, how they help each other handle their past to set their future right, and how they help each other get along with life forms the rest of the story.

A Mother's Predicament.

There was a girl

miles away from home

missing her mom ,every minute of her day.

The way her mom smiled, the way she woke her up

the strong cup of coffee every morning

brightening not just her mood, but her entire day.

If only her mom could come over, 

how happy would she be!

The way her mom could read her thoughts,

she knew every little thing about her.

The comfort she gained, 

by looking at her face, was just unparalleled.

She needed her mom for everything

Anything that her mom said would make her happy,

Anything that her mom did, would make her happy.

She was so possessive of her mom and

did not mind telling it out.

She loved her mom so much

she was missing her mother badly

And one fine day, her mom said she would visit her for a few days

The Art of Speaking!

If someone remarked that I was very talkative, I would take it as a compliment.

If you are under the opinion that I have clearly misunderstood what the word compliment means, let me take the liberty to explain why I consider it so.

Silence is Golden, but only at the right time. Today, if we need to make our presence felt and leave a mark, we need to speak up without yielding in to our inhibitions. If we desire to be successful, we need to open up and speak.We might be wrong, but we would know it for sure, rather than keeping it to ourselves and being in state of dilemma. If we do not make use of the chance given to us, someone else would snatch it from us and walk away.And this feat cannot be achieved overnight. It takes years and years of training and hardwork! 

5 Tips For A Better Living!

Image Courtesy : FreeDigitalPhotos

College seems to be so far away in memory considering the little time I get to spend with my friends from college. Work is as demanding as always, but if we try to develop an interest it would be something we can look forward to. That is exactly what I did and I am not regretting one bit of it.

Recently when I caught up with a friend of mine, she seemed so depressed. A lot of things were weighing in her mind and the usually zealous person whom I had known at college, seemed to have vanished without a trace. I am not going to get into the details of it. I found it coincidental that most of my friends were almost in the same category. Being new to the industry, the campus to corporate jump had taken a toll on most of them, life was indeed a bit demanding and they were trying to figure out a way to deal with it.

India. Incredible India it is.

India, a land of diverse cultures, a land of rich heritage, a Superpower in the making, a growing Economic power. Gone are the days when Indians were just a part of the audience, watching their foreign contemporaries shell out ideas after ideas which made the world notice them. Today Indians are leading changes from the front. We are globally recognized for the sheer hard work and dedication with which we work. We've crossed unimaginable boundaries, both within ourselves and in the world that we live in. We've dared to dream beyond what we see, followed our ideals and made the world sit up and take notice of what we are capable of. We are known for the morals and values which we highly regard. We've made a mark for ourselves in almost every known field, in the global map.

And, I am really proud to call myself an Indian, from the Great land of India, a Nation which continues to grow despite the numerous obstacles it faces. 

Of Random Conversations with the Soul #3

Being Content with oneself.

Recently, I got time to chat with a colleague of mine. Among other things, we were talking about the lackadaisical attitude of the people in that environment and how people were too easily content with what they had. Not that it is wrong, but people are so content that they do not want to strive for more, or even attempt to do something new.

Image Courtesy : FreeDigitalPhotos

On My Way!

Yes, Mom was/Is always right. I can never keep quiet and sit for sometime without doing anything. With a reasonably good mobile, and Nature presenting itself in wonderful different ways in front of me, One cannot expect me to sit oblivious to everything. Right? 

This photo was clicked when I was travelling back home from work. The Glass wall of the AC bus had a crack and this is what it looked like. I see the face of a man. Do You?

This photo was clicked when I was waiting for Mom to pick me up from the Bus stand. I could relate to a lot of images when I clicked this. What comes to Your mind?

This again was clicked when I was travelling back home from work. When I looked at the clouds for the first time, I imagined it to be a race or sorts. Some far ahead, some far behind, and a few spectators cheering them. Are you in the race as well? 

Definitely Trolled!

Dad is frequent traveler. Since he is in Sales, most of the time he would have to travel around to visit his customers. Invariably, I would not be aware of which city/country he is in. Every Morning and Night he makes it a point to call mom and speak to her. Now, I don't have any problem with the husband and wife having their own conversations. What bothers me is, Most of the time, dad would call mom in her mobile, speak to her and hang up. He would enquire about me, and it would stop there, unless there was something really important.

My Experiences with....People!

When some people just can't stop bothering You!

The other day, someone I know, happened to notice that I was furiously typing in my mobile. He was curious to know what was holding all my attention and I told him I was replying to a friend's status message on Facebook. He smirked. "Oh, Facebook eh ? ", was his reply. I did not reply and continued as if I did not hear him. After a while, his curiosity got the better of him and he asked me what exactly I was writing about. It was my turn to smirk and I showed him what I was writing. He then asked if he could go through my profile, Since he was/is not in my friend list. I could not see anything wrong in that, so I gladly obliged. I handed him my mobile and I did not get it back for almost an hour. While returning he said,

"Ash, I never knew you had so much time to spare. But if you ask me, I'd say you are wasting your time on this. Just look at your Updates and the numerous links you've shared. I don't think it is worth the time."

Image Courtesy : Dremstime

On Board Flight 001!

Like every other kid in my country, when I was young, I used to get excited when I heard the sound of an airplane passing by, and I would run over to the balcony  and wave my hand. I remember those days, when I used to wonder how so many people could fit into something which was so minuscule. And how something could make so much of noise when it was flying. Come on, birds did not make such a huge amount of noise and so I realized there was something fundamentally wrong with the whole concept. 

Image Courtesy: FreeDigitalPhotos

Of Random Conversations with the Soul #2

Recently, I had written about what makes one truly happy here, Of Random Conversations with the Soul #1

Just as I had mentioned there, Happiness means different things for different people and different things at different points of time. There are a lot of things which would make one happy. Today I was extremely happy.

The reason, I was at Home! Home Sweet Home!

I love being at home. From Mom's food, to my Rocking chair , My eternally well stocked Fridge and My swing I love the place so much that I really don't feel like going out most of the time. I mean, it's all there here, why would I even bother going out?

Of Shopping Escapades and More!

I was going through the papers and found the entire space flooded with advertisements. There was a Sale in every known Brand of Apparel which My sister and I used to frequent. We used to make sure we dropped in to look at what was in Vogue.  Today, sitting alone here and glancing through the advertisements, I couldn't help missing my sister. It's days like these that makes me miss my sister all the more. Though we talk regularly and stay in touch through our weekly Skype chats, virtual world can never bring the same happiness which the real world brings. It might offer some consolation, but it can never compensate.

Image courtesy: FreeDigitalPhotos

So, here I was, sitting in Chennai, far away from my sister and thinking of those wonderful days. Some of our shopping escapades still remains fresh in my memory.

Aiming for the Sky?

The other morning, on my way to work, I cam across this vehicle near Anna University, at the point where the flyover starts/ends. The driver probably wanted to take a shortcut . He would have been really  desperate to reach a higher position figuratively, and literally too.

But, Don't we all know, that there is no shortcut to success. Even if there is, the results would be somewhat similar to the one in the below picture.

Again, I was on my way to work and could click this only with my mobile. So do not mind the quality!

Of Random Conversations with the Soul #1

Generally, What makes one Truly happy?

When someone asked me this question, I was surprised with myself when I realized I did not have an answer ready.I was listing out probabilities and possibilities, but I never found myself talking specifically.True, Not everyone has the same definition of happiness. For that matter, One person's definition of what happiness is, would not be the same throughout the course of his life. At every point, at every juncture the definitions would keep evolving.

In simpler words, A toddler is not bothered about how the stock markets are functioning and how the stocks in which his dad has invested are performing. He is more concerned about his Mom and Dad giving him all the attention possible. He is happy when he is pampered and given what he wants.

So, What Do You Think?

The other day I was just taking a walk in my terrace and noticed that the clouds were trying to convey something. It was a beautiful evening. Too lazy to come down and get my Coolpix, I clicked this with my mobile. 

Looking at this, I felt that there are so many people around us, with us, competing against us. It is up to us, to make a mark and stand out in the crowd and establish a reputation for ourselves. The winds might not blow in our direction, the crowd might be moving in a different direction. Come what may, We must never lose hope and keep flying and reach for the stars.

I could also see a smiling face, towards the top right corner, next tot he bird. I felt that Someone Up there must be watching me closely and I hoped that they would be happy to see what I am today! 

Here, I could visualize two people dancing in the left corner. And a big winged creature, an Angel perhaps, guarding them and protecting them from evil. All of us have such Angels, don't we? 

So ,what Do you Think? 

That Weird Sense of Loyalty!

Just the other day, I was into some serious thinking. It’s been about a year since I started earning and I STILL haven’t bought something significant for myself. I’ve spent mostly on apparel, food and entertainment. But now, I wanted to treat myself with something special, for all those days of working hard (yes!!!)

Image Courtesy : FreeDigitalPhotos

Life is Fair, you Know!

A few days back ,during one of my conversations with God, he told me something which even my parents are unaware of. He told me that I was supposed to have been their first child and that my sister should have been born after me.

Image Courtesy: FreeDigitalPhotos

Ask, and You Shall Receive!

When you need a favour, and you think others can help you in the process, never hesitate to ask.

Image Courtesy: FreeDigitalPhotos

I’ve come across people who are so hesitant to open their mouth and ask others for help. Come on how do you expect someone to help you, if you decide to keep quiet? How would the other person be even remotely aware of what you need? Yes, I agree that not everyone would agree to help you as soon as you request them, but how would you know? How can you generalize that everyone would turn you down? I don’t see the logic behind this hesitant nature of some people.

My Wishlist #1: My Dream Career.

" Twenty years from now you would be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do, than by the ones that you did do"

~ Mark Twain 

Image Courtesy: FreeDigitalPhotos

When I was Young and people asked me what I wanted to become when I grew up, I would say Engineer, Doctor,or Teacher. Perhaps those were the professions I was aware of, way back then. Recently I happened to read a friend’s Blog on her “Dream Career” and she had listed about ten of them and justified why she preferred that as a career. So that got me thinking, and here is my list

Life , and the Lessons we Learn !

Before I begin this post, let me tell you, I'm obsessed with this Laughing Phenomenon. You don't understand? Ok, Read my earlier post on, Laughing Your Way to a 100 Years of Life!

Now that you have a fair idea, Read on.

I’m a big fan of “Just for Laughs Gags”. The music with which the show starts, is just amazing. I used to watch it when it was aired in Pogo and now I make it a point to watch it when it is aired in Zee Cafe.

If you ask me to mention one reason why I would watch it again and again, I have that one very reason. The show makes me smile. It makes me laugh (which in turn would increase my lifespan, {Yes, I believe in that} ), It makes me laugh like I’ve nothing to be bothered about and makes my heart light and my mind fresh. It rejuvenates me!

It's the Small Things In Life that Matter the Most!

( P. S  I had written this post in July 2011, at a time when I was getting back to Blogosphere in full swing. This is one of my most treasured posts and this one post has got me more appreciation, than anything else. So, I just wanted to share this post with all of you , Again..)

Image Courtesy : Dreamstime

 There is this park near my place, to which I go often, to take a stroll. Thanks to the Corporation, the park underwent a transformation of sorts and has been maintained well ever since. Near the Entrance there is a board in which the most beautiful and touching quotes are written every morning by an elderly person. I know that it was an elderly person coz once around 4 years back while waiting at a queue in Spencer's there was this person, who was right behind me and asked me about which Ice cream flavor I liked. I asked him why he was asking me, to which he replied that he was visiting his granddaughter who turned out to be the same age as I was then, and so he wanted to know what Ice cream flavor the younger generation preferred. I immediately told him almost everyone likes Chocolate flavor and so he picked up one and then when a conversation was started, thanks to some problem in the billing counter, he happened to mention that he was writing Quotes on the board at the park. I promised him that the next time I went there, I would surely look for it. And that was it. Four years back.

Summer Diaries.

Image Courtesy : FreeDigitalPhotos

Summer.

I always associate summer with fun. At school, I used to yearn for the Summer Vacation when the school would be closed for two months. I am lucky to have enjoyed myself during the good old Summer days. No schedules, No homework, No Tests and Full of Fun, Laughter, Leisure , Games and some Practical learning ( which I enjoyed, thoroughly, I'm not complaining)

The Chennai Bloggers.

Chennai.  Everything is so wow about this place. To read more about my opinion of My City, Read SingaraChennai.

Now, why am I all excited about Chennai. Oh Yes, the people of Chennai and their spirit.

What happens, when people from different walks of Life come together because they all share a common passion?

A few Chennai Bloggers, At Cafe Coffee Day, Chennai.April 2012

Imagine this. A Doctor, A  Businessman, A College Professor, A few people from the IT  field  and  A College Student, all at the same venue. Forget about having fun, they cannot have something to talk about, of which everyone else could be a part of. Right?

The Story Of How I Learnt to Whistle!

There is always a special Joy associated with doing something which we've never done before. It might be something trivial, but it is never insignificant, at least for us.

When I was a kid, I was amazed by the way people used to cycle. I used to wonder how people could just move around so quickly. I wanted to learn how to cycle, and I did. Next I was fascinated by the way people drove motored vehicles. Without much effort from their side, people who drove two wheelers could move even faster. I learned to drive, and I was happy I was able to do something, which amazed me initially.

Singara Chennai!

Not Just for the IPL, Always :-) 

I’m Proud to tell people that I’m from Chennai. I like everything associated with the place. From Marina to Sathyam, From Chepauk to OMR (The Butterfly Building :-D ), I love the active life people lead here. The loud chatter, the constant honking, the noisy crowds of T Nagar are something I’m so used to  that sometimes I miss them, during my late night drives or during public holidays. The constant sound proves that people are always active and so full of life here.

5 Years Of Blogging!

On April 2007, Just after I had completed my exams, I was playing with my new Toy( My Dad’s Laptop) and that’s when people were talking about blogs. Since I wanted to do something, to keep myself occupied in that long break (School to College) I decided to give it a try . Thanks to Blogger, I created my First Blog in no time, came up with a name ” Just The Way I Like” with a url www.ash-aqua-girl.blogspot.com (I’m an Aquarian). So everything was decided in no time. I was surprised I zeroed in the name for my blog in just a few minutes (Paulo Coelho says it’s the Beginners’ luck). That’s how it all started!

55 Fiction Challenge - Life with My Sister.

We fought. We cried.
Mom had a tough time Indeed.

Swords were drawn,

 Looking for silly reasons to quarrel.

I loved to fight.

I hated when she was right.

I could never hate and love someone

 Almost equally.

But, when there was only one Ice cream,

We would always sit together

And share it happily!

Who Am I?

Image Courtesy : FreeDigitalPhotos

These days I have a lot of time for myself. This gives me a lot of time to think about things which I never really focus or give much importance. So all of a sudden, I was thinking about, People.

People, all around us, are all different. Everyone is as unique as everyone else. This is perhaps an advantage as well as a disadvantage. Advantage because, everyone is unique and you don’t find too many people who are similar. You have the opportunity to come across different kinds of people. Who wants to turn around and look at people who behave in a similar way? And, disadvantage too because you never know how to deal with all of them. I mean, it is not something you can generalize. There are no set rules you can follow because every person you come across is an exception, in a very different way.

Sunset!

What was initially a boring day, turned out to be interesting when I decided to get some fresh air and walked up to the terrace. And this is what  I got to see.