Love story of a father....

Love story of a Father….

Federick, a banker, has been married for the last 10 years to Emma; even after she left him in a tragic car accident 2 years back. He is “married” to his beautiful daughters – Isabelle & Amelia; he is “married” to their responsibilities”; he is “married” to giving them a beautiful life ahead. His usual day begins with waking up the girls, getting them ready for school, fixing some breakfast for them, then dropping them to school, heading for work, picking them up, head home, manage their homework, give them dinner, put them to sleep. And his day ends like this …every single day for the last 2 years.

Then comes a time when he sits down thinking about Emma; a void that has existed ever since she left all of them.

He then decides to find “love”. With all his responsibilities alongside, he gets a little selfish and wants to live his life as well. One fine day, he meets Samantha, who is undergoing depression for the last couple of years as she can never conceive. Federick falls for her and there is a ray of hope in both their lives; he gets a loving partner; his girls get a doting mother and most importantly Samantha gets two beautiful daughters; a hope that she had given up forever.

How beautifully a supreme power conspired to bring Federick and Samantha together!!

In Sickness or in Health....

Palki, a young, beautiful, intelligent girl graduated from a prestigious B –school in India was working with a leading technology company. She was doing very well in her career; the only problem was that her parents were not able to find an equivalent match for her. After struggling for 4 years, Palki having met 10-12 “jokers” she eventually hit it off with one “nice guy”.

They were in touch for 6-7 months before they decided to tie the knot and take the plunge. Being a long distance relationship, it came with its fair share of misunderstandings, fights, time differences, availability issues etc. At the same time came trust, mutual respect, respect for each other’s time and space and maybe a dash of love. The bond just grew stronger.

The pre-wedding chaos started; the arrangements, trousseau, event planning etc.etc. ; the list is never ending in India. Palki finally married Ajay – a young, handsome, well-educated NRI settled in US amidst all the near and dear ones who showered their blessings on the young couple.

Palki left her job to concentrate on the newly married life and was awaiting her visa to join Ajay in the US. Meanwhile, Ajay fell ill and was admitted in the hospital. Palki rushed the moment she got her visa.

A newly wed bride, all alone landed in a foreign country; a place she knew nothing about; straightaway went to the hospital; only to find out that her husband has been diagnosed with a serious disease. Hell broke and she froze; not knowing what to do and who to ask for help.

Finally she gathered courage and reached out to the families and friends and fought the situation bravely; she stood by him day in and day out; no complains; all she provided was unending support, love and encouragement to Ajay during these testing times which only helped grow their bond stronger and gave a constant re-affirmation of the love they felt for each other.

Ajay is now hale and hearty and they are enjoying a beautiful life together.

Such is the power of “unconditional love”.

Friend in need is a friend indeed

My father was recently diagnosed with a serious brain condition which had to be operated overnight. Hell broke on my mother and me as we were the only ones along with a helpful neighbor in the hospital. I was stunned when the doctor told me at 3 am that a surgery had to be done first thing the next morning.

Luckily, I was chatting with a friend whose father and uncle happened to be doctors and she was the one who guided me all along this critical phase for our family. I am forever indebted to her. What surprised me was that our friendship was fairly new. but she stood like a rock of Gibraltar all throughout.

Right from being with me while the surgery was going on to the times when my father had the worst days at the hospital; she held me tight.

Fortunately, this whole incident taught me to spend my time and energy on the right people in my life. I was pleasantly surprised by a client from work who I had never met when he came and looked me and my dad up. I was deeply touched by his gesture. On the contrary, there were friends and relatives who were just treating this as a normal passing day.

I asked myself, would I have ever reacted like this if my friend was in such a situation. The answer was a plain, simple, NO.

I feel that such situations are real eye openers in one’s life. They tell you who truly cares for you and who doesn’t.

It’s just a matter of time that we identify the right ones.

I have.

Have you?

The Boy Who Took the Sandwich Home

The Boy Who Took the Sandwich Home

Pratap was a well-spoken and cute looking 35 something lad who had just returned from Dubai in search for a job in India, leaving everything behind. The initial few calls were pleasant and sweet, both of us being at our best. I was travelling to Goa for a wedding and he was in Delhi. He said he wants to meet the moment I am back. I had work the following Monday after my holiday so I knew I had lots piled up even before I begin my week. I proposed Wednesday and then the conversation around where to meet began. Wednesday being a working day for me, I suggested we meet in Noida, which would have also been accessible for him by metro (I was being considerate, that he is unemployed so might want to go a bit easy on his pocket). He got offended and said, “never in my life will I take the metro; I have a car”. I agreed. Suit yourself is what I said to him in my mind. He then insisted on meeting in Connaught Place. I agreed again. To this agreement, he said, “Why are you acquiescent to this? Why are you being so nice to me?”

 “I was only being accommodating”, I replied. I figured that he is slightly disappointed with his job search and therefore a little irritated so I left it at that. I did not say anything more and suggested we meet the next day at the decided place and at the decided time.

I wound up work quickly on Wednesday and got ready to leave early as I had a long way to drive. I was about to leave when he called. He said, “I can’t meet at 5:30 p.m., let’s aim at 6:30 p.m. or 7:00 p.m.”. I was irked. I am someone who is very particular about timings especially when its pre- decided. This time I did not give in. I said, “If you don’t come by 6:00 p.m., I will leave”. He agreed for 6:00 p.m. which gave him enough buffer to plan and reach the destination on time.

I went and sat at a coffee shop and was waiting for him. To my surprise he called me sharp at 6:00 p.m. to say that he has reached. There he was, looked very different than the pictures that were shared on the matrimonial site. I was still polite and we exchanged pleasantries.

The normal exchange of information started; the usual matrimony conversations (which I have started hating now). Then he said something that ticked me off. He said, “You look happier in your pictures than in real life”. I felt like telling him that my otherwise happy face is grueling with anger because of him. Instead I told him, “At least my pictures are recent and not 10 years old”. I could see him turning red.

He was good with his words, so he said, “well I wanted you to see me in real time”. Now I realized why he was denying sharing his recent pictures, as I had once casually asked him in response to him asking me for my pictures.

It would have looked rude to just leave so I decide to spend some more time.

We exchanged notes on our professions; coincidentally we were both from the same profession. He had a habit of speaking more than listening. Another attribute I don’t like in men. I prefer men who speak moderately. I was half way bored and hungry.

I suggested we ordered some food. He was persistent, that he wanted to have a sandwich. I am not too finicky about food so I said go ahead and order. The sandwich along with our drinks arrived and while chatting we ate. The best thing about that evening was the succulent chicken sandwich. We finished and I hinted that we call for the cheque. He said he wants to have another sandwich. I told him I wasn’t too hungry to have another one. He very sarcastically said, “in any case you are paying the bill, so decide accordingly”. (With a smirk on his face).

I had no problem paying the bill as I understood that he is unemployed so I genuinely offered to pay. He ordered another sandwich and told me, “Why don’t you have one piece and the rest I will pack and take home”. I was fine with him taking the sandwich home as at that time all I could think was me going home too J. 

Finally the second sandwich came and I had some bit and then we called for the cheque. The moment the cheque arrived, I took out my card and offered to pay. He said very emphatically “no, we will go Dutch”. I again offered to pay but he kept aside his share and said, “We will share this, but you please pay for my parking”. I was amused at his request. By that time luckily I knew that he is not the one and I was in a rush to go home. So I could do anything to get rid of him.

He said the usual party line, “nice meeting you, I will call you soon”. (Which I knew would never happen as I would never call him back).

I reached home.

I did not hear from him which was pretty expected.

A week later, I saw a mail in my inbox from him.

It read – Dear Priha, it was really nice meeting you the other day. Attached is my resume. Please help me find a job.

I just ignored the request.

Digital Cleansing

Digital Cleansing

In this day and age where, right from waking up, to managing our calendars, to counting the steps we take, to calculating our period cycles, we are so heavily dependent on technology. The “Cell Phone” being our most dependable gadget, we are in some way or the other attached or obsessed with it.

I am.

I had been contemplating changing my phone for a couple of months now and I finally made the switch. As a result of the process and getting a new device I discovered that we are not so emotionally attached these days. In a way, I was pleasantly surprised, as I had thought that it would be very difficult for me to leave my earlier device for a new one. But, here I was. I made the switch in exactly 30 minutes.

As a matter of fact, it did bring out a very positive effect on me – first I was more adaptable to change; secondly, I had started getting used to a new set of tunes and tones. Thirdly, I only had the important people and their contacts in my phone that actually mattered (some were by default thereJ). Last, but not the least, it made me more relaxed as I was not interacting with a lot of people and having unnecessary polite conversations).

Is this similar to changing our friends, boyfriends/ girlfriends, husbands / wives? Have we become stoical that a major change in life doesn’t affect us or are we just emotionally too strong to accept the absence of certain things or people in our lives?

Although it does give you a reassurance that you are still adaptable to change and i might sound clichéd but “change is the only constant". 

This unplanned digital cleansing was just right for my mind and soul.

Try it!

Sher -o - Shayari ....from here, there and everywhere....

      Tu thak ke na baith, abhi teri udaan hai baki, sirf zameen hui hai puri lekin pura aasma hai baki

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      Mana ki teri deed ke kaabil nahin hain hum

 tu mera shauk dekh, intezaar dekh

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      Muqqadar ka toh mil hi jaayega aye khuda

woh ata kar jo kismat mein na ho

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      Mat guman kar apni haathon ki lakeeron par

kismat unki bhi hoti hai jinke haath nahi hote

       

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     Roz kehta hoon bhool jaon tujhe

   roz ye baat bhool jaata hoon

               

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    Ek adhura waada tera, ek shikasta (haara hua) dil

lut bhi gaye to sheher e wafa mein, daulat kitni hai

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   Kuch is tarah se humne apni zindagi ko aasaan kiya

 Kuch se maafi mangi, Kuch ko maaf Kiya 

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Jis afsaane ko anjaam tak laana na ho mumkin

use ek khoobsurat modh dekar chodhna behtar...

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Apni hatheli mein chupakar kissi jugnu ki tarah...hum tere naam ko chupke se padha karta hain

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Shikwe toh bahut hain magar shikaayat nahin kar sakte, mere honton ko ijaazat nahi tere khilaaf bolne ki

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Zindagi bhar apni galti pe rote rahe, 

daag chehre pe tha aur hum aaina saaf karte rahe

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Tum kya karoge sunkar mujhse meri kahani

belutf zindagi ke kisse hain pheekay phaakey

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Khwahishon ke kaafile bhi bade ajeeb hote hain

Ye guzarte wahin se hain jahan raaste nahi hote

Ghazab ka hausla diya hai khuda ne hum insaano ko

Waakif hum agle pal se nahi

Aur vaade zindagi bhar ke hote hain 

Going SOLO in a group !

There are times when you just want to detach yourself from everything and everyone around you not because you have concerns, but there is a hankering to escape from all the ‘noise’ in your life. Well yes, that can be done by getting off social media too 😊😌😌😌. But for me, I wanted to travel, go somewhere even if it meant going for a day – SOLO. Unfortunately, in India, a girl taking off on a solo trip is asking for trouble.

So here I was with a bunch of strangers put in a curated travel group all aiming at the same purpose – of travelling solo and finding themselves (sounds clichéd).

The group was a mixed bag with ten of us being solo travelers; a couple; two best friends travelling together; and a group of sisters. Dynamic, diverse, energetic, artistic, witty was my first take on them. I felt at ease with strangers, bartering notes on how and why they came on the trip. I was pleasantly surprised how audacious and outgoing these 22 somethings were. I could never even think about travelling like this in my 20’s, perhaps we did not even have these kind of opportunities back then.

After spending time with a few of them on a one on one basis, I learnt about their circumstances, rearing, issues in personal lives etc. and realized that sometimes our own problems are miniscule as compared to what others are going through.

That was the moment that I realized that how blessed we were. This life is a gift and we should be thankful that we are waking up each day so we better “live it up”, drop all the negativity, take life as it comes and follow the motto – Carpe diem to the tee.