She and It

Yes, she is a girl just like me. She too has hopes, dreams, aspirations. Hers favourite too is gupchup I guess. She also likes stories with happy endings. Her upset mood suddenly turns awesome when it rains, just like mine does. And yeah! She too believes in love. Hopes to find her Mr. Perfect. The one who is going to love her, care for her but at the same time, won’t cut her wings if she wants to fly high. She is ambitious, just like I am. And look! She has finally found him. The man of her dreams. The love of her life. She sees him coming on a white horse and sweeping her off her feet. She is happy. Way too happy. She hasn’t been so happy for so long. She is exhilarated. She is euphoric. She is on top of the world with her head held high, coz he is exactly like she wanted her Prince Charming to be. He doesn’t stop her, lets her make her own paths just like a river, clashing with so many rocks, but finally finding a way. She doesn’t care what goes around in the world. She has him. Her happy ending.

But wait! What’s this? What’s happening? Someone is there. Someone who wasn’t supposed to be. Where did this person come from? She has no idea. All she knows is there’s someone who holds his heart, who resides in his soul. He can’t stop thinking about this person. He just can’t give it up. It’s unachievable but still, he has his mind on it. He talks to her but thinks about it. She’s telling him about an adversity she braved today but all he can feel is the feeling when he came in contact with it yesterday. She puts on a happy face and listens to him. She’s worried. She’s afraid. What has happened to her happy little world? He’s still her prince coz he loves her a lot. But, he loves it as well. Maybe a bit more, maybe a bit less. She’s scared now but she’s helpless. She can’t do anything. She blames everything on her fate and carries on. Her Mr. Perfect is goes away from her towards it while she stands there. And all she does is carrying on.

And I? Well, I don’t know what to do or feel. Coz she is a lot like me. But I am the ‘it’.

To Our Dear Bollywood

Just finished watching ‘Salaam-e-Ishq’. Yup. The Bollywood movie which was released in 2007. And my feminist side can’t help being over-active right now. I don’t get it, what is wrong with Indians? I don’t understand how in the end, almost every female character surrenders herself to her husband/boyfriend/taxi driver. For those who haven’t watched it, lemme sum it up. Juhi Chawla takes back her husband who was essentially cheating on her. Ayesha Takia marries her boyfriend who wants nothing more than to enjoy his bachelor status forever. The foreigner who came all the way from States to marry her boyfriend ends up proposing her taxi driver. So what if he helped her throughout? There’s a very basic thing called standard of living, and theirs are as different as they come. And the worst case is Priyanka Chopra’s. She gives up her entire career just to get married to the man she loved coz he asked her to choose between the two. What kinda man does that? 

Now I have really started to think that possibly, Indian cinema is hugely responsible for the demeaning status of women in our society. Does the success of a woman’s life depend only on the fact whether she gets a good husband? Does a woman become a joke if her husband is cheating on her? And do we make a wrong decision if we choose our career over our man? I don’t think so! If I’m getting a great college/job and my guy asks me to leave everything and stay with him as a housewife and I refuse, does it make me heartless? No, it does not! Then why does our film industry think so? Except for a handful of women oriented movies, does it have hopefully, anything in its pocket to defend itself? If they use the old saying that movies are mirror of society then lemme tell you, it’s completely the other way round today. Youngsters think its okay to pester a girl coz ultimately she will come around seeing their persistence. Men think its okay to cheat on their wives coz they are sure she’ll forgive him even if she comes to know of it. After all, she’s a ‘bhartiya naari’. Perhaps the girls who suffer the most are college going girls. I’m sure no explanation is needed here. Sadly, our society is changed so much that women find faults with themselves even if they are the victim. 

It was really nice watching the whole film industry gather to pay respect to the Delhi braveheart. But I keep on wondering why can’t they come forward and ask the government to take some concrete steps towards proper punishment for rapists? We, as common public, can only protest and sign petitions and we did it. But these people have power; they know they will be followed in whatever they do. So why don’t they? Some of them are even MPs. They can initiate the whole process in the Parliament; simply shedding tears once in a while here and there won’t do. On a positive note, kudos to Mr. Javed Akhtar for his words and actions during that time.

I really believe that movies can bring a change in the mindset of people. We can teach some misguided souls that it’s not a girl’s fault that she was raped. And hopefully, with time, our scientists (who are supposed to be the intelligent sect) and saints (who are supposed to be the spiritual sect) will understand that it’s right if a girl protests against getting raped and there’s no way that the rapists will become here brothers. Till then, it continues to pain me as I see some girls watching videos of Honey Singh and drooling over him as his remarks get more and more derogatory.

My Dear Friend

This post is about perhaps the favourite person of my college life. May be not always acknowledged, but nevertheless true. She is always there, irrespective of the circumstances I’m in. And she’s omnipresent. Always ready to help whenever you need, even if you don’t ask.

You need a shoulder to cry on, she’s there.

You had a bad day and want to be cheered up, she’s there.

You are not feeling well, she’s there to tend.

You are feeling low, she’s there.

You are feeling like jumping around and singing on the top of your voice, she won’t think of you as a weirdo.

You are wearing some stupid silly dress which you won’t even let you maid wear and you hear someone complimenting you, you know it’s her.

You can actually see your flabs making a tyre around you, she comes and says, “Arrey pagal hai kya? Tera aur mera size same hi hai.” (She’s leaner than size zero by the way!)

You need to get a gift for your crush and its just 15 minutes left for your hostel to close, be sure she’ll come with you.

You’re getting late in the morning but want to put on a particular pair of earrings and you’re unable to do so, she’ll leave everything and help you with it even though she has an exam in 10 minutes!

As usual, you’re late for a party and still unable to decide what to wear, stay assured! She’ll get ready in 5 minutes and pick out atleast half a dozen dresses from your own cupboard which you never remembered having!

Hostel night is about to start in 10 minutes and you want to wax your legs. You haven’t ever done it before and you have heard it hurts like hell. She’s gonna be the one to do it and so soothingly, that you won’t even know when it got started and finished.

You’re missing a particular friend who has moved out of the hostel. Stay assured! If she meets them tomorrow, your message will be conveyed. She never forgets!

You wanna do a French plait for college and you don’t know how to do it. She’ll wake up immediately and start working on your hair. And she will do the same thing for any other hostel girl as well – will skip her breakfast, miss half of her first lecture so that you could go with a French plait to college.

You are having a sudden craving for choco truffle and you ask her if she could come along, she would actually come from whichever part of the city she’s in!

Sometimes I wonder, “Is she for real?” Sometimes she's invisible, behind the scenes, in shadows. But the moment you need her, she emerges. I truly have never seen such a self sacrificing person my entire life. Dear Lord, please bless her – for all she does. And for all she says. And for all she thinks. Infact, she should be blessed simply for existing. Coz people like her make the world a better place to live in.

Ms. G, love you loads baby! You are the best!

XOXO

A New Discovery

Last Saturday, I went out with this senior of mine -- a male senior. I'm calling him a senior just for the sake of it; we are essentially on the first name basis. Actually I had plans of shopping and I called him up to ask the exact location of Lajpath Nagar market. But, as it turned out, he was upset over something. So, I shocked myself by sacrificing my perhaps only opportunity left to shop and asked him if he wanted to hang out or something. I mean, come on, since when did I become the one to set aside my ego and ask someone to spend time? But then, he was upset and... well, he has always been my Agony Aunt so I simply had to be there for him. But being the perfect gentleman he is, he obviously didn't want to ruin my plans for shopping but eventually we decided to go out for a movie.

This may be a trivial thing for many of you but looking at the chaos in my life, it is an important discovery for me. So, I had this amazing time with him and we watched this not-so-amazing movie The Amazing Spiderman. It was pathetically predictable from the beginning to the end. Still, I enjoyed the coke and nachos. And, what I discovered was that it's completely alright to be 'just  friends' with someone from the opposite sex. It's not that I don't have any male friends, I have tons. But some are childhood friends, some are the ones who have asked me out at some point of time and some others are friends of my friends of the second category. There are many more but i simply never went out with them-- alone, that is. So I simply enjoyed the time I spent with him without any qualms.

I love the fact that I was completely relaxed when we decided to meet. I usually have jitters when I'm meeting someone after a long time though I come out as completely confident. ;)

And I'm proud of myself coz I did not go berserk when he asked if we could go for a movie coz the Lord knows I'm not into malls and movies. And I've never been to a movie alone with a guy.

And I feel great for the fact that I did not react stupidly when there was a fight scene between Spiderman and the transformed Dr. Connors. The girl next  to me was clinging to her boyfriend as if her life depended on it and her boyfriend swiftly covered her eyes with his hand. Uff, for crying out aloud, it was just a fight scene; no ghost was coming out of the screen!

And I'm grateful coz I didn't need to speak to him during the movie. Believe me, its not possible when you go to a movie with your boyfriend. He always feels the need to ruin the scenes you wanted to watch the most by telling you something banal which he considers absolutely crucial for your knowledge. Huh!

But the fact I loved the most? Its that didn't need to calm down my nerves over anything. It was just so normal. And I spoke freely of all the people in my life and what's going on with whom and how I would like the things to turn out. It all came out naturally coz I knew he won't judge me or my choices.

So, thanx a lot Mr. R for the awesome time we spent. And you, dear readers, call up a friend of complementary gender today and go out with him/her while I bask in the warmth of my new discovery. Adios!

Nursery Rhyme By A 21-Year Old Kid

So... The rains are finally here.. And I can't be happier. Splashes and puddles and mud and traffic jams. I know these may disgust most of you, but I simply love all this! So, when it rained for the first time in Delhi, I wrote this silly poem. Nah! Its more of a nursery rhyme. Remember 'Rain, rain go away...'? Yup. Its more on those lines. So, just ignore if you think its a tad too silly but I can't help being a child again when it rains. It is a part of me. One more secret, I've even thought of the tune. Will surely teach it to my kids someday. LOL!

So, here is a nursery rhyme by a 21 year old kid. ;)

The city is my favourite
And my mood is first grade,
The weather is my favourite
And I'm blessing my fate.

Rain is falling
And birds are calling;
Sun is peeping through
Insects are buzzing too.

I'm waiting for a rainbow
Looking out of my window;
Streets are full of cars
Racing for who first will pass.

I see some dancing kids
Giving in to their mischievious whims.
People standing under the trees
Escaping rain and enjoying breeze;
Where's the child in them gone?
Getting late, they just grunt and groan.

I call little sister dear
So that she might hear;
The whole account of my happy mood
I know it will do me some good.

I miss you dear friends,
How we drenched in rain and made amends.

One stop early, I get down from my bus
And ask the driver to stop making fuss;
I skipped the rest of the way home
All traces of pain and sadness gone... :) :) :)

Happy Endings!!! :-)

Just completed A Christmas Promise by Mary Balogh. Not many of you must have heard about her. Well, she is an author, writes love stories. Not quite like those of Mills and Boon, but somewhat close to them, yet distant. I have her numerous e-books in my laptop along with very many other authors'. Anyway, I love her stories. Even though most of them are same, involving the lady and the earl/viscount/duke are forced into a marriage they despise, but eventually fall in love with each other and live happily ever after. That's it! Live happily ever after. I guess that's the thing which draws me to her novels and towards all the Mills and Boon's and towards almost every love story I've ever read. You see, I can't handle sadness or unhappy endings well. As a friend once said, I'm a sucker for happy endings.

This goes for movies as well. I loved The Holiday, Just Like Heaven and Letters To Juliet. The same reason -- Happy Endings! Coming closer home, I liked movies like Yaadein and Pardes even though they didn't do well enough at the box-office and I watch them every time they are broadcast on TV, much to dear mommy's anguish. Its nice na, happy endings to all the stories, especially love stories? How much more beautiful the world will be then if it were to come true. Coming back to novels revolving love stories, they contain some of the best lines you'll ever come across. Like Mary Balogh in A Christmas Promise writes...
"It is so easy to take love for granted when one has always had it. I knew he loved me as I loved him, but I did not realize perhaps how much until all love was removed."
It was said by the female lead about her dead father.

Just imagine, Happy Endings! You have a huge crush on someone and they fall for you and you two live happily ever after.
Or a loved one is dying and you wish that he gets fine and God listens to you and everything goes back to normal.
Or you fight with your best friend and promise him that you'll never again look at his face and when you reach home, you miss him. Just at that moment, he calls up and apologizes.
Or you want to buy that pretty dress you saw on that shop window which is completely out of your budget and when you reach office, they say you have got a pay hike!
Or you don't feel like cooking today and your guy calls up to tell you that he's taking you out on a date tonight.
Or you simply wake up to a beautiful morning with birds chirping outside your window and warm sunlight pouring through. (Though this comes under happy beginning but you see, all happy beginnings have happy endings.)

My happy ending??? Well, my happy ending for the time being would be the one when I get into the college I want and well, life becomes a little more free. I'm fine with all the complications you see. :-D
So, what would be your happy ending??? Lemme know, and perhaps we can all wish for each other. As they say, prayers are almost always answered when you wish for someone else. :-)

Waiting To Talk...

I came to know something yesterday and my hands are twitching to write about it. Thought I'll write it and a poem written sometime back would follow. But as I read that poem, I feel I can't write something as ugly as that thing with such a beautiful poem (for me) which is so close to my heart. It will be so unfair to my poem. So maybe you'll have to wait to know that thing which I prefer to term as 'Heights of Grossness'. Now, come on, no need to roll your eyes. It's something you can't even think of in your worst thoughts.

Anyway, coming back to my poem, half of it was written a very long back. And for some reason, I left it unfinished. But in February this year, I finally got a chance to complete it. It's one of my favourites. It goes as...

Dusk marks your arrival
The only reason for my survival.
At 6, I'm gonna meet you
The thing I, whole day, want to do.

It's great to talk to my greatest friend
I daily wish the hour would never end.
But it ends soon as if just started
And leaves me alone, completely thwarted.

Then I wait for the night to see you in my dreams
Every day they have new colours and new themes.
As I lie awake on my bed
I imagine you in black and me in red.

The next moment sleep hugs me
To keep me from crying for thee.
Coz night knows I cry for you
Thinking of our past, and the present too.

Reminiscence of those days fills me with rue
Coz beautiful memories are only few.
All that is left is an ugly pain
My attempts to forget it go in vain.


I am still reaching out to you
And waiting for the day when you'll do
I know you too crave for 'us'
And don't worry, it's only just.

I wish I returned to you when you called
But that time I was completely appalled
Engrossed in a love which never existed
One in which my eyes were always misted
He loves me truly, I know for sure
But separation from you, I can't endure

One day our paths will cross again
And we'll together walk down the memory lane
We'll be united forever then,
As if the parting never came...