Thursday, May 9, 2013

Un-stereotyped!

I really really dislike stereotypes.When each of an individual is unique what's the point of generalizing something as girly or manly. Girls can love sports and Guys can like chocolates.What's the big deal?It literally frustrates me on being classified based on gender.I saw this post on a blog and thought of doing the same.

So here I am : Un-stereotyped! Read on!!

1.My favorite color is Blue and a shade of Red best suits me.Pink is nowhere in the picture.

2.I absolutely love Cricket.Yeah,I do.Back at home,I used to sit glued to the TV with my brother,father and grand-father and clapped for every boundary Sachin scored and criticized Nehra for every run he gave.I have my own superstitions for the game too.I still cherish the World-Cup-Winning moment when Sachin and Yuvi cried and I had tears in my eyes too!

3.I am NOT scared of lizards and cockroaches.Yes,I don't go eeeewwww or aaaaaahhh on espying them.Unlike many others,I never freak out when they come around. Khaa thodi jaayenge!!

4.I love Driving and I'm very passionate about it. Four-wheeler,I still have to get hands on,but with my Two-wheeler I have already done a lot of dhoom dhadaka. I loveeeeee speed and have a good enough direction-sense which many don't have :P

5.I say NO to TATOOS. God I hate them.I mean seriously.What's the point of ruining your simple self for a filthy form of art?Tch!

6.I don't keep long nails ,neither do I apply nailpaints. Similarly I never put on jewelry - matching earrings,rings,chains,necklaces-that's not my cup of tea unless the occasion is really really big and gaudy.I just do not like those cumbersome constrictions!I prefer simple and sober!

7.I am a big tea lover as opposite to many girls.A cup of ginger tea with a newspaper in the morning and with a TV remote in the night was my daily routine at home.Quite manly?

8.I don't get angry that quick,but once I get, its really really tough to manaao-ing me. Bhayankar gussa aata hai......uske baad mei apne aap ki bhi nai sunti!!!! (Janhit mei jaari :P)

9.I love horror,adventure,action,mafia-all types of movies and not just romantic ones. It's the plot and story that matters to me.

10.I love spending time alone and cannot talk too much in general.Women are supposed to be good with words and articulate, but that beats me.I am more of a listener than a gossip-girl.

11. I am better at repairing sockets/burnt wires and changing tube-lights bulbs/fuse than at embroidery and tailoring. Haanjiii!!

12. I never think before eating.If I like it,I'll have it-be it chocolates,cheese or chaat.

So here’s to the not-so-stereotypical,un-womanly me! :D :D
That's all I could think of now...there's lot more in my bucket list :) :)


Sunday, April 21, 2013

Thank You My Noble Countrymen!


I remember the times four months back when someone my age was brutally gang raped, when she struggled hard for her life for thirteen odd days, when thousands of men and women protested day and night on streets against it, when peaceful people praying for her recovery were lathicharged and water cannoned by the coldhearted Delhi police and when the anger of people literally came out against the indifferent government and its officials in a very very long time.

I cried a lot then, a lot....for her, for me, for every other girl/woman who unfortunately, yes unfortunately belongs to this country I live in. However somewhere in the back of my mind it was convincing to see the awakened masses on roads resisting the gruesome act, demanding justice for her and protection for their own sisters, daughters and friends. I was a little hopeful then that may be things would change for the better. Every day I used to sit glued to the TV to keep track of her health. I wanted her to live and inspire and fight. But, no she died. Every politician and policeman promised that her sacrifice would not be futile, that they would soon come up with stricter laws, that the culprits would be severely punished.

Alas, as usual and as expected, everything went in vain! I see no amendments in Criminal law bill, I see no stern punishment yet being given to those six savages, I see no measures being taken to curb the menace.  That little hope I had was mercilessly exterminated.What all I see now is increasing number of rapes in the country, particularly in the capital. WHAT I SEE IS A 5 YEAR OLD RAPED REPEATEDLY BY HER NEIGHBOR.WHAT I SEE IS HUMANITY BEING ASSAULTED ALL OVER AGAIN WITH UTTER SHAMELESSNESS! IS THIS THE CULTURE WE'RE ALWAYS PROUD OF?

When the Delhi gang rape happened, I heard a lot of well-educated and generally sensible people saying, “She shouldn't have been out after 8, that too with a male friend, in a place like Delhi", "She should have been sensible to stay home after dark”. Then came ‘expert’ comments from khaps and other 'eminent' politicos-"Girls should not wear provocative clothes”,” Age of marriage should be further reduced to 16","Rape happens not in traditional Bharat but in westernized India", not to forget the dented-painted remark and Aasharam Bapu's 'Bhaiya' theory. To all these people and those who say “She deserved it”, “She invited it all by herself” -WHAT DO YOU SAY ABOUT THE FIVE-YEAR-OLD? WAS SHE RESPONSIBLE FOR HER OWN RAPE?A FIVE-YEAR-OLD-KID? Should she be blamed for playing provocatively, wearing provocative frocks and in general, existing provocatively on earth instead of getting aborted in the womb?

It boils my blood to know that a bottle and candles were retrieved from her body, to learn a policeman bribed her father with 2000 rupees to not file an FIR, to see a policeman telling her family that they should be thankful that the girl is alive, to see a policeman slapping a protesting girl. I am filled with immense rage and fury. I want to scream out loud, very loud, loud enough to break the earth into pieces.HOW INSENSITIVE CAN A MAN BE?

Truly speaking I never had expectations from politicians. How can one expect them to frame tougher laws with the likes of Abhishek Manu Singhvi, Gopal Kanda and N D Tiwari being the MP themselves. I never had faith in the police. They are more barbaric than animals. I am flabbergasted by their insensitivity towards the society. I only had hope in you, the people. But the callousness of the first two P’s has badly thrashed the third P.  Sadly,no lessons were learnt from Nirbhaya’s case. I am dried of all hope! I am sacred to the core. And this time I have absolutely nothing to say except that it is now I realize why my parents are always over-protective for me. No reforms or mindset change can happen in this great country of ours. I can trust nobody(exceptions apart) from the autowallah to the neighbor next door. THANKYOU for giving me a whole new bout of fear (of EVERYTHING) all over again. Good going my fellow noble countrymen. Just well done! 
Thank you very much!

Sincerely,
A teary-eyed ,really scared girl in India


PS:BTW Dear Khaps,planning to reduce the age of marriage to 5?Ehhh 5 months would be better,no?

Saturday, February 23, 2013

To My Future-Self

Dear Future Me,
I don’t know how much life and times have changed you by now but hope you’re doing well. So how’s life moving –the way you planned or full of surprises, as always? I wonder do you still love Parle-G, are you still a star-gazer, do you still eat many-a-times by your mamma’s hands? Are you the same-ever smiling, shy and skinny girl? By the way, how do you look like now? How about chubby cheeks and curly hairs?
I hope you did make your parents proud of you. Like papa’s boy you are more strong and successful and like mamma’s girl-more sensitive and mannerly. I hope your life still revolves around the universe of your family. Do you still play around with your siblings and share all secrets? I know you must be in contact with your bestest buddies-the three idiots from school, the awesome foursome and famous five from college. Do you meet them quite often and /or phoniyaao them with loads of gossips? Do they all care for you? Do they still make you forget that the world is not a good place? Did you make new friends too? I would love to meet them sometime.
Hope you still enjoy those small-little beautiful moments in life-dancing on terrace, especially in the rains, singing in the bathroom, winds playing with your hair, crushing bubble-wrap, playing with kids in your colony, listening to music on radio, laughing on PJ’s, balloons, budhiya-ke-baal, dairymilk, jhoole, fruity, Maggi, lays, sunset, sunrise, smell-of-earth, last-minute-makeup etc and etc. Do you still savor them all like a seven year old girl? Do you still watch Kuch-Kuch-Hota-Hai and DDLJ everytime it is telecasted?Most importantly, did you learn to cook?.....for I am too bad at it. What about tying your hair in different styles? You learnt it naa? Don’t tell me you didn’t. I have a feeling that you're more talkative now.Prove me right,okay?
Are you still a jhagada-solver between two parties,  often serving as a mediator? Ahh,ain't it the toughest job on earth? Dimaag ki dahi ho jaati hai,nai? Anyway,hope you are helping as many people as you can. Hope you are doing your bit for the country and under-priveleged apart from your shopping and movies and restaurants. I know giving gives you greater joy! Do you still adhere to my morals and principles and beliefs? I hope so! Never give up your values no matter how boring, old-fashioned or lame they sound. Don’t let peer pressure make you forget what you once stood by. Learn to say NO, you’re life is not only about pleasing other people. I will nonetheless appreciate the changes, if any, for the betterment of you and me. Let the light of your thoughts guide you through the tunnel of life. Trust your own instinct and nothing else. Samjhiiiii!!!
Are you keeping track of your bucket-list? How about your passion for travelling and reading? How much done ,what all left? Tried all kinds of tea and coffee? I so want to know all that! By the way, met your special someone, hmmmm? I wonder if he meets my specifications :P. Chalo, I don’t seek that answer. Keep it to yourself. Let it be a beautiful secret between you and me.
Waiting to meet you soon. Hope you are the me I wanted………..and yes keep scribbling,DilWise...aur moti toh bilkul mat hoiyo :)
With loads of love
Forever Yours
Present-Me

Friday, February 8, 2013

Of being away from home

It has been a month today of being away from home. Luckily both my schooling and graduation happened at home town itself. But there had to be a first time. And here I am ,earning my living, hundreds of miles away from haven. While leaving,I had my fears and excitements. I thought I shall be homesick. But I'm not. I thought it shall be difficult for me to adjust with unknown people in an unknown land. But it isn't . I thought I won't be able to adapt in out-of-comfort-zone. But it seems I can. Touchwood. I have really grown up you see.People here are good.The city is also neat and tidy.By the way,I got my first salary too,feels awe-sum-some naa? :)
 
 
 
Howbeit I miss the place I belong to. No matter wherever I go, my heart is where my home is, for it takes me in as I am ,anytime,everytime. The people there yearn to see me and embrace me. I know there is a void there that only I can fill and it is only that place which can make me feel complete.
Here are the few things I truly badly miss ...
1. I miss my room.That very familiar smell,those self-selected interiors and favorite curtains,my warm cozy bed and the soft-soft pillows, my writing table-the cap-less pens and scattered papers,my wardrobe and the mess inside,my big bookshelf, those wallhangings I bought, those nicely put gifts I got,my beeeg desktop and the stuff inside...everything I miss I was so attached with, everything that was exclusively mine. I miss my scooty too. Driving is so much fun, ain't it?

2. I miss Mammy-ke-haath-ka-khana very much. I was very choosy then,nakhrebaaz to be very precise,ye-nahi-khana-wo-nahi-khana. Now realizing how appetizing and delectable that mom-made-meal was, even the things I disliked. The food here is too spicy and sour,not-khayable. I have no choice but to gulp it. I miss those days jab jo farmaaish karo mil jaata tha. The hunger was blissfully satisfied everytime. But here I eat just for the sake of filling my tummy.

3. I miss having good Tea. Yes I do. I am a biggggg tea lover. It has been my companion since ages be it during studying, writing, watching sunset or talking with people.I don't like tea here. The taste is unusual and I really hate that tea-bag-waali-tea. Both mom and I make awesome adrak/elaichi ki chai.No ,I am not boasting,sacchii. At times we had 5-6 cups of tea a day garnished with loads of gossips.Damn,I miss those moments!

4. I miss those shackles that caressed and protected me. Though the feeling of independence is great in itself still I miss those restrictions.Weren't those chains actually threads of love and concern? It felt nice to be looked after. There was always this assurance that if something goes wrong papa/mamma will take care of it. They got worried if I were late or if I was stuck in a problem. Today also they sound apprehensive and caring about my well being but I miss their sheer presence,those they-bother expressions.

5. I miss making coffee/chai for papa, mamma and maggi for bhai and sis. Yes yours truly is expert in making the two. It felt awesome to receive the same bauhat-acchi-bani-hai compliment n number of times. I used to be ready with garmagaram-strong-chai whenever mom came tired after hours of shopping/some outing or when she wasn't feeling well.I know my mom must be missing that bani-banayi-chai,mere-haath-ki.

6.I miss fighting.Yeah its my all time favorite sport; be it verbal or physical. I miss fighting with my bro and sis over something as silly as who will handle the remote of TV, or who got bigger piece of cake or who's turn it is to switch off the lights. Those small little noke-jhonks,that roothna-manana I miss it. I miss asking my father for a packet of chips or an ice-cream cone at eleventh hour of the day, and fighting with him if he didn't get it.Mom used to scold me for not learning cooking and spending too much time on internet. I miss that fight between my logics and her reasons. Daant khana bhi kya koi miss karta hai kya?Shayad haan!

On the top of it all I miss that homely warmth, the love and affection of my parents,being pampered,humor and naughtiness of my siblings, ease and comfort of my surroundings.There is something ineffable about that heaven which only the heart knows of. Corporate world is too sophisticated,I miss that childhood innocence. I really do. :(

Sunday, April 22, 2012

LIFE happened...


Lonely. Confused. Misunderstood. Life these days is in I-don’t-want-to-live-anymore phase. Living is but an uncalled-for burden. Things aren't literally working. I’m hating everything around. Everything. Succinctly, it’s hurting to be me. Nothing seems to heal-no music, no friends, no tears. Lost in life’s cobweb I'm struggling furiously to find my way. My writing skills are gridlocked. Words don’t come to me or rather I’m just too numb to feel and express (and I so very deprecate this fact). There are so many other things I wished I could do but I couldn't or didn't.

Though I kind of know what I do not want in life but I really don’t know what all things I actually yearn for.I even don’t know what all I can do, what I cannot. I don’t know what I deserve, what I do not. I don’t know what I should do, what I should not. Whoa , that's my present state of mind.

I hate to go to bed at night and then I hate it even more to wake up in the morning. Fake and blunt smiles outside ensconce the pain within. Folks, jokes and toasts do not please me. My quondam dreams are thrown into hell and I no more feel like fantasizing.

You ask me "What happened?"
And I reply " L.I.F.E dear...............'LIFE' happened"
Ehh??
Yeah!!