Birthday Month - July

This month is a birthday month for me. The first birthday of the month is my son Anmay's on 6th. Then it's my dear husband Dinu's birthday on 12th. Then comes my dear brother Biswaranjan's birthday on 14th. After that it's my sister Suchitra's birthday on 25th. Then it's my dear brother Kaustubh's birthday on 30th.

I have some of my friend's birthday in this month too:
Beena's on 18th;
Mayur's on 1st;
Kunmun's on 20th;
Amita's on 19th;
Jayant's on 13th... Wow, I am surrounded by so many July borns.

Happy Birthday to all my dear friends!! As for family members; we would be celebrating together. :-)

that one person...

"Sometimes in life there really are bonds formed that can never be broken. Sometimes you really can find that one person who will stand by you no matter what. Maybe you will find it in a spouse and celebrate it with your dream wedding. But there's also the chance that the one person you can count on for a lifetime, the one person who knows you sometimes better than you know yourself is the same person who's been standing beside you all along." 

When I listen to these dialogues from the movie "Brides War" the first person who comes to my mind is my best friend 'Chandana Shree'. She is that one person...

♥ ~ Smile

तेरे सपने... तेरी उड़ान (Tere Sapne... Teri Udaan)

दूर आस्मान पऱ जब तूम उड़ान भर रहि थि।
मेरा मन पिन्जरेसे  निकल तेरे बाँहोंसे लिपट रहि थि।।

तूमसे मिलके दिशाओं में एक अप्नेपन कि मेहेक उट्ठी हे।
ऐसा लगा जैसे मेरा अस्थित्व तुमसे हि बना है।।

तेरि अदा कुछ अलग तो नहिं हे, फिर भि खाश लगति है।
सब थमसा  जाता हे जब जब तू पास से गुज़रती है।।

ज़िन्दगी को खुलके जिनेकि तेरि जो चाह हे।
मेरे दिल मैं वोह खाश जगाह बना चुकि है।।

तेरी आँखों मैं वोह जो हंसी रेहती है, कुछ बात है।
जो तेरे दिलसे निकल जुबां पर आना चाहती हे।।

तुम मेरी हो नहीं सकती ये बात मालूम मुझे नहीं है।
मानों या न मानों जोंदगी तुम बिन लगती बेजान सी हे।। 

दुनिया वालोंको परे कर दिया मैंने इस प्यार को समझने से।
तुम समझोगी, ऐसी कोई आस नहीं राखी है मैंने तुमसे।।

तुम्हे कोई चोट पहुंचे, ये मैं सह नहीं सकता।
तुम्हारे आँखों मैं फिर कभी आँसू आये, ये मैं देख नहीं सकता।।

इन चार दीवारों मैं उजाले की जो एक किरण आती है।
उसमे तुम्हारी यादों की मेहेक आती हे।।

मौत अपने गोदी मैं बुलाने से पहले एक दिवस तेरे संग गुजारना चाहूँगा।
हर जनम मैं तुझे अपने जीबन संगिनी के रूपमें पाने की आश रखूंगा।।

हर मौसम मैं तेरा रूप मैं ढूंडता रेहता हूँ।
हर रंग मैं तेरी खुबसुरती देखता रेहता हूँ।।

तुम्हारे लिए जीवन जाये तो जाये।
तुम्हारा सपना कोई तोड़ न पाए।।

अपनी उड़ान ज़रूर भरना, येही हर क्षण प्रार्थना  करता हूँ।
दूर आस्मानमें उड़ान लेती हुई तुम्हे देखना चाहता हूँ।।

तेरे सपने, तेरी उड़ान। और क्या चाहिए। कुछ भी तो नहिं।




This poetry I have been inspired by some of my friends' and their love for each other...

Hope you like it...

♥ ~ Smile

Friends sharing my birthday as their wedding day...

Another friend of mine is getting married on my birthday this year (8th April). I feel so proud of my birthday now. Honestly I don't have to remember these friends' marriage anniversary and that's the best part of it. That friend of mine is Mahesh (Mahi). Another friend who has got married on my birthday is one of my favorite Vikram (Viks). Two people sharing my birthday as their wedding day. Isn't it amazing!! 

Congratulations Mahi!! Welcome to the married people zone :D

♥ ~ Smile

My New Project - Greeting Cards

It’s been very long since I have posted something of my own thoughts. Well, I have been busy with some other project. And even now I am busy. I have been preparing cards for my friends and colleagues for them to present it to some of their close friends/relatives/colleagues. Whoever has received card from me is really very impressed with the work done.

I started seriously enhancing my card making skills in Hyderabad. I would not have done that if I would not have visited the Himalaya Book Store, near to Punjagutta Petrol Bunk, Hyderabad. It has a good collection of designer hand-made papers, gift items, colors, glitters etc. Thus, I got my water color box and some A1 chart papers initially. I started drawing, sketching and painting. I enjoyed it. However, once I saw some hand-made papers with my room-mate P. I asked her where did she get those papers and she said, that nearby shop only has that. And that night I thought of exploring the shop. And yeah I found the whole range. I got some beautiful ones and started making cards for others and for my friends. I enjoyed making those cards.

The posting about the Valentine Card is one of the creations of that time. I have created many. Unfortunately, I did not have a camera at that time and thus I don't have the pictures now. But yeah they were really gentle, sober designer cards. I hope to visit those friends sometime, and hopefully they have the card yet, so I can click some snaps. Anyway, I can create those at anytime.

But yeah the sad part is in Bangalore the shops are a bit far away from my place and they don't have good collection also. So, I have very limited resources to explore my imagination with.

I have a dream and a plan to go to market with the cards I make. I hope you all would support me for the same. I would definitely update you on the date when I would go live.

♥ ~ Smile

Gift for a Friend - 06

A gift that I created for my Mom, for my home. These are made of ice-cream sticks, lace, small rings, plastic flower, bells, plastic stands. There are a few more with some other design which I don't have the pic at the moment.

I made the orange colored one in the year 2002-3 and the maroon colored one in the year 2008.

How to make it?

For the bottom stand:

STEP 1

Take 6x6 sticks and cut 1/4 of it out and shape the 3/4 piece's edges to semi-circle shapes.

Arrange he first 6 sticks in hexagonal shape and stick their edges with Fevicol.

Then above this pattern stick other 6 sticks in hexagonal shape only.

Continue this for other 6x4 sticks.

thus, we have the hexagonal base of 6x6 sticks.

For the rest of the pot:

STEP 2

Take 6x24 sticks. Arrange the first 6x6 sticks in hexagonal pattern in increasing order. When you would be sticking those sticks with Fevicol, the shape would look small steps formed out of the sticks.

STEP 3

Now, take the other 6x6 sticks and arrange it one above another, maintaining the hexagonal shape. You may notice the middle part it looks like a bigger version of the bottom stand. This is how it should be arranged.

For the pot's neck part, take the other 6x6 sticks and follow STEP 3 in reverse manner. Take the other 6x6 sticks and follow STEP 3 as it is.

Allow the Fevicol to dry. The decorate the pot / vase with lace, rings, bells, sparkles, plastic flowers etc. Decorate it just the way you feel like. And the pot would look beautiful.

I know the instructions are brief, but I can't help it. I feel bored to write detail instructions. :(

Hope you like my flower vase.
Thanks for looking!!

♥ ~ Smile

Gift for a Friend - 05

Here's a greeting card with snow white on the front page. I created for a hostel mate who presented it to her sister. Fortunately I had this snow white picture with me. So, thought of drawing it on a design paper. It's may not so attractive but I like the expression caught in the drawing.

♥ ~ Smile

Gift for a Friend - 04

This sketch is the one that I gave to one of my of my friends during my Engineering college days. It was presented to him on his birthday. I liked it so much that I thought of scanning it before I give it to him. I had a greeting card, I guess Archies greeting card with this picture in it. I drew this in the year 2002-3, I guess.

Anyway, here's the sketch:

I can't believe that it used to come up so well in those days.

I had presented to so many to so many people but the idea of scanning had never come. Otherwise I would have all the beautiful drawings I had done, which unfortunately doesn't come up so well now.

After scanning that I have colored it using Flash software and added some features to it like twinkling stars etc. Here's the colored version of it:

Hope you like it.

♥ ~ Smile

Gift for a Friend - 03

This is a greeting card that I had prepared for my hostel mate. And she presented it to her husband on their first valentine day after their marriage. She had provided me the designer papers and the printouts of the pictures. She also had brought the print out of the quotes. We used the smaller piece of printout as it is. However, we drew the other picture on a butter paper.  The greeting card was prepared on 2008. It's not with me now, however, I feel great when I look at these pictures. Sometimes I become surprised about my own skills and sometimes I doubt.

Here's few snaps of the greeting card:

The photos is behind the designer cloth-paper, not pasted on it.

Picture drawn on the butter paper; A boy and girl are sitting on the edge of the boat, near the shore. There is a tree near by. The mountains are at distant and birds are flying on the sky. The girl is smiling keeping her head low. And the guy is sitting quite and is very shy too.

I did not wanted to ruin its beauty. I can't create the clone of this picture, so preferred to use it as it is.

There is no meaning of Sea without Water,

                  There is no meaning of Day without Sun,

There is no meaning of Night without Moon,

                 There is no meaning of me without you...

                                                             Sweetheart! I Love You.



The picture is behind the ring of heart  and not pasted on it. The middle part of the heart is used else-where. I think you must have guessed by now. If not yet, then I would disclose it in the next photo...

The bigger heart is the one taken from the ring of heart. I used it on the envelop. The envelop is also my company's. Thus, to hide the header I used the heart. And the Greeting card also fitted into the envelop. B is my friend's name and T is her husband's. There's a beautiful quote written in the left side of the above pic. I just love this quote. It goes like this:

                            I would rather spend everyday

                                           fighting with you, than to spend

                                                            the rest of my life without you.

This is how the card looks after everything is finalised and completed

The entire orange sheet is one piece. The three hearts are cut with proper calculations. However, for safer side we have applied a small piece of cello-tape on the common edges.

I love this card. I wish to prepare another on like this.

♥ ~ Smile

Gift for a Friend - 02

A and me prepared a beautiful b'day card for her husband's b'day. The present is made from a marriage invitation card. The painting is done by A solely. The heart and the flower is prepared by me. She has made the steps on which the teddy is standing. The message is missing in the present since it's personal to her, so we clicked the pics before she added the messages to it. Anyway, everyone found it very creative and nice. No one had expected the invitation would turn into such a beautiful present.

Here are few snaps of it; hope you like these:

♥ ~ Smile

Gift for a Friend - 01

A gift that we friends prepared for one our friend leaving the organisation. We gifted her a table tennis bat and this as a card with our thoughts for her. She was very very happy receiving these gifts. Kudos to S who prepared the envelop from just one paper without cutting it from any where. Just folded in a way that it formed an envelop. I just prepared the doll and the badge.

Here's few snaps of it:







♥ ~ Smile

My Friend - Reginald Charles Russell

Today I feel like writing about RR, my colleague, my friend - Reginald Charles Russell (Reg Russell).

He is truly an amazing person. The things I like most about him are his honesty and his straight forward personality. He would not criticize you unless you really made some stupid or serious mistake. Very good in providing facts about anything you ask. Be it work or something related to some incident, he will give exactly what he knows for sure. No guess talks.

He will provide you wonderful solutions to some problems; and would do it whole hearted. Half-hearted things he would usually not do. Thus, if he is not sure he can give you some time to work with you, he would say it to you. He would not hang you around and would not keep you waiting for a long time. He is very good at what he knows. That's why I prefer to deal with him for any issues I have with some application or to do peer review of my works. He loves his kid - his Scamp - his adorable puppy. We gossip for a long time every time we talk about life... Hehehe... He is a very funny guy and poses well for photographs. His kid is very cute and his house is very beautiful with all those greenery around.

Scamp

Greenery from Reg's house

Scamp

Scamp

Balcony of Reg's house

(Q. Where's Reg's picture???

A. With his permission I would add his picture.)

When we met for the first time and started working, this was not the case at all. We had several misunderstandings. However, after a year things started changing. We want him in the team always. Hurray... we have him even now in our team. And he is a great asset to the team, to the organisation and to the people whose application we deal with.

All I remember about him, during my trip to Sydney, are:

1) His Green Tea (I came to know about Green tea from him. It was a new thing for me then)

2) His table calendar, where he had all those funny coats with the funny cartoons

3) His desk - properly organised, books kept in order.

At that time though I was not so well, because of the cold weather, and could not enjoy Sydney wholly.. Now I cherish those moments. I remember the lunch we had with team, had Sushi food; especially my experience with the 'Wasabi' sauce. Ah! it was an experience in a life time. That hot feeling that passed from my throat to my nose to my eyes and to my head and finally to the air. Woho... everyone wondered why am I crying and then they realised it was 'Wasabi' sauce that I took too much. Ah...

Also, his height is something that I would never forget. I guess he is more than 6 feet. I had never seen such height in India. And I remember I had to raise my face to see him and say "Hi, I am Gayatri". It was a nice experience with Helena and Reg around. The snacks that Helena used to share with us; it was so caring of her. For the first time I came to know about Kiwi fruit, she shared with us. It was fun with Helena and Reg.

One of the interesting facts that I remember is - he visited India in April 1983. His experience was very bad that time with India. And that year and that month I am born. Hehehe...

I would send him a gift on his birthday 3rd Oct. this year. His presence in the team and his help makes my life much easier to deal with certain applications and certain clients.

I am happy for having such a nice person as my friend. Thank you Reg for being a nice friend and a wonderful colleague.

(With regards - your kiddo friend GG)

♥ ~ Smile

Socialising - Modern generation vs Older generation

I was observing people yesterday sitting in the Red Bus, since that's where you can see clearly who is doing what, from my bike - Ferrari Red Honda Deo ;).

Something has been ringing a kind of beep in my head every time I see the bus and the people inside. Every time I travel in those buses too my mind wanders around to figure out why am I getting absent minded. Yesterday that puzzle was finally resolved. It's the people and their behaviour that was ringing that bell in my mind.

Every time you see at the bus you will hardly find anyone talking to each other. Even if you see a couple they too would not be talking much. All they would be doing is sit quite, holding the hands of each other, sometime keeping their head on the shoulders of the partners. I could hardly see anyone speaking. And that was kind of suffocating me every time I travel in the bus.

But yeah, you would find some people talk at times, and those are the fresh college graduates, enjoying their freshers feeling, enjoying their days just after college and entering in to the corporate life, being unaware of the days that are still yet to come. They would be shouting, making all kind of sounds, laughing. That makes me feel amazed at times. However, immediately the coming times of their life's reflections pass by fast enough in my thoughts. So, I just give a smile and turn back to my book. Oh yeah! my books are the best companion of me, unless there is someone who is interested in having a chat.

Well, the fresh grads are the only chirping birds of this jungle. There are some old birds too, ah.. I mean the people at their old age. I kinda like them. You know why, they would talk to you, if you show a little interest. Of course, if there would have been 3-4 old people sitting, they would talk for sure from their side to each other. And that remind me of my Dad and his friends. He would talk to anyone, be it old person of his age, or young to him. He would always make a conversation and people kinda like him for that. And so, even there are few friends of dad who don't like themselves, still they would talk everything on the earth with my Dad.

Now, this is just not the case with my Dad, I have seen many old age people, who are of our Daddy/Mommy's age, love have a conversation with anyone. They were interested in building relationship. My Mommy would talk to any lady, she may show interest initially or not, but Mommy would talk with a bright smile and true heart.

When I was in Mumbai, I was so surprised to see that the aunts who don't talk to each other they speak with Mom, they invite her to have snacks, to go shopping, to visit temples, to have tea, to go for an evening walk. And that was so amazing to see. I can't explain how much surprised I was when I found so many friends of her in just a weeks time. And you know what when I needed help and I had no relatives around these people themselves came to help me and my Mom. My mother was sick and I used to take care every need of her, from preparing food to bring medicines to visit blood bank to relax myself from not having my loved ones around me. But as soon as they knew about it, they all came to help me. Some came to stay near my Mom when I am not around, some prepared food, some brought fruits. That was an amazing experience I can never ever forget in my life. Even after we left Mumbai they were in contact with us.

This is the power of Socialising. However, this generation people, we hardly make any new relationship. There are people who socialise just the way our parents used to do, but that percentage would be hardly 20-30%.

Everyone in the bus sit quite, looking outside the window. However, I don't understand what they must be thinking or cherishing when they look at those people they can't talk from inside the bus. And why don't they talk to people who are inside the bus.

The only way socialising now a days is Internet, and all the websites. You know what I too feel about myself that I am not so expressive upfront than I am here in the writings. However, I am working more and more to improve my socialising skills with people who I see in my place. I hope you too are doing the same.

I strongly feel we need to become like our parents, since they have that skill to socialise with anyone, anywhere, any time. And they get the help when they need much faster and it's bigger form.

Every time I go down mentally, I try to recollect the statement from Bollywood actress Shilpa Setty, "Smile is the only thing for which you don't have to pay any tax, and thus, I always keep smiling."

I think that's gonna help me a lot in socialising more with the lovely people around me. And I hope this would help you do so, too. :)

♥ ~ Smile

I miss you Rekha!! We all miss you!!

Rekha!! My dearest friend... I miss her so much now and I feel so sorry for her now. I met her in Hyderabad in our cafeteria of CSC B4 building. I was alone that day for lunch. I found she and another guy sitting on a table where 4 people can sit. I found no other place vacant, thus, I went up to them and asked if someone else is coming to join them or if I can sit along with them? They allowed me to sit with them. I had my food and was listening to their talks. After a while I felt like inviting them to the CSC Toastmasters meet. I asked them their names (Rekha, Rajesh) and invited them. They finished their food and left. I had my lunch, returned to desk, continued my work.

Another day I was alone again for the lunch. I was holding my plate and looking for the place and someone waved his hands from the corner. I looked back and there was no one. So, I guessed it was me whom they were waving their hands to. I went there and found them, Rekha and Rajesh. I met and got introduced to their other friends. I came to know that they are all from System Admin team. We became good friends. Whenever, I am alone they would call me to sit with them. Sometime even they invite me to have lunch with them. We have become very good friends and had some cheerful and happy moment with each other. Every time Rajesh and Rekha would fight like cat and dog; however, silently, like the cold war. She was the lone female in the team and rest all guys. So, all the guys together would tease her. Whenever I sit with them, we become two and we tease others. It was fun. She was such a nice person, simple, always bears a smile in her face. She doesn't know hindi and would learn a word or two from me. She always greet me or anyone with such purity in her voice, in her eyes or in her smile, as if she likes everyone, there is no such thing called dislike in her life. I always confuse with her name and call her "Padma" - the lotus flower. And she would correct me, "I am Rekha"

It came as a sudden news to me that she is no more there. She is of my age or may be even younger than me. One of our friend Murali informed in Buzz:

♬µřα∫î ..ßαšα†آ‎ - Buzz - Public

We Miss You a lot Rekha.. :( Worst Day in My Life

Gayatri Gouda - Rekha left CSC?? Apr 20

♬µřα∫î ..ßαšα†آ‎ - She left the earth and went heaven very quick Gayathri, She expired yesterday night :( !!!! It was very sad shocking news..Apr 21

 

When I wrote him an e-mail asking what happened and when and how... Here's what he replied to me:

 

Hi Gayatri,

She expired suddenly due to blood kind of disease and blood clot in brain on 19 this month. It all happened suddenly and she also doesn't know that she has blood or brain related issue within her body till the end. She had regular health checkup in yashoda hospital fot the past 1 month, they did not check completely and given temporary medicines. Then she was completely ill on 17 and went to hospital. Then they said that nothing in our hands & routed to NIMS hospital. NIMS hospital declared that she is having some issue with blood and brain and it was last stage and we cant it cure it by operation in this stage.

We cant come out of her rey.. We miss her a lot.

 

I too miss her a lot. I feel so so so bad I can't tell how bad I am feeling. And yes I am feeling even more angry on doctors now, for their carelessness. The first I time felt that when my friend Theja had an accident and even when he was telling he is feeling pain in his stomach, they ignored saying it's common. It's only because of my friend Swamy the doctors did an ultrasound and then they found some liquid accomodated in his stomach. Later upon investigation they found it as blood and did the treatment.

 

Ah! pathetic doctors. Most of them have forgotten they are in this job to serve the people who have disease or have uncomfortable body and mind. How come someone just assume things are ok and supress the symptom rather than treating the disease. I have lost my faith on these doctors and too scared to visit them. I feel there is a need to check the ability of these doctors. The doctor who initially ignored her symptoms is responsible for my friend's death. I truely feel that now-a-days there are no value of life for most of the doctors, not just doctors but for anyone. I had felt the same when these riots happen, the terrorist attacks happen. One doesn't realise the value of life unless someone very close to her/him dies.

 

I miss you Rekha!! I miss you a lot!!

Inspiration from 'Walk The Talk' - 02

Hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul and sings the tune without the words and never stops at all. ~ Emily Dickinson

Ah! Hope! few people come to my mind when the word 'Hope' is pronounced. They are: Mr. Barack Obama, My Mother, My Best Friend, My Sister, and few of my friends. Believe it or not, its just a coincidence that except Mr. President of U.S., all are females.

My brother too hopes lot of thing to happen. However, never says it openly, we can read his body language to understand that. So is the case of my hubby and my father. May be there are many other guys who 'Hope! for something they want'. Is it want or need. umm.. it's 'Want' I guess which suits in with 'Hope', cause if it's a 'Need' then people just hope they create a burning desire, a fire in them to get that thing done. However, exceptions are there, as when Mr. Obama said the word Hope, I felt that Need in his voice, which he wanted to convey to the residents of U.S. and the entire world. Ah! It's confusing... or may be I am just confused and not others.

Anyway. I just remembered that yes, I have couple of my school friends, who are guys, who still Hope for good things to happen. I too Hope for good things to happen. However, these days someone/something reminds me to Believe in the good things that I am hoping for. So, if I re-read the quote above I feel: "Hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul and sings the tune without the words and never stops at all - and that's called as Belief" What do you think?

 ♥ ~ Smile

Inspiration from 'Walk The Talk' - 01

If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader. ~ John Quincy Adams

 

The basis of leadership is the capacity of the leader to change the mindset, the framework of the other person. ~ Warren Bennis

 

When I read these lines the first person who came to my mind immediately is my best friend C, who has worked so much on her leadership skills through the past few years. I am so proud that she has become a powerful, rather power-filling leader and for I have her in with me in this life.♥. I thank Lord for this.
 

♥ ~ Smile

Women of my life ♥

The women of my life... There are so many. When I was young my father would always scold me why don't you have girls as your friends. I always feel bad for I don't have any friends who are girls. And even those I have I don't like them much for their gossiping nature, some are proud of their beauty and skin color, some are too greedy of their parents' status / house / car, some are proud for their parents are both working and they have so much money...

Ah... Aren't there any sensible females in this world, who are far off from these stupid and nonsense nature? The more such girls I meet the more sad and hopeless I become.

I thank God for he gradually brought some really nice women in my life. First, my Mommy whom I never gave much attention to. I realised that later and she is the most loving and childlike women I have in my life, who even some time cries near me like a small baby for small small tensions in life. I feel good when she opens her heart in front of me, for she makes me feel that I am so close to her. Second is my little sister, Jolly, for she is the most adorable doll I have who is some time scared of me, but loves me and takes care of me more than me, myself. Third, is my best friend, Lipi, for she loves me like a daughter. She is like my second mother for I share almost everything with her. And she is the one who cares for me sometimes more than my mother. She is the one who was there with me in my bad times and has guided me like the light in the charcoal darkness.

There are many more women who later on showered upon me their care and affection, their love, their advice, fun, jokes. I met those ladies in Navi Mumbai as my colleague as my roommates. Anchal, Leena, Beena, and Preeti are such adorable roommates I had, who taught me so many lessons about the true life. I remember Anchal Dii giving advice to me about career and professional life. I remember Beena sharing her thoughts about my nature with me, her jokes, her laugh, flowers, dress designs... I recollect all those when I sit alone in serenity. I remember Leena fighting with the other two girls of our room for me. I remember the silent cold war with Preeti and the fight on a Friday morning. I feel amazing that after that fight how Beena had left both of us in the room for discussion during the weekend. We became truly good friends after that and had good times with each other. I love those memories. I love the dinner we four planned together, the dinner we had in Sagar hotel of Vashi, I will always cherish that memory always forever in my life.

Spending time with Gayathry, Vinitha, Vani, Dhanya, Suggu and my roommate Beena in office were my favourite pass time. Even me and some others are never used to Tea, still we all go together; we walk/talk while others savour tea. We take the fresh breeze, the freshness of the trees, the beautiful colors of the butterflies and the flowers.

Now I am slowly getting in touch with my school friends through social networking websites. And feels really good for I have so many friends who are girls. I prove my Dad wrong now. In numbers I may have very few friends; however, they are my true friends.

Happy women's day my darlings... I love you all and I miss you so much...

♥ ~ Smile

My Friend - Part 1

My Friend - CSR, she is my best friend. My C - a friend I cherish in my life more than anything else.

I remember even today the way we had met for the first time. It was my 8th standard when I moved from a co-education school to a girls' high school. One of my friends from our colony took me to my section - H.

She introduced me to the monitor of the class. Her name is A. A took to me to the middle row as it was bit vacant and asked me to take a seat. I sat on the 1st seat of the row. Girls were going in and out of the class as it had not yet started. After a while C came and saw myself sitting there. She became furious and got irritated. She came to me and asked me with an arrogant voice, "Hey, leave my place. It's mine." Well, it was my first day so I had no option but to listen to her. I asked the person next to me to move a little to the right. She did not. So, I had to move to the corner seat next to the wall. That was definitely not my choice of seat, but again no other option left. So, that's how we had met. We never spoke to each other after that day. We never exchanged anything. Not even looks. However, there were two sentences which I used to say to her, almost every Mon-Sat. "Hey, leave me the space to go inside." "Hey, let me go out."

We did that for almost 1 year or a bit more than that. When we moved to 9th class, we had no classroom for us. Thus, they used to divide the entire class to go to section A to G. There was no such section H physically then. The first day of my 9th class - I was assigned section E. She too was assigned to the same section. I reached a bit late to the class that day. When I reached there I found all the chairs are occupied and there is no place to sit. There was always competition for seats. I went to the last row and stood there. I had some so called friends then with whom I used to share my knowledge, especially Mathematics, and Tiffin box. I asked one of those friends D, who was sitting next to me, to allow me to share her seat. Well, she said it's small and won't be able to occupy me. She refused to share her seat with me. I didn't say a word afterwards. I stood there and kept my bag on the floor. C was sitting there at the corner. She was noticing everything. She kept quiet for a while and then called me. I looked at her and then turned back. She again called me and then asked me to sit with her. I said the same thing that D had told that it's small and she won't be able to sit comfortably. She still insisted upon me coming there. So, I did. I sat on half of the chair and she did on another half. We continued that for that day. Next day we arranged one more chair and we sat together. We started talking to each other. I use to draw and paint - she too. We started liking each other from that point. It was Drawing/Painting which brought us closer. We started experimenting with drawing, colors. She used to write poems. I used to write stories. We shared that too. She began to write stories and I began with some small poetries. We became very good friend. And one day we thought of teaching a lesson to D, as we found her gradually to be selfish and mean.

Every Monday, morning we would found the chairs will be shuffled because of cleaning activity and thus there some time shortage of chairs in the class. Students would bring chairs from other class. One Monday, we reached class early and there was shortage of chairs. Everyone brought their chairs. Except D as she was late and by that time Class Teacher was on the room. So, there was no chance she could peep into other class and bring a chair. Initially we thought of sharing the chair. However, when I recollected the incident with me, I hesitated. Poor lady stood for some time and then sat on the floor the entire day. The next day too, the same thing happened. Third day, we felt a little awful and thus allowed her to share until Interval. After that we asked her to arrange a chair from the other class.

With time passing by C and I became very close friends. You could say that we are soul friends now. When we were in 10th C thought I would lose contact when we would move to different colleges. However, by that time I had started liking her so much that I used to share everything with her. She became my best friend. And I could not think of losing her by any chance. I told her I would never ever disconnect the friendship with her. I still strive to be the way I was in school. However, sometime due to additional responsibility I am unable to give her time. But yes, we are in touch even today.

We have shared a part of our life with each other that it's almost impossible for anyone to take us from each other's soul. Even if someone tries to damage our thoughts, we would be alive in our heart, in our soul forever. She is like a second mother to me. She is so caring, so affectionate and lovable, so understanding that sometime she takes over my mother's place. Since my 9th standard I have shared more time with her than with my parents. We have met each other hardly 7 - 10 times in these 9 years. She is coming here this weekend and I am so excited to meet her and to spend some time with her. My fair lady will soon move to my current city. And we would live our school days again.

God! I wish you to please let our lives go smoothly with that child alive in us. May God bless us!!

♥ ~ Smile

Deaf Frog, My Dii, and Me

Here I share the story of a small frog. When I was a fresher, this story shaped my thoughts and my career. "How it did?” - I will not reveal that now!!

There was a bunch of tiny frogs who arranged a climbing competition. The goal was to reach the top of a very high telephone tower. Some of the frogs preferred to be spectators. No one in the crowd really believed that the tiny frogs would reach the top of the tower.

The competition started. The spectators started shouting, “Oh, way too difficult!! They will never make to the top.” “Not a chance that they will succeed. The tower is too high!” Some of the frogs began collapsing by hearing this.

The crowd started yelling, “It is too difficult!! No one will make it!” Some more collapsed.

Some of the frogs reached higher with their fresh tempo. After a while some of the frogs got tired and said, “I am too tired! I don’t think I would be able to do it any more. I withdraw”. And they retired back.

By seeing this some more too said, “They weren’t able to do; how can we do?” “Not possible! Let’s go back.” And they too withdrew.

Now, there are only three frogs left. Two were too tired and were discouraged by the act of others and they too started blaming themselves for why they participated in this. “It’s waste of time and effort. Let’s join others!” And they stopped moving up.

The other tiny frog, unaware of what’s happening, kept on moving ahead. The rest of the two frogs started yelling, “Hey, You! Come, let’s go back. You are wasting your time. What will you achieve by doing this? Come on!!” There was no reaction; the other frog still moved up. And finally he reached to the top and took a view of the entire area from there. It was nice to be in top of every one. He looked down and saw the other frogs clapping and waving.

He came down and when asked what kept him motivated to reach the top, there was no reaction. They asked the question again and again. But there was no reaction. Finally they found that the frog is a DEAF!!

Now, this story was told to me by my senior Anchal Agrawal, when I was chosen to work on Lotus Notes technology after my campus training was over. I was worried for how would my career shape in. I wanted to go for Java technology, I had done the SCJP certification as well. And they didn't let me go for Java project. I started feeling despair.

She made me realize that, “It doesn’t matter what kind of job you do. What matters is how well you do that job! You may be assigned a sculptor’s job, however, do it in such a way that even the Lord says, here’s this sculptor who created me out of the rock!”

Today when I see the market and the condition of people after being layed off from the company, I feel a sense of relaxation that I am in a safe job and I am doing hardwork and smartwork.

People would say that, “You won’t be able to do this work. This job is not your cup of tea!” But believe me, even the CEOs were ‘Freshers’ one day. So strive for your goal like that deaf frog. Love the job you do. For if you sit and think about you not having a job at all, then you would realize that you are confident today and are able to relish some pleasure in life because of this job.

No one is small or no one is doing a pathetic job. Because the electrician is able to fix the AC point, you are able to work with proficiency, without your surrounding environment affecting you, without freezing and are able to work with concentration. Respect everybody in your life starting from the guard in your office to the canteen boy who takes the cups you have left at your desk.

The world would start loving you then!!

Keep smiling... Keep loving... and Keep rocking...

Catch you in next blog...

With smile

♥ ~ Smile