Happy (belated) Deewali!!

Happy Deepavali!! (The Festival of Lights)

I have enjoyed my Deewali... After a long time I burst crackers; that too with my parents, my brother and my hubby. 

Though the weather was not good and it was all cloudy and rainy weather; fortunately there was no rain in the night. The crackers would have burst even better had it been sunny. It was fun painting the Diyas, then organising them and put the right amount of oil to it and then lighting the Diyas. It was really a great experience. And after a long time I did the Puja myself. 

Oh!! I feel great when I recollect the memories,  except a few. One of those is when a burnt out cracker suddenly swifted to Dinu's leg and he burnt his leg's lower skin. He could not walk properly for around 2-3 days. Mupimet ointment showed it's magic. So he was fine by the 3rd day. I missed my sister a lot. She had night shift that day. But I hope she enjoyed wearing her traditional Lehenga / Saree. 

I tried some photography. Many personal and few object oriented. I tried take the pics of the twins we have as neighbors. Bubbly was hiding her face a lot, thus it was a bit challenging. Bubble was always ready for snaps. However, he smiles only when Bubbly smiles. 

Here are some of those pics, including one of Bubbly & Bubble:

I still have some of the crackers left, for may be later use in some other festival. :)

I hope you too have enjoyed the festival. 

Happy Deewali once again!!

♥ ~ 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

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

Happy Mother's day Mommy

For all that you have given me,

I can return but love. For you

Bound up the wounds I did not see

And gave me hopes and passions new.

I can return but love for you,

Whose unmoved faith my heart did move,

And gave me hopes and passions new,

And loved me till I turned to love

Whose unmoved faith did my heart move?

The mother of my heart, not blood,

Who loved me till I turned to love.

And I became the soul I would.

The mother of my heart, not blood,

Bound up the wounds I did not see.

And I became the soul I would

For all that you have given me.

- Nicholas Gordon

Happy Mother's Day Mommy...

Happy Mother's Day '10

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_catCndXJM

Main Kabhi Batlata Nahin
Par Andhere Se Darta Hoon Main Maa
Yun To Main,Dikhlata Nahin
Teri Parwaah Karta Hoon Main Maa
Tujhe Sab Hain Pata, Hain Na Maa
Tujhe Sab Hain Pata,,Meri Maa

Bheed Mein Yun Na Chodo Mujhe
Ghar Laut Ke Bhi Aa Naa Paoon Maa
Bhej Na Itna Door Mujkko Tu
Yaad Bhi Tujhko Aa Naa Paoon Maa
Kya Itna Bura Hoon Main Maa
Kya Itna Bura Meri Maa

Jab Bhi Kabhi Papa Mujhe
Jo Zor Se Jhoola Jhulate Hain Maa
Meri Nazar Dhoondhe Tujhe
Sochu Yahi Tu Aa Ke Thaamegi Maa

Unse Main Yeh Kehta Nahin
Par Main Seham Jaata Hoon Maa
Chehre Pe Aana Deta Nahin
Dil Hi Dil Mein Ghabraata Hoon Maa
Tujhe Sab Hai Pata Hai Naa Maa
Tujhe Sab Hai Pata Meri Maa

Main Kabhi Batlata Nahin
Par Andhere Se Darta Hoon Main Maa
Yun To Main,Dikhlata Nahin
Teri Parwaah Karta Hoon Main Maa
Tujhe Sab Hain Pata, Hain Na Maa
Tujhe Sab Hain Pata,,Meri Maa

Mother!!

When you are a mother, you are never really alone in your thoughts. A mother always has to think twice, once for herself and once for her child. ~ Sophia Loren

Yes, when you are a mother, you think about you and your children. However, you also think about all other people of your family whom you love, about all your best friends whom you adore, your siblings, parents. Ah! a mother really thinks about many people in her family and outside world too.

Yes, she is sometimes too much occupied with her family life. This reminds me of my mother. When she visits any shop before she buys anything for herself, she first sorts out things for us, and only then she with her available budget buys something for herself. Even though she is home maker she would save some money from her monthly budget to get us beautiful clothes. She would sometime pamper us with, various flavored milk, chat, pani puri, samosa, dahi vade, vada sambar, sandesh, kaju katri.... yummy. I love those mouth watering food items. Every time she would go for shopping we would be waiting for her in our balcony for when will she come with some special snacks this time. And she too knew that we would be waiting for the lovely snacks she would bring. The food doesn't taste so much if we sit and have it in the restaurant. However, the love and affection with which she brings the food, brings that special flavor in those. I Love You Mommy ♥.

♥ ~ Smile

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

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