From the dark to the dawn

During our vacation in Goa last month, my sister-in-law (devrani) said, "As I grow older, I realize that Anshuman (the projected antagonist from the Hindi movie 'Jab We Met') was not actually as wrong as he is portrayed. Geet (the heroine of the movie) was too restless and acted without thinking."  I didn't comment at that time, as I only remembered glimpses of the movie (it was released in 2007 and not on my favorites list) and had forgotten the context. After a wonderful week in Goa, upon returning, I rewatched the movie. Now, I have a few points to share as Geet's decision to run away from her home is a pivotal moment in the story (of course, I shared them with hher first): Geet perceived that she had to run from her home because her family wouldn't allow the marriage. She did not talk to her family about her love life, how did she know? Whether Anshuman knew of this remains a question unanswered in the movie. Even though going against her loving and ca...

Mother-son love.   I have been chastised by numerous relatives and friends alike for allowing my 7.5-year-old son to sleep beside me. Yet, I deflect their criticism with a gentle smile, for they cannot fathom the waterfall of emotions within me. They fail to grasp that I simply do not care what they think because the truth is far more profound. In the depths of my heart, I feel a mixture of sadness and longing. I fondly recall the days when my little one, at just one year old, would peacefully slumber beside me, clutching my hand with tiny fingers. There were moments when he would awaken during the night, seeking solace and desiring my comforting presence. I can still sense the delicate caress of his hand tracing my face. Those times held immense significance and remain etched in my memory, yet they couldn't endure indefinitely. They gracefully slipped away, akin to a beautiful dance. These memories evoke a deep longing within me as I witness my son growing up and the relentless pa...

It is early Sunday morning, and Shalini is lying awake, tossing and turning in her bed, smiling as she thinks of her fiance, Mohit. They had a short yet sweet encounter last weekend, albeit in the company of his friends ( you can read about it here ). Despite not having any ‘alone’ time together, the memory of it is refreshing and worth preserving. Just then, her reminder rings, and tone of it shakes her out of her reverie. “The promotion exam is in 1.5 hours, at 10.00 am," it says.  Shalini has prepared for this exam thoroughly. She is determined to move forward and climb the ladder of success in her career. Being an ambitious woman, she aspires to have a career filled with dignity and respect. Moreover, the icing on the cake would be if she is transferred to Bangalore, Mohit's city, which is an added incentive for acing this promotion test. Taking a deep breath, she fills herself with energy on this otherwise lazy Sunday, ready to tackle the challenge ahead. She jumps out of...

Source : Google The sun, although a seemingly ordinary star in the  universe, located in the Milky Way galaxy holds the solar system together. Apart from being the center of the solar system, it provides the  warmth and light indispensable to the life on Earth and maintaining our planet's delicate ecosystem by its energy. The dominance of sun in our lives can never be overstated as the rising of it signals the starts of the day and its setting marks the arrival of darkness.  However, we can learn some valuable lessons on our perceptions and emotions by observing the effect of sun in our lives in different seasons.  I remember my childhood days, sitting on the porch of our home during winter vacations, baskin in the sun's rays, feeling its warmth seeping into my bones. During that time, I did not pay any heed to effects of prolonged sun's exposure on my skin (sunburns) or my mother's concerns about my brown skin getting more darker. My love for bathing in sun ray...

My grandparents used to travel only for absolute necessities. At that time, travelling was costly and time consuming endeavor. I can reach to Delhi within few hours from any place in India. But earlier, it would take days to travel from southern parts of the country (India) to travel to Delhi. The technology and improved transportation options has made travelling accessible and easier.  In earlier times, despite less technology and less travel options and more challenges, people loved to travel. To explore new places. To know more about the existence. To know more about themselves. If our ancestors had no curiosity for travel, we would have not known world as we know it today.  When I think of need to travel, all I can feel is the need of experiencing new vibes, new ways of living the life. It is always uncomfortable to leave my home to take a vacation in far away places. But this sense of discomfort translates into whole new experience and increases confidence in me. Goa Some...

In our small lives, we encounter many friendships. On most of them, we put alot of time, energy and money. It is almost hilarious barely a handful of so many actually survive the test of time. As I am writing this, I am recalling almost a hundred of people I called friend. I had put so much effort and energy into maintaining those relationships. As you are reading this, you would also be recalling a lot of names in your head with whom you had taken vows of friendship. How many of them last? Think of the good times with them. Think of the times you cried because of them and think of the indifference you feel about them right now. This is how the circle of life works. You might have made a lot of new friends after school, after college, after changing your workplace. You will make many more new friends. I need you to focus on the time you put into the relationships you don't even care after a while. They say time is the real currency. Use wisely. Most of the time, if you contemplate ...