The Eternal Chase

All our lives we are chasing something or someone. From the toy that we were not able to buy to the person we were not able to marry, some wishes are never fulfilled.

I remember when i was young, my mom used to take me to this provision store. i used to see a doll hanging among other toys. I very well knew my mom cannot buy that doll for me, not just because of the price but also because i am well past the age of dolls. i never even asked the owner what was the price of that doll. i never knew that it is okay to hoard things in the house, probably because we never had the concept of hoarding because we were always moving from one house to the other. So, when i became a mother, i got my daughter a doll even before she was ready to play with the dolls. Yes, it was the same kind that i used to see in the stores when i was young.

While growing up, i always wanted to dress up for festivals in proper ethnics that i saw my cousins do. but i have always wore hand-me-downs from cousins. so basically there was no fashion sense. so when i could afford dresses finally, current trends in fashion did not matter. i wore what i always wanted to wear. and interestingly, that became my fashion sense and made me stand tall among the fashion mimics.

Sitting pillion on a bike was like a dream. my father owned a scooter and i did not have a brother who had a bike. And being a plumpy little girl, bikers feared me or i had low confidence or whatever was the case, i was not able to bike-ride all my childhood. Interestingly, my husband drives just a motor bike and since past eight years, i am being driven by him with wind in my hair and satisfaction in my heart.

we did not have an internet connection so i used to go to cyber cafes to write and chat with my friends. it was annoying at times to sit in cyber cafes for hours together with someone keeping a watch. and it was quite claustrophobic. but today, my job requires me to write and write on the computer all day with uninterrupted wifi and no bothering from people around as i am a freelancer.

during school days, i yearned to be friends to some girls and boys whom i looked upon as inspiration. but i did not have that confidence. my cousin used to make me chat with random people whom i liked. she had this amazing confidence. however, all this helped me a lot today. i can talk to whomsoever i want to with no hiccups, i always have conversation starters and now people come and talk to me. not forgetting those friends in school, i am friends with them as well. I have passed on this trait to my kiddo as well who can easily start a conversation with strangers. and by start i mean start and not just answer their 'which standard' questions.

looking back, i had so many wishes while growing up and i had thought i would not be able to fill them ever. but today, i have so much to look forward to. all my questions that troubled me are answered on their own. all my wishes are fulfilled and am quite happy. i do not worry about the future because the past has molded my present so beautifully that i have realized that i should not interrupt the ways of life 

Hope I could become like you, Mom

It's not everyday that I think about her. She has always been there for me. But yesterday, while waving off a little girl to school in my neighborhood, I started thinking about her. She is an amazing lady - My mom. We do not know much about our mothers. We will never be able to know, I think. Like every mom, mine is different too. This is her story. She comes from a joint family, where there was not a single day she spent her day alone, staring at the walls, the way I do. A pampered granddaughter, she was loved by one and all, not just because of her looks, but respect towards elders and love for everyone. She used to live in a town, where her grandfather commanded great respect. Brought up in a rich family, she never ever knew what frugality meant. At a young age of 19, her family married her off and sent her to a city in another state.

From a carefree life in a town to an anxious life in the city, from a famous life of the town to an unknown place in the city, she soared her wings and settled in the new nest. There was no LPG at her home back in town. She used to prepare food on the coal lit stove. She did not know the concept of cooker and many more things. While her favorite hobby was to run to the fields with her granny back in town, here she struggled with her three sister-in-laws in the kitchen. But, being a fighter and oblivious to politics, she established herself. She tried new recipes, respected everyone and soon came to know the ways of the city. After a year of her wedding, I was born. And after three years, my sister. But till that time, family discords led my parents to live on their own in another rented place.

I was three and it was time for my admission to a school. My father was not in a well-off situation at that time. He decided that I should study in a Hindi medium school because he had studied in the same and so had my mom. But, my mother argued and fought and did whatever she can do to persuade my father for my English medium schooling. He agreed. They hunted for a school and the day of my interview arrived. The school was a new one. With only nursery and junior kindergarten, the school was supposed to expand gradually. At the interviews, principal asked my mother about her schooling. She told the truth that she had studied only till 11th standard. She got disinterested in studies as she loved spending time with family. The principal asked that how would she teach and groom me as she was less educated.

This was a shocker for my mom. She asked the principal if less educated parents do not have the right to get their children a better schooling. The principal retorted that that was not the case. But, the child will feel a laggard in some time if she is not able to cope. My mother promised the principal that her child will not be a laggard. She would do whatever, be it enrolling me for tuition or anything else, to make me cope. Her confidence coaxed the principal to admit me. Surprisingly, my mom taught me so well that I was one of the toppers in the class. I never went to tuition till 9th standard and was always a topper in the class. My mom proved others that mom's education does not matter but her confidence does. She has always been instrumental in grooming both me and my sister's lives. My sister too never went to coaching classes but was a topper in the Science Stream.

There are so many incidents that have shaped my life. But, my mother's determination towards my education is something that always remains etched in my mind. I can never thank her enough for all the things she has ever done for me. She has made me strong and always persuaded me to drive my life on my own.

Adlabs Imagica – A Magical Place for People of Every Age

For people like me who did not have the time or money or company to travel round the world or even an interesting country like India, Adlabs Imagica could be a one phrase answer. For the uninitiated, Adlabs Imagica Review is a theme park situated at Khopoli, a tiny place in Maharashtra. It is around an hour and a half from Pune and couple of hours from the capital city, Mumbai. This theme park opened the curtains in the month of April and has been creating curiosity since then. Early birds who went there did not have much to say. However, we went there pretty six months after the launch. And hence, here is an account of this place - that is as described by my friend, ‘Disneyland of India’. Let me put the imagination of your people to rest by saying that it does not have any kind of association with Disney – hence, no Mickey Mouse or Donald Duck here. In simple terms, it is very Indian or say “desi”. So, we have Alibaba and Chalis Chor, Salimgarh, Rajasaurus, etc.

A note of caution for people who have already packed their bags without reading the entire article – do not go there without tagging three-four of your friends along. Yes, this place needs a group, so a lone ranger will get bored and return with a gloomy face. We began our journey from Pune and so, we reached there within 80 minutes. The sad thing about the route is that there are no directions or map towards the park. However, the locals are a great help! The rainy ambiance towards the Park suddenly turned into sunny when we reached there. The sweltering heat made us crib to no extent. The surroundings of the park were spotted by people carrying camera and clicking pictures of anything and everything that came their way. As the doors opened, sharp at 11, people (including us) swarmed inside. The picture inside - A huge walky-talky teddy bear was being hugged, pushed and clicked with kids in tow. A man with tall bamboo legs (obviously artificial) was difficult to reach, so we just waved him and moved forward. The park is divided into zones, Europe, India, Arabia, America and Africa.

The sun took our toll. The sight of water bodies appealed us and one of us, even wanted to dive inside to save himself from the sun. Adlabs Imagica Review is full of coordinators who can easily make out confused faces and appear from nowhere to guide them. One of them guided us to take the rides first and then go for indoor fun, because the rains were regular visitors in the evenings. However, sun and rides are a bad combination. We did not heed his advice and moved for indoor games. First, we went for ‘Alibaba and Chalis Chor’. We are taken inside a tomb and shown a video wherein a person is advising us to kill the chor or thieves in the journey. We are made to sit in a train like structure and handed laser guns. The journey begins. There are various statues dressed in Arabian costumes. We had to aim the laser point and shoot them. Yes, we are awarded points for this. It was fun turning kids again. Then, we headed to the India zone. If you like ghosts and desire to meet them, visit Salimgarh where human dressed as ghosts climb on the wagon you are travelling!

Every attraction at Adlabs Imagica Review is thoughtfully designed. There is something for everyone. For people who fear actual rides, the place has virtual rides too. A couple of rides have water elements; hence, people should carry a hand towel or an extra pair of clothes. People can enjoy the open rain dance too in this theme park. Everything is in place here. Adlabs Imagica is a great combination of indoor and outdoor rides. What we loved is their makeover of Disneyland into Indian theme park! A lovely place that is not only easily accessible but also does not burn a hole in your pockets! Adlabs Imagica even provides transportation services from Mumbai and Pune as well. So, what are you waiting for! Pack your bags and head to the wonderland, Adlabs Imagica!

Why can't I?

Why can't I get a close close friend whom I can hug while on a run! 

Why can't I have a girlish girl who enjoys all things that seem like fun! 

My Life ain't short of girls if that is what you think

But none matches my wavelength, to whom i can link

I want a girl to praise my awful dressing sense 

And promise to take me to shopping in a dense

A girl that loves eating, shopping, and blabbering just like me

I found many with one, but not all qualities you see

A friend that calls me in the middle of the night

Wants to talk to me and make up for that fight

I found a dear dear friend in my little sister

She is so far away and has a friend in her mister

But But But I thank God for so many girls in my lives

Talkative, funny, shy, motherly, busy, and many are now wives

I won't stop complaining for giving me a lonely life out here

I would like you to stop my heart sinking by offering me a beer!

The Good Ol' Jalebi

The post is about sumptuous juicy delicacy, impossible to ignore by all those with even a tiny sweet tooth - our very own Jalebi!!! No, the sweet has no translation in English or might be any  other language, which makes it all the more interesting or tasty for that matter. However, the mighty sweet has traveled all around the globe with fans ready to kill for it at drop of a hat. What makes the history of the sweet interesting is the fact that Jalebi is included not just in the  menu, but also in phrases, songs, commercials, connotations and what nots. 


Remember a commercial of a cooking oil, where a young lad of around 10 years is seen on the railway station in the first scene. Sitting on a bench there, with all his luggage, he looked pretty annoyed with all those going on his life. Among a host of unknown faces, he recognizes a known one and shouts, "Ramu Kaka"!! Ah, you remember the ad! Read the further conversation. Ramu Kaka spots the child, "Arrey, tum yahan?" The boy, "Me ghar chod ke jaa raha hun (I am leaving the home)" Ramu Kaka tempts the child, "Par mummy ne toh ghar pe garama garam jalebi banayi hai (But your mom has prepared steaming hot jalebis). Yes, the child returns home. Aha, the boy fell into the trap. 


Then there's another advertisement by an olive oil brand. It addresses all those who think olive oil cannot be used for frying. The ad's targeted Indian homes who are slowly and gradually joining the small strata of olive oil users. What the ad says, "Yes, I am Italian. But I can make a mean Jalebi". Oh, so Jalebis are mean, eh? May be, they are... going by the way they seduce the sweet lovers, cleanly hiding the calorie content! 


What's special about this delicacy is that it does not belong to any cast or nation, nor does an age-group. People from any and every age group fall for this sweet delicacy. It's equally favourite with Hindus, as it is with other castes. I suggest the independent candidates opting to stand in coming elections, should chose Jalebi as their symbol to garner maximum caste-less votes. 


Jalebi is not spared even by literature. Do you know that there's a phrase in Hindi which makes good use of the shape of the sweet. It goes like this, "Jalebi ki tarah seedha hona" For those ignorant of the sweet, let me introduce you to its shape - spiral. The phrase translates to, "a person who is as straight as a jalebi" The phrase is a taunt to person who claim to be innocent and are actually not, are referred as "jalebi" Interesting, isn't it?


Cut to the present times. Recently the humble sweet was featured in a Bollywood item number. The living equivalent of Jalebi, Mallika Sherawat, gyrated to the tunes of a song, proclaiming herself to be 'Jalebi Bai'. The humble Jalebi lost all her innocence. Post the shoot,  the siren was seen promoting the featured song along with the movie, posing with the jalebi. (No, she ain't relished the sweet going by the calorie counts). Our jalebi sure made headlines (in a Bollywood gossip column, though) and many a Indian baraatis danced on the tunes of this song, making it a huge hit. 

Never had I thought that a jalebi will highlight so much of space of my blog. But, it sure has. Don't forget to grab the jalebis from the nearby store (don't forget to ask the connoisseurs where you will get the best one or the entire charm of the sweet will be lost). Some like it dipped in steaming or chilled rabri and others like me have it whatever way it's presented. Jalebi :)

Summer's Here...

Never I felt writing a post on summer. But here it is.


It was not visible.
I rose from my bed, hunted for it here and there. I stood by the window for good 20 minutes, but could not see it. I am in love with it. Everything else just fades away. I can say its happiness personified.


Stealthily, she sneaks into my bedroom through the window. I smile, rub my eyes and hug her. "How come you are here, today? I kept coaxing you to meet me. Here you are, uninvited but making me feel pleasant." She is the most awaited life in winters - the first ray of the sun in my bedroom. Throughout the winters, I use to wait for her. Sometimes, I just stood in balcony, waiting for her. And when the sun reached my home, even for meager 10 minutes, I made the most of it, not caring an inch about the suntan.

The onset of summers bring a whiff of pleasant memories. It's like I just woke up after a deep slumber. All the laziness that winters injected in me, just goes away like the wind. I am all set to exercise, cook, play, work....just everything. Above all, summers bring a new zest - to do something I never did. Actually, summer gives the time to do so. The long days, the smiling sun and the blooming home.

Summers bring the taste of coolers after an everlasting walk towards the cafe. It brings back the umbrella and the shadow of a tree. The taste of kulfi during the long stroll post dinner. Smiling mango lovers, cash counting cola wallahs, welcoming ice-cream stalls and vanishing hunger. Aah! summer's here.

However much I have enjoyed, hugging the first ray, I started sweating in just 15 minutes. Slower the day started in winters, quicker is it in summers. At just 11 am, I felt like its almost 3 in the afternoon. When I had begun writing this article, summer was looking lovely...but the unfolding day makes me wonder - where's monsoon?

Getting married to your boyfriend

Weddings are always a grand affair in every person’s life, especially of the girls. And if she is getting married to her long-time boyfriend, then the grandeur of the affair only increases. Now, your relationship of 7 odd years is translating into lifelong happiness. Things are bound to change. However, if you are in a live-in, nothing much changes. However, there is whole lot of changes when both of you are in a long-distance relationship and are going to tie the knots soon. Girl, you are literally going to be a part of his lifestyle. He will not only talk to you every morning, but also be able to see you, right?

This article tells you what are the things you need to look forward to when you are getting married to your boyfriend. First of all, the fundamental rule of every relationship is not to expect anything, then be it your lover who can do anything for you. Expectations are the breeding ground of miseries. Sheena married her boyfriend of three years. Initially, everything went good but later their bedroom became a battleground. Sheena was a simple girl who watched movies a lot. The rosy pictures painted by some of the romantic movies, made Sheena expect the same things from her husband too. Girls, expectations are not bad, but to believe that everything that you expect will be fulfilled in minutes or say, months is wrong.

Problems arise when both husband and wife work. Girls, things were different when you stayed with your parents. Parents are the angels who give everything to you on a platter. Don’t jump to conclusions. Even your husband will make you available all those things that your parents gave you, but gradually. Now, when both of you are working, things are bound to change and ease in a matter of few months. For this, both of you should talk often. The best thing is to discuss the finances, which can create a problem. However, for the domestic work, both of you will have to decide, who will do what chore (even if there is a domestic help). This will clear our confusions that are bound to arise.

What if, your would-be husband lived at a bachelor-pad with his friends! Troubles are bound to arise. Yes, your boyfriend is all-set to marry you. There is no doubt in this. But post-wedding, his lifestyle is bound to change, which most of the boys are not aware of. Suddenly, they are struggling with LPG cylinder issues, which they never ever thought of. Or for that matter, they still want to go to movies with all-boys group rather than with you. The best one is getting used to home-cooked food or getting used to a lady in their home. It is on you girl, to give him space and time to adjust to all this.

Marriage is not a rocket science, right girls. And even if it is, then who knows it better than you to tackle it. So, just keep it simple and make your wedding an extra-ordinary affair. Because, this is all you wanted for years. Isn’t it!!!