Thursday, April 3, 2014

The 'After' of Ever After...!

It’s the end of our ‘probation period’ says my husband. I couldn't agree more. Three months is a sufficient period to come out of your hibernated state. This is the time when the dust has finally settled, the rosy honeymoon days (as clichés call it) are over and the reality of a ‘routine’ has begun. The prelude of my ‘arranged marriage’ process is a story in itself, and someday I might document those chronicles. But for now I guess the after of ‘ever after’ excites me more.

And when I speak about the after of ‘ever after’, I couldn't help but start with the most discussed issue in the ‘before’ of ‘ever after’, “Do you know how to cook?”:-p During the ‘bridegroom selection’ process, any guy who asked me, if I would be okay with the fact of “cooking post marriage”, would be a subject of my wrong yet harsh judgment of being a male chauvinist, and sooner or later was struck off the probable list of grooms. Yes hard to believe but my husband never really asked me if I could cook, though I’m sure he hoped against hope, that I really could & did :-p. I was sure my culinary skills were well above bare survival standards, but in retrospect, I wonder if that was a valid reason to strike off those unfortunate bunch of boys or not :-p

I remember a parting but very strong advice given by my friend, “Just try to cook at home girl, that’s the key to a successful marriage.” I was surprised with these words, as they came from a fiercely independent girl, who has both, a handsome pay & a husband. Who has no regrets in having a maid cook all possible meals for both of them (these regrets are according to a clan of people whose sole motive in life is to uncover the various blunders of domestic irresponsibility, committed by the above mentioned breed of independent girls). Yet she told me about the importance of home cooked food, and about her little kitchen experiments. Having these words ringing in my ears, I came to a new land, to a new life, determined to find out what was all the fuss about ‘cooking’. Looks like I have quite a few kitchen anecdotes waiting for me -

A typical Indian mother makes sure her daughter knows how to make rotis, ‘basic’ sabjis, dal, chawal, etc etc. In other words, anything besides Maggi & Chai. So that when you get married & go to your husband’s place………………………….. (Do I need to elaborate further?) :-p I have one too. And she made sure of all the above. And here I am, married, at my husband’s place, cooking away to glory, garnering daily praises from him (a popular quote recites - enjoy while it lasts). Like any other newly married couple we eat out more often than I cook, and on more than a few lucky days, I also get a “I’ll cook today” from him (yes, I mentally keep reciting that quote). It’s all fine until then. But there are some days, when you cook together. And this is where it all begins.

When you cook together as a couple, it’s a discovery of sorts for both you & your spouse. One volunteers to assist while the other takes charge (needless to say most of the times the latter being the wife). Right from deciding the ingredients, to finalizing the recipe, to the actual preparation, it’s a ping-ponged activity among the two. The assistant doubts every step of the procedure. Even an insignificant thing like what kind of a ladle to use could be a suspicious aspect. And with equal élan, the one taking charge displays her/his culinary prowess. With a lot of ‘ifs’ and ‘buts’ and ‘see I told you looks’, somehow something visibly edible materializes. If it’s good to taste, voila you have success. If it’s not, well the trash bin looks happy to see a new entrant :-p But above all, it boils down to this one definite sense of achievement, to cruise through a journey full of hassles, for this one little kitchen experiment.

But I think there’s more to this than just being a little kitchen stint. With this, I see a stark difference in my thought process of pre & post phases of marriage. Earlier I thought cooking together is an act that makes both husband & wife as equals, as both take equal efforts together to achieve a common goal. But now I know it’s a myth. It’s an act that secretly shines the better cook among the two :-p Earlier I thought cooking is fun. No doubt it is, as the better cook among the two can laugh her/his guts out at the errors done by the other. But now she/he can do that only in her/his mind. Earlier I thought any kitchen mishaps would be solely mine, but now I know that I have a partner in crime & a puppy face to get away with :-p

It’s fascinating how quickly you acclimatize yourself to some tiny yet noteworthy changes, post marriage. You know what is in store for you, yet with every new discovery you get amazed. You know it might be stressful to work together, yet you wait to experience the charm of the achievement. You know you are going to shine even in the next kitchen experiment, yet you want to see the innocence of it all. You know that every second person in this world feels the same way about being newly married, yet you can’t wait to narrate the experiences of your own little bubble of ‘happily ever after’ :-)
    
 

Wednesday, June 12, 2013

On The Other Side Of Faith !

"Okay, this is it..i guess my time has come to switch places" she began.

"Oh c'mon, how is that even remotely possible...you're not supposed to be fickle..better stay where you are...you're not going anywhere" i said, confusion mixed with some amount of assertion.

"Why not..isn’t it natural..besides I’m not going anywhere..I’ll always be there when you need me..!" she said with an assurance that had freaked me out to the core.

"Its a stranger" were my reflex comments..."you know how i am..my quirks..my inanity..you know what elates me..& what pisses me off..you know when to leave me alone & when not to..don’t you know you are just like a part of me"

"Just like???" I was somehow getting irritated with that hearty chuckle of her's...why is she thinking on these grounds...how am I supposed to replace her with a person I barely knew...

"Hey hey" she started again.."barely knew??don’t you lie to me dear..your mind was made up even before you consulted me..you knew you were taken, or let me say, rather gone.. now get that idiotic pretense & blush, off your face"

"So what happens now?" i said admitting certain facts..

"You've found the hidden pieces...now go & complete the jigsaw"..

I always hate it when she gets in her cryptic mode.........

"Okay okay..let me simplify it for you the usual way" she continued..."remember what he said..just go with the flow..listen to that...this shot is worth the instinct..believe me"

"Let me iterate...he is a stranger..who came ambling in my not so quiet life" I interrupted with a point I knew was going to be overruled the very next moment...

"And you willingly let him do so..isn’t that a testimony in itself...& please for God sakes, stop being so melodramatic about it." I could sense her not so genuine irritation in that comment..."take my word, you're gonna be alright..in fact more than alright" she assured.

"So I let him replace you is what you are asserting is it??..make him a part of my ramblings..let him face the wrath of my moods..make him the person who gives me a sense of confidence..and the one whom I can rely on, the way I’ve been relying on you" I threw a volley of questions at her.

"Isn’t this what an alter-ego does..isn’t this what a conscience thinks.. isn’t this what I have been doing so far....& i know it deep down..or lets say we both know it...you are safe on the other side of this leap of faith" she completed with a smile. 

I haven’t seen her for a month now.


If i have to divide life in two significantly memorable parts..it would be the one before i met you & the one after..& if anyone asks me which one you want to re-live..I’d say both, only if it has you in it..!

Dedicated to the only significant YOU in my life..Rohit :-)







Tuesday, November 6, 2012

A Safar(suffer) to remember....!



“This seat is empty. Aap yahan baith sakti hai”, I said to her. With a beaming smile, she came & sat next to me. “Aap  poona ki  ho?” under the pretext of being able to make friends easily, I replied “Haan, main yahan pichle 12 saalon se reh rahi hun”. In the next 3 minutes, I had come to know about her brief profile….her job, her college, her qualifications, where she stayed, how she traveled within the city and why she was heading to the same destination as mine. A lot of information to process in 3 minutes, but I seemed to keep pace :p

Exactly 3 minutes earlier, in the fear of missing the bus, this 5 feet figure came bustling in through the door. Little had I known, that the next 3 hours of my journey, were going to be quite ‘ironically’ entertaining. Panting slightly she scanned every seat (probably finding a ‘lady’ passenger)…..and finally found me…..sitting there defenseless....unaware of the torment I had invited unto myself.  It seemed karmic, like there was a purpose as to why this seemingly inconsequential journey of mine was meant to be spent with HER……………………….

As we began our journey, I came to know that she was going to get married very soon. The glow was pretty evident (she showed me the wedding ‘footwear’ which her fiancée had bought for her just a few hours back…her diamond studded engagement ring….and most importantly because the word fiancée kept repeating after every 5 words). She kept rambling about her would be family. She was copiously pouring her heart out. Most of it was incomprehensible to my already tired mind. But she was outlandishly putting her faith in me. Her incessant chatter, had an uncanny confidence, which said ‘what I speak might sound insignificant and extraneous to you, but it’s important to me. Too bad, you have to listen’. After discerning that there was no escape from the situation, I made feeble attempts of feigning sleep. But alas ! instead I was victimized yet again, with a more powerful weapon this time….pictures…..!

For the next 15-20 mins, with minimalistic interest, I kept appreciating her photographs (obviously each one had her fiancée in it). But oblivious to all of this, her unfailing perseverance was something I could not overlook. Her insistence on inviting me to her wedding was the pinnacle of it all…...I mean who invites a person to your wedding, whom you’ve known only for the past 1 hour??

The rest of the journey was pretty much a similar story, with bouts of irritation and boredom mixed with wonder and surprise from my end…she ridiculously kept divulging information that was distinctly insignificant to me, and I kept ridiculously listening to it (with occasional ‘hmmms’ and a few philosophical inputs here and there). And then she said, “Aapke saath safar kaisa raha, pata hi nahi chala. Aap hamari shaadi mein jaroor aaiye”. What??The ‘safaring’ was over for me? Was I free from her clutches? As I got down the bus, she waved me a radiant goodbye….and then it came pouncing on me….like a blow in the face….an apparent realization of sorts…...the guilty pang….!

Why a stranger seems so familiar sometimes, that you would not mind sharing your life’s story with them…why people who wear their heart on their sleeve, are always ridiculed….why couldn’t I be as welcoming as she was….I felt sorry for being mean to her (even as I write this post) :-p

Embarrassed with that thought, I said goodbye too…and genuinely wished her a Happy Married Life…I might not meet her ever again…we’ve gotten along with our respective lives….but it seems her memory will be etched in my mind forever…It is said every person that comes in our life has some purpose….you learn from every experience you have with people….the truism continues with every new day……but what exactly was HER purpose in my life? why does this incident seem momentous? Will I have the answer to that? Or should I just find out by attending her wedding :-p

PS : All of the above is one hundred percent TRUE STORY. Any resemblance to any character (definitely alive), is purely intentional. This girl does exist in true life. In fact there are many like her :-) fortunately I have only 1 wedding to attend for now :-p


Sunday, November 27, 2011

Estrangers !

“People run, sun to sun, caught in their lives ever flowing…….. once begun, life goes on till it’s gone, we have to go where it’s going”…………………… beautiful lines sung by Celine Dion…… however, I always tend to relate them, with something that saddens and amazes me at the same time………….

The beauty of life lies, in the people, you take along with you….. all through….. parents, siblings, relatives, friends, teachers, colleagues, lovers, spouses, children, and a whole set of different generations………… love, compassion, care, juvenility, mischief, gaffes, discipline, rules, recklessness, realization, fears, hope, passion, ideas, dreams, ambition, achievements, contentment……………… every person contributes to these attributes in you…... life is collage of emotions…. a wonder kaleidoscope of relations !

Some stay, some leave….. some grow, some are nipped in the bud….. some inspire, some desire…… some nurture love, some dwell malice….. some have streaks of inanity, some are born mature……

And there are some relations, that just vanish in the sands of time…. with no tracks to retrace….. these are often those that change or alter one’s life…. in common terms these are called as ‘phase’….. a chunk of life, that takes you on a whirlwind and thuds you down in a haze…. miles apart from where you began, or maybe with whom you began…… I call these relations as ‘estrangers’…....

No, this post is not a mechanism of battling self bereavement :-p It could probably be a culmination of what I’ve seen around as well as what I've experienced…. and I've seen quite a few ‘estrangers’….. Estranged from love, estranged from friendship, estranged from home, estranged from dreams, estranged from their passion…. the sad part is of course the fact of their estrangement, but equally amazed at the effortlessness and painlessness of it…………….

A volley of questions follows….. are relations meant to be finite? Is there a specified time & space for everything and everyone that comes into one’s life? Is it necessary to categorize and filter them, according to the valued and not so valued? Is estrangement eventually inevitable?

A positive thought says, ‘everything happens for a reason’…. so with that context, an ‘estrangement’ from something/someone, should definitely have a reason…... the snag is identifying the reason…. is it good enough to help you lead a life with no regrets? or is it bad enough, to leave you with repentance ?

It maybe in the mind….. or maybe it’s the strength of the heart….. or maybe it’s just a matter of time…………. even if the cause is not identified, even if the estrangement has no justification, even if it hurts …….. it seems to be a natural and healthy phenomenon…….. ‘Estrangers’ are significant relations, that help to give clarity on the concentrated and devoted relations in life…… As I believe, ‘time heals – time seals’….... time has the power to blur it out, to take one back to the cycle of meeting new faces, new emotions, new ideas, new passion, new relations and perhaps, new set of estrangers too……..



These beautiful lines, written by Gulzar, probably explain the meaning of 'estrangers' in better way ( also, these were the source of inspiration for this post)

कोई आता है पलकों पे चलता हुआ
एक आँसू सुनेहरी सा जलता हुआ
ख्वाब बुझ जाएँगे, राख रह जाएगी
रात ये भी गुजर जाएगी !

वक़्त सालों की धून्द से निकल जाएगा
तेरा चेहरा नज़र से पिघल जाएगा
आँख बंद होगी तो, नींद आ जाएगी
रात ये भी गुजर जाएगी !

Monday, May 17, 2010

So.....just Pull The Trigger....!!!

‘Russian Roulette’ by Rihanna…..similar to my obsession with any particular song (which usually lasts for a few days), this too has been playing on my winamp incessantly since the last few months…..even as I write this post………………..!!!

Aware of the fact of its ‘bizarre’ concept….the song made me think in quite a few dimensions……..however this post does not literally adhere to the meaning the song tries to explain….it’s a take on a complete different perception of mine….!!!

Since the February 13th, the succeeding months can be aptly called as the ‘chronicles of annihilations’….beginning with the terrorist attack on Pune’s beloved German Bakery….the city faced the horrifying wrath of terror in its most gory nature………

Zooming in closer in my vicinity….jobs, relationships, friendships, expectations, hopes etc etc…..came tumbling down….2 consecutive deaths in my closest acquaintances…….what’s more, the near-to-death accident my parents had………amidst the whirlwind of such events, it’s amazing how one manages to keep their sanity intact (if I may say so)……………

Similar to the song this post does have a tinge of negativity to it……..but thinking on the flipside……the song does mention in its verse, “I’m terrified, but I’m not leaving, I know that I must pass this test”………………..right or wrong…….sometimes our destiny makes us pull the trigger that results in obliterating certain existences in our life…..it’s devastating……but it’s for a cause…..for a greater cause……..for a cause unknown to the human psyche……hence it’s important for us to pass such tests……of virtually exterminating these existences!!!

Clichéd as it may sound….it’s for a better and promising future…..everything happens for a reason…..blah blah blah……BUT…………..it all stands true……be it the terrorist attack or be it losing someone beloved….it pains, it hurts, it devastates, it crumbles you down……..but it’s all destined……sometimes it’s premonitioned, sometimes its thrown on your face…….whatever it is…….all one has to do is ‘calm oneself, count to three…..And Just Pull The Trigger’……..coz if you don’t…..someone else definitely will….!!!

Saturday, January 30, 2010

The Unexpressed Fear....!!!

With the onset of winters there's another season that needs to be welcomed......tis the season of marriages...........the rate being an average of 2 marriages per week............not that I have any complaints (except for the wide array of cuisines.....coz in the end one leaves the premises with an absolutely confused mind and stomach)..................
but I love the scrupulously planned weddings............its amazing to find so many colours as well as emotions under one roof................the various rituals, the fun and frolics of the youngsters, the decors, the gifts, the flashy and flaunty ladies, the nervous brides and I guess the bridegrooms too :-p, including the tantrums of ajji's, kaku's, mavshi's .....et al...............................

However amongst the hustle-bustle that existed in all the marriages, I couldn’t help but notice one common expression on a particular face that held the same designation in every marriage..........The Father(s) of the Bride(s)..........................................!!!

Though their façade was exultant, there was a veiled fear that maybe, can be identified and related with, only by a species called ‘daughters’……………This is an innate fear of every ‘father of a daughter’ and which I think forever remains unexplained and unconsoled……………. (all this philosophy is solely an outcome of a realization within myself that says, “you are a daughter yourself” :-p )
And before this post gets any bizarre……….its necessary to explain why this thought crossed my mind……………………Saleel Kulkarni and Sandeep Khare, the celebrated duo in the music industry, are creating remarkable works with their literary and musical prowess…………. Besides having the privilege of being Saleel Kulkarni’s student I consider myself fortunate to witness and be a part of some of his wonderful works…………………….and one such wonder is a musical composition called ‘Damlelya Babachi Kahani’………………………………..it has been an instant hit amongst the music aficionados all over Maharashtra…………..
What appealed to me most in the song was the, the beautiful description of this above mentioned ‘fear’……………it invariably turns the listener’s eyes moist …………..the song explicitly describes the turmoil a father faces when it suddenly dawns upon him that his daughter won’t be around henceforth……………. He regrets losing out on her childhood, while chasing his career, ironically only to provide all the possible comforts to her.……………..
Also at the release function of this album, a few people from the audience were invited to express their opinions about the song………which I feel is quite unique, as the exact impact of the composition could be appropriately gauged………………..The belief behind doing so being that, there is an unexpressed side to every persons character that remains always susceptible to emotions if instigated in the right manner…………which the song aptly did………..!
And it was then when I realized, that every person dwells some kind of ‘fear’ in his/her mind………….’fear of loss’, ‘fear of failure’, ‘fear of dejection’ etc I feel are all mundane, but what tops the list is the ‘fear of being happy’ [however the idea is open to individual perception……!!!]…………………………………………….. And now coming back to the marriages and the Fathers and the Brides……..I feel it is this fear that possesses these beings……….coz amidst all the happiness there’s a sadness silhouetted around it………………a Father could be aptly called as the ‘unexpressed mother of a child’………but then as I said earlier, this gap forever remains unexpressed and unexplained……….and as it is often said, some things are beautiful if left incomplete…….maybe that’s what beautifies the relation even more…………..!!! 

P.S: Though there isn’t any specific occasion or for that matter a reason to do so, I would still like to dedicate this post to every ‘Father of a Daughter’………Baba you too….!! :-p 

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Nearly Nerdy......and back.....!!!

Text ColorThanks to a very special friend......I have finally succumbed to the art of blogging. Despite being an art (which i think I'm prematurely amateur at) I think blogging is a very smart way to promulgate your thoughts......which is undoubtedly an extension of your private self.....!!!

Ok.....getting back to this particular blog.......the title kinda relates to a subconscious thought process that was going on over the last couple of years.......which actually materialized today.......strangely while sweating my heart out on the treadmill (it said i lost 150 calories in matter of just 10 mins) :-p chucking the details.......it refers to a speacial league of people called 'Nerds'.....

Now, this is exclusively in reference to a friend who 'supposedly' belongs to this league......!!

But before analysing the series of events that happened alongwith my 150 calories being lost.....let me state my interpretation of 'Nerds'.........
Colloquially they can be called as 'uncool', with their best friends being books.......besides a typical image of such people is stamped on our minds........big round glasses, a smile that has braces instead of teeth, hair oiled or neatly tied, long pinafores or out of fashion trousers as attires.....etc etc etc......(the rest description is open for the readers imagination).............................but..........I think its much more than all this........
As the very cliched proverb goes 'appearances can be deceptive'............'Nerds can be deceptive too'........and that is precisely my interpretation.........yes.......spotting a 'genuine' nerd is very rare.....therefore not describable by my imagination......

Coming back to the treadmill.......on the verge of victoriously completing 2 kms........i heard a familiar voice behind me.........this person fits my interpretation to the T...................
An old friend from college.......BMCC.......the illustrious commerce college in pune that is known to produce (and reproduce) 'merit holders'..................and this friend of mine is one of those unfortunate ones.........who like all other merit holders, valiantly tread the path of becoming a CA........
It so happens that this friend has successfully defeated the demons on his way......appreciatively in the first attempt.....and now he's facing the final obstacle.......winning the ultimate title of a Chartered Accountant........!

Though I've known this person since 5 years now, it was only today that i realised that he was this 'deceptive nerd'.........his outward demeanour is very casual, in common terms 'normal'.........but as I said......its tricky to find these nerds......i mean their 'nerdy' qualities.........
He proudly told me he didnt sleep the day before so as to fight the battle with a subject called 'direct taxes'........then he studied again in the afternoon instead of covering up his lost sleep........so as to be able to spend a few 'minutes' in the gym..........besides he's been avoiding 'bahar ka khana', ice-creams, oily stuff and all other pleasure providing food items, since the last 3 months...............................................................................................

My treadmill came to an abrupt stop............for a moment I thought I was talking to a complete stranger.........I was unaware of this 'wierdo' hidden in him in all these years..................."Why the need for these sacrifices and compromises?? " was my ultimate question......................

Actually, agreeably this is the question of the entire 'non-nerdy' community............and the answer is maybe on its way to them................but though obtrusively belonging to this category..... my thought process went on a complete different path...............
If proded a little...........we would be able to come to terms with the 'deceptive nerd' within us too........yes......unknowingly I had done the same thing what this friend of mine had done..........but for a different kind of an exam............a musical show would be sort of a battlefield for a singer i guess...........

In the end........as I realized that 'nerdy' cant be termed just in the context of academics........There is a 'Deceptive Nerd' within all of us............who wishes to remain subdued........unless instigated to acheive what the 'Non-Nerd' within us wants to..................
And thats how I befriended this existing nerd of my once 'not-nerdy' friend :-)

The looming question is.................have I befriended the one within me???


PS: The Special Friend............credit dilay pan 'pudhe chala'............!!!