Baby Steps Are fine.....

You are going right , my dear; Set your own pace.

It's your life and decisions; Your own future to trace.

It may seem confusing at times, Things may not be always clear;

But chaos is also a part of life, Choices aren't easy sometimes.

Don't compare it with others, Your relations are your own;

Follow the values and attitude,  With which you have grown.

Others may prod you to move, At speed that is too high;

 Take it all in your stride. Coz, Baby Steps 'right now' are perfectly fine.

You may falter at times, Pause before you take any dive;

For each step you take now, will define your life, So...

Baby Steps... are just so fine.

My Journey to use eyeliner

                                                                   Using eyeliner is an easy task for almost all girls, the writer excluded. I have tried countless times and countless products but still can never guarantee the results.

Let’s travel the time machine into my first year at college – I was never a supporter of using beauty products so had almost no experience in using them. And, then came the moment that defined my association with eyeliner for the next few years - I, the great, broke a real costly (read imported) eyeliner of a classmate, while trying to forcibly open it in a real clumsy manner. And then under the feeling of guilt asked her the cost and whoosh said I would pay for it after all it was my fault. The cheapsto she was…she said OK(sniff…No one has big heart ). My naivety had no end during that time, I assumed that eyeliners cost that much only, almost my entire pocket money of a month – so I deducted using make up is real expensive, so let me spend money on books and movies. Aha ! I had a superb time that way.

A few years went by and I still didn’t use eyeliner – but the girls around me did, so I claimed that I like my natural look – which sounded better than accepting that I do not know how to. And I started secret sessions of how to use them coz “I can but I won’t” is my motto hence accepting that I can’t would have hurt my ego. I met with some initial success with a pencil eyeliner (which much to my surprise were pocket friendly). So I happily bought lots of eyeliners – brown, black , red, blue, golden, green etc . Now , I liked using them sometimes. A small way of being a part of a large group.

The next stage was using little sophisticated eyeliner – liquid and curly lashes. My darling cousin gifted me one….It’s still lying somewhere used only once when she tried teaching me how to use it. I mean how someone can spend her time learning how to use eyeliner. I couldn’t. Now that was for eyelashes also also hence I rejected and moved back my loyal pencils.

But you always have to face what you fear most – on a friend’s marriage I went to a parlour to get ready – the lady inspite of my misgivings used a good branded liquid eyeliner – whoa my eyes looked awesome to even myself. But they started itching after a few hours and were swollen – which was weird coz I was from groom’s side and was not even crying. Then after 3 days of suffering pain , I realized that I had eye allergy using that eyeliner – so out went the liquid eyeliners.

Back to my loyal pencils again, I got bored….was I weird or is this common? I was surrounded by the thought a lot. But talking to couple of more girls brought out the fact that it happens- allergy to even good brands. I got to know of a Kajal sytle liner but still am modestly capable of using it on upper eyelid only. For lower I am still skeptical. And my loyal pencils stay with me always. And believe you me – using eyeliner is not an easy task…..it is tough , very tough.

So this is my still unfinished journey to use an eyeliner, though I can use lipgloss with little success , the less said about other make up products a.k.a eye shadow, blush, lipstick, creams, the better I would feel.

I know You are there

Sitting up high, looking out for me;

I know you are there, protecting me.

I can't see you but feel you around,

my senses tell me -  not to frown;

my mind tells me - not to dream,

but my soul knows - you are protecting me.

It's been a long time , you left us alone;

Though we are strong , we sometimes mourn;

Standing tall ,your simplicity won hearts,

You were the beacon that showed us the path.

A brave soul , nothing made you fall,

you had endless strength and love for us all;

You showed us way to enjoy our lives,

gave us a home, a family and the hope for life.

If I close my eyes I can see you there,

Can hear your strong voice fighting my fears,

Can feel your wings surrounding the family;

And your smile saying - stop worrying.

I can't believe that you are not there,

You were and are our gaurdian soul;

I know you are watching us from up there;

Ensuring that we are safe, coz you care.

I know Grandpa wherever you are ;

You are protecting me.



Love you Pitaaji(Grandpa)......I know it deep down that wherever you are , you are looking after us.

What ??? How??? And Why?

The blog title may seem crazy, but then we humans are crazy else who can survive this maddening experience called life.

All through our lives , from the unfortunate moment when we start thinking and I strongly believe we are better off when we do not apply our brains, we are surrounded by questions. These questions dictate us , distract us , direct us and in the end digest us without any second thought. So these Qs have Disastrous D effect - in slang language we call it the Dog effect on humans. Gosh! It sounds so terrible but then this weird situation is so real. Just think we you started reading this blog – your first question was – "WHAT" has Rachita written? Once you find an answer, your second question is “ HOW” did she manage to find this “ strange” topic? And once you find answer which will still be confusing , "WHY" did I write this? will trouble you. And most of you will remain confused so as to why I wrote this blog post. So putting it into one line - ' What' is easy to answer, 'How' is always confusing and 'why' remains a mystery!

An action as simple as reading my post (and you would agree with me that I use very easy language) instantly surrounds you with what – How - Why. Try applying it any situation in your life , and you find that questions surround you more than the answers. These questions deplete our energy and utilize a large part of our ingenuity and we are left with crude basics to find solutions. Read it somewhere – “Sometimes questions are more powerful than the answers”. The writer there meant it in a positive sense but I am looking at the whole issue from the other end. When questions take over our lives, when questions question everything in our lives , when questions never have an end point and when each question leads to another and our life becomes just a game to solve them and find answers.

 

So, sit back and take a look at your life. Are you doing the same? Don’t let questions become a major part of your life. Life is a journey ,enjoy it, cherish it , without questions sometimes. Give your tiny little brain some rest and let your feelings be in touch with your soul.

P.S. In case you still want to know WHY I wrote this post? The answer is “ Aive Hi” translated into English “ Just Like that”.

The Female Driving Skills – A target for all male chauvinist morons

GIVE ME THE FREEDOM TO DRIVE ----WITHOUT YOUR COMMENTS !!!

 

Something all the females who drive would agree to, is that we get all kinds of jokes targeted at us, by all most everyone. I have been driving for almost a decade now, have no tickets issued in my name, still the kind of comments I get to hear from people make me wish that I smash their heads. But I let that feeling go – after all who can fight with morons.

Do we judge a doctor by gender? Then why target a female driver? Now you would ask what is the connection? Its simple – like a doctor saves life, a good driver saves lives. I wonder how can driving skills be dependent on gender? Either a person can drive well or not, it is a skill learnt through practice, where did the question of gender arise? Just think about - How many massive accidents have been caused by a lady driving the vehicle? You would be able to name maybe 1 or 2, if you try hard, really hard. And this is because we follow traffic rules and not break them, we are not speed freaks and we do not have to show off our skills to anyone. We allow other to drive without fear. So, are these a reason to crack jokes or to admire us?

A dear friend of mine, well educated and modern told me once – “ I stop and park my car aside if I see a woman driving the car in front of me” and started laughing. I was shocked, this coming from a guy who had always respected a girl’s intelligence and is one of the most intelligent person I know, the statement was( %^^&&^) really offending. Another incident(though nothing new but was catalyst) that really hit me was last Monday – I was driving back from my office , the car in front of me was being driven by a lady. She was a little slow at pick up when red-light turned green. Everyone around including the rickshaw wala(who himself breaks all traffic rules) stared at her as if she was retarded. Stuck at the next signal, same thing happened but this time the person driving was a male, the same people just passed by without a sniggering glance or comment. What was the difference in both situations? Just that when a female drives it’s always her mistake and with man it could be anything and anybody except him. The irony is that even some females are a party to it(Aurat hi aurat ki sabse badi dushman hoti hai).

I take offence at any such stupid male chauvinist remark, I do not mean that all guys drive badly or all girls drive well. I know of some guys who should have never been given the car's keys and some girls who should only sit on the driving seats for photo shoots only. On the other hand I know a lot of people with great driving skills not withstanding their gender. My intel inside mind asked a question, then why this discrimination? The answer is so stupid but then what else to expect from MCPs. Some guys feel more mannish only after putting a girl down. Crude jokes , typical comments on a girls’ driving skills are a pre requisite to entry into this out dated and disgusting male moron group. A lady can run your home well, hold a job along with all family concerns, remain smiling inspite of all tensions and be a role model to her children but…….some men( not all , some are real gentlemen) get a kick only after putting the lady down. And this is the easist way afterall driving was male domain we ventured into.

For me a generalized comment on a girl’s driving skills " just because she is a girl she does not know how to drive"……lessens the respect for the guy who speaks it aloud. So you better not speak such idiotic comments around me…you would lose a part of my respect for you each time you speak like a moron.

So, to be a Man act like one and not like a male chauvinist creature.

Smile Coz You Are Worth It !

Facing the struggles, juggling with tasks,

Frowning all day , taking the flak;

Still life is always a path brightly lit,

Smile coz you are worth it.

People come and go, a few become close,

A couple change into foes; Some go amiss;

But friends stay with you till the hilt,

Smile coz you are worth it.

There are good days , bad days but some remain a mystery,

There would be days you question your sanity;

You may cry, scream , laugh, abuse and hit,

But Smile Coz you are worth It.

Smile is the shortest distance between two people,

And with the inner child, a part of your soul;

Who goes deep in hiding with every tear and frown,

Who looks for that smile to peep out -

So Smile coz 'YOU' are worth it!

Rachita’s Reflections – on bitching?

I just logged into my own blog account and found O my god…I haven’t written anything new in more than a month. Now this is not because I am lazy (I have already dealt with that rumour in one of my posts earlier), and not also that there was a lack of topics around. I mean think of cricket mania, Our world Cup win, Anna Hazare, year end work pressure, my eccentric friends, the great ME and so on , there are just so many juicy topics for me to have written about. But I didn’t. Or to be a little truthful (and I am an honest person) I didn’t want to. You see I had promised myself that I would write atleast 'one' post each week and knowing myself I knew sooner or later I would break this promise. It’s just that last month or so was very dull and I didn’t feel like doing anything interesting. Coz I was busy proving to myself that I am not happy. In the process add a bout of illness and you have the perfect recipe for a roadblock to everything in life.

So, the dear great RACHITA was reclining in her little unhappy world closing any door to express herself , closing all windows of exchange and then cribbing that no body cares about me, enough to ask what’s wrong.

So what made me write today, actually I came out of this self created mess last weekend but since then have been busy putting things in order. When you stop caring about what is good in your life – family , close friends, those moments when you are happy , that cool breeze which caresses you when you step out, that yummy meal your mom cooked to see you smile, that phone call your friend made just to show that “I am there”, that nice dress you look great in - and get busy in noticing all that is going wrong, you let go of all that you have so painstakingly organised in your life. And once the chaos begins, it increases at an alarmingly rate and before you realize you are in deep %^&@ . Now what to do when you reach that moment of realization?

Do what I did – meet an old friend and bitch about everything and everyone to your heart’s content. After you have abused all the people you feel responsible for putting you in this mess , you suddenly feel a weight lighting off your shoulders. Those minutes or maybe hours of bitching make you feel better and great. I won’t name you dear friend ( not sure if you want me to reveal your name) but thank you for listening to me. You see, I had not even put any status message on FB since our World Cup Win , now that was intolerable. So everyone one of you, who is taking out your precious time to read this can understand my panic. That’s why that pure, unbridled session of bitching opened my eyes to all the good things that had become invisible under the coat of my self inflicted misery. (Bitching Tip : I trust my friend to keep my language to herself so ensure when you bitch , the partner in “crime” is trustworthy).

Going through this unnecessary period of semi depression I can say with some authority – Life gives you choice to look at things that are good and that are not good. Ensure that your choice makes you happy. It’s all about that half filled glass of water and serenity to accept that everything may not be as per your wish list. But still if you fall into the trap – Do what I did – Bitching session with a close and like minded friend.

P.S I am a little disappointed - my dictionary is not updated with latest abuses, felt very backward in the session. Care to help me a bit?

I just called to say…..Hi

When was the last time, you called - just to say Hi;

To ask that friend of yours, Is everything fine?

Hours turned into days, days into years, just like that

Years become a lifetime, then a jolt would make you realize.

You let go of a friend, coz you couldn’t make time;

You waited for an occasion to call, some special news to share.

You didn’t have time to tell, that I ‘m here & I care.

What are you waiting for, that bolt from the blue;

When will you call?Who will give you that clue?

But, don’t wait too long, life is too short.

Don’t shelve the moment, for making the call.

Coz regrets are not good for heart.

It’s heartbreaking to go through the phase;

When the shared smiles make you cry;

When you finally make that call, just to realize,

That your friend is not there, to hug you tight…

To hold you close and assure everything is fine.

When was the last time, you called,

Just to say Hi!

Why do dogs love me so much??

My life is an exotic curry of unexplained relations. One of the strangest is the one I share with dogs. And it includes dogs of all varieties and categories and locations and sizes. To explain the statement - from Poodles to Alsatians, from pets to awara(stray) , from Delhi to Kanyakumari and from Puppies to budda(old) dogs, each one of them share the same feelings for me. Their affection towards me is constant, consistent and contagious – 3Cs Effect is what I call it. This dil ka rishta (relation of heart) is very old and not prone to changes .

Each time I see a dog and a dog sees me, we go through same emotions. Only difference is the name of this emotion – I feel so filled up with emotions that I am unable to move a step and that dog also goes through the same, it keeps on looking at me. No matter where I am, no matter how many people are in the group, and no matter what time of the day it is, the dogs always locate me and show their deep feelings for me. We both keep on looking at each other , waiting for some action on other’s part. So connected we are to each other, that sometimes I can’t believe that how can each dog in this world have the same feelings for me. They are so loyal and united in their stand. Do they also have some association which has passed a resolution about me? Maybe, there is some mystery in this issue, I wish there was Nancy Drew to solve it. Ah(Deep sigh).

Coming back to dogs' and my relation, when I look into the eyes of these dogs I see the same emotions, as if their feeling and mind are open to my eyes. I see each and every one of them doing the same - planning and plotting to ATTACK ME ……!! Why me? I don’t even throw stones at them , never ever disturb their sleep, silently go through the torture of listening their barking for hours ….so why pick on me? Maybe they also follow the same rule as humans - attack the person you are sure won’t attack back, a weaker opponent assures success. I have no intention to be called “brave” – and therefore announce that “ I am scared, frightened to death, totally terrified of dogs” and even these words can’t express what I go through when I see a dog staring at me. I have been known to miss my school bus if a dog was standing in the lane to my bus stop. I have stopped myself from going on a walk in a lovely weather when a dog was watching was gate, I have walked through long way to my destination if a dog was silently sleeping on the shortcut…and the examples are endless but I think you all can make out what I feel.

  

Believe you me I am not hyper about the situation, don’t try to counsel me and even more dangerous would be making fun of my plight. Dogs simply hate me, this feeling is universal and shared by all the dogs of the world(atleast I am sure about India). Else why would they target me only even if a large group is sitting at the dabha. So I avoid places where I have to walk by dogs , even 50 mts away. Sometimes(1 in 10) I succeed.

So if you plan to invite me home, just ensure either you don’t have pet dogs or ………….keep me safe.

Memories are ...

Memories are a light caress, the touch of a long lost friend;

Hiding behind the classroom desk, winking at you;

And disappear round the bend.

Memories are the lingering fragrance, coming out of cups of coffee;

Underneath that table in the canteen, twinkling at you;

And vanish behind the tree.

Memories are those merry smiles, silly jokes that make you cry;

Found in the margins of photostat notes, laughing at you;

And fade away in time.

Memories are like jingling bells, softly kissing your eardrums;

Popping out of songs and movies, teasing you;

And wane away in tunes.

Memories are like gourmet meals, awakening your tongue to remembered tastes,

Peeping out from waiter’s sleeves, tickling you;

And hide in the filled plates.

Memories are like tears in your eyes, running down your face a mile;

Living in your heart all the time, assuring you;

And then melt away with smiles.

 

Memories are close held treasures, calming you when you steps falter;

Coming out of forgotten dreams, strengthening you;

And dissolve in subconscious.

Memories are the emotional farewells, tugging your heart with shared moments;

Shedding tears and unspoken goodbyes, staying within you;

And come out for the reunions.

Respect - The Cornerstone of "us"

I have been thinking of penning down my thoughts on the topic for a long time now, only the fear that I may not be able to do justice to it, put brakes on my writing for a while.

Relationships include parents, love, siblings, friends and every person you interact with. Though, in this post I am primarily talking about your partner - the person you love. The moment you talk to someone, it creates an 'us'; the life of this 'us' varies from a few seconds to a lifetime. What ensures that all these 'us' exist and prosper in our world? I believe it is because of the feeling called "Respect".

Respect - The Cornerstone of  'us' i.e. relationships. [Cornerstone - a stone placed at the corner of a building to mark the beginning of construction]. If this cornerstone is removed, it damages the very base of the building and if the foundation is damaged, it puts the building in danger. The same thing happens to a relationship when Respect is lost.

If you respect the other person, it creates an atmosphere where other emotions can breathe like - love, like, patience or even hate. The relations especially the long term ones begin with respect. Respect is an essential and foremost ingredient in the curry of relationships. It decides the way you treat your partner, the value you give to his/her presence and opinions, the affect he/she has on your thought process....it guides your feelings. How can you love a person when you can't respect him/her as a human being? Hence, many a relationships have died due to lack of mutual respect.

But, it is not just enough to respect the other person, but also important that your self respect remains intact. (And there is a fine line between self respect and ego). Self respect means drawing a line at the point till which you would adjust to ensure that the relationship survives and you are happy being a part of it. What feelings can live when you believe you are worthless and are put down at every instance?

Relationships last longer when both sides make an effort and respect the other person, his/her feelings, emotions, opinions, values and beliefs. Together they can reach a consensus which acts as a manure in the field of a relationship. In this scenario the relationship will endure all odds and other feelings will coexist. So, stick & fight for your relationship but if you feel you can't respect your partner anymore, let it go. Else, the relationship becomes a parasite on your emotions and well being. Remember, all other feelings have a chance to come back if respect stays, else even love can't hold you both together.

“Relationships-of all kinds-are like sand held in your hand. Held loosely, with an open hand, the sand remains where it is. The minute you close your hand and squeeze tightly to hold on, the sand trickles through your fingers. You may hold onto some of it, but most will be spilled. A relationship is like that. Held loosely, with respect and freedom for the other person, it is likely to remain intact. But hold too tightly, too possessively, and the relationship slips away and is lost.”     Author Unknown

The Bookmarked Page in her Life Diary

I met Ridhima and Madhur yesterday over a cup of coffee. She gave me two beautiful metal bookmarks bought from Kala Ghoda Arts festival, Mumbai. Why am I telling you all this…coz it triggered a memory – the story of a girl I knew years ago - the main lead of this post…won’t name her, she wouldn’t appreciate.

She has bookmarked this page of her life diary not that she writes one.  

She had just turned thirteen when she saw him for the first time. They were of the same age but opposite in all other ways. She was big city gal and he was from a small town, she was full of mischief and he was the silent types. She looked forward to fights and he would be a calm oasis in the chaos she brought. She was a tomboy and he preferred feminine gals. There was no way two of them could have a story but fate brought them together. He lived across the road from her grandma’s home where she went during holidays. Bundle of energy that she was, she would collect her army of cousins and be out to play every moment of the day. One such day brought him out to see what ruckus was being created in the otherwise quiet street.

As opposites attract, soon he joined her army with his gang of friends. This began a relationship where she would challenge him at every bend, but he would not respond. This irritated her to no end. Why did she want him to see her differently from other guys? Why did she feel like behaving a little girlish around him? Oh, she went through a thoroughly confusing time. She remained a tomboy at her hometown, the guys there didn’t attract her, a part of her remained in that small town and she looked forward to her holiday sojourns.

She wanted him to look at her….and he would. They shared long talks though now she can’t recollect what all they said. He had his own ways of taking care of her, not coming in the limelight but ensuring that she was safe from danger. This was a care she felt but never saw him doing so, and she realised it very late that feelings are like fragrance in the air - felt but not seen. It was a strange attraction, which they both felt but no one spoke aloud. She left no chance to provoke him and pick up a fight….he would gently respond – "I don’t fight with girls". This was an alien territory for her. One day her army and his gang fought breaking the group, she didn’t know how to resolve the tension and he sided with his friends. He approached her army later for reconciliation but it acted pricey(Uff...she came to know it too late). They still looked secretly at each other, each wishing other would heal the rift. Both lacked the courage to come out and speak their feelings(Was it ego or fear of rejection?). 

It took four years for the group to resolve the fight, everyone become friends again but those two- they didn’t know how to talk to each other anymore.  She had dreamt about him everyday and compared him to all the guys she had met.She had created a life in her dreams, with him, and didn’t know how to respond to the reality. Maybe, he had done the same, coz their faces became mirrors and each understood the other, this time without words.

The school days ended and they both entered college. She came to know that he was in her city. She found out his college and was planning to visit but received a blowing news, he already had someone. It hurt her to no end, and stopped her flying wings. Another year went by and her grandma shifted to her city , she saw him for the last time at a distance, he was looking at her, both took a step forward and then stopped, maybe each wanted other to take the second. This is her last memory of him.

Years later she mourns - Maybe I should have talked to him, maybe he should have approached. Had he really found someone or did I pick up the straw because I was afraid of rejection? She told me, had he just asked me once – I would have shifted to that small town for him .Yet another silent love story or just a deep attraction , she still isn’t sure but even now when she talks of him , her face lights up with a gentle loving smile.

 

"The magic of first love is our ignorance that it can never end." - Disraeli.

A part of her still lives in this ignorance and it keeps her happy …who am I to complain?

What's wrong with my cell?

It’s been a couple of hours, my cell didn’t ring;

No messages, no updates, the screen didn’t even blink.

Has everyone forgotten me, or deleted my number;

Are friends and foes together in this plan?

My mind has gone bonkers, can’t think of a reason,

Why this stupid machine is bent on treason?

I am missing the sound of its ring tone;

That message beep which knocks my eye drums.

I remember those days some time ago,

When my cell was working and was at its best,

It wouldn't stop and never thought of rest;

What happened to the poor thing , I can’t guess?

I am missing those long talks and sms chats;

Is my cell on strike ? Can anyone help?

I think , I have gone crazy but I don’t care,

Oh Dear Cell screen! Please blink, for I am scared.

It’s good to lose temper…sometimes!

Losing temper is such a stress relieving exercise. The ones who do so , would understand what I am talking about. For the other lily white, calm, patient and sweet people – this post might be an eye opener. It’s a great feeling to lose temper and vent out what you really feel without the mask of manners and poise. It leaves you feeling very light and stress free. I recommend one should do it once in a while …not often else it becomes a part of your personality and not an exercise.

Losing temper often is bad for health not only of the person who loses temper but also for those who have to bear the brunt of it. It takes away the positivity of the environment and also ends up adding negative points in the credit of the person losing the temper. Hey Baghwan… I am again going off the track. Coming back to my topic, I believe highlighting the positive aspects of losing temper is a very important task, and as my community service initiative I should take it up.

Just imagine that you are not confined by - the narrow walls of manners, the shackles of etiquette, the bars of communication skills and veil of anger management techniques. In such a freedom of expression phase , you can vent out your true feeling, specially anger. That’s the moment of utter peace when you are in touch with your inner devil. You can scream, shout and show your irritation without any restriction and let the other (poor) being know what you really think and feel about the situation and the person. But, how does that help you, for this read on without preconceived notions on the same - when you vent out your anger, you let out the negative inside you, your frustrations spill out and the blockages to your creativity get washed away. After all the negative that is stored inside moves out, it leaves a lot of space for the positive to move in. It makes you feel light, free and ready to take on life.

Am I an advocate of losing temper? No, I recommend losing temper once in while, which is really good for your emotional and creative well being, this is a tried and tested formula without any side effects. Only keep in mind that either you know how to mend fences with the people you scream at or the people you scream at, should not be important enough to feel sad for, if you lose them…! I can’t explain the technique of losing temper, that you have to learn on your own, but my helpful nature is urging me to give you all some tips, so here we go:

1. Either do not lose temper or do it in style – use your vocal chords to the optimum.

2. Give yourself 2-3 months in between such shows of temper.

3. Do not forget to eat when angry, being angry is very energy consuming.

4. Remember to keep the temper high for at least a few hours.

5. Do not stop yourself from saying, sorry screaming your real feelings.

6. Do not allow the person to explain the situation, else what’s the fun in losing temper.

7. Never forget one thing - it’s your temper and your life….enjoy it.


I hope the lucky seven tips above help you. Lose temper and feel the negativity flow out.
P.S. – Learn to scream and shout before you start the above exercise.

The Southern Charm….Thoda hatke

This is not about the delicious dosas, idlis, sambhar and other delicious southern delicacies. But then it is not even about Southern Silk…those great sarees, patterns, and colours. To clear the issue further, this isn’t even about Southern tourism…though I love those beaches, backwaters, canoes etc, . And don’t even think that I am writing about culture, temples and the way of life in South India. Then, what charm am I talking about----- Southern movie stars….well you are closer to the mark but have still not hit the bull’s eye. This is about the Charm of Dubbed Southern Movies. You have to see them to believe them. To name a few – Indra – the tiger, Dharmatma, Naya Don, The Iron Man etc. These movies are priceless.

To give you a little history of my association with these movies – Bhai went to Bangalore around 5 years back(and stayed there for 4 years), and on his first trip hope he brought this new hobby – watching southern movies dubbed in hindi. Infact together with his colleagues they have found CMAC – An Association of people who admire such movies. He would watch them and enjoy (God only knows why). And after a while even I started recognizing the heroes like Junior NTR, Vikram, Surya, Dhanush etc.,I am not talking about legends like Rajnikanth , Kamal Hassan etc., this is about newer breed of heroes serving the age old wine. The plots are very predictable – “A Hero is a Hero”, no matter how thin he is – he will kill all the goons without getting hurt. If he stamps his foot hard …there would be an earthquake at the villain’s den(doosra Sabu), he would wear real tapori clothes and mouth out of world dialogues (And still manage to impress the heroine). Add 2-3 heroines fighting over him and a villain about to ruin the village/city/ state/country – you have the main ingredient ready. Now, add some spices like an unknown past, Robin hood tendencies in the hero, a sidekick ( a comedian who is a friend of the hero) and some songs. To serve the movie – Some actors from hindi movies, some special dances, and awesome fights (which are always in favour of the hero) and you have the movie ready. They are typical entertainers closer to ‘Dabanng’ kinda cinema.

Uff... don’t start making faces , these movies actually grow on you. When you watch them initially – the first few movies – you would hate them and call me names but slowly and steadily you would appreciate them (especially if you have a brother like mine - you have no choice). I have learnt to like them and now am quiet an expert on them. Lately, I have been included in the CMAC as the first outside member. Leave your sensibilities, logic, and reasoning aside when you watch them else would not be able to acknowledge them to their fullest. They make you believe anything – and I mean anything is possible; the hero would win in the end. And to top it all anyone can be a hero. Watch these movies with heart and laugh a lot , they are good for health. Tip – Look for Set Max and Star Gold for them , though sometimes even Filmy shows great movies.

These movies have a certain unique charm  – watch them else you would never understand what I mean.

Maa - You define Love

One word Maa, Mom, Mummy, Amma, describes all love in this world. This is one relation most difficult to define, closest to heart and the oldest in our lifetime coz it starts even before you are born. Hence, I am not even going to try to express this relation - My Maa and me .This post is just the tip of the iceberg. The first word a child speaks is " Ma" and hers the first touch,  he/she recognises. The feelings in the post may be shared with almost everybody reading it coz loving maa is not a right and privilege enjoyed just by me. We all love our mothers.

My Maa - My Strength , My Silent Pillar of Support, My Unending Source of Inspiration , My Biggest Supporter... Maa is Maa. She knows me the best but never lets it out that she has caught me lying, waiting for me to confess. My mother - the lady who is the rock of the whole family inspite of her soft and fragile appearance. My Maa - who would never let me rest when she knew I could achieve more, making those endless cups of tea, mouthwatering snacks, my favourite dishes and anything to ensure that my concentration never wavers. Meri Maa - would listen patiently when I would crib about people and let me vent out my frustrations and once over , would sweetly ask me- " This is the problem....now what is your solution to it" . During my school days she would read my books(she used to buy an extra set) when I was at school so that she could understand when I talked about school and help me with my homework. She was my first teacher and the best too. Whatever I am today , I owe it to her and Dad.

I remember those teenage years when I fought a lot with her over anything and everything. Each shopping trip would end up in a fight coz what I wanted she didn't like. Most of the things which she rejected but I still bought(Mere Papa the Great) ended up in the trunk after wearing it 1-2 times coz I actually didn't like them. Buying them was my show of rebellion to her discipline.  And Maa knowing me well, knew the fate of those dresses. After one such trip, Maa made a habit of not allowing Dad and me to shop alone and takes away our wallets on shopping trips. Years have taught me a lot - now I blindly trust her decisions specially when shopping and never has it happened that I have regretted her decision. Infact she has a lot better and bolder choice than mine.

Maa and I are very different from each other , we aren't a filmi maa beti jodi - where the daughter is the "chayya" of her mother. Maa never wanted me to be like her, she wanted me to be like "ME" - different , unique , confident and happy. She is very patient and I want instant results. She gives people a lot of chances and I believe - do not give a person the second opportunity, to hurt you. She loves getting up early and I love late nights (all of them at home). She is an observer and I participate. She is a great cook and I am in learning phase. She is all white and I have shades of grey. But she loves me and I love her. (Actually I am a very lovable person). Her trust in me in unbelievable - even I do not trust myself that much - no amount of nonsense and story telling shakes her faith in her kids (but she isn't blind to our faults).

For My Maa - You have stood by me at my worst and stood aside when I was basking in the glory of my success. You have defended me like a tigress when someone questioned me and still stood silent when I shouted angrily in our fights. You have allowed me to go out with friends happily without questioning and been my companion when there was nobody. You have smiling borne my moods, nakhras and nautankis and still taught me to nurture relations.

You define Love, Maa. And  I love You.