A Touch

A touch says I care

A touch says I am there

A touch says beware

A touch says Smile for me

A touch says I'm concerned

A touch says I love

A touch says ... a lot

That's why they say when the words are not enough a touch says it all.

Touch - the first feeling we experience, the touch of a mother. And nothing can replace it when it comes to care. A baby freely touches and expresses what he/she can't speak. Surprisingly everybody understands because touch is the language of feelings which is universal. It says so much with just touching hands, putting hand on head - for blessings, a hand on the shoulder - to show solidarity, a hand on the arm - to warn, it is wonderful how it says it all.

Strangely when we grow up we unlearn this language and become shy especially when we feel vulnerable. So what could have been said with a little touch gets lost in the web of words and silences. We become so concerned about how it would look that we lose the freedom of touch with ourselves and our loved ones.  Can you think of words to replace a hug of a friend when you are sad, a kiss from your mom that says i love you, a little slap of your sibling that says I miss you, the touch on your head by your father to convey he protects you, holding hands with your loved one that says ... it all. With near and dear ones touch is a great way to communicate as nobody understands it except the ones using it. There is a little secrecy in the whole language. Hence lead the way and say it all

Next time you are confused what to say - use the language of touch. It is really simple but it expresses it all.

P.S : I am talking about positive touch here and not touching that has become a great social evil.

Enjoy the perfection of imperfection!

Lately I have been irritated with the set of people called the perfectionists. A set of people who want perfection in everything in life.....a dish, a dress, an occasion, a friend, a goal and so on. There are some people who are permanent members of this group and then there are some who become temporary members like me. Do ask how? You see off late I have trying to write an article and have ended up discarding it every time coz something seems missing. Now the fact that I have not been able to complete the article is making me go crazy. I fail to understand how can those perfectionists go through the ordeal of not creating anything for long or discarding everything they create in pursuit of perfection.

Yesterday I remembered something one of my mentors once said to me " Rachita - A start is perfection itself". She was concerned about the maddening pace I was working to achieve perfection in an assigned task. Of all the things I learnt from her , this was the best. Start because it means you are on the road to creation and would ultimately meet success or maybe even perfection. But wouldn't perfection be monotonous - you can't improve perfection or say what is a perfect creation for you should be perfect for everyone else??? Sounds confusing...let's unravel - God created this world - a perfect place to live with imperfect beings, us - this makes us all unique. Had we all been perfect , it would kill individuality in this world. So to be imperfect is to be individual. And I would rather be ME and unique than be perfect and a part of a monotonous race of human beings.

Each one of us is imperfect and together we complete the perfect puzzle called life. Perfection is a journey to enjoy life and not a destination for which you strive and struggle and make each moment of your life a waiting period. For that ultimate perfection you may be missing on the memorable moments of closeness with family, friends, nature, feelings, God and even yourself. So take mercy on yourself and strive to be YOU and you would find perfection in life . In terms of feelings and relations. For me perfection means up and downs of life - it's not boring , it  doesn't go through same machinations everyday, it has smiles and tears, love and fights, friends and foes. And above all it has creation in abundance.

So I say - Embrace the imperfection...and Enjoy the perfection of imperfection!

There are times I do not like what I write when I read it again and times when I get surprised that it was me who wrote it. But then this is my creation and maynot be perfect but this is ME.

Was she ready to fly?

Open sky, opportunities abound and a new life,

Everybody who loved her on first sight;

But nobody really had any idea

If she was ready to fly?

Leaving her nest & her beloved sights,

The siblings, friends and foes;

little things that made her loving world,

But was she ready to fly?

Thrown out of her comfort zone,

her toys and belongings left behind;

this new place had tastes of its own,

But was she ready to try?

Down and lost she looked around,

& found a friend in the new town;

to start her journey - confident again,

Oh, she was ready to try.

Smiling now she entered her new life,

Holding his hand, taking small flights;

This is why - she tried the new skies,

with him she was ready to fly...!

Colours - Have a story to tell!

Colours - define so much. Like your taste , your mood, your mindset, your fears or maybe just you. Some people say colours are of two types - warm colours and cool colours : so like humans - some are warm ...and less said about others the better. And of course there are warm days and cool days. I believe the colour you choose right in the morning defines your mood for the day. Some days we wake up with a smile and that leads to bright colours and happy zone. And, what happens on the day you wake up cranky/ angry/ sad/ upset  - avoid wearing dull colours - they wouldn't do anything to improve your mood.

Your favourite colour tells what you like - Red says power, white says peace, pink says feminine, yellow says warm or sometimes jealous,  and so on..... Maybe that's why I don't have an all time favourite colour - or maybe its white underlining  every choice. The colour you choose on a day/ season/ occasion would tell people about you without your even opening your mouth. For example - Red says Look at me, I 'm open to attention, Pink would says I am soft and nice, Black says I am in control, Brown says I am not in a good mood, Lavender says I am on brink on something new, green says I believe in spreading harmony. What about someone wearing multiple colours and all prominent ? - I say it means the person is ready to party.

Each day consciously, subconsciously or unconsciously we tell the world so much about us with the colour we wear. Think about each person you know - you may have a colour you may have attached to the person. The person who has a wide range of colours in the wardrobe - loves life and enjoys it. It shows you see life in different shades and accept each of them. It shows a lack of boredom in your nature, a vivacity of personality and the courage of overcoming odds in life. Some might say that's too much to say based on colour choice , but then see around you, people who always prefer a single colour over others would be more obstinate and less acceptable to any change life proposes.

So wear your colour wisely - or some colour lover like me - will form her own opinion. So, when you get up in the morning take a minute to pick your colour if not in a good mood coz colours not only tell about you but also work on your mood. It's difficult to stay in a bad mood when wearing a lovely bright shade.

P.S - Do not go about categorising people by the colour they are wearing - it might be just a phase or maybe not. It would be your call.

P.S.2 - the accompanied image has white wherever the colours intersect - So no matter what colour you are , when you meet others stay calm and let peace prevail.

The Bridal Shoot - What an experience!!

I hate getting individual photographs clicked, the dear camera almost always catches wrong angles, expressions and poses. Hence, "Rachita Only" shots are avoided as much as possible. Though off late my feelings on the matter have meant nothing because I faced a situation - The Bridal Shoot- Mine!

A Bridal Shoot - Def - (courtesy Rachita) : The ritual of clicking unnatural, funny and absurd poses of the already nervous bride so as to make her feel ridiculous and silly. Also, a hindu marriage has so many rituals - Roka, Kirtan, Sagan, Mehendi, Chura Ceremony and marriage for the photographer to fulfill all his creative ideas. Here is sharing with you my feelings on this very personal experience.

Meri Kahani Meri Zubani

Let's begin from the beginning - The Roka Ceremony. When as it is I was conscious( I rarely dress up and am never quiet), it being my roka ensured all the attention and the spot light was on me(& my fiance but I felt he got a better deal with the photographers). And believe me when they ask you to " look down", smile, laugh, turn right, up, left - you feel more like a bakri (goat) than a would be bride. It was my first experience and I " did not" enjoy it at all. With one ceremony over, I breathed a sigh of relief. Kirtan was a family affair so I was let free.

But at the Sagan Ceremony, though I knew what to expect the photographer surprised me. I lost the count of poses I had to make in the name of so called life long memories. All prompted by my naughty gang of cousins. To name a few - look at your ring, turn right, look into the mirror, redo your earrings , then wear your bangles again.  In all honesty I confess that the photographer was good at his work and really charming and courteous, so "I" became less conscious. With this feeling, I sailed through the Mehendi, Haldi and Chura ceremonies.

Now, coming to the M Day: For someone who buys the dress with lightest work, minimal makeup and accessories - carrying off the look of a traditional punjabi bride was a herculean task. But pat my back I did it- everybody (esp. dad) says with elan. Then started my ordeal - the same photographer was ready with even more "fantastic" ideas of bridal poses. I tell you we brides have it tough , so much so that by the time of the final ceremony we are immunised to all awkwardness of these silly poses. Starting with stand behind the curtain, hold it; Dance, turn around, smile while looking at your kaliren, sit, stand, walk, lean on the door, look into the sky...and so on (whew - getting married is a tough job). After a while I thought of cutting the exercise short but then took a deep breath and said "Bring it on". And started my adventure with the camera , together we sailed through a wide tide of poses - shy, happy, sad, waiting, dancing, naughty, crazy and all in all under the eyes of lovely people who came to meet me in the Bridal Room.

To give him credit - my family says - almost all my moods and expressions were captured by the photographer and still he made me look good. So, no matter how tough - Smile when its your turn coz it is worth it!

P.S : No matter what they say - the bridal shoot is never easy for the bride, its only then you realise that everything you do and wear is under someone's eyes and would mean a lot.