Cocktail of 2015 ****

Cocktail of 2015****

Life is fathomless; more we try to understand more we are gripped by its complexity. Each year comes with its delicacy, and we often question God,"why this is being served on my platter, I don't like this?" usually forgetting to thank for all the puddings and pies HE serves us every day.

This year was special in a way for me too, as I also questioned Almighty many times, "Why this and why that." The year was full of challenges and demanded to stretch my skills to the maximum. It was tough very tough, but in the process, I got introduced to my new level of resilience.  I was compelled to try new concoction in the recipe of the cocktail called LIFE, and  I came out with a new zing. Though I am not a Lord Buddha to preach about life. All I could say that probably HEAD CHEF of this universe puts us on fire; gives us a toss and turn to dish out something new to savor for times to come.

Hopefully, 2016 will bring beautiful aromas and sweetness of life for all of us. Let's celebrate this party called LIFE with more vigor and buoyancy. A very merry and happy new year to all of you. God bless all 

HAPPY DUSSEHRA !

A beautiful tale of  'Satyug' a triumph of good over evil----still enchanting our kids. A story of demon Ravana who abducted Lord Rama's wife to take revenge for his sister's insult.  This was his love for his sister. He abducted Sita to take revenge but fell in love with her pristine beauty.   So were the values of that Demon that he kept her in seclusion and waited patiently for her acceptance.

Now we are in 'Kalyug,' each day with new stories. Abduction, rape, molestation, burning toddlers in the name of casteism, killing humans over animals and so on.  With so much happening on this earth, I am sure there must be much confusion up there in heavens that who are this Yug's demons and who is a sage?

The Same day we culminate 'Durga puja. It says that  Demon Mahishasura created havoc on this earth, so Lord Brahma, Vishnu, and Mahesha infused their energies and gave birth to Maa  Shakti or Maa Durga with ten hands to defeat Mahishasura.  Maa Durga ended the tyranny of this demon, and so peace prevailed all over. 

But we also worship all the Lords with gaiety, pomp, and show in this Kalyug. Why can't we restore peace and harmony? Or the powers of Kalyug's demons have increased so much that even our Lords are taking the time to reincarnate another 'Maa Shakti' to end all rapists, terrorists, goons and many such scoundrels. Today's 'Maa' just cry after despotism ......hopelessly wait for justice and dies to wait for the same.

All our festivals have great lessons for all of us to teach ....but do we take any? My five-year daughter comes back from school and tells me,  "Mam has asked us  to write all our bad habits on paper and burn it with Ravan this year." I smiled and said,"Yes," I wish it was that simple....then there would have been no more Demons in this Kalyug. 

 

Dating Fixation......

Dating Fixation......

God made Adam and Eve.....and created infatuation between them.  This has been going ever since but with the changing times, relationships are changing so is the spectrum of the same. Infatuation, crush, liking, and admiration were the words used in our age ( just two decades back ) for such feelings. Now it has been replaced by just one word "dating." Being a mother of an adult teenager, I am in the learning process of this sweet term "dating." 

I often get the opportunity to sit with this generation. They are much more chilled out than ours. Fun loving and happy go lucky. But as I get to know them better I secretly reveal to myself that  I  am either dumb, or a fool or I have really grown old.   

Their conversation terminology - hook up, make out,  ask out and friends for benefits, etc.,  makes my head spin.  I generally remove my doubts with my sweetheart so that next time I don't look such a moron. Though she hates that I am enhancing my vocabulary on this front, but I don't mind improving my GYAAN on any front.

 Jokes apart dating is defined as a prelude to any relationship.  But for this generation "dating" is a playground of romance where hearts are won and broken at supersonic speed. 

It is a phenomenon where u wear best of perfume, most beautiful clothes, hang out for the movie , eat and drink at hip joints and make out for few days or few months and then after petty fights and few tears ---bada bing, bada boom. It's over. Time to search for a new Dating partner.

 Everything is there on this "date" thing except that most beautiful emotion "love." It can not be described that easily to this generation :). Maybe this is the in-thing, but I hope love fills the shallowness of this dating phenomenon someday.

Nevertheless happy dating for all of u :) 

.

Knot of protection

The beauty of our culture lies in our traditions and festivals. Every festival brings the sweetness of its own.  But Rakhi is one festival which was a little bland for us since childhood as ours was a family of all sisters and no brother. Still, we grew up watching our mom and papa celebrating with their respective brothers and sisters and understood the importance of sacred thread.

History recites Rani Karnawati sent this sacred thread to  Emperor Humayun, and he was so touched by this spiritual binding that he left everything and reached for his sister's protection. In present times wish we could have many such Ranis to send ties across the borders to have peace all around.

Other story says Draupathi tied a knot on Krishna's wrist once, and he paid the debt by divinely elongating her sari so that Kauravas could not remove it. Krishna, mostly all the sisters tie these threads, but where are you these days when so many saris are being removed?

History proves the values behind our every festival.  Our every celebration is vibrant, unique and exceptional.  Our traditions make our country unique. Almighty, I hope it continues like this.  May the sweetness of Laddos, Barfis, Hallwa and  Purees goes on and on. 

On the day of Rakhi  Purnima, I wish you all a very happy Rakhi.  May all the brothers see a sister in every woman leaving apart their soulmate:)

HIDDEN CORD.......

It has been precisely one year... my daughter was about to move to Cardiff for her undergrad. It was a proud moment for the family as she was going to study in one of the best business school. Apparently, I was happy too!  I was busy shopping for her, giving her cooking tips and insight about how to cope up alone. Deep inside I wasn't able to cope up myself.

 Few days before she had to leave I started having a terrible headache. I consulted my GP. He asked me if I had some tension?   I said, "Not at all."  He prescribed some medicines and as normal MRI, CT scan and stuff like that.  Day came when she had to leave. I went to drop her at the airport. A warm hug and a few tears, she left for her journey alone.

 Back home I  was busy doing my chores.  Every time I passed her room my eyes got moist, but I held myself steady. She was struggling there I was struggling here to live without each other. Time passed, she adjusted, but I didn't.  My headache started increasing, MRI said all well, then what was wrong? I got my hair chopped in anger thinking long hair was giving me all the burden.

 Rounds of doctors didn't stop! Back of my mind, I was not able to take separation of my child. Finally, my doctor concluded. My anxiety level was at peak I was asked to meditate. I then realised, "When a child is born doctors cut the umbilical cord in split second and separate mother and child; but there is a HIDDEN CORD which can never be cut and binds mother to her child till she is alive."

Many family and friends now ask me how is my daughter doing there? Is it a good idea to send a child abroad? Candidly speaking I can't give a reasonable suggestion.  It is that Tangy spice of life which provides a strong punch.

smile emotico252 people reached

CARAMELISED ONIONS

From my mom and mom in law, I have learned many quick-fix recipes to use curd or Besan to make yummy gravies. The problem is not in replacing ingredients but in the price of ingredients. If I  use curd its 55 rupees, a litre and besan are even more!

Skyrocketing prices of grocery are pinching everyone. I don't know the microeconomics of onion price rise but all I see around me, our farmers are either selling their piece of land or are dying under debts.

Eight years ago when I moved to Gurgaon, this area was surrounded by paddy fields, and the golden wheat crop was all around my daughter's school. Today when I look out of my window all the plants have been replaced by the concrete jungle. Forget about onion to eat we don't even get fresh air to breathe. So where will onions grow at least not in the sky ???

When we were young papa use to tell us "Pyaaz aur Roti " is a poor man's delicacy.  Whose delicacy is it now?   Authorities have to think!

So spice of the day is caramelised onion with lots of tears :)

"SHE"

These days we are celebrating every day as something or else. Read it in the morning today is a WOMEN'S EQUALITY DAY. With a dark heart, I must write the large section of my country poor or wealthy, rural or urban does not believe in this EQUALITY QUOTIENT. Statistics about female foeticide, rape; domestic violence says it all.

Outside labour rooms sweetness of "Ladoo ka Dabbas" become sour as soon as its revealed it is a baby girl. Excitement changes to sadness.  I fail to understand why?  Being a woman, mother of two daughters, I feel women are STRONGER and SUPERIOR to men in all respects apart from physical strength.

Our PM has been stressing hard on "Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao," this slogan in itself reflects how conservative our thinking is.  We are pestering about "Beti Bachao"😟  Are we predators?  

Our daughters are doing wonders in every field, all we need to do is to respect women . Everything will fall in place itself.

Creator of this world agrees with me; I think and gives more respect to women. The reason HE  chose women to provide the privilege of becoming mothers and not men.

We generally assume HE for the Almighty who created all of us; but who knows HE is also not HE but SHE 😇.