Its the little gift

I can hold you whenever I wish to,
kiss your tears goodbye 


When you want to fly away,
I try... not to sigh

You jump, you dance, you merrily go around,
without a worry or care

And as I watch you play your whims,
I giggle and stop to stare

Its love and only that ....
for all the magic of it can say

Now, I cherish this power of every mother,
Coz its within & here to stay !!

Sweet Somethings...

For few minutes the room was enveloped in silence.
I was quick to notice the rare luxury that usually welcomes itself in the hours when my mini monster tires herself to sleep. Needless to say kids decide that for themselves these days. Maybe it's just a different crop of chromosomes erupting. (Laughing...).     
As I look around the room I find her sitting on the floor staring blankly at a distance, to the spot where we have set up her play area. It seemed she was analysing the space. 

I stood confused coz her playzone looked perfect for her taste - with her toys strewn all over the floor except where they should ideally be, blocks of different shapes and colors thrown around like abandoned pieces.      
I kept thinking, what could be horribly wrong to subject her to this silent sulking.

Just then, her solitude breaks with TV running one of her favorite numbers. She quietly stood up and energetically resumed her run for the song.

 I thought may be the dormant excitement shook up finally. Just as I was to turn away with a shrug, I noticed to my surprise, she stopped short at her play area by the edge of the carpet which lay turned like a dog ear. She straightened it up. Evened up the ruffled fibers on it and neatly placed her Minnie Mouse on top.  
It would go too far to expect a two-something to go to a length of displaying organisational skills. But if you're witnessing any of such little gestures, your parental drilling, does not stand wasted after all. 

#feelingrewarded #allsmiles

That girl in the office

I was almost zapped reading the first the two pages of that write up. I hesitantly craned my neck to shoot her a look from over my desk to her row. She wasn't there. 

I told myself, "wow! young age and big dreams. and what dreams... they ought to shine for they have all the glitter". 

I smiled to myself, reminded that somewhere deep within I too wished to do what she was doing. but just lacked the time, the dedication & that 'voice-from-within'. My mind wanders off to that scene from the movie - "Two States" where Arjun Kapoor knows what his true calling is but somehow with equal hesitation pushes his typewriter away on numerous occasions.  

So, this girl I'm talking about is not a typical 'It Girl' but she's much more. A pretty face, lovely kohled eyes, infectious laugh, neatly dressed in Indian wear, all in her early twenties..she has everything to make heads turn and while you think its just all that, well, wait.

Behind that pretty face hides even a prettier skill of expression that she pens down as soon as she sets her fingers rolling on her laptop. It's as if her mind & heart are entwined in a romantic ballroom dance. 

I believe every individual is born with a skill...is made for something. But not everyone manages to discover it early in life. 

Back then, which is 4 years ago, she excitedly came up to me with a rough draft of her first story she had begun to write. A sweet love story with a well crafted plot that clearly spelled a mature hand. This was coming from a twenty something intern at our firm. I was amazed at her choice of words and how beautifully she dug into the matters of the heart. 

I knew this girl had some spark and I did encourage her but like how we all generally refuse to believe that dreams can take shape, so did I. Never in my mind did I knew that I was to be surprised soon enough. :) 

A year later, I see - 'RED IS FOR LOVE 

                               BLACK IS FOR KOHL' - her first novel. 

I smiled.  

That moment, I understood one simple thing - 

To get what you desire, you first need to walk in that direction with a belief. Don't be bothered about when you'll get there, eventually you will. 

Until then ,enjoy the journey. 

Dream it. Wish it. Do it. 

The Storm Within

    Childhood is supposedly the best time of one's life and we all agree to it once we are well past our primes, sweating out in the race of life.

The carefree glory of it remains perfectly sealed in the memories, so to say. 

Of the numerous instances that I fondly remember, there are some that have buzzed my head & will continue to.

 Like this one particular thing my mum persistently said, "let your work do the talking & you'll see everyone will look up to you. nothing is more smashing a reply to the ugly mouths who hurt". 

As a kid the meaning never sank in enough to sooth my tensed nerves (whenever that was) but it always threw back sum fruitful results to savor. 

My academics were always a smooth run. Being consistent with my scores naturally made me a hit with the teachers, but among other kids I was like an uninvited guest who is greeted with scorn. I would be  stabbed with envy & ignorance. 

I would keep telling myself, those who wish to be with you..will be.. or find a way to be and the rest ... they shouldn't matter.

It has kept me going since. 

Over the years I have realized, while its reassuring to have support, you need to look within to survive for good. When you're your own guard, your own shield, and you respect yourself, half the battle is already won. Your struggles do not need your tongue, they need a careful investment of your power in the vision to win it. 

The day you look within, you'll know you haven;t explored yourself much. There's more to you than you think you're made of. 

Try to hear the storm within... you have it all, right there !.

                               "Sit with yourself and you will discover the universe.

                                          Explore the universe, and you will discover yourself"

For all you need is...

"Thank you...for making me feel good about myself.."
 These are just some lines from a movie I saw some time back and have remained with me since.

How plain & simple the words are, yet they shoot a message that has a remarkable emotional depth to it.
I am sure each one of us at some point in our lives have salivated for attention, or that feeling of 'being wanted', to be loved, heard & cared for. Let's face it, we all want it or rather need it terribly.
Its important & its perfectly healthy to feel that way. yes...

Its a fact, that while we race to make our ends meet, our eyes fail to catch the emotional void that may be setting in the hearts of people who matter to us. Purely because we take them for granted.
and in this long walk of life we nitpick their habits, point out their inabilities, underestimate their potential etc.

Why do that? We're just making someone sad & at the same time hoping for our own day to be good. Is that fair? Those are the same people we rush to when we have a bad day and our day surely gets mended with their love.

Never tell them how imperfect they are. How could you tell? No two people are the same. Accept them for what they are. Nothing can be more reassuring.

All that love needs ... is a little reciprocation.

A rude tomorrow

While we comfortably lay settled in our plush homes, planning the day ahead and some of us even planning their vacations with summers approaching, we all sit oblivious to how easily our plans cud get jeopardized in a split second. This, my friends, is a rude side of unpredictable tomorrow.

We all love surprises. but nothing guarantees what it might just bring along. Whatever that may be, surely leaves us something to remember for long.
No wonder... many of us hate surprises for the very fact.

My weekend took off on a lazy start just as quickly to bump me off with the sad news of the disastrous quake that struck Nepal. Its heart wrenching to see the state of affairs, the widespread damage this natural catastrophe has subjected the region & its natives to. not to forget tourists like you & me who might have excitedly booked their tickets in anticipation of a long due holiday. They would've never guessed their journey would take such an ugly route. My heart goes out to all the people who lost their loved ones, their means of living and their lifelong cherished possessions.

I feel sad accepting a hard reality of life that nothing in this world is permanent and we as humans certainly don't have a slightest control to it. A second is just enough to spin our life.

Everyday we wish for better things, fight and feel sorry for the things we don't have, jealous of that 'little extra' in the other's plate, crib constantly for our struggles and other ceaseless luxurious that we feel devoid of. But do we ever remember enough to THANK !!

Thank for getting this far, to be able to breathe life each day, see our children grow, and have our love ones around?
How does one know whether we really deserved it all or no? maybe god is being kind to even let us have that piece of pie while we crib to have a whole cake.

We must think about it.

Together like kangaroos

Its 6:30 a.m Friday morning, much welcomed weekend (Friday, Saturdays are weekends in the middle east) and I see my hubby leave for his routinely satsang after planting a warm ‘I shall be-back-soon kiss’ on my forehead. I smile in response. He knows it always kick-starts my day.

While I settle down with a brilliantly tasting self made tea, a skill I acquire from my cuddly-panda looking dad, I close my eyes wondering how my first day of the weekend will shape up. The aroma of fresh ginger is just too soothing to my senses as I curl up my legs on the sofa for greater comfort. The feel of the light brown Italian leather makes me warm as I lean my head back aimlessly watching out to  the balcony and the park below my building.

The neat transparent sliding glass door to the balcony, by which my sofa lays, gives a complete look of those classic French windows and I smile to myself. I always wished to have them in my home someday. The glass door just gave that effect. I was happy when I first saw them. Boy ! wishes do partly come true. :)

I sip my tea, feeling the taste of it reaching down my throat. A sense of calmness envelopes my senses. My gaze wanders out to the the handful of people i see every Friday diligently doing their yoga. Others walking their tiny pups by the side all passionately dressed in their fitness suits. I wonder how they get all the energy to dress impeccably for a simple occasion of a daily dog-walking routine.  I shrug myself back to sipping my comforting tea.

Just then, my gaze falls on my ultrabook lying  half open at the table. I check for any new mails overnight. 

A few reminders from crazy sales blasting online, my job applications at various places still in 'viewing' process, offers from new portals promising to deliver quality flowers/cakes/cards/gifts at best rates for approaching occasions... Birthdays..Anniversaries..Thank-you...love..get-well-soon...baby shower..Mothers day..I yawn as i read on.

Hey, wait. I scroll back. MOTHERS DAY round the corner !!!! 

I raise my brows, smiling, thinking, "yea right. Should I send another bouquet like last time? She liked it ". I finally decide to browse through the website hoping to find something unique that I might want to send over to my mom this year.

 I always send her flowers through my much trusted vendor along with a nice note that never fails to overwhelm her. 

Well, all women acquire a candle wax heart as mothers. Anything from their forever-tiny-tot seems to melt them up in no time. I know this, now that I'm  a mother myself. :)

My mum, practically calls me everyday on ISD. Yeah, who says distance, calling rates, geographies matter to them or even that you're married for good. You always remain their little cubs they want to pull up lovingly and pass a grizzly bear hug. hahaha... 

Getting back to searching for the right gift for her this year, I scroll down my options listed at the webpage...and I see this insanely cute soft toy of a Kangaroo with a baby in her pouch. 

Very symbolic of the warmth, the love, the care & the ceaseless affection. 

My throat wells up as I think how motherhood evenly crowns every woman with this instinct A very strong feeling that emanates within u from the moment u conceive, when your baby is just a rice grain size, till your breath lasts. 

From that very moment, every new beginning in your life is unarguably her milestone - your first cry; your first poop; first feed, as she fondles you trying to contain her wordly love bursting from her heart for you,; your first laugh (nicely captured in pics & videos. Needless to say those are forever imprinted on her heart); your first walk (boy, she could drive the whole world mad exclaiming in joy to see her lil kangaroo smilingly take baby steps to reach her); your first solid food (excitedly getting lists of what to start with to make you all the more bonny); your first BIRTHDAY !! (lets not get into that domain...coz there's no dearth of mommy-ness to it); your first playschool (now this is nerve wrenching for most of us, unsure of how the little one will find his/her first footing in this world.) Well, they do all right. It just worries mommies more. lolzz); your fancy dress party; your omg,i want-the-latest-gadget-my- friend-has; your teenage; your college; your first job/salary... Surely the list continues, we all know, and so does a mothers' unhesitating love for you. 

You might grow up to feel shy in giving her hugs & kisses in public, or responding to her concerned phone calls for you're prolly working late at work while she just wants to check if u didn't skip your food and the likewise occasions. The underlying truth is, - you may have outgrown her lap but you can never outgrow her heart. 

& think about it, isint that the most comforting and safest place to be ?? 

A kangaroo and her baby in her pouch...much loved & well protected. Picture that !

Voila !! i found my perfect gift for her. :):)

Sometimes more than words, its the metaphoric reflection of your gesture that gives an effective voice to your speech. 

I look at that Kangaroo again (smiling to myself).... so true ! :)