The Joy of Giving

When I was a kid, I loved getting gifts. I guess we all did. Whenever any of my innumerable relatives visited our place, they always brought something for me – be it as trivial as Diary Milk chocolate or as expensive as a frilly frock or as treasured as a story-book. The object itself didn't matter. What mattered  was the thought behind it – the planning that must have went before the object was bought. The gift proved that people thought about me – even when I was not with them. And though I was just a child, I always recognized the love behind the gesture. That's what made the gifts even more dear to me.

The tradition never changed when I went away to college. Birthdays and special occasions were a time that we freely made use of the postal service. And in this fast-paced age of technology, we even wrote letters and mailed them. What could be more personal than a letter from your Mom in her own handwriting when you are miles away from home? May be this was one of the reasons why I have always felt connected to my huge family, though we are spread all across the country.

Somehow, I was quite lucky to have a similar group of friends. We never hesitated or thought twice when we saw something that the other person would enjoy. We were always on each other's minds. And when the time finally came for our close knit group of besties (you know who you are!) to part ways, we always knew that the bond we shared would not diminish over time.

People view gifts as an obligatory gesture – something that needs to be done on certain days for certain people. Stop for a moment. Think of the impact of the same gift for the same person. Pour a little bit of your heart into it – mull it over. And then see the result. What's the point of giving a wall-piece to a guy who is staying at a rented place and doesn't have anything to decorate? What's the use of giving another pair of jeans to a girl who already thinks she has way too many? Why not look back into your time together and gift something that the person will remember forever? And I do not mean something expensive. Something as simple as a single red rose stands out amidst richly wrapped expensive gift-sets.

Invest a little less money and a little more emotion into the gifting process. The joy of the person who receives it will reflect in your own heart. And could anything be more precious?

Dearest Papa

Inspired by http://drkellyflanagan.com/2013/04/17/a-daddys-letter-to-his-little-girl-about-her-future-husband/

Dearest Papa,

I know that you are planning to marry me off to the most suitable guy, that you are looking for the next person who can take care of your daughter for the rest of her life. I know that you are looking for the perfect family and the perfect house and the perfect guy. And there are just a few things that I would like to say to you during this part of our lives.

I remember when I was a little kid and you made me take care of my dolls and in the process taught me the value of the little things. Look for a man who knows both the price and the value of the things that he owns.

I remember the times you held my hand when I was crossing the road. Look for the man who would never leave my hand and who would always protect me.

I remember the time when I was lazy and you inspired me to work hard by working hard yourself. I learned what I saw. Look for a man who is not afraid to take the stairs instead of the elevator and is not afraid of hard work.

I remember the time when I wanted to tell a small lie to get out of something I didn't want to do and you taught me the importance of honesty and integrity. Look for a man who knows and upholds the same values.

I remember the time when I wanted you to do my homework for me and you promised me that you would review it if I did it myself. You inspired me to be my own competition and made me better each day. Look for the man who will inspire me the same way in each phase of my life.

I remember the many many times when I was sad and dejected and was losing faith. I don't remember the circumstances anymore. But I remember you standing by me through thick and thin and lending me your faith. Look for the man who will always be my rock when things get rough.

I remember the numerous times you sacrificed your own comfort to take care of my needs, the number of times when you put me and my whims above your health, your career and everything else. If you can find me the man who does even a tenth of that, I will consider myself very lucky indeed.

I remember the times when you ignored a career opportunity to spend time with me and Mom. You taught me how important family ties are. Look for the man who puts family above money.

I remember the times you helped out a fellow in need irrespective of whether they deserved it or not. And when I asked, you taught me to be kind and unselfish, yet not gullible. Look for the man who is kind to not only people at par with him but also to people below him.

I remember the times when I was boastful of my achievements. You taught me humility. You taught me to be proud of all that I've achieved but not to be arrogant. Look for the man who knows the fine line between these both and is also on the right side of the line.

I remember all the little things you do around the house to keep it running smoothly and bring a smile to Mom's face. Look for the man who will not forget the little things in his quest for the bigger ones.

I remember the times when I had to face the struggles of my life and you were the one to teach me that these struggles made us stronger. You taught me that we might not control the conditions of our life, but we can certainly control how we react to them. You taught me to build my strength from my troubles. Look for the man who doesn't get swayed by adversity, but emerges stronger from it.

Most importantly, you gave me my belief in God. You taught me to see Him in all the little things of my life. You gave me my unwavering faith. You taught me to be kind and helpful and guileless. You taught me everything I know and made me everything I am. You are my hero and my inspiration. I know no man can ever measure up to you. Still, look for the man who embodies even a little of all that you are. He might not have a huge house or a lot of money. But if he has the same qualities that you have, then I will be the luckiest girl in the world.

Always Yours,

FIRST DAY, ONCE AGAIN

If you are one of those people who tends to be an introvert, you could probably empathize with me when I relay the "horrors" of a First Day- be it a first day at a new school (though, I escaped that nightmare - special thanks to my Dad who didn't take transfer- resulting in my spending 14'years in the same school) or be it a first day at a new town- where you've just moved in and you have no idea who or how your neighbous/flatmates are or be it a first day at a new office - where you know absolutely no one and the world just seems a li'l scary and a li'l gloomy.

All my "first-days" till now were somehow never really "first-days". I always had someone or the other with me when I went to a new place. And even though the situation was new, the people around me weren't - which, according to me, made all the difference in the world. This time around, however, things took a different turn. The place is my hometown - but I havent been living here since the last eight years and it is practically a stranger now. The new office is as NEW as new could be. Starting from the people around me to the system I work on to the cafeteria - everything is so different from what I was used to. New people, new work, new environment - all these together get overwhelming in a very short time. How I long for a familiar face in the throng of people!

Along with the whole new world at work, there's another whole new world at home. No more freedom-to-do-anything-at-anytime. Parents and Rules. No more Eminem and Avril. No more Shakira videos. No more AC/DC and Metallica blasting off my speakers. No more sleeping till 1pm in the afternoon or staying up late till 7am in the morning. No more short skirts and blue eye-liners. But along with all that, comes an immense sense of love and security that only your parents can provide. That familiar coccon of safety and that "pampered princess" feeling.

Experts might say that it is good to expand your comfort zone and break the boundaries. But if seeking familiarity makes me weak, so be it. Who said I had to be strong, anyways? Again there will be people who would probably advise me to "chin-up" and get on with my life. But don't they know how liberating crying-out-loud is? And who's to say ranting and raving are a waste of my time?

So here I am- on the First Day of a new phase in my life. And kicking and screaming like hell trying to hold on to the last 'familiar' one!

The Invisible Man

Recently, I came across the following quote:

“I am an invisible man.... I am a man of substance, of flesh and bone, fiber and liquids - and I might even be said to possess a mind.  I am invisible, understand, simply because people refuse to see me.  ~Ralph Ellison, The Invisible Man”

This made me ponder. Whose fault is it? Is it the fault of the man that he couldn’t let the world around him see his true genius? Or is it the mistake of the people around him who refuse to acknowledge this truth? And if such is the case that he is invisible, what should his next course of action be? Should he accept his fate of invisibility and take satisfaction in the fact that he is on a whole different (and better) level that his peers? Or should he fight to gain their attention and prove to these people that he is in fact a living breathing man – worthy of their regard and respect?

Or should he just part ways with them and go his own way – far away from the demeaning group of people who made him feel invisible?

Everyday...

Everyday is a new beginning
Everyday is a world made new
And why then has my life no meaning?
Why then don't I ever have a clue?

Everyday I have a new hope
Everyday I start with elan
And why then my day ends with a mope?
Why does nothing go according to the plan?

Everyday I plan to make you happy
Everyday I want to see you smile
Again, somehow my day becomes crappy
Another failure to go in my life

Everyday I feel it in my bone
Everyday I try to make it better
Still, in my world I am all alone
Like in the center of a huge lifeless crater

Everyday I reach out to you
Everyday I try to avoid strife
But you never seem to have a clue
That I need you in my life

Today again over nothing we fought
Today again my faults extend
Today again my tears no one caught
And that's how another day in my life will end!

10 Reasons Why Magic Rocks..!!

1. You get to walk through a wall. have an owl as a pet, and basically get free rein to be weird (without judgement).

2. Who needs elevators and lifts when you have moving staircases?

3. Where else can people in photos walk and talk and even move to other frames?

4. One word for it: Quidditch!!!

5. Cheat the traffic - Just Apparate..

6. Wands: Remember - you don't choose them. They choose you.

7. Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes : for all the pranks and practical jokes that you could ever think of ! (and some that you would NEVER think of..!!)

8. Dragons, Flying carpets, Mermaids, and Unicorns would no longer be just fairy tales

9. Where ghosts and poltergeists are as common occurrences as cabbages and corns.

10. You'd get to meet Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore - mind you, he in his portrait would be more compelling and brilliant than half the people you'd meet in the Muggle world.

Parcel...

The day began as any other. Long discussions and numerous arguments about what work to do and how to do it. And there was me- trying to absorb all the relevant information while filtering out the mundane. Many hours later I got the time to check my over-flowing inbox. 

Something caught my eye: A mail about collecting a courier. I ignored it - deducing it to be a brochure of the many colleges that I had applied to. After all, I had my work for the day cut out for me. The long discussions had to be put to "billable efforts". I forgot all about the mail and got neck-deep into work.

Afternoon came- and with it came the reminder to collect the courier. Deciding to get it over with, I went to the mail-room. And there it was. Wrapped in a white-and-yellow glossy polythene. The things I had ordered about a week back but had totally forgotten about it because of the grueling office hours. My face broke into a huge grin and I could not wait to sign for it and tear it open to see the contents with my own eyes.   

I got out of the mail-room as soon as possible and ripped open the parcel. Ripped open the gift-wrapping even faster. And finally saw my contents. The glossy cover. The smell of the pages. The anticipation of the story.

Yes. My two books were finally delivered today. The first time ever I did online-shopping for the books.

And the feeling of holding an yet-unread book: Priceless!

Can't wait to start "The Shiva Trilogy" by Amish Tripathi

Yes. I am a book-worm and proud of it!