Are Marriages actually Made in Heaven?

Marriages are made in Heaven

Sheetal is a smart and very successful woman, a nerdy beauty from the prestigious IIT Delhi. Now she holds an authoritative position in Indian Civil Service. But seeing her you won't believe that she is the nerdy over-intellectual kind. Seeing her beautiful face with a tall hourglass figure, anyone would say she should have been in the fashion industry. Sheetal is indeed a perfect example of beauty with brains. 

Sheetal and Raghav have been seeing each other for over 9 years. Raghav is Sheetal's childhood friend. They could easily win the most good looking couple award.  Raghav has the Greek God looks with a well maintained physique, fair complexion and light & bright eyes. The only dark spot in his life is that he is struggling with his career. Unlike Sheetal who cracked the Indian Civil Services Exam, Raghav is still struggling for it. Sheetal, a woman with a golden heart gives full support to her man. 

Sheetal has to move to another city due to official reasons, far away from the city she loves, far away from the man she loves. Raghav has to stay back in Delhi for his Civil Services Exams preparation. It is not easy for Sheetal to leave the love of her life and go to a new place. But she is a strong woman, she understands her responsibilities as a civil servant. 

Long distance relationship is always not easy. But when you truly love someone distance is just a number, this is what Sheetal believes. Sheetal gets adapted to the new place, gets busy with her work. But she makes sure that she takes out some time for Raghav everyday from her busy schedule. Raghav has also started being habitual staying away from Sheetal. Nothing is wrong, everything is going smoothly.

Year is coming to an end and Sheetal wants to spend her last few days of the year and beginning of next year with Raghav. She wants to give him a surprise visit. She reaches Delhi without informing Raghav. It is early winter morning, Sheetal goes directly to Raghav's place where he stays with a male roommate who is also preparing for Civil Services Exams. All excited about surprising Raghav, she knocks at the door.  After 5 minutes a girl in her night suit opens the door. "Have I knocked at the wrong door?" Sheetal asks herself. She asks the girl "Raghav lives here. Who are you?". On this the girl says "Yes he lives here. I am his girlfriend. May I know who you are?". Sheetal feels a sudden heaviness in her heart, she feels as if the World is coming to an end. It is terribly tough for her but she doesn't look back. No matter how truly madly deeply in love she was with Raghav but it's over now. For her, trust is everything. 

It has been a month Sheetal is back to the city where she is posted but she is still not over it. Nine years is not a joke. And for a woman like her who has given her 200% to a man who cheated her, it is Hell. But as we say Everything happens for a good reason. Veer is Sheetal’s another childhood friend who is secretly in love with her. Veer never expressed his feelings to Sheetal as he was just a mediocre boy in front of her. Veer is a Software Engineer, now in San Francisco on a project. He gets to know about Sheetal’s break-up from a common friend. Without thinking twice, he takes the next available flight to Delhi and then goes directly to Sheetal's place. Sheetal is totally surprised to see Veer standing in front of her. Before she could say anything, Veer gets down on his knees and says “Sheetal, I have loved you since we were in School and I still love you. Will you marry me?”. Sheetal goes speechless for a minute. “Veer… you are supposed to be in the US. What are you doing here? ” Sheetal asks. Veer… “I have left everything just to propose you for marriage. I don’t want to repeat the mistake I did earlier, the mistake of not expressing my feelings.”. Sheetal knows Veer since childhood and one thing for sure is Veer will keep her happy. With no further thoughts, no ifs and buts, Sheetal says “Yes! I will marry you.”. Within a quick time of 5 days they get married in Delhi. Veer goes back to the US and Sheetal goes back to her city where she is posted. I, as a witness can’t stop wondering myself “Are marriages actually made in heaven?”.

Life in a Delhi Metro... (Episode 7)

Reasons to Smile

You know you are in Delhi when you see beggars in all transport junctions, be it railway station, bus stop, metro station or traffic signal. Besides begging, one thing common in all beggars is their sad look seeking sympathy from people passing by. 

I was wrong to think that all beggars have the same mindset of showing how awful their lives are. This beggar who sits at Kashmere Gate Metro station is definitely different, a clearly visible physically disabled man unlike many beggars who pretend/act to be physically disabled. But one thing I like about this man is his smiling face. He begs with a smile. I do not want to be judgmental and analyze on why he is begging etc etc but a simple fact is every morning he makes me smile. Every morning when I see this physically disabled beggar with a smile, it makes me think if someone in this condition can have a genuine smile on his face, if someone like him can be happy, then someone like me has thousand more reasons to be smiling and be happy. God bless you Mr. Beggar.

Beautiful Woman!!!

Beautiful woman from Rajasthan

Who said women cannot appreciate women, who said women who show interest in women are not "straight"? I am a woman who appreciates beauty, simplicity and strength of other women. Trust me, I am as normal as any other woman you know. 

Beautiful Woman... It is about a mind blowingly beautiful woman I saw in a village in Rajasthan. I was sitting at the back seat of the car enjoying the rare ride where I was not the driver. Suddenly a herd of cows came in our way and we had to stop the car. I saw a woman standing adjacent to our car, her face was covered with Ghunghat. Seeing our car stopped next to her, she pulled up her Ghunghat and looked at us. Her face was still partially covered with the Ghunghat. Holy cow!!! She is sooooo beautiful... I said to myself. I am not exaggerating when I say she is the most beautiful woman I have ever seen in my life in person. I wanted to capture her picture in my phone but at the same time I didn't want to move my eyes away from her. Where did the cows go? Why is the road empty now? Why is the car moving? Anyone please stop the car... I said to myself. I wished I would have captured her picture in my phone. 

Can you imagine that a simple tribal girl from a very small village would turn out to be extraordinarily beautiful? I didn't, but seeing is believing. Now, I believe that the rarest beauties will be found only at the rarest places. 

And I thought I was a Solo Traveler...

How to be a Solo Traveler

2015 was coming to an end. This time I had plans of spending New Year with some special members of my family with whom I have never celebrated my New Year. However, God has a separate plan for me. Last minute I got to know that my special family who lives far from me could not join me. And I have denied all other plans made by my friends. Do I have to spend my New Year alone? No way! Nirmala, go for Plan B.

 

Life has taught me to always have Plan B whenever you plan something. Plan A doesn't work all the time. My Plan B was going to Manali with a bunch of 100+ unknown people. Solo traveler which I am, was excited about it. Safety was my main concern which was void as I know the trip organizers very well. 

Difference between Traveler and Tourist

I am a traveler, not a tourist. I do not need a tourist guide, neither do I need a DSLR camera. I do not set expectations when I go to new places. But yes, I have some minimal checklists. For this trip, trekking in the snow and making a snowman are my wishlist. 

The day of my exciting journey came. I met Deepti who was another solo traveler, who was my room partner in the hotel in Manali. Journey had not started yet,  but I was already liking it. I enjoyed the company of my newly found friend so much that I wondered myself Are we seriously meeting for the first time or do we know each other for years?

First impression is the last impression...  I totally disagree with this. I was pissed off with the Jing-Bang group sitting next to us in the bus. They were so loud and noisy and cranky, I wished I could throw them out of the bus. God, give me some peace...  I prayed. But later  after talking to them, I realized, perhaps I was being too old fashioned. They were just bunch of harmless energetic young people who came to enjoy and celebrate New Year, far away from city life. They had full rights to go crazy and be crazy.

Happiness is when your wish comes true unexpectedly. I always wondered... I have friends from almost all corners of India but I don't have a single Gujarati friend. I wish I have one. I was surprised to know that my third hotel room-mate cum trip partner is a Gujarati. Neha reached Manali 4 days before us. She had her extended plans of visiting the nearby villages which sounded super cool and exciting. I have seen my parents watching Gujarat based Indian daily soaps which I hate from the core of my heart. But this fascinated me to know about the people of that part of India. Neha turned out to be totally different from the Gujaratis I saw in TV serials. She is a sweet and sophisticated woman, a rare breed, I must say.     

 

The best part of traveling Solo is you do not return Solo.  You come back with some fond memories, some good friends, some learnings, some souvenirs. I come back with a story as well. There is definitely a story to share from every solo trip I make. So, what is my next story...???

Spark at First Sight!

Love is in the Air

Gary is an Ex-Olympian, an athlete. But now he works as an Event Manager for a Multi-National Company.  Gary and his colleagues are just done with a very successful event and they all are set to celebrate the success. Gary's boss Sarah announces the team that she is throwing a success party at one of the best restaurants in the city, feel free to bring partners or spouses. Gary and Maria are going through turbulence in their relationship. Maria wants to leave the country for a lucrative career option but Gary has a different plan. Gary loves to be around with his family and friends. He does not want to leave his country. 

Gary and his colleagues are having a great time in the party. Sarah comes in the party hall with a very beautiful woman. Gary turns back to greet his boss but his eyes catch hold of this beautiful woman in a beautiful red dress. His eyes got stuck, he could sense a spark in his eyes, his heart stops breathing. Gary, blink your eyes, breath, greet your boss... Gary says to himself. Too late, Sarah greets Gary and the entire team, introduces her younger sister Jane to everyone. Gary observes that Jane looks at him twice. Holy crap!!! Can she read minds? Did she notice the spark in my eyes? Was it too bright? Gary asks himself.

Night is getting younger

The night is getting younger. Gary happens to sit on the table where Jane is sitting. They get to talk about few little things but Gary clearly feels the click and perfect chemistry between them. She’s the one I’ve been missing in my entire life Gary tells himself. But Gary is still seeing Maria and it does not feel right. So even if he wants to talk more, stay connected with Jane, he doesn't ask her phone number.  He wants to be honest to his girlfriend Maria.

Party is over, almost everyone has left including Jane. Sarah comes to Gary and says "What did you do to my sister? She talked about you the entire time while walking to the car parking.”. Gary just smiles, confirms himself that the feeling was mutual. 

It has been 3 months, things between Gary and Maria are getting worse. Finally Maria chooses her career over Gary and move on to her new world in a new country. It takes some time for Gary to come out of it, but he is a happy man now. One evening after work Sarah invites Gary to a birthday party of her best friend. Happy Gary feels happier hoping to meet Jane at the birthday party. Gary and Jane meet at the birthday party. Jane looks prettier than what she was last time and this time Gary has no guilt attached. As earlier, it is effortless, perhaps, the easiest & smoothest relationship with no complications. 

Now happily married with Jane, Gary considers himself as the luckiest man alive. There is nothing else he could have wished for in a woman he wants to marry. But even today, he wonders what made Jane fall for him. She is very smart, beautiful and holds a successful career in life and he is just an ordinary man. Then he smiles and says to himself… Perhaps she picks me because of my charming good looks and heart of Gold.