Most awaited wedding... But I have to miss it

Uninvited Wedding

 
Why are some things not in our control? Nancy asks herself. Nancy and Rachael are soul friends. There was a time when their families were together as a single united family. Now things have changed. Now both the families have parted miles. Not just that, one cannot tolerate another. But nothing has changed between Nancy and Rachael. Their bond has rather become stronger. Neither their families nor any external entity could break it. 

Nancy recalls the day when Rachael told her about her boyfriend Ray... Nancy,  I think Ray is the one. We both are so imperfectly perfect. Nancy was so happy for her. Time flies. It has been 4 years and now they are getting married. Ray is a good guy and he will keep Rachael happy, Nancy knows it. As good things don't come easily,  making their marriage happen was not easy. But Rachael is a strong woman, a fighter. She fixed everything right. Now everyone is happy and excited about their marriage, one of the best things to happen in the coming years. Nancy has always been there to support and encourage Rachael. Rachael would share all the plans and progress with Nancy. Nancy feels sad that she couldn't be part of Rachael's wedding preparation. But Nancy makes sure that she supports Rachael emotionally and in all other possible ways, even though her physical presence is not there. 

Time flies. This time it is flying at the speed of light. Nancy realizes it only after Rachael shares her wedding card with her. Rachael shares some beautiful return gifts packets made by her. Rachael, I am not coming for your wedding but I want the return gift Nancy tells Rachael. I can't believe my soul friend is getting married and I can't be part of it... the most awaited wedding, but I have to miss it. Nancy wonders herself We meet people, become friends, become family, all in this lifetime. And in this lifetime we become strangers again. If only life was as simple as our childhood days.

Mom, was I a mistake?

Life is Unfair

 
Stella is a lucky girl born with a silver spoon. Being the first grandchild of her maternal grandfather,  she is his favorite, he adores her. Her grandfather is going to Canada on a business strip Stella darling, what do you want from Canada?. 6 years old Stella says Grandpa, get me a pair of block shoes. Her wish is his command. Little Stella is having a little Princess's life, totally unaware of what is coming ahead of her and her family. 

Things are not good between Stella's parents. After dragging their relationship for 2 ugly years, they decide to move apart. 8 years old Stella is not able to understand what is going on. No one asks what does she want. Her grandfather also does not bother to know what is going through his little grandchild. Things get worse, her father left the house without telling anyone. Stella is now living with her mom's family. The small girl wonders herself Why do things change? Why do people change? She is not her grandfather's favorite anymore. Her mom does not have time for her. Her dad is in a different city struggling with his career.

Stella is a teenager now. Now she understands what is dating, love, relationship etc.. Second thing she gets to know is her mom is in a relationship with a new man. Earlier her mom doesn't have time for her,  now she neither has time nor love for her daughter. Young Stella longs for her parents' love, she doesn't remember the last time her mom or dad showed love and affection to her. Her mom comes to her Stella, I am getting married very soon. Stella is speechless. Her mom continues I had a word with your father, he will come and pick you in a week's time. You will have to stay with him. Stella could feel the coldness in her entire body. She feels as if her heart stops beating. She couldn't stop asking her mom Mom, was I a mistake? Am I an extra baggage?.  She wanted to ask one more question,  but she didn't because she knows the answer already, the question was Do you love me?. 

I miss you...

1 month, 18 days and counting... It has been so many days I am away from you, my soul companion. You were my passion when I grew up, you still are. You give me happiness and health. After staying away from you for these many days, my love for you has grown more, my dance. I am not sad that I hurt my leg and I limp, I am sad because I am not able to dance. And since I cannot dance, I want to dance more, after all,  you are something which I love doing the most, something I used to do everyday. I am very hopeful that I will be fine very soon and will start dancing again. And I will make sure that I cover up the dances I missed in these many weeks. I thought I was lucky that I don't depend on anyone or anything for my happiness. This time I realize my happiness depends on you. But I am still lucky,  you live in me. I miss you so much, I pray to God everyday Dear God,  please let me dance.

Thank God, I am from North East (India)

People of Northeast India

Chinese, Chinki, Nepali... This is how we are addressed mockingly by a select group of uneducated and educated men of our society. A quick disclaimer to add is I am not saying all men are same, especially in this context. My dear friends from North East, my take on this is Take a chill pill. Ignore. Let the dogs bark. Give one reaction for your own satisfaction... Who let the dogs out? Be happy and proud that you are from North East. Trust me, people envy you. 

I have lived good number of years in South India. Now I am settled in North India. One hard reality whether you like it or not which I have discovered is people from South India are more sensible than North Indians. Even when I was in South, people thought we were not Indians but from China or Nepal. But we were not addressed mockingly, they saw respect to us. And respect is all about You give respect, you have respect. 

Be Happy

My fellow people, one thing I want to tell is there is nothing wrong when someone thinks we are not Indians. It is not their fault. We have oriental looks just like Chinese, Japanese, Nepalese etc. Even we cannot distinguish ourselves as Indians or not. I have my own sisters and friends who look like Korean actresses, pretty like dolls. It is wrong only when people try to bully you or make fun of you on the basis of your looks. That is when you need to put your foot down. You don't need to be disappointed. There are good sides of having  non-Indian looks. When you go to South and South East Asian countries, you feel as if you are with your own people, you feel at home. Whenever I go to these countries I am always treated with love and warmth like a fellow member of their own country. I never feel out of place. The best part is seeing their reaction when I said I am from India. 

Let's break the stereotype. Many people think North East girls are beauty with no brains. They are dumb and easily available. For this one, I cannot blame people.  I myself have seen North East girls doing stupid things, inviting trouble, making fun of themselves. Good news is things are changing. Good news is there are many intelligent North East women who hold very good positions in Government and Private sectors. In many instances I have broken this stereotype into pieces. Let's do this together. Some years ago an ex-colleague of mine asked me I have not seen any North East in the corporate world or IT industry. You are the first one. Why so?. On this I politely replied Come out of Delhi, go to places like Bangalore and Chennai. You will realize that your question was inappropriate.

Thank God I am from North East

Thank God, I am from North East. Thank God, I am from a society who are not hypocrites. Thank God I have grown up in a surrounding of love, honesty and simplicity. Thank God, I have the North East genes. Trust me, people envy your fashion sense, your beautiful hair, your never-aging beautiful skin, your super-cool attitude. Sometime ago, a female friend from Delhi asked me How often do you go to beauty parlour?. I smiled and said I don't go to beauty parlour, I don't need to. She was so surprised and said Damn... You are born blessed. Yes, we are born blessed. So, next time, when you feel that you are being victim of Racism, don't be upset and cheer up, we are a blessed race. Continue to be kind and nice to people, help others when they need help but don't ever let people take you for granted.

Life in a Delhi Metro... (Episode 9)

Funny Day at Delhi Metro

Standing in the long queue at the exit, there came this man coolly ignoring the line and standing ahead of some 5 or 6 passengers who were ahead of me. Being someone who cannot tolerate anything wrong, I said the man standing in front of me Please tell that man to follow the queue. He religiously followed my instruction and passed on the communication to the next person who then passed on to the next until the message reached the concerned person. This man realized it was not right, but before anything a giant man standing next to him said to him Tum kahin nahin jaa raheho (You are not going anywhere). He looked at us angrily and said Beta hai mera (He is my son). Ideally he was right, since he was already in the queue he could make his son stand with him. That's how things work in Delhi. But by then I was so pissed off with the act I said the man in a frustrated tone Beta hai toh saamne bithado (If he is your son make him sit right at the front). I didn't need to say the nonsense. I wondered myself Have I become the so called Bad Delhiite?  Have I been bitten by the bad Delhi Bug?

Salam Sisters in a land who "Salam" to All

Don't underestimate the power of Salam Sisters. We are Many. We can bring happiness in lives of people we love, we can make life hell for people who mess with us. We stay miles away from each other but we are always connected, we are always there for each other. Irony is we don't get to meet each other at home but we manage to meet at a different place, a different city or a different country. 

    

This time destiny has brought three of us together to Abu Dhabi, a land who "Salam" to all. When we are together we have to do something exciting and nothing can be less exciting than going for a sand safari in the city of sands. We are all set for some crazy heart throbbing rides in a majestic Land Cruiser. Desert is vast and magnificent, rides are never ending with 45 degree to 90 degree stunts. We scream our throat out but this is what we want... Thrill.

After a long thrilling ride in the desert if you are welcome by mouth watering Arabic food followed by a jaw dropping Arabic beauty performing Arabic dance, what will be your reaction? Damn, I should have been born as a guy. Three of us relish the food like it is the last meal of our life. It is not the food but the Arabic beauty who steals our heart away. She is smooth, flawless and very beautiful. But her dance moves are much more beautiful and flawless than her. We wonder... Imagine, we as women are in love with her, what would men have to say about her. Her show is over, leaving us wanting for more. There is complete darkness now. Is it because the fairy has gone or is it an intended darkness? Yes, it is an intended darkness. We lie down with the open sky above us. It is breathtakingly beautiful. I don't remember the last time I have seen so many stars in the sky, I don't remember the last time I enjoyed watching the stars. My imagination starts working as if the sky is the canvas and stars are my paints. There are innumerous big, small, bright and very bright stars. First thing I could clearly see is a Japanese hand fan. My next attempt is to imagine a running horse in which I partially succeed. My sisters are busy wondering how many stars are there in the sky. We would like to spend the entire night watching the stars, sleeping under them. But all wishes are not meant to be fulfilled, all good things come to an end. So we bid goodbye to the stars and move towards our quest for the next good thing.